Industry Insights - The EFM Podcast

A Fireside Chat with Award-Winning Producer David Kaplan

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 Elsa Keslassy (Executive International Editor; Variety, France), today’s episode, “A Fireside Chat with Award‑Winning Producer David Kaplan”, offers a rich and insightful look into the making of Josephine, the Sundance breakout, which competed at the Berlinale, and into the realities of producing bold, uncompromising American independent cinema. Recorded during this year’s EFM Industry Programme, this fireside chat delves into the film’s 12‑year journey, from early development and financing hurdles to casting, creative breakthroughs, and the persistence required to bring challenging material to the screen. David Kaplan reflects on the risks, setbacks, and unexpected turns that shaped Josephine, including securing final financing only days into production. David Kaplan (Co‑Founder, Kaplan Morrison, USA) is a Brooklyn‑based producer known for championing distinctive and daring independent films. His credits include It Follows, It Comes at Night, Short Term 12, The Brutalist and The Testament of Anne Lee. In the conversation, he discusses the evolving landscape of U.S. indie filmmaking, the realities of equity‑financed cinema, and why some stories demand unwavering commitment far beyond the first - or tenth - attempt. Elsa Keslassy is Variety’s Executive Editor of International, leading global coverage from Paris. She oversees a team of award‑winning correspondents and helps guide the magazine’s reporting at major film and TV festivals and markets, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin and Mipcom. She covers the entertainment industries in France and several international territories, and has interviewed leading cultural figures, including French President Emmanuel Macron for a cover story on France’s cultural boom. She holds a degree in print journalism from USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and began her career in documentary filmmaking before joining Variety in 2007. 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 co-funded by **Creative Europe MEDIA. **

The Claim by PUBLIKUM - Which Audience Insights to Trust #5

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]. This podcast episode was made in collaboration with PUBLIKUM. In a new collaborative series with PUBLIKUM titled "The Claim" the podcast brings together leading industry voices to debate findings from AI-driven audience research. Hosted by Niels Alberg and Rikke Flodin from PUBLIKUM, each session recorded live during the EFM challenges experts to reconcile data-driven insights with creative intuition. In this episode, the hosts and guests explore the claim that "the young audience wishes we would remember the bright side of life," sparking a deep dive into coming-of-age storytelling, social and emotional realism, and the gap between what filmmakers imagine young people need and what young audiences themselves want. The discussion examines whether a focus on difficult challenges comes at the cost of fun, celebration, and optimism, offering unique insights into how festivals, funds, and producers working in children's and youth cinema are currently thinking about this balance. Anne Schultka is the project manager at KIDS Regio. Melika Gothe is the section manager of Berlinale Generation. Fabian Driehorst is an animation producer and co-founder of Fabian & Fred. Niels Alberg is the Co-founder and Partner at PUBLIKUM. Rikke Flodin is a Partner at PUBLIKUM and an expert in audience research. 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 co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA.

The Claim by PUBLIKUM - Which Audience Insights to Trust #4

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]. This podcast episode was made in collaboration with PUBLIKUM. In a new collaborative series with PUBLIKUM titled "The Claim" the podcast brings together leading industry voices to debate findings from AI-driven audience research. Hosted by Niels Alberg and Rikke Flodin from PUBLIKUM, each session recorded live during the EFM challenges experts to reconcile data-driven insights with creative intuition. In this episode, the hosts and guests explore the claim that "the audience wishes we made it easier for them to study relationships," sparking a deep dive into character relationships, identification, and the move from stories about "me" to stories about "us." The discussion examines whether audiences have a deeper appetite for social dynamics than the industry currently serves, offering unique insights into how a leading producer and a prominent international sales company are currently interpreting these trends across the European and global market. Dries Phlypo is a producer at A Private View. Tine Klint is the founder and CEO of LevelK Film Sales. Niels Alberg is the Co-founder and Partner at PUBLIKUM. Rikke Flodin is a Partner at PUBLIKUM and an expert in audience research. 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 co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA.

The Claim by PUBLIKUM - Which Audience Insights to Trust #3

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]. This podcast episode was made in collaboration with PUBLIKUM. In a new collaborative series with PUBLIKUM titled "The Claim" the podcast brings together leading industry voices to debate findings from AI-driven audience research. Hosted by Niels Alberg and Rikke Flodin from PUBLIKUM, each session recorded live during the EFM challenges experts to reconcile data-driven insights with creative intuition. In this episode, the hosts and guests explore the claim that "the audience wishes we would focus more on characters," sparking a deep dive into character development, backstories, and the balance between inner and outer journeys. The discussion examines whether audiences are more invested in characters than the industry currently assumes, offering unique insights into how two of Zentropa's leading producers are thinking about character-driven storytelling and what it means for audience experience, artistic vision, and marketing. Sisse Graum Jørgensen is a producer at Zentropa. Mikael Rieks is a producer at Zentropa. Niels Alberg is the Co-founder and Partner at PUBLIKUM. Rikke Flodin is a Partner at PUBLIKUM and an expert in audience research. 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 co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA.

The Claim by PUBLIKUM - Which Audience Insights to Trust #2

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]. This podcast episode was made in collaboration with PUBLIKUM. In a new collaborative series with PUBLIKUM titled "The Claim" the podcast brings together leading industry voices to debate findings from AI-driven audience research. Hosted by Niels Alberg and Rikke Flodin from PUBLIKUM, each session recorded live during the EFM challenges experts to reconcile data-driven insights with creative intuition. In this episode, the hosts and guests explore the claim that "the audience wishes we would mix more tropes with art and originality," sparking a deep dive into narrative framing, storytelling conventions, and the balance between familiarity and surprise. The discussion examines how audiences are drawn to stories that offer both orientation and the unexpected, offering unique insights into how producers and distributors are currently navigating these dynamics from both a creative and market perspective. Sol Bondy is a producer at One Two Films. Jan Krüger is a distributor and producer at Port Au Prince. Niels Alberg is the Co-founder and Partner at PUBLIKUM. Rikke Flodin is a Partner at PUBLIKUM and an expert in audience research. 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 co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA.