As part of the Berlinale 2026 film festival, the European research project CresCine, aimed at increasing the international competitiveness and cultural diversity of the film industry in small European markets, organised a series of events marking the conclusion of the project. The events brought together project partners, experts, and representatives of the audiovisual sector to present the project’s key findings and discuss the future of the European film industry in small markets.
The program took place over two days, 13 and 14 February 2026, in Potsdam and Berlin. It included a research conference at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF in Potsdam, the official launch of the publication State of European Cinema 3 at the European Film Market within the Berlinale, and the consortium’s final general assembly.
Research Conference: Final Results of the CresCine Project
The first day of events, held on 13 February at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF in Potsdam, presented the final results of the CresCine project through a series of thematic presentations dedicated to innovation, production and financial ecosystems, distribution, and the competitiveness of small European film markets. The conference was opened by Susanne Stürmer (President of the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF) and Manuel José Damásio (CresCine Project Coordinator).
As part of the session “From Domestic to International Audiences: Competitiveness in Small Markets,” one of the speakers was Dr Jaka Primorac, head of the IRMO CresCine team and researcher on the CULTMED project, who presented on domestic film audiences in small European markets.
Official Launch of the Publication State of European Cinema 3
On the second day of the CresCine events, 14 February, the official presentation of the third edition of the publication State of European Cinema 3 was held in the morning as part of the European Film Market (EFM) at the Berlinale. The publication offers the latest analyses of European film markets, with a particular focus on small markets and their development potential.
The event included panel discussions and roundtables on the future of the film industry in small European countries, with participation from project researchers and industry partners, including representatives of film agencies from the countries studied and stakeholders from European professional film associations. The event was opened by Manuel José Damásio (CresCine Project Coordinator) and Matthijs Wouter Knol, Director of the European Film Academy (EFA), a partner organisation in the project.
Final Consortium Assembly and the Future Development of the CresCine Initiative
In the afternoon of 14 February, the CresCine consortium’s general assembly was held at the European Film Academy (EFA) headquarters. The assembly addressed final reporting, plans for disseminating results, the Memorandum of Understanding, and the establishment of the CresCine Alliance as a platform for continued cooperation and promotion of the project’s outcomes. Representing IRMO as a project partner were Dr Jaka Primorac, head of the IRMO CresCine team, and Dr Aleksandra Uzelac, head of the CULTMED project and of the Department for Culture and Communication at IRMO.
The events concluded with an informal gathering marking the completion of the project.
The presentation of the publication State of European Cinema 3 is available at the following link, and a recording of the research conference can be found here. The full program of the Berlinale events is available here.
More information about the CresCine project can be found on the official website.
