On Friday, the Moscow International Film Festival (Miff), running April 19-26, unveiled its 15-movie official selection at a press conference in the Russian capital.
The list of competitors for the fest's main award, the Golden St. George, includes Bloody Richard by Italian director Roberta Torre; Soldier's Mementos by South Korea's Kim Jae-han; the French-Belgian film Gaspard at the Wedding, directed by Antony Cordier; The 12th Man by Norway's Harald Zwart; the Latvian-Lithuanian-Polish film Foam at the Mouth, directed by Janis Nords; Night God by Kazakhstan's Adilkhan Yerzhanov; Fortitude by Uzbek director Rashid Malikov; Sergio Trefaut's Rage, co-produced by Portugal,...
The list of competitors for the fest's main award, the Golden St. George, includes Bloody Richard by Italian director Roberta Torre; Soldier's Mementos by South Korea's Kim Jae-han; the French-Belgian film Gaspard at the Wedding, directed by Antony Cordier; The 12th Man by Norway's Harald Zwart; the Latvian-Lithuanian-Polish film Foam at the Mouth, directed by Janis Nords; Night God by Kazakhstan's Adilkhan Yerzhanov; Fortitude by Uzbek director Rashid Malikov; Sergio Trefaut's Rage, co-produced by Portugal,...
- 3/30/2018
- by Vladimir Kozlov
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
On Friday, the Moscow International Film Festival (Miff), running April 19-26, unveiled its 15-movie official selection at a press conference in the <a href="https://edit.hollywoodreporter.com/news/east-west-golden-arch-award-established-russia-eurasian-movies-1097992" target="_blank">Russian</a> capital.
The list of competitors for the fest's main award, the Golden St. George, includes <em>Bloody Richard</em> by Italian director Roberta Torre; <em>Soldier's Mementos</em> by South Korea's Kim Jae-han; the French-Belgian film <em>Gaspard at the Wedding</em>, directed by Antony Cordier; <em>The 12th Man</em> by Norway's Harald Zwart; the Latvian-Lithuanian-Polish film <em>Foam at the Mouth</em>, directed by Janis Nords; <em>Night God</em> by Kazakhstan's Adilkhan Yerzhanov; <em>Fortitude</em> by Uzbek director Rashid Malikov; Sergio Trefaut's <em>Rage</em>, co-produced by Portugal, France and Brazil; <em>Stray</em> by ...
The list of competitors for the fest's main award, the Golden St. George, includes <em>Bloody Richard</em> by Italian director Roberta Torre; <em>Soldier's Mementos</em> by South Korea's Kim Jae-han; the French-Belgian film <em>Gaspard at the Wedding</em>, directed by Antony Cordier; <em>The 12th Man</em> by Norway's Harald Zwart; the Latvian-Lithuanian-Polish film <em>Foam at the Mouth</em>, directed by Janis Nords; <em>Night God</em> by Kazakhstan's Adilkhan Yerzhanov; <em>Fortitude</em> by Uzbek director Rashid Malikov; Sergio Trefaut's <em>Rage</em>, co-produced by Portugal, France and Brazil; <em>Stray</em> by ...
- 3/30/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Exclusive: German sales outfit boards Hagar Ben-Asher film set in the days following WWII.
The Match Factory is reuniting with Israeli filmmaker Hagar Ben-Asher for her third feature film The War Has Ended.
The Cologne-based company will handle world sales on the film while managing director Michael Weber will co-produce the film through his Pola Pandora Filmproduktion outfit in Berlin alongside Poland’s Madants and Israel’s Transfax Film Productions.
Pitching the €3.5m project at this week’s Polish Days in Wroclaw, Madants’ Beata Rzezniczek said the planned Polish majority production - which received development funding from the Polish-German Fund at the beginning of 2017 - is set to begin shooting at locations in Poland from late 2018.
Set in the days following the Second World War, The War Has Ended sees a marionette puppeteer rescuing a 13-year-old girl from verge of death and subsequently teaching her the art of puppeteering. Their lives become intertwined through circumstances and the...
The Match Factory is reuniting with Israeli filmmaker Hagar Ben-Asher for her third feature film The War Has Ended.
The Cologne-based company will handle world sales on the film while managing director Michael Weber will co-produce the film through his Pola Pandora Filmproduktion outfit in Berlin alongside Poland’s Madants and Israel’s Transfax Film Productions.
Pitching the €3.5m project at this week’s Polish Days in Wroclaw, Madants’ Beata Rzezniczek said the planned Polish majority production - which received development funding from the Polish-German Fund at the beginning of 2017 - is set to begin shooting at locations in Poland from late 2018.
Set in the days following the Second World War, The War Has Ended sees a marionette puppeteer rescuing a 13-year-old girl from verge of death and subsequently teaching her the art of puppeteering. Their lives become intertwined through circumstances and the...
- 8/10/2017
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: German sales outfit boards Hagar Ben-Asher film set in the days following WWII.
The Match Factory is reuniting with Israeli filmmaker Hagar Ben-Asher for her third feature film The War Has Ended.
The Cologne-based sales company will also serve as a co-producer on the film through its Pola Pandora Filmproduktion outfit in Berlin alongside Poland’s Madants and Israel’s Transfax Film Productions.
Pitching the €3.5m project at this week’s Polish Days in Wroclaw, Madants’ Beata Rzezniczek said the planned Polish majority production - which received development funding from the Polish-German Fund at the beginning of 2017 - is set to begin shooting at locations in Poland from late 2018.
Set in the days following the Second World War, The War Has Ended sees a marionette puppeteer rescuing a 13-year-old girl from verge of death and subsequently teaching her the art of puppeteering. Their lives become intertwined through circumstances and the belief that the war may never...
The Match Factory is reuniting with Israeli filmmaker Hagar Ben-Asher for her third feature film The War Has Ended.
The Cologne-based sales company will also serve as a co-producer on the film through its Pola Pandora Filmproduktion outfit in Berlin alongside Poland’s Madants and Israel’s Transfax Film Productions.
Pitching the €3.5m project at this week’s Polish Days in Wroclaw, Madants’ Beata Rzezniczek said the planned Polish majority production - which received development funding from the Polish-German Fund at the beginning of 2017 - is set to begin shooting at locations in Poland from late 2018.
Set in the days following the Second World War, The War Has Ended sees a marionette puppeteer rescuing a 13-year-old girl from verge of death and subsequently teaching her the art of puppeteering. Their lives become intertwined through circumstances and the belief that the war may never...
- 8/10/2017
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
The Works in Progress 2016 Awards at the 20th Tallinn Black Nights Film FestivalIndustry@Tallinn and Baltic Event is one of the fastest growing entertainment sector development summits in the winter season. They are held during the annual Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, the only Fiapf accredited Competition Feature Film Festival in Northern Europe.
The Works in Progress sessions were first organized 15 years ago as a regional showcase part of the Baltic Event. Last year, upcoming international films were added to the program and today, its 2 sections, Baltic Event Works in Progress and International Works in Progress, offer buyers, producers and programmers a diverse and dynamic range of local and international projects to discover.
Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event organized this year as well their Works in Progress pitching sessions. As a matter of fact, 26 films in production or postproduction looking for sales agents or festivals for international premieres were presented on...
The Works in Progress sessions were first organized 15 years ago as a regional showcase part of the Baltic Event. Last year, upcoming international films were added to the program and today, its 2 sections, Baltic Event Works in Progress and International Works in Progress, offer buyers, producers and programmers a diverse and dynamic range of local and international projects to discover.
Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event organized this year as well their Works in Progress pitching sessions. As a matter of fact, 26 films in production or postproduction looking for sales agents or festivals for international premieres were presented on...
- 11/26/2016
- by Tara Karajica
- Sydney's Buzz
Foam At The Mouth, The Line [pictured] among winners at market event which awards post-production services to up-and-coming projects.
The Industry@Tallin & Baltic Event has announced the winners of its Works in Progress selections.
The event (which ran November 20-21) featured 26 Baltic and international films in production or post-production seeking sales agents, co-producers, finance, distribution or festivals.
The Baltic Event Works In Progress award was presented to Foam At The Mouth, directed by Janis Nords and produced by Alise Gelze and Aija Berzina. A Latvia-Lithuania-Poland co-production, the psychological drama focuses on a former policeman who, after losing a leg, begins to train his three beloved police dogs while his marriage collapses.
“Our curiosity was piqued by the scenes we were shown from this film, both in terms of potential narrative progression and stylistic execution,” said the jury, which was made up of Thomas Weymar, managing director of Telepool, Mads Peter Ole Olsen, CEO of Red...
The Industry@Tallin & Baltic Event has announced the winners of its Works in Progress selections.
The event (which ran November 20-21) featured 26 Baltic and international films in production or post-production seeking sales agents, co-producers, finance, distribution or festivals.
The Baltic Event Works In Progress award was presented to Foam At The Mouth, directed by Janis Nords and produced by Alise Gelze and Aija Berzina. A Latvia-Lithuania-Poland co-production, the psychological drama focuses on a former policeman who, after losing a leg, begins to train his three beloved police dogs while his marriage collapses.
“Our curiosity was piqued by the scenes we were shown from this film, both in terms of potential narrative progression and stylistic execution,” said the jury, which was made up of Thomas Weymar, managing director of Telepool, Mads Peter Ole Olsen, CEO of Red...
- 11/23/2016
- ScreenDaily
goEast winners in Wiesbaden; Polish Film Institute backs Ida producers; Berlin-based A Company launches Ukrainian distributor.
Russian director Aleksandr Kott’s Insight was named Best Film at this year’s goEast Festival of Central and European Cinema (20-26 April) in Wiesbaden, Germany.
The intimate drama charting a love affair between a blind man and his nurse premiered at last year’s Kinotavr festival in Sochi and was also shown at the Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn.
During the festival, Kott, whose previous films include the 2010 war drama The Brest Fortress and 2014’s Test, confirmed to Screen that his next feature project, Soyuz Spaseniya (Union Of Salvation), will begin shooting from next year for a release date at the end of 2018.
The $10.7m (RUB700m) production from Direktsiya Kino with Russia’s Channel One Television is a historical drama set at the beginning of the 19th century about the founding of secret political society the Decembrists.
This...
Russian director Aleksandr Kott’s Insight was named Best Film at this year’s goEast Festival of Central and European Cinema (20-26 April) in Wiesbaden, Germany.
The intimate drama charting a love affair between a blind man and his nurse premiered at last year’s Kinotavr festival in Sochi and was also shown at the Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn.
During the festival, Kott, whose previous films include the 2010 war drama The Brest Fortress and 2014’s Test, confirmed to Screen that his next feature project, Soyuz Spaseniya (Union Of Salvation), will begin shooting from next year for a release date at the end of 2018.
The $10.7m (RUB700m) production from Direktsiya Kino with Russia’s Channel One Television is a historical drama set at the beginning of the 19th century about the founding of secret political society the Decembrists.
This...
- 4/27/2016
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
The UK’s Lucas Ochoa and Poland’s Klaudia Smieja are among upcoming European producers set for neworking initiative in Cannes.Scroll down for the full list
European Film Promotion (Efp) has selected 20 emerging European producers for the 17th edition of its Producers on the Move networking initiative, which will be held during the Cannes Film Festival between May 14-17.
The participating producers will take part in a programme of round-table project presentations, one-on-one speed dating pitches and case studies of successful projects.
The 2016 selection includes the UK’s Lucas Ochoa, producer on Andrea Arnold’s Cannes competition entry American Honey. Ochoa has had winning films at the Sundance Film Festival for four years in a row including Robert Egger’s multi-award winning The Witch and this year’s Michal Marczak documentary All These Sleepless Night.
Poland’s Klaudia Smieja, an executive producer on Icelandic hit Rams, has also been selected. Her additional...
European Film Promotion (Efp) has selected 20 emerging European producers for the 17th edition of its Producers on the Move networking initiative, which will be held during the Cannes Film Festival between May 14-17.
The participating producers will take part in a programme of round-table project presentations, one-on-one speed dating pitches and case studies of successful projects.
The 2016 selection includes the UK’s Lucas Ochoa, producer on Andrea Arnold’s Cannes competition entry American Honey. Ochoa has had winning films at the Sundance Film Festival for four years in a row including Robert Egger’s multi-award winning The Witch and this year’s Michal Marczak documentary All These Sleepless Night.
Poland’s Klaudia Smieja, an executive producer on Icelandic hit Rams, has also been selected. Her additional...
- 4/21/2016
- ScreenDaily
Sonja Prosenc’s History Of Love scooped three prizes at the co-production forum.
Slovenia was the big winner at this year’s edition of the When East Meets West (Wemw) co-production forum with Sonja Prosenc’s second feature History Of Love picking up three awards.
The film’s producer Rok Secen, one of the co-founders of Ljubljana-based Monoo, was presented with the Eave Scholarship Award to participate in the European producers’ training programme.
In addition, Film London’s Helena Mackenzie and Rome New Cinema Network’s Alexia di Vito chose Prosenc’s contemporary psychological drama to receive their prize of a guaranteed place at the London Production Finance Market and Rome’s New Cinema Network next October.
Moreover, History of Love, which is currently structured as a Slovenian-Icelandic-Croatian co-production, was one of six projects to receive support from Re-act Co-Development Funding Scheme launched by the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Audiovisual Fund with the Slovenian Film Centre and th Croatian...
Slovenia was the big winner at this year’s edition of the When East Meets West (Wemw) co-production forum with Sonja Prosenc’s second feature History Of Love picking up three awards.
The film’s producer Rok Secen, one of the co-founders of Ljubljana-based Monoo, was presented with the Eave Scholarship Award to participate in the European producers’ training programme.
In addition, Film London’s Helena Mackenzie and Rome New Cinema Network’s Alexia di Vito chose Prosenc’s contemporary psychological drama to receive their prize of a guaranteed place at the London Production Finance Market and Rome’s New Cinema Network next October.
Moreover, History of Love, which is currently structured as a Slovenian-Icelandic-Croatian co-production, was one of six projects to receive support from Re-act Co-Development Funding Scheme launched by the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Audiovisual Fund with the Slovenian Film Centre and th Croatian...
- 1/27/2016
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
New Europe Film Sales nabs Norwegian youth film.
Warsaw sales outfir New Europe Film Sales has picked up Norwegian youth film One Night in Oslo (Natt till 17) by Eirik Svensson from the film’s producers Maipo Film As.
One Night in Oslo tells the story of 15 year-olds Sam and Amir, who have their friendship tested on the night before the Norwegian Day of Liberation.
The film premiered at this year’s Giffoni Film Festival and recoded a box office of more than $900,000 in Norway.
The acquisition is part of the company’s strategy to build a strong catalogue of films for children and youth audiences after successful runs with Berlinale Generation winners Mother I Love You by Janis Nords and Violet by Bas Devos.
The company has also picked up Oscar-nomianted Irish animation short Coda by Alan Holly.
Warsaw sales outfir New Europe Film Sales has picked up Norwegian youth film One Night in Oslo (Natt till 17) by Eirik Svensson from the film’s producers Maipo Film As.
One Night in Oslo tells the story of 15 year-olds Sam and Amir, who have their friendship tested on the night before the Norwegian Day of Liberation.
The film premiered at this year’s Giffoni Film Festival and recoded a box office of more than $900,000 in Norway.
The acquisition is part of the company’s strategy to build a strong catalogue of films for children and youth audiences after successful runs with Berlinale Generation winners Mother I Love You by Janis Nords and Violet by Bas Devos.
The company has also picked up Oscar-nomianted Irish animation short Coda by Alan Holly.
- 12/19/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
New Riga Meetings platform welcomes projects including two projects by Finnish film-maker Aku Louhimies.
Janis Nords’ second feature Mother I Love You and Juris Kursietis’ debut Modris were the big winners at the ¨Great Christopher¨ (¨Lielais Kristaps¨) National Film Competition held during the first edition of the Riga International Film Festival (December 2-12).
Nords, who graduated in film directing from the UK’s Nfts, received the top honour of best film as well as the trophy for best feature film director and best actress (for Vita Varpina’s performance as the single mother trying to make ends meet).
On presenting the direction prize to Nords, the competition jury’s chairman, veteran film director Janis Streics, said that he saw “a bright future ahead for Latvian cinema” on the strength of the line-up for this edition of the national film awards.
Mother I Love You, which is handled internationally by New Europe Film Sales, premiered at the...
Janis Nords’ second feature Mother I Love You and Juris Kursietis’ debut Modris were the big winners at the ¨Great Christopher¨ (¨Lielais Kristaps¨) National Film Competition held during the first edition of the Riga International Film Festival (December 2-12).
Nords, who graduated in film directing from the UK’s Nfts, received the top honour of best film as well as the trophy for best feature film director and best actress (for Vita Varpina’s performance as the single mother trying to make ends meet).
On presenting the direction prize to Nords, the competition jury’s chairman, veteran film director Janis Streics, said that he saw “a bright future ahead for Latvian cinema” on the strength of the line-up for this edition of the national film awards.
Mother I Love You, which is handled internationally by New Europe Film Sales, premiered at the...
- 12/12/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Producers from Finland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Poland and Russia picked up awards at this year’s 13th Baltic Event co-production market (Nov 24-28) in Tallinn.
Finnish comedy Impaled Rektum by feature debutants Jukka Vidgren and Juuso Laatio was awarded the Screen International Best Pitch Award.
The €1.4m production about a young loser trying to overcome his stage fright and other fears by leading the worst heavy band of Finland, Impaled Rektum, to the hottest metal festival in Norway, will be produced by Kai Nordberg and Kaarle Aho of Helsinki-based Making Movies Oy.
This is the second time that Nordberg and Aho have received Screen’s Best Pitch Award after having previously been selected with Petri Kotwica’s Rat King which then went on to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Other past winners of the award include Alexei German’s Under Electric Clouds, which is understood to be premiering at a major international film festival soon, and...
Finnish comedy Impaled Rektum by feature debutants Jukka Vidgren and Juuso Laatio was awarded the Screen International Best Pitch Award.
The €1.4m production about a young loser trying to overcome his stage fright and other fears by leading the worst heavy band of Finland, Impaled Rektum, to the hottest metal festival in Norway, will be produced by Kai Nordberg and Kaarle Aho of Helsinki-based Making Movies Oy.
This is the second time that Nordberg and Aho have received Screen’s Best Pitch Award after having previously been selected with Petri Kotwica’s Rat King which then went on to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Other past winners of the award include Alexei German’s Under Electric Clouds, which is understood to be premiering at a major international film festival soon, and...
- 11/28/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
As this year's Academy Awards nominations approach, and after the shocking selection of films conforming the Academy's shortlist for the Best Foreign Language Film Award, audiences will get the opportunity to see some of the films that were dismissed but which are absolutely deserving of attention. Rather than including all of the 76 Submissions the Palm Spring Film Festival decided to shorten their program to 45 of what they considered the best representation of the extensive amount of films.
Included in the program are all of the 9 shortlisted films, all the other major omissions, and many more obscure titles that showcase some of the most interesting voices in World Cinema today. Most of these films have been awarded prizes and received praise at major festivals from Sundance to Cannes and Toronto, and will give the viewer a broader view of the category beyond the assumed frontrunners.
Below is a list with more information on each of the films that will be screening at Palm Springs with reviews and interviews with the filmmakers for the majority of them. Read more about the complete list of 76 Foreign Language Oscar Submissions visit Here
For more information on the Palm Springs International Film Festival visit Here
Argentina
The German Doctor (Wakolda)
Dir: Lucia Puenzo
Language: Spanish, German, Hebrew
U.S Release: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Isa: Pyramide
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Case Study by Sydney Levine
Australia
The Rocket
Dir: Kim Mordaunt
Language: Lao
U.S Release: Kino Lorber
Isa: Level K
Festivals: Berlin 2013: Best First Feature Film ,Tribeca 2013: World Narrative Competition
Trailer
Austria
The Wall
Dir: Julian Polsler
Language: German
U.S Release: Music Box Films - May 31, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Sitges Ff 2012 Official Fantastic, Mumbai Ff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Belgium
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Dir: Felix van Groeningen
Language: Flemish
U.S Release: Tribeca Film - November 1, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Panorama
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Bosnia And Herzegovina
An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker
Dir: Danis Tanović
Language: Bosnian, Romani
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Berlinale Competition,Efm Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Cambodia
The Missing Picture
Dir: Rithy Panh
Language: French
U.S Release: Acquired by Strand Releasing for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 - Un Certain Regard Prix, San Sebastian 2013 Pearls
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Canada
Gabrielle
Dir: Louise Archambault
Language: French
U.S Release: eOne
Isa: eOne
Festivals: Toronto- Tiff 2013, Locarno International Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Chile
Gloria
Dir: Sebastian Lelio
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Roadside Attractions
Isa: Funny Balloons
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Sydney Levine
China
Back to 1942
Dir: Feng Xiaogang
Language: Mandarin, English
U.S Release: Well Go USA - May 14, 2013
Isa: Huayi Brothers
Festivals: Rome Film Festival 2012, Dubai International Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Croatia
Halima's Path
Dir: Arsen Anton Ostojić
Language: Bosnian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Tallinn Black Nights Iff 2012 - EurAsia (Special Jury Prize)
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Denmark
The Hunt
Dir: Thomas Vinterberg
Language: Danish
U.S Release: Magnolia Pictures - July 12, 2013
Isa: TrustNordisk
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012, AFI Fest 2012
Trailer
Egypt
Winter of Discontent
Dir: Ibrahim el-Batout
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice International Film Festival, Cairo International Film Festival, Dubai Film Festival
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Finland
Disciple
Dir: Ulrika Bengts
Language: Finnish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Helsinki Ff 2012, Montréal World Ff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
France
Renoir
Dir: Gilles Bourdos
Language: French
U.S Release: Samuel Goldwyn Films - March 29, 2013
Isa: Wild Bunch
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Georgia
In Bloom
Dir: Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß
Language: Georgian
U.S Release: Big World Pictures
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Cicae award Berlinale Forum 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Germany
Two Lives
Dir: Georg Maas
Language: German
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Beta Cinema
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Hong Kong
The Grandmaster
Dir: Wong Kar-wai
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
U.S Release: The Weinstein Company - August 23, 2013
Isa: Fortissimo
Festivals: Berlinale -Efm 2013
Trailer
Hungary
The Notebook
Dir: Janosz Szasz
Language: Hungarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Iceland
Of Horses and Men
Dir: Benedikt Erlingsson
Language: Icelandic
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Icelandic Film Centre
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Sundance 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
India
The Good Road
Dir: Gyan Correa
Language: Gujarati
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: National Film Board of India
Festivals: London Indian Film Festival in 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Iran
The Past
Dir: Asghar Farhadi
Language: French, Persian
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics - December 20, 2013
Isa: Memento
Festivals:Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Actress, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Israel
Bethlehem
Dir: Yuval Adler
Language: Hebrew
U.S Release: Adopt
Isa: Westend
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery, Telluride Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival
Trailer
Italy
The Great Beauty
Dir: Paolo Sorrentino
Language: Italian
U.S Release: AJanus Films
Isa: Pathe
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Berlin Efm 2013,
Trailer
Interview by Sydney Levine
Japan
The Great Passage
Dir: Yuya Ishii
Language: Japanese
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Shochiku
Festivals: Fantasia Ff 2013 Official Selection
Trailer
Kazakhstan
Shal (The Old Man)
Dir: Yermek Tursunov
Language: Russian, Kazakh
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Latvia
Mother, I Love You
Dir: Janis Nords
Language: Latvian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Festivals: Los Angeles Film Festival 2013, Berlinale Generation KPlus (Grand Prix of the International Jury for the best feature film)
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Mexico
Heli
Dir: Amat Escalante
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Ndm
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition-Winner Best Director, San Sebastian 2013 Horizontes Latinos,
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Morocco
Horses of God
Dir: Nabil Ayouch
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Bif London Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
The Netherlands
Borgman
Dir: Alex van Warmerdam
Language: Dutch
U.S Release: Drafthouse Films
Isa: Fortissimo
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Busan 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
New Zealand
White Lies
Dir: Dana Rotberg
Language: Maori
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Film Sales Company
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Norway
I Am Yours
Dir: Iram Haq
Language: Norwegian, Urdu
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Palestine
Omar
Dir: Hany Abu-Assad
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Adopt FilmsIsa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Philippines
Transit
Dir: Hannah Espia
Language: Filipino, Tagalog, Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cinemalaya Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Poland
Walesa
Dir: Andrzej Wajda
Language: Polish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Films Boutique
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013, Venice- Biennale 2013
Trailer
Romania
Child's Pose
Dir: Calin Peter Netzer
Language: Romanian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Beta Cinema
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Competition (Golden Bear for the Best Film), Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Articles by Sydney Levine, Berlin Diary #2
Russia
Stalingrad
Dir: Fedor Bondarchuk
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Saudi Arabia
Wadjda
Dir: Haifaa al-Mansour
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics - September 13, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Venice International Film Festival 2012, Los Angeles Film Festival, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Serbia
Circles
Dir: Srdan Golubovic
Language: Serbian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlinale - Efm 2013 Forum
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Sydney Levine
Singapore
Ilo Ilo
Dir: Anthony Chen
Language: Mandarin, Hokkien, English, Tagalog
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Directors Fortnight, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Slovenia
Class Enemy
Dir: Rok Biček
Language: Slovene
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
South Korea
Juvenile Offender
Dir: Kang Yi-kwan
Language: Korean
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Finecut
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Contemporary World Cinema,
Trailer
Spain
15 Years and One Day
Dir: Gracia Querejeta
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Latido
Festivals: San Sebastian 2013 Made in Spain, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Switzerland
More Than Honey
Dir: Markus Imhoof
Language: German, Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Films Boutique
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Tiff Docs, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Turkey
The Butterfly's Dream
Dir: Yılmaz Erdoğan
Language: Turkish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Istanbul Film Festival, Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
United Kingdom
Metro Manila
Dir: Sean Elllis
Language: Filipino, Tagalog
U.S Release: Paladin/108 Media
Isa:
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlin Efm 2012, Cannes 2012, Afm 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Uruguay
Anina
Dir: Alfredo Soderguit
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin International Film Festival, Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar...
Included in the program are all of the 9 shortlisted films, all the other major omissions, and many more obscure titles that showcase some of the most interesting voices in World Cinema today. Most of these films have been awarded prizes and received praise at major festivals from Sundance to Cannes and Toronto, and will give the viewer a broader view of the category beyond the assumed frontrunners.
Below is a list with more information on each of the films that will be screening at Palm Springs with reviews and interviews with the filmmakers for the majority of them. Read more about the complete list of 76 Foreign Language Oscar Submissions visit Here
For more information on the Palm Springs International Film Festival visit Here
Argentina
The German Doctor (Wakolda)
Dir: Lucia Puenzo
Language: Spanish, German, Hebrew
U.S Release: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Isa: Pyramide
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Case Study by Sydney Levine
Australia
The Rocket
Dir: Kim Mordaunt
Language: Lao
U.S Release: Kino Lorber
Isa: Level K
Festivals: Berlin 2013: Best First Feature Film ,Tribeca 2013: World Narrative Competition
Trailer
Austria
The Wall
Dir: Julian Polsler
Language: German
U.S Release: Music Box Films - May 31, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Sitges Ff 2012 Official Fantastic, Mumbai Ff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Belgium
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Dir: Felix van Groeningen
Language: Flemish
U.S Release: Tribeca Film - November 1, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Panorama
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Bosnia And Herzegovina
An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker
Dir: Danis Tanović
Language: Bosnian, Romani
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Berlinale Competition,Efm Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Cambodia
The Missing Picture
Dir: Rithy Panh
Language: French
U.S Release: Acquired by Strand Releasing for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 - Un Certain Regard Prix, San Sebastian 2013 Pearls
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Canada
Gabrielle
Dir: Louise Archambault
Language: French
U.S Release: eOne
Isa: eOne
Festivals: Toronto- Tiff 2013, Locarno International Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Chile
Gloria
Dir: Sebastian Lelio
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Roadside Attractions
Isa: Funny Balloons
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Sydney Levine
China
Back to 1942
Dir: Feng Xiaogang
Language: Mandarin, English
U.S Release: Well Go USA - May 14, 2013
Isa: Huayi Brothers
Festivals: Rome Film Festival 2012, Dubai International Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Croatia
Halima's Path
Dir: Arsen Anton Ostojić
Language: Bosnian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Tallinn Black Nights Iff 2012 - EurAsia (Special Jury Prize)
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Denmark
The Hunt
Dir: Thomas Vinterberg
Language: Danish
U.S Release: Magnolia Pictures - July 12, 2013
Isa: TrustNordisk
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012, AFI Fest 2012
Trailer
Egypt
Winter of Discontent
Dir: Ibrahim el-Batout
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice International Film Festival, Cairo International Film Festival, Dubai Film Festival
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Finland
Disciple
Dir: Ulrika Bengts
Language: Finnish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Helsinki Ff 2012, Montréal World Ff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
France
Renoir
Dir: Gilles Bourdos
Language: French
U.S Release: Samuel Goldwyn Films - March 29, 2013
Isa: Wild Bunch
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Georgia
In Bloom
Dir: Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß
Language: Georgian
U.S Release: Big World Pictures
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Cicae award Berlinale Forum 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Germany
Two Lives
Dir: Georg Maas
Language: German
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Beta Cinema
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Hong Kong
The Grandmaster
Dir: Wong Kar-wai
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
U.S Release: The Weinstein Company - August 23, 2013
Isa: Fortissimo
Festivals: Berlinale -Efm 2013
Trailer
Hungary
The Notebook
Dir: Janosz Szasz
Language: Hungarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Iceland
Of Horses and Men
Dir: Benedikt Erlingsson
Language: Icelandic
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Icelandic Film Centre
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Sundance 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
India
The Good Road
Dir: Gyan Correa
Language: Gujarati
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: National Film Board of India
Festivals: London Indian Film Festival in 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Iran
The Past
Dir: Asghar Farhadi
Language: French, Persian
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics - December 20, 2013
Isa: Memento
Festivals:Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Actress, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Israel
Bethlehem
Dir: Yuval Adler
Language: Hebrew
U.S Release: Adopt
Isa: Westend
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery, Telluride Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival
Trailer
Italy
The Great Beauty
Dir: Paolo Sorrentino
Language: Italian
U.S Release: AJanus Films
Isa: Pathe
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Berlin Efm 2013,
Trailer
Interview by Sydney Levine
Japan
The Great Passage
Dir: Yuya Ishii
Language: Japanese
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Shochiku
Festivals: Fantasia Ff 2013 Official Selection
Trailer
Kazakhstan
Shal (The Old Man)
Dir: Yermek Tursunov
Language: Russian, Kazakh
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Latvia
Mother, I Love You
Dir: Janis Nords
Language: Latvian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Festivals: Los Angeles Film Festival 2013, Berlinale Generation KPlus (Grand Prix of the International Jury for the best feature film)
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Mexico
Heli
Dir: Amat Escalante
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Ndm
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition-Winner Best Director, San Sebastian 2013 Horizontes Latinos,
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Morocco
Horses of God
Dir: Nabil Ayouch
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Bif London Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
The Netherlands
Borgman
Dir: Alex van Warmerdam
Language: Dutch
U.S Release: Drafthouse Films
Isa: Fortissimo
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Busan 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
New Zealand
White Lies
Dir: Dana Rotberg
Language: Maori
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Film Sales Company
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Norway
I Am Yours
Dir: Iram Haq
Language: Norwegian, Urdu
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Palestine
Omar
Dir: Hany Abu-Assad
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Adopt FilmsIsa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Philippines
Transit
Dir: Hannah Espia
Language: Filipino, Tagalog, Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cinemalaya Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Poland
Walesa
Dir: Andrzej Wajda
Language: Polish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Films Boutique
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013, Venice- Biennale 2013
Trailer
Romania
Child's Pose
Dir: Calin Peter Netzer
Language: Romanian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Beta Cinema
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Competition (Golden Bear for the Best Film), Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Articles by Sydney Levine, Berlin Diary #2
Russia
Stalingrad
Dir: Fedor Bondarchuk
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Saudi Arabia
Wadjda
Dir: Haifaa al-Mansour
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics - September 13, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Venice International Film Festival 2012, Los Angeles Film Festival, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Serbia
Circles
Dir: Srdan Golubovic
Language: Serbian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlinale - Efm 2013 Forum
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Sydney Levine
Singapore
Ilo Ilo
Dir: Anthony Chen
Language: Mandarin, Hokkien, English, Tagalog
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Directors Fortnight, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Slovenia
Class Enemy
Dir: Rok Biček
Language: Slovene
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
South Korea
Juvenile Offender
Dir: Kang Yi-kwan
Language: Korean
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Finecut
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Contemporary World Cinema,
Trailer
Spain
15 Years and One Day
Dir: Gracia Querejeta
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Latido
Festivals: San Sebastian 2013 Made in Spain, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Switzerland
More Than Honey
Dir: Markus Imhoof
Language: German, Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Films Boutique
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Tiff Docs, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Turkey
The Butterfly's Dream
Dir: Yılmaz Erdoğan
Language: Turkish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Istanbul Film Festival, Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
United Kingdom
Metro Manila
Dir: Sean Elllis
Language: Filipino, Tagalog
U.S Release: Paladin/108 Media
Isa:
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlin Efm 2012, Cannes 2012, Afm 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Uruguay
Anina
Dir: Alfredo Soderguit
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin International Film Festival, Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar...
- 1/9/2014
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Best Foreign Language Film Oscar 2014 submissions (photo: Ziyi Zhang in ‘The Grandmaster’) (See previous post: Best Foreign Language Film Oscar: ‘The Past,’ ‘Wadjda,’ Andrzej Wajda Among Omissions) In case you missed it, here’s the full list of submissions (in alphabetical order, per country) for the 2014 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award. The list of contenders was originally announced on October 7, 2013. Of note: Saudi Arabia and Moldova were first-timers; Montenegro was a first-timer as an independent country. Afghanistan, Wajma — An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram, director; Albania, Agon, Robert Budina, director; Argentina, The German Doctor, Lucía Puenzo, director; Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt, director; Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler, director; Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev, director; Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, director; Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen, director; Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanovic, director; Brazil, Neighboring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho,...
- 12/25/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Top brass at the 25th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) have announced a new programme on Canadian Cinema as well as the traditionally strong roster of foreign-language films eligible for the Fipresci Award in the Awards Buzz section, and Modern Masters.
The festival will screen 45 of the 76 official foreign-language Oscar submissions under the umbrella of Awards Buzz.
“We’ve selected Canadian films for a special focus at this year’s festival for many reasons, not the least of which is the wealth of talent emerging from its relatively small, indigenous film industry, and the depth and richness of story and character portrayal its films exemplify,” said festival director Darryl Macdonald.
“Whether it’s established auteurs like Denis Coté, Denis Villenueve and Atom Egoyan, gifted actor-directors like Don McKellar and Sarah Polley or newly emerging talents like Chloé Robichaud, Craig Goodwill and Sébastien Pilote, Canadian creative ingenuity is on abundant display in its films. All of this...
The festival will screen 45 of the 76 official foreign-language Oscar submissions under the umbrella of Awards Buzz.
“We’ve selected Canadian films for a special focus at this year’s festival for many reasons, not the least of which is the wealth of talent emerging from its relatively small, indigenous film industry, and the depth and richness of story and character portrayal its films exemplify,” said festival director Darryl Macdonald.
“Whether it’s established auteurs like Denis Coté, Denis Villenueve and Atom Egoyan, gifted actor-directors like Don McKellar and Sarah Polley or newly emerging talents like Chloé Robichaud, Craig Goodwill and Sébastien Pilote, Canadian creative ingenuity is on abundant display in its films. All of this...
- 12/12/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Latvia’s candidate for the Oscars picked up for all rights distribution.
Latvian film Mother, I Love You by Janis Nords, winner of jury awards at this year’s Berlinale Generation and La Film Festival, has secured further distribution deals ahead of its HFPA screening in Los Angeles.
New Europe Film Sales, the international sales company handling the film, has secured a deal with Children’s Film Society India and is understood to be negotiating several other agreements.
The film centres on 12-year-old Raimonds, who, while trying to cover up a bad note at school, generates a spiral of lies, which spins out of control. He has to venture into the Riga night to save his saxophone, his friendship and his face in front of his mother.
Latvian film Mother, I Love You by Janis Nords, winner of jury awards at this year’s Berlinale Generation and La Film Festival, has secured further distribution deals ahead of its HFPA screening in Los Angeles.
New Europe Film Sales, the international sales company handling the film, has secured a deal with Children’s Film Society India and is understood to be negotiating several other agreements.
The film centres on 12-year-old Raimonds, who, while trying to cover up a bad note at school, generates a spiral of lies, which spins out of control. He has to venture into the Riga night to save his saxophone, his friendship and his face in front of his mother.
- 12/10/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Mother, I Love You, Latvia's Submission for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. U.S. : None Yet. International Sales Agent: New Europe Film Sales
Once settled into the routine of adulthood and all the burdens it entails, the memories of what it means to be a kid rapidly vanish. Perhaps it is not childhood itself that is forgotten, but the decision-making process that seemed logical back then, may now appear absurd. In touch with those youngster concerns, Janis Nords’ touching feature Mother, I Love You is a cross breed between the preteen rebelliousness of both Truffaut’s iconic The 400 Blows and the more recent work from the Dardennes The Kid with a Bike. For all the similarities with the preceding films, there is something amusingly original and emotionally profound here, the stakes are higher and the leading character is layered with moral dilemmas not often associated with kids that age in film.
Saxophonist by day and troublemaker by choice, Raimonds (Kristofers Konovalovs) is a 12-year-old kid who tends to misbehave and who solves problems with solutions on the mischievous side. Starting to be curious about the opposite sex, he plays pranks on the girls in his class and with the help of his best bud Peteris (Matiss Livcans), they skip school and pass the time dreaming up ways to have fun without being caught by their respective mothers. Unfortunately for Raimonds, his plans are cut short as he weaves a string of lies and minor crimes from which he can’t seem to escape. Nords' premise could be described as the literal cinematic depiction of the phrase “rob Peter to pay Paul'. It is apparent that Raimonds' focus is not on the consequences of his acts in the practical sense (going to prison, getting expelled), but rather on his mother will perceive them.
At the core of the film is the rocky relationship Raimonds has with his hardworking mother (Vita Varpina). She demands his good behavior as a way to show her he appreciates the long hours she labors at the hospital to provide for him. But when a negative conduct report is issued for his mother to sign, Raimonds’ plan to keep it hidden escalates into an even bigger ordeal. Additionally, the boys decide to play around in the wealthy apartment Preteris’ mother cleans for a living. Their recurrent escapades lead Raimond into risky situations including losing his valuable instrument right before a school concert, stealing to recover it, betraying his comrade, and disappointing his mother. Wiser after going through it all, he eventually realizes that running from his mistakes will only cause more damage.
Newcomer Kristofers Konovalovs carries the film with a performance of remarkable assertiveness even as his sketchy castle of lies begins to fall apart. On the other hand the young actor displays such a pure naiveté that the audience understands implicitly that his unsuccessful choices and lack of judgment are always aimed at fixing things without troubling the person he loves the most. The rest of the cast, specially Vita Varpina as Raimonds' only parent, also achieve a naturalism portraying these everyday characters whose lives, by the power of film, suddenly become interesting and relevant.
Impressively heartfelt and intimate, Mother, I Love You, is in essence an opportunity to reconnect with that boy or girl everyone was once. Nords brilliantly directs his lead actor to ensure his behavior and moral compass are aligned with his age. The motivations behind what he does aren’t derived from wanting to be bad, but instead from wanting to be good while still being a kid. Combined with this, the alluring beauty of the cinematography creates something special and more stylized than mere cinema verite. These conscious choices by the filmmaker make the film stand out in a crowded field of similar works and also render it oddly relatable. After all, who didn’t break mom’s favorite flower vase at some time and was scared of what she might think or do. In the most irrational way, the underlining concern is to still be loved and know one will be forgiven. Nords captures such state with pragmatic tenderness.
Read more about all the 76 Best Foreign Language Film Submission for the 2014 Academy Awards...
Once settled into the routine of adulthood and all the burdens it entails, the memories of what it means to be a kid rapidly vanish. Perhaps it is not childhood itself that is forgotten, but the decision-making process that seemed logical back then, may now appear absurd. In touch with those youngster concerns, Janis Nords’ touching feature Mother, I Love You is a cross breed between the preteen rebelliousness of both Truffaut’s iconic The 400 Blows and the more recent work from the Dardennes The Kid with a Bike. For all the similarities with the preceding films, there is something amusingly original and emotionally profound here, the stakes are higher and the leading character is layered with moral dilemmas not often associated with kids that age in film.
Saxophonist by day and troublemaker by choice, Raimonds (Kristofers Konovalovs) is a 12-year-old kid who tends to misbehave and who solves problems with solutions on the mischievous side. Starting to be curious about the opposite sex, he plays pranks on the girls in his class and with the help of his best bud Peteris (Matiss Livcans), they skip school and pass the time dreaming up ways to have fun without being caught by their respective mothers. Unfortunately for Raimonds, his plans are cut short as he weaves a string of lies and minor crimes from which he can’t seem to escape. Nords' premise could be described as the literal cinematic depiction of the phrase “rob Peter to pay Paul'. It is apparent that Raimonds' focus is not on the consequences of his acts in the practical sense (going to prison, getting expelled), but rather on his mother will perceive them.
At the core of the film is the rocky relationship Raimonds has with his hardworking mother (Vita Varpina). She demands his good behavior as a way to show her he appreciates the long hours she labors at the hospital to provide for him. But when a negative conduct report is issued for his mother to sign, Raimonds’ plan to keep it hidden escalates into an even bigger ordeal. Additionally, the boys decide to play around in the wealthy apartment Preteris’ mother cleans for a living. Their recurrent escapades lead Raimond into risky situations including losing his valuable instrument right before a school concert, stealing to recover it, betraying his comrade, and disappointing his mother. Wiser after going through it all, he eventually realizes that running from his mistakes will only cause more damage.
Newcomer Kristofers Konovalovs carries the film with a performance of remarkable assertiveness even as his sketchy castle of lies begins to fall apart. On the other hand the young actor displays such a pure naiveté that the audience understands implicitly that his unsuccessful choices and lack of judgment are always aimed at fixing things without troubling the person he loves the most. The rest of the cast, specially Vita Varpina as Raimonds' only parent, also achieve a naturalism portraying these everyday characters whose lives, by the power of film, suddenly become interesting and relevant.
Impressively heartfelt and intimate, Mother, I Love You, is in essence an opportunity to reconnect with that boy or girl everyone was once. Nords brilliantly directs his lead actor to ensure his behavior and moral compass are aligned with his age. The motivations behind what he does aren’t derived from wanting to be bad, but instead from wanting to be good while still being a kid. Combined with this, the alluring beauty of the cinematography creates something special and more stylized than mere cinema verite. These conscious choices by the filmmaker make the film stand out in a crowded field of similar works and also render it oddly relatable. After all, who didn’t break mom’s favorite flower vase at some time and was scared of what she might think or do. In the most irrational way, the underlining concern is to still be loved and know one will be forgiven. Nords captures such state with pragmatic tenderness.
Read more about all the 76 Best Foreign Language Film Submission for the 2014 Academy Awards...
- 11/26/2013
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Batul Mukhtiar won the Golden Elephant trophy for Best Live Action Director for Kaphal in the Competition International Live Action section at the International Children’s Film Festival of India.
Tamaash or The Puppet by Satyanshu Singh and Devanshu Singh won the Golden Elephant trophy for Best Short, Children’s Jury. The film was competing in the International Shorts section.
Shilpa Ranade’s Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya was awarded the Jury Prize for Best Artwork and Arnab Chaudhuri’s Arjun won a Golden Elephant trophy for Best Animation Feature, Children’s Jury. Both films were competing in the International Animation competition section.
The 18th edition of the festival was held in Hyderabad from November 14 – 20, 2013.
Complete list of winners:
Competition Little Directors
Golden Elephant trophy for Best Little Director – Breaking The Silence by Siddhanth Joshi and Tamatar Chor by Pawanjot Singh.
Golden Plaque for Second Best Little Director – Ecole Mondiale World...
Tamaash or The Puppet by Satyanshu Singh and Devanshu Singh won the Golden Elephant trophy for Best Short, Children’s Jury. The film was competing in the International Shorts section.
Shilpa Ranade’s Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya was awarded the Jury Prize for Best Artwork and Arnab Chaudhuri’s Arjun won a Golden Elephant trophy for Best Animation Feature, Children’s Jury. Both films were competing in the International Animation competition section.
The 18th edition of the festival was held in Hyderabad from November 14 – 20, 2013.
Complete list of winners:
Competition Little Directors
Golden Elephant trophy for Best Little Director – Breaking The Silence by Siddhanth Joshi and Tamatar Chor by Pawanjot Singh.
Golden Plaque for Second Best Little Director – Ecole Mondiale World...
- 11/21/2013
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
The 18th International Children’s Film Festival of India has announced the competition lineup for 2013. Some of the well-known Indian films in competition are Nagraj Manjule’s Fandry [Read interview], Shilpa Ranade’s Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya [Read interview] and Batul Mukhtiar’s Kaphal.
Organized by the Children’s Film Society of India, the biennial festival also known as The Golden Elephant will be held from November 14-20, 2013 in Hyderabad.
Competition Live Action
A Horse on the Balcony
Dir.: Hüseyin Tabak (Austria)
Tainá – an Amazon Legend
Dir.: Rosanne Svartman (Brazil)
Havanastation
Dir.: Ian Padrón (Cuba)
The Great Bird Chase
Dir.: Christian Dyekjær (Denmark)
Horizon Beautiful
Dir.: Stefan Jäger (Ethiopia, Switzerland)
Windstrom
Germany
Igor and the Cranes’ Journey
Dir.: Evgeny Ruman (Germany, Israel, Poland)
Fandry
Dir.: Nagraj Manjule (India)
Kaphal
Dir.: Batul Mukhtiar (India)
Good Fellows
Iran
7 Days of Himmawari and her Puppies
Dir.: Emiko Hiramatsu (Japan)
Mother,...
Organized by the Children’s Film Society of India, the biennial festival also known as The Golden Elephant will be held from November 14-20, 2013 in Hyderabad.
Competition Live Action
A Horse on the Balcony
Dir.: Hüseyin Tabak (Austria)
Tainá – an Amazon Legend
Dir.: Rosanne Svartman (Brazil)
Havanastation
Dir.: Ian Padrón (Cuba)
The Great Bird Chase
Dir.: Christian Dyekjær (Denmark)
Horizon Beautiful
Dir.: Stefan Jäger (Ethiopia, Switzerland)
Windstrom
Germany
Igor and the Cranes’ Journey
Dir.: Evgeny Ruman (Germany, Israel, Poland)
Fandry
Dir.: Nagraj Manjule (India)
Kaphal
Dir.: Batul Mukhtiar (India)
Good Fellows
Iran
7 Days of Himmawari and her Puppies
Dir.: Emiko Hiramatsu (Japan)
Mother,...
- 10/30/2013
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its shortlist for the 2014 Foreign Language Film Oscar — totaling a not-so-short 76 submitted films.
The number, up from 71 films last year, sets a new record for the category and includes frontrunners such as Asghar Farhadi’s The Past from Iran, Thomas Vinterberg’s The Hunt from Denmark, and Wong Kar-Wai’s The Grandmaster from Hong Kong. Abdellatif Kechiche’s festival favorite lesbian drama Blue Is the Warmest Color from France, however, failed to make the cut-off date for eligibility, while India controversially submitted Gyan Correa’s The Good Road over Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox.
The number, up from 71 films last year, sets a new record for the category and includes frontrunners such as Asghar Farhadi’s The Past from Iran, Thomas Vinterberg’s The Hunt from Denmark, and Wong Kar-Wai’s The Grandmaster from Hong Kong. Abdellatif Kechiche’s festival favorite lesbian drama Blue Is the Warmest Color from France, however, failed to make the cut-off date for eligibility, while India controversially submitted Gyan Correa’s The Good Road over Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox.
- 10/8/2013
- by Shirley Li
- EW - Inside Movies
A record 76 countries have submitted films for consideration in the foreign language film category for the 86th Academy Awards.
Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants while Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.
Earlier this year the Academy changed its rule allowing all voting members to vote on the shortlist.
The nominations will be announced on January 16 2014 and the Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 2 2014 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The 2013 submissions are:
Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram
Albania, Agon, Robert Budina
Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Cambodia...
Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants while Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.
Earlier this year the Academy changed its rule allowing all voting members to vote on the shortlist.
The nominations will be announced on January 16 2014 and the Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 2 2014 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The 2013 submissions are:
Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram
Albania, Agon, Robert Budina
Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Cambodia...
- 10/7/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has released the list of the 76 countries and their submissions officially competing for the 2014 Foreign Language Film Oscar.
Amongst the high profile entries this year are Australia's "The Rocket," Denmark's "The Hunt," France's "Renoir," Wong Kar-wai's "The Grandmaster," Iran's "The Past," and Saudi Arabia's "Wadjda".
The nominations will be announced on January 16th 2014 ahead of the ceremony on March 2nd. Here is the complete list:
Afghanistan, "Wajma – An Afghan Love Story," Barmak Akram
Albania, "Agon," Robert Budina
Argentina, "The German Doctor," Lucía Puenzo
Australia, "The Rocket," Kim Mordaunt
Austria, "The Wall," Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, "Steppe Man," Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, "Television," Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, "The Broken Circle Breakdown," Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, "An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker," Danis Tanovic
Brazil, "Neighboring Sounds," Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, "The Color of the Chameleon," Emil Hristov
Cambodia, "The Missing Picture,...
Amongst the high profile entries this year are Australia's "The Rocket," Denmark's "The Hunt," France's "Renoir," Wong Kar-wai's "The Grandmaster," Iran's "The Past," and Saudi Arabia's "Wadjda".
The nominations will be announced on January 16th 2014 ahead of the ceremony on March 2nd. Here is the complete list:
Afghanistan, "Wajma – An Afghan Love Story," Barmak Akram
Albania, "Agon," Robert Budina
Argentina, "The German Doctor," Lucía Puenzo
Australia, "The Rocket," Kim Mordaunt
Austria, "The Wall," Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, "Steppe Man," Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, "Television," Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, "The Broken Circle Breakdown," Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, "An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker," Danis Tanovic
Brazil, "Neighboring Sounds," Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, "The Color of the Chameleon," Emil Hristov
Cambodia, "The Missing Picture,...
- 10/7/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
A record 76 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 86th Academy Awards®.
Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants; Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.
The 2013 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “Wajma – An Afghan Love Story,” Barmak Akram, director;
Albania, “Agon,” Robert Budina, director;
Argentina, “The German Doctor,” Lucía Puenzo, director;
Australia, “The Rocket,” Kim Mordaunt, director;
Austria, “The Wall,” Julian Pölsler, director;
Azerbaijan, “Steppe Man,” Shamil Aliyev, director;
Bangladesh, “Television,” Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, director;
Belgium, “The Broken Circle Breakdown,” Felix van Groeningen, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker,” Danis Tanovic, director;
Brazil, “Neighboring Sounds,” Kleber Mendonça Filho, director;
Bulgaria, “The Color of the Chameleon,” Emil Hristov, director;
Cambodia, “The Missing Picture,” Rithy Panh, director;
Canada, “Gabrielle,” Louise Archambault, director;
Chad, “GriGris,” Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, director;
Chile, “Gloria,” Sebastián Lelio, director;
China, “Back to 1942,” Feng Xiaogang,...
Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants; Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.
The 2013 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “Wajma – An Afghan Love Story,” Barmak Akram, director;
Albania, “Agon,” Robert Budina, director;
Argentina, “The German Doctor,” Lucía Puenzo, director;
Australia, “The Rocket,” Kim Mordaunt, director;
Austria, “The Wall,” Julian Pölsler, director;
Azerbaijan, “Steppe Man,” Shamil Aliyev, director;
Bangladesh, “Television,” Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, director;
Belgium, “The Broken Circle Breakdown,” Felix van Groeningen, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker,” Danis Tanovic, director;
Brazil, “Neighboring Sounds,” Kleber Mendonça Filho, director;
Bulgaria, “The Color of the Chameleon,” Emil Hristov, director;
Cambodia, “The Missing Picture,” Rithy Panh, director;
Canada, “Gabrielle,” Louise Archambault, director;
Chad, “GriGris,” Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, director;
Chile, “Gloria,” Sebastián Lelio, director;
China, “Back to 1942,” Feng Xiaogang,...
- 10/7/2013
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
All entries for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the Academy Awards 2014.
Submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards are coming in and will continue until October, when the full list of eligible submissions will be revealed.
Last year, a record 71 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Austrian entry Amour, directed by Michael Haneke.
An initial nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 16, 2014.
Submissions
Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram
Albania, Agon, Robert Budina
Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Cambodia...
Submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards are coming in and will continue until October, when the full list of eligible submissions will be revealed.
Last year, a record 71 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Austrian entry Amour, directed by Michael Haneke.
An initial nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 16, 2014.
Submissions
Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram
Albania, Agon, Robert Budina
Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Cambodia...
- 10/7/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
In line with SydneysBuzz’s focus on the international film business we have put together the most complete list on the 67 national submissions to compete for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. This list showcases films that have been the centerpieces of the most renowned festivals and that represent the best in the cinematic landscape from across the globe. Last year, at this point in the race the clear favorite was Palm d'Or winner Amour, which went on to win the award with no significant competition and scoring 4 other nominations including Best Picture, an outstanding feat for a foreign film about love at the end of life, by Michael Haneke.
This time around the story could have repeated almost identically with the most recent winner of Cannes’ biggest prize Blue is the Warmest Color. However, the film became one more victim of the Academy's rules, which rendered it unqualified to compete because of the late release date in France. With Blue out of the race the award is fair game for virtually anyone on the list, although there are certainly some favorites.
Saudi Arabia's first ever submission, the charming Wadjda might turn into beginners luck and score the Kingdom, in which movie theaters are banned, a nomination or even a win. Iran's audacious decision to submit the French-language The Past caused uproar among conservatives, but might certainly score the nation another nomination after their win in 2012 with the masterful A Separation. Other strong contenders are Denmark's The Hunt starring Mads Mikkelsen, and which would continue the countries streak of 3 consecutive nominations winning in 2011 with In A Better World, as well as Canada's Gabrielle about the romantic relationship of a handicapped couple, and Hong Kong’s The Grandmaster by famous director Wong Kar-wai.
Italy’s The Great Beauty, Australia’s The Rocket, Romania’s Child’s Pose, and Chile’s Gloria are among other titles that might score a nomination given their success and prominence during their festivals rounds. Some countries decided to take a chance and send audacious choices as their representation to the Academy, so is the case Mexico, a country that chose the more violent and artistically daring Cannes winner Heli, over the hit comedy Instructions Not Included, or Greece’s Boy Eating The Bird’s Food, which includes grotesque imagery that might not sit well with academy members.
The African continent is minimally represented with only 3 entries, South Africa’s Four Corners, and the Arabic-language works God’s Horses from Morocco, and Winter of Discontent from Egypt. Algeria, which has submitted regularly and even scored several nominations, is absent in this occasion. Another big omission is China who did not submit an entry but whose language is represented by Taiwan and the above-mentioned Hong Kong; equally strange is France’s decision to enter Renoir over tons of other films that could have substituted Abdellatif Kechiche.
Less surprising is Russia’s decision to submit a blockbuster-style production with a very nationalistic message in lieu of a more intimate film. On the other hand, Cambodia, Lithuania, and Switzerland decided to go with a documentary, a choice that has never been very fruitful in this category. Lastly, Israel and Palestine both entered strong candidate with Bethlehem and Omar respectively, adding with that to the great year the region has seen in the cinematic realm.
The rest of the films are a mixture of obscure titles with not much exposure outside their homelands, and a others with great premise but equally unknown quality. Thankfully for SydneysBuzz readers, the list below compiles all 67 Foreign Submissions and includes links to more information and a link to the trailer of every single one of them. For the most part the clips are subtitled; the ones that are not will at least give the reader a sense of what the film is about. As the Awards Season develops, we will have updates on predicted nominees and other developments in the race for the Best Foreign Language Film.
Argentina
The German Doctor (Wakolda)
Dir: Lucia Puenzo
Language: Spanish, German, Hebrew
U.S Release: Acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Australia
The Rocket
Dir: Kim Mordaunt
Language: Lao
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin 2013: Best First Feature Film ,Tribeca 2013: World Narrative Competition
Trailer
Austria
The Wall
Dir: Julian Polsler
Language: German
U.S Release: Released by Music Box Films on May 31st, 2013
Festivals: Sitges Ff 2012 Oficial Fantastic, Mumbai Ff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Bangladesh
Television
Dir: Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Language: Bengali
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Dubai Diff 2012 (Muhr AsiaAfrica Feature Special Mention)
Trailer
Belgium
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Dir: Felix van Groeningen
Language: Flemish
U.S Release: Tribeca Film Will Release the Film on November 1st, 2013
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Panorama
Trailer
Bosnia And Herzegovina
An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker
Dir: Danis Tanović
Language: Bosnian, Romani
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 Competition, Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Brazil
Neighboring Sounds
Dir: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Language: Portuguese, Mandarin
U.S Release: Released by Cinema Guild, Now Available on Netflix streaming
Festivals:Mar Del Plata Ff 2012 Competencia Int'l, Bafici (Buenos Aires) 2013 Panorama
Trailer
Bulgaria
The Color of the Chameleon
Dir: Emil Hristov
Language: Bulgarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Discovery, Thessaloniki Iff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Cambodia
The Missing Picture
Dir: Rithy Panh
Language: French
U.S Release: Acquired by Strand Releasing for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 - Un Certain Regard Prix, San Sebastian 2013 Pearls
Trailer
Canada
Gabrielle
Dir: Louise Archambault
Language: French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto- Tiff 2013, Locarno International Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Chile
Gloria
Dir: Sebastian Lelio
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Acquired by Roadside Attractions for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Colombia
La Playa DC
Dir: Juan Andrés Arango
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Released by Artmattan Productions on July 19th, 2013
Festivals:Official Selection Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard, Chicago Iff 2012 New Directors Competition
Trailer
Croatia
Halima's Path
Dir: Arsen Anton Ostojić
Language: Bosnian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Tallinn Black Nights Iff 2012 - EurAsia (Special Jury Prize)
Trailer
Czech Republic
Burning Bush
Dir: Agnieszka Holland
Language: Czech
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Denmark
The Hunt
Dir: Thomas Vinterberg
Language: Danish
U.S Release: Released by Magnolia Pictures on July 12th
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012, AFI Fest
Trailer
Dominican Republic
Who's the Boss?
Dir: Ronni Castillo
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Egypt
Winter of Discontent
Dir: Ibrahim el-Batout
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013
Trailer
Estonia
Free Range
Dir: Veiko Õunpuu
Language: Estonian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2012
Trailer
Finland
The Disciple
Dir: Ulrika Bengts
Language: Finnish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals:Helsinki International Film Festival, Montréal World Film Festival
Trailer
France
Renoir
Dir: Gilles Bourdos
Language: French
U.S Release: Released by Samuel Goldwyn Films on March 29th, 2013
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Georgia
In Bloom
Dir: Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß
Language: Georgian
U.S Release: Acquired by Big World Pictures for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Cicae award Berlinale Forum 2013
Trailer
Germany
Two Lives
Dir: Georg Maas
Language: German
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Greece
Boy Eating The Bird's Food
Dir: Ektoras Lygizos
Language: Greek
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Discovery
Trailer
Hong Kong
The Grandmaster
Dir: Wong Kar-wai
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
U.S Release: Released by The Weinstein Company on August 23rd, 2013
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Hungary
The Notebook
Dir: Janosz Szasz
Language: Hungarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Iceland
Of Horses and Men
Dir: Benedikt Erlingsson
Language: Icelandic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Sundance 2013
Trailer
India
The Good Road
Dir: Gyan Correa
Language: Gujarati
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: London Indian Film Festival in 2013
Trailer
Iran
The Past
Dir: Asghar Farhadi
Language: French, Persian
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics will release the film on December 20th, 2013
Festivals:Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Actress, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Israel
Bethlehem
Dir: Yuval Adler
Language: Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery, Cannes 2013 , Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Italy
The Great Beauty
Dir: Paolo Sorrentino
Language: Italian
U.S Release: Acquired by Janus Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Berlin Efm 2013,
Trailer
Japan
The Great Passage
Dir: Yuya Ishii
Language: Japanese
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Fantasia Ff 2013 Official Selection, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Kazakhstan
The Old Man
Dir: Ermek Tursunov
Language: Russian, Kazakh
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Latvia
Mother, I Love You
Dir: Janis Nords
Language: Latvian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Los Angeles Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Lebanon
Ghadi
Dir: Amin Dora
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Lithuania
Conversations on Serious Topics
Dir: Giedrė Beinoriūtė
Language: Lithuanian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Luxembourg
Blind Spot
Dir: Christophe Wagner
Language: Luxembourgish, French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012
Trailer
Mexico
Heli
Dir: Amat Escalante
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Director, San Sebastian 2013 Horizontes Latinos,
Trailer
Montenegro
Bad Destiny
Dir: Draško Đurović
Language: Serbo-Croatian
U.S Release: Acquired by Princ Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Toronto- Tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Morocco
God's Horses
Dir: Nabil Ayouch
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Bif London Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Nepal
Soongava: Dance of the Orchids
Dir: Subarna Thapa
Language: Nepalese
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
The Netherlands
Borgman
Dir: Alex van Warmerdam
Language: Dutch
U.S Release: Acquired by Drafthouse Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Busan 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
New Zealand
White Lies
Dir: Dana Rotberg
Language: Maori
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Norway
I Am Yours
Dir: Iram Haq
Language: Norwegian, Urdu
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Pakistan
Zinda Bhaag
Dir: Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi
Language: Udu, Punjabi
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Palestine
Omar
Dir: Hany Abu-Assad
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Peru
The Cleaner
Dir: Adrian Saba
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Palm Springs Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival
Trailer
Philippines
Transit
Dir: Hannah Espia
Language: Filipino, Tagalog, Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cinemalaya Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Poland
Walesa
Dir: Andrzej Wajda
Language: Polish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013, Venice- Biennale 2013
Trailer
Portugal
Lines of Wellington
Dir: Valeria Sarmiento
Language: Portuguese, English, French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice - Biennale 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012
Trailer
Romania
Child's Pose
Dir: Calin Peter Netzer
Language: Romanian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Competition (Golden Bear for the Best Film), Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Russia
Stalingrad
Dir: Fedor Bondarchuk
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Saudi Arabia
Wadjda
Dir: Haifaa al-Mansour
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Released by Sony Pictures Classics on September 13th, 2013
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Venice International Film Festival 2012, Los Angeles Film Festival, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Serbia
Circles
Dir: Srdan Golubovic
Language: Serbian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlinale - Efm 2013 Forum, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Singapore
Ilo Ilo
Dir: Anthony Chen
Language: Mandarin, Hokkien, English, Tagalog
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Directors Fortnight, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery
Trailer
Slovakia
My Dog Killer
Dir: Mira Fornay
Language: Slovak
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Slovenia
Class Enemy
Dir: Rok Biček
Language: Slovene
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Spain
15 Years and One Day
Dir: Gracia Querejeta
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: San Sebastian 2013 Made in Spain, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
South Africa
Four Corners
Dir: Ian Gabriel
Language: Afrikaans, Tsotsitaal
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals:N/A
Trailer
South Korea
Juvenile Offender
Dir: Kang Yi-kwan
Language: Korean
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Contemporary World Cinema,
Trailer
Sweden
Eat Sleep Die
Dir: Gabriela Pichler
Language: Swedish, Croatian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice International Film Festival 2012, Toronto - Tiff 2012
Trailer
Switzerland
More Than Honey
Dir: Markus Imhoof
Language: German, Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Tiff Docs, Cannes 2013, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Taiwan
Soul
Dir: Mong-Hong Chung
Language: Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Vanguard
Trailer
Thailand
Countdown
Dir: Nattawut Poonpiriya
Language: Thai
U.S Release: Acquired by Birch Tree Entertainment for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Far East Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Turkey
The Butterfly's Dream
Dir: Yılmaz Erdoğan
Language: Turkish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Istanbul Film Festival, Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival
Trailer
Ukraine
Paradjanov
Dir: Serge Avedikian and Olena Fetisova
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto 2013
Trailer
United Kingdom
Metro Manila
Dir: Sean Elllis
Language: Filipino, Tagalog
U.S Release: Acquired by Paladin/108 Media for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlin Efm 2012, Cannes 2012, Afm 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Venezuela
Breach in the Silence
Dir: Luis and Andrés Rodríguez
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Ventana Sur 2012, Festival de Mar del Plata "Panorama Latinomaericano"
Trailer...
This time around the story could have repeated almost identically with the most recent winner of Cannes’ biggest prize Blue is the Warmest Color. However, the film became one more victim of the Academy's rules, which rendered it unqualified to compete because of the late release date in France. With Blue out of the race the award is fair game for virtually anyone on the list, although there are certainly some favorites.
Saudi Arabia's first ever submission, the charming Wadjda might turn into beginners luck and score the Kingdom, in which movie theaters are banned, a nomination or even a win. Iran's audacious decision to submit the French-language The Past caused uproar among conservatives, but might certainly score the nation another nomination after their win in 2012 with the masterful A Separation. Other strong contenders are Denmark's The Hunt starring Mads Mikkelsen, and which would continue the countries streak of 3 consecutive nominations winning in 2011 with In A Better World, as well as Canada's Gabrielle about the romantic relationship of a handicapped couple, and Hong Kong’s The Grandmaster by famous director Wong Kar-wai.
Italy’s The Great Beauty, Australia’s The Rocket, Romania’s Child’s Pose, and Chile’s Gloria are among other titles that might score a nomination given their success and prominence during their festivals rounds. Some countries decided to take a chance and send audacious choices as their representation to the Academy, so is the case Mexico, a country that chose the more violent and artistically daring Cannes winner Heli, over the hit comedy Instructions Not Included, or Greece’s Boy Eating The Bird’s Food, which includes grotesque imagery that might not sit well with academy members.
The African continent is minimally represented with only 3 entries, South Africa’s Four Corners, and the Arabic-language works God’s Horses from Morocco, and Winter of Discontent from Egypt. Algeria, which has submitted regularly and even scored several nominations, is absent in this occasion. Another big omission is China who did not submit an entry but whose language is represented by Taiwan and the above-mentioned Hong Kong; equally strange is France’s decision to enter Renoir over tons of other films that could have substituted Abdellatif Kechiche.
Less surprising is Russia’s decision to submit a blockbuster-style production with a very nationalistic message in lieu of a more intimate film. On the other hand, Cambodia, Lithuania, and Switzerland decided to go with a documentary, a choice that has never been very fruitful in this category. Lastly, Israel and Palestine both entered strong candidate with Bethlehem and Omar respectively, adding with that to the great year the region has seen in the cinematic realm.
The rest of the films are a mixture of obscure titles with not much exposure outside their homelands, and a others with great premise but equally unknown quality. Thankfully for SydneysBuzz readers, the list below compiles all 67 Foreign Submissions and includes links to more information and a link to the trailer of every single one of them. For the most part the clips are subtitled; the ones that are not will at least give the reader a sense of what the film is about. As the Awards Season develops, we will have updates on predicted nominees and other developments in the race for the Best Foreign Language Film.
Argentina
The German Doctor (Wakolda)
Dir: Lucia Puenzo
Language: Spanish, German, Hebrew
U.S Release: Acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Australia
The Rocket
Dir: Kim Mordaunt
Language: Lao
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin 2013: Best First Feature Film ,Tribeca 2013: World Narrative Competition
Trailer
Austria
The Wall
Dir: Julian Polsler
Language: German
U.S Release: Released by Music Box Films on May 31st, 2013
Festivals: Sitges Ff 2012 Oficial Fantastic, Mumbai Ff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Bangladesh
Television
Dir: Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Language: Bengali
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Dubai Diff 2012 (Muhr AsiaAfrica Feature Special Mention)
Trailer
Belgium
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Dir: Felix van Groeningen
Language: Flemish
U.S Release: Tribeca Film Will Release the Film on November 1st, 2013
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Panorama
Trailer
Bosnia And Herzegovina
An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker
Dir: Danis Tanović
Language: Bosnian, Romani
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 Competition, Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Brazil
Neighboring Sounds
Dir: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Language: Portuguese, Mandarin
U.S Release: Released by Cinema Guild, Now Available on Netflix streaming
Festivals:Mar Del Plata Ff 2012 Competencia Int'l, Bafici (Buenos Aires) 2013 Panorama
Trailer
Bulgaria
The Color of the Chameleon
Dir: Emil Hristov
Language: Bulgarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Discovery, Thessaloniki Iff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Cambodia
The Missing Picture
Dir: Rithy Panh
Language: French
U.S Release: Acquired by Strand Releasing for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 - Un Certain Regard Prix, San Sebastian 2013 Pearls
Trailer
Canada
Gabrielle
Dir: Louise Archambault
Language: French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto- Tiff 2013, Locarno International Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Chile
Gloria
Dir: Sebastian Lelio
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Acquired by Roadside Attractions for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Colombia
La Playa DC
Dir: Juan Andrés Arango
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Released by Artmattan Productions on July 19th, 2013
Festivals:Official Selection Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard, Chicago Iff 2012 New Directors Competition
Trailer
Croatia
Halima's Path
Dir: Arsen Anton Ostojić
Language: Bosnian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Tallinn Black Nights Iff 2012 - EurAsia (Special Jury Prize)
Trailer
Czech Republic
Burning Bush
Dir: Agnieszka Holland
Language: Czech
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Denmark
The Hunt
Dir: Thomas Vinterberg
Language: Danish
U.S Release: Released by Magnolia Pictures on July 12th
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012, AFI Fest
Trailer
Dominican Republic
Who's the Boss?
Dir: Ronni Castillo
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Egypt
Winter of Discontent
Dir: Ibrahim el-Batout
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013
Trailer
Estonia
Free Range
Dir: Veiko Õunpuu
Language: Estonian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2012
Trailer
Finland
The Disciple
Dir: Ulrika Bengts
Language: Finnish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals:Helsinki International Film Festival, Montréal World Film Festival
Trailer
France
Renoir
Dir: Gilles Bourdos
Language: French
U.S Release: Released by Samuel Goldwyn Films on March 29th, 2013
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Georgia
In Bloom
Dir: Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß
Language: Georgian
U.S Release: Acquired by Big World Pictures for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Cicae award Berlinale Forum 2013
Trailer
Germany
Two Lives
Dir: Georg Maas
Language: German
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Greece
Boy Eating The Bird's Food
Dir: Ektoras Lygizos
Language: Greek
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Discovery
Trailer
Hong Kong
The Grandmaster
Dir: Wong Kar-wai
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
U.S Release: Released by The Weinstein Company on August 23rd, 2013
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Hungary
The Notebook
Dir: Janosz Szasz
Language: Hungarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Iceland
Of Horses and Men
Dir: Benedikt Erlingsson
Language: Icelandic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Sundance 2013
Trailer
India
The Good Road
Dir: Gyan Correa
Language: Gujarati
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: London Indian Film Festival in 2013
Trailer
Iran
The Past
Dir: Asghar Farhadi
Language: French, Persian
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics will release the film on December 20th, 2013
Festivals:Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Actress, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Israel
Bethlehem
Dir: Yuval Adler
Language: Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery, Cannes 2013 , Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Italy
The Great Beauty
Dir: Paolo Sorrentino
Language: Italian
U.S Release: Acquired by Janus Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Berlin Efm 2013,
Trailer
Japan
The Great Passage
Dir: Yuya Ishii
Language: Japanese
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Fantasia Ff 2013 Official Selection, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Kazakhstan
The Old Man
Dir: Ermek Tursunov
Language: Russian, Kazakh
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Latvia
Mother, I Love You
Dir: Janis Nords
Language: Latvian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Los Angeles Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Lebanon
Ghadi
Dir: Amin Dora
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Lithuania
Conversations on Serious Topics
Dir: Giedrė Beinoriūtė
Language: Lithuanian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Luxembourg
Blind Spot
Dir: Christophe Wagner
Language: Luxembourgish, French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012
Trailer
Mexico
Heli
Dir: Amat Escalante
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Director, San Sebastian 2013 Horizontes Latinos,
Trailer
Montenegro
Bad Destiny
Dir: Draško Đurović
Language: Serbo-Croatian
U.S Release: Acquired by Princ Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Toronto- Tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Morocco
God's Horses
Dir: Nabil Ayouch
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Bif London Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Nepal
Soongava: Dance of the Orchids
Dir: Subarna Thapa
Language: Nepalese
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
The Netherlands
Borgman
Dir: Alex van Warmerdam
Language: Dutch
U.S Release: Acquired by Drafthouse Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Busan 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
New Zealand
White Lies
Dir: Dana Rotberg
Language: Maori
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Norway
I Am Yours
Dir: Iram Haq
Language: Norwegian, Urdu
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Pakistan
Zinda Bhaag
Dir: Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi
Language: Udu, Punjabi
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Palestine
Omar
Dir: Hany Abu-Assad
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Peru
The Cleaner
Dir: Adrian Saba
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Palm Springs Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival
Trailer
Philippines
Transit
Dir: Hannah Espia
Language: Filipino, Tagalog, Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cinemalaya Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Poland
Walesa
Dir: Andrzej Wajda
Language: Polish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013, Venice- Biennale 2013
Trailer
Portugal
Lines of Wellington
Dir: Valeria Sarmiento
Language: Portuguese, English, French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice - Biennale 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012
Trailer
Romania
Child's Pose
Dir: Calin Peter Netzer
Language: Romanian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Competition (Golden Bear for the Best Film), Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Russia
Stalingrad
Dir: Fedor Bondarchuk
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Saudi Arabia
Wadjda
Dir: Haifaa al-Mansour
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Released by Sony Pictures Classics on September 13th, 2013
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Venice International Film Festival 2012, Los Angeles Film Festival, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Serbia
Circles
Dir: Srdan Golubovic
Language: Serbian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlinale - Efm 2013 Forum, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Singapore
Ilo Ilo
Dir: Anthony Chen
Language: Mandarin, Hokkien, English, Tagalog
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Directors Fortnight, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery
Trailer
Slovakia
My Dog Killer
Dir: Mira Fornay
Language: Slovak
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Slovenia
Class Enemy
Dir: Rok Biček
Language: Slovene
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Spain
15 Years and One Day
Dir: Gracia Querejeta
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: San Sebastian 2013 Made in Spain, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
South Africa
Four Corners
Dir: Ian Gabriel
Language: Afrikaans, Tsotsitaal
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals:N/A
Trailer
South Korea
Juvenile Offender
Dir: Kang Yi-kwan
Language: Korean
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Contemporary World Cinema,
Trailer
Sweden
Eat Sleep Die
Dir: Gabriela Pichler
Language: Swedish, Croatian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice International Film Festival 2012, Toronto - Tiff 2012
Trailer
Switzerland
More Than Honey
Dir: Markus Imhoof
Language: German, Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Tiff Docs, Cannes 2013, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Taiwan
Soul
Dir: Mong-Hong Chung
Language: Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Vanguard
Trailer
Thailand
Countdown
Dir: Nattawut Poonpiriya
Language: Thai
U.S Release: Acquired by Birch Tree Entertainment for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Far East Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Turkey
The Butterfly's Dream
Dir: Yılmaz Erdoğan
Language: Turkish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Istanbul Film Festival, Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival
Trailer
Ukraine
Paradjanov
Dir: Serge Avedikian and Olena Fetisova
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto 2013
Trailer
United Kingdom
Metro Manila
Dir: Sean Elllis
Language: Filipino, Tagalog
U.S Release: Acquired by Paladin/108 Media for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlin Efm 2012, Cannes 2012, Afm 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Venezuela
Breach in the Silence
Dir: Luis and Andrés Rodríguez
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Ventana Sur 2012, Festival de Mar del Plata "Panorama Latinomaericano"
Trailer...
- 10/3/2013
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
New entries from Argentina, Denmark, Lebanon, Lithuania and Peru.
Submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards are coming in and will continue until October, when the full list of eligible submissions will be revealed.
Last year, a record 71 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Austrian entry Amour, directed by Michael Haneke.
An initial nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 16, 2014.
Submissions
* = new additions
* Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Canada, Gabrielle, Louise Archambault
Chile, Gloria, Sebastián Lelio
Colombia, La Playa DC, Juan Andrés Arango
Croatia, Halima’s Path...
Submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards are coming in and will continue until October, when the full list of eligible submissions will be revealed.
Last year, a record 71 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Austrian entry Amour, directed by Michael Haneke.
An initial nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 16, 2014.
Submissions
* = new additions
* Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Canada, Gabrielle, Louise Archambault
Chile, Gloria, Sebastián Lelio
Colombia, La Playa DC, Juan Andrés Arango
Croatia, Halima’s Path...
- 9/27/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Janis Nords’ coming of age story submitted by Latvia for the Academy Award as Best Foreign Language Film.
Mother I Love You, directed by Janis Nords, has been selected by Latvia for consideration for the Academy Award as Best Foreign Language Film.
Click here for Best Foreign-Language Film Academy Award submissions 2013
The film is a coming of age story, which centres on 12-year-old Raimonds who tries to cover up a remark in his school diary and starts a spiral of lies, which spins out of control. He has to venture into Riga’s thrilling night-life to save his saxophone, his friendship and his face in front of his mother.
The film premiered at the Berlinale in February and received the Grand Prix Jury Prize for best feature film in Generation Kplus section.
It was also awarded the Grand Prix for best feature film at the Los Angeles Film Festival; the European Children Film Award for the Best...
Mother I Love You, directed by Janis Nords, has been selected by Latvia for consideration for the Academy Award as Best Foreign Language Film.
Click here for Best Foreign-Language Film Academy Award submissions 2013
The film is a coming of age story, which centres on 12-year-old Raimonds who tries to cover up a remark in his school diary and starts a spiral of lies, which spins out of control. He has to venture into Riga’s thrilling night-life to save his saxophone, his friendship and his face in front of his mother.
The film premiered at the Berlinale in February and received the Grand Prix Jury Prize for best feature film in Generation Kplus section.
It was also awarded the Grand Prix for best feature film at the Los Angeles Film Festival; the European Children Film Award for the Best...
- 9/11/2013
- ScreenDaily
Janis Nords’ "Mother, I Love You" and Ryan McGarry’s "Code Black" led the winners of the 2013 Los Angeles Film Festival, taking the jury prizes for narrative and documentary feature, respectively. The festival -- which wrapped up last night with the closing night film "The Way Way Back" -- also saw audience award prizes going to Destin Daniel Cretton’s "Short Term 12," Grace Lee’s "American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs" and Haifaa Al Mansour’s "Wadjda." Full winners in the press release below. Los Angeles (June 23, 2013) – Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Spirit Awards, announced the jury and audience award winners for the 2013 Festival at the Awards Brunch, hosted by Chaya Downtown for the fourth year. Actor Mary Elizabeth Winstead was on hand to present the awards. The La Film Fest, presented by Film Independent, in conjunction...
- 6/24/2013
- by Peter Knegt
- Indiewire
La Film Festival has just about wrapped up its 2013 edition with the festival closing screening of The Way, Way Back coming tonight. The awards were announced today and it was Janis Nords's Latvian drama Mother, I Love You that took home the festival's top narrative honor, winning the Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature. La County ER doc Code Black, directed by Ryan McGarry took top jury prize in the documentary competition and the jury also gave a Best Performance in a Narrative Feature award to Geetanjali Thapa for her role in Kamar K.M's Mumbai-set drama I.D. You can see Alex Koehne's review of I.D. here. The audience prizes were also awarded today with the Best Narrative Feature award going to consummate crowd...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 6/23/2013
- Screen Anarchy
Bookended by Pedro Almodovar's "I'm So Excited!" and Fox Searchlight's starry Sundance comedy "The Way, Way Back" -- which closes proceedings tonight -- the Los Angeles Film Festival may boast its share of big names, but when it comes to its competition sections, it juries tend to throw the spotlight on lower-profile fare. The jury award for Best Narrative Feature went to Latvian drama "Mother, I Love You" -- already the Grand Prix winner in the Berlinale's Generation section back in February. This sophomore feature from writer-director Janis Nords is a coming-of-age story about an adolescent boy drawn into petty crime,...
- 6/23/2013
- by Guy Lodge
- Hitfix
"Mother, I Love You" and "Code Black" were the big winners at the 2013 Los Angeles Film Festival awards. "Mother, I Love You" won Best Narrative Feature while "Code Black" took home the Best Documentary Award.
Here's the complete list of winners of the 2013 Los Angeles Film Festival awards:
Directv Narrative Award (for Best Narrative Feature)
Mother, I Love You directed by Janis Nords
Directv Documentary Award (for Best Documentary Feature)
Code Black directed by Ryan McGarry
Best Performance in the Narrative Competition
Geetanjali Thapa in Kamar K.M.s I.D.
Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature
Short Term 12, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton
Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature
American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs, directed by Grace Lee
Audience Award for Best International Feature
Wadjda, directed by Haifaa Al Mansour
Honolulu Film Office Award for Best Narrative Short Film
Walker directed by Tsai Ming-Liang
Honolulu Film...
Here's the complete list of winners of the 2013 Los Angeles Film Festival awards:
Directv Narrative Award (for Best Narrative Feature)
Mother, I Love You directed by Janis Nords
Directv Documentary Award (for Best Documentary Feature)
Code Black directed by Ryan McGarry
Best Performance in the Narrative Competition
Geetanjali Thapa in Kamar K.M.s I.D.
Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature
Short Term 12, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton
Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature
American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs, directed by Grace Lee
Audience Award for Best International Feature
Wadjda, directed by Haifaa Al Mansour
Honolulu Film Office Award for Best Narrative Short Film
Walker directed by Tsai Ming-Liang
Honolulu Film...
- 6/23/2013
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
"Short Term 12," Destin Daniel Cretton's drama set in a foster care facility, captured the audience award for best narrative feature Sunday as the Los Angeles Film Festival handed out awards. The festival jury named Janis Nords' Latvian drama "Mother, I Love You" was named best narrative feature and Ryan McGarry's exploration of the healthcare system, "Code Black," won the documentary award. Also read: How the L.A. Film Fest Wooed Hollywood "Short Term 12" took the grand jury and audience awards at South by Southwest film festival earlier this year. Cinedigm plans to...
- 6/23/2013
- by Todd Cunningham
- The Wrap
As the last day of the Los Angeles Film Festival arrived Sunday with closing night gala "The Way, Way Back," the festival announced its winners at an awards brunch. The two top juried awards of the Los Angeles Film Festival are the Directv Narrative Award and Directv Documentary Award, each carrying an unrestricted $10,000 cash prize, funded by Directv, for the winning film’s director. The Directv Narrative Award for the finest narrative film in competition at the Festival went to Janis Nords’ "Mother, I Love You," making its U.S. premiere, and The DIRECTVDocumentary Award for the finest documentary film in competition at the Festival went to Ryan McGarry for world premiere "Code Black." Destin Daniel Cretton’s drama "Short Term 12" (Cinedigm, August 23), Grace Lee’s documentary "American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs" and Haifaa Al Mansour’s Saudi Arabian drama "Wadjda" (Sony Pictures...
- 6/23/2013
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Not many films get made in Latvia every year, so the chance to see one is a rarity and with a film like “Mother, I Love You” (“Mammu, es Tevi milu”), it’s also a treat. Directed by Janis Nords, the film tells a fairly simple story in a very sophisticated way, proving the too-often forgotten truth that with good cinematic storytelling any tale can be tense, suspenseful and emotional. The winner of an award in the Generation category (the youth section) at the 2013 Berlin Film Festival, “Mother, I Love You” captures all of the drama and desperation of a young boy caught in a difficult situation from his unique perspective.Raimonds (Kristofers Konovalovs) is a young boy living with his single obstetrician mother (Vita Varpina) in Riga. He scooters to school, plays saxophone in the band and plays Wii at home when his mother heads out late at night.
- 6/18/2013
- by Katie Walsh
- The Playlist
Berlin - The international juries judging this year's Generation section, Berlin's children and youth cinema sidebar, picked two films with remarkably similar plot lines for their top honors. The jury for Generation 14plus, for films aimed at older youth, picked Shopping, the feature from New Zealand duo Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland, for their top prize. While the Generation Kplus jury selected Mother, I Love You from Latvian filmmaker Janis Nords. Photos: Berlin 2013: Behind the Scenes of THR's Directors Roundtable In both features, the young protagonist, dealing with his own personal problems, drifts into a world of petty crime. In
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read more...
- 2/16/2013
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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