The Berlinale’s European Film Market (EFM) has unveiled a major overhaul of its 2026 programme, which will include for the first time the EFM Animation Days, new pitching and training sessions, and the strengthening of strategic partnerships and connections with diverse creative sectors. The standout addition is the launch of EFM Animation Days, set to take place from February 12 to 14, 2026, and described as a “major expansion of the market’s portfolio”. Over three days, creators, studios, producers, buyers, investors and cross-IP partners will gather for curated showcases, pitching sessions, case studies, workshops and broad networking opportunities. As part of the initiative, the Annecy Animation Showcase EFM will be organised in collaboration with MIFA and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, presenting in-development projects slated for release in the second half of 2026. The programme is supported by the regional fund MDM Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung.
“European animation is experiencing a moment of great dynamism and strong export potential; it is a key sector both economically and culturally,” said Berlinale Pro director Tanja Meissner when introducing the initiative. Also among the new additions is EFM Beyond, a training programme aimed at producers that seeks to drive innovative market strategies and cross-media collaborations with sectors such as gaming and story-based XR. It will take place in the Producers Hub at the Gropius Bau and include workshops on expanding IP, generating additional revenue streams, worldbuilding, and a cross-IP accelerator organised with SpielFabrique and the Annecy Festival.
Additionally, the Berlinale Film School Summit will launch in 2026, welcoming around one hundred directing and producing students from leading international film schools, offering access to the professional ecosystem of the festival, along with masterclasses, workshops and networking activities. The market will also bolster its works-in-progress and pitching lineup: EFM Far East in Progress, created in partnership with EAVE Ties that Bind and Focus Asia, will present new Asian films in post-production with prospects of debuting in the autumn festival and market circuit; while under the EFM Frontières Focus banner, five international genre projects in advanced stages of financing or production will be showcased.
Established programmes will also return, including the EFM Innovation Hub, the Startups Programme —now in its 12th edition, featuring ten media-tech entrepreneurial initiatives— and the Investors Forum, following its pilot in 2025. Morocco has been selected as the 2026 Country in Focus, with its industry and coproduction opportunities taking centre stage. The Berlinale Series Market will also be back, featuring the new Series Match initiative in collaboration with Iberseries & Platino Industria, connecting Ibero-American and German producers working on series in early development. It will also introduce “Series Talks”, a new networking and showcase hub at the CinemaxX lounge. DocSalon will return in partnership with FFF Bayern, including its Archive Market dedicated to restored classics, archival research and catalog revivals, and will add a special focus on animated documentaries as part of the EFM Animation Days.
The EFM Conference Programme will run from February 13 to 16 with talks, masterclasses and panel discussions. Festival director Tricia Tuttle highlighted that the market “is vital to ensuring that cultural cinema reaches audiences worldwide” and praised its strong commitment to digital innovation, new formats and emerging talent as essential to keeping the EFM a “must-attend” event that brings together thousands of professionals from more than 130 countries each year. The EFM Industry Programme is co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA, with additional support from organisations including MDM, Hessen Film & Medien, the Canada Media Fund and Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, among others.
