The Berlinale has revealed the lineup of its Co-Production Market and we’ve got some projects we’ll be keeping a close eye on. At the top of our interest list, we find Italian filmmaker Andrea Pallaoro, Stonewalling tandem Huang Ji and Ryuji Otsuka and Andreas Fontana who gave us Azor will benefit from the special Rotterdam-Berlinale Express backing for his next project: The Diplomats. 34 film projects from 27 countries will be pitching. Here they are:
Official Selection:
“Antonivka” (director: Kateryna Gornostai), Moon Man, Ukraine & Just a Moment, Lithuania
“Burnings” (director: Jerry Carlsson), Verket Produktion, Sweden
“Divorce During the War” (director: Andrius Blaževičius), M-Films, Lithuania
“Folk Play” (director: Mirjana Karanović), This and That Productions, Serbia
“Fragments of This Beauty” (director: Burak Çevik), Vayka Film, Turkey & Fol Films, Turkey
“The Girl With the Leica” (director: Alina Marazzi), Vivo Film, Italy
“Ich bin Marika” (director: Hajni Kis), Proton Cinema, Hungary
“Idda’s Breath” (director: Irene Dionisio), Kino Produzioni,...
Official Selection:
“Antonivka” (director: Kateryna Gornostai), Moon Man, Ukraine & Just a Moment, Lithuania
“Burnings” (director: Jerry Carlsson), Verket Produktion, Sweden
“Divorce During the War” (director: Andrius Blaževičius), M-Films, Lithuania
“Folk Play” (director: Mirjana Karanović), This and That Productions, Serbia
“Fragments of This Beauty” (director: Burak Çevik), Vayka Film, Turkey & Fol Films, Turkey
“The Girl With the Leica” (director: Alina Marazzi), Vivo Film, Italy
“Ich bin Marika” (director: Hajni Kis), Proton Cinema, Hungary
“Idda’s Breath” (director: Irene Dionisio), Kino Produzioni,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
The Berlin Film Festival, which runs Feb. 15-25, has revealed the lineup of its Berlinale Co-Production Market.
Producers of 34 film projects from 27 countries will be pitching to potential financing and co-production partners at the 21st Berlinale Co-Production Market, which runs Feb. 17-21. Seventeen projects are directed by women. There were 318 submissions, a slight increase from last year.
Eighteen of the projects are already partly financed with budgets ranging between Euros 600,000 and Euros 5 million ($5.47 million). Among the directors whose new works are likely to spark interest are Ukrainian filmmakers Kateryna Gornostai, who won a Crystal Bear for “Stop-Zemlia” in 2021, and Antonio Lukich, the director of “Luxembourg, Luxembourg,” which played in Venice in 2022, Italy’s Andrea Pallaoro, Serbian director and actor Mirjana Karanović, and the Chinese-Japanese directing duo Huang Ji and Ryuji Otsuka.
The Berlinale Directors section features three brand-new projects by directors who have had films at the Berlinale in the past: “Alma” from Sally Potter,...
Producers of 34 film projects from 27 countries will be pitching to potential financing and co-production partners at the 21st Berlinale Co-Production Market, which runs Feb. 17-21. Seventeen projects are directed by women. There were 318 submissions, a slight increase from last year.
Eighteen of the projects are already partly financed with budgets ranging between Euros 600,000 and Euros 5 million ($5.47 million). Among the directors whose new works are likely to spark interest are Ukrainian filmmakers Kateryna Gornostai, who won a Crystal Bear for “Stop-Zemlia” in 2021, and Antonio Lukich, the director of “Luxembourg, Luxembourg,” which played in Venice in 2022, Italy’s Andrea Pallaoro, Serbian director and actor Mirjana Karanović, and the Chinese-Japanese directing duo Huang Ji and Ryuji Otsuka.
The Berlinale Directors section features three brand-new projects by directors who have had films at the Berlinale in the past: “Alma” from Sally Potter,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Co-Production Market will support 34 feature film projects from around the world.
The 2024 Berlinale has selected 34 feature film projects for its Co-Production Market, including Sally Potter’s Alma.
The festival has also chosen 202 Berlinale Talents, and 14 titles for its Forum Special strand.
Scroll down for the full list of Co-Production Market projects
The 34 feature projects in the Co-Production Market hail from 27 countries, and were selected from 318 submissions – a slight increase on 2023.
Potter’s Alma follows a family battling survivor guilt and sibling rivalries while on an expedition to scatter the ashes of an archaeologist. It will be produced by Christopher Sheppard...
The 2024 Berlinale has selected 34 feature film projects for its Co-Production Market, including Sally Potter’s Alma.
The festival has also chosen 202 Berlinale Talents, and 14 titles for its Forum Special strand.
Scroll down for the full list of Co-Production Market projects
The 34 feature projects in the Co-Production Market hail from 27 countries, and were selected from 318 submissions – a slight increase on 2023.
Potter’s Alma follows a family battling survivor guilt and sibling rivalries while on an expedition to scatter the ashes of an archaeologist. It will be produced by Christopher Sheppard...
- 1/9/2024
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
The Berlin Film Festival has unveiled the 34 projects, hailing from 27 countries and selected from 318 submissions, that will be showcased at its Berlinale Co-Production Market, running from February 17 to 21. (scroll down for full list)
The 18 projects in the official selection include upcoming works from Ukrainian directors Kateryna Gornostai (Stop-Zemila) and Antonio Lukich as well as Italian filmmaker Andrea Pallaoro (Monica), Turkey’s Burak Çevik (Hesitation Wound), Serb director and actor Mirjana Karanović (A Good Wife) and Chinese-Japanese directing duo Huang Ji and Ryuji Otsuka (Stonewalling).
The Official Selection projects are already partly financed and have budgets between 600,000 and five million euros.
The Berlinale Directors section showcasing new projects from festival habitués in the early funding stages includes Sally Potter’s upcoming production Alma about a family on an expedition to scatter the ashes of an archaeologist.
Two projects by Andreas Fontana and Fradique have also been selected as part of the Rotterdam-Berlinale Express initiative,...
The 18 projects in the official selection include upcoming works from Ukrainian directors Kateryna Gornostai (Stop-Zemila) and Antonio Lukich as well as Italian filmmaker Andrea Pallaoro (Monica), Turkey’s Burak Çevik (Hesitation Wound), Serb director and actor Mirjana Karanović (A Good Wife) and Chinese-Japanese directing duo Huang Ji and Ryuji Otsuka (Stonewalling).
The Official Selection projects are already partly financed and have budgets between 600,000 and five million euros.
The Berlinale Directors section showcasing new projects from festival habitués in the early funding stages includes Sally Potter’s upcoming production Alma about a family on an expedition to scatter the ashes of an archaeologist.
Two projects by Andreas Fontana and Fradique have also been selected as part of the Rotterdam-Berlinale Express initiative,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Some 18 producers from 17 countries will attend workshops throughout 2023 and 2024.
Eve Gabereau of the UK’s Modern Films and Denmark’s Monica Hellstrom are among 18 independent producers selected for Ace 33, the latest intake for the Ace Producers Network.
The 18 producers from 17 different countries will attend three workshops throughout 2023 and 2024 with independent feature projects. The workshops will take place in Norway in October, on content development; in Warsaw, Poland in November, on financing strategies; and finally in France, looking at business strategies.
Scroll down for the Ace 33 selection
The producers will then join the Ace Network following the 2024 Ace meeting in Bordeaux,...
Eve Gabereau of the UK’s Modern Films and Denmark’s Monica Hellstrom are among 18 independent producers selected for Ace 33, the latest intake for the Ace Producers Network.
The 18 producers from 17 different countries will attend three workshops throughout 2023 and 2024 with independent feature projects. The workshops will take place in Norway in October, on content development; in Warsaw, Poland in November, on financing strategies; and finally in France, looking at business strategies.
Scroll down for the Ace 33 selection
The producers will then join the Ace Network following the 2024 Ace meeting in Bordeaux,...
- 9/12/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
18 producers from 17 countries will attend workshops throughout 2023 and 2024.
Eve Gabereau of UK company Modern Films and Danish producer Monica Hellstrom are among 18 independent producers selected for Ace 33, the latest intake for the Ace Producers Network.
The 18 producers from 17 different countries will attend three workshops throughout 2023 and 2024 with independent feature projects. The workshops will take place in Norway in October, on content development; in Warsaw, Poland in November, on financing strategies; and finally in France, looking at business strategies.
Scroll down for the Ace 33 selection
The producers will then join the Ace Network following the 2024 Ace meeting in Bordeaux, France.
London-based...
Eve Gabereau of UK company Modern Films and Danish producer Monica Hellstrom are among 18 independent producers selected for Ace 33, the latest intake for the Ace Producers Network.
The 18 producers from 17 different countries will attend three workshops throughout 2023 and 2024 with independent feature projects. The workshops will take place in Norway in October, on content development; in Warsaw, Poland in November, on financing strategies; and finally in France, looking at business strategies.
Scroll down for the Ace 33 selection
The producers will then join the Ace Network following the 2024 Ace meeting in Bordeaux, France.
London-based...
- 9/12/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Projects will be presented during festival’s Industry Days section.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) has unveiled the projects that will be showcased during its Eastern Promises industry strand, which takes place on July 3-4.
27 film projects have been selected for Eastern Promises’ Works in Progress, Works in Development – Feature Launch and First Cut+ Works in Progress strands.
The most promising projects, selected by international juries, will receive awards worth a total of €115,000. The showcase of projects to industry professionals will take place during this year’s Kviff Industry Days.
Eleven fiction and documentary features have been selected for the Works in Progress strand.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) has unveiled the projects that will be showcased during its Eastern Promises industry strand, which takes place on July 3-4.
27 film projects have been selected for Eastern Promises’ Works in Progress, Works in Development – Feature Launch and First Cut+ Works in Progress strands.
The most promising projects, selected by international juries, will receive awards worth a total of €115,000. The showcase of projects to industry professionals will take place during this year’s Kviff Industry Days.
Eleven fiction and documentary features have been selected for the Works in Progress strand.
- 6/14/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Karlovy Vary Intl. Film Festival’s Eastern Promises industry platform has unveiled 27 film projects that will be showcased during its Works in Progress, Works in Development – Feature Launch and First Cut+ Works in Progress presentations. The most promising projects, selected by international juries, will receive awards with a total value of 115,000 Eur.
The showcasing of projects to industry professionals will take place in Karlovy Vary, during this year’s Kviff Industry Days on July 3 (Works in Progress and Works in Development – Feature Launch) and July 4 (First Cut+ Works in Progress).
For Works in Progress, 11 fiction and documentary feature films in the late stage of production or post-production from the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East and North Africa have been selected.
The following projects will compete for prizes of a total value of 100,000 Eur:
“Distances” (Poland)
Director: Matej Bobrik
Producer: Agnieszka Skalska...
The showcasing of projects to industry professionals will take place in Karlovy Vary, during this year’s Kviff Industry Days on July 3 (Works in Progress and Works in Development – Feature Launch) and July 4 (First Cut+ Works in Progress).
For Works in Progress, 11 fiction and documentary feature films in the late stage of production or post-production from the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East and North Africa have been selected.
The following projects will compete for prizes of a total value of 100,000 Eur:
“Distances” (Poland)
Director: Matej Bobrik
Producer: Agnieszka Skalska...
- 6/14/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Majka Mara
Veteran Serbian actress Mirjana Karanović (best known for Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams) moved behind the camera back in ’16 for the Sundance preemed A Good Wife (Dobra žena). She moved back into the saddle for her sophomore film this past August with Majka Mara (Mother Mara). Part of the Venice Gap market in ’21 and recipient of Eurimages coin in ’21, the Serbia, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Switzerland co-production is based on a screenplay that Karanović wrote along with Maja Pelević and Ognjen Sviličić which includes some notes from a theatre play by Tanja Šljivar.…...
Veteran Serbian actress Mirjana Karanović (best known for Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams) moved behind the camera back in ’16 for the Sundance preemed A Good Wife (Dobra žena). She moved back into the saddle for her sophomore film this past August with Majka Mara (Mother Mara). Part of the Venice Gap market in ’21 and recipient of Eurimages coin in ’21, the Serbia, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Switzerland co-production is based on a screenplay that Karanović wrote along with Maja Pelević and Ognjen Sviličić which includes some notes from a theatre play by Tanja Šljivar.…...
- 1/11/2023
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Cannes Titles To Stream Online
A pair of documentaries selected for this year’s Cannes Classics program will screen for free on the festival’s website and on the Cine+ Dailymotion platform as of this evening (July 2) from 7pm local time. The two films, both just shy of one hour in length, are Daphné Baiwir’s The Rebellious Olivia de Havilland, a portrait of the famed actress who was the first female president of the Cannes jury in 1965, and Emmanuel Barnault’s Pieces Of Cannes, a look at the French festival’s 74-year history. The films will be available until July 4 at 10pm local time.
Venice Gap Financing Projects
Venice Film Festival has revealed the 30 projects that will take part in its Gap-Financing Market during this year’s industry-focused Production Bridge, running September 1-11. The event will offer filmmaking teams one-on-one meetings with international decision-makers. Among the selected titles are The Secret Of Places,...
A pair of documentaries selected for this year’s Cannes Classics program will screen for free on the festival’s website and on the Cine+ Dailymotion platform as of this evening (July 2) from 7pm local time. The two films, both just shy of one hour in length, are Daphné Baiwir’s The Rebellious Olivia de Havilland, a portrait of the famed actress who was the first female president of the Cannes jury in 1965, and Emmanuel Barnault’s Pieces Of Cannes, a look at the French festival’s 74-year history. The films will be available until July 4 at 10pm local time.
Venice Gap Financing Projects
Venice Film Festival has revealed the 30 projects that will take part in its Gap-Financing Market during this year’s industry-focused Production Bridge, running September 1-11. The event will offer filmmaking teams one-on-one meetings with international decision-makers. Among the selected titles are The Secret Of Places,...
- 7/2/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
History, memory, and female-driven stories mark some of the main themes in the six Serbian films selected for Locarno’s First Look, a pix-in-post strand that represents one of the high points of the mid-summer festival on the shores of Lake Maggiore.
The competitive showcase this year highlights an industry that has become increasingly prolific in the past decade. Thanks in large part to an uptick in government funding, which has opened the door for more international collaborations, it’s also grown in scope and ambition. “The industry itself, in terms of production power, it’s growing,” said First Look project manager Markus Duffner. More importantly, he added, young Serbian producers are “rapidly growing in terms of international industry experience.”
As part of its partnership with Locarno, Film Center Serbia selected six projects – including five documentary features – with all but one in post-production. Four of the six films are helmed by female directors.
The competitive showcase this year highlights an industry that has become increasingly prolific in the past decade. Thanks in large part to an uptick in government funding, which has opened the door for more international collaborations, it’s also grown in scope and ambition. “The industry itself, in terms of production power, it’s growing,” said First Look project manager Markus Duffner. More importantly, he added, young Serbian producers are “rapidly growing in terms of international industry experience.”
As part of its partnership with Locarno, Film Center Serbia selected six projects – including five documentary features – with all but one in post-production. Four of the six films are helmed by female directors.
- 8/9/2019
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Bosnian filmmaker Jasmila Zbanic, whose debut feature, “Grbavica,” won the Berlinale Golden Bear in 2006, was at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival this week to present a masterclass for the 10 film students and graduates taking part in Efp Future Frames, a fest section that screened their short films (see trailer above).
Zbanic, whose other films include “On the Path” and “For Those Who Can Tell No Tales,” spoke to the students about her early career experiences and approach to filmmaking.
Zbanic started her film education at the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo at a terrible time for her home city, during the siege by the Serb army, which ran from April 1992 to February 1996. Despite the enormous difficulties and dangers, Zbanic said the passion for film and other forms of culture felt by the Sarajevo students and other citizens was stronger than ever. “You find out you need films and culture...
Zbanic, whose other films include “On the Path” and “For Those Who Can Tell No Tales,” spoke to the students about her early career experiences and approach to filmmaking.
Zbanic started her film education at the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo at a terrible time for her home city, during the siege by the Serb army, which ran from April 1992 to February 1996. Despite the enormous difficulties and dangers, Zbanic said the passion for film and other forms of culture felt by the Sarajevo students and other citizens was stronger than ever. “You find out you need films and culture...
- 7/8/2018
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Documentary projects from Georgia, Chile and Serbia were amongst the winners.
Documentary projects from Georgia, Chile and Serbia were amongst the winners at the 16th edition of Visions du Réel Industry programme held at the same time as the Visions du Réel International Film Festival in Switzerland’s Nyon on Lake Geneva.
Georgian-born Salomé Jashi’s latest documentary Trees Floating, which was one of 15 projects presented at the two-day Pitching du Réel closed session to invited broadcasters, distributors, sales agents and producers, received the Head - Genève Postproduction Award which will provide all the facilities for colour grading and the creation of files for broadcast.
Documentary projects from Georgia, Chile and Serbia were amongst the winners at the 16th edition of Visions du Réel Industry programme held at the same time as the Visions du Réel International Film Festival in Switzerland’s Nyon on Lake Geneva.
Georgian-born Salomé Jashi’s latest documentary Trees Floating, which was one of 15 projects presented at the two-day Pitching du Réel closed session to invited broadcasters, distributors, sales agents and producers, received the Head - Genève Postproduction Award which will provide all the facilities for colour grading and the creation of files for broadcast.
- 4/20/2018
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
Whether a result of suicide, drunken stupidity, or sheer dumb luck, train drivers the world over kill people. You’d like to believe it’s a rarity, but the truth is most likely the opposite. What then is life like for those who’ve chosen this profession? They’re constantly on alert, blaring their horns and hitting the brakes in the hopes they can stop in time. But even the best have blood on their hands. Even the most cautious must deal with the nightmares of accidents out of their control. The weight of this reality isn’t to be dismissed. And as Milos Radovic’s Train Driver’s Diary shows, it can drive people towards insanity. A sense of humor is therefore crucial. They could voluntarily become the next fatality without one.
It’s a “I laugh so I don’t cry” type deal because the painful memories are...
It’s a “I laugh so I don’t cry” type deal because the painful memories are...
- 10/9/2017
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
Serbia has selected Bojan Vuletic's Requiem for Mrs. J, a black comedy about a widow planning to commit suicide on the anniversary of her husband's death, as its candidate for best foreign-language film in the Oscars.
When depressed widow Jelena (Mirjana Karanovic) decides to escape the bleak world of a tiny apartment, aged mother and squabbling, foul-mouthed daughters on the first anniversary of her husband's death, she meticulously begins putting her affairs in order. But as she navigates the serpentine bureaucracy of the crumbling post-Yugoslav state she lives in, the bizarre and surreally humorous realities of her situation become apparent....
When depressed widow Jelena (Mirjana Karanovic) decides to escape the bleak world of a tiny apartment, aged mother and squabbling, foul-mouthed daughters on the first anniversary of her husband's death, she meticulously begins putting her affairs in order. But as she navigates the serpentine bureaucracy of the crumbling post-Yugoslav state she lives in, the bizarre and surreally humorous realities of her situation become apparent....
- 9/5/2017
- by Nick Holdsworth
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
My Happy Family also wins two awards at Wiesbaden festival.
Bojan Vuletic’s second feature Requiem For Mrs J. has become the first Serbian film in the history of the goEast - Festival of Central and Eastern European Film’s 17 years to win the top award, the €10,000 Golden Lily, for best film in Wiesbaden’s competition.
The co-production between Serbia’s See Film Pro, Bulgaria’s Geopoly Film, Fyr Macedonia’s Skopje Film Studio, France’s Surprise Alley and Russia’s Non-Stop Production had had its world premiere at the Berlinale’s Panorama section in February and is in the sales line-up of Belgrade-based Soul Food Films.
Vuletic, who had attended his film’s screenings and last night’s awards ceremony with lead actress Mirjana Karanovic (both pictured, top, alongside filmmaker Hana Jusic and festival director Gaby Babic), is no stranger to goEast after his feature debut Practical Guide To Belgrade With Singing And Crying had its...
Bojan Vuletic’s second feature Requiem For Mrs J. has become the first Serbian film in the history of the goEast - Festival of Central and Eastern European Film’s 17 years to win the top award, the €10,000 Golden Lily, for best film in Wiesbaden’s competition.
The co-production between Serbia’s See Film Pro, Bulgaria’s Geopoly Film, Fyr Macedonia’s Skopje Film Studio, France’s Surprise Alley and Russia’s Non-Stop Production had had its world premiere at the Berlinale’s Panorama section in February and is in the sales line-up of Belgrade-based Soul Food Films.
Vuletic, who had attended his film’s screenings and last night’s awards ceremony with lead actress Mirjana Karanovic (both pictured, top, alongside filmmaker Hana Jusic and festival director Gaby Babic), is no stranger to goEast after his feature debut Practical Guide To Belgrade With Singing And Crying had its...
- 5/3/2017
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
A total of 21 projects will be presented at the development and financing platform.
Caroline Deruas, Jonathan Nossiter and David Verbeek will be among the directors presenting their upcoming projects at the eighth edition of the Les Arcs Coproduction Village (Dec 10-13).
A total of 24 projects will presented at the three-day event unfolding within the Les Arcs European Film Festival (10-17) which announced the bulk of its programme last week.
Verbeek will present his long-gestating vampire project Dead & Beautiful.
Jonathan Nossiter will be at the market with The Last Words, his big screen adaptation of France-based Argentine writer Santiago Amigorena’s novel Mes derniers mots revolving around the last two members of the human race as they contemplate a world destroyed by mankind.
Deruas will present her second feature Sad Liza after Daydreams which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival over the summer.
Two animation projects have also made it into this year’s selection, Dutch experimental...
Caroline Deruas, Jonathan Nossiter and David Verbeek will be among the directors presenting their upcoming projects at the eighth edition of the Les Arcs Coproduction Village (Dec 10-13).
A total of 24 projects will presented at the three-day event unfolding within the Les Arcs European Film Festival (10-17) which announced the bulk of its programme last week.
Verbeek will present his long-gestating vampire project Dead & Beautiful.
Jonathan Nossiter will be at the market with The Last Words, his big screen adaptation of France-based Argentine writer Santiago Amigorena’s novel Mes derniers mots revolving around the last two members of the human race as they contemplate a world destroyed by mankind.
Deruas will present her second feature Sad Liza after Daydreams which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival over the summer.
Two animation projects have also made it into this year’s selection, Dutch experimental...
- 11/17/2016
- ScreenDaily
Festival’s industry strand crowns work-in-progress winners from Macedonia and Ukraine.
The Grand Prix of FilmFestival Cottbus (8-13 November) went to Russia for the fourth time in the last six years, with filmmaker Ivan I. Tverdovsky taking the top award for his second feature Zoology after also winning top honours for his debut Corrections Class in 2014.
The other previous winners from Russia had been Angelina Nikonova in 2011 with Twilight Portrait and Alexander Veledinsky in 2013 with The Geographer Who Drank His Globe Away.
Moreover, Tverdovsky is the third film-maker to win Cottbus’s top prize twice in the festival’s 26-year history following Slovakia’s Martin Sulik (1993: Everything I Like and 1995: The Garden) and Serbia’s Oleg Novkovic (2006: Tomorrow Morning and 2010: White White World).
The international jury, which included veteran Israeli producer Marek Rosenbaum and Serbian actress-director Mirjana Karanovic, described Zoology as ¨an original and emotional story about loneliness, love, hope and...
The Grand Prix of FilmFestival Cottbus (8-13 November) went to Russia for the fourth time in the last six years, with filmmaker Ivan I. Tverdovsky taking the top award for his second feature Zoology after also winning top honours for his debut Corrections Class in 2014.
The other previous winners from Russia had been Angelina Nikonova in 2011 with Twilight Portrait and Alexander Veledinsky in 2013 with The Geographer Who Drank His Globe Away.
Moreover, Tverdovsky is the third film-maker to win Cottbus’s top prize twice in the festival’s 26-year history following Slovakia’s Martin Sulik (1993: Everything I Like and 1995: The Garden) and Serbia’s Oleg Novkovic (2006: Tomorrow Morning and 2010: White White World).
The international jury, which included veteran Israeli producer Marek Rosenbaum and Serbian actress-director Mirjana Karanovic, described Zoology as ¨an original and emotional story about loneliness, love, hope and...
- 11/14/2016
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
FilmFestival Cottbus co-pro event will feature ten projects this year.
Cottbus Connects, the east-west co-production market held at FilmFestival Cottbus in Germany, has revealed the ten projects that will be pitched at its next edition, November 10-11.
The projects participating this year include Berliner from Romanian producer Anca Puiu, producer and husband of Cristi Puiu, who produced 2016 Cannes competition title Sieranevada, which is Romania’s submission to this year’s Oscar race. The film will be directed by Marian Crisan, whose 2008 short Megatron (produced by Puiu) won a Palme d’Or for best short film.
Also being pitched this year will be The Return, from BAFTA-winning Ida producer Piotr Dzięcioł. The film will be directed by Krzysztof Rzączyński and also produced by Maciej Rzączyński.
The Best Pitch Award comes with a $1,700 (€1,500) prize and accreditation to the Cannes Producer Network in 2017. Also up for grabs is the Post Pitch Award, which comes with $28,000 (€25,000) and is designated by a jury...
Cottbus Connects, the east-west co-production market held at FilmFestival Cottbus in Germany, has revealed the ten projects that will be pitched at its next edition, November 10-11.
The projects participating this year include Berliner from Romanian producer Anca Puiu, producer and husband of Cristi Puiu, who produced 2016 Cannes competition title Sieranevada, which is Romania’s submission to this year’s Oscar race. The film will be directed by Marian Crisan, whose 2008 short Megatron (produced by Puiu) won a Palme d’Or for best short film.
Also being pitched this year will be The Return, from BAFTA-winning Ida producer Piotr Dzięcioł. The film will be directed by Krzysztof Rzączyński and also produced by Maciej Rzączyński.
The Best Pitch Award comes with a $1,700 (€1,500) prize and accreditation to the Cannes Producer Network in 2017. Also up for grabs is the Post Pitch Award, which comes with $28,000 (€25,000) and is designated by a jury...
- 9/20/2016
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Mirjana Karanovic’s A Good Wife wins best first film; audience award goes to Iciar Bollain’s The Olive Tree.
The 14th edition of the Brussels Film Festival closed with the Golden Iris award going to Maren Ade’s Toni Erdmann, with a prize of €10,000 to distributor September Film. The film also won best screenplay and the Rtbf Vt Prize of best film.
The jury was comprised of Flemish actress Natali Broods, Italian director Emanuele Crialese, Belgian actor Pierre Dherte, Dutch actor Derek De Lint and Croatian director Ivona Juka.
The White Iris award for best first film in competition went to A Good Wife by Mirjana Karanovic.
The jury award went to Callback by Carles Torras; best photography went to Giorgos Arvanitis for Blind Sun; the Cineruopa award went to Pikadero by Ben Sharrock; Ups cinephile award went to Suntan by Argyris Papadimitropoulos.
The audience award went to The Olive Tree by Iciar Bollain, which also won...
The 14th edition of the Brussels Film Festival closed with the Golden Iris award going to Maren Ade’s Toni Erdmann, with a prize of €10,000 to distributor September Film. The film also won best screenplay and the Rtbf Vt Prize of best film.
The jury was comprised of Flemish actress Natali Broods, Italian director Emanuele Crialese, Belgian actor Pierre Dherte, Dutch actor Derek De Lint and Croatian director Ivona Juka.
The White Iris award for best first film in competition went to A Good Wife by Mirjana Karanovic.
The jury award went to Callback by Carles Torras; best photography went to Giorgos Arvanitis for Blind Sun; the Cineruopa award went to Pikadero by Ben Sharrock; Ups cinephile award went to Suntan by Argyris Papadimitropoulos.
The audience award went to The Olive Tree by Iciar Bollain, which also won...
- 6/27/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
United States Of Love, Rams and Mustang will feature at the eighth edition of the festival; regional premiere of Mirjana Karanovic’s A Good Wife.Scroll down for full line-up
The eighth Prishtina International Film Festival (April 22-29) will open with a screening of Jonas Carpignano’s Mediterranea, which will compete as part of the event’s European Film Competition.
Tomasz Wasilewski’s Silver Berlin Bear-winning United States Of Love will also compete in the strand, as will Grímur Hákonarson’s Cannes Un Certain Regard-winning Rams and Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s Oscar-nominated Mustang.
Completing the line-up is Juris Kursietis’ Modris, Carlos Marques-Marcet’s 10,000 Km, and Swiss 10-part Sci-Fi anthology Heimtaland. The films will compete for the festival’s Golden Goddess prize for best European film.
The Honey and Blood competition, which showcases Balkan titles, will this year feature nine films including Danis Tanovic’s Silver Berlin Bear-winning Death In Sarajevo - which will close the festival with Tanovic...
The eighth Prishtina International Film Festival (April 22-29) will open with a screening of Jonas Carpignano’s Mediterranea, which will compete as part of the event’s European Film Competition.
Tomasz Wasilewski’s Silver Berlin Bear-winning United States Of Love will also compete in the strand, as will Grímur Hákonarson’s Cannes Un Certain Regard-winning Rams and Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s Oscar-nominated Mustang.
Completing the line-up is Juris Kursietis’ Modris, Carlos Marques-Marcet’s 10,000 Km, and Swiss 10-part Sci-Fi anthology Heimtaland. The films will compete for the festival’s Golden Goddess prize for best European film.
The Honey and Blood competition, which showcases Balkan titles, will this year feature nine films including Danis Tanovic’s Silver Berlin Bear-winning Death In Sarajevo - which will close the festival with Tanovic...
- 4/7/2016
- ScreenDaily
United States Of Love, Rams and Mustang will feature at the eighth edition of the festival; regional premiere of Mirjana Karanovic’s A Good Wife.Scroll down for full line-up
The eighth Prishtina International Film Festival (April 22-29) will open with a screening of Jonas Carpignano’s Mediterranea, which will compete as part of the event’s European Film Competition.
Tomasz Wasilewski’s Silver Berlin Bear-winning United States Of Love will also compete in the strand, as will Grímur Hákonarson’s Cannes Un Certain Regard-winning Rams and Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s Oscar-nominated Mustang.
Completing the line-up is Juris Kursietis’ Modris, Carlos Marques-Marcet’s 10,000 Km, and Swiss 10-part Sci-Fi anthology Heimtaland. The films will compete for the festival’s Golden Goddess prize for best European film.
The Honey and Blood competition, which showcases Balkan titles, will this year feature nine films including Danis Tanovic’s Silver Berlin Bear-winning Death In Sarajevo and the regional premiere of Mirjana Karanović...
The eighth Prishtina International Film Festival (April 22-29) will open with a screening of Jonas Carpignano’s Mediterranea, which will compete as part of the event’s European Film Competition.
Tomasz Wasilewski’s Silver Berlin Bear-winning United States Of Love will also compete in the strand, as will Grímur Hákonarson’s Cannes Un Certain Regard-winning Rams and Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s Oscar-nominated Mustang.
Completing the line-up is Juris Kursietis’ Modris, Carlos Marques-Marcet’s 10,000 Km, and Swiss 10-part Sci-Fi anthology Heimtaland. The films will compete for the festival’s Golden Goddess prize for best European film.
The Honey and Blood competition, which showcases Balkan titles, will this year feature nine films including Danis Tanovic’s Silver Berlin Bear-winning Death In Sarajevo and the regional premiere of Mirjana Karanović...
- 4/7/2016
- ScreenDaily
Berlinale title Humidity scores hat-trick at national awards during Belgrade Fest; Diary Of A Teenage Girl wins in international strand.
Serbia, the last of the former Yugoslav countries eligible to join the Media programme, officially launched its Media Desk on Friday [March 4].
“Membership in the Media sub-programme of Creative Europe is of crucial importance for Serbian cinema,” Boban Jevtic - appointed as director of Film Centre Serbia last summer - told Screen.
“Our film-makers, production companies and other film professionals will now have access to its 17 different categories of support, and we will immediately start training sessions in order to get them acquainted with the programme and process of project submission and grants.”
The first such session was held the next day, as part of Fest Forward, the fledgling industry section of the 44th Belgrade International Film Festival (Feb 26 - Mar 6).
The festival included the official national competition. Serbia hasn’t had national awards since 2007, and last year...
Serbia, the last of the former Yugoslav countries eligible to join the Media programme, officially launched its Media Desk on Friday [March 4].
“Membership in the Media sub-programme of Creative Europe is of crucial importance for Serbian cinema,” Boban Jevtic - appointed as director of Film Centre Serbia last summer - told Screen.
“Our film-makers, production companies and other film professionals will now have access to its 17 different categories of support, and we will immediately start training sessions in order to get them acquainted with the programme and process of project submission and grants.”
The first such session was held the next day, as part of Fest Forward, the fledgling industry section of the 44th Belgrade International Film Festival (Feb 26 - Mar 6).
The festival included the official national competition. Serbia hasn’t had national awards since 2007, and last year...
- 3/7/2016
- by vladan.petkovic@gmail.com (Vladan Petkovic)
- ScreenDaily
All the news, reviews and interviews coming out of Park City.News
The Birth of a Nation
What were the buzz titles of 2016?
‘The Birth Of A Nation’, ‘Sonita’ rule Sundance awards
Sundance buyers wait to see if numbers add up
Six major deals signed in Park City
Fox Searchlight in record $17.5m deal for ‘Birth Of A Nation’
The Orchard snaps up ‘Wilderpeople’
Sundance unveils shorts winners
‘Indignation’, ‘Equity’ find Us homes
Amazon strikes $10m deal for ‘Manchester By The Sea’
Sundance director lambasts Chilean film support
Partners unite on ‘Under The Shadow’
Spc takes world on Frank Zappa doc
Mongrel International boards ‘Little Men’
Brainstorm Media sparks to ‘Resilience’
Buyers circle hot ‘Manchester’
Robert Redford addresses diversity
Curzon Artificial Eye acquires Whit Stillman’s ‘Love & Friendship’
‘Embrace Of The Serpent’ wins Sloan prize
Netflix acquires ‘Audrie & Daisy’
Magnolia takes ‘Lo And Behold’
Paramount Home Media in talks for ‘The Intervention’
Sundance Channel acquires five festival...
The Birth of a Nation
What were the buzz titles of 2016?
‘The Birth Of A Nation’, ‘Sonita’ rule Sundance awards
Sundance buyers wait to see if numbers add up
Six major deals signed in Park City
Fox Searchlight in record $17.5m deal for ‘Birth Of A Nation’
The Orchard snaps up ‘Wilderpeople’
Sundance unveils shorts winners
‘Indignation’, ‘Equity’ find Us homes
Amazon strikes $10m deal for ‘Manchester By The Sea’
Sundance director lambasts Chilean film support
Partners unite on ‘Under The Shadow’
Spc takes world on Frank Zappa doc
Mongrel International boards ‘Little Men’
Brainstorm Media sparks to ‘Resilience’
Buyers circle hot ‘Manchester’
Robert Redford addresses diversity
Curzon Artificial Eye acquires Whit Stillman’s ‘Love & Friendship’
‘Embrace Of The Serpent’ wins Sloan prize
Netflix acquires ‘Audrie & Daisy’
Magnolia takes ‘Lo And Behold’
Paramount Home Media in talks for ‘The Intervention’
Sundance Channel acquires five festival...
- 2/1/2016
- ScreenDaily
All the news, reviews and interviews coming out of Park City.News
The Birth of a Nation
Fox Searchlight in record $17.5m deal for ‘Birth Of A Nation’
The Orchard snaps up ‘Wilderpeople’
Sundance unveils shorts winners
‘Indignation’, ‘Equity’ find Us homes
Amazon strikes $10m deal for ‘Manchester By The Sea’
Sundance director lambasts Chilean film support
Partners unite on ‘Under The Shadow’
Spc takes world on Frank Zappa doc
Mongrel International boards ‘Little Men’
Brainstorm Media sparks to ‘Resilience’
Buyers circle hot ‘Manchester’
Robert Redford addresses diversity
Curzon Artificial Eye acquires Whit Stillman’s ‘Love & Friendship’
Interviews
The Lure
Babak Anvari, ‘Under The Shadow’Agnieszka Smoczynska, ‘The Lure’Alejandro Fernández Almendras, ‘Much Ado About Nothing’Elite Zexer, ‘Sand Storm’Felix van Groeningen, ‘Belgica’Mirjana Karanovic, ‘A Good Wife’Rebecca Daly, ‘Mammal’Yao Huang, ‘Pleasure. Love.’Doron Weber, The Sloan FoundationFEATURES
Source: Jemal Countess
Sundance 2016: the year starts hereSundance 2016: World Cinema film profilesNew Frontier strand...
The Birth of a Nation
Fox Searchlight in record $17.5m deal for ‘Birth Of A Nation’
The Orchard snaps up ‘Wilderpeople’
Sundance unveils shorts winners
‘Indignation’, ‘Equity’ find Us homes
Amazon strikes $10m deal for ‘Manchester By The Sea’
Sundance director lambasts Chilean film support
Partners unite on ‘Under The Shadow’
Spc takes world on Frank Zappa doc
Mongrel International boards ‘Little Men’
Brainstorm Media sparks to ‘Resilience’
Buyers circle hot ‘Manchester’
Robert Redford addresses diversity
Curzon Artificial Eye acquires Whit Stillman’s ‘Love & Friendship’
Interviews
The Lure
Babak Anvari, ‘Under The Shadow’Agnieszka Smoczynska, ‘The Lure’Alejandro Fernández Almendras, ‘Much Ado About Nothing’Elite Zexer, ‘Sand Storm’Felix van Groeningen, ‘Belgica’Mirjana Karanovic, ‘A Good Wife’Rebecca Daly, ‘Mammal’Yao Huang, ‘Pleasure. Love.’Doron Weber, The Sloan FoundationFEATURES
Source: Jemal Countess
Sundance 2016: the year starts hereSundance 2016: World Cinema film profilesNew Frontier strand...
- 1/27/2016
- ScreenDaily
Promotional campaigns for six European films are being boosted with Films Sales Support (Fss) from European Film Promotion (Efp) at this year’s Sundance Film Festival (Jan 21-31).
A total of $27,000 (€25,000) towards sales companies’ campaigns has been earmarked by Efp in total to facilitate sales of European films to North America and to strengthen networking with buyers at the festival. Fss is backed by the Creative Europe - Media Programme of the European Union.
French sales company Films Distribution premieres Agnus Dei by Anne Fontaine, who will attend Sundance to present her film that is set in Poland 1945.
German sales company Films Boutique has two films at the festival: documentary Land Of The Enlightened by Pieter-Jan De Pue and Mirjana Karanovic’s feature A Good Wife.
The Match Factory focusses on Wild, a feature by Nicolette Krebitz, and on Felix van Groeningen’s new film Belgica (Belgium).
All of the films are screening in Competition as well...
A total of $27,000 (€25,000) towards sales companies’ campaigns has been earmarked by Efp in total to facilitate sales of European films to North America and to strengthen networking with buyers at the festival. Fss is backed by the Creative Europe - Media Programme of the European Union.
French sales company Films Distribution premieres Agnus Dei by Anne Fontaine, who will attend Sundance to present her film that is set in Poland 1945.
German sales company Films Boutique has two films at the festival: documentary Land Of The Enlightened by Pieter-Jan De Pue and Mirjana Karanovic’s feature A Good Wife.
The Match Factory focusses on Wild, a feature by Nicolette Krebitz, and on Felix van Groeningen’s new film Belgica (Belgium).
All of the films are screening in Competition as well...
- 1/19/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Notable world premieres include Mads Matthiesen’s Teddy Bear follow-up The Model and Avalon director Axel Petersén’s Under the Pyramid.
Måns Månsson’s The Yard will open the 2016 Goteborg Film Festival (Jan 29 - Feb 8), which will screen some 450 films from 84 countries.
The film, which will have its world premiere at the Swedish festival’s Jan 29 opening, is adapted from Kristian Lundberg’s autobiographical novel about moving from cultural work to becoming a day laborer in Malmo harbour. Anders Mossling stars.
The festival’s closing film will be Henrik Ruben Genz’s Satisfaction 1720, Erlend Loe has written the manuscript for the film, about the post-war exploits of the “rock star of his day”, Vice-Admiral Tordenskjold.
Goteborg, the largest film festival in the Nordics and running for 11 days, is devoting special programmes to Italian cinema, Nigeria’s Nollywood and a new section on TV drama.
The eight films competing for the Dragon Award for Best Nordic film (which...
Måns Månsson’s The Yard will open the 2016 Goteborg Film Festival (Jan 29 - Feb 8), which will screen some 450 films from 84 countries.
The film, which will have its world premiere at the Swedish festival’s Jan 29 opening, is adapted from Kristian Lundberg’s autobiographical novel about moving from cultural work to becoming a day laborer in Malmo harbour. Anders Mossling stars.
The festival’s closing film will be Henrik Ruben Genz’s Satisfaction 1720, Erlend Loe has written the manuscript for the film, about the post-war exploits of the “rock star of his day”, Vice-Admiral Tordenskjold.
Goteborg, the largest film festival in the Nordics and running for 11 days, is devoting special programmes to Italian cinema, Nigeria’s Nollywood and a new section on TV drama.
The eight films competing for the Dragon Award for Best Nordic film (which...
- 1/12/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Kate Plays ChristineThe lineup for the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, taking place between January 21 -31, has been announced.U.S. Dramatic COMPETITIONAs You Are (Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, USA): As You Are is the telling and retelling of a relationship between three teenagers as it traces the course of their friendship through a construction of disparate memories prompted by a police investigation. Cast: Owen Campbell, Charlie Heaton, Amandla Stenberg, John Scurti, Scott Cohen, Mary Stuart Masterson. World Premiere The Birth of a Nation (Nate Parker, USA): Set against the antebellum South, this story follows Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner, accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. After witnessing countless atrocities against fellow slaves, Nat devises a plan to lead his people to freedom. Cast: Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King, Jackie Earle Haley, Gabrielle Union, Mark Boone Jr. World PremiereChristine (Antonio Campos,...
- 12/7/2015
- by Notebook
- MUBI
The Sundance Film institute has released the line-up of film for the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Going to Sundance is one of my favorite events of the year. I love going because you never know what kind of movies you're going to see. Sometimes they are great films that amaze and entertain, other times they completely suck ass, but that's all part of the fun of going to the festival. It's an awesome experience for any hardcore movie geek, and if you ever get a chance to go, you need to.
The event takes place in Park City, Utah next year from January 21st to the 31st. It looks like there's a great line-up of movies at next year's event. My favorite portion of the event is the Midnight section because it deals more with geeky genre type movies, but I also enjoy the various sections of other line-ups.
Some of...
The event takes place in Park City, Utah next year from January 21st to the 31st. It looks like there's a great line-up of movies at next year's event. My favorite portion of the event is the Midnight section because it deals more with geeky genre type movies, but I also enjoy the various sections of other line-ups.
Some of...
- 12/6/2015
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
In last year’s section which included Ariel Kleiman’s Partisan and Anne Sewitsky’s Homesick, it was John Maclean’s debut Slow West claimed the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize, Alanté Kavaïté’s The Summer of Sangailé landed the Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic, Umrika was the audience’s won the Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic. In this year’s dozen offerings we have names we normally associate with Cannes in The Misfortunates‘ Felix van Groeningen (Belgica), The Other Side of Sleep‘s Rebecca Daly (Mammal – see pic above) and A Stray Girlfriend‘s Ana Katz (Mi Amiga del Parque). Here are the selections.
Belgica / Belgium, France, Netherlands (Director: Felix van Groeningen, Screenwriters: Felix van Groeningen, Arne Sierens) — In the midst of Belgium’s nightlife scene, two brothers start a bar and get swept up in its success.Cast: Stef Aerts, Tom Vermeir, Charlotte Vandermeersch, Hélène De Vos. World Premiere.
Belgica / Belgium, France, Netherlands (Director: Felix van Groeningen, Screenwriters: Felix van Groeningen, Arne Sierens) — In the midst of Belgium’s nightlife scene, two brothers start a bar and get swept up in its success.Cast: Stef Aerts, Tom Vermeir, Charlotte Vandermeersch, Hélène De Vos. World Premiere.
- 12/2/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Titles include Tallulah starring Ellen Page and Allison Janney, and Chad Hartigan’s Morris From America (pictured); Next strand also announced.Scroll down for full list
Sundance Institute has announced the 65 films selected for the Us Competition, World Competition and out-of-competition Next categories set to screen at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival (Jan 21-31) in Park City.
Us Dramatic Competition selections include Sian Heder’s Tallulah with Ellen Page and Allison Janney; Antonio Campos’ Christine; Clea DuVall’s feature directorial debut The Intervention; and Richard Tanne’s Southside With You, about Barack Obama’s first date with the First Lady.
Among the Us Documentary Competition selections are: Holy Hell by undisclosed; Jeff Feuerzeig’s Author: The Jt LeRoy Story; and Sara Jordenö’s Kiki.
The World Cinema Dramatic Competition entries include: Belgica (Belgium-France-Netherlands), Felix van Groeningen’s follow-up to The Broken Circle Breakdown; Manolo Cruz and Carlos del Castillo’s Between Sea And Land (Colombia); and Nicolette Krebitz’s Wild...
Sundance Institute has announced the 65 films selected for the Us Competition, World Competition and out-of-competition Next categories set to screen at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival (Jan 21-31) in Park City.
Us Dramatic Competition selections include Sian Heder’s Tallulah with Ellen Page and Allison Janney; Antonio Campos’ Christine; Clea DuVall’s feature directorial debut The Intervention; and Richard Tanne’s Southside With You, about Barack Obama’s first date with the First Lady.
Among the Us Documentary Competition selections are: Holy Hell by undisclosed; Jeff Feuerzeig’s Author: The Jt LeRoy Story; and Sara Jordenö’s Kiki.
The World Cinema Dramatic Competition entries include: Belgica (Belgium-France-Netherlands), Felix van Groeningen’s follow-up to The Broken Circle Breakdown; Manolo Cruz and Carlos del Castillo’s Between Sea And Land (Colombia); and Nicolette Krebitz’s Wild...
- 12/2/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Denmark’s Katja Adomeit and Germany’s Ingmar Trost among upcoming European producers set to be showcased at Cannes.Scroll down for full list
European Film Promotion (Efp) has selected 20 emerging young European producers for the 16th edition of its Producers on the Move networking initiative, which will be held during the upcoming Cannes Film Festival from May 15-18.
The 2014 selection includes Danish producer Katja Adomeit, who produced and co-directed the hybrid film Not At Home with the Afghan director Shahrbanoo Sadat as well as co-producing Ruben Östlund’s Force Majeure as a freelancer for the Copenhagen office of Philippe Bober’s The Coproduction Office.
Cologne-based Ingmar Trost of Sutor Kolonko has also been selected. His credits include Ilian Metev’s award-winniıng documentary Sofıa’s Last Ambulance, Latvian director Juris Kursietis’ Modrıs and Ingo Haeb’s The Chambermaid Lynn, and he has just completed production of his third feature, Isabelle Stever’s The Weather Inside.
Lithuania will be...
European Film Promotion (Efp) has selected 20 emerging young European producers for the 16th edition of its Producers on the Move networking initiative, which will be held during the upcoming Cannes Film Festival from May 15-18.
The 2014 selection includes Danish producer Katja Adomeit, who produced and co-directed the hybrid film Not At Home with the Afghan director Shahrbanoo Sadat as well as co-producing Ruben Östlund’s Force Majeure as a freelancer for the Copenhagen office of Philippe Bober’s The Coproduction Office.
Cologne-based Ingmar Trost of Sutor Kolonko has also been selected. His credits include Ilian Metev’s award-winniıng documentary Sofıa’s Last Ambulance, Latvian director Juris Kursietis’ Modrıs and Ingo Haeb’s The Chambermaid Lynn, and he has just completed production of his third feature, Isabelle Stever’s The Weather Inside.
Lithuania will be...
- 4/21/2015
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival has unveiled its 2015 line-up which includes films representing 54 countries, 23 world premieres and 53 U.S. premieres. The U.S. premiere of Niki Caro’s McFarland USA will close out the 30th fest. Based on the 1987 true story and starring Kevin Costner and Maria Bello, the film follows novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged town in California’s farm-rich Central Valley, as they give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (Costner), a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school. The unlikely band of runners overcomes the odds to forge not only a championship cross-country team but an enduring legacy as well.
The festival runs from January 27-February 7.
Below is the list of World and U.S. Premiere films followed by the list of titles by sidebar categories.
World Premieres
A Better You, USA
Directed by Matt Walsh
Cast: Brian Huskey,...
The festival runs from January 27-February 7.
Below is the list of World and U.S. Premiere films followed by the list of titles by sidebar categories.
World Premieres
A Better You, USA
Directed by Matt Walsh
Cast: Brian Huskey,...
- 1/8/2015
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline
A self-acknowledged "showcase for Academy Award frontrunners," the Santa Barbara International Film Festival is often overlooked for the actual films that earn it festival status. An amalgamation of international discoveries and ’merica’s circuit highlights, the Sbiff curates a week of best-of-the-best to pair with their star-praising. The 2015 edition offers another expansive selection, bookended by two films that aren’t on any radars just yet. Sbiff will open with "Desert Dancer," producer Richard Raymond’s directorial debut. Starring Reece Ritchie and Frieda Pinto, the drama follows a group of friends who wave off the harsh political climate of Iran’s 2009 presidential election in favor of forming a dance team, picking up moves from Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly and Rudolf Nureyev thanks to the magic of YouTube. The festival will close with "McFarland, USA," starring Kevin Costner and Maria Bello. Telling the 1987 true story of a Latino high school’s underdog cross-country team,...
- 1/8/2015
- by Matt Patches
- Hitfix
Russia big winner at FilmFestival Cottbus for second consecutive year.
Russia was the big winner for the second year in a row at the FilmFestival Cottbus with Ivan I. Tverdovsky’s Corrections Class picking up four awards at the weekend.
The feature debut received the International Jury’s main prize ¨for its unsentimental and unpretentious presentation of a powerful social theme presented through the prism of an excellent ensemble performance¨, thereby qualifying for the Connecting Cottbus Special Pitch Award, which will allow Tverdovsky and his producers to pitch a new project at the East-West co-production market in a year’s time.
Tverdovsky’s Russian-German co-production, which won the Best Debut prize at Kinotavr in Sochi and the East of the West Award in Karlovy Vary, also picked up the prizes from the Fipresci and Interfilm juries in Cottbus.
Last year, the main prize at Cottbus went to Russian director Alexander Veledinsky’s The Geographer Drank His Globe...
Russia was the big winner for the second year in a row at the FilmFestival Cottbus with Ivan I. Tverdovsky’s Corrections Class picking up four awards at the weekend.
The feature debut received the International Jury’s main prize ¨for its unsentimental and unpretentious presentation of a powerful social theme presented through the prism of an excellent ensemble performance¨, thereby qualifying for the Connecting Cottbus Special Pitch Award, which will allow Tverdovsky and his producers to pitch a new project at the East-West co-production market in a year’s time.
Tverdovsky’s Russian-German co-production, which won the Best Debut prize at Kinotavr in Sochi and the East of the West Award in Karlovy Vary, also picked up the prizes from the Fipresci and Interfilm juries in Cottbus.
Last year, the main prize at Cottbus went to Russian director Alexander Veledinsky’s The Geographer Drank His Globe...
- 11/10/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Wroclaw New Horizons roundup: works in progress include Close Ups and I, Olga Hepnarova.
Wide Management has begun presales on the Polish-German co-production Summer Solstice by Michal Rogalski which was one of 10 Polish films featuring in this year’s works in progress showcase at the Polish Days during Wroclaw’s New Horizons International Film Festival.
Producer Maria Golos of Prasa Film said that German theatrical distribution for the €2.5m film, which is set in Poland after the Nazi defeat during the Second World War, will be handled by Farbfilm.
Separately, Leszek Budzak of the young production company Aurum Film revealed that Jacek Lusinski’s second feature Carte Blanche will be released early next year by Kino Swiat in Poland.
Based on the true story of a history teacher who is losing his sight, the lead part of the teacher is cast with the ubiquitous Polish actor Andrzej Chyra.
Magdalena Piekorz’s third feature psychological drama Close Ups was...
Wide Management has begun presales on the Polish-German co-production Summer Solstice by Michal Rogalski which was one of 10 Polish films featuring in this year’s works in progress showcase at the Polish Days during Wroclaw’s New Horizons International Film Festival.
Producer Maria Golos of Prasa Film said that German theatrical distribution for the €2.5m film, which is set in Poland after the Nazi defeat during the Second World War, will be handled by Farbfilm.
Separately, Leszek Budzak of the young production company Aurum Film revealed that Jacek Lusinski’s second feature Carte Blanche will be released early next year by Kino Swiat in Poland.
Based on the true story of a history teacher who is losing his sight, the lead part of the teacher is cast with the ubiquitous Polish actor Andrzej Chyra.
Magdalena Piekorz’s third feature psychological drama Close Ups was...
- 8/1/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Wroclaw New Horizons roundup: works in progress include Close Ups and I, Olga Hepnarova.
Wide Management has begun presales on the Polish-German co-production Summer Solstice by Michal Rogalski which was one of 10 Polish films featuring in this year’s works in progress showcase at the Polish Days during Wroclaw’s New Horizons International Film Festival.
Producer Maria Golos of Prasa Film said that German theatrical distribution for the €2.5m film, which is set in Poland after the Nazi defeat during the Second World War, will be handled by Farbfilm.
Separately, Leszek Budzak of the young production company Aurum Film revealed that Jacek Lusinski’s second feature Carte Blanche will be released early next year by Kino Swiat in Poland.
Based on the true story of a history teacher who is losing his sight, the lead part of the teacher is cast with the ubiquitous Polish actor Andrzej Chyra.
Magdalena Piekorz’s third feature psychological drama Close Ups was...
Wide Management has begun presales on the Polish-German co-production Summer Solstice by Michal Rogalski which was one of 10 Polish films featuring in this year’s works in progress showcase at the Polish Days during Wroclaw’s New Horizons International Film Festival.
Producer Maria Golos of Prasa Film said that German theatrical distribution for the €2.5m film, which is set in Poland after the Nazi defeat during the Second World War, will be handled by Farbfilm.
Separately, Leszek Budzak of the young production company Aurum Film revealed that Jacek Lusinski’s second feature Carte Blanche will be released early next year by Kino Swiat in Poland.
Based on the true story of a history teacher who is losing his sight, the lead part of the teacher is cast with the ubiquitous Polish actor Andrzej Chyra.
Magdalena Piekorz’s third feature psychological drama Close Ups was...
- 8/1/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Vienna-based sales agent EastWest Distribution has picked up six new titles including Rotterdam premiere Whispers Behind The Wall.
Speaking exclusively to ScreenDaily at this week’s When East Meets West in Trieste, EastWest’s Sasha Wieser said that two of these titles will be screening in the festival programmes of Rotterdam and Berlin.
Polish-born Grzegorz Muskala’s dark psychological thriller Whispers Behind The Wall - a young law student falls for the charms of his enigmatic Berlin landlady with terrifying consequences - will have its international premiere in Rotterdam tomorrow in the Bright Future programme.
The feature debut is the first full in-house production of Sol Bondy’s Berlin-based One Two Films and Muskala’s graduation film from the German Film & Television Academy Berlin (dffb). It had its world premiere at the Filmfest Oldenburg last September and won the prize for Best Musical Score at the Kinofest Lünen in November.
Bondy was one...
Speaking exclusively to ScreenDaily at this week’s When East Meets West in Trieste, EastWest’s Sasha Wieser said that two of these titles will be screening in the festival programmes of Rotterdam and Berlin.
Polish-born Grzegorz Muskala’s dark psychological thriller Whispers Behind The Wall - a young law student falls for the charms of his enigmatic Berlin landlady with terrifying consequences - will have its international premiere in Rotterdam tomorrow in the Bright Future programme.
The feature debut is the first full in-house production of Sol Bondy’s Berlin-based One Two Films and Muskala’s graduation film from the German Film & Television Academy Berlin (dffb). It had its world premiere at the Filmfest Oldenburg last September and won the prize for Best Musical Score at the Kinofest Lünen in November.
Bondy was one...
- 1/24/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Vienna-based sales agent EastWest Distribution has picked up six new titles including Rotterdam premiere Whispers Behind The Wall.
Speaking exclusively to ScreenDaily at this week’s When East Meets West in Trieste, EastWest’s Sasha Wieser said that two of these titles will be screening in the festival programmes of Rotterdam and Berlin.
Polish-born Grzegorz Muskala’s dark psychological thriller Whispers Behind The Wall - a young law student falls for the charms of his enigmatic Berlin landlady with terrifying consequences - will have its international premiere in Rotterdam tomorrow in the Bright Future programme.
The feature debut is the first full in-house production of Sol Bondy’s Berlin-based One Two Films and Muskala’s graduation film from the German Film & Television Academy Berlin (dffb). It had its world premiere at the Filmfest Oldenburg last September and won the prize for Best Musical Score at the Kinofest Lünen in November.
Bondy was one...
Speaking exclusively to ScreenDaily at this week’s When East Meets West in Trieste, EastWest’s Sasha Wieser said that two of these titles will be screening in the festival programmes of Rotterdam and Berlin.
Polish-born Grzegorz Muskala’s dark psychological thriller Whispers Behind The Wall - a young law student falls for the charms of his enigmatic Berlin landlady with terrifying consequences - will have its international premiere in Rotterdam tomorrow in the Bright Future programme.
The feature debut is the first full in-house production of Sol Bondy’s Berlin-based One Two Films and Muskala’s graduation film from the German Film & Television Academy Berlin (dffb). It had its world premiere at the Filmfest Oldenburg last September and won the prize for Best Musical Score at the Kinofest Lünen in November.
Bondy was one...
- 1/24/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Projects from Bulgaria, Belgium and Macedonia have picked up prizes at the When East Meets West (Wemw) international co-production meetings in Trieste.
The main prize, the Wemw Development Award, provided by the local regional fund Friuli Venezia Giulia Audiovisual Fund (Fvg), went to Bulgarian producer Martichka Bozhilova and director Galin Stoev for Endless Garden, which is looking for a Belgian co-producer.
The €1.1m dramedy will be theatre director Stoev’s debut feature and already has Berlin-based Thomas Kufus’ zero one film and Media onboard as partners.
Endless Garden had previously been pitched during the Sofia Meetings last March.
A special mention was given by the jury of Eave’s Kristina Trapp, Torino Film Lab’s Mathieu Darras and the Berlinale’s Nikolai Nikitin to the Czech/Slovak documentary comedy Never Give Up by Matej Minac.
A new prize this year, sponsored by Belgium’s Filmmore with €5,000 worth of post-production services, went to the...
The main prize, the Wemw Development Award, provided by the local regional fund Friuli Venezia Giulia Audiovisual Fund (Fvg), went to Bulgarian producer Martichka Bozhilova and director Galin Stoev for Endless Garden, which is looking for a Belgian co-producer.
The €1.1m dramedy will be theatre director Stoev’s debut feature and already has Berlin-based Thomas Kufus’ zero one film and Media onboard as partners.
Endless Garden had previously been pitched during the Sofia Meetings last March.
A special mention was given by the jury of Eave’s Kristina Trapp, Torino Film Lab’s Mathieu Darras and the Berlinale’s Nikolai Nikitin to the Czech/Slovak documentary comedy Never Give Up by Matej Minac.
A new prize this year, sponsored by Belgium’s Filmmore with €5,000 worth of post-production services, went to the...
- 1/22/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
In today's Indie Beat, the upcoming biopic on Nikola Tesla, which is currently heavy into pre-production has now found it's cast members. Come inside to check out who has signed on to the project from director Michael Anton.
Here at Cinelinx we like to talk about all aspects of filmmaking and movie news. To that end, we have Indie Beat where we highlight some of the latest news, trailers, and PR releases from the indie filmmaker scene. So if you're an independent filmmaker and want some coverage on our site, be sure to drop us a line at jordan@cinelinx.com.
Director Michael Anton is currently in advanced pre-production with his biopic Tesla about the iconic Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla.
The film will follow the life of Tesla following his arrival in America in 1884, as he battled with Thomas Edison, befriended Mark Twain and invented products that would change the world forever.
Here at Cinelinx we like to talk about all aspects of filmmaking and movie news. To that end, we have Indie Beat where we highlight some of the latest news, trailers, and PR releases from the indie filmmaker scene. So if you're an independent filmmaker and want some coverage on our site, be sure to drop us a line at jordan@cinelinx.com.
Director Michael Anton is currently in advanced pre-production with his biopic Tesla about the iconic Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla.
The film will follow the life of Tesla following his arrival in America in 1884, as he battled with Thomas Edison, befriended Mark Twain and invented products that would change the world forever.
- 8/30/2013
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Jordan Maison)
- Cinelinx
Cologne, Germany -- The 45th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival kicks off Friday July 2 with Scott Cooper's double Oscar-winning country music drama "Crazy Heart" and drops the curtain eight days later with French rom-com "Heartbreaker" starring Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis.
In between, twelve productions will compete for the Crystal Globe, among them the world premieres of Fardin Saheb Zamani's debut "There Are Things You Don't Know," billed as an Iranian answer to "Taxi Driver;" "Diago" from China's Chi Zang and Frederic Sojcher's mockumentary "Hitler in Hollywood" about a Tinseltown conspiracy against European cinema.
Two Czech titles are in the running: Tomas Masin's period piece "3 Seasons in Hell" and "Kooky," an animated puppet tale from Jan Sverak, winner of the 1995 Crystal Globe for "The Ride."
Other Globe competitors include the Spanish family drama "The Mosquito Net" from director Agusti Vila and featuring Geraldine Chaplin; the Polish drama "Mother Teresa...
In between, twelve productions will compete for the Crystal Globe, among them the world premieres of Fardin Saheb Zamani's debut "There Are Things You Don't Know," billed as an Iranian answer to "Taxi Driver;" "Diago" from China's Chi Zang and Frederic Sojcher's mockumentary "Hitler in Hollywood" about a Tinseltown conspiracy against European cinema.
Two Czech titles are in the running: Tomas Masin's period piece "3 Seasons in Hell" and "Kooky," an animated puppet tale from Jan Sverak, winner of the 1995 Crystal Globe for "The Ride."
Other Globe competitors include the Spanish family drama "The Mosquito Net" from director Agusti Vila and featuring Geraldine Chaplin; the Polish drama "Mother Teresa...
- 6/23/2010
- by By Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mirjana Karanovic, David Thornton, Here and There Featuring David Thornton, European Film Award nominee Mirjana Karanovic (for Grbavica in 2006), Cyndi Lauper, Branislav Trifunovic, and Antone Pagan, Darko Lungulov’s Here and There was Serbia’s initial submission for the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. (The film was disqualified because it contained too much English-language dialogue.) Here and There follows a jaded middle-aged New Yorker who goes to Serbia to make some quick cash by marrying someone in need of U.S. immigration papers. His plan goes awry when the promised cash never arrives. Meanwhile, a young Serbian immigrant struggles to eke out a living in New York, while desperately trying to bring his girlfriend from Serbia to [...]...
- 5/23/2010
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Writer’s block gets all the ink, but in writer-director Darko Lungulov’s feature debut, Robert (David Thornton) has musician’s block. Once a jazz saxophonist, he can no longer pick up his horn or even open the case. Broke and depressed, he is evicted from his dumpy apartment and swiftly overstays his welcome at a friend’s place by drinking all of her booze.
Unshaven and unkempt, Robert even looks like he reeks of smoke from the cigarettes constantly dangling from his lower lip. Thick, wild hair stands on end like that of a troll doll, and Thornton’s hunched shoulders and narrowed eyes convey chronic cynicism.
With no place else to go, Robert accepts an unusual offer from Branko (Branislav Trifunovic), the Serbian immigrant who helps him move. Robert flies to Serbia to marry Branko’s girlfriend Ivana (Jelena Mrdja) so that she can join her beau in the States.
Unshaven and unkempt, Robert even looks like he reeks of smoke from the cigarettes constantly dangling from his lower lip. Thick, wild hair stands on end like that of a troll doll, and Thornton’s hunched shoulders and narrowed eyes convey chronic cynicism.
With no place else to go, Robert accepts an unusual offer from Branko (Branislav Trifunovic), the Serbian immigrant who helps him move. Robert flies to Serbia to marry Branko’s girlfriend Ivana (Jelena Mrdja) so that she can join her beau in the States.
- 5/17/2010
- Moving Pictures Magazine
Berlinale has unleashed the first few titles from its 2010 line-up. The recently announced titles aren’t anything to write home about but I’m sure we’ll be seeing a few more announcements (including some titles we can get excited about) over the next few weeks.
First titles after the break.
Bal (Honey) Turkey / Germany
by Semih Kaplanoglu (Süt/Milk, Yumurta/Egg, Melegin Düsüsü/Angel’s Fall)
with Bora Altas, Erdal Besikcioglu, Tülin Özen, Alev Ucarer, Ayse Altay
World premiere
Der Räuber (The Robber) Austria / Germany
by Benjamin Heisenberg (Sleeper, Max-Ophuels-Preis 2006)
with Andreas Lust, Franziska Weisz
World premiere
My Name Is Khan India
by Karan Johar
with Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol
Out of competition
Na Putu (On the Path) Bosnia and Herzegovina / Austria / Germany / Croatia
by Jasmila Zbanic (Grbavica, Golden Bear 2006)
with Zrinka Cvitesic (Shooting Star 2010), Leon Lucev, Ermin Bravo, Mirjana Karanovic
World premiere
Shekarchi (The Hunter) Germany / Iran
by...
First titles after the break.
Bal (Honey) Turkey / Germany
by Semih Kaplanoglu (Süt/Milk, Yumurta/Egg, Melegin Düsüsü/Angel’s Fall)
with Bora Altas, Erdal Besikcioglu, Tülin Özen, Alev Ucarer, Ayse Altay
World premiere
Der Räuber (The Robber) Austria / Germany
by Benjamin Heisenberg (Sleeper, Max-Ophuels-Preis 2006)
with Andreas Lust, Franziska Weisz
World premiere
My Name Is Khan India
by Karan Johar
with Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol
Out of competition
Na Putu (On the Path) Bosnia and Herzegovina / Austria / Germany / Croatia
by Jasmila Zbanic (Grbavica, Golden Bear 2006)
with Zrinka Cvitesic (Shooting Star 2010), Leon Lucev, Ermin Bravo, Mirjana Karanovic
World premiere
Shekarchi (The Hunter) Germany / Iran
by...
- 12/15/2009
- QuietEarth.us
With less than ten days to go before the 50th Thessaloniki International Film Festival kicks off, the festival has announced its full slate of 240 films, as well as its seven member jury to judge the fest’s international competition. Theo Angelopoulos will head a jury that will eventually give 40,000 Euros to the competition’s winner, with a second prize of 25,000 Euros also awarded. Lissy Belaiche, Mirjana Karanovic, Eugenio Caballero, Lav …...
- 11/4/2009
- Indiewire
Editor’s Note: This is one of several interviews, conducted via email, with directors whose films are screening at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. “Here and There” (World Narrative Feature Competition) Feature Narrative, 2009, 90 min., Germany, Serbia, U.S. Director: Darko Lungulov Primary Cast: David Thornton, Mirjana Karanovic, Branislav Trifunovic, Cyndi Lauper, Jelena Mrdja, Antone Pagan Screenwriter: Darko Lungulov Producers: Darko Lungulov, Djordjije Lekovic, Vladan Nikolic Director of Photography: Mathias Schoeningh Editor: …...
- 4/14/2009
- indieWIRE - People
As the 11-day film festival drew to a close, the AFI Fest 2006 juries awarded prizes Sunday to a wide range of international contenders. Taking home the international feature competition's narrative grand jury prize was rookie filmmaker Jasmila Zbanic's Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams, Bosnia and Herzegovina's official entry for the 2006 best foreign language Oscar, starring Mirjana Karanovic (When Father Was Away on Business) as a mother dealing with the Third Balkan War. Strand Releasing is distributing the film in the U.S.
The international documentary grand jury prize went to Mark Verkerk's Dutch-French co-production Buddha's Lost Children, about a Thai Buddhist monk who fights for orphans. Verkerk also received a $10,000 grant from Aquafina.
Winning feature audience awards in a tie were Carla Garapedian's rock activist docu Screamers and Lucy Walker's Tibetan climbing docu Blindsight, plus Swiss filmmaker Fredi M.
The international documentary grand jury prize went to Mark Verkerk's Dutch-French co-production Buddha's Lost Children, about a Thai Buddhist monk who fights for orphans. Verkerk also received a $10,000 grant from Aquafina.
Winning feature audience awards in a tie were Carla Garapedian's rock activist docu Screamers and Lucy Walker's Tibetan climbing docu Blindsight, plus Swiss filmmaker Fredi M.
- 11/13/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- Founded in 1988, the European Film Academy currently unites 1,700 European film professionals with the common aim of promoting Europe's film culture. Here are this year's noms.... European Film 2006 Breakfast On Pluto; Ireland/UK Directed by Neil Jordan Produced by Parallel Film Productions Ltd./Number 9 Films Grbavica; Austria/Bosnia-Herzegovina/Germany/Croatia Directed by Jasmila Zbanic Produced by Coop99 Filmproduktion Gmbh/Deblokada/Noirfilm/Jadran Film Das Leben Der Anderen (The Lives Of Others); Germany Directed by Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck Produced by Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion/Bayerischer Rundfunk/Arte/Creado Film The Road To Guantanamo; UK Directed by Michael Winterbottom And Mat Whitecross Produced by Revolution Films Ltd. Volver; Spain Directed by Pedro Almodovar Produced by El Deseo D.A., S.L.U. The Wind That Shakes The Barley; UK/Ireland/Germany/Italy/Spain Directed By Ken Loach Produced By Sixteen Films/Matador Pictures/Regent Capital/UK Film Council/Bord Scannan Na
- 11/6/2006
- IONCINEMA.com
LOCARNO, Switzerland -- The heartache that accompanies reluctant exile as experienced by three women from the former Yugoslavia underpins Andrea Staka's poignant drama "Das Fraulein", which won the Golden Leopard for best film in competition at the Locarno International Film Festival.
The film is set in Zurich, where one woman from Belgrade, in what is now Serbia, and another from a seaside town in what is now Croatia have spent about 25 years acclimating to life in Switzerland. Their carefully constructed lives are shaken by the arrival of a vivacious young woman from Sarajevo, in what is now Bosnia, who spurns the older pair's cautious way of life. The clash of viewpoints is explored in touching scenes as the three find their assumptions about survival challenged by a jolting reminder of life's unfairness.
Making her feature debut, Swiss-born writer-director Staka, whose parents were Yugoslavian exiles, uses the Zurich locations evocatively, writes in-sightful dialogue and draws naturalistic acting from the principals. The result is a picture that should thrive in Europe and at art houses and suggests a bright future for the filmmaker.
The contrasts be-tween the two older women are established quickly with Ruza (Mirjana Karanovic), the stern and disciplined unmarried owner of a charmless but busy diner, and Mila (Ljubica Jovic), a jovial and happily married waitress.
Both long exiled, Ruza has put Belgrade behind her and is focused on being totally efficient both in her business and her joyless single life, while Mila dreams of retiring to a house on the Adriatic in Croatia.
Into the diner one day comes Ana (Marija Skaricic), who drifts contentedly but proves helpful at the restaurant and is offered a job. Her high spirits and engaging willingness to break the rules, even Ruza's, endear her not only to the others in the place but also to its chilly owner.
Ana brings a refreshing indifference to flags and borders, and her ability to enjoy life proves infectious. All three women begin to embrace life more until fate deals another bad hand.
The scenes of expatriates torn by nostalgic yearning yet determined to make new lives are well drawn, and the sequences in which Ana helps Ruza shake off her inhibitions also have a keen edge.
Skaricic and Jovic show how wisdom and joy are not determined by age. And Karanovic is moving as a woman who has buried both her emotions and any ability to connect with life beyond work until suddenly freed by youthful exuberance.
DAS FRAULEIN
Dschoint Ventschr FilmProduktion
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Andrea Staka
Producers: Susann Rudlinger, Samir, Mirjam Quinte, Davor Pusic
Director of photography: Igor Martinovic
Production designer: Sue Erdt
Editor: Gion-Reto Killias
Music: Peter von Siebenthal, Till Wyler, Daniel Jakob
Cast:
Ruza: Mirjana Karanovic
Ana: Marija Skaricic
Mila: Ljubica Jovic
Franz: Andrea Zogg
Ante: Zdenko Jelcic
Fredi: Pablo Aguilar
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 81 minutes...
The film is set in Zurich, where one woman from Belgrade, in what is now Serbia, and another from a seaside town in what is now Croatia have spent about 25 years acclimating to life in Switzerland. Their carefully constructed lives are shaken by the arrival of a vivacious young woman from Sarajevo, in what is now Bosnia, who spurns the older pair's cautious way of life. The clash of viewpoints is explored in touching scenes as the three find their assumptions about survival challenged by a jolting reminder of life's unfairness.
Making her feature debut, Swiss-born writer-director Staka, whose parents were Yugoslavian exiles, uses the Zurich locations evocatively, writes in-sightful dialogue and draws naturalistic acting from the principals. The result is a picture that should thrive in Europe and at art houses and suggests a bright future for the filmmaker.
The contrasts be-tween the two older women are established quickly with Ruza (Mirjana Karanovic), the stern and disciplined unmarried owner of a charmless but busy diner, and Mila (Ljubica Jovic), a jovial and happily married waitress.
Both long exiled, Ruza has put Belgrade behind her and is focused on being totally efficient both in her business and her joyless single life, while Mila dreams of retiring to a house on the Adriatic in Croatia.
Into the diner one day comes Ana (Marija Skaricic), who drifts contentedly but proves helpful at the restaurant and is offered a job. Her high spirits and engaging willingness to break the rules, even Ruza's, endear her not only to the others in the place but also to its chilly owner.
Ana brings a refreshing indifference to flags and borders, and her ability to enjoy life proves infectious. All three women begin to embrace life more until fate deals another bad hand.
The scenes of expatriates torn by nostalgic yearning yet determined to make new lives are well drawn, and the sequences in which Ana helps Ruza shake off her inhibitions also have a keen edge.
Skaricic and Jovic show how wisdom and joy are not determined by age. And Karanovic is moving as a woman who has buried both her emotions and any ability to connect with life beyond work until suddenly freed by youthful exuberance.
DAS FRAULEIN
Dschoint Ventschr FilmProduktion
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Andrea Staka
Producers: Susann Rudlinger, Samir, Mirjam Quinte, Davor Pusic
Director of photography: Igor Martinovic
Production designer: Sue Erdt
Editor: Gion-Reto Killias
Music: Peter von Siebenthal, Till Wyler, Daniel Jakob
Cast:
Ruza: Mirjana Karanovic
Ana: Marija Skaricic
Mila: Ljubica Jovic
Franz: Andrea Zogg
Ante: Zdenko Jelcic
Fredi: Pablo Aguilar
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 81 minutes...
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