FFF Bayern is delighted to welcome this new collaboration between EFM DocSalon and DOK.fest Munich.
In 2027, the European Film Market is introducing the EFM Doc Series Pitch. DOK.fest München’s industry platform DOK.forum, together with EFM DocSalon and the Berlinale Series Market, will curate and select brand new internationally oriented non-fiction series. Their producers will have the opportunity to meet with potential co-production partners, broadcasting & streaming commissioners and/or sales agents.
A selection of up to 10 promising Doc Series projects from around the world will be presented to meet with a wide range of potential international co-production and funding partners.
Applications can be submitted from mid-August until October 1st, 2026. The official selection will be announced mid-December. The details of the EFM Doc Series Pitch will be made available around mid-January, 2027.
The EFM DocSalon & Berlinale Series Market will provide the selected projects with opportunities for matchmaking and pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings with interested co-producers and financiers.
The EFM Doc Series Pitch is looking for world premieres of documentary series at an early stage of development, to be presented to potential co-producers and financiers during the European Film Market in February 2027 within the Berlinale Series Market (14-16 February). The call is open to all IPs and subjects.
Over the past ten years, DOK.forum as a platform for documentary projects in development and think tank has established itself as a key meeting place and relevant networking opportunity for the documentary film industry – with a growing range of offers for international filmmakers.
Adele Kohout, festival director of DOK.fest München and Julia Zantl, head of DOK.forum München:
“The documentary landscape is evolving rapidly and documentary series have become one of its most exciting and dynamic formats. They offer filmmakers the opportunity to explore their subjects in greater depth, broaden narratives, and untangle complex, multi-layered issues that a single feature-length film cannot fully contain. Furthermore, documentary series empower creators to experiment with new forms of storytelling and reach audiences across streaming platforms as well as traditional broadcasters.
With this new and exciting collaboration between DOK.fest München, Berlinale and EFM DocSalon, we are delighted to create a platform that responds to this growing demand. This strategic partnership bridges major pillars of the international film community, combining curated arstistic vision with robust industry infrastructure.
Ultimately, this initiative is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between creators and industry partners and supporting outstanding documentary series with strong international potential.”
EFM DocSalon runs between Feb 12 – 15, 2027 to foster the non-fiction community during the Berlinale. From presentations to networking formats, EFM DocSalon focusses on bridging the creative and commercial aspects of the documentary industry within the wider scale of the Berlinale Pro formats such as the Archive Market, Animation Days, Series Market and Books at Berlinale. EFM DocSalon is made possible with the support of main partner FFF Bayern and media partner Deadline.
Tanja Meissner, Director Berlinale Pro and EFM:
“We’re delighted to launch this new collaboration with DOK.forum Munich. Just as financing becomes more fragmented everywhere, cooperations between industry platforms are a powerful way to create greater opportunities for the Documentary film industry and its filmmakers.
Doc Series have become one of the most dynamic forms of storytelling, reaching broad audiences while offering an essential lens on the world we live in. We want the EFM to be a place where these projects not only gain visibility, but where the collaborations that bring them to life begin.
By joining forces, we can offer producers a strong, more connected ecosystem that reflects how projects are financed, developed and brought to audiences today. We can connect our respective strengths, share networks, resources and expertise, so that doc series projects find the right partners.”
The new initiative is made possible with the support of main partner FFF Bayern.
Dorothee Erpenstein, FFF Bayern Managing Director:
“For two years now, FFF Bayern has been a key partner of the Berlinale DocSalon. Documentary series are opening up new ways to tell complex stories and explore challenging topics while reaching international audiences. With our support, DOK.fest Munich and the EFM are now strengthening the connection between Bavaria and Berlin. As a funding institution, we want to help promising projects find partners at an early stage and build strong international co-productions. The EFM Doc Series Pitch brings creatives and producers together with international industry partners, creating the connections that innovative documentary projects need today. We look forward to receiving many submissions from Bavaria!”