The Charm of Genre: How Genre Films Travel Across the Borders

‘Genre’ has always been a safe bet with audiences, but today more than ever, genre films are crossing over into mainstream audiences. While the market is still looking for the next rom-com hit, crime and thriller keep on benefiting from a large audience and body horror is enjoying an unexpected wave of popularity. Producers and sales agents share their insights on the appeal of genre in the international markets.

Speakers:

TODD BROWN | Head of International Acquisitions
XYZ

MARIA EKERHOVD | Producer
Mer Film

KATARZYNA SINIARSKA | Head of Sales
New Europe Film Sales

OLIVER KASSMAN | Producer
Escape Plan Productions

Moderator:

VICKI BROWN | Snr Executive, Sales & Distribution
BFI

About the speakers:

TODD BROWN | Head of International Acquisitions
XYZ
An experienced film festival programmer and founder of international and independent film focused website ScreenAnarchy.com (originally TwitchFilm.com), Todd Brown joined XYZ Films in 2009 as Head of International Acquisitions. In his time at XYZ, Brown has shown a strong focus on emerging talent and territories and has served as a producer or executive producer on a wide range of Cannes, Toronto and Sundance selected titles such as The Raid, Mandy, Spring, Bushwick, XX and many more.

MARIA EKERHOVD | Producer
Mer Film
Maria Ekerhovd is a producer and the founder of Mer Film, a leading Nordic independent production and distribution company established in 2011. Her work spans a wide range of acclaimed feature films, including her most recent, Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier, set to premiere in the Cannes Competition in 2025; The Ugly Stepsister (2025) by Emilie Blichfeldt; and The Innocents (2021) by Eskil Vogt. In recognition of her contribution to European cinema, Ekerhovd received the Eurimages Co-Production Award in 2021. She remains a driving force in international co-productions and talent development, heading Mer Film’s multi-year program dedicated to nurturing the next generation of filmmakers.

KATARZYNA SINIARSKA | Head of Sales
New Europe Film Sales
Katarzyna Siniarska is a sales agent and producer. She graduated from the University of Warsaw with experimental interdisciplinary individual studies in humanities (MISH) and Wajda Film School’s Creative Producers Programme (2011). She is an alumna of EAVE Puentes (2014/2015) and Screen Leaders (2014). A Co-President of Europa International, European sales agents’ association (2021-2025). Since January 2013, she has been a part of Warsaw-based boutique world sales agency New Europe Film Sales; first as a sales executive then the head of sales and a partner at the company. New Europe works with international content and sells it to all rights, theatrical, TV and VOD buyers across the world. They are proud of their small, carefully-selected catalogue, which includes such international arthouse hits, as LAMB (Cannes Un Certain Regard 2021, A24 release), CORPUS CHRISTI (Venice / TIFF, Oscar nomination 2020), RAMS (Prix Un Certain Regard in Cannes 2015), SUMMER 1993 by Carla Simon (Berlinale Best Debut 2017), GODLAND (Cannes Telluride, TIFF 2022), HOUSEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS (Venice 2023, Focus Features & Universal release).

OLIVER KASSMAN | Producer
Escape Plan Productions
Escape Plan’s first movie was Rose Glass’s SAINT MAUD, starring Morfydd Clark and Jennifer Ehle, backed by Film4 and the BFI. It premiered at Toronto and sold-out to A24, Studio Canal, Diaphana and Sony, going on to garner many awards nominations and wins, including nomination for Outstanding Debut (for Rose and Oliver) and Best British Film at the BAFTAs. Next was Andrew Cumming’s Palaeolithic horror movie OUT OF DARKNESS, (Sony, Creative Scotland and the BFI), shot in isolation in the Scottish Highlands during the pandemic. It opened in February 2024 on 897 screens across the US courtesy of Bleecker Street (securing nearly $2m theatrically), and was released in the UK by Signature, with Sony taking the ROW. The movie won 3 Scottish BAFTAs, including Best Film. Following that was Rose Glass’s second feature, romantic thriller LOVE LIES BLEEDING (A24, Film4) which was shot on location in New Mexico. The film starred Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Ed Harris, Dave Franco, Jena Malone and Anna Baryshnikov and premiered at Sundance and Berlin. It was also recognised with multiple BIFA and BAFTA nominations. Oliver recently completed production in Hungary on his first freelance Producer role for the Topic/Tango/Black Bear backed WICKER. He was named as one of BAFTA’s Breakthrough Brits in 2019. Escape Plan was granted the BFI’s Vision Award in 2020, and the UKGSF International Business Grant in 2025.