During this year’s banner 60th anniversary edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Variety hosted a panel in collaboration with Allwyn to discuss the longstanding success of the European Film Promotion’s Future Frames program, which acts as a springboard for up-and-coming European directors. The panel, populated by key industry names, broached issues such as access and inclusion, how companies can help foster up-and-coming talent, and what success looks like in such a competitive ecosystem.
Since 2023, the leading lottery-led multinational entertainment company Allwyn has partnered with Future Frames to provide a monthlong scholarship in Los Angeles for one director each year. In L.A., they learn from the best filmmakers in the industry, with a dedicated program of mentoring, shadowing and training designed to build anticipation of entering one of the world’s most exciting industries.
Kicking off the discussion, the recently appointed managing director of European Film Promotion, Irina Ignatiew-Lemke, said that success at EFP is “fostering the diverse voices of Europe.”
“Future Frames for the past 12 years — thanks to our wonderful collaboration with the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival — has been able to do exactly that,” she added. “And thanks to Allwyn, we are able to elevate it even further by building a bridge to the very important North American market. For us, success is when we see filmmakers succeed in this industry.”
