Even before the audience's rapturous applause at the announcement of Grill Point (Halbe Treppe) being awarded the Jury Grand Prix, Silver Bear at the Berlinale on Sunday (Feb 17), Andreas Dresen's bittersweet comedy had already impressed a host of international film buyers.

Bavaria Film International (BFI) closed a number of sales for the film, including to Denmark (Camera Film), Greece (Rosebud), Israel (Gilad) and the Czech Republic (Cinemart). This was in addition to the German speaking territory rights sold by producer Peter Rommel to Delphi Film (Germany), Filmladen (Austria) and Filmcoopi (Switzerland).

Unsurprisingly, BFI reports that the audience and critics' favourite has also attracted interest from France, Sweden and buyers in other European territories.

Other deals signed by BFI at the European Film Market included the sale of Sandra Nettelbeck's romantic tragicomedy Mostly Martha for the Benelux to Cinemien and for Taiwan to Crown Films. In addition, Finnish broadcaster YLE acquired TV rights for Fatih Akin's road movie In July (Im Juli). Achim von Borries' feature debut England! and Beatriz Flores Silva's Tricky Life (En La Puta Vida)