The Berlin Film Festival, which runs Feb. 15-25, has revealed the lineup of its Berlinale Co-Production Market.
Producers of 34 film projects from 27 countries will be pitching to potential financing and co-production partners at the 21st Berlinale Co-Production Market, which runs Feb. 17-21. Seventeen projects are directed by women. There were 318 submissions, a slight increase from last year.
Eighteen of the projects are already partly financed with budgets ranging between Euros 600,000 and Euros 5 million ($5.47 million). Among the directors whose new works are likely to spark interest are Ukrainian filmmakers Kateryna Gornostai, who won a Crystal Bear for “Stop-Zemlia” in 2021, and Antonio Lukich, the director of “Luxembourg, Luxembourg,” which played in Venice in 2022, Italy’s Andrea Pallaoro, Serbian director and actor Mirjana Karanović, and the Chinese-Japanese directing duo Huang Ji and Ryuji Otsuka.
The Berlinale Directors section features three brand-new projects by directors who have had films at the Berlinale in the past: “Alma” from Sally Potter,...
Producers of 34 film projects from 27 countries will be pitching to potential financing and co-production partners at the 21st Berlinale Co-Production Market, which runs Feb. 17-21. Seventeen projects are directed by women. There were 318 submissions, a slight increase from last year.
Eighteen of the projects are already partly financed with budgets ranging between Euros 600,000 and Euros 5 million ($5.47 million). Among the directors whose new works are likely to spark interest are Ukrainian filmmakers Kateryna Gornostai, who won a Crystal Bear for “Stop-Zemlia” in 2021, and Antonio Lukich, the director of “Luxembourg, Luxembourg,” which played in Venice in 2022, Italy’s Andrea Pallaoro, Serbian director and actor Mirjana Karanović, and the Chinese-Japanese directing duo Huang Ji and Ryuji Otsuka.
The Berlinale Directors section features three brand-new projects by directors who have had films at the Berlinale in the past: “Alma” from Sally Potter,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The Berlin Film Festival has unveiled the 34 projects, hailing from 27 countries and selected from 318 submissions, that will be showcased at its Berlinale Co-Production Market, running from February 17 to 21. (scroll down for full list)
The 18 projects in the official selection include upcoming works from Ukrainian directors Kateryna Gornostai (Stop-Zemila) and Antonio Lukich as well as Italian filmmaker Andrea Pallaoro (Monica), Turkey’s Burak Çevik (Hesitation Wound), Serb director and actor Mirjana Karanović (A Good Wife) and Chinese-Japanese directing duo Huang Ji and Ryuji Otsuka (Stonewalling).
The Official Selection projects are already partly financed and have budgets between 600,000 and five million euros.
The Berlinale Directors section showcasing new projects from festival habitués in the early funding stages includes Sally Potter’s upcoming production Alma about a family on an expedition to scatter the ashes of an archaeologist.
Two projects by Andreas Fontana and Fradique have also been selected as part of the Rotterdam-Berlinale Express initiative,...
The 18 projects in the official selection include upcoming works from Ukrainian directors Kateryna Gornostai (Stop-Zemila) and Antonio Lukich as well as Italian filmmaker Andrea Pallaoro (Monica), Turkey’s Burak Çevik (Hesitation Wound), Serb director and actor Mirjana Karanović (A Good Wife) and Chinese-Japanese directing duo Huang Ji and Ryuji Otsuka (Stonewalling).
The Official Selection projects are already partly financed and have budgets between 600,000 and five million euros.
The Berlinale Directors section showcasing new projects from festival habitués in the early funding stages includes Sally Potter’s upcoming production Alma about a family on an expedition to scatter the ashes of an archaeologist.
Two projects by Andreas Fontana and Fradique have also been selected as part of the Rotterdam-Berlinale Express initiative,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
The festival runs June 23 - July 1.
Films by Jessica Hausner, Elegance Bratton and Sebastian Silva are among 36 titles selected for the Filmfest München’s three international competition strands, CineMasters, CineVision and CineRebels. The festival runs June 23-July 1.
CineMasters
Hausner’s Club Zero will be joined by another four Cannes competition titles - Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves, Marco Bellocchio’s Kidnapped, Kaouther Ben Hania’s Four Daughters, and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Monster - to screen in Munich’s CineMasters competition for the €50,000 Arri Award which is presented to the producers of the best international film.
The 12-title line-up also includes...
Films by Jessica Hausner, Elegance Bratton and Sebastian Silva are among 36 titles selected for the Filmfest München’s three international competition strands, CineMasters, CineVision and CineRebels. The festival runs June 23-July 1.
CineMasters
Hausner’s Club Zero will be joined by another four Cannes competition titles - Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves, Marco Bellocchio’s Kidnapped, Kaouther Ben Hania’s Four Daughters, and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Monster - to screen in Munich’s CineMasters competition for the €50,000 Arri Award which is presented to the producers of the best international film.
The 12-title line-up also includes...
- 6/13/2023
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
The gender-neutral acting prize was won by Spain’s Sofía Otero for ’20,000 Species of Bees’.
Nicolas Philibert’s documentary On The Adamant, about a floating care centre in Paris, was awarded Golden Bear for best film at the Berlin International Film Festival tonight (February 25).
The film, which is being handled internationally by Les Films du Losange, is the fourth documentary to take top honours at the Berlinale.
German films found particular favour with the jury, presided over by Kristen Stewart, with no less than three of the Bear statuettes going to local productions: the Silver Bear Grand Jury award for Christian Petzold’s Afire,...
Nicolas Philibert’s documentary On The Adamant, about a floating care centre in Paris, was awarded Golden Bear for best film at the Berlin International Film Festival tonight (February 25).
The film, which is being handled internationally by Les Films du Losange, is the fourth documentary to take top honours at the Berlinale.
German films found particular favour with the jury, presided over by Kristen Stewart, with no less than three of the Bear statuettes going to local productions: the Silver Bear Grand Jury award for Christian Petzold’s Afire,...
- 2/26/2023
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
The documentary “On the Adamant” has been named the best film of the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival, Berlin organizers announced on Saturday.
The film from director Nicolas Philibert follows life in a daycare center located on the Seine in Paris for adults with mental disorders. It is the first documentary to win the festival’s top prize since “Fire at Sea” in 2016.
German director Christian Petzold won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, essentially the runner-up award, for his drama “Afire,” while Philippe Garrel won the directing award for “The Plough.” The gender-neutral acting prizes went to Sofia Otero for “20,000 Species of Bees” in the leading performance category and Thea Ehre for “Till the End of the Night” in the supporting category.
The jury president was actress Kristen Stewart. The other jurors were actress Goldshifteh Farahani, directors Valeska Grisebach, Radu Jude and Carla Simón and Johnnie To and casting director Francine Maisler.
The film from director Nicolas Philibert follows life in a daycare center located on the Seine in Paris for adults with mental disorders. It is the first documentary to win the festival’s top prize since “Fire at Sea” in 2016.
German director Christian Petzold won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, essentially the runner-up award, for his drama “Afire,” while Philippe Garrel won the directing award for “The Plough.” The gender-neutral acting prizes went to Sofia Otero for “20,000 Species of Bees” in the leading performance category and Thea Ehre for “Till the End of the Night” in the supporting category.
The jury president was actress Kristen Stewart. The other jurors were actress Goldshifteh Farahani, directors Valeska Grisebach, Radu Jude and Carla Simón and Johnnie To and casting director Francine Maisler.
- 2/25/2023
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Hummingbirds, the documentary feature debut of directors Silvia Del Carmen Castaños and Estefanía “Beba” Contreras, has won the Crystal Bear, the top prize for best film, at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival’s Generation 14plus section.
In the doc, the two filmmakers examine issue of immigration along the Texas-Mexican border through the lens of their own friendship. The Generation international jury called the film “a touching and subtle glimpse into the intimate moments of memorable characters…their self-determination and playfulness, as both protagonists and authors, is inspiring. Their actions, jokes, songs, laughs, and bodies are political and necessary as a way of resistance.”
A special mention in the Generation 14plus section went to Vuk Lungulov-Klotz’s Mutt, a drama set over the course of a single hectic day in New York City, and centered on a trans man ( Lio Mehiel) who finds his life shaken up by the reemergence of...
In the doc, the two filmmakers examine issue of immigration along the Texas-Mexican border through the lens of their own friendship. The Generation international jury called the film “a touching and subtle glimpse into the intimate moments of memorable characters…their self-determination and playfulness, as both protagonists and authors, is inspiring. Their actions, jokes, songs, laughs, and bodies are political and necessary as a way of resistance.”
A special mention in the Generation 14plus section went to Vuk Lungulov-Klotz’s Mutt, a drama set over the course of a single hectic day in New York City, and centered on a trans man ( Lio Mehiel) who finds his life shaken up by the reemergence of...
- 2/25/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
To director Mira Fornay, there are no three things more important in life than trees, water and children. And with “She-Hero,” playing as part of the Generation strand at the 73rd Berlin Film Festival, the Slovakian filmmaker gathers all three in telling the story of Romy (Rozmarína Willems), a young girl who embarks on a grand forest adventure in search of her lost budgie, Mimi.
Fornay, who won the Intl. Film Festival Rotterdam Tiger Award in 2013 with her sophomore feature “My Dog Killer,” did not originally set out to make a children’s film, but was fascinated by the natural charisma of Willems. “I already knew Romy and she is immensely photogenic, but I didn’t know if she could act as well. So I tried working with her back when she was six, and she was just amazing. When Covid hit, I realized I had to shoot quickly otherwise she would grow.
Fornay, who won the Intl. Film Festival Rotterdam Tiger Award in 2013 with her sophomore feature “My Dog Killer,” did not originally set out to make a children’s film, but was fascinated by the natural charisma of Willems. “I already knew Romy and she is immensely photogenic, but I didn’t know if she could act as well. So I tried working with her back when she was six, and she was just amazing. When Covid hit, I realized I had to shoot quickly otherwise she would grow.
- 2/24/2023
- by Rafa Sales Ross
- Variety Film + TV
The Berlin Film Festival’s youth-focused sidebar Generation 14plus is set to open with “When Will It Be Again Like It Never Was Before,” the anticipated next film of Sonja Heiss and und Zeevonk von Domien Huyghe.
Based on Joachim Meyerhoff’s eponymous novel, “When Will It Be Again Like It Never Was Before” tells the comedic and moving story of a childhood and youth spent on the grounds of a psychiatric clinic.
Meanwhile, Domien Huyghe’s moving film “Sea Sparkle” will kick off the Generation Kplus competition. The film follows 12-year-old Lena who relentlessly battles with the tides of her grief after the death of her father, which she blames on a sea monster.
The Generation selection pans 25 feature-length and 31 short films, including 40 world premieres. The Berlinale team said this year’s lineup will invite audiences on an “exploration of young perceptions of the world.”
“The films in this...
Based on Joachim Meyerhoff’s eponymous novel, “When Will It Be Again Like It Never Was Before” tells the comedic and moving story of a childhood and youth spent on the grounds of a psychiatric clinic.
Meanwhile, Domien Huyghe’s moving film “Sea Sparkle” will kick off the Generation Kplus competition. The film follows 12-year-old Lena who relentlessly battles with the tides of her grief after the death of her father, which she blames on a sea monster.
The Generation selection pans 25 feature-length and 31 short films, including 40 world premieres. The Berlinale team said this year’s lineup will invite audiences on an “exploration of young perceptions of the world.”
“The films in this...
- 1/18/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The sci-fi satire is Sophie Linnenbaum’s graduation film.
Sophie Linnenbaum’s sci-fi satire The Ordinaries was one of the big winners at this year’s Filmfest München, picking up the German Cinema New Talent Award for best director and best producer for Britta Strampe and Laura Klippel of the Berlin-based production house Bandenfilm.
The Ordinaires is Linnenbaum’s graduation film from the Film University Babelsberg.
“You have to rub your eyes in amazement: this is supposed to be a graduation made at a university? The Ordinaries has what feels like a multimillion-dollar budget,” enthused the jury of producer-director Sönke Wortmann,...
Sophie Linnenbaum’s sci-fi satire The Ordinaries was one of the big winners at this year’s Filmfest München, picking up the German Cinema New Talent Award for best director and best producer for Britta Strampe and Laura Klippel of the Berlin-based production house Bandenfilm.
The Ordinaires is Linnenbaum’s graduation film from the Film University Babelsberg.
“You have to rub your eyes in amazement: this is supposed to be a graduation made at a university? The Ordinaries has what feels like a multimillion-dollar budget,” enthused the jury of producer-director Sönke Wortmann,...
- 7/4/2022
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
The 39th edition of the Munich Film Festival, which runs June 23-July 2, will screen 120 films from 52 countries, including 35 world premieres, such as “Paloma” by Marcelo Gomes, one of several films in the festival that tackles the subject of trans identities.
The three international competition sections will feature numerous highlights from the Cannes Film Festival, including “Corsage,” which opens the event. Vicky Krieps was honored in Cannes with the best actress award in the Un Certain Regard section for her performance as Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as “Sissi.”
Four films come to Munich fresh from Cannes’ main competition: “Leila’s Brothers” by Iranian director Saeed Roustayi, about a family’s struggle for survival in an Iran economically weakened by Western sanctions and consumed by corruption; “Pacifiction” by Albert Serra, in which Benoît Magimel excels as a conflicted police commissioner; “The Eight Mountains,” directed by Charlotte Vandermeersch and Felix van Groeningen,...
The three international competition sections will feature numerous highlights from the Cannes Film Festival, including “Corsage,” which opens the event. Vicky Krieps was honored in Cannes with the best actress award in the Un Certain Regard section for her performance as Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as “Sissi.”
Four films come to Munich fresh from Cannes’ main competition: “Leila’s Brothers” by Iranian director Saeed Roustayi, about a family’s struggle for survival in an Iran economically weakened by Western sanctions and consumed by corruption; “Pacifiction” by Albert Serra, in which Benoît Magimel excels as a conflicted police commissioner; “The Eight Mountains,” directed by Charlotte Vandermeersch and Felix van Groeningen,...
- 6/10/2022
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Festival has programmed 120 films from 52 countries
The Munich Film Festival (June 23 – July 2) is showcasing many of the highlights from last month’s Cannes Film Festival when it returns with a full programme of features for the first time since 2019.
Munich pivoted online in 2020 due to the pandemic, and programmed a reduced number of films in 2021, mainly in open-air locations.
Munich is opening this year with Marie Kreutzer’s Corsage, which saw Vicky Krieps win the Un Certain Regard best performance award for her portrayal of Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
Corsage will play in Munich’s main Cinemasters Competition, alongside Cannes...
The Munich Film Festival (June 23 – July 2) is showcasing many of the highlights from last month’s Cannes Film Festival when it returns with a full programme of features for the first time since 2019.
Munich pivoted online in 2020 due to the pandemic, and programmed a reduced number of films in 2021, mainly in open-air locations.
Munich is opening this year with Marie Kreutzer’s Corsage, which saw Vicky Krieps win the Un Certain Regard best performance award for her portrayal of Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
Corsage will play in Munich’s main Cinemasters Competition, alongside Cannes...
- 6/10/2022
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Festival has programmed 120 films from 52 countries
The Munich Film Festival (June 23 – July 2) is showcasing many of the highlights from last month’s Cannes Film Festival when it returns with a full programme of features for the first time since 2019.
Munich pivoted online in 2020 due to the pandemic, and programmed a reduced number of films in 2021, mainly in open-air locations.
Munich is opening this year with Marie Kreutzer’s Corsage, which saw Vicky Krieps win the Un Certain Regard best performance award for her portrayal of Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
Corsage will play in Munich’s main Cinemasters Competition, alongside Cannes...
The Munich Film Festival (June 23 – July 2) is showcasing many of the highlights from last month’s Cannes Film Festival when it returns with a full programme of features for the first time since 2019.
Munich pivoted online in 2020 due to the pandemic, and programmed a reduced number of films in 2021, mainly in open-air locations.
Munich is opening this year with Marie Kreutzer’s Corsage, which saw Vicky Krieps win the Un Certain Regard best performance award for her portrayal of Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
Corsage will play in Munich’s main Cinemasters Competition, alongside Cannes...
- 6/10/2022
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
The festival, unspooling from 30 September-4 October, will serve as a launchpad for several domestic productions having their local theatrical premieres. After Febiofest Bratislava was disrupted and postponed in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak (see the news), the pared-down 27th edition is ready to bring the delayed premieres of local and international films to domestic theatre-goers. Given the current circumstances and the growing number of coronavirus cases, the organisers are preparing a safe and secure festival with a reduced programme and accompanying events limited to a clutch of festival venues. The gathering will open with the domestic premiere of the latest dramedy by Petr Zelenka, Droneman, made as a Czech-Slovak-Slovenian co-production. Slovakian filmmaker Mira Fornay will introduce her latest endeavour, the absurdist and surreal drama Cook F**k Kill, as a domestic premiere at the festival. The documentary Everest – The Hard Way by Pavol Barabáš is another domestic film...
The scabrously-titled absurdist drama “Cook F**k Kill” from Slovak multihyphenate Mira Fornay is Examining unhealthy relationships, it’s structured as a prologue and three chapters, all of which make imaginative use of metaphor and anxiety-inducing images and framing. The stylized action sometimes brings to mind Swedish helmer Johannes Nyholm’s “Koko-di Koko-da,” also about a couple stuck in a damaging behavioral pattern. Overall, the film is a tad too long and definitely not for everyone, yet it is without doubt Fornay’s most ambitious and stimulating work. Festivals with adventurous programming venues should take note.
A 64-second prologue, featuring a Greek chorus of female villagers in swimsuits on the bank of a river recounting a fable to a figure in the water, manages to introduce many of the film’s key themes, concepts, and visuals. The folk tale that the women recite emphasizes how everything is interconnected and how...
A 64-second prologue, featuring a Greek chorus of female villagers in swimsuits on the bank of a river recounting a fable to a figure in the water, manages to introduce many of the film’s key themes, concepts, and visuals. The folk tale that the women recite emphasizes how everything is interconnected and how...
- 12/16/2019
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
"If I was a girl, this would never had happened." Screen has debuted the first official trailer for a film titled Cook F**k Kill, which is not as lighthearted as that title makes it seem. Described as an "absurd drama", the film is directed by a Czech filmmaker named Mira Forney and deals with domestic abuse - about a man who loves to cook, fuck, and, well, kill. "Seen through the prism of a metaphor, the film is an intimate story about family or 'the most aggressive group within a society, with the exception of the army and the police', as Fornay states." Meaning the family, how people inside their home are abusive even if they're nice outside. Starring Jaroslav Plesl, Petra Fornayová, Regina Rázlová, Jan Alexander, Jazmína Cigánková. This premiered at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and will likely arrive in the Us sometime next year. Here's...
- 12/6/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The Association of Slovak Cinematographers has dished out awards in recognition of the best domestic works. Slovakian DoP Denisa Buranová has received the main Camera 2019 Award for her work on the film By a Sharp Knife at the biannual gathering of domestic professionals from the Association of Slovak Cinematographers. Buranová belongs to the young generation of Slovakian cinematographers, and she also lensed Iveta Grófová’s Crystal Bear-winning Little Harbour, for which she also won the national The Sun in a Net Award for Best Cinematography (see the news), and Mira Fornay’s short film Gardeners. She has also worked with established director Peter Kerekes. Her work on Teodor Kuhn’s political thriller and family drama was singled out from among a total of 18 feature-length fiction films in contention. The runners-up were Ján Meliš for lensing Marko Škop’s drama Let There Be Light and Martin Štrba for Julius Ševčík’s period drama The.
The film will have its world premiere at Tallinn’s Rebels With A Cause competition.
Screen can exclusively reveal the first trailer for Czech director Mira Fornay’s new feature Cook F** Kill ahead of its world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in its Rebels With A Cause competition.
The absurd drama explores political and social issues related to domestic abuse through the tale of an outwardly good-natured man who is a conniving and violent tormentor behind the closed doors of his family home.
Pathologically jealous of his wife and petrified that she is plotting to leave him,...
Screen can exclusively reveal the first trailer for Czech director Mira Fornay’s new feature Cook F** Kill ahead of its world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in its Rebels With A Cause competition.
The absurd drama explores political and social issues related to domestic abuse through the tale of an outwardly good-natured man who is a conniving and violent tormentor behind the closed doors of his family home.
Pathologically jealous of his wife and petrified that she is plotting to leave him,...
- 11/25/2019
- by 1100380¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Cercamon has come aboard as international sales agent for “Goldie,” which stars Slick Woods, Rihanna’s favorite fashion model, as well as featuring rapper A$AP Ferg, George Sample III, Danny Hoch and Khris Davis.
Sam de Jong’s film, which has its world premiere Sunday in Berlin Film Festival’s Generation 14Plus sidebar, is the story of a precocious teenager living in a family shelter, fighting to keep her sisters together while she pursues her dreams of being a dancer.
Sébastien Chesneau, partner, acquisitions and sales for Cercamon, said: “[Sam de Jong] has created such a naturalistic, accessible story with Slick Woods’ unique character at its heart. Already a fashion and internet icon, Slick is a revelation in ‘Goldie,’ and delivers a breakthrough performance we will all be talking about for a long time.”
De Jong’s directorial debut, “Prince,” premiered in Generations 14Plus in 2015.
“Goldie” was produced by Luca Borghese and...
Sam de Jong’s film, which has its world premiere Sunday in Berlin Film Festival’s Generation 14Plus sidebar, is the story of a precocious teenager living in a family shelter, fighting to keep her sisters together while she pursues her dreams of being a dancer.
Sébastien Chesneau, partner, acquisitions and sales for Cercamon, said: “[Sam de Jong] has created such a naturalistic, accessible story with Slick Woods’ unique character at its heart. Already a fashion and internet icon, Slick is a revelation in ‘Goldie,’ and delivers a breakthrough performance we will all be talking about for a long time.”
De Jong’s directorial debut, “Prince,” premiered in Generations 14Plus in 2015.
“Goldie” was produced by Luca Borghese and...
- 2/8/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Cook, Fuck, Kill
Slovakian director Mira Fornay should finally be ready with her long-gestating third feature, Cook, Fuck, Kill, initially announced in 2014. Produced by Viktor Schwartz of Cineart TV Prague, Slovakia’s Juraj Buzalka and Mirafox, the title screened this past November at the Agora’s Works in Progress section in Thessaloniki. Fornay won the Tiger Award in Rotterdam for her 2013 sophomore film My Dog Killer.
Gist: Cook, Fuck, Kill is a dark social satire about one day in the life of domestic violence perpetrator Jiroslav K, a male hospital attendant addicted to sex and cooking. Pathologically jealous of his wife Blanka, he terrorizes her with violence, his actions ultimately leading to a tragedy in the family.…...
Slovakian director Mira Fornay should finally be ready with her long-gestating third feature, Cook, Fuck, Kill, initially announced in 2014. Produced by Viktor Schwartz of Cineart TV Prague, Slovakia’s Juraj Buzalka and Mirafox, the title screened this past November at the Agora’s Works in Progress section in Thessaloniki. Fornay won the Tiger Award in Rotterdam for her 2013 sophomore film My Dog Killer.
Gist: Cook, Fuck, Kill is a dark social satire about one day in the life of domestic violence perpetrator Jiroslav K, a male hospital attendant addicted to sex and cooking. Pathologically jealous of his wife Blanka, he terrorizes her with violence, his actions ultimately leading to a tragedy in the family.…...
- 1/2/2019
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Feature, documentary, Vr, TV projects set for Venice industry strand.
Venice Film Festival industry strand Venice Production Bridge has confirmed the 47 projects that will take part in this year’s edition of the Gap-Financing Market (September 1-3).
Now in its fourth year, the market will welcome 25 feature film and documentary projects, 15 virtual reality, interactive, web and TV projects, as well as seven Vr projects from previous editions of the talent development lab Biennale College, which are in various stages of development and production.
The teams behind each project will take part in one-ot-one meetings with producers, financiers, distributors, sales agents and further industry attending the Production Bridge.
Full list of projects:
Fiction features (Europe)
All The Pretty Little Horses dir. Michalis Konstantatos (Greece, Germany, Netherlands), Horsefly Productions
Bodyguard Of Lies dir. Charles Matthau (Spain, United States), Babieka Films
Brighton 4 dir. Levan Koguashvili (Georgia, Bulgaria, Greece), Kino Iberica
Cook, Fuck, Kill dir. Mira Fornay (Czech...
Venice Film Festival industry strand Venice Production Bridge has confirmed the 47 projects that will take part in this year’s edition of the Gap-Financing Market (September 1-3).
Now in its fourth year, the market will welcome 25 feature film and documentary projects, 15 virtual reality, interactive, web and TV projects, as well as seven Vr projects from previous editions of the talent development lab Biennale College, which are in various stages of development and production.
The teams behind each project will take part in one-ot-one meetings with producers, financiers, distributors, sales agents and further industry attending the Production Bridge.
Full list of projects:
Fiction features (Europe)
All The Pretty Little Horses dir. Michalis Konstantatos (Greece, Germany, Netherlands), Horsefly Productions
Bodyguard Of Lies dir. Charles Matthau (Spain, United States), Babieka Films
Brighton 4 dir. Levan Koguashvili (Georgia, Bulgaria, Greece), Kino Iberica
Cook, Fuck, Kill dir. Mira Fornay (Czech...
- 7/14/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Marco van Geffen, Mira Fornay among directors to develop TV series in new initiative.
Dutch filmmaker Marco van Geffen and Slovakia’s Mira Fornay will be among the directors participating in the first edition of the SeriesLab!.
The development lab – a joint initiative between the Paris-based Series Mania Coproduction Forum and the TorinoFilmLab – aims to support screenwriters and creators in the development of a new TV series.
Van Geffen, best known internationally for festival hits Among Us and In Your Name, will attend with a new crime series entitled Augustus with producer Fleur Winter.
Produced under the banner of Amsterdam-based Lemming Film, the eight-part series is described as a The Wire-style drama set against the backdrop of the Benelux drugs trafficking scene.
Slovakian director Mira Fornay, whose My Dog Killer about a teenage Nazi skinhead won the Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr) in 2013, is bringing Carpathian Beast, a crime series...
Dutch filmmaker Marco van Geffen and Slovakia’s Mira Fornay will be among the directors participating in the first edition of the SeriesLab!.
The development lab – a joint initiative between the Paris-based Series Mania Coproduction Forum and the TorinoFilmLab – aims to support screenwriters and creators in the development of a new TV series.
Van Geffen, best known internationally for festival hits Among Us and In Your Name, will attend with a new crime series entitled Augustus with producer Fleur Winter.
Produced under the banner of Amsterdam-based Lemming Film, the eight-part series is described as a The Wire-style drama set against the backdrop of the Benelux drugs trafficking scene.
Slovakian director Mira Fornay, whose My Dog Killer about a teenage Nazi skinhead won the Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr) in 2013, is bringing Carpathian Beast, a crime series...
- 12/1/2016
- ScreenDaily
The UK’s Camilla Deakin, Ireland’s Kathryn Kennedy and Germany’s Amir Hamz are among those selected.
The 24 participants of the 2016 Producers Lab Toronto have been unveiled.
The selected producers include Camilla Deakin from the UK, who is currently in post-production on the Jim Broadbent and Brenda Blethyn-voiced animation feature Ethel And Ernest [pictured].
Kathryn Kennedy from Ireland also makes the cut, having produced 2015 drama My Name Is Emily starring Evanna Lynch and Michael Smiley.
Also participating is Germany’s Amir Hamz - who produced surreal drama Der Nachtmahr, which played at Toronto last year - and France’s Hélène Cases, who was a Producer On The Move in 2012 and has feature credits including 2014 Venice-winning The Last Hammer Blow and 2010 César-nominated Angel & Tony.
Now in its seventh year, the initiative for emerging producers is run by European Film Promotion in collaboration with Ontario Media Development Corporation and Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff).
Taking place September 6-9 at...
The 24 participants of the 2016 Producers Lab Toronto have been unveiled.
The selected producers include Camilla Deakin from the UK, who is currently in post-production on the Jim Broadbent and Brenda Blethyn-voiced animation feature Ethel And Ernest [pictured].
Kathryn Kennedy from Ireland also makes the cut, having produced 2015 drama My Name Is Emily starring Evanna Lynch and Michael Smiley.
Also participating is Germany’s Amir Hamz - who produced surreal drama Der Nachtmahr, which played at Toronto last year - and France’s Hélène Cases, who was a Producer On The Move in 2012 and has feature credits including 2014 Venice-winning The Last Hammer Blow and 2010 César-nominated Angel & Tony.
Now in its seventh year, the initiative for emerging producers is run by European Film Promotion in collaboration with Ontario Media Development Corporation and Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff).
Taking place September 6-9 at...
- 8/23/2016
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Dutch royalty attend opening, which kicked off with Boudewijn Koole’s new feature; Bero Beyer hails Rotterdam diversity.
The 45th International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr) (Jan 27 - Feb 7) opened last night with an unlikely infusion of glamour in the shape of 44-year-old Queen Maxima.
The Queen, attending Iffr for the first time, was in the festival’s main venue, the Doelen, for the screening of opening film, Beyond Sleep. The film is directed Boudewijn Koole (Kauwboy) and based on Dutch novel Nooit meer slapen by W.F. Hermans.
“International Film Festival Rotterdam is about as old as I am,” new festival director Bero Beyer commented in his opening speech. “It has been here year after year, growing in size and impact…but we should not take either the festival nor the open environment for granted.
“All over the world, filmmakers we cherish and have welcomed here in the past are prohibited to show their work, restricted in their...
The 45th International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr) (Jan 27 - Feb 7) opened last night with an unlikely infusion of glamour in the shape of 44-year-old Queen Maxima.
The Queen, attending Iffr for the first time, was in the festival’s main venue, the Doelen, for the screening of opening film, Beyond Sleep. The film is directed Boudewijn Koole (Kauwboy) and based on Dutch novel Nooit meer slapen by W.F. Hermans.
“International Film Festival Rotterdam is about as old as I am,” new festival director Bero Beyer commented in his opening speech. “It has been here year after year, growing in size and impact…but we should not take either the festival nor the open environment for granted.
“All over the world, filmmakers we cherish and have welcomed here in the past are prohibited to show their work, restricted in their...
- 1/28/2016
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Greece’s Syllas Tzoumerkas and Hungary’s Adam Csaszi are among 13 international filmmakers selected to each spend three months in Berlin as part of the Nipkow Programme residency.
An international jury under French producer Christine Camdessus decided on the latest intake of Nipkow fellows from 11 countries out of 86 applicants from 30 countries ranging from Bosnia & Herzegovina and Brazil through Uganda and Ukraine to the Us.
The first batch of filmmakers will arrive in Berlin this month for a three-month period, and others will come over subsequent months.
Tzoumerkas, who presented his last feature A Blast in competition in Locarno last summer, will be in Berlin from August to work on his new project The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea, while Csaszi, whose feature debut Land Of Storms premiered in the Berlinale’s Panorama Special in 2014, will be developing the screenplay for a new film High Dive for three months in the same period.
The largest...
An international jury under French producer Christine Camdessus decided on the latest intake of Nipkow fellows from 11 countries out of 86 applicants from 30 countries ranging from Bosnia & Herzegovina and Brazil through Uganda and Ukraine to the Us.
The first batch of filmmakers will arrive in Berlin this month for a three-month period, and others will come over subsequent months.
Tzoumerkas, who presented his last feature A Blast in competition in Locarno last summer, will be in Berlin from August to work on his new project The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea, while Csaszi, whose feature debut Land Of Storms premiered in the Berlinale’s Panorama Special in 2014, will be developing the screenplay for a new film High Dive for three months in the same period.
The largest...
- 6/5/2015
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
While DC and Marvel might already have a lock on several future release dates past the 2015 campaign with the Coen Bros. circling February on their calendars, for the most part, when it comes to American independent and foreign film flavored items, 2016 is still cloudy with a chance of…. 2015 just broke (we already have plenty to look forward to (Top 100 Most Anticipated Foreign Films / Top 25 Most Anticipated Studio Films / Top 100 Most Anticipated American Independent Films – soon!) but we’re already excited about what is in store for several of our favorite auteurs. Here are picks 100 to 6, with our Nicholas Bell providing further analysis on current top five for 2016. Pictured above is Peter Strickland, who sits in our number six spot.
100. Untitled Edward Munch Project – Erik Poppe
99. Bastille Day – James Watkins
98. Live By Night – Ben Affleck
97. Imagine – Benoit Graffin
96. Pete’s Dragon – David Lowery
95. Bella Luna – Ivan Fila
94. Bat, Butterfly, Moth – Sergio Caballero...
100. Untitled Edward Munch Project – Erik Poppe
99. Bastille Day – James Watkins
98. Live By Night – Ben Affleck
97. Imagine – Benoit Graffin
96. Pete’s Dragon – David Lowery
95. Bella Luna – Ivan Fila
94. Bat, Butterfly, Moth – Sergio Caballero...
- 1/16/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Film-makers across Europe are “in shock” after learning the news that the Nipkow Programm has not received backing from the EU’s Creative Europe programme for 2015-2016.
Speaking exclusively to ScreenDaily, Nipkow Programm managing director Petra Weisenburger explained that the Berlin-based training initiative had not been successful in the latest round of funding for the next two years and would explore alternative strategies for a survival plan.
In the current financial year, Creative Europe had provided nearly 46% (€180,400) of Nipkow’s overall budget, with the remaining €215,543 coming from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (Mbb) and Germany’s State Minister for Culture and the Media (Bkm).
Weisenburger said that Mbb’s CEO Kirsten Niehuus had already indicated a desire to see the Nipkow Programm continue to exist, but the situation remains unclear about the funding from Bkm for 2015 onwards.
She added that the Nipkow Programm jury of experts will meet during the next Berlinale in February to discuss the initiative’s future...
Speaking exclusively to ScreenDaily, Nipkow Programm managing director Petra Weisenburger explained that the Berlin-based training initiative had not been successful in the latest round of funding for the next two years and would explore alternative strategies for a survival plan.
In the current financial year, Creative Europe had provided nearly 46% (€180,400) of Nipkow’s overall budget, with the remaining €215,543 coming from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (Mbb) and Germany’s State Minister for Culture and the Media (Bkm).
Weisenburger said that Mbb’s CEO Kirsten Niehuus had already indicated a desire to see the Nipkow Programm continue to exist, but the situation remains unclear about the funding from Bkm for 2015 onwards.
She added that the Nipkow Programm jury of experts will meet during the next Berlinale in February to discuss the initiative’s future...
- 11/12/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Retrospective to include films from Danis Tanovic, Cristi Puiu, Mira Fornay and more.
A total of 50 films are to make up the retrospective Eastern Promises: Autobiography of Eastern Europe at the 62nd San Sebastian Film Festival (Sept 19-27).
The line-up includes movies produced since 2000 in the countries that lived under Soviet influence after the Second World War and include some that were never released theatrically in Spain.
Several directors of films in the retrospective will attend the festival to present their works including Sarunas Bartas (Lithuania), Kristina Buožytė (Lithuania), Marian Crisan (Romania), Mira Fornay (Slovakia), Bohdan Sláma (Czech Republic), Malgorzata Szumowska (Poland) and Anna Viduleja (Latvia).
A book will be published to accompany the retrospective with contributions from journalists and critics across Europe.
The titles are:
Kruh In Mleko / Bread And Milk
Jan Cvitkovic (Slovenia) 2001
A modern classic of Slovenian cinema, the tale of a man who went out for bread and milk and lost himself to alcohol...
A total of 50 films are to make up the retrospective Eastern Promises: Autobiography of Eastern Europe at the 62nd San Sebastian Film Festival (Sept 19-27).
The line-up includes movies produced since 2000 in the countries that lived under Soviet influence after the Second World War and include some that were never released theatrically in Spain.
Several directors of films in the retrospective will attend the festival to present their works including Sarunas Bartas (Lithuania), Kristina Buožytė (Lithuania), Marian Crisan (Romania), Mira Fornay (Slovakia), Bohdan Sláma (Czech Republic), Malgorzata Szumowska (Poland) and Anna Viduleja (Latvia).
A book will be published to accompany the retrospective with contributions from journalists and critics across Europe.
The titles are:
Kruh In Mleko / Bread And Milk
Jan Cvitkovic (Slovenia) 2001
A modern classic of Slovenian cinema, the tale of a man who went out for bread and milk and lost himself to alcohol...
- 8/8/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The juries for the 49th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (July 4-12) handed out prizes in four competition categories Saturday night at the Hotel Thermal at a ceremony punctuated by slippery girls in black bikinis sliding across a watery stage. "Karlovy Vary is the face of this country," president of the competition Jury Luis Miñarro told the crowd before a screening of the hilarious dark Argentinian comedy "Wild Tales." The grand jury for the official competition (Miñarro, Spain, Mira Fornay, Slovakia, Phedon Papamichael, Greece, Kjartan Sveinsson, Iceland and Viktor Tauš, Czech Republic) awarded the $25,000 Grand Prix Crystal Globe for the producer and director to "Corn Island" ("Simindis kundzuli"), directed by George Ovashvili and financed by Georgia, Germany, France, Czech Republic and Kazakhstan. A special jury prize of $15,000 went to the director and producer of...
- 7/12/2014
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Karlovy Vary’s industry days continued today with the Pitch & Feedback initiative, including the new film from My Dog Killer director Mira Fornay, alongside the Docu Talents from the East showcase.
Czech and Slovak filmmakers presented seven projects in development, which are considered to have international co-production potential.
Among these was Cook, F**k, Kill (Frogs With No Tongues), the third feature from Slovakian filmmaker Mira Fornay, described an absurdist drama about domestic violence.
First pitched at the Sofia Meetings in March, the film follows her 2009 feature debut Little Foxes and 2013’s My Dog Killer, which won a Tiger Award at last year’s International Film Festival Rotterdam and was Slovakia’s submission for the Best Foreign-Language Oscar.
Cook, F**k, Kill is produced by Fornay’s company, Mirafox, and is slated to shoot in spring 2015 for release in spring 2016 with a budget of €1.15m.
Fornay said of the film: “I believe that my absurd drama rendered...
Czech and Slovak filmmakers presented seven projects in development, which are considered to have international co-production potential.
Among these was Cook, F**k, Kill (Frogs With No Tongues), the third feature from Slovakian filmmaker Mira Fornay, described an absurdist drama about domestic violence.
First pitched at the Sofia Meetings in March, the film follows her 2009 feature debut Little Foxes and 2013’s My Dog Killer, which won a Tiger Award at last year’s International Film Festival Rotterdam and was Slovakia’s submission for the Best Foreign-Language Oscar.
Cook, F**k, Kill is produced by Fornay’s company, Mirafox, and is slated to shoot in spring 2015 for release in spring 2016 with a budget of €1.15m.
Fornay said of the film: “I believe that my absurd drama rendered...
- 7/8/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Ukrainian feature wins Grand Prix at ‘Zerkalo’ Andrey Tarkovsky International Film Festival.
Ukrainian director Miroslav Slaboshpitzky’s The Tribe (Plemya) was the winner of this year’s ¨Zerkalo¨ Andrey Tarkovsky International Film Festival (June 10-15).
The film, which follows a deaf mute boy’s attempts to fit into the boarding school system, won three prizes at the Critics’ Week in Cannes when it premiered there last month.
Named after Tarkovsky’s 1975 film Mirror (Zerkalo), the festival is programmed by the Russian film critic Andrey Plakhov in Tarkovsky’s birthplace of Ivanovo.
This year’s eighth edition had ‘women in cinema’ as its all-embracing theme.
Thus, the feature film jury consisted only of women, including Kinotavr’s programme director Sitora Alieva, veteran Portuguese actress Isabella Ruth, Us actress-producer Heidi Jo Markel, and Slovak film-maker Mira Fornay whose My Dog Killer screened in Ivanovo last year.
Apart from the Grand Prix, they gave the award for best director to Berlin-based...
Ukrainian director Miroslav Slaboshpitzky’s The Tribe (Plemya) was the winner of this year’s ¨Zerkalo¨ Andrey Tarkovsky International Film Festival (June 10-15).
The film, which follows a deaf mute boy’s attempts to fit into the boarding school system, won three prizes at the Critics’ Week in Cannes when it premiered there last month.
Named after Tarkovsky’s 1975 film Mirror (Zerkalo), the festival is programmed by the Russian film critic Andrey Plakhov in Tarkovsky’s birthplace of Ivanovo.
This year’s eighth edition had ‘women in cinema’ as its all-embracing theme.
Thus, the feature film jury consisted only of women, including Kinotavr’s programme director Sitora Alieva, veteran Portuguese actress Isabella Ruth, Us actress-producer Heidi Jo Markel, and Slovak film-maker Mira Fornay whose My Dog Killer screened in Ivanovo last year.
Apart from the Grand Prix, they gave the award for best director to Berlin-based...
- 6/17/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Georgia was the big winner at the 18th edition of the Sofia International Film Festival (Siff) which closed at the weekend with the Grand Prix for Best Film and Best Director award going to Levan Koguashvili’s second feature Blind Dates.
The melancholic comedy, which premiered at the Berlinale’s Forum last month, also received the Fipresci International Film Critics’ Prize. Handled internationally by Films Boutique, it is already booked to screen at the April festivals in Wiesbaden (goEast) and Lecce and in Odessa in July.
Presenting the Grand Prix to Koguashvili, the International Jury’s president producer Alexander Rodnyansky said that the jury’s discussion on the top prize had ¨lasted only about 10 minutes and was unanimous. This film has become the absolute winner of this festival!¨
In addition, Vladimer Katcharava of Tbilisi-based 20 Steps Production received the Sofia Meetings’ €10,000 Digimage - Lvt Postproduction Award for Miriam Khachvani’s Dede which he pitched in the Plus Minus...
The melancholic comedy, which premiered at the Berlinale’s Forum last month, also received the Fipresci International Film Critics’ Prize. Handled internationally by Films Boutique, it is already booked to screen at the April festivals in Wiesbaden (goEast) and Lecce and in Odessa in July.
Presenting the Grand Prix to Koguashvili, the International Jury’s president producer Alexander Rodnyansky said that the jury’s discussion on the top prize had ¨lasted only about 10 minutes and was unanimous. This film has become the absolute winner of this festival!¨
In addition, Vladimer Katcharava of Tbilisi-based 20 Steps Production received the Sofia Meetings’ €10,000 Digimage - Lvt Postproduction Award for Miriam Khachvani’s Dede which he pitched in the Plus Minus...
- 3/17/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
New films by Mira Fornay, Radu Jude and Stephan Komandarev are among the projects to be pitched at this year’s Sofia Meetings (March 13-16).
The Plus Minus One line-up of eight projects includes the third feature from Slovakian filmmaker Mira Fornay. Cook, F—k, Kill (Frogs With No-Tongues) is an absurdist drama about domestic violence.
It follows her 2009 feature debut Little Foxes and 2013’s My Dog Killer, which won a Tiger Award at last year’s International Film Festival Rotterdam and was Slovakia’s submission for for the Best Foreign-Language Oscar.
Romanian Radu Jude’s Scarred Hearts, inspired by author Max Blecher’s eponymous novel and other writings, will be produced by his regular collaborator Ada Solomon of HiFilm Productions.
Greek director Rinio Dragassaki’s coming of age film Cosmic Candy is also in the line-up. Her short, Schoolyard, screened in the Generation 14plus at this year’s Berlinale.
In addition...
The Plus Minus One line-up of eight projects includes the third feature from Slovakian filmmaker Mira Fornay. Cook, F—k, Kill (Frogs With No-Tongues) is an absurdist drama about domestic violence.
It follows her 2009 feature debut Little Foxes and 2013’s My Dog Killer, which won a Tiger Award at last year’s International Film Festival Rotterdam and was Slovakia’s submission for for the Best Foreign-Language Oscar.
Romanian Radu Jude’s Scarred Hearts, inspired by author Max Blecher’s eponymous novel and other writings, will be produced by his regular collaborator Ada Solomon of HiFilm Productions.
Greek director Rinio Dragassaki’s coming of age film Cosmic Candy is also in the line-up. Her short, Schoolyard, screened in the Generation 14plus at this year’s Berlinale.
In addition...
- 2/26/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
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
2013 was the Slovakian year of the dog. The bleak drama My Dog Killer toured the festival circuit making headlines for Slovak cinema with domestic production gearing up to tickle international audiences once more before the end of the year with a similarly grim drama hidden under the lyrical title Miracle. Miracle was planned for domestic release early in this year but after being selected at the prestigious Karlovy Vary film festival the official world premiere was held in famous Czech spa town. And it has continued to collect awards here and despite not making as much noise in the international press as did Mira Fornay´s drama. However, that does not reduce its quality. Miracle was written and directed by Juraj Lehotský (co-penned with grey...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 12/18/2013
- Screen Anarchy
Lesbian drama release a bold move given anti-gay legislation in Russia.
Stacie Passon’s lesbian drama Concussion is among four titles acquired by Russian distributor Cinema Without Borders (Kino bez Granits) at this year’s Afm for theatrical release in Russian cinemas in 2014.
The other titles acquired were:
Don Coscarelli’s black fantasy comedy John Dies At The EndLucky McKee and Chris Sivertson’s horror film remake All Cheerleaders Die, andAustralian Zak Hilditch’s apocalypse drama These Final Hours
According to Cinema Without Borders, the latter two titles are expected to be given a wide release.
The acquisition of the 2013 Teddy Award winner Concussion would seem particularly brave given the current anti-gay mood in Russia since the introduction of legislation earlier this year banning “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors.”
Despite anonymous “telephone terrorism,” bomb threats and harassment by the police, the sixth edition of St Petersburg’s Bok o Bok (Side by Side) Lgbt film festival...
Stacie Passon’s lesbian drama Concussion is among four titles acquired by Russian distributor Cinema Without Borders (Kino bez Granits) at this year’s Afm for theatrical release in Russian cinemas in 2014.
The other titles acquired were:
Don Coscarelli’s black fantasy comedy John Dies At The EndLucky McKee and Chris Sivertson’s horror film remake All Cheerleaders Die, andAustralian Zak Hilditch’s apocalypse drama These Final Hours
According to Cinema Without Borders, the latter two titles are expected to be given a wide release.
The acquisition of the 2013 Teddy Award winner Concussion would seem particularly brave given the current anti-gay mood in Russia since the introduction of legislation earlier this year banning “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors.”
Despite anonymous “telephone terrorism,” bomb threats and harassment by the police, the sixth edition of St Petersburg’s Bok o Bok (Side by Side) Lgbt film festival...
- 11/27/2013
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
My Dog Killer, Slovakia's Submission for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. U.S. : None Yet. International Sales Agent: M-Appeal World Sales Ug
From an outsider's perspective it is not so easy to detect and comprehend the social interactions between the people of a foreign country. It is only when looked at from an intimate point of view that the conflicts and their unspoken rules come to the surface. And it is definitely more interesting and insightful to look at how an issue affects the daily lives of individuals than how is dealt with on paper by those in power. With such intention is how Mira Fornay explores the ethnic disputes in Slovakia, where still today gypsies are considered undesirable members of society, and in the tradition of former Nazi leaders, they are also blamed for the decline of the country's economy. In her film My Dog Killer minimal occurrences convey stronger concerns without the need of explosive depictions of violence.
Chosen as the guide for this trip into the Slovak rural landscape is Marek (Adam Mihál), a young man with a shaved head, pale, almost-albino skin and penetrating eyes, which is introduced via a long take that concisely summarizes his universe. Dutifully he helps his father (Marián Kuruc) take care of a rustic vineyard, which is their livelihood as they sell homemade wine to their neighbors. Marek's only companion is his pit bull appropriately named Killer. More than a pet he is his protector, best friend, and ultimately his accomplice in a despicable crime. Just getting by financially, Marek's father urges him to get the property deed of their apartment from his mother (Irena Bendová) to sell it and keep their land. He is not fund of the idea since his mother was forced to leave him when he was a young boy because she got involved with gypsy man, with whom she had a child named Luka (Libor Filo). Young Luka wants his brother in his life, and the mother wants her other son too, but in a place ruled by tradition, their lives cannot merge.
Malek’s life is fractured due prejudices outside of his control. Time and time again he must prove he is part of the majority and is coerced to dissociate himself from his mother and his mixed-race half brother. He seeks validation from a local gang of skinheads that don’t accept him as an equal, but who only tolerate his presence because of the image they think the dog provides them with. He is neither good nor evil, but he must protect himself even if that means to lack empathy for the lives of others Mihál's performance is unsettling and effective in portraying this ghostly young man disillusioned by the hatred around him. Fornay created a quiet character that exudes anger and that identifies himself with the feared prowess of his dog. As the climatic sequence of the film unfolds, one can see the animal attacks by instinct, and not purposely to inflict pain. In the same manner Malek must destroy the evidence of his unforgivable wrongdoing in an act of self-preservation.
Hidden in the background of this bleakly captivating character study are hints of a reality of resentment and discrimination that pushes many to the outskirts of society. The director intelligently places the story in a small village where secrets and gossip are difficult to escape. Therefore, even though it's clear Marek wants his mother in his life, the stigma, and her involuntary abandonment keep him away. My Dog Killer exposes the moral discrepancies between the political correct front that modern Western societies pretend to adhere by and the disturbing realty that lies underneath. Fornay uses inconspicuous TV broadcasts and casual conversations among the townspeople to speak of the Slovak past and of the dangers that segregation and ill-intentioned nationalism can produce. Intriguing and thought provoking, this is a film from a promising new director about uncomfortable truths that need to be exposed.
Read more about all the 76 Best Foreign Language Film Submission for the 2014 Academy Awards...
From an outsider's perspective it is not so easy to detect and comprehend the social interactions between the people of a foreign country. It is only when looked at from an intimate point of view that the conflicts and their unspoken rules come to the surface. And it is definitely more interesting and insightful to look at how an issue affects the daily lives of individuals than how is dealt with on paper by those in power. With such intention is how Mira Fornay explores the ethnic disputes in Slovakia, where still today gypsies are considered undesirable members of society, and in the tradition of former Nazi leaders, they are also blamed for the decline of the country's economy. In her film My Dog Killer minimal occurrences convey stronger concerns without the need of explosive depictions of violence.
Chosen as the guide for this trip into the Slovak rural landscape is Marek (Adam Mihál), a young man with a shaved head, pale, almost-albino skin and penetrating eyes, which is introduced via a long take that concisely summarizes his universe. Dutifully he helps his father (Marián Kuruc) take care of a rustic vineyard, which is their livelihood as they sell homemade wine to their neighbors. Marek's only companion is his pit bull appropriately named Killer. More than a pet he is his protector, best friend, and ultimately his accomplice in a despicable crime. Just getting by financially, Marek's father urges him to get the property deed of their apartment from his mother (Irena Bendová) to sell it and keep their land. He is not fund of the idea since his mother was forced to leave him when he was a young boy because she got involved with gypsy man, with whom she had a child named Luka (Libor Filo). Young Luka wants his brother in his life, and the mother wants her other son too, but in a place ruled by tradition, their lives cannot merge.
Malek’s life is fractured due prejudices outside of his control. Time and time again he must prove he is part of the majority and is coerced to dissociate himself from his mother and his mixed-race half brother. He seeks validation from a local gang of skinheads that don’t accept him as an equal, but who only tolerate his presence because of the image they think the dog provides them with. He is neither good nor evil, but he must protect himself even if that means to lack empathy for the lives of others Mihál's performance is unsettling and effective in portraying this ghostly young man disillusioned by the hatred around him. Fornay created a quiet character that exudes anger and that identifies himself with the feared prowess of his dog. As the climatic sequence of the film unfolds, one can see the animal attacks by instinct, and not purposely to inflict pain. In the same manner Malek must destroy the evidence of his unforgivable wrongdoing in an act of self-preservation.
Hidden in the background of this bleakly captivating character study are hints of a reality of resentment and discrimination that pushes many to the outskirts of society. The director intelligently places the story in a small village where secrets and gossip are difficult to escape. Therefore, even though it's clear Marek wants his mother in his life, the stigma, and her involuntary abandonment keep him away. My Dog Killer exposes the moral discrepancies between the political correct front that modern Western societies pretend to adhere by and the disturbing realty that lies underneath. Fornay uses inconspicuous TV broadcasts and casual conversations among the townspeople to speak of the Slovak past and of the dangers that segregation and ill-intentioned nationalism can produce. Intriguing and thought provoking, this is a film from a promising new director about uncomfortable truths that need to be exposed.
Read more about all the 76 Best Foreign Language Film Submission for the 2014 Academy Awards...
- 11/12/2013
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Films from Russia, Kosovo and Serbia were the main winners at this year’s FilmFestival Cottbus and its parallel East-West co-production market Connecting Cottbus.
Russian director Aleksandr Veledinsky’s The Geographer Drank His Globe Away has continued its successful international festival career by picking up the Main Prize at Germany’s Cottbus festival with a cash award of €20,000.
The International Competition Jury praised Veledinsky’s “exquisite mastery of his craft and great playfulness” in its motivation.
Handled internationally by Moscow-based Ant!pode Sales & Distribution, The Geographer Drank His Globe Away was released theatrically on almost 500 screens in Russia last Thursday (Nov 7) as well as in the Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Forthcoming festival invitations include the Black Nights Festival in Tallinn and festivals in Tromsø and Göteborg.
Winning the festival’s Main Prize also gives Veledinsky and his producers the opportunity to return to Cottbus next year as part of Connecting Cottbus’ Special Pitch Award for them to...
Russian director Aleksandr Veledinsky’s The Geographer Drank His Globe Away has continued its successful international festival career by picking up the Main Prize at Germany’s Cottbus festival with a cash award of €20,000.
The International Competition Jury praised Veledinsky’s “exquisite mastery of his craft and great playfulness” in its motivation.
Handled internationally by Moscow-based Ant!pode Sales & Distribution, The Geographer Drank His Globe Away was released theatrically on almost 500 screens in Russia last Thursday (Nov 7) as well as in the Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Forthcoming festival invitations include the Black Nights Festival in Tallinn and festivals in Tromsø and Göteborg.
Winning the festival’s Main Prize also gives Veledinsky and his producers the opportunity to return to Cottbus next year as part of Connecting Cottbus’ Special Pitch Award for them to...
- 11/11/2013
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Pawel Pawlikowski’s Ida scored a second top festival prize in one night, after success in London.
The international jury of the Warsaw Film Festival has awarded the City of Warsaw Grand Prix to Pawal Pawlikowski’s Ida, which won Best Film at the BFI London Film Festival on the same night.
The black-and-white film set in the 1960s, which the international jury praised for “the superb combination of script, directing, cinematography, acting and music”, also received the prize of the Ecumenical Jury in Warsaw.
Speaking to ScreenDaily after the awards ceremony, producer Ewa Puszczynska of Lodz-based Opus Film said the film will be released on 90 screens in Poland this Friday (Oct 25) by distributor Solopan Spólka.
Fandango Portobello Sales is handling international distribution, and Music Box Films are planning the North American release for the second quarter of 2014. It debuted at Toronto last month.
Puszczynska was joined on stage to receive the Grand Prix by the non-professional...
The international jury of the Warsaw Film Festival has awarded the City of Warsaw Grand Prix to Pawal Pawlikowski’s Ida, which won Best Film at the BFI London Film Festival on the same night.
The black-and-white film set in the 1960s, which the international jury praised for “the superb combination of script, directing, cinematography, acting and music”, also received the prize of the Ecumenical Jury in Warsaw.
Speaking to ScreenDaily after the awards ceremony, producer Ewa Puszczynska of Lodz-based Opus Film said the film will be released on 90 screens in Poland this Friday (Oct 25) by distributor Solopan Spólka.
Fandango Portobello Sales is handling international distribution, and Music Box Films are planning the North American release for the second quarter of 2014. It debuted at Toronto last month.
Puszczynska was joined on stage to receive the Grand Prix by the non-professional...
- 10/21/2013
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
AFI Fest 2013 presented by Audi top brass unveiled the New Auteurs and shorts sections that will screen at the festival, set to take place from November 7-14 in Hollywood.
The New Auteurs section highlights first and second-time feature film directors from around the world.
Entries include: Yeon Sang-ho’s The Fake (South Korea), Emir Baigazin’s Harmony Lessons (Kazakhstan, Germany, France), Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross’ In Bloom (Georgia, Germany, France); Mira Fornay’s My Dog Killer (Slovakia, Czech Republic); and Katrin Gebbe’s Nothing Bad Can Happen (Germany).
Rounding out the ten selections are: Agustín Toscano and Ezequiel Radusky’s The Owners (Argentina); Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant (UK); Ben Rivers and Ben Russell’s A Spell To Ward Off The Darkness (France, Estonia); Ramon Zürcher’s The Strange Little Cat (Germany); and Samuel Isamu Kishi Leopo’s We Are Mari Pepa (Mexico);
For the full list of shorts and jurors for both categories visit the...
The New Auteurs section highlights first and second-time feature film directors from around the world.
Entries include: Yeon Sang-ho’s The Fake (South Korea), Emir Baigazin’s Harmony Lessons (Kazakhstan, Germany, France), Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross’ In Bloom (Georgia, Germany, France); Mira Fornay’s My Dog Killer (Slovakia, Czech Republic); and Katrin Gebbe’s Nothing Bad Can Happen (Germany).
Rounding out the ten selections are: Agustín Toscano and Ezequiel Radusky’s The Owners (Argentina); Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant (UK); Ben Rivers and Ben Russell’s A Spell To Ward Off The Darkness (France, Estonia); Ramon Zürcher’s The Strange Little Cat (Germany); and Samuel Isamu Kishi Leopo’s We Are Mari Pepa (Mexico);
For the full list of shorts and jurors for both categories visit the...
- 10/15/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
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
The Academy officially announced today that a record 76 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 2014 Oscars. Among those submitting, Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants and this is the first time Montenegro has submitted a film as an independent country. Based solely on name recognition alone I'd say Thomas Vinterberg's The Hunt (Denmark) and Asghar Farhadi's The Past (Iran) will be looked at as front-runners. However, I haven't only seen a few of the titles on this list, another of which is Mexico's entry, Heli from Amat Escalante. I have heard good things about Borgman (Netherlands) and it will be interesting to see how Haifaa al-Mansour's Wadjda is treated as it is a story unto itself, not to mention it seems to be receiving high marks from those that have seen it. I'm personally hoping to catch it soon...
- 10/7/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
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
Denmark Selects 'The Hunt' & Hong Kong 'Grandmaster' as Foreign List for the 2014 Oscars Grows to 57
It had been a while since I last updated the list of films submitted for the 2014 Oscar race for Best Foreign Language Feature, but today I bring you 21 new titles as the list has now grown to 57 total films. Perhaps the most notable of the films added today is Thomas Vinterberg's The Hunt starring Mads Mikkelsen. The film played the 2012 Cannes Film Festival but it wasn't released in the Netherlands until late October last year, which means it missed the eligibility date by about a month. The Hunt won Mikkelsen the award for Best Actor in Cannes last year and I finally saw it earlier this year, calling it "one of the best films of the year" with a "masterclass performance from Mikkelsen." You can read my full review here. Additional titles worth of note include Hong Kong's submission of Wong Kar-wai's The Grandmaster and Italy's submission of...
- 9/26/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The latest Slovak and Czech co-production, My Dog Killer is directed by young Slovak filmmaker Mira Fornay. The film happened to scoop up several awards on the international fest circuit (including Rotterdam) this past year, though the reaction on the home front has been rather lukewarm. The same scenario had occurred already with Fornay´s debut feature, Foxes, which premiered in the International Film Critics' Week Venice Iff 2009.Nonetheless My Dog Killer has been filling pages in the national newspapers since its premiere at Rotterdam and it winning the Hivos Tiger Award (the film continues to scoop awards all over the globe). It is now Slovakia´s submission for the Foreign Language category at the Academy Awards, as well as at the European Film Awards. Funnily enough,...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 9/26/2013
- Screen Anarchy
European Film Academy reveals titles of the films on this year’s selection list.Scroll down for full list
The European Film Academy and Efa Productions have announced the titles of the 46 films on this year’s selection list - the list of films recommended for a nomination for the European Film Awards 2013.
A total of 32 European countries are represented. In the 20 countries with the most Efa Members, these members have voted one national film directly into the selection list. To complete the list, a selection committee consisting of Efa Board Members and invited experts have included further films.
In the coming weeks, the 2,900 Efa members will vote for the nominations in the categories European Film, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenwriter. The nominations will then be announced on Nov 9 at the Seville European Film Festival in Spain.
A seven-member jury will decide on the awards recipients in the categories European Cinematographer, Editor, Production...
The European Film Academy and Efa Productions have announced the titles of the 46 films on this year’s selection list - the list of films recommended for a nomination for the European Film Awards 2013.
A total of 32 European countries are represented. In the 20 countries with the most Efa Members, these members have voted one national film directly into the selection list. To complete the list, a selection committee consisting of Efa Board Members and invited experts have included further films.
In the coming weeks, the 2,900 Efa members will vote for the nominations in the categories European Film, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenwriter. The nominations will then be announced on Nov 9 at the Seville European Film Festival in Spain.
A seven-member jury will decide on the awards recipients in the categories European Cinematographer, Editor, Production...
- 9/9/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
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