Here’s a rundown of some of the top Hungarian projects in the pipeline or selling at the Cannes Market:
Semmelweis
Director: Lajos Koltai
Producer: Tamas Lajos (Film Positive)
Sales: N/A
Set in 1847, as a mysterious epidemic rages in a maternity clinic in Vienna, this period drama from the Oscar-nominated cinematographer and director Koltai (“Malena”) stars promising young thesp Miklos H. Vecsei as the titular doctor Ignác Semmelweis, who spurns traditional medical theories to find a cure.
The Lefkovicses Are in Mourning
Director: Ádám Breier
Producers: Kázmér Miklós, Felszeghy Ádám, Ausztrics Andrea
Sales: N/A
Breier’s feature debut is a dramedy about a generous but stubborn elderly boxing coach who gets along with everyone except his own son. While the two haven’t spoken in years, they’re reunited during after the death of the old man’s wife and forced to face old grievances.
Cat Call
Director:...
Semmelweis
Director: Lajos Koltai
Producer: Tamas Lajos (Film Positive)
Sales: N/A
Set in 1847, as a mysterious epidemic rages in a maternity clinic in Vienna, this period drama from the Oscar-nominated cinematographer and director Koltai (“Malena”) stars promising young thesp Miklos H. Vecsei as the titular doctor Ignác Semmelweis, who spurns traditional medical theories to find a cure.
The Lefkovicses Are in Mourning
Director: Ádám Breier
Producers: Kázmér Miklós, Felszeghy Ádám, Ausztrics Andrea
Sales: N/A
Breier’s feature debut is a dramedy about a generous but stubborn elderly boxing coach who gets along with everyone except his own son. While the two haven’t spoken in years, they’re reunited during after the death of the old man’s wife and forced to face old grievances.
Cat Call
Director:...
- 5/18/2023
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
The Berlin International Film Festival continued to challenge expectations in its 66th edition, landing another auteur heavy competition line-up, albeit a slightly less sensational one than the landmark 2015 program. Although an attempt continues to be made to establish grand motifs between films in competition and the more experimental sidebars, topical issues seemed to be the name of the game across the board, particularly immigration. This culminated with this year’s Golden Bear winner, Gianfranco Rosi’s Fire at Sea, a documentary which was the clear early favorite and remained so up until the awards ceremony. Rosi has now won two major film festivals with his documentary work (previously taking home the top prize at Venice 2013 for Sacro Gra), and further solidifies an argument for the Cannes Film Festival to follow suit and allow documentary titles to play in the main competition. Berlin notably had two documentaries in the main competition this year,...
- 2/22/2016
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
★★☆☆☆ Hungarian director Benedek Fliegauf, winner of the Silver Bear in 2012 for his bleak and brutally affecting thriller about the persecution faced by Hungary's Romany community Just the Wind, returns to Berlin with his sixth feature, Lily Lane (Liliom Ösvény). A harrowing journey between two worlds, one haunted by past mistakes, another populated by memories of the dead, this grim, yet weirdly beguiling mother-son drama uses the power of imagination to traverse the borders of a child's conception of reality. A portrayal of the continuous struggle at the core of our inner worlds Fliegauf creates an atmosphere of mounting unease by blurring the lines between fact and fiction.
- 2/12/2016
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Over the River and Through the Woods: Fliegauf Explores Intimate Portrait of Abuse Cycles
Hungarian auteur Bence Fliegauf returns with his first film since 2012’s Just the Wind, which picked up the Grand Jury Prize at the Berlinale, an emotionally taxing film concerning racial implications in the ruthless murder of several rural families. Known for his experimental flourishes and penchant for heavy material, the director begins in his comfortably downtrodden rhythm with his sixth feature, Lily Lane, an essay on nurtured cycles of familial abuse and the euphemistic nature of fairy tales as filter or escape from the clutches of a degraded existence. A refracted narrative unveils a troubled mother’s associations from her own childhood, hopelessly spilling into a present day predicament with her seven year old son. The result is a roundabout relay of psychological catharsis, at once frustrating and compelling.
Rebekah (Angela Stefanovics) tells her son Dani...
Hungarian auteur Bence Fliegauf returns with his first film since 2012’s Just the Wind, which picked up the Grand Jury Prize at the Berlinale, an emotionally taxing film concerning racial implications in the ruthless murder of several rural families. Known for his experimental flourishes and penchant for heavy material, the director begins in his comfortably downtrodden rhythm with his sixth feature, Lily Lane, an essay on nurtured cycles of familial abuse and the euphemistic nature of fairy tales as filter or escape from the clutches of a degraded existence. A refracted narrative unveils a troubled mother’s associations from her own childhood, hopelessly spilling into a present day predicament with her seven year old son. The result is a roundabout relay of psychological catharsis, at once frustrating and compelling.
Rebekah (Angela Stefanovics) tells her son Dani...
- 2/11/2016
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Returning with another diverse, auteur heavy line-up with their 66th edition, the Berlin International Film Festival continues to impress just as much with selections available outside of the titles competing for the coveted Golden Bear (including the festival’s second edition of a Critics’ Week, where the latest titles from Andrzej Zulawski and Philippe Grandrieux are playing). New items from Bence Fliegauf, Eugene Green, Anna Muylaert, Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Doris Dorrie are also significant highlights, but here’s a glance at my top five most anticipated.
#5. An Outpost of Progress – Dir. Hugo Vieira da Silva
Portuguese director Hugo Vieira da Silva returns with this adaptation of a Joseph Conrad story (the author considered this his best work), a tale of two colonial officials in a remote ivory trading post on the Congo. Conrad remains a difficult author to translate to the screen (some great exceptions from Coppola, Patrice Chereau, and...
#5. An Outpost of Progress – Dir. Hugo Vieira da Silva
Portuguese director Hugo Vieira da Silva returns with this adaptation of a Joseph Conrad story (the author considered this his best work), a tale of two colonial officials in a remote ivory trading post on the Congo. Conrad remains a difficult author to translate to the screen (some great exceptions from Coppola, Patrice Chereau, and...
- 2/11/2016
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Programme includes 34 world premieres.
The line-up for the 46th Berlinale Forum has been announced and will feature a total of 44 films in its main programme, of which 34 are world premieres and nine international premieres.
One focus of this year’s programme is the Arab region, with films shot by mainly young directors from an area that stretches between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, exploring both the past and present of their homelands.
In A Magical Substance Flows into Me, artist Jumana Manna sets out in search of the musical diversity of the Palestinian region.
Tamer El Said’s feature In the Last Days of the City (Akher ayam el madina) sends his alter-ego Khalid through the director’s home city of Cairo, which is in a state of uproar.
Maher Abi Samra’s documentary A Maid for Each (Makhdoumin) grapples with the employment of maids from the Global South in middle-class Lebanese households, a practice...
The line-up for the 46th Berlinale Forum has been announced and will feature a total of 44 films in its main programme, of which 34 are world premieres and nine international premieres.
One focus of this year’s programme is the Arab region, with films shot by mainly young directors from an area that stretches between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, exploring both the past and present of their homelands.
In A Magical Substance Flows into Me, artist Jumana Manna sets out in search of the musical diversity of the Palestinian region.
Tamer El Said’s feature In the Last Days of the City (Akher ayam el madina) sends his alter-ego Khalid through the director’s home city of Cairo, which is in a state of uproar.
Maher Abi Samra’s documentary A Maid for Each (Makhdoumin) grapples with the employment of maids from the Global South in middle-class Lebanese households, a practice...
- 1/19/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The 46th Berlinale Forum will be screening 44 films from February 11 through 21. Among the highlights will be Eugène Green's Le Fils de Joseph with Mathieu Amalric, a new documentaries from Wang Bing and Nikolaus Geyrhalter, Ted Fendt's Short Stay, the only film screening on 35mm, Robert Greene’s Kate Plays Christine with Kate Lyn Sheil, plus new work by Avi Mograbi, Bence Fliegauf, Jumana Manna, Tamer El Said, Philip Scheffner, Daichi Sugimoto, Rachel Lang, Mahmoud Sabbagh, Volker Koepp, Ahu Öztürk, Andrea Bussmann and Nicolás Pereda. » - David Hudson...
- 1/19/2016
- Keyframe
The 46th Berlinale Forum will be screening 44 films from February 11 through 21. Among the highlights will be Eugène Green's Le Fils de Joseph with Mathieu Amalric, a new documentaries from Wang Bing and Nikolaus Geyrhalter, Ted Fendt's Short Stay, the only film screening on 35mm, Robert Greene’s Kate Plays Christine with Kate Lyn Sheil, plus new work by Avi Mograbi, Bence Fliegauf, Jumana Manna, Tamer El Said, Philip Scheffner, Daichi Sugimoto, Rachel Lang, Mahmoud Sabbagh, Volker Koepp, Ahu Öztürk, Andrea Bussmann and Nicolás Pereda. » - David Hudson...
- 1/19/2016
- Fandor: Keyframe
Lily Lane
Director: Bence Fliegauf
Writer: Bence Fliegauf
We had pegged Bence Fliegauf‘s latest Lily Lane as a definite 2015 title, but it was not to be. Those familiar with the films of the Hungarian filmmaker may find his style hard to pinpoint. He’s been building a reputation as an experimental filmmaker since 2001’s Talking Heads. Since then, his films regularly screen at Locarno (he won the Golden Leopard with 2007’s Milky Way). His first English language feature, the delightfully bizarre Eva Green film, Womb (2010) saw his audience widen, even as that also faced similar distribution issues. In 2012, Just the Wind snagged him the Silver Berlin Bear (along with several other accolades), and is still without distribution. Favoring strange and unnerving narratives, we’re greatly excited to see he has another project ready for the coming year (see on set pic above), Lily Lane, which the director describes as...
Director: Bence Fliegauf
Writer: Bence Fliegauf
We had pegged Bence Fliegauf‘s latest Lily Lane as a definite 2015 title, but it was not to be. Those familiar with the films of the Hungarian filmmaker may find his style hard to pinpoint. He’s been building a reputation as an experimental filmmaker since 2001’s Talking Heads. Since then, his films regularly screen at Locarno (he won the Golden Leopard with 2007’s Milky Way). His first English language feature, the delightfully bizarre Eva Green film, Womb (2010) saw his audience widen, even as that also faced similar distribution issues. In 2012, Just the Wind snagged him the Silver Berlin Bear (along with several other accolades), and is still without distribution. Favoring strange and unnerving narratives, we’re greatly excited to see he has another project ready for the coming year (see on set pic above), Lily Lane, which the director describes as...
- 1/8/2016
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Now that we’ve come out of the Cannes ether, we can examine several of the names glaringly absent from the lineup that may potentially premiere on the Lido this fall. With controversial moves finding Garrel, Gomes, and Desplechin playing the Quinzaine, while Naomi Kawase and Apichatpong Weerasethakul got slotted in Un Certain Regard, we’re aggravated and pleased about some of this shifting around, but all in all, the main competition this year didn’t end up feeling like many programming risks were taken.
First off, to the general surprise of all, German director Maren Ade and British director Terence Davies were absent from the line-up, both with new highly anticipated titles (Toni Erdmann and Sunset Song respectively). Thierry Fremaux, arguably, tried to mix things up a bit with the Main Competition this year, inviting two female directors (Sacre Bleu!), including Valerie Donzelli and repeat offender Maiwenn (both titles...
First off, to the general surprise of all, German director Maren Ade and British director Terence Davies were absent from the line-up, both with new highly anticipated titles (Toni Erdmann and Sunset Song respectively). Thierry Fremaux, arguably, tried to mix things up a bit with the Main Competition this year, inviting two female directors (Sacre Bleu!), including Valerie Donzelli and repeat offender Maiwenn (both titles...
- 6/15/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Exclusive: Greece’s Syllas Tzoumerkas and Hungary’s Adam Csaszi are among 13 international filmmakers selected to each spend three months in Berlin as part of the Nipkow Programme residency.
An international jury under French producer Christine Camdessus decided on the latest intake of Nipkow fellows from 11 countries out of 86 applicants from 30 countries ranging from Bosnia & Herzegovina and Brazil through Uganda and Ukraine to the Us.
The first batch of filmmakers will arrive in Berlin this month for a three-month period, and others will come over subsequent months.
Tzoumerkas, who presented his last feature A Blast in competition in Locarno last summer, will be in Berlin from August to work on his new project The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea, while Csaszi, whose feature debut Land Of Storms premiered in the Berlinale’s Panorama Special in 2014, will be developing the screenplay for a new film High Dive for three months in the same period.
The largest...
An international jury under French producer Christine Camdessus decided on the latest intake of Nipkow fellows from 11 countries out of 86 applicants from 30 countries ranging from Bosnia & Herzegovina and Brazil through Uganda and Ukraine to the Us.
The first batch of filmmakers will arrive in Berlin this month for a three-month period, and others will come over subsequent months.
Tzoumerkas, who presented his last feature A Blast in competition in Locarno last summer, will be in Berlin from August to work on his new project The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea, while Csaszi, whose feature debut Land Of Storms premiered in the Berlinale’s Panorama Special in 2014, will be developing the screenplay for a new film High Dive for three months in the same period.
The largest...
- 6/5/2015
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
With the world’s most prestigious film festival just around the corner, cineastes have been lasciviously salivating about what’s going to show up at Cannes, with wish lists appearing almost immediately after Berlin (a fest that had one of their most impressive line-ups ever) announced their awards. The remainder of the 2015 fest circuit looks to be a plentiful, diverse porridge, with many of the world’s most renowned auteurs’ sporting brand new titles. While many prognosticators will be sharing the same lists, more or less, hopes are incredibly high for a handful of sure bets, and a gaggle of hopefuls. The main competition always seems easier to postulate, though Thierry Fremaux always throws a few curves, (After the Battle in 2012, The Hunt in 2013 or last year’s Timbuktu, which won the Cesar for Best Picture recently, are a couple ready examples of under-the-radar titles).
Italy seems primed for saturation at the fest.
Italy seems primed for saturation at the fest.
- 3/9/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Enhanced tax rebate has resulted in a mini-production boom.
After troubled times, Hungarian film is on the mend. That was the message from Hungarian Film Fund CEO Agnes Havas at this year’s European Film Market (Efm).
Local market share for Hungarian films is still low (precise figures for 2014 are not yet available) but the industry is enjoying a mini-production boom.
The enhanced 25% tax rebate is helping draw foreign production to the country. Ridley Scott has been in Budapest shooting his new sci-fi thriller The Martian for Twentieth Century Fox, starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kristen Wiig.
Scripted by Drew Goddard, and adapted from the Andy Weir book, it is the story of an astronaut stranded on a Martian colony. Scott recently gave a film masterclass in Budapest.
Also shooting in Hungary are Pernilla August’s Serious Game, Jonathan Mostow’s Hunter’s Prayer starring Sam Worthington and Alan Ball’s new HBO pilot...
After troubled times, Hungarian film is on the mend. That was the message from Hungarian Film Fund CEO Agnes Havas at this year’s European Film Market (Efm).
Local market share for Hungarian films is still low (precise figures for 2014 are not yet available) but the industry is enjoying a mini-production boom.
The enhanced 25% tax rebate is helping draw foreign production to the country. Ridley Scott has been in Budapest shooting his new sci-fi thriller The Martian for Twentieth Century Fox, starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kristen Wiig.
Scripted by Drew Goddard, and adapted from the Andy Weir book, it is the story of an astronaut stranded on a Martian colony. Scott recently gave a film masterclass in Budapest.
Also shooting in Hungary are Pernilla August’s Serious Game, Jonathan Mostow’s Hunter’s Prayer starring Sam Worthington and Alan Ball’s new HBO pilot...
- 2/13/2015
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
Lily Lane
Director: Benedek Fliegauf// Writer: Benedek Fliegauf
Those familiar with the films of Hungarian filmmaker Benedek Fliegauf find him hard to pinpoint. He’s been building a reputation as an experimental filmmaker since 2001’s Talking Heads. Since then, his films regularly screen at Locarno (he won the Golden Leopard with 2007’s Milky Way). His first English language feature, the delightfully bizarre Eva Green film, Womb (2010) saw his audience widen, even as that also faced similar distribution issues. In 2012, Just the Wind snagged him the Silver Berlin Bear (along with several other accolades), and is still without distribution. Favoring strange and unnerving narratives, we’re greatly excited to see he has another project ready for the coming year (see on set pic above), Lily Lane, which the director describes as a story that sees a woman receive news of her mother’s death, which drives her to try to seek...
Director: Benedek Fliegauf// Writer: Benedek Fliegauf
Those familiar with the films of Hungarian filmmaker Benedek Fliegauf find him hard to pinpoint. He’s been building a reputation as an experimental filmmaker since 2001’s Talking Heads. Since then, his films regularly screen at Locarno (he won the Golden Leopard with 2007’s Milky Way). His first English language feature, the delightfully bizarre Eva Green film, Womb (2010) saw his audience widen, even as that also faced similar distribution issues. In 2012, Just the Wind snagged him the Silver Berlin Bear (along with several other accolades), and is still without distribution. Favoring strange and unnerving narratives, we’re greatly excited to see he has another project ready for the coming year (see on set pic above), Lily Lane, which the director describes as a story that sees a woman receive news of her mother’s death, which drives her to try to seek...
- 1/7/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Film-makers across Europe are “in shock” after learning the news that the Nipkow Programm has not received backing from the EU’s Creative Europe programme for 2015-2016.
Speaking exclusively to ScreenDaily, Nipkow Programm managing director Petra Weisenburger explained that the Berlin-based training initiative had not been successful in the latest round of funding for the next two years and would explore alternative strategies for a survival plan.
In the current financial year, Creative Europe had provided nearly 46% (€180,400) of Nipkow’s overall budget, with the remaining €215,543 coming from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (Mbb) and Germany’s State Minister for Culture and the Media (Bkm).
Weisenburger said that Mbb’s CEO Kirsten Niehuus had already indicated a desire to see the Nipkow Programm continue to exist, but the situation remains unclear about the funding from Bkm for 2015 onwards.
She added that the Nipkow Programm jury of experts will meet during the next Berlinale in February to discuss the initiative’s future...
Speaking exclusively to ScreenDaily, Nipkow Programm managing director Petra Weisenburger explained that the Berlin-based training initiative had not been successful in the latest round of funding for the next two years and would explore alternative strategies for a survival plan.
In the current financial year, Creative Europe had provided nearly 46% (€180,400) of Nipkow’s overall budget, with the remaining €215,543 coming from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (Mbb) and Germany’s State Minister for Culture and the Media (Bkm).
Weisenburger said that Mbb’s CEO Kirsten Niehuus had already indicated a desire to see the Nipkow Programm continue to exist, but the situation remains unclear about the funding from Bkm for 2015 onwards.
She added that the Nipkow Programm jury of experts will meet during the next Berlinale in February to discuss the initiative’s future...
- 11/12/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
In today's roundup of news and views, we point to Terence Nance's (An Oversimplification of Her Beauty) discussion of Tim Sutton’s Memphis, an interview with Harry Dean Stanton, R. Emmet Sweeney on an overlooked film by Jean Renoir and an excerpt from Paul Cronin's new book of interviews with Werner Herzog. And currently working on new films are Ringo Lam, Todd Haynes, David Fincher, Martin Scorsese and Benedek Fliegauf. Plus: videos on the work of Wes Anderson and the late Robin Williams. » - David Hudson...
- 9/10/2014
- Fandor: Keyframe
In today's roundup of news and views, we point to Terence Nance's (An Oversimplification of Her Beauty) discussion of Tim Sutton’s Memphis, an interview with Harry Dean Stanton, R. Emmet Sweeney on an overlooked film by Jean Renoir and an excerpt from Paul Cronin's new book of interviews with Werner Herzog. And currently working on new films are Ringo Lam, Todd Haynes, David Fincher, Martin Scorsese and Benedek Fliegauf. Plus: videos on the work of Wes Anderson and the late Robin Williams. » - David Hudson...
- 9/10/2014
- Keyframe
In Cannes, the eighth annial Krzysztof Kieslowski ScripTeast award has gone to Merican Chick.
Evita Naušová and Viktor Tauš from the Czech Republic get the prize along with €10,000 ($14,000) to further develop their project. The award recognises a script from Eastern and Central Europe.
The script is about a defiant circus girl in the 1980s who is kidnapped from the Us and taken back to communist Czechoslovakia.
A special mention was given to Life Beats Reality by Andreea Valean (Romania), a “unique 21st century family portrait”.
The selection was made by the Advisory Board members, comprising Sandy Lieberson, Manfred Schmidt, Simon Perry, Antonio Saura, Dariusz Jablonski, and heads of studies Tom Abrams and Christian Routh.
Past Kieslowski award winners that have already been produced include The House by Zuzana Liova and Womb by Benedek Fliegauf.
Evita Naušová and Viktor Tauš from the Czech Republic get the prize along with €10,000 ($14,000) to further develop their project. The award recognises a script from Eastern and Central Europe.
The script is about a defiant circus girl in the 1980s who is kidnapped from the Us and taken back to communist Czechoslovakia.
A special mention was given to Life Beats Reality by Andreea Valean (Romania), a “unique 21st century family portrait”.
The selection was made by the Advisory Board members, comprising Sandy Lieberson, Manfred Schmidt, Simon Perry, Antonio Saura, Dariusz Jablonski, and heads of studies Tom Abrams and Christian Routh.
Past Kieslowski award winners that have already been produced include The House by Zuzana Liova and Womb by Benedek Fliegauf.
- 5/23/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Last month, we unveiled our all-encompassing, most anticipated films for the current year in film. Now we peer into a future that is a little past the limits of 2014 thus we find ourselves with a quickie overview of the Top 100 Most Anticipated Films for 2015. Curated by our Nicholas Bell, with a little luck, we might see less than a finger count on one hand sum of films break this year, but for the most part, a good deal of these projects have planned 2014/15 production start dates. Here are 100 projects/filmmakers worth keeping tabs on (picks 100 to 11)
100. The Double Hour – Dir. Joshua Marston
99. Lila & Eve – Dir. Charles Stone III
98. Legacy of Secrecy – Dir. David O. Russell
97. The Theory of Everything – James Marsh
96. Elvis and Nixon – Dir. Liza Johnson
95. Hier – Dir. Balint Kenyeres
94. Timeless – Dir. Vadim Perelman
93. Wonderful Tonight – Dir. Christine Jeffs
92. Rocketman – Dir. Dagur Kari
91. Passengers – Dir. Brian Kirk
90. Sweet Cheeks – Dir.
100. The Double Hour – Dir. Joshua Marston
99. Lila & Eve – Dir. Charles Stone III
98. Legacy of Secrecy – Dir. David O. Russell
97. The Theory of Everything – James Marsh
96. Elvis and Nixon – Dir. Liza Johnson
95. Hier – Dir. Balint Kenyeres
94. Timeless – Dir. Vadim Perelman
93. Wonderful Tonight – Dir. Christine Jeffs
92. Rocketman – Dir. Dagur Kari
91. Passengers – Dir. Brian Kirk
90. Sweet Cheeks – Dir.
- 3/25/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
New films from Peter Webber, Pernille Fischer Christensen, Oliver Schmitz, Eran Kolirin.
A total of 39 features have been selected for Berlin’s co-production market (Feb 9-11).
Directors with work in the market include Peter Webber, Pernille Fischer Christensen, Oliver Schmitz, Eran Kolirin, Christos Georgiou, Erik Skjoldbjaerg and Nir Bergman.
All projects have 30% of their financing in place while budgets range from €700,000 to €6.5m.
This year’s Residency participants comprise Emir Baigazin, Alistair Banks Griffin, Bence Fliegauf, Sebastián Lelio, Elina Psykou and José Luis Valle. The participants will present new projects to potential partners at the co-production market.
The Talent Project Market will see ten new producers and directors primed for the international market. Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox featured last year, while Italian filmmaker Fabio Mollo’s Il Sud e Niente plays in this year’s Generation programme.
Five companies have been selected for the Company Matching programme and three more projects have been picked for the...
A total of 39 features have been selected for Berlin’s co-production market (Feb 9-11).
Directors with work in the market include Peter Webber, Pernille Fischer Christensen, Oliver Schmitz, Eran Kolirin, Christos Georgiou, Erik Skjoldbjaerg and Nir Bergman.
All projects have 30% of their financing in place while budgets range from €700,000 to €6.5m.
This year’s Residency participants comprise Emir Baigazin, Alistair Banks Griffin, Bence Fliegauf, Sebastián Lelio, Elina Psykou and José Luis Valle. The participants will present new projects to potential partners at the co-production market.
The Talent Project Market will see ten new producers and directors primed for the international market. Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox featured last year, while Italian filmmaker Fabio Mollo’s Il Sud e Niente plays in this year’s Generation programme.
Five companies have been selected for the Company Matching programme and three more projects have been picked for the...
- 1/10/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
The Berlin International Film Festival (February 6 – 16, 2014), one of our industry's major festivals, is calling for projects for the second year of its residency program. The Berlinale Residency is an initiative of the Berlin International Film Festival, the Nipkow Programme and the Guadalajara International Film Festival, in cooperation with the Media Mundus program of the European Union and Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.
The international Berlinale Residency fellowship program is inviting six filmmakers with their latest film projects to Berlin from August 15 to November 15, 2013, so they can finalize their screenplays, and develop production and distribution strategies. An international jury – consisting of Clare Binns (Director of Programming and Acquisitions at City Screen, Great Britain), producer Cedomir Kolar (Asap Film, France) and Thomas Hailer (Berlinale Programme Manager, Germany) – has chosen six directors and their projects.
Berlinale Director Dieter Kosslick comments: “With the Berlinale Residency, the Berlinale has successfully expanded its programme to promote filmmakers. I’m delighted that in the initiative’s second year we’ll again be supporting international directing talents in developing their new projects.”
Berlinale Residency participants in 2013:
Emir Baigazin, Kazakhstan: The Wounded Angel
Producer: Beibit Muslimov, Kazakhfilm Studios, Kazakhstan
Born in Kazakhstan in 1984, Emir Baigazin studied film and television directing at the Kazakh National Academy of Arts. In 2007 he participated in the Asian Film Academy in Busan. He is also an alumnus of the 2008 Berlinale Talent Campus. Baigazin’s debut feature film, Harmony Lessons, was supported by the World Cinema Fund and celebrated its premiere in the Berlinale Competition 2013, where it won a Silver Bear for an Outstanding Artistic Contribution. The film was considered an extraordinary discovery and is now travelling the international festival circuit.
Bence Fliegauf, Hungary: Glowing Wormhole
Producer: Bence Fliegauf, Fraktál Film, Hungary
Hungarian filmmaker Bence Fliegauf’s debut feature film Forest premiered in the Berlinale Forum in 2003. One year later, Dealer (2004) garnered him over 20 awards, including the Fipresci Prize at the Mar del Plata Film Festival. He won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival forMilky Way in 2007. His first English-language movie, Womb, was screened in Locarno and Toronto. The Berlinale Competition 2012 presented Fliegauf’s latest film, Just the Wind, which received the Jury Grand Prix and went on to be screened at many other film festivals.
Alistair Banks Griffin, USA: Therese (working title)
Producer: Eric Overmyer, USA
Alistair Banks Griffin was born in 1978 in England and raised in New Orleans. He received his BA from the Rhode Island School of Design. Griffin’s short film Gauge (2008) premiered at the New York Film Festival. In 2009 he was the recipient of a Cinereach grant for his first feature film, Two Gates of Sleep, which premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival and then won the New Talent Grand Pix Award at Cph:pix in Copenhagen in 2011. The film has screened at numerous international festivals and museums.
Sebastián Lelio, Chile: Greeting to the Sun
Producer: Juan de Dios Larraín, Fábula, Chile
Born in Chile in 1974, Sebastián Lelio graduated from the Escuela de Cine de Chile. In 2006, he completed his first film, La Sagrada Familia, which received many awards and international recognition. His second film, Navidad, made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009. El Año del Tigre, his third feature film, was released in the international competition of the Locarno Film Festival in 2011. His latest film, Gloria, premiered in the Competition of the Berlinale in 2013, where it was highly acclaimed by the critics and the audience, and took home a Silver Bear for Best Actress.
Elina Psykou, Greece: Ivo & Sofia
Producer: Giorgos Karnavas, Heretic, Greece
Born in 1977 in Greece, Elina Psykou studied film directing at the Lykourgos Stavrakos Film School and sociology at Panteion University, both in Athens. She went on to study cultural history at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales in Paris. In 2007 she participated in theBerlinale Talent Campus. She has written and directed two short films, Sunday Trip (2004) and Summer Holidays (2006). Psykou’s first fictional feature film, The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas, won the Best Work in Progress award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival; the film had its world premiere in the Berlinale Forum in 2013.
José Luis Valle, Mexico: Operation Baby
Producer: José Luis Valle, Caverna Cine, Mexico
Born in El Salvador, José Luis Valle became a citizen of Mexico, where he studied literature and film. His short film Chimera won the Kodak Film School Competition and received an Honorary Mention at the Guadalajara International Film Festival in 2006. His documentary The Pope’s Miracle screened at the Locarno Film Festival in 2009. Valle’s first fictional feature, Workers, received support from the World Cinema Fund, premiered in the Berlinale Panorama in 2013, and won the Mezcal Prize for the best Mexican entry at the 28th Guadalajara International Film Festival.
Kirsten Niehuus, Managing Director of Film Funding at the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, states: “Alongside our other artist-in-residence initiatives, the Berlinale Residency represents the successful continuation of our Berlin 24/7 program. Together with the Berlinale and the Nipkow Programme, we wish the six filmmakers a creative and inspiring time in the metropolitan area of the capital.”
The Berlinale Residency directors will stay in Berlin from August 15 to November 15, 2013. With script consultants from the Nipkow Programme and other experts from the industry, they will finalize their screenplays. In a workshop towards the end of the Residency, their producers will also receive concrete feedback from experienced industry professionals and assistance in preparing the projects for the international market. In February 2014, the filmmakers will return to Berlin so they can present their projects with their producers to potential co-producers and financers at the Berlinale Co-Production Market. A number of the participants will also be given the opportunity to present their works at the Ibero-American Co-Production Meeting in Guadalajara in March 2014.
The international Berlinale Residency fellowship program is inviting six filmmakers with their latest film projects to Berlin from August 15 to November 15, 2013, so they can finalize their screenplays, and develop production and distribution strategies. An international jury – consisting of Clare Binns (Director of Programming and Acquisitions at City Screen, Great Britain), producer Cedomir Kolar (Asap Film, France) and Thomas Hailer (Berlinale Programme Manager, Germany) – has chosen six directors and their projects.
Berlinale Director Dieter Kosslick comments: “With the Berlinale Residency, the Berlinale has successfully expanded its programme to promote filmmakers. I’m delighted that in the initiative’s second year we’ll again be supporting international directing talents in developing their new projects.”
Berlinale Residency participants in 2013:
Emir Baigazin, Kazakhstan: The Wounded Angel
Producer: Beibit Muslimov, Kazakhfilm Studios, Kazakhstan
Born in Kazakhstan in 1984, Emir Baigazin studied film and television directing at the Kazakh National Academy of Arts. In 2007 he participated in the Asian Film Academy in Busan. He is also an alumnus of the 2008 Berlinale Talent Campus. Baigazin’s debut feature film, Harmony Lessons, was supported by the World Cinema Fund and celebrated its premiere in the Berlinale Competition 2013, where it won a Silver Bear for an Outstanding Artistic Contribution. The film was considered an extraordinary discovery and is now travelling the international festival circuit.
Bence Fliegauf, Hungary: Glowing Wormhole
Producer: Bence Fliegauf, Fraktál Film, Hungary
Hungarian filmmaker Bence Fliegauf’s debut feature film Forest premiered in the Berlinale Forum in 2003. One year later, Dealer (2004) garnered him over 20 awards, including the Fipresci Prize at the Mar del Plata Film Festival. He won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival forMilky Way in 2007. His first English-language movie, Womb, was screened in Locarno and Toronto. The Berlinale Competition 2012 presented Fliegauf’s latest film, Just the Wind, which received the Jury Grand Prix and went on to be screened at many other film festivals.
Alistair Banks Griffin, USA: Therese (working title)
Producer: Eric Overmyer, USA
Alistair Banks Griffin was born in 1978 in England and raised in New Orleans. He received his BA from the Rhode Island School of Design. Griffin’s short film Gauge (2008) premiered at the New York Film Festival. In 2009 he was the recipient of a Cinereach grant for his first feature film, Two Gates of Sleep, which premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival and then won the New Talent Grand Pix Award at Cph:pix in Copenhagen in 2011. The film has screened at numerous international festivals and museums.
Sebastián Lelio, Chile: Greeting to the Sun
Producer: Juan de Dios Larraín, Fábula, Chile
Born in Chile in 1974, Sebastián Lelio graduated from the Escuela de Cine de Chile. In 2006, he completed his first film, La Sagrada Familia, which received many awards and international recognition. His second film, Navidad, made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009. El Año del Tigre, his third feature film, was released in the international competition of the Locarno Film Festival in 2011. His latest film, Gloria, premiered in the Competition of the Berlinale in 2013, where it was highly acclaimed by the critics and the audience, and took home a Silver Bear for Best Actress.
Elina Psykou, Greece: Ivo & Sofia
Producer: Giorgos Karnavas, Heretic, Greece
Born in 1977 in Greece, Elina Psykou studied film directing at the Lykourgos Stavrakos Film School and sociology at Panteion University, both in Athens. She went on to study cultural history at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales in Paris. In 2007 she participated in theBerlinale Talent Campus. She has written and directed two short films, Sunday Trip (2004) and Summer Holidays (2006). Psykou’s first fictional feature film, The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas, won the Best Work in Progress award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival; the film had its world premiere in the Berlinale Forum in 2013.
José Luis Valle, Mexico: Operation Baby
Producer: José Luis Valle, Caverna Cine, Mexico
Born in El Salvador, José Luis Valle became a citizen of Mexico, where he studied literature and film. His short film Chimera won the Kodak Film School Competition and received an Honorary Mention at the Guadalajara International Film Festival in 2006. His documentary The Pope’s Miracle screened at the Locarno Film Festival in 2009. Valle’s first fictional feature, Workers, received support from the World Cinema Fund, premiered in the Berlinale Panorama in 2013, and won the Mezcal Prize for the best Mexican entry at the 28th Guadalajara International Film Festival.
Kirsten Niehuus, Managing Director of Film Funding at the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, states: “Alongside our other artist-in-residence initiatives, the Berlinale Residency represents the successful continuation of our Berlin 24/7 program. Together with the Berlinale and the Nipkow Programme, we wish the six filmmakers a creative and inspiring time in the metropolitan area of the capital.”
The Berlinale Residency directors will stay in Berlin from August 15 to November 15, 2013. With script consultants from the Nipkow Programme and other experts from the industry, they will finalize their screenplays. In a workshop towards the end of the Residency, their producers will also receive concrete feedback from experienced industry professionals and assistance in preparing the projects for the international market. In February 2014, the filmmakers will return to Berlin so they can present their projects with their producers to potential co-producers and financers at the Berlinale Co-Production Market. A number of the participants will also be given the opportunity to present their works at the Ibero-American Co-Production Meeting in Guadalajara in March 2014.
- 6/20/2013
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The international Berlinale Residency fellowship programme is inviting six filmmakers with their latest film projects to Berlin to finalise their screenplays, and develop production and distribution strategies.
An international jury – consisting of Clare Binns (director of programming and acquisitions at City Screen, UK), producer Cedomir Kolar (Asap Film, France) and Thomas Hailer (Berlinale programme manager, Germany) – has chosen six directors and their projects.
Participates include:
Emir Baigazin, Kazakhstan: The Wounded Angel
Producer: Beibit Muslimov, Kazakhfilm Studios, Kazakhstan
Bence Fliegauf, Hungary: Glowing Wormhole
Producer: Bence Fliegauf, Fraktál Film, Hungary
Alistair Banks Griffin, USA: Therese (working title)
Producer: Eric Overmyer, USA
Sebastián Lelio, Chile: Greeting to the Sun
Producer: Juan de Dios Larraín, Fábula, Chile
Elina Psykou, Greece: Ivo & Sofia
Producer: Giorgos Karnavas, Heretic, Greece
José Luis Valle, Mexico: Operation Baby
Producer: José Luis Valle, Caverna Cine, Mexico
The Berlinale Residency directors will stay in Berlin from August 15 to November 15, 2013. With script consultants from the Nipkow Programme and other...
An international jury – consisting of Clare Binns (director of programming and acquisitions at City Screen, UK), producer Cedomir Kolar (Asap Film, France) and Thomas Hailer (Berlinale programme manager, Germany) – has chosen six directors and their projects.
Participates include:
Emir Baigazin, Kazakhstan: The Wounded Angel
Producer: Beibit Muslimov, Kazakhfilm Studios, Kazakhstan
Bence Fliegauf, Hungary: Glowing Wormhole
Producer: Bence Fliegauf, Fraktál Film, Hungary
Alistair Banks Griffin, USA: Therese (working title)
Producer: Eric Overmyer, USA
Sebastián Lelio, Chile: Greeting to the Sun
Producer: Juan de Dios Larraín, Fábula, Chile
Elina Psykou, Greece: Ivo & Sofia
Producer: Giorgos Karnavas, Heretic, Greece
José Luis Valle, Mexico: Operation Baby
Producer: José Luis Valle, Caverna Cine, Mexico
The Berlinale Residency directors will stay in Berlin from August 15 to November 15, 2013. With script consultants from the Nipkow Programme and other...
- 6/12/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The Berlinale Talent Campus, a part of the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival (Belinale), will have a gathering of big names of art house cinema and industry experts including Jane Campion, Anita Ekberg, Bence Fliegauf, Nina Hoss, Ken Loach, Lucrecia Martel, John Cameron Mitchell, Walter Murch, Hengameh Panahi, Ulrich Seidl, and Paul Verhoeven to mentor the promising filmmakers. Read More...
- 1/24/2013
- Bollywood Trade
★★★★☆ Hungarian director Benedek Fliegauf's bleak and brutally affecting Eastern block drama Just the Wind (Csak a szél, 2011) was one of the very best films screened at this year's Berlin Film Festival, rightfully finding itself in the running for the top Golden Bear award. Fliegauf's latest may still be looking to secure UK distribution, but a hard-fought place in the revitalised Lff's 'Debate' strand may well bring the filmmaker - and his highly topical chosen subject matter - the platform it so richly deserves.
Read more »...
Read more »...
- 10/12/2012
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
For the first time in Academy Award history, 71 countries are vying for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. The submissions for 2012 include director Michael Haneke’s Amour, which won the Palme d’Or at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival; France’s global box office sensation The Intouchables; and Nairobi Half Life, the first film ever submitted by Kenya. Check out the full list below:
Afghanistan: The Patience Stone, Atiq Rahimi, director
Albania: Pharmakon, Joni Shanaj, director
Algeria: Zabana!, Said Ould Khelifa, director
Argentina: Clandestine Childhood, Benjamín Ávila, director
Armenia: If Only Everyone, Natalia Belyauskene, director
Australia: Lore, Cate Shortland, director
Austria: Amour,...
Afghanistan: The Patience Stone, Atiq Rahimi, director
Albania: Pharmakon, Joni Shanaj, director
Algeria: Zabana!, Said Ould Khelifa, director
Argentina: Clandestine Childhood, Benjamín Ávila, director
Armenia: If Only Everyone, Natalia Belyauskene, director
Australia: Lore, Cate Shortland, director
Austria: Amour,...
- 10/8/2012
- by Adam B. Vary
- EW - Inside Movies
The Oscar season is almost upon us, and the submissions list is in for the Best Foreign Language Film category, featuring a record 71 entries, including the first submission from Kenya.
Last year, Iran’s Asghar Farhadi came away with the top prize for his acclaimed film, A Separation, and the year before, it was Denmark’s Susanne Bier with her In a Better World.
This year, there are already a handful of strong contenders amongst the pack, most notably Michael Haneke’s Amour, for Austria, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes; Olivier Nakache’s and Éric Toledano’s The Intouchables, for France, which has been breaking records at the global box office; Pablo Larráin’s No, for Chile, which also came away from Cannes with an award in hand; Kim Ki-duk’s Pieta, for South Korea, which took four awards at Venice, including (controversially) the Golden Lion; and...
Last year, Iran’s Asghar Farhadi came away with the top prize for his acclaimed film, A Separation, and the year before, it was Denmark’s Susanne Bier with her In a Better World.
This year, there are already a handful of strong contenders amongst the pack, most notably Michael Haneke’s Amour, for Austria, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes; Olivier Nakache’s and Éric Toledano’s The Intouchables, for France, which has been breaking records at the global box office; Pablo Larráin’s No, for Chile, which also came away from Cannes with an award in hand; Kim Ki-duk’s Pieta, for South Korea, which took four awards at Venice, including (controversially) the Golden Lion; and...
- 10/8/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The Intouchables
A record 71 countries, including first-time entrant Kenya, have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 85th Academy Awards®. In May, Michael Haneke.s Amour (Love) won the Palme d.Or at the 65th Cannes Film Festival and was shown this past weekend at the 50th New York Film Festival. However the film I was happiest to see make the list below is from France – The Intouchables from directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano. Check out our review Here.
In the Academy’s rules, only one picture will be accepted from each country. Plus the Academy Statuette (Oscar) will be awarded to the motion picture and accepted by the director on behalf of the picture.s creative talents. Ultimately five foreign language motion pictures are nominated for this award.
Director/writer Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation from Iran won the Oscar for the Best...
A record 71 countries, including first-time entrant Kenya, have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 85th Academy Awards®. In May, Michael Haneke.s Amour (Love) won the Palme d.Or at the 65th Cannes Film Festival and was shown this past weekend at the 50th New York Film Festival. However the film I was happiest to see make the list below is from France – The Intouchables from directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano. Check out our review Here.
In the Academy’s rules, only one picture will be accepted from each country. Plus the Academy Statuette (Oscar) will be awarded to the motion picture and accepted by the director on behalf of the picture.s creative talents. Ultimately five foreign language motion pictures are nominated for this award.
Director/writer Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation from Iran won the Oscar for the Best...
- 10/8/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Update: The official list has been revealed and the total is a record 71 movies. I have updated the list directly below or you can check it out here. The original article follows. I have been tracking the Oscar Foreign Language submissions again this year, as I have for the past several years, and it looks like we finally have a full field as I expect we will be seeing an official press release from the Academy some time this week. This year we have five more submissions already over last year as the total has now reached 68 submissions compared to last year's 63. This, despite, Iran boycotting the Oscars this year due to the anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims, which has sparked so much controversy as of late. To reach the total of 68 films I have just finished adding 16 more titles to the list from the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina,...
- 10/7/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
I have been tracking the Oscar Foreign Language submissions again this year, as I have for the past several years, and it looks like we finally have a full field as I expect we will be seeing an official press release from the Academy some time this week. This year we have five more submissions already over last year as the total has now reached 68 submissions compared to last year's 63. This, despite, Iran boycotting the Oscars this year due to the anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims, which has sparked so much controversy as of late. To reach the total of 68 films I have just finished adding 16 more titles to the list from the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, China, Georgia, Greenland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey and Uruguay. To siphon out front-runners is never easy in this category, though there are a few that stick out immediately.
- 10/7/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Arvind Iyer’s Drapchi will be screened under the ‘The World Today’ section of the 28th Warsaw Film Festival. The 80 minute musical was earlier screened at the Osian’s Cinefan Film Festival 2012.
The Warsaw Film Festival will run from 12th – 21st October, 2012.
The synopsis of the film on the festival website reads: “Modern Tibet: a systematic war is being waged with the traditional past. Punishment awaits those who raise their voices in protest. This is the case with Yiga Gyalnang, a traditional Tibetan opera singer. She is abducted one morning and finds herself in near complete isolation in an underground prison cell in Drapchi, the biggest jail in Lhasa, Tibet. After two years, she breaks free and escapes to Nepal and from there, to the West. With her, she takes her strength, her spirituality, her Tibetan song.
Namgyal Lhamo, Lobsang Yonten, Chris Constantinou, Tashi Choephel and Gen Tenzin la are...
The Warsaw Film Festival will run from 12th – 21st October, 2012.
The synopsis of the film on the festival website reads: “Modern Tibet: a systematic war is being waged with the traditional past. Punishment awaits those who raise their voices in protest. This is the case with Yiga Gyalnang, a traditional Tibetan opera singer. She is abducted one morning and finds herself in near complete isolation in an underground prison cell in Drapchi, the biggest jail in Lhasa, Tibet. After two years, she breaks free and escapes to Nepal and from there, to the West. With her, she takes her strength, her spirituality, her Tibetan song.
Namgyal Lhamo, Lobsang Yonten, Chris Constantinou, Tashi Choephel and Gen Tenzin la are...
- 10/5/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Indian Oscar entry Anurag Basu’s “Barfi” will have to compete with 64 films from around the world. Barfi’s chance will be sealed on January 24th 2013 when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the five nominees.
The deadline for submission of entries for the foreign language category got over yesterday on October 1st.
63 countries had sent their entries for the category last year.
Iran, the winner of last year (A separation) decided not to send an entry this year in protest of a youtube film that ridiculed the prophet.
The final list of submissions is yet to be announced by the academy.
Also Read: Who Selected “Barfi” for Oscars? and Where does “Barfi” stand in the Oscar race?
Here is the complete list of announced submissions:-
Afghanistan – The Patience Stone, directed by Atiq Rahimi (Persian) Albania – Pharmakon, directed by Joni Shanaj (Albania) Algeria – Zabana!, directed by Saïd Ould Khelifa (Arabic,...
The deadline for submission of entries for the foreign language category got over yesterday on October 1st.
63 countries had sent their entries for the category last year.
Iran, the winner of last year (A separation) decided not to send an entry this year in protest of a youtube film that ridiculed the prophet.
The final list of submissions is yet to be announced by the academy.
Also Read: Who Selected “Barfi” for Oscars? and Where does “Barfi” stand in the Oscar race?
Here is the complete list of announced submissions:-
Afghanistan – The Patience Stone, directed by Atiq Rahimi (Persian) Albania – Pharmakon, directed by Joni Shanaj (Albania) Algeria – Zabana!, directed by Saïd Ould Khelifa (Arabic,...
- 10/2/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
You think it’s too early for this? Trust me, it’s not and that’s exactly why we’re here today to start our little chat about the official foreign language submissions for Oscar.
Nothing to be surprised about, after all – these titles are already familiar to you, mostly because of their success in some Film Festivals. Check out the rest of this report to see the list of announced submissions.
As you’re about to see, quite interesting list of movies from all over the world. Unfortunately we don’t have trailers and official synopsis part for every single film, but I’m sure we’ll soon have more material to share with you.
In the mean time, we will inform you that Kim Ki-duk‘s movie, Pieta, which won Golden Lion statue for best movie at the Venice Film Festival this year, has been submitted by South...
Nothing to be surprised about, after all – these titles are already familiar to you, mostly because of their success in some Film Festivals. Check out the rest of this report to see the list of announced submissions.
As you’re about to see, quite interesting list of movies from all over the world. Unfortunately we don’t have trailers and official synopsis part for every single film, but I’m sure we’ll soon have more material to share with you.
In the mean time, we will inform you that Kim Ki-duk‘s movie, Pieta, which won Golden Lion statue for best movie at the Venice Film Festival this year, has been submitted by South...
- 10/1/2012
- by Fiona
- Filmofilia
Anurag Basu’s Barfi to compete with Michael Haneke’s “Amour” and Kim Ki-duk’s “Pieta”
Anurag Basu’s “Barfi” might have lured the selectors at home but it’s unlikely to have an easy ride ahead. Basu will have to compete against the veterans like Michael Haneke who took home a second Palme d’Or at Cannes this year for his “Amour” (Official Austrian Entry). Closer home in Asia, Korean Master Kim Ki-duk will also pose an equal threat to the Ranbir Kapoor-Priyanka Chopra starrer Barfi. Kim Ki-duk’s “Pieta” clinched the Golden Lion at Venice this year.
“Barfi” was declared official Oscar entry from India on Saturday night by the Film Federation of India. Other Indian films which were in race included Milan Luthria’s The Dirty Picture, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Paan Singh Tomar, Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahaani, Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs Of Wasseypur Parts I and II,...
Anurag Basu’s “Barfi” might have lured the selectors at home but it’s unlikely to have an easy ride ahead. Basu will have to compete against the veterans like Michael Haneke who took home a second Palme d’Or at Cannes this year for his “Amour” (Official Austrian Entry). Closer home in Asia, Korean Master Kim Ki-duk will also pose an equal threat to the Ranbir Kapoor-Priyanka Chopra starrer Barfi. Kim Ki-duk’s “Pieta” clinched the Golden Lion at Venice this year.
“Barfi” was declared official Oscar entry from India on Saturday night by the Film Federation of India. Other Indian films which were in race included Milan Luthria’s The Dirty Picture, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Paan Singh Tomar, Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahaani, Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs Of Wasseypur Parts I and II,...
- 9/22/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Last year, 63 countries submitted their films for consideration for the annual Academy Awards' Best Foreign Language category. This year, 28 countries have made their presence known, and one of them is my homeland, the Philippines, submitting "Bwakaw" (pictured above) for consideration.
The Academy will provide a full list of eligible submissions by October, and out of the list, nine finalists will be chosen then shortlisted with the final five nominees to be announced on January 24, 2013.
Here's the list for the announced submissions, so far...
Australia - Lore, directed by Cate Shortland (German)
Austria - Amore, directed by Michael Haneke (French)
Azerbaijan - Buta, directed by Ilgar Najaf (Azeri)
Belgium - Our Children, directed by Joachim Lafosse (French)
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Children of Sarajevo, directed by Aida Begic (Bosnian)
Bulgaria - Sneakers, directed by Valeri Yordanov (Bulgarian)
Cambodia - Lost Loves, directed by Chhay Bora (Khmer)
Canada - War Witch, directed...
The Academy will provide a full list of eligible submissions by October, and out of the list, nine finalists will be chosen then shortlisted with the final five nominees to be announced on January 24, 2013.
Here's the list for the announced submissions, so far...
Australia - Lore, directed by Cate Shortland (German)
Austria - Amore, directed by Michael Haneke (French)
Azerbaijan - Buta, directed by Ilgar Najaf (Azeri)
Belgium - Our Children, directed by Joachim Lafosse (French)
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Children of Sarajevo, directed by Aida Begic (Bosnian)
Bulgaria - Sneakers, directed by Valeri Yordanov (Bulgarian)
Cambodia - Lost Loves, directed by Chhay Bora (Khmer)
Canada - War Witch, directed...
- 9/18/2012
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Budapest, Hungary — Hungary's National Film Fund has selected "Just the Wind," a film featuring a cast of amateur Roma actors, as the country's entry for next year's Academy Awards.
The Hungarian-German-French co-production directed by Bence Fliegauf won a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival this year. It depicts a day in the life of a Roma family while their community is threatened by a series of deadly attacks.
Four men are on trial in Budapest charged with attacking Roma, or Gypsies, in nine Hungarian villages in 2008 and 2009. Six Roma were shot to death, including a 5-year-old boy, and many were injured.
The Oscar for best foreign film is awarded to one of five nominations selected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from the international entries.
The Hungarian-German-French co-production directed by Bence Fliegauf won a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival this year. It depicts a day in the life of a Roma family while their community is threatened by a series of deadly attacks.
Four men are on trial in Budapest charged with attacking Roma, or Gypsies, in nine Hungarian villages in 2008 and 2009. Six Roma were shot to death, including a 5-year-old boy, and many were injured.
The Oscar for best foreign film is awarded to one of five nominations selected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from the international entries.
- 9/7/2012
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Above: Ernie Gehr's Auto-Collider Xv.
The vast bulk of Tiff's 2012 has been announced and listed here, below. We'll be updating the lineup with the previous films announced, as well as updating links to specific films for more information on them in the coming days. Of particular note is that the Wavelengths and Visions programs have been combined to create what is undoubtedly the most interesting section of the festival. Stay tuned, too, for our own on the ground coverage of Tiff.
Galas
A Royal Affair (Nikolai Arcel, Demark/Sweden/Czech Republic/Germany)
Argo (Ben Affleck, USA)
The Company You Keep (Robert Redford, USA)
Dangerous Liaisons (Hur Jin-ho, China)
Emperor (Peter Webber, Japan/USA)
English Vinglish (Gauri Shinde, India)
Free Angela & All Political Prisoners (Shola Lynch)
Great Expectations (Mike Newell, UK)
Hyde Park on Hudson (Roger Michell, UK)
Inescapable (Ruba Nadda, Canada)
Jayne Mansfield's Car (Billy Bob Thorton, USA/Russia)
Looper (Rian Johnson,...
The vast bulk of Tiff's 2012 has been announced and listed here, below. We'll be updating the lineup with the previous films announced, as well as updating links to specific films for more information on them in the coming days. Of particular note is that the Wavelengths and Visions programs have been combined to create what is undoubtedly the most interesting section of the festival. Stay tuned, too, for our own on the ground coverage of Tiff.
Galas
A Royal Affair (Nikolai Arcel, Demark/Sweden/Czech Republic/Germany)
Argo (Ben Affleck, USA)
The Company You Keep (Robert Redford, USA)
Dangerous Liaisons (Hur Jin-ho, China)
Emperor (Peter Webber, Japan/USA)
English Vinglish (Gauri Shinde, India)
Free Angela & All Political Prisoners (Shola Lynch)
Great Expectations (Mike Newell, UK)
Hyde Park on Hudson (Roger Michell, UK)
Inescapable (Ruba Nadda, Canada)
Jayne Mansfield's Car (Billy Bob Thorton, USA/Russia)
Looper (Rian Johnson,...
- 8/22/2012
- MUBI
The globe-trotting section of this year’s Contemporary World Cinema programme has your Sundance (in a pair of excellent titles in Ava DuVernay’s Middle of Nowhere and James Ponsoldt’s Smashed) and has select items from several sections from this year’s Cannes ranging from Pablo Stoll Ward’s 3, Yousry Nasrallah’s After the Battle, Aida Begic’s Children of Sarajevo, Catherine Corsini’s Three Worlds, Ulrich Seidl’s Paradise: Love, and they must see In The Fog a masterwork from Sergei Loznitsa and will be padded by world premiere items such as Annemarie Jacir’s When I Saw You, Lenny Abrahamson’s What Richard Did and Sion Sono’s The Land of Hope (see pic above). Here’s the entire list of items that make up this year’s section:
3 Pablo Stoll Ward, Uruguay/Germany/Argentina North American Premiere For Rodolfo (Humberto de Vargas), life at home feels empty and cold,...
3 Pablo Stoll Ward, Uruguay/Germany/Argentina North American Premiere For Rodolfo (Humberto de Vargas), life at home feels empty and cold,...
- 8/14/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Paris -- Bence Fliegauf’s Just the Wind swept through the competition at the Paris Cinema Festival, taking the top jury prize Monday night. The lights went down on the City of Lights’ annual ode to France’s “7th art” form after nearly two weeks of movie premieres, talent visits and a tribute to Hong Kong’s film industry in partnership with the Hong Kong International Film Festival. The event featured appearances from an eclectic mix of talent from all over the world, including Kylie Minogue, Johnnie To, Olivier Assayas, Michel Gondry, Juliette Binoche and Melvil Poupaud, for its 10th birthday celebration. The fest
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- 7/10/2012
- by Rebecca Leffler
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
So begins my interview with Sophie Dulac, President of the Champs Élysées Film Festival, film distributor, exhibitor and producer. The first edition of the Festival, co-presided by actors Lambert Wilson and Michael Madsen reached an audience of 15,000 people in Paris, June 6 – 12, 2012.
"And I work with another real blond and her name is Isabelle” [Svanda, General Manager], she adds.
Champs Elysees Film Festival
We are sitting in the outdoor restaurant of Fouquet’s Barriere Hotel, Paris. Also with us are Astrid de Beauregard who has handled all the 50 industry-ites converging on the festival to view four well curated U.S. indie films for the second edition of U.S. in Progress. Maxine Leonard, the festival's publicist and Matthew Akers, the director and cinematographer of Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present are also present. Little did I know he was going to win the Audience Prize for a feature length film from the U.S.
The Festival ended for me with current French resident, with white hair and beard, Donald Sutherland presenting Klute by Alan J. Pakula and starring Jane Fonda, and then giving a A Hollywood Conversation in his American accented but fluent French in a good humored atmosphere. I could write an entire blog on what that film and all that he and Jane meant to me at the very beginning of my career in the film business, but I won’t do that here. He was subsequently post-film appointed Commandeur des Arts & Lettres by Frédéric Mitterrand.
My interview with Sophie is the summit of my experience so far as a "blogger". After all I am not a journalist, nor do I pal around with the glitterati or the “elite” folks in the film business. I knew I was entering a rare atmosphere strolling everyday along the Rue de Montaigne to the Champs Elysees. And now, I was going to talk to the granddaughter of one of France's most illustrious citizens. (and no slouch herself! What a truly lovely, amazing woman!!)
U.S. in Progress
The night before, we, the jury of 9, presented the winners of the 2nd edition of U.S. in Progress with their prizes of post production services. First Prize went to a film worthy of a Cannes slot in Un Certain Regard or Fortnight or Critics Week, A Teacher by Hannah Fidell ♀, whose about-to-turn-thirty protagonist is forced to acknowledge her sin of having an affair with a student. The film's affect upon us women was overwhelmingly cathartic. Receiving an Honorable Mention, I Am I, a Sundance-worthy film, well executed very interesting story, well acted by the extremely professional first-time director Joceyln Towne ♀ with additional casting by Ronnie Yeskel ♀, one of the top indie film casting agents. Julie Bergeron, one of the nine-member jury loved Desert Cathedral, a man's quest for peace after an increasing estrangement from his life. She liked its combination of documentary depiction of the desert and the fictional story about a contemporary and universal dilemma faced by too many people today. I want to see more of the three actors, Lee Tergesen is a young and handsome William Macy type and Chaske Spencer, a charismatic First Nation descendant of Lakota (Sioux) Nation, and Petra Wright. The fourth film Michael Bartlett's House Of Last Things is Bonnie Darko meets Twin Peaks, a paean to the Maestro, David Lynch. More than 50 distributors and sales agent watched these films with us.
As part of the selection, the winner of U.S. in Progress from the 1st edition in Wroclaw, Poland last November, Not Waving But Drowning directed by Devyn Waitt and produced by Nicole Emanuele was also showing and Nicole was accompanied by the star, her boyfriend Steven Farneth from Cinetic, the godmother of the movie and other "family" members. Nicole is now working with Google and YouTube in Content Partnerships, Film/ TV while contemplating her next moves in the business.
Created by Sophie Dulac, the Festival programmed some 50 films enabling Parisian audiences to discover the variety of productions available from France and the United States, in the 5 cinema theaters of the Champs Elysees, the most beautiful avenue in the world: the normally rival cinemas Le Balzac and Le Lincoln, the rivals Gaumont Champs-Elysées and Ugc George V, and the Publicis Cinéma.
This success was thanks to an inquiring public which appreciated the simplicity of organization, the fact that projections started on time, and also the quality of programming, with a special heartfelt interest for the 10 independent films from the U.S. in the official selection.
What Makes Sophie Run?
One night at an extraordinary dinner at the Renault Restaurant on the Champs Elysees, where we sat with Julie Bergeron (of Cannes Marche prominence), Pascal Diot (former Paris based sales agent and now organizer in chief of both Venice and Dubai Ff’s Markets), Adeline Monzier (founder of U.S. in Progress and Europa Distribution), and Producer Christophe Bruncher (whose latest film, If We All Lived Together stars Jane Fonda), I learned about Sophie’s grandfather, Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet,who founded Publicis in 1926 and in effect, invented modern advertising in much the same way that Lucien Barriere invented the resort and the casino. Today Publicis is a French multinational advertising and communications company, headquartered in Paris, France and one of the world's three largest advertising holding companies holding among others, Saatchi & Saatchi and Leo Burnett Worldwide. The company conducts its operations in over 200 cities in 104 countries and has a strategic alliance with Dentsu, Inc. He began it as a young man and the Nazis confiscated it as Jewish property. He fled and fought with The Free French...and worked in the Resistance under the name of Blanchet. When he returned to France, he got back his advertising agency and continued doing the sort of pioneering work he loved the best. He also added Blanchet onto his surname. Publicis' current president is Maurice Lévy who was just in the news for having called for higher taxes on the wealthy and now objecting to France’s new President's pledging that he would tax the rich 75% of their income. Read more about the company here.
One more boast about this family: One of Bleustein-Blanchet’s daughters was a legislator and is responsible for abolishing capital punishment in France.
Aside from being totally impressed by all I was hearing, I was beginning to see what informed the personality of the festival and of Sophie herself who was there and everywhere, meeting and mixing with us all. As Maxine said, in effect, Sophie is a mensch. She is the real thing, feet planted firmly on the ground and real. And yet she seems so idealistic in the choices she makes. To this remark of mine, she responded, that in fact, she is very pragmatic, but one must take pleasure in life.
Her grandfather and grandmother raised her and her brother and half brother after their 27 year old mother died in an automobile accident. Sophie was eight years old at the time.
Her grandfather told her that when he began Publicis as a teenager, he never thought about the money he might make. He did it for pleasure. He thought of how best to do what he loved to do the most. For her too, life is about innovation and being happy. She hopes that in ten years the festival and her film business will continue to inspire and motivate her.
Sophie has three children and she tells them to do whatever they want as she would advise everyone: Do what is inside of you, even if it is not what you end up doing. It will make you a better person. Her first son, whom she had when she was 17 and who is now 24, lived one year in Australia and another year in Canada. He is now working with her at the festival. Her 22 year old daughter whom she had when she was 19, lives in London, and the 19 year old, following in his brother’s footsteps, is spending a year in Australia, alone and exploring on his own.
If she succeeds in the movie business, it is because she was not born into films. She has been in the business of Arthouse film production, distribution and exhibition for ten years. Before that she was a practicing psycho graphologist, counseling people from 16 to 60 years old, male and female. You can know a person totally through the handwriting she says. She also did a stint in PR which she hated, before going into film. Her father was a writer and told her to read and so she can talk of many things, not only of business. At the end of the day, she closes her door and business does not exist (unless of course there is a problem at one of her theaters which she does drop in on on Sundays when she is not expected.) She has no scripts at home and does not watch movies for work at home. She has a well rounded education and is proud not to be 100% business.
Today she is also a sort of guardian of Israeli films in France as well. She even wears a small gold Jewish star.
Film Career
She began her film career in 2003 producing a documentary DÉCryptage which examined the French media coverage of the Arab–Israeli conflictand concludes that the media's presentation of the Arab–Israeli conflict in France is consistently skewed against Israel and may be responsible for exacerbating anti-semitism. That documentary was very successful in France, drawing some 300,000 viewers and it caught the attention of Israeli filmmakers.
Famed Israeli actress Ronit Elkabetz, ♀a friend of hers, suggested she help her produce a film she wrote and wanted to direct and she agreed to make Rendre Femme (aka To Take A Wife ♀ produced by Marek Rozenbaum. When Ronit asked her to produce The Band’S Visit, she did not know what to make of the script. But when she saw the footage, she recognized its great potential and stepped in as producer. Unfortunately it could not qualify for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film because it was filmed in Hebrew, Egyptian and English. She went on to produce My Father My Lord an implicit critique of ultra-Orthodox dogma by a filmmaker who grew up in a Hasidic community but abandoned it when he was 25 to study film.
Sophie produces other world films, including her second American film Benny And The Kids (Go Get Some Rosemary), Argentina’s Little Sky and The Camera Obscura both by Maria Victoria Menis ♀ and others including French films like the upcoming film by Jacques Douvenne.
In Cannes this year, she acquired Room 514 (Isa: Docs & Film) de Sharon Bar-Ziv ♀ which played in l'Acid in Cannes and Les Voisins De Dieu (God’S Neighbors) (Isa: Rezo) de Meni Yaesh which played in La Semaine de la Critique in Cannes as well as Directors’ Fortnight entry Le Repenti and Bence Fliegauf’s Berlin competition entry Just The Wind.
She sees festivals as a place where people can discover new films. Theaters need new ideas, directors, and distributors can take risks only if they own theaters. The triangle of festivals, distributors and exhibitors are complimentary and she finds that having all three allows her to keep selected films longer in theaters or allows for changing theaters (she owns 5 theaters including the famous St. Germain arthouse Harlequin). She recognizes that France has so many subsidies for production and distribution – 12 to 15 new films are released every week – and that gives her films more of a chance to succeed as well.
France also has, after 3 years of discussion, finally, in one year made all its theaters digital. The cost to convert is 1 million Euros. 30% of that is paid by Cnc, the government fund made up of a percentage of box office receipts. The digital norm is 2K and the Vpf (Virtual Print Fee is 5,000 Euros. All distributors must pay this first the first time showing for 4 weeks and then, there are not more VPFs.
When she asks Americans for DCPs, she is surprised to learn that they don’t have them. Even Harvey Weinstein who had a retrospective at the Festival did not have digital prints and he said that to use Blu-Ray or HD was all right with him.
Why Harvey?
Everyone loves a good Harvey story. We had heard that he did not want to travel and I was curious how she had such good luck to get him to Paris. Apparently he flew in, appeared, and flew out again.
“The opening night, with the tribute paid to American producer Harvey Weinstein who accepted, with modesty and as a film enthusiast, a trophy was presented by Sophie Dulac, in the presence of VIP guests: Virginie Ledoyen, Deborah François, Audrey Dana, Thomas Langmann, Olivier Nackache and Eric Toledan.”
What he said at this opening event was that Sophie’s brother is the godfather of his son. And when the Godfather makes a request, he cannot refuse to honor it.
So ended my interview with Sophie. As we all struck out to continue the day, Matthew Akers of Marina Abramovic said, “See you in Sarajevo”. And Sophie responded, “How chic!”...
"And I work with another real blond and her name is Isabelle” [Svanda, General Manager], she adds.
Champs Elysees Film Festival
We are sitting in the outdoor restaurant of Fouquet’s Barriere Hotel, Paris. Also with us are Astrid de Beauregard who has handled all the 50 industry-ites converging on the festival to view four well curated U.S. indie films for the second edition of U.S. in Progress. Maxine Leonard, the festival's publicist and Matthew Akers, the director and cinematographer of Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present are also present. Little did I know he was going to win the Audience Prize for a feature length film from the U.S.
The Festival ended for me with current French resident, with white hair and beard, Donald Sutherland presenting Klute by Alan J. Pakula and starring Jane Fonda, and then giving a A Hollywood Conversation in his American accented but fluent French in a good humored atmosphere. I could write an entire blog on what that film and all that he and Jane meant to me at the very beginning of my career in the film business, but I won’t do that here. He was subsequently post-film appointed Commandeur des Arts & Lettres by Frédéric Mitterrand.
My interview with Sophie is the summit of my experience so far as a "blogger". After all I am not a journalist, nor do I pal around with the glitterati or the “elite” folks in the film business. I knew I was entering a rare atmosphere strolling everyday along the Rue de Montaigne to the Champs Elysees. And now, I was going to talk to the granddaughter of one of France's most illustrious citizens. (and no slouch herself! What a truly lovely, amazing woman!!)
U.S. in Progress
The night before, we, the jury of 9, presented the winners of the 2nd edition of U.S. in Progress with their prizes of post production services. First Prize went to a film worthy of a Cannes slot in Un Certain Regard or Fortnight or Critics Week, A Teacher by Hannah Fidell ♀, whose about-to-turn-thirty protagonist is forced to acknowledge her sin of having an affair with a student. The film's affect upon us women was overwhelmingly cathartic. Receiving an Honorable Mention, I Am I, a Sundance-worthy film, well executed very interesting story, well acted by the extremely professional first-time director Joceyln Towne ♀ with additional casting by Ronnie Yeskel ♀, one of the top indie film casting agents. Julie Bergeron, one of the nine-member jury loved Desert Cathedral, a man's quest for peace after an increasing estrangement from his life. She liked its combination of documentary depiction of the desert and the fictional story about a contemporary and universal dilemma faced by too many people today. I want to see more of the three actors, Lee Tergesen is a young and handsome William Macy type and Chaske Spencer, a charismatic First Nation descendant of Lakota (Sioux) Nation, and Petra Wright. The fourth film Michael Bartlett's House Of Last Things is Bonnie Darko meets Twin Peaks, a paean to the Maestro, David Lynch. More than 50 distributors and sales agent watched these films with us.
As part of the selection, the winner of U.S. in Progress from the 1st edition in Wroclaw, Poland last November, Not Waving But Drowning directed by Devyn Waitt and produced by Nicole Emanuele was also showing and Nicole was accompanied by the star, her boyfriend Steven Farneth from Cinetic, the godmother of the movie and other "family" members. Nicole is now working with Google and YouTube in Content Partnerships, Film/ TV while contemplating her next moves in the business.
Created by Sophie Dulac, the Festival programmed some 50 films enabling Parisian audiences to discover the variety of productions available from France and the United States, in the 5 cinema theaters of the Champs Elysees, the most beautiful avenue in the world: the normally rival cinemas Le Balzac and Le Lincoln, the rivals Gaumont Champs-Elysées and Ugc George V, and the Publicis Cinéma.
This success was thanks to an inquiring public which appreciated the simplicity of organization, the fact that projections started on time, and also the quality of programming, with a special heartfelt interest for the 10 independent films from the U.S. in the official selection.
What Makes Sophie Run?
One night at an extraordinary dinner at the Renault Restaurant on the Champs Elysees, where we sat with Julie Bergeron (of Cannes Marche prominence), Pascal Diot (former Paris based sales agent and now organizer in chief of both Venice and Dubai Ff’s Markets), Adeline Monzier (founder of U.S. in Progress and Europa Distribution), and Producer Christophe Bruncher (whose latest film, If We All Lived Together stars Jane Fonda), I learned about Sophie’s grandfather, Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet,who founded Publicis in 1926 and in effect, invented modern advertising in much the same way that Lucien Barriere invented the resort and the casino. Today Publicis is a French multinational advertising and communications company, headquartered in Paris, France and one of the world's three largest advertising holding companies holding among others, Saatchi & Saatchi and Leo Burnett Worldwide. The company conducts its operations in over 200 cities in 104 countries and has a strategic alliance with Dentsu, Inc. He began it as a young man and the Nazis confiscated it as Jewish property. He fled and fought with The Free French...and worked in the Resistance under the name of Blanchet. When he returned to France, he got back his advertising agency and continued doing the sort of pioneering work he loved the best. He also added Blanchet onto his surname. Publicis' current president is Maurice Lévy who was just in the news for having called for higher taxes on the wealthy and now objecting to France’s new President's pledging that he would tax the rich 75% of their income. Read more about the company here.
One more boast about this family: One of Bleustein-Blanchet’s daughters was a legislator and is responsible for abolishing capital punishment in France.
Aside from being totally impressed by all I was hearing, I was beginning to see what informed the personality of the festival and of Sophie herself who was there and everywhere, meeting and mixing with us all. As Maxine said, in effect, Sophie is a mensch. She is the real thing, feet planted firmly on the ground and real. And yet she seems so idealistic in the choices she makes. To this remark of mine, she responded, that in fact, she is very pragmatic, but one must take pleasure in life.
Her grandfather and grandmother raised her and her brother and half brother after their 27 year old mother died in an automobile accident. Sophie was eight years old at the time.
Her grandfather told her that when he began Publicis as a teenager, he never thought about the money he might make. He did it for pleasure. He thought of how best to do what he loved to do the most. For her too, life is about innovation and being happy. She hopes that in ten years the festival and her film business will continue to inspire and motivate her.
Sophie has three children and she tells them to do whatever they want as she would advise everyone: Do what is inside of you, even if it is not what you end up doing. It will make you a better person. Her first son, whom she had when she was 17 and who is now 24, lived one year in Australia and another year in Canada. He is now working with her at the festival. Her 22 year old daughter whom she had when she was 19, lives in London, and the 19 year old, following in his brother’s footsteps, is spending a year in Australia, alone and exploring on his own.
If she succeeds in the movie business, it is because she was not born into films. She has been in the business of Arthouse film production, distribution and exhibition for ten years. Before that she was a practicing psycho graphologist, counseling people from 16 to 60 years old, male and female. You can know a person totally through the handwriting she says. She also did a stint in PR which she hated, before going into film. Her father was a writer and told her to read and so she can talk of many things, not only of business. At the end of the day, she closes her door and business does not exist (unless of course there is a problem at one of her theaters which she does drop in on on Sundays when she is not expected.) She has no scripts at home and does not watch movies for work at home. She has a well rounded education and is proud not to be 100% business.
Today she is also a sort of guardian of Israeli films in France as well. She even wears a small gold Jewish star.
Film Career
She began her film career in 2003 producing a documentary DÉCryptage which examined the French media coverage of the Arab–Israeli conflictand concludes that the media's presentation of the Arab–Israeli conflict in France is consistently skewed against Israel and may be responsible for exacerbating anti-semitism. That documentary was very successful in France, drawing some 300,000 viewers and it caught the attention of Israeli filmmakers.
Famed Israeli actress Ronit Elkabetz, ♀a friend of hers, suggested she help her produce a film she wrote and wanted to direct and she agreed to make Rendre Femme (aka To Take A Wife ♀ produced by Marek Rozenbaum. When Ronit asked her to produce The Band’S Visit, she did not know what to make of the script. But when she saw the footage, she recognized its great potential and stepped in as producer. Unfortunately it could not qualify for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film because it was filmed in Hebrew, Egyptian and English. She went on to produce My Father My Lord an implicit critique of ultra-Orthodox dogma by a filmmaker who grew up in a Hasidic community but abandoned it when he was 25 to study film.
Sophie produces other world films, including her second American film Benny And The Kids (Go Get Some Rosemary), Argentina’s Little Sky and The Camera Obscura both by Maria Victoria Menis ♀ and others including French films like the upcoming film by Jacques Douvenne.
In Cannes this year, she acquired Room 514 (Isa: Docs & Film) de Sharon Bar-Ziv ♀ which played in l'Acid in Cannes and Les Voisins De Dieu (God’S Neighbors) (Isa: Rezo) de Meni Yaesh which played in La Semaine de la Critique in Cannes as well as Directors’ Fortnight entry Le Repenti and Bence Fliegauf’s Berlin competition entry Just The Wind.
She sees festivals as a place where people can discover new films. Theaters need new ideas, directors, and distributors can take risks only if they own theaters. The triangle of festivals, distributors and exhibitors are complimentary and she finds that having all three allows her to keep selected films longer in theaters or allows for changing theaters (she owns 5 theaters including the famous St. Germain arthouse Harlequin). She recognizes that France has so many subsidies for production and distribution – 12 to 15 new films are released every week – and that gives her films more of a chance to succeed as well.
France also has, after 3 years of discussion, finally, in one year made all its theaters digital. The cost to convert is 1 million Euros. 30% of that is paid by Cnc, the government fund made up of a percentage of box office receipts. The digital norm is 2K and the Vpf (Virtual Print Fee is 5,000 Euros. All distributors must pay this first the first time showing for 4 weeks and then, there are not more VPFs.
When she asks Americans for DCPs, she is surprised to learn that they don’t have them. Even Harvey Weinstein who had a retrospective at the Festival did not have digital prints and he said that to use Blu-Ray or HD was all right with him.
Why Harvey?
Everyone loves a good Harvey story. We had heard that he did not want to travel and I was curious how she had such good luck to get him to Paris. Apparently he flew in, appeared, and flew out again.
“The opening night, with the tribute paid to American producer Harvey Weinstein who accepted, with modesty and as a film enthusiast, a trophy was presented by Sophie Dulac, in the presence of VIP guests: Virginie Ledoyen, Deborah François, Audrey Dana, Thomas Langmann, Olivier Nackache and Eric Toledan.”
What he said at this opening event was that Sophie’s brother is the godfather of his son. And when the Godfather makes a request, he cannot refuse to honor it.
So ended my interview with Sophie. As we all struck out to continue the day, Matthew Akers of Marina Abramovic said, “See you in Sarajevo”. And Sophie responded, “How chic!”...
- 6/19/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Experts in auteur cinema, German sales company The Match Factory have quite the sampling this year with names such as Thai Joe (Mekong Hotel – see pic above), Fatih Akin (Polluting Paradise) and Directors’ Fortnight invited The Dream and the Silence by Jamie Rosales proudly making us say ich liebe dich the label, and let us not forget Loznitsa’s In the Fog which is being featured in the Main Comp category.
In The Fog (V Tumane) by Sergei Loznitsa
Mekong Hotel by Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Polluting Paradise (MÜLL Im Garten Eden) by Fatih Akin
The Dream And The Silence (SUEÑO Y Silencio) by Jaime Rosales
And If We All Lived Together (Et Si On Vivait Tous Ensemble) by Stéphane Robelin
Barbara by Christian Petzold
Home For The Weekend (Was Bleibt) by Hans-Christian Schmid
In The Name Of The Girl (En El Nombre De La Hija) by Tania Hermida
Just The Wind...
In The Fog (V Tumane) by Sergei Loznitsa
Mekong Hotel by Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Polluting Paradise (MÜLL Im Garten Eden) by Fatih Akin
The Dream And The Silence (SUEÑO Y Silencio) by Jaime Rosales
And If We All Lived Together (Et Si On Vivait Tous Ensemble) by Stéphane Robelin
Barbara by Christian Petzold
Home For The Weekend (Was Bleibt) by Hans-Christian Schmid
In The Name Of The Girl (En El Nombre De La Hija) by Tania Hermida
Just The Wind...
- 5/17/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
★★★☆☆ The Oedipus complex has long fascinated and inspired artists and Hungarian writer/director Benedek Fliegauf is the latest filmmaker to tackle the subject in his first English language picture Clone (Womb, 2010). French actress Eva Green plays Rebecca, a young woman who returns home from Japan to rekindle a relationship with her childhood sweetheart Tommy (Doctor Who's Matt Smith). However, after only a few days together, Tommy is killed in a traffic accident as he and Rebecca are on the way to a political rally.
Read more »...
Read more »...
- 5/15/2012
- by CineVue
- CineVue
Clone
Stars: Eva Green, Matt Smith, Lesley Manville, Peter Wight, István Lénárt, Hannah Murray | Written and Directed by Benedek Fliegauf
Originally called Womb, Clone seems to have had a name change to evoke more of a sensationalist reaction in people who may buy it, but in truth the original name says a lot more about the films subject and the opinions I have of it. Most people though will probably see the name Matt Smith and think Doctor Who. Don’t expect time travel in this film though; just a slightly harrowing story of love and loss.
When Rebecca and Thomas meet as children they become instant friendship and love soon blossoms. This is dealt a blow though when Rebecca moves away. Years later she returns and now as adults they rekindle their relationship as the love is still there. Disaster strikes once more as Thomas is killed but Rebecca...
Stars: Eva Green, Matt Smith, Lesley Manville, Peter Wight, István Lénárt, Hannah Murray | Written and Directed by Benedek Fliegauf
Originally called Womb, Clone seems to have had a name change to evoke more of a sensationalist reaction in people who may buy it, but in truth the original name says a lot more about the films subject and the opinions I have of it. Most people though will probably see the name Matt Smith and think Doctor Who. Don’t expect time travel in this film though; just a slightly harrowing story of love and loss.
When Rebecca and Thomas meet as children they become instant friendship and love soon blossoms. This is dealt a blow though when Rebecca moves away. Years later she returns and now as adults they rekindle their relationship as the love is still there. Disaster strikes once more as Thomas is killed but Rebecca...
- 5/6/2012
- by Pzomb
- Nerdly
American Pie: Reunion (15)
(Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, 2012, Us) Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Eugene Levy, Alyson Hannigan. 113 mins
It's rare to see teen-movie characters all grown up, and this illustrates the reason why: they just make us feel old. The gang's all here, reverting to their old non-pc habits even as they mourn their lost youth. It's patchy and often dodgy comedy, but there's still something heartening about Stifler's defiant idiocy and Jim's dad's middle-age second chance.
Safe (15)
(Boaz Yakin, 2012, Us) Jason Statham, Catherine Chan. 94 mins
Triads, Russian mobsters, cops and everyone else in New York falls foul of Statham in another ludicrous but fast-moving actioner.
Two Years At Sea (U)
(Ben Rivers, 2012, UK) Jake Williams. 90 mins
Extraordinary, otherworldly observation of a modern-day Scottish hermit.
Goodbye First Love (15)
(Mia Hansen-Løve, 2011, Fra/Ger) Lola Créton, Sebastian Urzendowsky. 111 mins
Heartfelt study of a young teen's formative romantic fortunes.
The Lucky One (12A)
(Scott Hicks,...
(Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, 2012, Us) Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Eugene Levy, Alyson Hannigan. 113 mins
It's rare to see teen-movie characters all grown up, and this illustrates the reason why: they just make us feel old. The gang's all here, reverting to their old non-pc habits even as they mourn their lost youth. It's patchy and often dodgy comedy, but there's still something heartening about Stifler's defiant idiocy and Jim's dad's middle-age second chance.
Safe (15)
(Boaz Yakin, 2012, Us) Jason Statham, Catherine Chan. 94 mins
Triads, Russian mobsters, cops and everyone else in New York falls foul of Statham in another ludicrous but fast-moving actioner.
Two Years At Sea (U)
(Ben Rivers, 2012, UK) Jake Williams. 90 mins
Extraordinary, otherworldly observation of a modern-day Scottish hermit.
Goodbye First Love (15)
(Mia Hansen-Løve, 2011, Fra/Ger) Lola Créton, Sebastian Urzendowsky. 111 mins
Heartfelt study of a young teen's formative romantic fortunes.
The Lucky One (12A)
(Scott Hicks,...
- 5/4/2012
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
Review: 'Womb' Puts Love, Sex, Family & Cloning Into A Blender, Comes Out As A Sci-Fi Incest Romance
There's an air of finality to the entirety of "Womb," the new film from Benedek Fliegauf. Using minimal shooting locations, primarily a cloudy off-season beach, the picture might be following young Rebecca and Thomas as the last lovers at the end of the world. One could even argue that's the movie's intention -- when there is nothing left to love, we'll invent, and re-invent, new people. And Thomas is about to be re-invented in an exceedingly peculiar manner.
As children, the two meet off the coast and develop an immediate bond. Spending their days and nights together, they share everything in common, including, curiously, a bed and a bath. It's hard to see where one child begins and the other ends, so when Rebecca disappears with her father to Japan, it's like the severing of a limb for both children. Curiously, there's no mention of staying in touch through social media,...
As children, the two meet off the coast and develop an immediate bond. Spending their days and nights together, they share everything in common, including, curiously, a bed and a bath. It's hard to see where one child begins and the other ends, so when Rebecca disappears with her father to Japan, it's like the severing of a limb for both children. Curiously, there's no mention of staying in touch through social media,...
- 3/28/2012
- by Gabe Toro
- The Playlist
The Berlin International Film Festival, also called the Berlinale, is one of the world’s leading film festivals and most reputable media events. 2012 marks the first year Sound On Sight was present to attend. Merle has been posting her recaps while the rest of us have been paying close attention to the films receiving the most buzz.
Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978. With 274,000 tickets sold and 487,000 admissions it is considered the largest publicly-attended film festival worldwide. Up to 400 films are shown in several sections, but only a select twenty compete for the awards called the Golden and Silver Bears. This year the Italian film Caesar Must Die took home the Berlin International Film Festival’s top honour as best film. The film is set in Rome’s high-security Rebibbia prison and centres on the rehearsal, staging, and performing of Shakespeare’s...
Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978. With 274,000 tickets sold and 487,000 admissions it is considered the largest publicly-attended film festival worldwide. Up to 400 films are shown in several sections, but only a select twenty compete for the awards called the Golden and Silver Bears. This year the Italian film Caesar Must Die took home the Berlin International Film Festival’s top honour as best film. The film is set in Rome’s high-security Rebibbia prison and centres on the rehearsal, staging, and performing of Shakespeare’s...
- 2/20/2012
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Caesar Must Die by Paolo & Vittorio Taviani won the Golden Bear for Best Film at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival.
The Jury Grand Prix Silver Bear went to Just The Wind by Bence Fliegauf.
The Silver Bear for Best Director went to Christian Petzold for Barbara (Barbara).
Rachel Mwanza in Rebelle (War Witch) by Kim Nguyen won the Best Actress while Mikkel Boe Følsgaard in En Kongelig Affære (A Royal Affair) by Nikolaj Arcel was declared the Best Actor.
The complete list of awards can be found here.
The 62nd Berlinale was held from February 9-19, 2012.
The Jury Grand Prix Silver Bear went to Just The Wind by Bence Fliegauf.
The Silver Bear for Best Director went to Christian Petzold for Barbara (Barbara).
Rachel Mwanza in Rebelle (War Witch) by Kim Nguyen won the Best Actress while Mikkel Boe Følsgaard in En Kongelig Affære (A Royal Affair) by Nikolaj Arcel was declared the Best Actor.
The complete list of awards can be found here.
The 62nd Berlinale was held from February 9-19, 2012.
- 2/19/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Going into this year’s Berlinale you could be forgiven for thinking that all the A-list talent was presiding over the jury. It’s an impressive roster: Mike Leigh is at the head, accompanied by Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi (last year’s Golden Bear champion for A Separation), Hollywood star Jake Gyllenhaal, French auteur Francois Ozon (Potiche), Dutchman Anton Corbijn (Control), and Charlotte Gainsbourg. By comparison the competition line-up seemed extremely obscure. Whilst Cannes and Venice tend to lead with premieres from established directors, the Berlin Film Festival continues its recent tradition of backing more obscure auteurs.
Out of the directors in the main competition only Italian veterans the Taviani brothers (with drama-doc hybrid Ceasar Must Die) and actor-turned-director Billy Bob Thornton (Jane Mansfield’s Car) came with anything like a reputation. Most of the films come via relative unknown talents with few previous features to their name, such as...
Out of the directors in the main competition only Italian veterans the Taviani brothers (with drama-doc hybrid Ceasar Must Die) and actor-turned-director Billy Bob Thornton (Jane Mansfield’s Car) came with anything like a reputation. Most of the films come via relative unknown talents with few previous features to their name, such as...
- 2/19/2012
- by Robert Beames
- Obsessed with Film
Paolo and Vittorio Taviani's Caesar Must Die Paolo Taviani, 80, and Vittorio Taviani, 82, were the big winners at the 2012 Berlin Film Festival. The Taviani brothers' documentary Cesare deve morire / Caesar Must Die, about a staging of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in Rome's maximum-security prison Rebibbia — with the actual inmates playing the various roles, was the surprise winner of the Golden Bear at the 62nd Berlinale. (Caesar Must Die photo: © Umberto Montiroli.) “I hope that someone, going home, after seeing Caesar Must Die will think that even an inmate, on whose head is a terrible punishment, is, and remains, a man. And this thanks to the sublime words of Shakespeare,” Vittorio Taviani remarked. Through a translator, Paolo Taviani explained that "we chose Julius Caesar for one clear reason. We were working in a prison. That meant it was easy to get the message across with this play where actors are talking about freedom,...
- 2/19/2012
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Berlinale is, on the whole, a quieter festival than your really “big” outings — Sundance, Cannes, Toronto, even Nyff or Venice — but my interest is nevertheless piqued by this year’s winners, a list which comes to us from IndieWIRE. The top prize, that being the Golden Bear, went to Paolo and Vittorio Taviani (pictured above) for Caesar Must Die, their “documentary about criminals performing Shakespeare.” Adopt Films will be giving that a United States release later this year; reviews make me think it’s worth some of this early hype, thankfully.
Otherwise Bence Fliegauf‘s Just the Wind was bestowed with a Silver Bear for the Grand Jury Prize, while Barbara brought home a Silver Bear, Best Director for Christian Petzold. As with the main victors, the rest of the selections are far more devoid of “names” (and could more easily be considered esoteric) than any of the winners you...
Otherwise Bence Fliegauf‘s Just the Wind was bestowed with a Silver Bear for the Grand Jury Prize, while Barbara brought home a Silver Bear, Best Director for Christian Petzold. As with the main victors, the rest of the selections are far more devoid of “names” (and could more easily be considered esoteric) than any of the winners you...
- 2/19/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
(via IndieWire) Golden Bear: “Caesar Must Die,” by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani Silver Bear – The Jury Grand Prize: “Just The Wind,” by Bence Fliegauf Silver Bear – Best Director: …...
- 2/18/2012
- by Ryan Adams
- AwardsDaily.com
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