ADRIANA CHIESA ADRIANA CHIESA ENTERPRISES
(INTERNATIONAL SALES) ITALY
Although there were fewer buyers this year, I found them to be more professional, more committed to discussing our movies.  It would be good if, from next year, the dates of the market could be moved so that it could “hook up” with Mipcom, and in that way foreign professionals could visit both markets in one trip.
Another important thing is to find a way to be able to work right up until the end of the festival because here we only really worked for two days.  I truly hope that the MAXXI will help in this regard, seeing as there will be fewer distractions “” like shopping “” there!  A longer market would also help to dilute the heavy concentration of events (NCN, Eurimages, the Screenings, the meetings).

JOSE’ MICHEL BUHLER AGORA FILMS (BUYER)  SWITZERLAND
I have been coming here since the first year and it seems to have improved a lot.  I have the feeling that there are a lot more buyers and sales agents and a much more professional atmosphere.  Rome is a pleasant, comfortable place where it is possible to discuss things calmly, to build the personal relationships you have no time to establish in Cannes or other bigger markets. The aspect of personal loyalty is crucial because a movie is only as important as the person selling it, and here we have time to get to know each other, maybe even have a relaxing lunch together.  The only thing I didn’t like is that the festival and the market are not connected with each other very well.

DANIEL BAJO ALTA CLASSICS
(PRODUCER-DISTRIBUTOR-EXHIBITORS), SPAIN
The dates of TBS are perfect, particularly for people who don’t go to the AFM.  I don’t really like the idea of moving to the MAXXI and I have spoken to other members of the trade who think the same, because it is a less central location and it lacks the beautiful terrace of the Hotel Bernini.  However, it might be more convenient for seeing movies.

DANIEL GOROSHKO A-ONE
(HEAD OF ACQUISITIONS “” BUYER) RUSSIA
DANIEL GOROSHKO – A-ONE (HEAD OF ACQUISITIONS “” BUYER), RUSSIA
This is the first time we have attended TBS.  Our company works a lot with the Spanish film industry and so far we have only distributed one Italian movie, “La Giusta Distanza”.  We would like to acquire others because Italy is very attractive to Russians.  For this reason TBS is an important opportunity for us to get closer to the Italian film industry.

PHILIPP HOFFMANN BROADVIEW PICTURES
(SALES CONSULTANT)

KAMRAN SARDAR KAHN CAMINO FILMVERLEIH
(HEAD OF DISTRIBUTION AND ACQUISTION)
 GERMANY
This is the second time I have come here.  It is a very important event for us because we do not go to the AFM, and TBS acts as a kind of “bridge” while we prepare for the EFM in Berlin.  In fact, last year we purchased “Elle s’appelait Sarah” by Gilles Paquet-Brenner at the EFM, after starting negotiations in Rome.  We mainly use TBS to meet people and discuss scripts, there is not much time to see the movies.

FRANK L. STAVIK FIDALGO FILM DISTRIBUTION (BUYER) NORWAY
We have been coming since the first edition and we found the market to be as efficient as usual.  I use this event to see the movies I wasn’t able to see in Toronto and to continue the negotiations I started there.  The only negative change was the moving of the screenings from the Barberini cinema, which is next to the Hotel where TBS is held, to the Moderno which, although being quite nearby, means you waste more time getting there because you have to take the shuttle.

VALERIA FANEGO FILM SHARKS (INTERNATIONAL SALES) ARGENTINA
TBS is a very relaxing market which it is always a pleasure to attend.  We have 2 or 3 projects that we intend to conclude here at The Business Street, so that we can offer them to buyers at the AFM or Ventana Sur.

PETER DANNER FUNNY BALLOONS (SALES&ACQUISITIONS)
FRANCE
TBS is important because there are no other markets after September and I would like it to be strengthened so that it could somehow “replace” the American Film Market.  One of our movies, “Circumstance”, a co-production between France, the USA and Iran, is at the Festival, in the Extra section. 

PAOLA CORVINO INTRAMOVIES (INTERNATIONAL SALES) ITALY
TBS is an event members of the trade want to attend: in fact, even those who are not invited come along anyway in the end.  The low number of people at the Screenings is a problem at every market, it does not only happen here: you just notice it more at TBS, which is smaller.  The theaters can easily remain empty and this has a big influence on the emotional impact of a movie.  For this reason I believe that the idea of transferring the market to the MAXXI will be a success: I think that a special, modern area will, above all, make it possible to concentrate on business and the screenings.
We need to try and recreate a market in Rome like Mifed that here, ten years later, would have the added value of more advanced technology.
I also thought that the idea of holding a screening of the movies that are still a “work in progress” at the MAXXI (Saturday 29th) was very innovative.  This is something I have never seen anywhere else and the clients liked it a lot too.

ELENA PEDRAZZOLI PEACOCK FILM
(PRODUCTION COMPANY), SWITZERLAND
The organization of The Business Street is excellent.  The only problem is that there were not many people at the screenings.  Maybe this was due to logistical reasons that will be sorted out next year with the planned new theaters at the MAXXI, the new location of TBS.

JOHN FLAHIVE WAVELENGHT PICTURES
(INTERNATIONAL SALES) U.K.
The Business Street is very pleasant and informal, the only negative thing is that it is a bit disorganized.
We have a movie at the Screenings and at the Festival (in the “Alice in the City” competition) called “North Sea Texas”, that Atlantide Entertainment bought just before TBS started.  I did all I could to conclude the agreement before the festival began.  I felt this was crucial because it meant that Atlantide could promote the film during the event, counting on it being present at the Festival, along with the cast.

CHRIS HOWARD YELLOW AFFAIRS (INTERNATIONAL SALES) SWEDEN We have a new production and sales company which was established a year and a half ago.  We came to TBS last year and this year we decided to return because the co-production market is very valid and also because it is possible to meet important and interesting distributors here.  There were enough of them to guarantee a couple of days of intense work for me before I could go off and enjoy Rome!