Berlinale Appoints Sales Vet Tanja Meissner As Director of Berlinale Pro & European Film Market

German-French international sales veteran Tanja Meissner has been appointed as the new director of the Berlinale Pro, the department overseeing all of the Berlin Film Festival’s professional activities, in a role that encompasses director of the European Film Market (EFM).

The Berlinale said Meissner’s new role had been reconfigured to include directorship of the European Film Market (EFM) as well as taking a strategic lead in developing the festival’s Berlinale Pro activities with the heads of the Berlinale Co-Production Market, Berlinale Talents and World Cinema Fund, who will report directly to her.

“Tanja Meissner is immensely well regarded in the international film industry, for her integrity, great taste and shrewd business sense. She offers a rare combination of experience at the highest level in sales and distribution while also combining it with an understanding of how to nurture new talent and support green shoots in the industry,” said the Berlinale’s recently arrived new director Tricia Tuttle.

“All of this is anchored by a genuine and deep passion for cinema. I am eager to use our platforms at the Berlinale to support the whole ecosystem from filmmakers and rights holders through to distributors, cinemas and audiences. And I can’t think of a better first Executive appointment to help achieve this,” she added.

Meissner brings over 25 years of experience in the film industry, across production, sales, distribution and exhibition.

As Director of Berlinale Pro, Meissner also will contribute to the overarching strategic goals of the Berlinale as a part of Tuttle’s senior team.

Meissner is due take office on May 13 and attend the Cannes Film Festival with the team.

“I’m truly thrilled with this new opportunity, joining a fabulous and highly dedicated team already in place. I hold the Berlinale deeply to my heart, having started my professional career working at Panorama in the 1990’s,” said Meissner.

“Over the years I have participated in the festival in various capacities, such as team member, industry representative or guest, thus combining a maybe unusual 360° perspective. This new chapter brings together everything that I’m passionate about and that I have been cultivating over the years.”

Meissner succeeds Denis Ruh who stepped down from the role of EFM director at the end of the last edition, having taken up the post in the fall of 2020.