Industry Insights - The EFM Podcast

Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast is presented by the European Film Market of the Berlinale. Hosted by Curator and Public Speaker Nadia Denton, it delves deep into the rapidly evolving film industry. The BIPoC Alliance [https://www.bipocalliance.com/] is the largest coalition of BIPoC filmmakers in the German-speaking DACH region, created to amplify representation, visibility, and collaboration in the film industry. Founded during Berlinale 2024, the BIPoc Alliance connects emerging and established talents, fostering knowledge sharing, networking, and community-building opportunities. Jessica Sy is a versatile actress, drama teacher, screenwriter and anti-discrimination trainer with a broad education and extensive experience in various fields of acting and social awareness. She is also active as an anti- discrimination trainer and offers workshops in schools to sensitize young people to discrimination and empowerment - both as an acting lecturer and as a committed campaigner for a fairer society. In 2023, she worked as an assistant director with director Miriam Ibrahim and author Julienne De Murier at the Residenztheater in Munich and was involved in various theater productions, including “Das Gelobte Land” by Asiimwe Deborah Kawe, directed by Fabiola Kuonen and “Die Mittelmeer-Monologe” directed by Michael Ruf. Other stage productions she has appeared in include “The Vagina Monologues” (2020-present). Weina Zhao is an Austrian-Chinese filmmaker and writer committed to amplifying marginalized narratives. While pursuing her Master’s in Sinology, she began working in various roles within documentary filmmaking. Since 2012, Weina has directed and written numerous film and radio projects. Her debut feature documentary, Weiyena – The Long March Home (AT 2020, codirected with Judith Benedikt), received multiple awards for Best Documentary. She is currently in post-production of her short film “Bye Bye Nainai”. Beyond filmmaking, she co-founded the intersectional Asian diaspora zine Perilla and leads creative writing workshops for BIPOC communities, fostering new and inclusive narratives. Lena Whooo is a Berlin-based multidisciplinary actor, author & activist blending poetry, sound, and performance to explore identity, resilience, and sensory perception. As a representative of “Schwarze Filmschaffende” at the BIPoC Alliance during the Berlinale, they advocate for industry change by amplifying marginalized voices and fostering more inclusive storytelling practices. The host Nadia Denton has worked in the UK film industry for over a decade as an Impact Producer, Curator and Author. She specialises in Nigerian Cinema and coined the term BEYOND NOLLYWOOD. She has worked with the BFI London Film Festival, Berlinale EFM, British Film Institute, British Council, Doc Society, London Film School, Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival and Comic Relief. Her books include The Nigerian Filmmaker’s Guide to Success: Beyond Nollywood and The Black British Filmmaker’s Guide to Success: Finance, Market and Distribute Your Film. She is an Honorary Research Fellow with the University of Exeter. The Berlinale’s European Film Market [https://www.efm-berlinale.de/en/home/homepage.html] is the first international film market of the year, where the film industry starts its business. Industry Insights - The EFM Podcast puts a spotlight on highly topical and trendsetting industry issues, thereby creating a compass for the forthcoming film year. The year-round podcast is co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA. This episode was developed in partnership with BIPoC Alliance.

Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast is presented by the European Film Market of the Berlinale. Hosted by media industry analyst Johanna Koljonen, it delves deep into the evolving strategies for distributing Arthouse cinema and reaching international audiences beyond traditional channels. The 2025 Nostradamus Report paints a picture of an Arthouse landscape at a crossroads - no longer resisting change, but learning to resist with intention. This episode explores what that means for the way we develop, position, and connect films to audiences in a world where old models no longer deliver. From overlooked festival momentum to shifting roles in the value chain, it’s a wake-up call for those clinging to linear paths. Distribution emerges as both the weak link and the untapped opportunity, especially for non-mainstream titles. The conversation challenges industry metrics, redefines what success can look like, and hints at a future where even small films can make a wide impact, just not in the usual ways. Eva Esseen Arndorff is the CEO and co-owner of TriArt Film, a leading Swedish arthouse distributor. With a background in Film Studies, Media and Communication, and Business Administration from Stockholm University, she began her career at Triangelfilm in 2000. After working as a film consultant for companies including Sonet and PAN Vision, she became Head of Acquisitions at PAN Vision in 2008. Since 2011, she has led TriArt Film, which also operates the streaming platform TriArt Play and publishes the film magazine Point of View. Huub Roelvink is the owner and managing director of Cherry Pickers Filmdistributie, a Benelux distribution company releasing approximately 12 to 15 titles per year. Recent titles include My Favourite Cake, No Other Land, Hard Truths and Good One, among many others. Before founding the company in 2016 Huub was managing director of Imagine Filmdistributie Netherlands and founder of Cinema Delicatessen, a distributor specialized in documentaries. He also has extensive experience in cinema programming and exploitation, starting his career as a student in the Kriterion cinema in Amsterdam, and subsequently programming various arthouses and being managing director of arthouse LUX in Nijmegen. Huub holds a Masters in Social Anthropology from the University of Amsterdam. Katarina Tomkova (Producer, kaleidoscope & Punkchart films) Katarina has worked for the Slovak Film Institute during 2009 – 2015. Since 2015, she has worked on several films acclaimed at the festival circuit, including Servants (Berlinale Encounters), 107 Mothers (Venice IFF - Best Screenplay Orizzonti), and Photophobia (Venice IFF – Europa Cinemas Label Award at Giornate degli Autori). As a tutor, she collaborates with the MIDPOINT Institute and the Thessaloniki IFF’s market Agora. She is an EAVE Producers Workshop graduate. In 2021, she was the Slovak Producer on the Move. The host Johanna Koljonen is a media analyst, broadcaster, and experience designer. She is the author of the Göteborg Film Festival’s annual Nostradamus Report on the near future of the screen industries, which is in its 11th year. She lectures internationally on changes in the media sector, and on participation and narrative design. Her background is in public service broadcasting; in 2011, she received the Swedish Grand Journalism Award in the Innovator category. This podcast episode has been developed in collaboration with the Göteborg Film Festival's Nostradamus initiative. The 2025 Nostradamus Report Reality/Resistance [https://goteborgfilmfestival.se/en/industry/nostradamus/nostradamus-reports/pages/2025-nostradamus-report] is available as a free download. The Berlinale’s European Film Market [http://www.efm-berlinale.de/] is the first international film market of the year, where the film industry starts its business. Industry Insights - The EFM Podcast puts a spotlight on highly topical and trendsetting industry issues, thereby creating a compass for the forthcoming film year. The year-round podcast is produced in cooperation with Goethe-Institut [https://www.goethe.de/] and co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA.

Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast is presented by the European Film Market [https://www.efm-berlinale.de/en/home/homepage.html] of the Berlinale [https://www.berlinale.de/de/home.html]. Hosted by media analyst Johanna Koljonen, it delves deep into the rapidly evolving film industry. In this episode, host Johanna Koljonen, a media analyst and experience designer, explores what it really takes to connect with young viewers. Joined by Anne Schultka (KIDS Regio & Golden Sparrow Festival), Rikke Flodin (Will & Agency / Publikum), and producer Joram Willink (BIND), we unpack audience strategies, AI-driven insights, and the creative, political, and ethical stakes of youth storytelling today. Because creating for young audiences is not just a responsibility — it’s a creative opportunity that expands what cinema can be. Anne Schultka has been working at KIDS Regio since 2018, and has been a board member of the German Children's Film Association since 2022. She has been involved in research on children's film culture and audience development, including Keeping Up with Children as an Audience (2024). Since 2023 she has been in charge of the industry programme at the German Children's Media Festival Golden Sparrow and since 2024 at the Nordic Film Days Lübeck. Rikke Flodin is Head of Audience Insights at PUBLIKUM.io, a Danish-based tool for audience awareness. Within the last few years, she has worked with more than 80 films and series across 10+ European countries helping film makers get closer to their audiences through AI-backed anthropology. Rikke has particularly specialized in how to reach the young audience using digital tools and anthropological methods to facilitate the conversations with the young audience. Rikke holds a MSc in Anthropology from the University of Copenhagen. Joram Willink is an award-winning producer who is focusing with his company BIND on socially engaged films. As creative producer he is closely working with writers/directors to create stories that inspire social change. His productions are awarded with International Emmy Award, Berlinale Special Mention, two Golden Calf Best Film, Berlinale Silver Bear, the Prix Europa, TIFF Kids awards, Prix Jeunesse, Grand Award New York ICFF and many more. Joram is a filmproducer since 2002 and a proud member of the ACE Network, active member of NAPA Dutch producer association, member of the European Film Academy and alumni of EAVE (2016), Berlinale Talents (2004 & 2018) and Binger Film lab (2005 & 2013). He was recognised as a EFP Producer on the Move at Cannes 2019 and honourably invited at 'People of Excellence lunch' by Majesty King & Queen of The Netherlands for winning De Tegel (Dutch Pulitzer Prize) for the documentary podcast series The Deventer Mediacase. The host Johanna Koljonen is a media analyst, broadcaster, and experience designer. She is the author of the Göteborg Film Festival’s annual Nostradamus Report on the near future of the screen industries, which is in its 11th year. She lectures internationally on changes in the media sector, and on participation and narrative design. Her background is in public service broadcasting; in 2011, she received the Swedish Grand Journalism Award in the Innovator category. This podcast episode has been developed in partnership with Kids Regio and Publikum.io. The Berlinale’s European Film Market [http://www.efm-berlinale.de/] is the first international film market of the year, where the film industry starts its business. Industry Insights - The EFM Podcast puts a spotlight on highly topical and trendsetting industry issues, thereby creating a compass for the forthcoming film year. The year-round podcast is produced in cooperation with Goethe-Institut [https://www.goethe.de/] and co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA.

Kick off your EFM day with this short morning coffee companion: our daily EFM Morning Brief. 10 minutes to keep you up to speed with the latest news – today provided by our guest correspondent Ryan Lattanzio from IndieWire, followed by our "what's on for today" to help you navigate our EFM Industry Sessions [https://www.efm-berlinale.de/en/industry-sessions-ms/home/industry-sessions.html] and spot highlights and tips for the day. Make sure to tune into our EFM Morning Brief to stay on top of all the essentials and get the latest EFM buzz, hosted by Wendy Mitchell. EFM Morning Brief is part of the year-round podcast series Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast presented by the European Film Market [http://www.efm-berlinale.de] of the Berlinale - hosted by industry analyst Johanna Koljonen and curator-producer Nadia Denton, it delves deep into the rapidly evolving film industry.

Kick off your EFM day with this short morning coffee companion: our daily EFM Morning Brief. 10 minutes to keep you up to speed with the latest news – today provided by our guest correspondent Louise Tutt from Screen International, followed by our "what's on for today" to help you navigate our EFM Industry Sessions [https://www.efm-berlinale.de/en/industry-sessions-ms/home/industry-sessions.html] and spot highlights and tips for the day. Make sure to tune into our EFM Morning Brief to stay on top of all the essentials and get the latest EFM buzz, hosted by Wendy Mitchell. EFM Morning Brief is part of the year-round podcast series Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast presented by the European Film Market [http://www.efm-berlinale.de] of the Berlinale - hosted by industry analyst Johanna Koljonen and curator-producer Nadia Denton, it delves deep into the rapidly evolving film industry.