PROJEKTY
THE FILMFORUM GROUP
partner countries:
Poland
Ukraine
Italy
France
Malta
Norway
Germany
Date of establishment
November 7, 2022
General Secretary
Laura Maria Pia Abbaleo
On November 7, 2022, The FILMFORUM Group was established — a consortium bringing together film organizations from across Europe. The leader of the consortium is the FILMFORUM Association.
The aim of The FILMFORUM Group is to carry out international initiatives supporting the young film industry, foster transnational cooperation in the audiovisual sector, and implement activities that promote co-production partnerships
“The path to success for local European cinematographies lies exclusively in transnational collaboration, the creation of international co-productions, and the development of universal films that can be understood in every corner of the world. The consortium’s mission is to support and educate young filmmakers so that they are prepared for these challenges,”
comments Maciej Dominiak, Director of the FILMFORUM Association.
The founding meeting was attended by representatives of: FILMFORUM Association (Poland), CINEMAHALL (Ukraine), the Foundation for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Poland (Poland), KOSMOPOLIS Institute – Foundation for Science, Culture, and Education (Poland), KINOGRAPHE Association (France), and Associazione Cinematografica e Culturale LABORATORIO DEI SOGNI (Italy).
On July 9, 2024, three organizations joined the consortium: Malta Film Foundation (Malta), Stiftelsen Amandusfestivalen (Norway), and Malfamé Association (France).
On August 27, 2024, a long-time FILMFORUM partner — Offener Kanal Magdeburg (Germany) — also became part of the consortium’s partner network.
Partners:
Poland 🇵🇱
Malta 🇲🇹
Norway 🇳🇴
Germany 🇩🇪
NEWS | THE FILMFORUM GROUP
The FILMFORUM Group was established
CINEMAHALL
CinemaHall is a Ukrainian cultural association dedicated to promoting film education and organizing audiovisual events on both national and international levels. For more than a decade, CinemaHall has been among the leading organizers of film events in Ukraine.
The association runs numerous workshops, training programs, and international exchange initiatives, while also supporting young creators by providing access to infrastructure and technological facilities for producing feature films, documentaries, and animated works. CinemaHall actively cooperates with European cultural institutions, carrying out educational and artistic projects, including within the Erasmus+ program.
The association is engaged not only in audiovisual education but also in social and cultural education, successfully using film as a tool for teaching and learning. For many years, CinemaHall has been a member of the International Federation of Film Societies (FICC), which underlines its commitment to the international cultural movement.
CinemaHall’s role became particularly significant after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In response, the association organized humanitarian aid and undertook initiatives to support the professional development of young creators from the audiovisual sector on the European film market. In cooperation with EU partners, it is also preparing initiatives for young people, enabling them to continue their education and develop their talents away from areas directly affected by warfare.
Founded in 2009, CinemaHall has organized more than 300 educational and artistic events for young people from different regions of Ukraine. The association has also participated in numerous international projects aimed at exchanging experiences with organizations engaged in film education across Europe.
Representation
Illia Svidler
President of CinemaHall
Tamara Probko
Vice-president of CinemaHall
LABORATORIO DEI SOGNI
Laboratorio dei Sogni is an Italian film and cultural association based in Sicily, which has passionately supported the development of independent cinema and young talent since 2010. The organization is best known as the creator and main organizer of the Kalat Nissa Film Festival in Caltanissetta – an international short film competition.
The festival has become the flagship initiative of Laboratorio dei Sogni: in one edition, it received as many as 1,318 film submissions from 76 countries, a result that testifies to the global reach and prestige of the event. Kalat Nissa Film Festival stands out not only for the number of participants but also for its mission-driven message – alongside open-themed categories, the program includes special competition sections promoting social values, such as the theme of diversity and inclusion.
Each year, the festival gathers both emerging independent filmmakers and established professionals in Caltanissetta. The competition jury has included artists of international renown, such as Hungarian cinematographer Lajos Koltai, a two-time David di Donatello Award winner and Academy Award nominee.
Thanks to partnerships with foreign organizations, the best films from Kalat Nissa are also presented at partner festivals across Europe (including in Poland and Hungary), while international festival delegations travel to Caltanissetta, making the event a true space for intercultural dialogue.
Beyond the festival, the association carries out educational projects – it is actively involved in Erasmus+ programs and international youth exchanges, where it shares its expertise in using short films as a tool for youth work and education.
Representation
Fernando Barbieri
President of association Laboratorio dei Sogni
Angelo Gueli
Executive Coordinator
Laura Abbaleo
External Relations Manager
Salvatore Buccoleri
Marketing Manager
MALFAMÉ ASSOCIATION
Malfamé Association is a French film organization based in Saint-Étienne, founded in 2019 by the Bekhti siblings, who grew up in a working-class district of the city. The association’s mission is to support young aspiring filmmakers from underprivileged backgrounds and suburbs, giving them the opportunity to develop their passions and start a career in the audiovisual industry.
The name “Malfamé” is an ironic reference to the negative stereotype of “notorious” neighborhoods – the organization’s goal is to break down such barriers through the art of film and to show that talent and creativity can flourish regardless of one’s origins.
The association runs the Malfamé Academy, a series of workshops and educational activities for young people, where participants gain practical filmmaking skills – from working with camera and sound to editing and production. The academy’s mentors are experienced creators, and the classes often take the form of producing real projects such as short films, music videos, or documentaries. This hands-on approach allows young people to learn through practice.
Malfamé actively supports the film debuts of its participants: it helps with script development, provides equipment and shooting spaces, assists with post-production, and later helps distribute the finished films.
Although Malfamé Association is a relatively young initiative, it has already gained recognition – it has been invited to take part in international film projects, including youth exchanges within the FUSE program.
The association’s activities are driven by enthusiasm and a strong social mission: these are cinema enthusiasts who lead by example, showing that film can change lives – opening new career opportunities for young people and breaking social barriers through the telling of authentic stories.
Representation
Sherianne Leïla Bekhti
Co-founder of Malfamé Academy
Walid Bekhti
Co-founder of Malfamé Academy
Benjamin Sebbagh
Director and photographer
Marion Schultz
Multidisciplinary artist
MALTA FILM FOUNDATION
Malta Film Foundation (MFF) is a Maltese film foundation established in 2008 with the mission of promoting short cinema and fostering film education among the public. The organization focuses on disseminating film culture by initiating events that encourage both creators and audiences to discover and appreciate Maltese cinematography.
MFF has organized many significant film initiatives, including the Malta Short Film Festival, the Malta Youth Film Festival, and the Malta Film Weekend.
The Malta Short Film Festival, the foundation’s flagship project, ran for 11 editions and showcased short films from Malta and around the world. It was recognized as the best cultural program on Maltese television in 2009 and also received the prestigious European EFFE Label – a quality mark awarded to Europe’s best festivals.
The Malta Youth Film Festival, co-organized with the national youth agency Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, is dedicated to young filmmakers aged 16–30, providing them with a platform to debut and develop their talents. The best films compete for awards, and winners are given the opportunity to participate in the Nordic Youth Film Festival in Norway, which often becomes a stepping stone toward an international career.
The foundation also organizes the Malta Film Weekend – a series of workshops and meetings with experienced filmmakers from Malta and abroad, aimed at enhancing the skills of local creators.
Through its activities, the Malta Film Foundation has helped build a strong network of collaborations with international film festivals and institutions, while also promoting Maltese cinema abroad.
MFF stands out for its professionalism and passion – as a non-profit organization, it reinvests all its resources into the development of new film initiatives on the island.
Representation
Joyce Grech
Co-founder of Malta Film Foundation
Anthony Parnis
Co-founder of Malta Film Foundation
Anthony Cassar Darien
Co-founder of Malta Film Foundation
Stiftelsen Amandusfestivalen is a Norwegian foundation that organizes Amandus, the largest youth film festival in Norway. Its history dates back to 1987, and over more than three decades, the event has established itself as the most important meeting forum for young filmmakers in the country.
The festival takes place annually in Lillehammer, traditionally just before Easter, attracting hundreds of talented teenagers and young adults from all regions of Norway. Amandusfestivalen offers them a unique opportunity to showcase their productions on the big screen, participate in workshops and seminars led by industry professionals, and establish valuable connections.
The festival program includes competitions divided by participants’ age groups: younger youth (13–16 years) and older youth (16–20 years), with categories based on film format, such as feature, documentary, animation, or music video. Prestigious Amandus Awards are presented for the best films in each age category, along with the Audience Award and prizes for screenwriting.
Importantly, the festival also has an international dimension. Through Amandus International, the best youth films from other countries are showcased, and young creators from abroad can submit their short films to a special competition section. For slightly older aspiring filmmakers (20–26 years), there is the sister initiative Amandus Blikkfang, aimed at film school students from the Nordic region.
The festival has played a significant role in discovering new talents in Norwegian cinema – many well-known directors and cinematographers began their careers by receiving Amandus Awards. Thanks to the foundation’s dedication, the festival continues to grow, offering young people a platform to learn and shine in the world of film. In this way, Stiftelsen Amandusfestivalen fulfills its mission of supporting the next generation of filmmakers and building bridges between young talent and the professional film industry.
Representation
Eivind Myklebost Nordengen
President of Stiftelsen Amandusfestivalen
Line Øverli Andersen
Producer of Amandusfestivalen
Offener Kanal Magdeburg is an independent non-governmental organization operating a local community television station that broadcasts to over 300,000 households in Magdeburg and the Saxony-Anhalt region. The organization’s mission is to enable the local community—including youth, social activists, representatives of national minorities, and NGOs—to freely create television content and express their opinions.
Offener Kanal operates on the principles of freedom of speech and open access to media. Every citizen, regardless of age or experience, can use professional equipment (cameras, lighting, sound, TV studio) free of charge and receive technical and training support to independently produce their own program. The organization’s team includes experienced journalists, filmmakers, and media educators who accompany participants throughout the production process.
The organization runs extensive educational activities in media literacy, audiovisual skills, and conscious media consumption. For over 20 years, Offener Kanal Magdeburg has organized the prestigious Jugendvideopreis – an annual short film competition for young creators up to 27 years old from Saxony-Anhalt. Each year, around 100 films created by nearly 800 young people are submitted. The festival has become one of the region’s most important film events supporting the development of young talent.
Offener Kanal actively participates in international projects, including ERASMUS+ and the European Solidarity Corps. It has long offered national volunteering opportunities (FSJ Kultur) and programs for youth with migration experience within the Bundesfreiwilligendienst Flucht und Asyl framework.
One of its flagship international projects is the Internship Programme for Journalists in Germany, carried out in cooperation with the Ukrainian association Media Development Foundation and funded by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project aims to support independent media in Ukraine and strengthen European collaboration in the field of civil society.
Representation
Felix Kaminski
Managing Director
Julian Mandernach
Media educator
Patrick Jannack
Technical supervisor of workshops and production
