Since 2017, the EFM’s Country in Focus initiative has spotlighted significant film regions around the world, offering in-depth insights into their creative industries while fostering international exchange and collaboration.

South Africa has been selected as the Country in Focus for the upcoming edition of the Berlinale European Film Market (EFM). As one of Africa’s most globally integrated and diversified economies, South Africa is home to a dynamic and internationally connected film industry that combines creative excellence, strong production capabilities and growing global market relevance.

With internationally acclaimed filmmakers, diverse storytelling traditions, world-class crews and competitive production infrastructure, the country has established itself as a key partner for the international film and media industry.

The European Film Market will take place from February 10 to 16, 2027 as part of the 77th Berlin International Film Festival.

South African cinema has long been part of the Berlinale’s history. Over the past decades, South African filmmakers and productions have regularly been represented across the festival and market programmes, reflecting the country’s creative diversity and international resonance. In 2005, U-Carmen eKhayelitsha by Mark Dornford-May became the first South African film to win the Berlinale’s Golden Bear, marking a milestone in the festival’s relationship with the country’s cinema.

“South Africa’s designation as the European Film Market’s ‘Country in Focus’ for 2027 reflects both its longstanding relationship with the Berlinale and the extraordinary vitality of its film industry. South African cinema brings together powerful storytelling, remarkable creative voices and a strong international outlook. We are excited to shine a spotlight on a film culture that continues to shape global conversations and to create new opportunities for collaboration between South African and international partners at the EFM”, says Festival Director Tricia Tuttle.

South Africa continues to attract international productions through its exceptional combination of creative talent, experienced crews, advanced production services and highly varied locations — from cosmopolitan cities and dramatic coastlines to arid landscapes, mountains and wildlife reserves.

Combined with favourable weather conditions, efficient logistics, sophisticated financial and technical infrastructure and other attractive enticements, the country has become one of the world’s most sought-after filming destinations.

“The European Film Market’s focus on South Africa highlights a dynamic, globally competitive film industry that offers diverse storytelling, strong co-production opportunities and a strategic gateway for international partners seeking to engage with African markets”, says Tanja Meissner, Director Berlinale Pro. “At the EFM, cultural visibility meets concrete market potential. The programme will connect South African talent, projects and companies with international buyers, financiers, producers and platforms, while also opening new pathways for long-term collaboration.”

Beyond its strength as a production hub, South Africa’s cinema is internationally recognised for its compelling and multifaceted storytelling. Drawing from the country’s rich cultural heritage, complex history and contemporary social realities, South African filmmakers continue to bring bold and distinctive perspectives to global audiences and festival screens alike.

“This is more than recognition, it is an invitation. South Africa brings to the European Film Market an exceptional combination of creative talent, production capability and stories drawn from one of the world’s most compelling cultural landscapes. We are open for collaboration, co-production and investment and we are confident that those who engage with our industry at the Berlinale will leave with a deeper appreciation of what South Africa offers as a creative and commercial partner. From U-Carmen eKhayelitsha to The Heart Is a Muscle, the world is experiencing authentic South African storytelling in all its layers. Our commitment as government is to ensure that the working relations and co-productions foster growth for all involved. Furthermore, addressing the challenges that have affected our filmmakers’ ability to produce at scale is being addressed”, says Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton Mckenzie.

“This moment is a great testament to the growth of the South African film industry. This opportunity reflects many years of effort by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) team and we are thrilled to elevate the deserving South African filmmakers. It comes at such an opportune time where storytelling through film is being tested by socio-economic challenges that need to be told in ways that balance truth and hope. This European Film Market of the Berlinale will give our filmmakers the platform to showcase the diversity of our nation and connect our stories to those of the global community. The NFVF will continue to ensure that South African filmmakers who produce films which resonate globally, have access to platforms such as the Berlinale,” adds Onke Dumeko, Acting CEO of the NFVF.

Since 2017, the EFM’s Country in Focus initiative has spotlighted significant film regions around the world, offering in-depth insights into their creative industries while fostering international exchange and collaboration.

Following previous showcases dedicated to countries and regions including Mexico, Canada, Norway, Chile, the Baltic States, Italy, Spain and Morocco, the 2027 edition will place South Africa’s vibrant film landscape at the heart of the market.

The programme aims to create new opportunities for dialogue and cooperation between South African and international producers, distributors, investors, broadcasters, streamers and filmmakers across all genres and formats — from arthouse cinema and documentaries to commercial productions, series, animation and emerging media.

La entrada South Africa Will be the Country in Focus at the EFM During the 2027 Berlinale se publicó primero en TTV News.

The 76th Berlin International Film Festival will take place from February 12 to 22 of next year.

The 76th Berlin International Film Festival will take place from February 12 to 22, 2026.

The festival’s professional and industry activities, European Film Market / EFM (Feb. 11–18, 2026), the Berlinale Co-Production Market (Feb. 14-17, 2026), Berlinale Talents (Feb. 13–18, 2026) and the World Cinema Fund Day (Feb. 17, 2026) will once again take place under the banner of Berlinale Pro.

“After the great success of this year’s anniversary edition, we are now starting to plan for 2026. We look forward to once again celebrating cinema with the film industry and audiences and to being a platform for the global film industry,” says Berlinale Director Tricia Tuttle.

The 75th Berlin International Film Festival, which took place in February of this year, registered 19,000 accredited professionals (including press) who attended the festival, while 336,000 tickets were sold to the public, slightly more than 2024.

The eight sections of the festival offered the audience a diverse film programme and around 340 audience discussions with the film teams across approximately 1,000 public screenings during the Berlinale.

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Besides Reincarnate, Globo is present at the Berlinale with the feature film O Último Azul, by Gabriel Mascaro, a Globo Filmes coproduction.

The first Globoplay Original horror series, Reincarnate will make its world premiere next Tuesday, the 18th, at 2:30 pm, on CinemaxX 4, during the 11th edition of the Berlinale Series Market.

Created by a collective formed by Juan Jullian, Igor Verde, Elísio Lopes Jr, Amanda Jordão and Flávia Lacerda, Reincarnate’is produced by Estúdios Globo and has artistic direction by Bruno Safadi.

One of the 17 productions chosen worldwide for the event, Reincarnate will be attended by the author Juan Jullian, the artistic director Bruno Safadi and the Guinean actor Welket Bungué, known for movies like Berlin Alexanderplatz and Crimes of the Future, on the first worldwide screening of the series.

“The European Film Market is an important guide to the narratives that are generating interest worldwide. And one of the aims of Reincarnate is to be a radically Brazilian narrative, offering a disruptive perspective on a contemporary and complex theme: the construction of identity. The invitation to premiere in Berlin confirms this aim and gives us an opportunity to tell this story at an event that brings together various players from the global audiovisual industry in a grand festive gathering of storytellers,” says Igor Verde, one of the creators of the series.

The story brings moments of tension in its nine episodes, with scenes of graphic horror; touches of romance and desire; and existential questions. If the life of the person you love most is hanging by a thread, are there limits to saving them? For Feliciano (Enrique Diaz), the answer is no.

The death of some can be a second chance for others. For over 20 years, since his wife Cássia’s (Simone Spoladore) first stroke, the surgeon has been looking for alternatives to save her from death. To achieve this, he is willing to go to extremes, with questionable consequences.

In addition to a strong Brazilian cast formed by Taís Araujo (A Mother’s Love), Julia Dalavia (Pantanal), and Enrique Diaz (A Mother’s Love), the work also features the Guinean Welket Bungué and the Portuguese Isabél Zuaa.

“The Berlinale is one of the greatest movie festivals in the world, it has enormous tradition and respect. The history of cinema passes through its screens and, in recent years, Berlin has opened up space at its festival for series. Reincarnate is a Brazilian production and premiering it at the Berlinale is the best start we could hope for,” says Bruno.

Besides Reincarnate, Globo is present at the Berlinale with the feature film O Último Azul, by Gabriel Mascaro, a Globo Filmes coproduction that is in the Festival’s official running, competing for the Golden Bear. The film was screened on Sunday, the 16th, at 3:30 pm.

“In the year in which we celebrate 100 years of history, it is very significant to have two Globo works helping to bring Brazilian talent to the Berlin Festival. Before being a media company, we are storytellers and our presence at the festival is a reflection of that. We increasingly want to inspire new audiences with our productions and show our ability to create stories that travel the world,” says Alex Medeiros, Head of Drama, Documentaries, and Films at Globoplay Originals.

La entrada Globoplay’s Horror Series, Reincarnate, Makes Its World Premiere in Berlin se publicó primero en TTV News.

Atresmedia TV International Sales, the international distributor of Zorras and Déjate Ver, will be present at the Berlinale Series Market from February 19 to 21.

Atresplayer’s original series, Déjate Ver (Show Yourself) and Zorras (Tramps), have been selected by the prestigious Berlinale festival in the Series Market Selects section. Both Atresmedia’s fictions are among the 10/16 series chosen worldwide by the Berlinale programmers for being titles that stand out for their quality and potential in the international market among many projects submitted from around the world.

In this way, both Zorras and Déjate Ver will have a special screening during the event under the umbrella and seal of selection of Berlinale, connecting potential buyers with distributors to reach a global audience.

Atresmedia TV International Sales, in addition to being the global distributor of the selected films, will be present at the Berlinale Series Market, which will take place in Berlin from February 19 to 21.

Déjate ver (Show Yourself) is produced by Atresmedia Televisión in collaboration with Buendía Estudios. Montse García, Álvaro Carmona, Sonia Martínez, and Borja Echevarría are the executive producers of the project, and Lucía Alonso-Allende is the co-executive producer.

Created by Álvaro Carmona and starring Macarena Sanz, Déjate ver (Show Yourself) is a dramatic comedy with an author’s stamp and a marked personality that revolves around the search for oneself and the need to transcend in today’s world. With this idea as a starting point, the series addresses issues such as the concept and identity, personal fulfillment, the world of art and entertainment, loneliness, the idea of family, or the current relationship with technology, offering the viewer a fresh, new, and witty point of view.

Atresmedia Televisión produces Zorras (Tramps) in collaboration with Morena Films. Montse García and Merry Colomer are the project’s executive producers, María Soler is the associate producer, and Lucía Alonso-Allende is the executive co-producer.

Based on the literary work by Noemí Casquet, Zorras (Tramps) is a story of friendship and sorority, an erotic-festive, punky, tender, and funny tragicomedy in which we will discover over eight episodes the story of three friends who will live together a sexual revolution that will change their lives forever. Three women ready to take on the world, three free girls who will overcome their fears and experience significant life changes together.

La entrada Atresplayer’s originals, Déjate Ver and Zorras selected at the Berlinale se publicó primero en TTV News.

The hit series, produced by VIS, RTVE and Onza, took home top honors in the Best Screenplay category at the Berlin TV Series Festival.

Parot, the hit series produced by VIS, a division of ViacomCBS, in association with RTVE and in collaboration with Onza, brings home top honors in the Best Screenplay category at the Berlin TV Series Festival. The series recently premiered in Latin America exclusively on Paramount+ and will soon premiere in Spain on TVE, after having been available on Amazon Prime Video in the region.

“It was an exciting project for our studio to develop Parot, with its amazing caliber of actors and creators who worked together to bring this engaging story to life,” said Federico Cuervo, Senior Vice President and Director of VIS Americas. “We are thrilled that this amazing project has been recognized by such an esteemed jury of internationally recognized industry critics at the Berlin TV Series Festival.”

“We are very happy and grateful for this award to Parot,” commented Gonzalo Sagradia, CEO of ONZA and Executive Producer of the series. “My sincere congratulations to the entire writing team. Their undeniable talent has shown through and we are very proud of the magnificent work that they have created.”

Parot stars Adriana Ugarte, Javier Albalá, Ivan Massagué, Blanca Portillo, Patricia Vico, Nicole Wallace and Michel Brown. It was directed by Rafael Montesinos and Gustavo Ron and created by Pilar Nadal, Alonso Laporta Luis Murillo A. and Luis Murillo M., who were scriptwriters on the series alongside Olga Salvador and Mauricio Romero.

Parot is a 10-episode sociopolitical thriller based on the controversial annulment of the Parot doctrine by the Strasbourg Court in 2013 which, limited or reduced prisoners’ sentences for work and studies and released almost a hundred terrorists, rapists, and multiple killers into society. Many of those released were later found murdered in the same way as their own victims. The investigation of these murders is led by Isabel Mora, an idealistic, professional, and rigorous inspector, with a traumatic past, and by her colleague Jorge Nieto, a cynical and disillusioned policeman who constantly complains about the system.

La entrada Parot Wins Best Screenplay at Berlin Series Festival se publicó primero en TTV News.

The hit series produced by VIS, RTVE and Onza, has been selected as a finalist in the Drama Series category.

The fifth edition of the Berlin Series Festival announced that Parot, the hit series produced by VIS, RTVE and Onza, has been selected as a finalist in the Drama Series category. The series premiered in Spain on Amazon Prime Video, recently, in Latin America exclusively on Paramount+, and will soon premiere in Spain on TVE.

The Berlin Series Festival is held annually in the city of the same name to honor the best series, television shows, talents, content creators and filmmakers from around the world who are chosen by an internationally recognized jury.

“We are proud to once again be finalists of this prestigious international festival that is characterized by awarding the best content and creators from around the world,” said Federico Cuervo, Senior Vice President & Head of VIS Americas. “Parot is the perfect example of our studio’s commitment to creating quality stories alongside top talent.”

“I’m thrilled Parot has been selected as finalist of the Berlin Series Festival”, said Gonzalo Sagardia CEO of Onza. “The series offers an interesting evolution from the classic whodunit to a dramatic thriller, where the plot offers a more powerful and personal journey than simply revealing the killer. Congratulations to both the creative and technical crews for their fantastic work”.

Parot is a 10-episode sociopolitical thriller based on the controversial annulment of the Parot doctrine by the Strasbourg Court in 2013 which, limited or reduced prisoners’ sentences for work and studies and released almost a hundred terrorists, rapists, and multiple killers. Many of those released were later found murdered in the same way as their own victims. The investigation of these murders is led by Isabel Mora, an idealistic, professional and rigorous inspector, with a traumatic past, and by her colleague Jorge Nieto, a cynical and disillusioned policeman who continually rants against the system and how it debunks decades of police work.

Parot stars Adriana Ugarte, Javier Albalá, Ivan Massagué, Blanca Portillo, Patricia Vico Michel Brown and Nicole Wallace. It was created by Pilar Nadal and directed by Rafael Montesinos and Gustavo Ron.

La entrada Parot Is a Finalist at the Berlin Series Festival se publicó primero en TTV News.

The Berlin TV Festival unveiled its official selection of series for its competition, including a title from Argentina (Los internacionales), one from Mexico (R) and another from Spain (La línea invisible).

The Berlin TV Festival, known as the Berlin Series, released its official selection for its 2020 edition, which will take place between September 23 and 27 in the German capital.

And in it three titles from Latin America and one from Spain stand out.

From Latin America appears the Argentina-Colombia co-production Los internacionales, a police series co-produced by Viacom International Studios, The Mediapro Studio, Telecom and Olympusat.

Also Mexican series R, produced by Viacom International Studios and broadcast on Paramount Network and Claro Video.

And, out of competition but part of the official sample, there’s Inconvivencia, by Kuartzo Entertainment Argentina for Telefe.

From Spain, meanwhile, comes La línea invisible, by Sentido Films in collaboration with Corte y Confección de Films for Movistar+.

They must compete against heavyweights such as Poco Ortodoxa (Germany) and Freud (Austria).

The competitive selection also includes The Chef (Israel), MaPa (Germany), Operation Buffalo (Australia), My Funeral (Iceland), Sloborn (Germany), A Perfect Crime (Germany) and Noughts + Crosses (UK).

La entrada Series from Argentina, Mexico and Spain Selected for Berlin Series se publicó primero en TTV News.

The Globoplay original series, developed by Globo Studios, were selected to be displayed at the Berlin Series Market & Conference, along with other Globo productions and formats.

Globo announced its Globoplay original series Unsoul and Where My Heart Is, developed by Globo Studios, were selected to be displayed at the 70th edition of Berlinale.

The first episodes of the series, which were recently launched in the international market at Natpe Miami last week, will be displayed during the Berlin Series Market & Conference, as well as other great titles of short formats, such as Harassment, Vade Retro, The Wise Ones and Supermax, which already won over the festival and gave room to the Brazilian productions in Europe.

Where My Heart Is, written by George Moura and Sergio Goldenberg, brings the dark world of chemical addiction in a way that was not often explored before, far away from the marginalization of drugs, the key plot revolves around a promising resident physician who searches for crack cocaine to relief the pressures in her life.

With artistic supervision of José Villamarim and direction of Luisa Lima, the series shows a true personal war against addiction, with the choices and resignations of the protagonist, played by the actress Leticia Colin. The directing duo repeats the successful partnership already seen in plots like The Party, Above Justice and Land of the Strong.

“We are thrilled with the series Where My Heart Is, because, even before the premiere on Globoplay, it was already selected to one of the most important festivals in the world, the Berlin International Film Festival. It is a dream come true. And it is very nice when Brazil is able to become visible to the world, not due to corruption or fires in forests, but because of a plot that approaches universal topics, like family, love and chemical addiction”, said the authors and screenwriters George Moura and Sergio Goldenberg.

The series’ director, Luísa Lima, added: “I am very glad and my heart races to know that the series has crossed the ocean and touched the people who take care of such a complex and diverse selection, such as the Berlin International Film Festival. There are so many things happening in the world, and knowing we make a difference is a breath of fresh air to keep on fighting for a society that reflects and represents art on our current concerns, relationships and the human condition.”

“It was an intense year of dedication and hard work to tell the story of a family who sees themselves face to face with a very common topic today: chemical addiction and affection. As the director, on my first solo work, I am exhilarated to be able to dialog with productions from all over the world. It is amazing!”.

Globo bets on a new genre with Unsoul, a supernatural drama set in the small and mysterious town of Brígida, a Ukrainian colonization community in the countryside of Brazil, where an event from 30 years prior returns to haunt the population. Written by Ana Paula Maia, who signs her first audiovisual work, the series has the artistic direction of Carlos Manga Jr., the same director of Aruanas and If I Close My Eyes Now, nominated to the 2019 International Emmy Awards on the category “Best Limited Series”.

“Seeing the series selected to a festival like this fills me with joy and gratitude! I hope people can be touched and get involved so deeply, as I did when I wrote this story full of challenges and mysteries. ‘Unsoul’ can is part of the program of one of the most important festivals in the world, proving that all our efforts to make this project come true are starting to pay off”, celebrates the author Ana Paula Maia.

Carlos Manga Jr., the series’ director, said: “The Berlin International Film Festival is one of the most sophisticated events in the audiovisual market and being a part of it exceeds any expectation. It gathers two opposite things that, together, create something very peculiar: it has tradition and contemporary aspects at the same time.”

“The requirements to enter the festival are high and full of fundaments and, at every edition, this outlook is maintained on dramaturgy, new languages or production awareness. This makes the festival unique. Now, it is time to enjoy this moment of ‘Unsoul’ and make it become timeless”.

La entrada Globo series Unsoul and Where My Heart Is to Be Screened at the Berlinale se publicó primero en TTV News.