AUDIENCE & MARKET STRATEGIES (AMS)

The training programme Audience & Market Strategies enables independent producers to tackle the challenges they face in an ever-changing industry. It allows them to understand the dynamics of the market and find new audiences for their films. With AMS, participants learn to shape their movies into unique works and to promote their projects at a very early state.

Audience & Market Strategies is a 3-module workshop designed for producers and other industry professionals who wish to increase their marketing and distribution skills. It helps them to access platforms and a network with renowned experts.

At the end of the workshop, producers will be given the opportunity to pitch their projects in front of an international jury at the Zurich Film Festival.

Workshop

The three Audience & Market Strategies modules consist of open lectures, brainstorming in the group, one-to-one meetings with the experts, research phases and individual work on the participants’ film projects.

Module 1

Audience

Pitch photo

20-24 March 2022

Interlaken/CH

The first module focuses on defining the audience for the assigned film project. During the 5-day workshop, participants will work on various topics related to the release of the film project concerned. Under the guidance of international experts, they will start to develop a tailor-made communication and marketing strategy for their films.

 At the end of module 1, participants will have specified a national and international title, a logline, a synopsis, a list of key scenes for still photography, a mood board for the artwork and a rough P&A draft for the Swiss release. They will have a first draft of the visual identity and ideas for the poster design. Furthermore, exhibition and VOD opportunities are explored.

Module 2

Market

19-22 June 2022

Weggis/CH

The second module focuses on accessing the market and going international with the film. During the 4-day workshop, participants have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the market structures and the role of festivals when building a successful international career. Top industry experts share their views on the upcoming changes and explain what has to be done to adapt market, festival and distribution strategies for independent films.

At the end of module 2, participants are expected to have an international marketing strategy, a festival and sales strategy and a sales pitch outline. The workshop includes expert presentations, one-to-one sessions with advisers and daily debriefings.

Module 3

Pitching

Photo audience

22-23 September 2022

Zurich/CH

During this 2-day module, producers prepare their presentations for the pitching event at the Zurich Film Festival. They will present their film projects and their market strategies in front of top-class industry experts; this will be followed by a discussion and a networking drink. In addition to the pitching training and presentation, the workshop will include master classes focusing on trends and evolutions taking place in the industry.

EXPERTS

The workshop gives participants the opportunity to discuss their projects with sales, marketing, VOD platform, festival, distribution and PR experts. Speakers and experts are chosen for their expertise in their respective field and for their ability to share their know-how and to support producers.

Wiebke Andresen

DCM

Clémence Lavigne

THE PARTY FILM SALES

Diana Bolzonello Garnier

BOLZONELLO GARNIER

Roshanak Behesht Nedjad

IN GOOD COMPANY

ADRIEK VAN NIEUWENHUIJZEN

IDFA

Deborah Rowland

UK National Film
and Television School

ANDREAS WILDFANG

EYZ MEDIA & CONTENTSCOP

PAUL WILSON

YELLOW

LYSANN WINDISCH

MUBI Germany

Heidi Zwicker

SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

PARTICIPANTS

CORINNA DÄSTNER

DOKLAB GMBH

AZRA DJURDJEVIC

Filmgerberei

NADINE LÜCHINGER

Filmgerberei

NÚRIA GYSIN

Contrast Film

JUDITH LICHTNECKERT

Emilia Productions & Perron X

CAROLINE MEIER

Milan Film

CYRILL GERBER

Milan Film

DARIO SCHOCH

Catpics AG

FRANZISKA SONDER

Ensemble Film

AMEL SOUDANI

Amka Films Productions

HEAD OF STUDIES

Barbie Heusinger

Mathias Noschis