Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast is presented by the European Film Market of the Berlinale. Hosted by senior documentary editor of Deadline.com, Matt Carey, it offers a compelling deep dive into the evolving dynamics of documentary filmmaking worldwide - from creative and financial challenges in production to the fast-changing realities of distribution across festivals, broadcasters, and global streaming platforms.

Join us for the latest episode of Industry Insights - The EFM Podcast. Today’s conversation, “Shifting Grounds: Navigating Documentary Production and Distribution”, examines the pressing challenges and emerging opportunities shaping the documentary community today.

With guests Ove Rishøj Jensen (Nordisk Film & TV Fund) and Geralyn White Dreyfous (Impact Partners, Jolt.film), the discussion highlights how pitching forums are changing, why public support for independent voices remains vital, and how streaming platforms and algorithms are reshaping access to audiences. Together, they reflect on the resilience of documentary storytelling and the importance of safeguarding creative independence in a rapidly consolidating industry.

Geralyn White Dreyfous is an Academy Award–winning producer with a distinguished background in the arts. Her producing and executive producing credits include the Academy Award–winning NAVALNY (2022) and BORN INTO BROTHELS (2004), the Academy Award–nominated and Peabody Award–winning THE INVISIBLE WAR (2012), the Academy Award–nominated and Emmy Award–winning THE SQUARE (2013), and the Emmy Award–winning 16 SHOTS (2019). She also worked on acclaimed titles such as WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? (2018) and THE GREAT HACK (2019). Geralyn stands as Founder and Board Chair of Utah Film Center, Co-Founder of Impact Partners, and a founding member of Gamechanger Films. She has been recognized by Variety and the International Documentary Association for her significant contribution to documentary filmmaking.

**Ove Rishøj Jensen **has been active in the international documentary sector since 2003 and has built an extensive network within the industry. Since November 2025, Ove has been working as a Documentary Advisor for the Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

Matthew Carey, host of this episode, serves as Senior Documentary Editor at Deadline.com, covering the landscape of nonfiction film. He co-hosts and produces Deadline’s weekly Doc Talk podcast, winner of a Webby Award. Formerly, he served as Senior Producer at CNN in Los Angeles, where he wrote and produced documentary specials and oversaw production of CNN’s live Oscar red carpet specials, coverage of the Sundance Film Festival and other events. Carey earned two Peabody Awards and a DuPont-Columbia Award for his contributions to CNN’s coverage of politics and breaking news. 

More nonfiction perspectives will also be shared onsite at the upcoming DocSalon, running from February 13–17 during the European Film Market in Berlin. DocSalon returns with expert-led consultations, roundtables, panel conversations, and daily networking sessions. Together with its main partner FilmFernsehFonds Bayern and media partner Deadline, DocSalon will welcome you at Café Connect in the Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion and Reconciliation – the closest EFM building next to the Gropius.

The Berlinale’s European Film Market 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.

Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast is presented by the European Film Market of the Berlinale. Hosted by curator, moderator, and founder of The Catalysts, AC Coppens, it offers a fascinating deep dive into how the worlds of gaming and filmmaking intersect.

Join us for the latest episode of Industry Insights - The EFM Podcast. Today’s conversation, “Level Up: Bridging the Worlds of Gaming and Filmmaking” was recorded during the EFM Industry Sessions last February and explores how these two creative industries can learn from one another, collaborate, and push boundaries together.

As the gaming industry continues to flourish and captivate ever-growing audiences, its fast-evolving technologies and innovative practices are setting new standards for other creative fields. This session explores how filmmakers can draw inspiration from gaming’s approaches to storytelling, audience engagement, skill development, production pipelines, and business strategies to expand both creative and commercial horizons.

Christina Caspers is General Manager at TRIXTER and Executive Producer at the Cinesite Group, one of Europe’s leading VFX studios. She oversees productions from acquisition to delivery and drives the integration of cutting-edge technologies into creative workflows. Previously, she was Managing Director at Dark Bay, Europe’s largest virtual production stage, where she supervised projects including Netflix’s 1899. With a strong background in VFX and XR, Christina has contributed to major titles such as The Sandman, Loki, The Marvels, and Foundation. She is also co-founder of the Institute of Immersive Media (IIM), an NGO connecting creative and technical aspects of film production.

Igor Simic is a Serbian-American artist, who graduated from Columbia University in New York with a double-major in Film Studies and Philosophy. His short films were screened and awarded at film festivals, but also at art institutions, such as Kunsthalle Mainz, Ulm Museum, Chateau de Montsoreau, The Art Institute of Chicago, Hygiene Museum Dresden, etc. The short film Melancholic Drone received the First Prize at Loop Barcelona in 2016. Simic is represented by Gallery Anita Beckers in Frankfurt. As the creative director and CEO, Simic co-founded the gaming company Demagog Studio, which created Golf Club: Wasteland (aka Golf Club: Nostalgia) that was featured by Apple in 2018 and shown at Lo Schermo dell'arte in Florence, Manifesta 14, Klemm's gallery in Berlin and Smilers in New York. The studio created two more games in the same world: The Cub, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival 2022 and Highwater in 2023 for Netflix. Simic is a tutor and moderator for world-building at Berlinale Talents and at Sarajevo Film Festival's Innovation Forum.

Mafalda Duarte is an international community leader with a background in game development, transmedia storytelling, and studio leadership. Formerly Studio Director at Telescope Game Studios in Germany, she worked on multiple projects for the Whale Singer story universe and an award-winning demo for the new IP Summer Camp. She is Chair of IGDA Berlin and a Board Member of the IGDA HQ, where she supports global community initiatives and inclusive industry practices.

Maite Woköck has extensive experience in animated feature film and series development, financing and production. Her credits include PETRONELLA APPLEWITCH – THE SERIES (for Akkord Film / ZDF), TWO BY TWO and NIKO 2 – LITTLE BROTHER, BIG TROUBLE (for Ulysses Film) and many more. With her company Ella Film she produced the animated feature film MY FAIRY TROUBLEMAKER. She is a graduate of EAVE, EAVE+ and the Academy for Children’s Media. In 2021 she was nominated as Producer on the Move for Germany by European Film Promotion. Since 2022 she is the chairwoman for animation in the Producer’s Alliance Germany.

AC Coppens host of this episode, is the founder of THE CATALYSTS, a Berlin-based agency dedicated to supporting the growth of innovative and creative companies working at the intersection of digital media, technology, film, music, and design. Blending critical thinking, creative strategy, and future-oriented research, AC is a seasoned moderator and speaker at major international events.

The Berlinale’s European Film Market 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.

Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast is presented by the European Film Market of the Berlinale. Hosted by Curator, Moderator and Founder of The Catalysts, AC Coppens, it puts a spotlight on highly topical and trend setting industry issues, creating a compass for the forthcoming film year.

Join us for the latest episode of Industry Insights - Today’s episode focuses on “Marketing that Works: Tools and Tactics to Move the Needle” - a super interesting conversation which took place as part of the EFM Industry Sessions last February.

Adriana Trautman is a highly regarded marketing strategist with an impressive track record at Amazon, Paramount, and Fox. With 25 years of experience in global strategy, marketing, and programming, she brings deep expertise across major studios and streaming platforms - covering everything from Hollywood blockbusters to K-Dramas, live-action to animation, and arthouse films.

Joanna Solecka is a seasoned Film Marketing Strategist and Awards Consultant with over 20 years of experience in the film marketing field. She is a co-owner of an international film marketing agency Alphapanda, where she specializes in strategies and award campaigns that elevate films to critical acclaim. Joanna has successfully managed notable awards campaigns for films such as The Girl with the Needle (Academy Awards Nomination ’25), Apolonia, Apolonia (Academy Awards Shortlist ’24), Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (European Film Awards Winner ’23), Flee (Academy Awards Nominee ’22; European Film Awards Winner ’21), and Joanna (Academy Awards Nominee ’15).

Marina Kosten is a senior research and strategy executive with broad experience across entertainment and gaming. At USC Annenberg, She works as a Digital Futures Researcher, focusing on market and audience insights.

AC Coppens, host of this episode, is the founder of THE CATALYSTS, a Berlin-based agency dedicated to supporting the growth of innovative and creative companies working at the intersection of digital media, technology, film, music, and design. Their work focuses particularly on the challenges of entering new markets.

The Berlinale’s European Film Market 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.

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 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 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.

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)

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 is available as a free download.

The Berlinale’s European Film Market 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 and co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA.

Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast is presented by the European Film Market of the Berlinale. 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 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 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 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 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 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 of the Berlinale - hosted by industry analyst Johanna Koljonen and curator-producer Nadia Denton, it delves deep into the rapidly evolving film industry.

Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast is presented by the European Film Market of the Berlinale. Hosted by editor and journalist Michael Schneider, it delves deep into the rapidly evolving film industry.

In this episode, we bring together a diverse group of industry experts for a dynamic conversation about the ever-evolving world of TV series. We delve into what makes a series truly international—what allows a show to break through cultural and language barriers and resonate with audiences worldwide? Is it the warmth of relatable characters that audiences are seeking during challenging times, or is it the exploration of social-political issues and dystopian themes that capture our collective attention? Ultimately, the answer lies in universally compelling stories that speak to viewers beyond the confines of a single market. While it may be a tougher feat for comedy, there’s a clear call for future series to transcend these boundaries and reach a global audience.

In this discussion, Anna Rohde, Steve Matthews, Maria Cervera, and Paul Telegdy offer their unique perspectives on the international series market, providing predictions on where global audiences are headed next. They also explore the current trends shaping the industry, including the impact of financial shifts. Tune in to hear the experts tackle the future of series content and its journey across the globe.

The Berlinale Series Market is the EFM’s boutique market for serial content from all over the world. From February 16 to 19, industry experts, creatives, buyers and distributors will meet again at CinemaxX at Potsdamer Platz and Gropius Bau.

Steve Matthews is the Head of Scripted, Creative, at Banijay Entertainment, where he plays a pivotal role in the group’s production development process, leading on creative initiatives for original drama projects. Before joining Banijay Entertainment, Matthews was VP and Executive Producer, Scripted, at HBO Europe, having joined the business back in 2014. In that post, he partnered with local teams across Central Europe, Spain and Nordics, to spearhead the development of original series, miniseries, and international adaptations. His portfolio included Pustina, Umbre, Blinded By The Lights, Uspjeh, The Sleepers, Foodie Love, Gösta; and from Banijay Entertainment’s footprint specifically, 30 Coins (Pokeepsie), Beforeigners (Rubicon), and Beartown (Filmlance). Additionally, Matthews is dedicated to mentoring talent, and set up Banijay Bootcamp, a specific programme for scripted creatives.

Before joining Germany’s distribution and production house Beta Film GmbH as International Creative Executive & Content Editor, Anna Rohde studied dramaturgy, philosophy, and literature at Munich's Theatre Academy and at Ludwig Maximilian University Munich. Before her studies, she worked as assistant director in many national and international TV and feature films. She is member of Germany’s VeDRA (Verband für Film- und Fernsehdramaturgie e.V.), jury member of e.g. the International Emmy’s semi-finals, the Council of Europe Eurimages development award and – among others - mentor of SFF’s (Sarajevo Film Festival) CineLink workshop, the post-graduate Serial Eyes writing program. As content editor, she has been working on many internationally successful shows from the CEE region, most recently on the multi-awarded THE SILENCE (2021-2023) and GOLDEN BOY (2021), Jasmila Zbanic’s Venice premiered I KNOW YOUR SOUL (2023), and the Canneseries-awarded OPERATION SABRE (2024).

Maria Cervera is Head of Content for Cattleya Producciones, part of ITV Studios in Spain. During her 20 year+ professional path she has focused on series development and production for local and international markets, with previous roles at Paramount’s International TV Studio as Head of Content for EMEAA and within the Netflix International team. She also teaches at several writing programs including Berlin’s Serial Eyes and Spain’s screenwriters’ guild-sponsored master.

Paul Telegdy has worked across all genres of content, on brands as diverse as Top Gear, Teletubbies, Dr Who, The Voice and Planet Earth, to name a handful. Paul worked at NBCUniversal for 12 years, becoming Chairman of NBC in 2019, before that the BBC for ten years. In 2021, Paul co-founded The Whole Spiel, a media, entertainment, and gaming company based in Berlin and Los Angeles. With a degree in Korean and Japanese, and having lived in Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Japan, The US and the UK, Paul has a distinctly global view of content and opportunity.

The host Michael Schneider has been covering the business of television for more than 25 years — most of that time at Variety, where he oversees television coverage as its TV Editor. Schneider has won several entertainment journalism awards and also regularly contributes to local outlets including Spectrum News 1 and KCRW. He was previously Executive Editor at IndieWire; the Chief Content Officer for TV Guide Magazine; and TV Editor at Daily Variety. Mike regularly moderates industry and TV show panels at events including Comic-Con, PaleyFest, HRTS, NATPE and others, and once won a staring contest with Jon Hamm on the Dolby Theatre stage.

This podcast episode has been developed in collaboration with Variety.

The Berlinale’s European Film Market 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 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 Diana Lodderhose from Deadline, followed by our "what's on for today" to help you navigate our EFM Industry Sessions 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 of the Berlinale - hosted by industry analyst Johanna Koljonen and curator-producer Nadia Denton, it delves deep into the rapidly evolving film industry.