looking back ... 1999
an idea is born
Initiated by the media spokesman for the Prime-Minister of Brandenburg, the Wirtschaftsförderung Brandenburg hosts a “Cottbus Film Industry Trade Platform“. Along with the Filmboard Berlin-Brandenburg, the Ministry of Economics of Brandenburg, and the FilmFestival Cottbus, film and TV producers - as well as representatives of television broadcasters - meet near Potsdam for the first time for a workshop on the potential and problems of the film industry in Germany and Eastern Europe.
Three months later, Cottbus itself is the venue of a day-long film industry conference. “NETWORKING - The Central and Eastern-European Film and TV Industry“ presents commercial successes in East Europe (with examples from Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary), and statements are made by the German film and TV industry. The programme is rounded off with individual conversations and video screenings.
Filmecho/Filmwoche later reports: “More Central and Eastern European producers travelled to the Cottbus Networking-Conversation than had been anticipated. The conference room in the Festival‘s Hotel "Sorat" was filled to the last seat.“ (Filmecho/Filmwoche 47/99)
A good reason to repeat the invitation!
