Even in the streaming age, some movies travel slowly. For every “Bird Box,” which debuted on Netflix a month after its world premiere at AFI Fest, there are dozens of films like “Donbass,” “Ayka,” and “Asako I & II,” all of which just screened at the Palm Springs International Film Festival nearly a year after first debuting elsewhere and have yet to receive stateside distribution. That such festival-circuit deep cuts would receive pride of place in the California desert may come as a surprise to anyone with a passing knowledge of the awards-season fest, which is best known for toasting soon-to-be Oscar nominees and winners; this year’s honorees included Glenn Close, Rami Malek, and Timothée Chalamet.
For world cinema–inclined cinephiles, however, Palm Springs’ status as an Academy-adjacent affair has a worthwhile side benefit: 43 of the 87 official submissions for the Foreign Language prize made their way into the lineup,...
For world cinema–inclined cinephiles, however, Palm Springs’ status as an Academy-adjacent affair has a worthwhile side benefit: 43 of the 87 official submissions for the Foreign Language prize made their way into the lineup,...
- 1/15/2019
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
The literal translation of Kazakhstan is “Land of the Wanderers” – reflecting the nomadic origins of the Kazakh people – and if the folks behind the soon-to-be-launched Almaty Film Festival have their way it’ll become the destination of choice in Central Asia for itinerant international producers seeking a partner in the region for their projects, or dramatic locations for their shoots. The first edition of the festival will run Sept. 15-19.
The land-locked country, sandwiched between China and Russia, has a modest population, 18.6 million, in relation to its huge size – almost four times the area of Texas. Contained within that vast space are a variety of natural terrain – predominantly grassland plains, the Steppe, but also the Altai Mountain in the East, deserts in the South, lakes and inland seas, like Caspian and Aral, forests and canyons.
For the past two decades the capital has been Astana, but before that it was Almaty,...
The land-locked country, sandwiched between China and Russia, has a modest population, 18.6 million, in relation to its huge size – almost four times the area of Texas. Contained within that vast space are a variety of natural terrain – predominantly grassland plains, the Steppe, but also the Altai Mountain in the East, deserts in the South, lakes and inland seas, like Caspian and Aral, forests and canyons.
For the past two decades the capital has been Astana, but before that it was Almaty,...
- 7/7/2018
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The Notebook is covering Cannes with an on-going correspondence between critics Lawrence Garcia and Daniel Kasman.Dear Lawrence,You’ve delved into one of the more bravura and impressive films that debuted in the Un Certain Regard sidebar, Bi Gan’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night, a film whose considerable vision and ambition has prompted some to question why it wasn’t in the main competition. A far more modest film but one that also appearing as a surprise in this too-often blasé section was a patient and immersive ethnographic fiction, The Dead and the Others. Shooting in the verdant northeastern Brazil in the village of Pedro Branch, the two filmmakers, João Salaviza and Renee Nader Messora, have collaborated with the indigenous Kraho people there to fashion a discreet fable whose pleasures lay more in its observations than its drama. The film begins with a fantastic nocturnal encounter, between...
- 5/20/2018
- MUBI
International co-production and co-production markets around the globe will not be the same now following the news that the internationally respected German producer-distributor Karl Baumgartner has died at the age of 65.
Known affectionately by friends and colleagues alike as ¨Baumi¨, Baumgartner hailed from the South Tyrol, but was ¨ at home¨ in different countries and cultures, working with film-makers on projects located in some of the seemingly most inaccessible or logistically nightmarish parts of the planet.
Hearing him recount the making of Bakhtiar Khudojnazarov’s Luna Papa at one of the countless co-production panels with his tales of the shooting being stopped by floods washing the set away, the outbreak of civil war and being evacuated by the Red Cross floods, one often wondered whether he purposely looked for such challenges.
Not to speak of the challenge of putting such delicate and time-consuming co-production structures together involving tried-and-tested production partners, public funders and broadcasters from across Europe and beyond...
Known affectionately by friends and colleagues alike as ¨Baumi¨, Baumgartner hailed from the South Tyrol, but was ¨ at home¨ in different countries and cultures, working with film-makers on projects located in some of the seemingly most inaccessible or logistically nightmarish parts of the planet.
Hearing him recount the making of Bakhtiar Khudojnazarov’s Luna Papa at one of the countless co-production panels with his tales of the shooting being stopped by floods washing the set away, the outbreak of civil war and being evacuated by the Red Cross floods, one often wondered whether he purposely looked for such challenges.
Not to speak of the challenge of putting such delicate and time-consuming co-production structures together involving tried-and-tested production partners, public funders and broadcasters from across Europe and beyond...
- 3/19/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
In more Berlinale news, two new episodes of House of Cards to be shown on festival closing day.
The award will be presented to Baumgartner after laudatory speeches by Berlinale festival director Dieter Kosslick and Aki Kaurismäki on Feb 8 before a screening of Kaurismäki’s 1991 film La Vie de Bohème.
In 1982, Baumgartner and Reinhard Brundig founded the distrubution company Pandora Filmverleih in Frankfurt, which became one of the leading players in the world of interational arthouse cinema, discovering such talents as Jim Jarmusch, Aki Kaurimäki, Sally Potter, Andrei Tarkovsky and Kim Ki Duk.
Pandora’s move into production has seen the company backing films by Emir Kusturica (Underground), Sam Garbarski (Irina Palm), Aki Kaurismäki (Le Havre), Sergey Dvorstevoy (Tulpan), Jim Jarmusch (Only Lovers Left Alive), Claire Denis (Bastards), and, most recently, Fatih Akin (The Cut), to mention just a handful.
Apart from Cologne-based Pandora Filmproduktion, Baumgartner is also a partner with Thanassis Karathanos in Pallas Film, which...
The award will be presented to Baumgartner after laudatory speeches by Berlinale festival director Dieter Kosslick and Aki Kaurismäki on Feb 8 before a screening of Kaurismäki’s 1991 film La Vie de Bohème.
In 1982, Baumgartner and Reinhard Brundig founded the distrubution company Pandora Filmverleih in Frankfurt, which became one of the leading players in the world of interational arthouse cinema, discovering such talents as Jim Jarmusch, Aki Kaurimäki, Sally Potter, Andrei Tarkovsky and Kim Ki Duk.
Pandora’s move into production has seen the company backing films by Emir Kusturica (Underground), Sam Garbarski (Irina Palm), Aki Kaurismäki (Le Havre), Sergey Dvorstevoy (Tulpan), Jim Jarmusch (Only Lovers Left Alive), Claire Denis (Bastards), and, most recently, Fatih Akin (The Cut), to mention just a handful.
Apart from Cologne-based Pandora Filmproduktion, Baumgartner is also a partner with Thanassis Karathanos in Pallas Film, which...
- 1/28/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
In more Berlinale news, two new episodes of House of Cards to be shown on festival closing day.
The award will be presented to Baumgartner after laudatory speeches by Berlinale festival director Dieter Kosslick and Aki Kaurismäki on Feb 8 before a screening of Kaurismäki’s 1991 film La Vie de Bohème.
In 1982, Baumgartner and Reinhard Brundig founded the distrubution company Pandora Filmverleih in Frankfurt, which became one of the leading players in the world of interational arthouse cinema, discovering such talents as Jim Jarmusch, Aki Kaurimäki, Sally Potter, Andrei Tarkovsky and Kim Ki Duk.
Pandora’s move into production has seen the company backing films by Emir Kusturica (Underground), Sam Garbarski (Irina Palm), Aki Kaurismäki (Le Havre), Sergey Dvorstevoy (Tulpan), Jim Jarmusch (Only Lovers Left Alive), Claire Denis (Bastards), and, most recently, Fatih Akin (The Cut), to mention just a handful.
Apart from Cologne-based Pandora Filmproduktion, Baumgartner is also a partner with Thanassis Karathanos in Pallas Film, which...
The award will be presented to Baumgartner after laudatory speeches by Berlinale festival director Dieter Kosslick and Aki Kaurismäki on Feb 8 before a screening of Kaurismäki’s 1991 film La Vie de Bohème.
In 1982, Baumgartner and Reinhard Brundig founded the distrubution company Pandora Filmverleih in Frankfurt, which became one of the leading players in the world of interational arthouse cinema, discovering such talents as Jim Jarmusch, Aki Kaurimäki, Sally Potter, Andrei Tarkovsky and Kim Ki Duk.
Pandora’s move into production has seen the company backing films by Emir Kusturica (Underground), Sam Garbarski (Irina Palm), Aki Kaurismäki (Le Havre), Sergey Dvorstevoy (Tulpan), Jim Jarmusch (Only Lovers Left Alive), Claire Denis (Bastards), and, most recently, Fatih Akin (The Cut), to mention just a handful.
Apart from Cologne-based Pandora Filmproduktion, Baumgartner is also a partner with Thanassis Karathanos in Pallas Film, which...
- 1/28/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
What you are listening to:
A little medley from some of the films playing for free in our festival of Cannes selected favorites. Go here to see what films are viewable for free in your area.
"Titoli: Atmosfera Tensiva" by Giovanni Fusco. From Michelangelo Antonioni's L'avventura (1960).
"Cucurrucucu Paloma (Live)" by Caetano Veloso. From Wong Kar-wai's Happy Together (1997).
"Ti ricordi di siboney" by Nino Rota. From Federico Fellini's Amacord (1974).
"Mesecina (Moonight)" by Goran Bregovic. From Emir Kusturica's Underground (1995).
"My Favorite Things (Rehearsal)" by Björk. From Lars von Trier's Dancer in the Dark (2000).
"Eternal Smile" by Chow Hsuan. From Johnnie To's Election (2005).
"Notturno II" by Giovanni Fusco. From Michelangelo Antonioni's L'avventura (1960).
"Not Human" by Javier Navarette. From Guillermo Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth (2006).
"Siegfried's Funeral March" by Richard Wagner. From Aleksandr Sokurov's Moloch (1999).
"Harakiri" by Toru Takemitsu. From Masaki Kobayashi's Harakiri (1962).
"Chunga's Revenge" by Frank Zappa.
A little medley from some of the films playing for free in our festival of Cannes selected favorites. Go here to see what films are viewable for free in your area.
"Titoli: Atmosfera Tensiva" by Giovanni Fusco. From Michelangelo Antonioni's L'avventura (1960).
"Cucurrucucu Paloma (Live)" by Caetano Veloso. From Wong Kar-wai's Happy Together (1997).
"Ti ricordi di siboney" by Nino Rota. From Federico Fellini's Amacord (1974).
"Mesecina (Moonight)" by Goran Bregovic. From Emir Kusturica's Underground (1995).
"My Favorite Things (Rehearsal)" by Björk. From Lars von Trier's Dancer in the Dark (2000).
"Eternal Smile" by Chow Hsuan. From Johnnie To's Election (2005).
"Notturno II" by Giovanni Fusco. From Michelangelo Antonioni's L'avventura (1960).
"Not Human" by Javier Navarette. From Guillermo Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth (2006).
"Siegfried's Funeral March" by Richard Wagner. From Aleksandr Sokurov's Moloch (1999).
"Harakiri" by Toru Takemitsu. From Masaki Kobayashi's Harakiri (1962).
"Chunga's Revenge" by Frank Zappa.
- 6/2/2010
- MUBI
Tulpan
Sergei Dvortsevoy created an impressive coming-of-age tale with this majestic treatment of life on the Kazakh steppe, following the return of Asa, a young sailor eager to make a place of his own in the traditional nomadic lifestyle. But to do so he must woo and marry the only available woman for miles - an elusive and almost entirely symbolic girl named Tulpan, whose unambiguous rejection gives his life its first meaningful hurdle. The bleak, hardscrabble life endured by the protagonists, implicitly vied with by modern civilization's hedonistic pull, gives this allegory impressive, romantic, and heartbreaking dimensions.
Revanche
Götz Spielmann's arthouse noir is a deft and entertaining treatise on life in the margins of late-capitalism, a pitch-dark European take on The Postman Always Rings Twice. The bleak, predictable ending to a heist meant to bring two people away from the venal desolation of life in the city gives Revanche its initial momentum,...
Sergei Dvortsevoy created an impressive coming-of-age tale with this majestic treatment of life on the Kazakh steppe, following the return of Asa, a young sailor eager to make a place of his own in the traditional nomadic lifestyle. But to do so he must woo and marry the only available woman for miles - an elusive and almost entirely symbolic girl named Tulpan, whose unambiguous rejection gives his life its first meaningful hurdle. The bleak, hardscrabble life endured by the protagonists, implicitly vied with by modern civilization's hedonistic pull, gives this allegory impressive, romantic, and heartbreaking dimensions.
Revanche
Götz Spielmann's arthouse noir is a deft and entertaining treatise on life in the margins of late-capitalism, a pitch-dark European take on The Postman Always Rings Twice. The bleak, predictable ending to a heist meant to bring two people away from the venal desolation of life in the city gives Revanche its initial momentum,...
- 1/18/2010
- by Phillip Stephens
Cologne, Germany -- Veteran German producer Karl Baumgartner of Pandora Film ("Underground" "Tulpan"), British casting director Leo Davis ("The Queen") and Czech actress Anna Geislerova ("Beauty in Trouble") are among the members of next year's Shooting Stars jury.
The group, which also includes Italian director Giuseppe Piccioni ("Giulia Doesn't Date at Night") and U.S. film journalist Steven Gaydos, will select ten European up-and-coming actors from the 21 submissions made by national members of Shooting Stars organizer European Film Promotion (Efp).
The 10 finalists will be presented at the 2010 Shooting Stars event Feb. 13-15, running alongside the 60th Berlin International Film Festival (Feb 11-21).
The group, which also includes Italian director Giuseppe Piccioni ("Giulia Doesn't Date at Night") and U.S. film journalist Steven Gaydos, will select ten European up-and-coming actors from the 21 submissions made by national members of Shooting Stars organizer European Film Promotion (Efp).
The 10 finalists will be presented at the 2010 Shooting Stars event Feb. 13-15, running alongside the 60th Berlin International Film Festival (Feb 11-21).
- 11/11/2009
- by By Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Few art-film premises sound less immediately appealing than “novice Kazakhstani shepherd learns his trade while searching for a wife,” but movie-lovers shouldn’t let a creeping fear of barren landscapes, grubby livestock, and tiny huts keep them away from Tulpan, a beautifully choreographed and photographed story about tradition and modernity in rural Asia. Yes, writer-director Sergei Dvortsevoy indulges in long shots of windswept, dusty steppes—and one stunning sequence of animal birth—but the deliberate scene-setting fits between moments where characters crack jokes, make promises, break hearts, and generally behave like people. Dvortsevoy has a background in documentary, but for ...
- 4/2/2009
- avclub.com
This may come as a sur prise, but Kazakhstan, that mysterious land in Central Asia, has a thriving film industry.
I'm not talking about Hollywood-produced "Borat" but about made-in-Kazakhstan features such as "Schizo" and the Oscar-nominated "Mongol."
The nation even has an international film festival, which takes movies very, very seriously. (I know, I've been there.)
Latest winner from Kazakhstan is "Tulpan," directed and co-written by Sergey Dvortsevoy.
It is named after the young woman at the center of the odd love story, which is set in one of the more remote regions of remote Kazakhstan.
Asa (Askhat Kuchencherekov...
I'm not talking about Hollywood-produced "Borat" but about made-in-Kazakhstan features such as "Schizo" and the Oscar-nominated "Mongol."
The nation even has an international film festival, which takes movies very, very seriously. (I know, I've been there.)
Latest winner from Kazakhstan is "Tulpan," directed and co-written by Sergey Dvortsevoy.
It is named after the young woman at the center of the odd love story, which is set in one of the more remote regions of remote Kazakhstan.
Asa (Askhat Kuchencherekov...
- 4/1/2009
- by By V.A. MUSETTO
- NYPost.com
The eleventh issue of movieScope is on the stands. Online, readers can access an abbreviated edit of my conversation with Arnaud Desplechin (ah, wordcount!), as well as Adam Thursby‘s profile of actor Stephen Rea. Liz Hobbs writes up the Old Vic Theatre and explores the collaboration between stage and screen.
A portion of the cover feature on Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler is available by way of editor Eric Lilleør’s introductory editorial. At the “Fading In” sidebar Andy Conway wryly riffs on “Fundophobia, Draftophilia and the Addp.”
In the Insiders P.O.V. sidebar of the print issue, Mick Southworth & Martin McCabe reminisce on the bygone era of movie poster art in their essay “Coming Soon: The Art of the Quad.” Director Ron Oliver offers tips on directing children in his piece “Alligators Have the Right Idea.” Rick Drew recruits Seth Lochhead as a case study of what...
A portion of the cover feature on Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler is available by way of editor Eric Lilleør’s introductory editorial. At the “Fading In” sidebar Andy Conway wryly riffs on “Fundophobia, Draftophilia and the Addp.”
In the Insiders P.O.V. sidebar of the print issue, Mick Southworth & Martin McCabe reminisce on the bygone era of movie poster art in their essay “Coming Soon: The Art of the Quad.” Director Ron Oliver offers tips on directing children in his piece “Alligators Have the Right Idea.” Rick Drew recruits Seth Lochhead as a case study of what...
- 1/10/2009
- by Michael Guillen
- Screen Anarchy
The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) drew to a close with a stunning award ceremony with fireworks, dervish dancing and a rich array of the most wonderful food for hundreds of guests.
The recognition of the best films in the festival and in the AsiaAfrica and Arab Muhr Competitions brought to an end an exciting event in which the crosswinds of Arab nations, Africa and Asia mixed and clarified issues of the film business which will be of great concern for the new cycle the film business is now entering.
The Muhr Awards included a new AsiaAfrica segment embracing films from such emerging markets as Afghanistan, Turkey, Cameroon and Kazakhstan. The Muhr Awards for Excellence in Arab Cinema made a strong show chosen from filmmakers all over the Middle East and around the world. DIFF's Artistic Director Masoud Amralla al Ali had good reason to be proud and the filmmakers will return with future films, judging on their reactions to the royal treatment they received in Dubai.
The prize for Best Emirati Talent went to Haydar Mohammed, Best Emirati Female Filmmaker was presented to Nujoom Al Ghanem and Best Emirati Filmmaker went to Saeed Salmeen Al-Murry. For the first time, the International Federation of Film Critics, or FIPRESCI, awarded a Best Arab Film prize to Masquerades by Lyes Salem.
Other prizes include the Arab Muhr Competition for Feature Film:
* Best Film: Masquerades by Lyes Salem
* Special Jury Prize: Adhen - Dernier Maquis by Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche
Documentary:
* First Prize: 'Thakirat L Sabbar: Hikayat Thalath Qura Falasteenia' ('Memory Of The Cactus: A Story Of Three Palestinian Villages') by Hanna Musleh
* Special Jury Prize: 'Samaan Bidiyaa' ('The One Man Village') by Simon El Habre
* Second Prize: Marina Of The Zabbaleen by Engi Wassef
Best Cinematographer: Luca Coassin for 'Casanegra'
Best Composer: Sylvain Rifflet for 'Adhen - Dernier Maquis'
Best Editor: Nicolas Bancilhon for 'Adhen - Dernier Maquis'
Best Screenplay: Annemarie Jacir for Milh Hadha Al-Bahr ('Salt Of This Sea')
Best Actress: Hafsia Herzi for Francaise
Best Actor: Anas Elbaz and Omar Lotfi for 'Casanegra'
Short Films:
* First Prize: La Route Du Nord ('The North Road') by Carlos Chahine
* Special Jury Prize: 'Bint Mariam' by Saeed Salmeen Al-Murry
* Second Prize: Sa et Asary ('At Day s End') by Sherif El Bendary
Muhr AsiaAfrica Awards
Feature Film:
* Best Film: Treeless Mountain by So Yong Kim
* Special Jury Prize: Kyuka ('Vacation') by Hajime Kadoi
Documentary:
* First Prize: Mental by Kazuhiro Soda
* Special Jury Prize: 'Xiao Li Zi' ('Survival Song') by Guangyi Yu
* Second Prize: Une Affarie De Negres ('Black Business') by Osvalde Lewat
Best Cinematographer: Reza Teymouri for 'Aram Bash Va Ta Haft Beshmar' ('Be Calm And Count To Seven')
Best Composer: Jorga Mesfin, Vijay Iyer for Teza
Best Editor: Sreekar Prasad for Firaaq
Best Screenplay: Deepa Mehta for Heaven On Earth
Best Actress: Anh Hong for Trang Noi Day Gieng ('Moon At The Bottom Of The Well')
Best Actor: Askhat Kuchinchirekov for Tulpan
Short Films:
* First Prize: 'Shao Nian Xue' ('Young Blood) by Haolun Shu
* Special Jury Prize: 'Expectations' by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
* Second Prize: 'Kam Sanabanyz' ('Everything Is OK') by Akjoltoy Bekbolotov
The festival had previously announced the results of the second annual Dubai Film Connection (DFC), established to bring Arab and international film professionals together. DFC selected 18 projects from 108 submissions, of which three were awarded a US$25,000 Dubai International Film Festival Prize: 'This is my Picture When I Was Dead' by Mahmoud al Massad (Jordan-Netherlands); 'Barbershop Trinity' by Chadi Zeneddine (Lebanon); and 'Ouardia Once Had Sons' by Djamila Sahraoui (Algeria-Morocco). The three producers of the three projects will attend the prestigious 2009 Cannes Producers Network.
'Every Day is a Holiday' by Dima El-Hor (Lebanon-France) won the DIFF Desert Door Work in Progress Award, the 6,000 Euro ‘"International Relations" prize from French broadcaster Arte went to 'Death for Sale' by Faouzi Bensaiei (Morocco-France-Belgium); and the new Bahrain Film Production Company Works in Progress Award went to 'When I Saw You' by Annemarie Jacir (Palestine-Jordan). The new Young Journalist Award, instituted in 2008 to stimulate interest in film criticism as a career in the region, went to Melissa Khan of Mahe Manipal University in Dubai.
Winners of cash prizes from 21 competing projects in the Dubai Film Connection were chosen by a jury. Global film funds, sales companies and distributors will make deals with the winners of cash prizes, which total about $118,000. The Work In Progress Award of $25,000 from Kuwait company Desert Door went to 'Every Day Is A Holiday', a French/ Lebanese/ German co-production by Dima El-Horr and produced by Thierry Lenourvel. 'When I Saw You' by AnneMarie Jacir from Palestine won the $10,000 Bahrain Film Pfoduction Co. award for projects in development. 'Death For Sale' by Morroccan director Faouzi Bensaidi, on the 6,000 Euro prize from ARTE in France. Aside from the DIFF itself, there are numerous other activities all being ably managed by Shivani Pandya, Managing Director. These concurrent events have commanded great interest. The Co-Production Market run by Jane Williams, formerly with Binger Institut of Amsterdam, Hubert Bals Fund and the Rotterdam Cinemart is showing three works in progress including the Sundance FF 2009 Competition film 'Amreeka' by Cherien Dabis plus a list of other films in various stages of development. Working with Julie Bergeron of the Cannes Market Co-Production Market, the Co-Production Market is opening the doors between East and West in a notably winning style made possible to the warm hospitality of the people of Dubai. The Film Market where you can see every film in the festival plus more in a virtual on-demand video market has made its first deal with Alchemy Films picking up the South African feature ' Mr. Bones 2' for the Middle East. 'Mr Bones' producer, Anant Singh, also a favorite son of Los Angeles as well as of South Africa, is in Dubai with the international premiere of the documentary 'More Than Just a Game'. The Dubai Film Market, run by Zaid Yaghi is built on the model of IDFA's documentary market run by Fred De Haas who also manages the Documentary Market at IDFA. Tom Davia, Head of Programme Administration and Film Services also works with the Miami Film Festival. Other attendees here inlcude Thierry Lenouvel whose film 'Rachel' will be in the Berlinale 2009, Filmmaker Magazine and Forensic Films' Scott Maccaulay, Nadia Saah of New York, whose new company Boomgen Studios creates content and, most importantly, creates niche marketing and distribution for films with Middle Eastern content, Iran's M. Mehdi Yadegan of IRIM Media Trade, the largest TV station in the Middle East, producer Caroline Benjo of Haut et Court, international sales agents Pascal Diot of Onoma Films and Wouter Barendrecht of Fortissimo, Raphael Berdugo of Roissy, who is also a producer of 'Caramel', a Lebanese film which was in the Festival de Cannes and has been a great box office success in Lebanon. And, of course, FilmFinders is here seeing what new developments in the Middle East are being created in this time of great change in our film industry.
The recognition of the best films in the festival and in the AsiaAfrica and Arab Muhr Competitions brought to an end an exciting event in which the crosswinds of Arab nations, Africa and Asia mixed and clarified issues of the film business which will be of great concern for the new cycle the film business is now entering.
The Muhr Awards included a new AsiaAfrica segment embracing films from such emerging markets as Afghanistan, Turkey, Cameroon and Kazakhstan. The Muhr Awards for Excellence in Arab Cinema made a strong show chosen from filmmakers all over the Middle East and around the world. DIFF's Artistic Director Masoud Amralla al Ali had good reason to be proud and the filmmakers will return with future films, judging on their reactions to the royal treatment they received in Dubai.
The prize for Best Emirati Talent went to Haydar Mohammed, Best Emirati Female Filmmaker was presented to Nujoom Al Ghanem and Best Emirati Filmmaker went to Saeed Salmeen Al-Murry. For the first time, the International Federation of Film Critics, or FIPRESCI, awarded a Best Arab Film prize to Masquerades by Lyes Salem.
Other prizes include the Arab Muhr Competition for Feature Film:
* Best Film: Masquerades by Lyes Salem
* Special Jury Prize: Adhen - Dernier Maquis by Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche
Documentary:
* First Prize: 'Thakirat L Sabbar: Hikayat Thalath Qura Falasteenia' ('Memory Of The Cactus: A Story Of Three Palestinian Villages') by Hanna Musleh
* Special Jury Prize: 'Samaan Bidiyaa' ('The One Man Village') by Simon El Habre
* Second Prize: Marina Of The Zabbaleen by Engi Wassef
Best Cinematographer: Luca Coassin for 'Casanegra'
Best Composer: Sylvain Rifflet for 'Adhen - Dernier Maquis'
Best Editor: Nicolas Bancilhon for 'Adhen - Dernier Maquis'
Best Screenplay: Annemarie Jacir for Milh Hadha Al-Bahr ('Salt Of This Sea')
Best Actress: Hafsia Herzi for Francaise
Best Actor: Anas Elbaz and Omar Lotfi for 'Casanegra'
Short Films:
* First Prize: La Route Du Nord ('The North Road') by Carlos Chahine
* Special Jury Prize: 'Bint Mariam' by Saeed Salmeen Al-Murry
* Second Prize: Sa et Asary ('At Day s End') by Sherif El Bendary
Muhr AsiaAfrica Awards
Feature Film:
* Best Film: Treeless Mountain by So Yong Kim
* Special Jury Prize: Kyuka ('Vacation') by Hajime Kadoi
Documentary:
* First Prize: Mental by Kazuhiro Soda
* Special Jury Prize: 'Xiao Li Zi' ('Survival Song') by Guangyi Yu
* Second Prize: Une Affarie De Negres ('Black Business') by Osvalde Lewat
Best Cinematographer: Reza Teymouri for 'Aram Bash Va Ta Haft Beshmar' ('Be Calm And Count To Seven')
Best Composer: Jorga Mesfin, Vijay Iyer for Teza
Best Editor: Sreekar Prasad for Firaaq
Best Screenplay: Deepa Mehta for Heaven On Earth
Best Actress: Anh Hong for Trang Noi Day Gieng ('Moon At The Bottom Of The Well')
Best Actor: Askhat Kuchinchirekov for Tulpan
Short Films:
* First Prize: 'Shao Nian Xue' ('Young Blood) by Haolun Shu
* Special Jury Prize: 'Expectations' by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
* Second Prize: 'Kam Sanabanyz' ('Everything Is OK') by Akjoltoy Bekbolotov
The festival had previously announced the results of the second annual Dubai Film Connection (DFC), established to bring Arab and international film professionals together. DFC selected 18 projects from 108 submissions, of which three were awarded a US$25,000 Dubai International Film Festival Prize: 'This is my Picture When I Was Dead' by Mahmoud al Massad (Jordan-Netherlands); 'Barbershop Trinity' by Chadi Zeneddine (Lebanon); and 'Ouardia Once Had Sons' by Djamila Sahraoui (Algeria-Morocco). The three producers of the three projects will attend the prestigious 2009 Cannes Producers Network.
'Every Day is a Holiday' by Dima El-Hor (Lebanon-France) won the DIFF Desert Door Work in Progress Award, the 6,000 Euro ‘"International Relations" prize from French broadcaster Arte went to 'Death for Sale' by Faouzi Bensaiei (Morocco-France-Belgium); and the new Bahrain Film Production Company Works in Progress Award went to 'When I Saw You' by Annemarie Jacir (Palestine-Jordan). The new Young Journalist Award, instituted in 2008 to stimulate interest in film criticism as a career in the region, went to Melissa Khan of Mahe Manipal University in Dubai.
Winners of cash prizes from 21 competing projects in the Dubai Film Connection were chosen by a jury. Global film funds, sales companies and distributors will make deals with the winners of cash prizes, which total about $118,000. The Work In Progress Award of $25,000 from Kuwait company Desert Door went to 'Every Day Is A Holiday', a French/ Lebanese/ German co-production by Dima El-Horr and produced by Thierry Lenourvel. 'When I Saw You' by AnneMarie Jacir from Palestine won the $10,000 Bahrain Film Pfoduction Co. award for projects in development. 'Death For Sale' by Morroccan director Faouzi Bensaidi, on the 6,000 Euro prize from ARTE in France. Aside from the DIFF itself, there are numerous other activities all being ably managed by Shivani Pandya, Managing Director. These concurrent events have commanded great interest. The Co-Production Market run by Jane Williams, formerly with Binger Institut of Amsterdam, Hubert Bals Fund and the Rotterdam Cinemart is showing three works in progress including the Sundance FF 2009 Competition film 'Amreeka' by Cherien Dabis plus a list of other films in various stages of development. Working with Julie Bergeron of the Cannes Market Co-Production Market, the Co-Production Market is opening the doors between East and West in a notably winning style made possible to the warm hospitality of the people of Dubai. The Film Market where you can see every film in the festival plus more in a virtual on-demand video market has made its first deal with Alchemy Films picking up the South African feature ' Mr. Bones 2' for the Middle East. 'Mr Bones' producer, Anant Singh, also a favorite son of Los Angeles as well as of South Africa, is in Dubai with the international premiere of the documentary 'More Than Just a Game'. The Dubai Film Market, run by Zaid Yaghi is built on the model of IDFA's documentary market run by Fred De Haas who also manages the Documentary Market at IDFA. Tom Davia, Head of Programme Administration and Film Services also works with the Miami Film Festival. Other attendees here inlcude Thierry Lenouvel whose film 'Rachel' will be in the Berlinale 2009, Filmmaker Magazine and Forensic Films' Scott Maccaulay, Nadia Saah of New York, whose new company Boomgen Studios creates content and, most importantly, creates niche marketing and distribution for films with Middle Eastern content, Iran's M. Mehdi Yadegan of IRIM Media Trade, the largest TV station in the Middle East, producer Caroline Benjo of Haut et Court, international sales agents Pascal Diot of Onoma Films and Wouter Barendrecht of Fortissimo, Raphael Berdugo of Roissy, who is also a producer of 'Caramel', a Lebanese film which was in the Festival de Cannes and has been a great box office success in Lebanon. And, of course, FilmFinders is here seeing what new developments in the Middle East are being created in this time of great change in our film industry.
- 12/27/2008
- Sydney's Buzz
Bangkok -- Adding another prize to his growing collection for "Tulpan," Sergei Dvortsevoy took home the Golden Peacock best film prize at the closing ceremonies of the 39th annual International Film Festival of India, organizers said Wednesday.
After a minute of silence, the Kazakh writer and first-time director thanked the audience in Panaji, Goa, where the fest, which began Nov. 22, continued despite last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Dvortsevoy, whose film about a shepherd in training who wants to marry a girl who thinks he has big ears, said that while films cannot change the world, they can change people.
The closing ceremony's guest of honor, actor Shri Kamal Hasan, said that despite setbacks and dark moments, life must go on as normal. He congratulated the festival and its director, Shri S.M. Khan, for its rich collection of movies.
Khan told the audience that the festival condemns terrorism, and...
After a minute of silence, the Kazakh writer and first-time director thanked the audience in Panaji, Goa, where the fest, which began Nov. 22, continued despite last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Dvortsevoy, whose film about a shepherd in training who wants to marry a girl who thinks he has big ears, said that while films cannot change the world, they can change people.
The closing ceremony's guest of honor, actor Shri Kamal Hasan, said that despite setbacks and dark moments, life must go on as normal. He congratulated the festival and its director, Shri S.M. Khan, for its rich collection of movies.
Khan told the audience that the festival condemns terrorism, and...
- 12/3/2008
- by By Jonathan Landreth
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Founded in 1988, the European Film Academy currently unites 1,850 European film professionals with the common aim of promoting Europe’s film culture. Their annual awards will be December 8 in Copenhagen. ACE (Ateliers de Cinema Europeanne) which operates out of France and is a network of producers in the process of developing scripts, which become the films everyone loves at festivals, has 12 producers in the network who have received European Film Awards Nominations. Congratulations to ACE producers for their nominations at the 2008 European Film Awards and… good luck! WALTZ WITH BASHIR by Ari Folman, produced by Roman Paul (ACE producer / Razor Film Produktion): Nominated for European Film, European Director, European Screenwriter & European Composer categories. THE CLASS by Laurent Cantet, produced by Carole Scotta (ACE producer / Haut & Court) & Caroline Benjo (Haut & Court): Nominated for European Film & European Director categories. LEMON TREE by Eran Riklis, produced by Bettina Brokemper (ACE producer / Heimatfilm GmbH): Nominated for European Actress & European Screenwriter categories. WOLKE 9 by Andreas Dresen, produced by Peter Rommel (ACE producer / Rommel Film e.K): Nominated for European Director & European Actress categories. MOSCOW, BELGIUM by Christophe Van Rompaey, produced by Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem (ACE producer / A Private view): Nominated for European Composer category. DELTA by Kornel Mundruzco, produced by Viktoria Petranyi (ACE producer / Evolution Films): Nominated for European Film Academy Prix d’Excellence 2008
Also 10 ACE producers’ films are among the 67 vying for the 2008 nominations for 2007 Best Foreign Language Oscar. ALGERIA: MASQUERADES by Lyes Salem, produced by Isabelle Madelaine (Dharamsala, FR) BELGIUM: ELDORADO by Bouli Lanners, produced by Jacques-Henri Bronckart (Versus Production, BE) and Jerôme Vidal (Noodles Production, FR) ESTONIA: I WAS HERE by René Vilbre, produced by Riina Sildos (Amrion Oü, EST) and Aleksi Bardy (Helsinki Filmi, FI) FRANCE: THE CLASS by Laurent Cantet, produced by Carole Scotta & Caroline Benjo (Haut & Court, FR) ISRAEL: WALTZ WITH BASHIR by Ari Folman, produced by Roman Paul (Razor Film Produktion, DE) KAZAKHSTAN: TULPAN by Sergey Dvortsevoy, co-produced by Thanassis Karathanos (Twenty Twenty Vision / Pallas Film, DE) LATVIA: DEFENDERS OF RIGA by Aigars Grauba, produced by Andrejs Ekis (Plat Forma Filma, LET) - Developed at the ACE Workshop! MACEDONIA: I’M FROM TITOV VELES by Teona Strugar Mitevska, co-produced by Diana Elbaum (Entre Chien et Loup, BE) THE NETHERLANDS: DUNYA & DESIE by Dana Nechushtan, co-produced by Joost de Vries (Lemming Film, NL) and Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem (A Private View, BE) SWEDEN: EVERLASTING MOMENTS by Jan Troell, co-produced by Christer Nilson (GötaFilm, SE), Sigve Endresen, (Motlys AS, NO) and Tero Kaukomaa (Blind Spot Pictures, FI)
3 ACE producers’ films have been nominated for France’s prestigious Louis Delluc Award. THE CLASS by Laurent Cantet, Palme d’Or 2008, produced by Carole Scotta & Caroline Benjo (Haut et Court, FR), SERAPHINE by Martin Provost, produced by Milena Poylo and Gille Sacuto (TS Productions, FR) and VERSAILLES by Pierre Schoeller, produced by Philippe Martin (Les Films Pelléas, FR) are nominated for the 2008 Louis Delluc Prize.
And finally The Class by Laurent Cantet has hit a record 1.5+ admissions in France.
Also 10 ACE producers’ films are among the 67 vying for the 2008 nominations for 2007 Best Foreign Language Oscar. ALGERIA: MASQUERADES by Lyes Salem, produced by Isabelle Madelaine (Dharamsala, FR) BELGIUM: ELDORADO by Bouli Lanners, produced by Jacques-Henri Bronckart (Versus Production, BE) and Jerôme Vidal (Noodles Production, FR) ESTONIA: I WAS HERE by René Vilbre, produced by Riina Sildos (Amrion Oü, EST) and Aleksi Bardy (Helsinki Filmi, FI) FRANCE: THE CLASS by Laurent Cantet, produced by Carole Scotta & Caroline Benjo (Haut & Court, FR) ISRAEL: WALTZ WITH BASHIR by Ari Folman, produced by Roman Paul (Razor Film Produktion, DE) KAZAKHSTAN: TULPAN by Sergey Dvortsevoy, co-produced by Thanassis Karathanos (Twenty Twenty Vision / Pallas Film, DE) LATVIA: DEFENDERS OF RIGA by Aigars Grauba, produced by Andrejs Ekis (Plat Forma Filma, LET) - Developed at the ACE Workshop! MACEDONIA: I’M FROM TITOV VELES by Teona Strugar Mitevska, co-produced by Diana Elbaum (Entre Chien et Loup, BE) THE NETHERLANDS: DUNYA & DESIE by Dana Nechushtan, co-produced by Joost de Vries (Lemming Film, NL) and Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem (A Private View, BE) SWEDEN: EVERLASTING MOMENTS by Jan Troell, co-produced by Christer Nilson (GötaFilm, SE), Sigve Endresen, (Motlys AS, NO) and Tero Kaukomaa (Blind Spot Pictures, FI)
3 ACE producers’ films have been nominated for France’s prestigious Louis Delluc Award. THE CLASS by Laurent Cantet, Palme d’Or 2008, produced by Carole Scotta & Caroline Benjo (Haut et Court, FR), SERAPHINE by Martin Provost, produced by Milena Poylo and Gille Sacuto (TS Productions, FR) and VERSAILLES by Pierre Schoeller, produced by Philippe Martin (Les Films Pelléas, FR) are nominated for the 2008 Louis Delluc Prize.
And finally The Class by Laurent Cantet has hit a record 1.5+ admissions in France.
- 11/30/2008
- Sydney's Buzz
- I can't believe I missed this bit of news (11.17), but Zeitgeist Films has laid claimed to a film that I'll probably still be talking about once the final shortlist of noms have been chosen and once Oscar night comes to a close. Repped by international art–house specialists The Match Factory, Tulpan -- a film fest favorite has been collecting enough trophy ware to fill up director Sergei Dvortsevoy's entire shelving space, which with the number of wins, I wouldn’t be surprised includes a couple of kitchen cabinets as well. The docu-realist comedy will be receiving a theatrical release this coming April. Kazakhstan’s foreign film follows the young Asa, who after completing his military service travels back to the Kazakh steppe where his sister and her shepherd husband live a nomadic life. To start his new life, eager Asa must get married first before he can become a shepherd himself.
- 11/19/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
New York -- Zeitgeist Films has nabbed domestic rights to a pair of prestige pics: "Tulpan," this past May's Festival de Cannes Un Certain Regard winner, and the Toronto film fest academia documentary "Examined Life."
Sergei Dvortsevoy's comedy "Tulpan" follows its protagonist's efforts to convince the title character he's an ideal catch and to show his family he's a good shepherd. The recent New York Film Festival selection is this year's official foreign-language Oscar entry from Kazakhstan.
Astra Taylor's doc "Life" follows such noted academics as Cornel West and Peter Singer outside their classrooms to visit and discuss places of significance to them.
"Life" will open at the IFC Center in January, and "Tulpan" will bow at the Film Forum in April. The New York openings will be followed by limited theatrical rollouts.
The "Tulpan" deal was negotiated with Match Factory's Michael Weber, and the "Life" deal was negotiated with Sphinx Prods.
Sergei Dvortsevoy's comedy "Tulpan" follows its protagonist's efforts to convince the title character he's an ideal catch and to show his family he's a good shepherd. The recent New York Film Festival selection is this year's official foreign-language Oscar entry from Kazakhstan.
Astra Taylor's doc "Life" follows such noted academics as Cornel West and Peter Singer outside their classrooms to visit and discuss places of significance to them.
"Life" will open at the IFC Center in January, and "Tulpan" will bow at the Film Forum in April. The New York openings will be followed by limited theatrical rollouts.
The "Tulpan" deal was negotiated with Match Factory's Michael Weber, and the "Life" deal was negotiated with Sphinx Prods.
- 11/17/2008
- by By Gregg Goldstein
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Cologne, Germany -- Alexsei Uchitel's drama of a young Chechen captured by Russian soldiers, "Captive," won the prize for best film at this year's Cottbus Festival of East European Cinema.
The jury praised the film for depicting "the cruel nature of war and the importance of every human life."
Kazakh filmmaker Sergei Dvortsevoy was named best director at Cottbus for his offbeat, near-documentary comedy "Tulpan," shot among the shepherds of the eastern Steppes. "Tulpan" debuted in Cannes, where it won Un Certain Regard Award.
In addition to its main awards, the Cottbus jury presented a special prize to Polish director Michal Rosa for his script to "Scratch," a very personal look at life under a totalitarian regime.
Cottbus, the leading international festival for Eastern European cinema, wrapped up Sunday.
The jury praised the film for depicting "the cruel nature of war and the importance of every human life."
Kazakh filmmaker Sergei Dvortsevoy was named best director at Cottbus for his offbeat, near-documentary comedy "Tulpan," shot among the shepherds of the eastern Steppes. "Tulpan" debuted in Cannes, where it won Un Certain Regard Award.
In addition to its main awards, the Cottbus jury presented a special prize to Polish director Michal Rosa for his script to "Scratch," a very personal look at life under a totalitarian regime.
Cottbus, the leading international festival for Eastern European cinema, wrapped up Sunday.
- 11/17/2008
- by By Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Kazakh writer-director Sergey Dvortsevoy's first movie, "Tulpan," won best feature film at the second annual Asia-Pacific Screen Awards on Tuesday on Australia's Gold Coast. Full story...
- 11/11/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A record 67 countries have submitted films for consideration for best foreign-language film for the 81st Academy Awards, Academy president Sid Ganis said Friday. Nominations will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 22, and the awards will be presented on Sunday, Feb. 22.
The complete list of foreign-language submissions follows. For more details on some of the films, visit THR.com/foreignoscars.
Afghanistan, "Opium War," Siddiq Barmak
Albania, "The Sorrow of Mrs. Schneider," Piro Milkani and Eno Milkani
Algeria, "Masquerades," Lyes Salem
Argentina, "Lion's Den," Pablo Trapero
Austria, "Revanche," Gotz Spielmann
Azerbaijan, "Fortress," Shamil Nacafzada
Bangladesh, "Aha!," Enamul Karim Nirjhar
Belgium, "Eldorado," Bouli Lanners
Bosnia and Herzegovina, "Snow," Aida Begic
Brazil, "Last Stop 174," Bruno Barreto
Bulgaria, "Zift," Javor Gardev
Canada, "The Necessities of Life," Benoit Pilon
Chile, "Tony Manero," Pablo Larrain
China, "Dream Weavers," Jun Gu
Colombia, "Dog Eat Dog," Carlos Moreno
Croatia, "No One's Son," Arsen Anton Ostojic
Czech Republic, "The Karamazovs," Petr Zelenka
Denmark,...
The complete list of foreign-language submissions follows. For more details on some of the films, visit THR.com/foreignoscars.
Afghanistan, "Opium War," Siddiq Barmak
Albania, "The Sorrow of Mrs. Schneider," Piro Milkani and Eno Milkani
Algeria, "Masquerades," Lyes Salem
Argentina, "Lion's Den," Pablo Trapero
Austria, "Revanche," Gotz Spielmann
Azerbaijan, "Fortress," Shamil Nacafzada
Bangladesh, "Aha!," Enamul Karim Nirjhar
Belgium, "Eldorado," Bouli Lanners
Bosnia and Herzegovina, "Snow," Aida Begic
Brazil, "Last Stop 174," Bruno Barreto
Bulgaria, "Zift," Javor Gardev
Canada, "The Necessities of Life," Benoit Pilon
Chile, "Tony Manero," Pablo Larrain
China, "Dream Weavers," Jun Gu
Colombia, "Dog Eat Dog," Carlos Moreno
Croatia, "No One's Son," Arsen Anton Ostojic
Czech Republic, "The Karamazovs," Petr Zelenka
Denmark,...
- 10/17/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Munich -- The Zurich Film Festival closed Sunday with awards for its feature and documentary competition winners as well as an audience prize, a new talent award and a tribute to Greek director Costa-Gavras.
The jury, headed by Peter Fonda, chose Sergey Dvortsevoy's "Tulpan," a Swiss-Russian co-production billed as a tragicomedy about a Kazakh seaman who wants to become a sheepherder, for top feature film honors, while Arash T. Riahi's "For a Moment, Freedom," about Iranian refugees in Austria, received a Golden Eye award as best debut.
"Blind Loves," about vision-impaired couples, by Juraj Lehotsky of Slovakia, was voted best documentary by the three-person docu jury. The audience award went to "The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner," Stephan Komandarev's Bulgarian-German-Hungarian-Slovenian co-production about a German-born child of Bulgarian refugees who loses his family and his memory in a car accident.
The new talent award went to...
The jury, headed by Peter Fonda, chose Sergey Dvortsevoy's "Tulpan," a Swiss-Russian co-production billed as a tragicomedy about a Kazakh seaman who wants to become a sheepherder, for top feature film honors, while Arash T. Riahi's "For a Moment, Freedom," about Iranian refugees in Austria, received a Golden Eye award as best debut.
"Blind Loves," about vision-impaired couples, by Juraj Lehotsky of Slovakia, was voted best documentary by the three-person docu jury. The audience award went to "The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner," Stephan Komandarev's Bulgarian-German-Hungarian-Slovenian co-production about a German-born child of Bulgarian refugees who loses his family and his memory in a car accident.
The new talent award went to...
- 10/7/2008
- by By Bonnie J. Gordon
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Telluride is celebrating a great talent coming out of Kazakhstan this year, Sergei Dvortsevoy. Although he's here with only his first feature film (which, incidentally, took four years to make), there's a slate of documentaries he's brought that the festival directors tout as "must sees." In the Q&A for his first feature film, Tulpan, Dvortsevoy described shooting the first scene of the movie, a 10 minute long take of a ewe giving birth. He showed it to his small cast of Kazakh actors and non-actors and said, "That's what we have to live up to." And it's true. If there were a Best Non-human Actor Oscar, this sheep would have it (although the Academy would probably ...
- 8/31/2008
- by Paul Moore
- Spout
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