German Films Service + Marketing GmbH is the national information and advisory center for the promotion of German films worldwide and the official external representation for German films appointed by the federal government of Germany. The work of German Films focuses on increasing the level of awareness of German films abroad by providing information services as well as initiating PR and marketing measures in order to grant the highest possible visibility in international media. German Films was established in 1954 under the name Export-Union of German Cinema as the umbrella association for the Association of German Feature Film Producers, the Association of New German Feature Film Producers and the Association of German Film Exporters, and operates today in the legal form of a limited company. In 2004, the company was reorganized and now operates under the name: German Films Service + Marketing GmbH. German Film’s range of activities includes: • Close cooperation with all major international film festivals, e.g. Berlin, Cannes, Venice, San Sebastian, Locarno, Sundance, Karlovy Vary, Toronto, New York, Shanghai • Organization of umbrella stands for German sales companies and producers at international television and film markets • Staging of Festivals of German Films in selected international territories • Staging of industry screenings in key international territories • Providing advice and information for representatives of the international press and buyers from the fields of cinema, home entertainment, and television • Providing advice and information for German filmmakers and press on international festivals, conditions of participation, and German films being shown • Publication of informational literature and market analyses about current German films and the German film industry • Organization of the selection procedure for the German entry for the Oscar® for Best International Feature Film • Selective financial Distribution Support for foreign releases