Five of thebest-known sales outfits in the documentary arena are pooling resources in theEuropean Film Market in Berlin.

SND Films,Doc & Co, Films Transit, Deckert Distribution and First Hand Films are thepartners involved in the venture, dubbed Meet The DOCkers!

The fivecompanies, normally business rivals, are sharing space at Martin-Gropius-Bauand picking up costs together.

"It'spurely for practical purposes," Film Transit's Jan Rofekamp commented.

"We allhave the same clients. Although we are in a certain sense competitors, we don'tfeel it that way. It's a friendly arrangement. Why not have that traffic forall of us'"

Rofekampstressed that theatrical prospects for documentary features remain fragile,however, and last month's Sundance saw few distribution deals fordocumentaries.

If Meet TheDOCkers! is a success in Berlin, the five sales companies are likely to repeatthe experiment at other festivals and markets.