is an investment training and equity investor pitching session for film, TV, and transmedia producers, writers, and directors as well as participants seeking company investment. The program is offered by creative industries financing consultancy peacefulfish (Berlin/London/Brussels/Cannes/Athens), the pan-European investor network Media Deals (Paris/Berlin), and international tutors and investors.
Launched in 2010 and now in its 9th edition, the program has worked with over 185 international participants and has collaborated with co-financing and co-hosting partners including the MEDIA Programme of the European Commission, the Apulia Film Commission, the Mallorca Film Commission, the Western Norway Film Commission, and the Investitionsbank Berlin.
Of the projects that have taken part in Closing The Gap to date, more than 25% have received investment or commitments of investment related to their participation in the program.
About half of the participants selected for each edition of the program are at an early stage and about half are at a late stage. We have had participants whose projects are in the treatment phase as well as those whose projects are already in post-production. Most of the equity investors on our pitch panel invest in production, post-production, and distribution; some are able to invest in development; and some invest in companies.