According to the experts, a third of international film productions can be traced back to literary origins.
The novel is still the most frequently filmed literary genre, with "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas for ever leading the field here. A current example of a successful literary adaptation is
"The Reader" by Bernhard Schlink (Berlinale 2009, showing out of competition). That's why people working in films like to look for inspiration at book fairs.

For this to happen, in 2003 the Frankfurt Book Fair created its independent Film & TV section: the first organised platform for cooperation between the two industries! Now extending over 2,400 square metres, this is where international publishing companies, producers, agents and scouts introduce themselves. They look for potential film material, find out more in workshops, discuss and set up contacts. So within the space of five years, the Film & Media Forum has developed into a meeting-place for the industries, which is without equal worldwide. Nowhere else provides the opportunity for such comprehensive interchange between the film and publishing industries.

Trading with content is getting more and more important in the digitalised world. In all fields of media the request ist increasingly large. For this reason the forum Film & Media intends to unite creative industries and foster the network during the fair. Here, from this year on, representatives of the trade of games, merchandising and music and social platforms can present themselves. They will participate in workshops trade events and cross-media themes and get in contact with their colleagues.

Your trading centre for literary film rights and screenplays. As a rights dealer or agent, you can have a presentation here for the entire duration of the Fair.

On request, from Wednesday to Friday the Frankfurt Book Fair organises meetings for you coordinated on the basis of subject-matter. Last year, this led to more than 760 match-up meetings between publishing companies, rights dealers, agents and producers.

Rent a ready-installed stand or book empty floor space for your own individual presentation.

Two cinemas (seating 400 and 120) and an additional event venue are available to you for your film or book premieres, previews or panel discussions.

Whether you've got books on film or books for filming – you'll catch the right target group here: register a title, rent a panel or a stand.

Programme 2009

Below you find all events on the topic Film & Media Forum in our Calendar of Events.

The museum for film and TV in Berlin will present itself in the forum Film & Media in a large space with exhibits referring to Metropolis and Romy Schneider (future exhibitions) and will show movies in both cinemas.

Thursday at the Fair is given over entirely to the Berlinale. In cooperation with the Berlin International Film Festival, we show the latest literary film adaptations. We also organise workshops and panel discussions on the key issues of concern across both industries, such as rights marketing and film financing.

A programme of workshops and events for trade visitors, organised together with our international partners and providing background information on key issues in the age of digital globalisation.

Already on the Wednesday at the Fair and in cooperation with Frankfurt Economic Development, we host a "Get-together" for the film and publishing industries and the "International Producers Meeting".

No glitter without glamour: Friday evening brings presentation of the "Hesse Film and Cinema Award", with gala to follow. The Frankfurt Book Fair acknowledges one outstanding literary adaption with its prize for the "Best International Literary Film Adaptation".