Three titles received €500,000.
Ildikó Enyedi’s Silent Friend is among 29 projects to receive a share of €8.1m in Eurimages’ latest round of co-production funding.
The new feature from Hungarian filmmaker Enyedi, who won Berlin’s Golden Bear for On Body And Soul in 2017, is a co-production between Germany, France and Hungary, and received €500,000 – the largest amount awarded in this round of funding. The film focuses on an ancient tree in the Botanical Gardens of the university town of Marburg to explore the relationship between man and nature.
Scroll down for full list of titles
Two more titles received €500,000: The Captive...
Ildikó Enyedi’s Silent Friend is among 29 projects to receive a share of €8.1m in Eurimages’ latest round of co-production funding.
The new feature from Hungarian filmmaker Enyedi, who won Berlin’s Golden Bear for On Body And Soul in 2017, is a co-production between Germany, France and Hungary, and received €500,000 – the largest amount awarded in this round of funding. The film focuses on an ancient tree in the Botanical Gardens of the university town of Marburg to explore the relationship between man and nature.
Scroll down for full list of titles
Two more titles received €500,000: The Captive...
- 11/27/2023
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
Star of Pawel Pawlikowski’s ‘Cold War’ joins sci-fi detective feature.
Polish actor Tomasz Kot, best known for his starring role in Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold War, will star in Czech director Robert Hloz’s Restore Point.
The sci-fi detective project won the Screen International Best Pitch Award at Tallinn’s Baltic Event co-production market in 2017.
It is set in Europe 2038 where everyone has the right of recovery in case of unnatural death and in this society, ‘absolute’ murder is nearly impossible. It is against this backdrop that an ambitious female detective takes on the case of a murdered married...
Polish actor Tomasz Kot, best known for his starring role in Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold War, will star in Czech director Robert Hloz’s Restore Point.
The sci-fi detective project won the Screen International Best Pitch Award at Tallinn’s Baltic Event co-production market in 2017.
It is set in Europe 2038 where everyone has the right of recovery in case of unnatural death and in this society, ‘absolute’ murder is nearly impossible. It is against this backdrop that an ambitious female detective takes on the case of a murdered married...
- 11/28/2019
- by 158¦Martin Blaney¦40¦
- ScreenDaily
Line-up includes new titles from Yosep Anggi Noen, Hussein Hassan, Ash Mayfair and Hu Jia.
Busan International Film Festival (Biff)’s Asian Project Market has unveiled the 29 projects selected for this year’s edition of the financing and co-production event (October 6-8).
The line-up includes Silah And The Man With Two Names, the new project from Indonesian director Yosep Anggi Noen, whose latest film The Science Of Fictions will premiere in competition at this year’s Locarno.
Other projects of note include Black And White Photo, from Nepali filmmaker Rajesh Prasad Khatri, which received development funding from Biff’s Asian Cinema Fund...
Busan International Film Festival (Biff)’s Asian Project Market has unveiled the 29 projects selected for this year’s edition of the financing and co-production event (October 6-8).
The line-up includes Silah And The Man With Two Names, the new project from Indonesian director Yosep Anggi Noen, whose latest film The Science Of Fictions will premiere in competition at this year’s Locarno.
Other projects of note include Black And White Photo, from Nepali filmmaker Rajesh Prasad Khatri, which received development funding from Biff’s Asian Cinema Fund...
- 8/8/2019
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Sofia Film Festival winners also announced.
Dublin-based Italian writer-director Nathalie Biancheri’s second feature film project Wolf was awarded the Danny Lerner Grand Prix for best international project at the 15th edition of the Sofia Meetings co-production market this weekend.
The Nu Boyana Film Studios’ CEO Yariv Lerner handed over a prize of €50,000 in services and a cheque for €5,000 to Biancheri and her producer Jessie Fisk for what the director describes as “a high concept, absurdist arthouse drama”.
Budgeted at €1.2m, Wolf is set to be the first project to go into production by Fisk’s production company Feline Films.
Dublin-based Italian writer-director Nathalie Biancheri’s second feature film project Wolf was awarded the Danny Lerner Grand Prix for best international project at the 15th edition of the Sofia Meetings co-production market this weekend.
The Nu Boyana Film Studios’ CEO Yariv Lerner handed over a prize of €50,000 in services and a cheque for €5,000 to Biancheri and her producer Jessie Fisk for what the director describes as “a high concept, absurdist arthouse drama”.
Budgeted at €1.2m, Wolf is set to be the first project to go into production by Fisk’s production company Feline Films.
- 3/19/2018
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
Selection includes films from Siddiq Barmak, Yoon Gaeun and Min Bahadur Bham.
In South Korea, the Busan International Film Festival (Biff)’s Asian Project Market (Apm) has announced 28 titles from 17 countries for this year.
The 20th Apm’s selection includes projects from Golden Globe best foreign language film award winner Siddiq Barmak (Osama) and Berlinale Generation director Yoon Gaeun (The World Of Us).
Afghan filmmaker Barmak’s Georgia-France co-production The Pass is a wartime drama about two soldiers from opposite sides who are forced to cooperate in order to cross a dangerous mountain pass alongside refugees.
Korean director Yoon’s Sora is a drama about a middle school girl who finds out a secret about the new kid in the neighborhood.
According to organizers, the number of projects submitted to Apm this year went up “almost 25%” from the previous year to reach 317. In the 19 previous years, “a total of 499 projects have been selected with more than 220 of...
In South Korea, the Busan International Film Festival (Biff)’s Asian Project Market (Apm) has announced 28 titles from 17 countries for this year.
The 20th Apm’s selection includes projects from Golden Globe best foreign language film award winner Siddiq Barmak (Osama) and Berlinale Generation director Yoon Gaeun (The World Of Us).
Afghan filmmaker Barmak’s Georgia-France co-production The Pass is a wartime drama about two soldiers from opposite sides who are forced to cooperate in order to cross a dangerous mountain pass alongside refugees.
Korean director Yoon’s Sora is a drama about a middle school girl who finds out a secret about the new kid in the neighborhood.
According to organizers, the number of projects submitted to Apm this year went up “almost 25%” from the previous year to reach 317. In the 19 previous years, “a total of 499 projects have been selected with more than 220 of...
- 8/14/2017
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
Seven more titles join co-production market.
The Sarajevo Film Festival (Aug 11-18) has finalised its selection for the 2017 CineLink Co-Production Market.
Joining seven previously announced titles are seven more feature projects, all of which are from Eastern Europe.
They include the latest feature from Georgian filmmaker George Ovashvili, whose 2014 film Corn Island won a Crystal Globe in Karlovy Vary and was shortlisted for an Academy Award. His project, The Pass, is being co-directed by Afghani director Siddiq Barmak, whose 2003 feature Osama premiered at Cannes and won a Golden Globe for best foreign language film.
Also attending the market with projects are Slovenian filmmaker Damjan Kozole, who won best director at Karlovy Vary in 2016 with Nightlife, and Bulgarian director Konstantin Bojanov, whose debut feature Avé premiered at Cannes in 2011 and whose latest film Light Thereafter premiered in Rotterdam this year.
Selected titles
Snow White Dies At The End (Macedonia)
Writer and Director: Kristijan Risteski
Producer: Kristijan Risteski, [link...
The Sarajevo Film Festival (Aug 11-18) has finalised its selection for the 2017 CineLink Co-Production Market.
Joining seven previously announced titles are seven more feature projects, all of which are from Eastern Europe.
They include the latest feature from Georgian filmmaker George Ovashvili, whose 2014 film Corn Island won a Crystal Globe in Karlovy Vary and was shortlisted for an Academy Award. His project, The Pass, is being co-directed by Afghani director Siddiq Barmak, whose 2003 feature Osama premiered at Cannes and won a Golden Globe for best foreign language film.
Also attending the market with projects are Slovenian filmmaker Damjan Kozole, who won best director at Karlovy Vary in 2016 with Nightlife, and Bulgarian director Konstantin Bojanov, whose debut feature Avé premiered at Cannes in 2011 and whose latest film Light Thereafter premiered in Rotterdam this year.
Selected titles
Snow White Dies At The End (Macedonia)
Writer and Director: Kristijan Risteski
Producer: Kristijan Risteski, [link...
- 7/10/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Less than two weeks after the start of Brexit negotiations, the European Union turned to a familiar place to wrestle with its current identity crisis — the movies.
That was the setting last weekend in the Czech Republic, when European Union representatives gathered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival to announce the 10 selections for the Lux Film Prize. At a cocktail lounge in the Grandhotel Pupp, Wes Anderson’s inspiration for “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” attendees toasted to the promise and hope of Europe’s shared cultural unity — while 473 miles west in Brussels, one member of that union outlined the terms of its removal.
European Parliament sponsors Lux, and the prizemaking will continue throughout the year. This fall at the Venice International Film Festival, those 10 films will be narrowed down to three, which will be subtitled in all 24 official E.U. languages and distributed into every member country, at which...
That was the setting last weekend in the Czech Republic, when European Union representatives gathered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival to announce the 10 selections for the Lux Film Prize. At a cocktail lounge in the Grandhotel Pupp, Wes Anderson’s inspiration for “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” attendees toasted to the promise and hope of Europe’s shared cultural unity — while 473 miles west in Brussels, one member of that union outlined the terms of its removal.
European Parliament sponsors Lux, and the prizemaking will continue throughout the year. This fall at the Venice International Film Festival, those 10 films will be narrowed down to three, which will be subtitled in all 24 official E.U. languages and distributed into every member country, at which...
- 7/8/2017
- by Andrew Lapin
- Indiewire
The 2017 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has announced its 12-film competition lineup, including two films from directors who previously won the fest’s Crystal Globe award.
Read More: 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Will Honor Ken Loach, James Newton Howard and More
“Birds Are Singing in Kigali,” the last film from Polish director Krzysztof Krauze, who died in 2014, was completed by Krauze’s co-director and wife, Joanna Kos-Krauze. The film focuses on the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Krauze’s film “My Nikifor” won the Crystal Globe and the award for Best Director at the festival in 2005.
Georgian filmmaker George Ovashvili also returns to the fest with the drama “Khibula.” The film is “an archetypal story inspired by journey of the newly independent Georgia’s first president.” Ovashvili’s “Corn Island” won the Crystal Globe in 2014.
The 2017 edition of Kviff will also include Boris Khlebnikov’s new drama “Arrhythmia,” Václav Kadrnka...
Read More: 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Will Honor Ken Loach, James Newton Howard and More
“Birds Are Singing in Kigali,” the last film from Polish director Krzysztof Krauze, who died in 2014, was completed by Krauze’s co-director and wife, Joanna Kos-Krauze. The film focuses on the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Krauze’s film “My Nikifor” won the Crystal Globe and the award for Best Director at the festival in 2005.
Georgian filmmaker George Ovashvili also returns to the fest with the drama “Khibula.” The film is “an archetypal story inspired by journey of the newly independent Georgia’s first president.” Ovashvili’s “Corn Island” won the Crystal Globe in 2014.
The 2017 edition of Kviff will also include Boris Khlebnikov’s new drama “Arrhythmia,” Václav Kadrnka...
- 5/30/2017
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
The final film from Krzysztof Krauze and new project from Giorgi Ovashvili to play in main competition.Scroll Down For Competition Line-ups
The 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (June 30 - July 8) has unveiled the competition titles in its Official Selection, East of the West and Documentary sections.
Main competition
The 12-strong main competition will comprise eight world premieres and four international premieres, including Birds Are Singing In Kigali (pictured), the final film from Polish director Krzysztof Krauze, who died in 2014.
The project, which depicts the consequences of the Rwandan genocide, was completed by his co-director and wife Joanna Kos-Krauze.
Other films in competition include Boris Khlebnikov’s new drama Arrhythmia, Václav Kadrnka’s Little Crusader, Peter Bebjak’s criminal thriller The Line and Giorgi Ovashvili’s Georgian historical drama Khibula. Ovashvili returns after winning the Kviff Crystal Globe for Corn Island in 2014.
East of the West
The East of the West strand will open with Ilgar Najaf...
The 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (June 30 - July 8) has unveiled the competition titles in its Official Selection, East of the West and Documentary sections.
Main competition
The 12-strong main competition will comprise eight world premieres and four international premieres, including Birds Are Singing In Kigali (pictured), the final film from Polish director Krzysztof Krauze, who died in 2014.
The project, which depicts the consequences of the Rwandan genocide, was completed by his co-director and wife Joanna Kos-Krauze.
Other films in competition include Boris Khlebnikov’s new drama Arrhythmia, Václav Kadrnka’s Little Crusader, Peter Bebjak’s criminal thriller The Line and Giorgi Ovashvili’s Georgian historical drama Khibula. Ovashvili returns after winning the Kviff Crystal Globe for Corn Island in 2014.
East of the West
The East of the West strand will open with Ilgar Najaf...
- 5/30/2017
- by orlando.parfitt@screendaily.com (Orlando Parfitt)
- ScreenDaily
The final film from Krzysztof Krauze and new project from Giorgi Ovashvili to play in main competition.Scroll Down For Competition Line-ups
The 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (June 30 - July 8) has unveiled the competition titles in its Official Selection, East of the West and Documentary sections.
Main competition
The 12-strong main competition will comprise eight world premieres and four international premieres, including Birds Are Singing In Kigali (pictured), the final film from Polish director Krzysztof Krauze, who died in 2014.
The project, which depicts the consequences of the Rwandan genocide, was completed by his co-director and wife Joanna Kos-Krauze.
Other films in competition include Boris Khlebnikov’s new drama Arrhythmia, Václav Kadrnka’s Little Crusader, Peter Bebjak’s criminal thriller The Line and Giorgi Ovashvili’s Georgian historical drama Khibula. Ovashvili returns after winning the Kviff Crystal Globe for Corn Island in 2014.
East of the West
The East of the West strand will open with Ilgar Najaf...
The 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (June 30 - July 8) has unveiled the competition titles in its Official Selection, East of the West and Documentary sections.
Main competition
The 12-strong main competition will comprise eight world premieres and four international premieres, including Birds Are Singing In Kigali (pictured), the final film from Polish director Krzysztof Krauze, who died in 2014.
The project, which depicts the consequences of the Rwandan genocide, was completed by his co-director and wife Joanna Kos-Krauze.
Other films in competition include Boris Khlebnikov’s new drama Arrhythmia, Václav Kadrnka’s Little Crusader, Peter Bebjak’s criminal thriller The Line and Giorgi Ovashvili’s Georgian historical drama Khibula. Ovashvili returns after winning the Kviff Crystal Globe for Corn Island in 2014.
East of the West
The East of the West strand will open with Ilgar Najaf...
- 5/30/2017
- by orlando.parfitt@screendaily.com (Orlando Parfitt)
- ScreenDaily
Acclaimed Georgian filmmaker George Ovashvili returns to the Karlovy Vary Film Festival next month with Khibula, a story inspired by the life of the first, and ill-fated, president of the newly independent former Soviet state in the early 1990s.
Ovashvili, who won the Czech festival’s Crystal Globe for Corn Island in 2014, will be competing against other former Karlovy Vary laureates, including Russian director Boris Khlebnikov’s film of the breakdown of a marriage between two medics, Arrhythmia, and Rwandan genocide-themed film Birds Are Singing in Kagali, the last film of late Polish director Krzysztof Krauze, which was completed by his wife...
Ovashvili, who won the Czech festival’s Crystal Globe for Corn Island in 2014, will be competing against other former Karlovy Vary laureates, including Russian director Boris Khlebnikov’s film of the breakdown of a marriage between two medics, Arrhythmia, and Rwandan genocide-themed film Birds Are Singing in Kagali, the last film of late Polish director Krzysztof Krauze, which was completed by his wife...
- 5/30/2017
- by Nick Holdsworth
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Screen investigates which films from around the world could launch on the Croisette, including on opening night.
With just over a month to go before the line-up for this year’s Cannes Film Festival is unveiled in Paris, Croisette predictions and wish lists are hitting the web thick and fast.
Screen’s network of correspondents and contributors around the world have been putting out feelers to get a sense of what might or might not make it to the Palais du Cinéma or one of the parallel sections.
Just like the Oscars, this year’s festival is likely to unfold amid a politically-charged atmosphere. Beyond Trump and the rise of populism across the globe, France will be digesting the result of its own presidential election on May 7. Against this background, the festival will be feting its 70th edition.
Below, Screen reveals which titles might - and might not - be in the running for a place at the...
With just over a month to go before the line-up for this year’s Cannes Film Festival is unveiled in Paris, Croisette predictions and wish lists are hitting the web thick and fast.
Screen’s network of correspondents and contributors around the world have been putting out feelers to get a sense of what might or might not make it to the Palais du Cinéma or one of the parallel sections.
Just like the Oscars, this year’s festival is likely to unfold amid a politically-charged atmosphere. Beyond Trump and the rise of populism across the globe, France will be digesting the result of its own presidential election on May 7. Against this background, the festival will be feting its 70th edition.
Below, Screen reveals which titles might - and might not - be in the running for a place at the...
- 3/13/2017
- ScreenDaily
Trieste event welcomed 350 industry professionals this year.
Women producers were the big winners at the seventh edition of Trieste’s When East Meets West (Wemw) co-production forum, which was attended by more than 350 industry professional from over 30 countries.
The Wemw jury awarded the Cnc Development Award to Italian producer Erica Barbiani for her pitch of Hungarian director Peter Kerekes’ new documentary Wishing On A Star.
Two free accreditations to Cannes’ Producers Network went to Cecilia Frugiuele for Bosnian filmmaker Una Gunjak’s debut feature Alfa and to Georgia’s Tekla Machavariani for Marine Gulbiani’s documentary Before Father Is Back, about two Muslim girls waiting for their fathers to come home from abroad.
The Turkish producer-director team of Anna Maria Aslanoglu and Nazli Elif Durlu went home with the Flow Postproduction Award for Durlu’s feature debut Zuhal.
Film London’s Helena Mackenzie and Mia Co-Production Market’s Alexia De Vito were in Trieste to present the Trl...
Women producers were the big winners at the seventh edition of Trieste’s When East Meets West (Wemw) co-production forum, which was attended by more than 350 industry professional from over 30 countries.
The Wemw jury awarded the Cnc Development Award to Italian producer Erica Barbiani for her pitch of Hungarian director Peter Kerekes’ new documentary Wishing On A Star.
Two free accreditations to Cannes’ Producers Network went to Cecilia Frugiuele for Bosnian filmmaker Una Gunjak’s debut feature Alfa and to Georgia’s Tekla Machavariani for Marine Gulbiani’s documentary Before Father Is Back, about two Muslim girls waiting for their fathers to come home from abroad.
The Turkish producer-director team of Anna Maria Aslanoglu and Nazli Elif Durlu went home with the Flow Postproduction Award for Durlu’s feature debut Zuhal.
Film London’s Helena Mackenzie and Mia Co-Production Market’s Alexia De Vito were in Trieste to present the Trl...
- 1/25/2017
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
2nd Annual Asian World Film Festival Opens in Culver City October 24: Best of Asian World CinemaExecutive Director, Georges N. Chamchoum
This is the first festival of its kind to play in the United States, giving audiences the unique opportunity to see films from Japan and Turkey and everywhere in-between. The festival is held at the height of the awards season to give these Asian filmmakers maximum exposure. The festival’s Executive Director, Georges N. Chamchoum is announcing films from 51 countries which are eligible. Greater recognition to the region’s wealth of filmmakers will strengthen ties between the Asian and Hollywood film industries.
All films selected by their countries as Oscar® or Golden Globes® contenders are automatically invited. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizes these showings as the required official screenings for their members who vote on the Golden Globes®. At last year’s inaugural event some 30 films from 27 countries participated.
This is the first festival of its kind to play in the United States, giving audiences the unique opportunity to see films from Japan and Turkey and everywhere in-between. The festival is held at the height of the awards season to give these Asian filmmakers maximum exposure. The festival’s Executive Director, Georges N. Chamchoum is announcing films from 51 countries which are eligible. Greater recognition to the region’s wealth of filmmakers will strengthen ties between the Asian and Hollywood film industries.
All films selected by their countries as Oscar® or Golden Globes® contenders are automatically invited. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizes these showings as the required official screenings for their members who vote on the Golden Globes®. At last year’s inaugural event some 30 films from 27 countries participated.
- 10/18/2016
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Amazon Studios’ Ted Hope to reveal “vision for film”; works in progress winner to receive new award worth more than $100,000.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (July 1-9) has announced its industry programme and the projects selected for its works in progress and Eurimages Lab Project awards.
The line-up includes an in conversation event with Ted Hope, head of motion picture production at Amazon Studios, who will offer his future vision for film.
The festival will also host mark 20 years since the death of Czech filmmaker František (Frank) Daniel with a workshop, where Daniel’s teaching methods will be presented by analysing the film Some Like It Hot.
Other events will provide insight into the Czech Republic’s production benefits; panels on approaches to film education in Europe; and the 10th annual conference of Europa Distribution.
In addition, the European Parliament will unveil the 10 films nominated for the 10th Lux Film Prize; the Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program...
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (July 1-9) has announced its industry programme and the projects selected for its works in progress and Eurimages Lab Project awards.
The line-up includes an in conversation event with Ted Hope, head of motion picture production at Amazon Studios, who will offer his future vision for film.
The festival will also host mark 20 years since the death of Czech filmmaker František (Frank) Daniel with a workshop, where Daniel’s teaching methods will be presented by analysing the film Some Like It Hot.
Other events will provide insight into the Czech Republic’s production benefits; panels on approaches to film education in Europe; and the 10th annual conference of Europa Distribution.
In addition, the European Parliament will unveil the 10 films nominated for the 10th Lux Film Prize; the Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program...
- 6/21/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Festival reveals guests headed to Karlovy Vary next month.
Us actor Willem Dafoe and writer-director Charlie Kaufman are to be honoured at the 51st Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) (July 1-9) on its opening night .
Dafoe is to receive the Crystal Globe for outstanding contribution to world cinema and the festival will screen his performances in Abel Ferrara’s Pasolini and Martin Scorese’s The Last Temptation of Christ.
Kaufman, who won an Oscar for his script for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, will receive the president’s award and the festival will screen animation Anomalisa, which he co-directed with Duke Johnson.
As previously announced, the festival set in the Czech Republic spa town will open with the world premiere of Second World War thriller Anthropoid, with actors Jamie Dornan and Toby Jones, Aňa Geislerová, Alena Mihulová, Václav Neužil and Marcin Dorocinski in attendence alongside writer-director Sean Ellis.
Guests
Other...
Us actor Willem Dafoe and writer-director Charlie Kaufman are to be honoured at the 51st Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) (July 1-9) on its opening night .
Dafoe is to receive the Crystal Globe for outstanding contribution to world cinema and the festival will screen his performances in Abel Ferrara’s Pasolini and Martin Scorese’s The Last Temptation of Christ.
Kaufman, who won an Oscar for his script for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, will receive the president’s award and the festival will screen animation Anomalisa, which he co-directed with Duke Johnson.
As previously announced, the festival set in the Czech Republic spa town will open with the world premiere of Second World War thriller Anthropoid, with actors Jamie Dornan and Toby Jones, Aňa Geislerová, Alena Mihulová, Václav Neužil and Marcin Dorocinski in attendence alongside writer-director Sean Ellis.
Guests
Other...
- 6/21/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The Asian World Film Festival (Awff), which is dedicated to bringing the best of a broad selection of Asian World cinema to Los Angeles, has added East West Artists (Ewa) Co-Founder Jaeson Ma as Director of International Relations. The Festival slate will consist of select foreign language films that have been officially submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture, Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) as their country’s Oscar® hopeful and those submitted to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for Golden Globe consideration.
Awff has also enlisted several notable industry executives for its Honorary Board, including former studio executive Teddy Zee and Carolco Pictures executive producer Mario Kassar ("Rambo," "Basic Instinct") as well as the former Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa. With The Wrap serving as the official media partner, Awff will take place October 26-November 2, 2015 and will be based at ArcLight Cinema in downtown Culver City and the luxury iPic Theaters in Westwood.
After recently teaming up with Ma on "The Shack," starring Octavia Spencer, Sumire and Sam Worthington, producer Lani Netter secured Ma, recognizing his ability as a strategic consultant and producer, cultivating global Asian talents at Ewa, (which is in partnership with Untitled Entertainment), and since his expertise directly aligns with Awff’s goal of drawing greater recognition to an underrepresented region of talent and filmmakers.
“Jaeson Ma is an ideal partner and asset to Awff because of his long established relationships with the Hollywood and Asian filmmaking industries. He's a trusted ally and invaluable addition,” said Netter, who serves as the Festival’s Director of Development and Philanthropy.
On joining the Awff Board, Ma shared, “Awff will showcase films and talents from the fastest growing region for entertainment, which is very exciting. There are many incredible films in Asia that are not realized by the international marketplace but now they have a fighting chance to be recognized and celebrated at the highest level through Awff."
The Festival’s Advisory Board welcomed producer Stefan Brunner, Shoreline Entertainment producer, Alex Flores, producer Medha Jaishankar, Emmy-winning TV and film director Jeremy Kagan, Igor Kokarev, scholar and expert on Soviet and American Film History, producer Brad Littlefield, producer and Founder and CEO of the Hollywood Film Academy Gia Noortas, South Korean film producer Keon-Seop Park, producer Eliyas Qureshi, producer Nick N. Raslan and Thomas Small, writer and Cultural Affairs Commissioner to the City of Culver City.
I'm excited to announced that I will be joining a great group including His Royal Highness Prince Gharios of Ghassan, Hany Haddad, immediate Past Chair of Board of Directors at the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Lebanese philanthropist Maya Ibrahim, Amin Maalouf, best-selling author and member of the French Academy, Oscar®-winning producer Andre Morgan (Million Dollar Baby), director George Ovashvili, Hon. Roy Paul, judge for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, South Korean film producer and distributor Chul Shin, community leader and Co-Founder of the Hollywood Schoolhouse, Ferris Wehbe, Weissman/Markovitz Communications Chairman and Co-Founder Murray Weissman and Korean activist and public figure Grace Yoo, to serve on this year’s Honorary Board.
Awff will open with a red carpet awards gala on Monday, October 26, recognizing celebrities and well-known foreign talent and filmmakers who have been major contributors throughout the Asian world film community, followed by seven days of films at ArcLight Cinema and the iPic Theater and with the closing night Festival Awards presented along with the closing night film on Monday, November 2. Throughout the week there will also be expert panels on subjects like film financing, distribution, PR, marketing and awards campaigns, editing for a global audience and more to be announced.
Films that will be accepted by the Festival include those from the 50 countries recognized by the Academy and HFPA. Priority will be given to those in the Best Foreign Language Film categories at the 88th Academy Awards and 73rd Golden Globes. In rare cases, the Asian World Film Festival will consider other outstanding films that are not in contention for the Oscars® or Golden Globes, but which have received critical acclaim on the international film festival circuit. More detailed guidelines are available at www.asianworldfilmfest.org/submissions.
The prizes given out are of significant value to enhance the awards campaign and will feature top prizes for Best Film, Jury Selection and Audience awards including The Wrap’s Awards Special Screening Series and full page ads in the Foreign Film and Oscar Wrap issues valued at over $50,000.
Awff has also enlisted several notable industry executives for its Honorary Board, including former studio executive Teddy Zee and Carolco Pictures executive producer Mario Kassar ("Rambo," "Basic Instinct") as well as the former Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa. With The Wrap serving as the official media partner, Awff will take place October 26-November 2, 2015 and will be based at ArcLight Cinema in downtown Culver City and the luxury iPic Theaters in Westwood.
After recently teaming up with Ma on "The Shack," starring Octavia Spencer, Sumire and Sam Worthington, producer Lani Netter secured Ma, recognizing his ability as a strategic consultant and producer, cultivating global Asian talents at Ewa, (which is in partnership with Untitled Entertainment), and since his expertise directly aligns with Awff’s goal of drawing greater recognition to an underrepresented region of talent and filmmakers.
“Jaeson Ma is an ideal partner and asset to Awff because of his long established relationships with the Hollywood and Asian filmmaking industries. He's a trusted ally and invaluable addition,” said Netter, who serves as the Festival’s Director of Development and Philanthropy.
On joining the Awff Board, Ma shared, “Awff will showcase films and talents from the fastest growing region for entertainment, which is very exciting. There are many incredible films in Asia that are not realized by the international marketplace but now they have a fighting chance to be recognized and celebrated at the highest level through Awff."
The Festival’s Advisory Board welcomed producer Stefan Brunner, Shoreline Entertainment producer, Alex Flores, producer Medha Jaishankar, Emmy-winning TV and film director Jeremy Kagan, Igor Kokarev, scholar and expert on Soviet and American Film History, producer Brad Littlefield, producer and Founder and CEO of the Hollywood Film Academy Gia Noortas, South Korean film producer Keon-Seop Park, producer Eliyas Qureshi, producer Nick N. Raslan and Thomas Small, writer and Cultural Affairs Commissioner to the City of Culver City.
I'm excited to announced that I will be joining a great group including His Royal Highness Prince Gharios of Ghassan, Hany Haddad, immediate Past Chair of Board of Directors at the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Lebanese philanthropist Maya Ibrahim, Amin Maalouf, best-selling author and member of the French Academy, Oscar®-winning producer Andre Morgan (Million Dollar Baby), director George Ovashvili, Hon. Roy Paul, judge for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, South Korean film producer and distributor Chul Shin, community leader and Co-Founder of the Hollywood Schoolhouse, Ferris Wehbe, Weissman/Markovitz Communications Chairman and Co-Founder Murray Weissman and Korean activist and public figure Grace Yoo, to serve on this year’s Honorary Board.
Awff will open with a red carpet awards gala on Monday, October 26, recognizing celebrities and well-known foreign talent and filmmakers who have been major contributors throughout the Asian world film community, followed by seven days of films at ArcLight Cinema and the iPic Theater and with the closing night Festival Awards presented along with the closing night film on Monday, November 2. Throughout the week there will also be expert panels on subjects like film financing, distribution, PR, marketing and awards campaigns, editing for a global audience and more to be announced.
Films that will be accepted by the Festival include those from the 50 countries recognized by the Academy and HFPA. Priority will be given to those in the Best Foreign Language Film categories at the 88th Academy Awards and 73rd Golden Globes. In rare cases, the Asian World Film Festival will consider other outstanding films that are not in contention for the Oscars® or Golden Globes, but which have received critical acclaim on the international film festival circuit. More detailed guidelines are available at www.asianworldfilmfest.org/submissions.
The prizes given out are of significant value to enhance the awards campaign and will feature top prizes for Best Film, Jury Selection and Audience awards including The Wrap’s Awards Special Screening Series and full page ads in the Foreign Film and Oscar Wrap issues valued at over $50,000.
- 8/19/2015
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
Lisa Nichol.s Wide Open Sky has won the Foxtel Movies Audience award for best documentary feature at the Sydney Film Festival.
The doc chronicles the journey of an outback Australian children.s choir from auditions to their end-of-year concert and choir founder Michelle Leonard.s mission to bring a desolate musical landscape back to life.
Nicol has previously directed A Night at Sea with Louis Tillet, Pray Ho'tell and Outback Choir.
Voted as the best narrative feature was Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, the saga of a self-deprecating high school student who is forced to befriend a classmate who's been diagnosed with leukaemia. Foxtel Movies Audience Award for Best Documentary top 5:
1. Wide Open Sky, directed by Lisa Nicol 2. Gayby Baby, directed by Maya Newell 3. The Lost Aviator, directed by Andrew Lancaster 4. The Bolivian Case, directed by Violeta Ayala 5. Sherpa, directed by Jennifer Peedom...
The doc chronicles the journey of an outback Australian children.s choir from auditions to their end-of-year concert and choir founder Michelle Leonard.s mission to bring a desolate musical landscape back to life.
Nicol has previously directed A Night at Sea with Louis Tillet, Pray Ho'tell and Outback Choir.
Voted as the best narrative feature was Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, the saga of a self-deprecating high school student who is forced to befriend a classmate who's been diagnosed with leukaemia. Foxtel Movies Audience Award for Best Documentary top 5:
1. Wide Open Sky, directed by Lisa Nicol 2. Gayby Baby, directed by Maya Newell 3. The Lost Aviator, directed by Andrew Lancaster 4. The Bolivian Case, directed by Violeta Ayala 5. Sherpa, directed by Jennifer Peedom...
- 6/17/2015
- by Staff writer
- IF.com.au
Innovations include showing Utopia as part of first TV offering at a Croatian festival.
Croatia’s Pula Film Festival (July 18-25) has announced the programme for its 62nd edition.
The Croatian programme saw 75 films submitted - 28 features, 47 shorts - of which 14 features, including Cannes hit The High Sun by Dalibor Matanić, and 16 shorts were selected.
The International Competition includes 14 features, and 12 shorts out of competition.
Pula will be the first festival in Croatia to show a TV series, Dennis Kelly’s UK production Utopia.
Other features to play out of competition include three Us crowdpleasers: Minions by Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin; Pixels by Chris Columbus; and Terminator Genisys by Alan Taylor.
Pula’s offerings also include the Short Matters short programme presented with the European Film Academy; the Dizalica strand for 16-to 21 year-olds; and the children’s programme Pulica.
Croatian Features We Will Be The World Champions, Darko Bajić The Girls - Life of Another, Andrea...
Croatia’s Pula Film Festival (July 18-25) has announced the programme for its 62nd edition.
The Croatian programme saw 75 films submitted - 28 features, 47 shorts - of which 14 features, including Cannes hit The High Sun by Dalibor Matanić, and 16 shorts were selected.
The International Competition includes 14 features, and 12 shorts out of competition.
Pula will be the first festival in Croatia to show a TV series, Dennis Kelly’s UK production Utopia.
Other features to play out of competition include three Us crowdpleasers: Minions by Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin; Pixels by Chris Columbus; and Terminator Genisys by Alan Taylor.
Pula’s offerings also include the Short Matters short programme presented with the European Film Academy; the Dizalica strand for 16-to 21 year-olds; and the children’s programme Pulica.
Croatian Features We Will Be The World Champions, Darko Bajić The Girls - Life of Another, Andrea...
- 6/15/2015
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Neil Armfield.s Holding the Man, Simon Stone.s The Daughter, Jeremy Sims. Last Cab to Darwin and Jen Peedom.s feature doc Sherpa will have their world premieres at the Sydney Film Festival.
The festival program unveiled today includes 33 world premieres (including 22 shorts) and 135 Australian premieres (with 18 shorts) among 251 titles from 68 countries.
Among the other premieres will be Daina Reid.s The Secret River, Ruby Entertainment's. ABC-tv miniseries starring Oliver Jackson Cohen and Sarah Snook, and three Oz docs, Marc Eberle.s The Cambodian Space Project — Not Easy Rock .n. Roll, Steve Thomas. Freedom Stories and Lisa Nicol.s Wide Open Sky.
Festival director Nashen Moodley boasted. this year.s event will be far larger than 2014's when 183 films from 47 countries were screened, including 15 world premieres. The expansion is possible in part due to the addition of two new screening venues in Newtown and Liverpool.
As previously announced, Brendan Cowell...
The festival program unveiled today includes 33 world premieres (including 22 shorts) and 135 Australian premieres (with 18 shorts) among 251 titles from 68 countries.
Among the other premieres will be Daina Reid.s The Secret River, Ruby Entertainment's. ABC-tv miniseries starring Oliver Jackson Cohen and Sarah Snook, and three Oz docs, Marc Eberle.s The Cambodian Space Project — Not Easy Rock .n. Roll, Steve Thomas. Freedom Stories and Lisa Nicol.s Wide Open Sky.
Festival director Nashen Moodley boasted. this year.s event will be far larger than 2014's when 183 films from 47 countries were screened, including 15 world premieres. The expansion is possible in part due to the addition of two new screening venues in Newtown and Liverpool.
As previously announced, Brendan Cowell...
- 5/6/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Fruit of the Land: Urushadze’s Straightforward Anti-War Sentiment
The horrors of war are quietly examined in Tangerines, a period situational drama from Georgian director Zaza Urushadze that’s simplistic in execution and hailing from an obscure enough locale to disguise a bit of the familiarity of its important message. Initially premiering in 2013 at the Warsaw Film Festival, the title is a success story of the festival circuit, as a year later it scored both Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Foreign Language Film, and it’s the first Estonian film to hold such a distinction.
In 1992 Abkhazia, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Estonian populous was driven out of the region and forced to return to their native region. But Ivo (Lembit Ulfsak) stayed behind alone, helping his neighbor Margus (Elmo Nuganen) valiantly struggle to harvest his crop of tangerines. Two Chechen soldiers pay a surprise visit to Ivo,...
The horrors of war are quietly examined in Tangerines, a period situational drama from Georgian director Zaza Urushadze that’s simplistic in execution and hailing from an obscure enough locale to disguise a bit of the familiarity of its important message. Initially premiering in 2013 at the Warsaw Film Festival, the title is a success story of the festival circuit, as a year later it scored both Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Foreign Language Film, and it’s the first Estonian film to hold such a distinction.
In 1992 Abkhazia, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Estonian populous was driven out of the region and forced to return to their native region. But Ivo (Lembit Ulfsak) stayed behind alone, helping his neighbor Margus (Elmo Nuganen) valiantly struggle to harvest his crop of tangerines. Two Chechen soldiers pay a surprise visit to Ivo,...
- 4/15/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Two days cut from festival, competition titles reduced and line-up almost halved in the face of tough economic circumstances.
Russia’s crumbling economy has forced the organisers of this year’s Moscow International Film Festival (Miff) to make swingeing cuts to the number of films shown and the festival’s duration.
Speaking to Russian daily newspaper Izvestiya, Miff programme director Kirill Razlogov revealed that the 37th edition will run from June 19-26, two days shorter than in 2014.
While Miff will retain its three competition sections for feature films, shorts and documentaries, the number of titles in the main international competition is likely to be reduced from 16 to 12, although the Free Spirit documentary competition will still have seven films in its line-up.
Razlogov suggested that the number of films invited to screen in Miff’s programme outside of the three competitive sections will be slashed by almost half - from 2014’s 250 to 150 at best.
Although the global...
Russia’s crumbling economy has forced the organisers of this year’s Moscow International Film Festival (Miff) to make swingeing cuts to the number of films shown and the festival’s duration.
Speaking to Russian daily newspaper Izvestiya, Miff programme director Kirill Razlogov revealed that the 37th edition will run from June 19-26, two days shorter than in 2014.
While Miff will retain its three competition sections for feature films, shorts and documentaries, the number of titles in the main international competition is likely to be reduced from 16 to 12, although the Free Spirit documentary competition will still have seven films in its line-up.
Razlogov suggested that the number of films invited to screen in Miff’s programme outside of the three competitive sections will be slashed by almost half - from 2014’s 250 to 150 at best.
Although the global...
- 3/23/2015
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Film will focus on Russian journalist and TV presenter Vladislav Listyev; Oliver Stone eyed as director.
Russian producers Alexander Kulikov (Marins Group Entertainment) and Oleg Teterin (Teterin Film) are planning to make a feature film, Listyev – Hope is The Last To Die, about the prominent Russian journalist and TV presenter Vladislav Listyev who was murdered by unknown assassins on March 1, 1995.
According to Teterin, they are considering Oliver Stone along with Russian film-makers as a possible candidate to serve as the film’s director.
“We hope that the participation in a project of such significance for Russia as a film about Vladislav Listyev will be a natural way for Oliver Stone to continue strengthening his cinematic ties with Russia,” said Teterin whose company last year acquired the rights to Stone’s The Untold Story Of The United States which was later broadcast on Russia’s First Channel.
Established screenwriters and debutants are now invited to enter a competition...
Russian producers Alexander Kulikov (Marins Group Entertainment) and Oleg Teterin (Teterin Film) are planning to make a feature film, Listyev – Hope is The Last To Die, about the prominent Russian journalist and TV presenter Vladislav Listyev who was murdered by unknown assassins on March 1, 1995.
According to Teterin, they are considering Oliver Stone along with Russian film-makers as a possible candidate to serve as the film’s director.
“We hope that the participation in a project of such significance for Russia as a film about Vladislav Listyev will be a natural way for Oliver Stone to continue strengthening his cinematic ties with Russia,” said Teterin whose company last year acquired the rights to Stone’s The Untold Story Of The United States which was later broadcast on Russia’s First Channel.
Established screenwriters and debutants are now invited to enter a competition...
- 3/10/2015
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Projects from Italy, Ireland, Hungary and Poland were the winners at this year’s edition of the When East Meets West (Wemw) co-production market.
The market featured 22 international projects, comprising 12 fiction feature films and 10 documentaries from 29 countries.
Carlo Zoratti’s La Vita Nuova, a mix between documentary and fiction about a group of people re-enacting their dreams as a form of spiritual healing, received the Wemw Development Award at an awards ceremony in Trieste’s Palazzo del Governo on Tuesday evening (Jan 20).
The €1.4m production by Zoratti’s own Udine-based production outfit Alpis has Germany’s DETAiLFILM onboard as a co-producer again after they worked together on Zoratti’s previous film, the feature documentary debut The Special Need.
A documentary was also the winner of the new Egg Digital Cinema Award which was given to Dublin-based Jeremiah Cullinane of Planet Korda Pictures for his production of Lithuanian-born writer director Olga Cernovaite’s Butterfly City.
This creative...
The market featured 22 international projects, comprising 12 fiction feature films and 10 documentaries from 29 countries.
Carlo Zoratti’s La Vita Nuova, a mix between documentary and fiction about a group of people re-enacting their dreams as a form of spiritual healing, received the Wemw Development Award at an awards ceremony in Trieste’s Palazzo del Governo on Tuesday evening (Jan 20).
The €1.4m production by Zoratti’s own Udine-based production outfit Alpis has Germany’s DETAiLFILM onboard as a co-producer again after they worked together on Zoratti’s previous film, the feature documentary debut The Special Need.
A documentary was also the winner of the new Egg Digital Cinema Award which was given to Dublin-based Jeremiah Cullinane of Planet Korda Pictures for his production of Lithuanian-born writer director Olga Cernovaite’s Butterfly City.
This creative...
- 1/21/2015
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
By Scott Feinberg
The Hollywood Reporter
More than 6,000 languages are spoken somewhere in the world today, but for 90 minutes at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Jan. 4, the filmmakers behind seven of the nine countries that have landed spots on the best foreign language film Oscar shortlist — from which five Oscar nominees were chosen last weekend and will be announced to the public on Jan. 15 — were all speaking the same one: movies.
Joining me for the first annual “Oscar-Shortlisted Foreign Filmmakers in Conversation” panel were Alberto Arvelo for Venezuela’s The Liberator (Cohen Media Group); Paula van der Oest for the Netherlands’ Accused (still seeking U.S. distribution); George Ovashvili for Georgia’s Corn Island (still seeking U.S. distribution); Abderrahmane Sissako for Mauritania’s Timbuktu (Cohen Media Group); Damian Szifron for Argentina’s Wild Tales (Sony Pictures Classics); Zaza Urushadze for Estonia’s Tangerines (still seeking U.S.
The Hollywood Reporter
More than 6,000 languages are spoken somewhere in the world today, but for 90 minutes at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Jan. 4, the filmmakers behind seven of the nine countries that have landed spots on the best foreign language film Oscar shortlist — from which five Oscar nominees were chosen last weekend and will be announced to the public on Jan. 15 — were all speaking the same one: movies.
Joining me for the first annual “Oscar-Shortlisted Foreign Filmmakers in Conversation” panel were Alberto Arvelo for Venezuela’s The Liberator (Cohen Media Group); Paula van der Oest for the Netherlands’ Accused (still seeking U.S. distribution); George Ovashvili for Georgia’s Corn Island (still seeking U.S. distribution); Abderrahmane Sissako for Mauritania’s Timbuktu (Cohen Media Group); Damian Szifron for Argentina’s Wild Tales (Sony Pictures Classics); Zaza Urushadze for Estonia’s Tangerines (still seeking U.S.
- 1/14/2015
- by Anjelica Oswald
- Scott Feinberg
January 11 Update: Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Oscar shortlisted Russian film and Golden Globe nominee earned the Fipreseci Prize while Eastern European cinema dominated the 26th Palm Springs International Film Festival’s juried awards.
Update: The awards were handed out on January 10 as the January 2-12 festival draws to a close. Audience Award winners were announced late on January 11 (see below).
“This year’s festival has been a huge success on all fronts, with consistently packed theatres, terrific audience response to the line-up of films and special programmes and record film-maker and industry attendance,” said festival director Darryl Macdonald.
“I’m especially pleased that our Another Europe showcase and Cine Latino programme received such a warm response from audiences and critics alike. I’m equally delighted with the juries’ award choices, though given the outstanding overall quality of the films on view at this year’s event I wish we could present awards to each and every one of...
Update: The awards were handed out on January 10 as the January 2-12 festival draws to a close. Audience Award winners were announced late on January 11 (see below).
“This year’s festival has been a huge success on all fronts, with consistently packed theatres, terrific audience response to the line-up of films and special programmes and record film-maker and industry attendance,” said festival director Darryl Macdonald.
“I’m especially pleased that our Another Europe showcase and Cine Latino programme received such a warm response from audiences and critics alike. I’m equally delighted with the juries’ award choices, though given the outstanding overall quality of the films on view at this year’s event I wish we could present awards to each and every one of...
- 1/11/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Oscar shortlisted Russian film and Golden Globe nominee earned the Fipreseci Prize while Eastern European cinema dominated the 26th Palm Springs International Film Festival’s juried awards.
The awards were handed out on January 10 as the January 2-12 festival draws to a close. Audience Award winners will be updated here on January 11.
“This year’s festival has been a huge success on all fronts, with consistently packed theatres, terrific audience response to the line-up of films and special programmes and record film-maker and industry attendance,” said festival director Darryl Macdonald.
“I’m especially pleased that our Another Europe showcase and Cine Latino programme received such a warm response from audiences and critics alike. I’m equally delighted with the juries’ award choices, though given the outstanding overall quality of the films on view at this year’s event I wish we could present awards to each and every one of them.”
“Eastern European...
The awards were handed out on January 10 as the January 2-12 festival draws to a close. Audience Award winners will be updated here on January 11.
“This year’s festival has been a huge success on all fronts, with consistently packed theatres, terrific audience response to the line-up of films and special programmes and record film-maker and industry attendance,” said festival director Darryl Macdonald.
“I’m especially pleased that our Another Europe showcase and Cine Latino programme received such a warm response from audiences and critics alike. I’m equally delighted with the juries’ award choices, though given the outstanding overall quality of the films on view at this year’s event I wish we could present awards to each and every one of them.”
“Eastern European...
- 1/11/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that there are film industries around the world that are not centered on Hollywood. After all, one of the largest film markets is India, with Bollywood productions making up a huge swath of worldwide film production. Nigeria also recently made headlines as one of the world’s biggest film industries (according to Unesco).
With the Academy Awards announcing their shortlist for this year’s Best Foreign Language Film contenders, we are once more reminded that some of the most interesting movies produced this year do not come out of Los Angeles, and indeed could probably never be made within the Hollywood system.
Out of 83 films submitted, only 9 advanced to the shortlist, and quite a few critical favorites did not make the cut. Turkey’s Palme d’Or winner Winter Sleep was snipped out, as was the Cannes jury prize winner Mommy (out of Canada), and Two Days,...
With the Academy Awards announcing their shortlist for this year’s Best Foreign Language Film contenders, we are once more reminded that some of the most interesting movies produced this year do not come out of Los Angeles, and indeed could probably never be made within the Hollywood system.
Out of 83 films submitted, only 9 advanced to the shortlist, and quite a few critical favorites did not make the cut. Turkey’s Palme d’Or winner Winter Sleep was snipped out, as was the Cannes jury prize winner Mommy (out of Canada), and Two Days,...
- 12/22/2014
- by Lauren Humphries-Brooks
- We Got This Covered
Nine features will advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 87th Academy Awards. Eighty-three films had originally been considered in the category.
The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Argentina, “Wild Tales,” Damián Szifrón, director;
Estonia, “Tangerines,” Zaza Urushadze, director;
Georgia, “Corn Island,” George Ovashvili, director;
Mauritania, “Timbuktu,” Abderrahmane Sissako, director;
Netherlands, “Accused,” Paula van der Oest, director;
Poland, “Ida,” Paweł Pawlikowski, director;
Russia, “Leviathan,” Andrey Zvyagintsev, director;
Sweden, “Force Majeure,” Ruben Östlund, director;
Venezuela, “The Liberator,” Alberto Arvelo, director.
Foreign Language Film nominations for 2014 are being determined in two phases.
The Phase I committee, consisting of several hundred Los Angeles-based Academy members, screened the original submissions in the category between mid-October and December 15. The group’s top six choices, augmented by three additional selections voted by the Academy’s Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee, constitute the shortlist.
The...
The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Argentina, “Wild Tales,” Damián Szifrón, director;
Estonia, “Tangerines,” Zaza Urushadze, director;
Georgia, “Corn Island,” George Ovashvili, director;
Mauritania, “Timbuktu,” Abderrahmane Sissako, director;
Netherlands, “Accused,” Paula van der Oest, director;
Poland, “Ida,” Paweł Pawlikowski, director;
Russia, “Leviathan,” Andrey Zvyagintsev, director;
Sweden, “Force Majeure,” Ruben Östlund, director;
Venezuela, “The Liberator,” Alberto Arvelo, director.
Foreign Language Film nominations for 2014 are being determined in two phases.
The Phase I committee, consisting of several hundred Los Angeles-based Academy members, screened the original submissions in the category between mid-October and December 15. The group’s top six choices, augmented by three additional selections voted by the Academy’s Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee, constitute the shortlist.
The...
- 12/20/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
If you want to get the trades talking about something other than the Oscars for a little while, consider creating a giant controversy and terrorist conspiracy threat in which a Christmas Day comedy release is completely canceled and gets all of Hollywood calling the act a disgraceful injustice that effectively kills American Expression and Free Speech.
The Interview story has been an unprecedented mess in which Sony and subsequent theater chains acted quickly and perhaps rashly, at the expense of a now highly anticipated film and all the people who worked on it, and whether or not the loss of free speech is an overstatement or not, the presumption is that this sets a scary precedent for what can and can happen to a film.
It’s amazing The Interview got made in the first place. Early reviews of the film have said that it pushes boundaries in a way only Seth Rogen can,...
The Interview story has been an unprecedented mess in which Sony and subsequent theater chains acted quickly and perhaps rashly, at the expense of a now highly anticipated film and all the people who worked on it, and whether or not the loss of free speech is an overstatement or not, the presumption is that this sets a scary precedent for what can and can happen to a film.
It’s amazing The Interview got made in the first place. Early reviews of the film have said that it pushes boundaries in a way only Seth Rogen can,...
- 12/19/2014
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
Cannes winners "Mommy" by Xavier Dolan and Nuri Bilge's "Winter Sleep" were snubbed, so was Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne's "Two Days, One Night." But what remained are still exemplary foreign language films.
The Academy has whittled down the list and came up with nine films to choose from. We'll find out on January 15th which of these nine movies will advance to the final five!
Here's the complete press release from the Academy:
Los Angeles, CA . Nine features will advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 87th Academy Awards®. Eighty-three films had originally been considered in the category.
The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Argentina, "Wild Tales," Damián Szifrón, director;
Estonia, "Tangerines," Zaza Urushadze, director;
Georgia, "Corn Island," George Ovashvili, director;
Mauritania, "Timbuktu," Abderrahmane Sissako, director;
Netherlands, "Accused," Paula van der Oest, director;
Poland, "Ida," Paweł Pawlikowski,...
The Academy has whittled down the list and came up with nine films to choose from. We'll find out on January 15th which of these nine movies will advance to the final five!
Here's the complete press release from the Academy:
Los Angeles, CA . Nine features will advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 87th Academy Awards®. Eighty-three films had originally been considered in the category.
The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Argentina, "Wild Tales," Damián Szifrón, director;
Estonia, "Tangerines," Zaza Urushadze, director;
Georgia, "Corn Island," George Ovashvili, director;
Mauritania, "Timbuktu," Abderrahmane Sissako, director;
Netherlands, "Accused," Paula van der Oest, director;
Poland, "Ida," Paweł Pawlikowski,...
- 12/19/2014
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Friday morning, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its Foreign Language Film short list for the 87th Academy Awards. Out of 83 films, nine made the cut, with familiar titles like "Ida" and "Force Majeure" making the cut, along with Golden Globe-amplified "Tangerines" slipping in over expected contenders. The full list, alphabetically by country, is as follows: Argentina, "Wild Tales," Damián Szifrón, director Estonia, "Tangerines," Zaza Urushadze, director Georgia, "Corn Island," George Ovashvili, director Mauritania, "Timbuktu," Abderrahmane Sissako, director Netherlands, "Accused," Paula van der Oest, director Poland, "Ida," Pawel Pawlikowski, director Russia, "Leviathan," Andrey Zvyagintsev, director Sweden, "Force Majeure," Ruben Östlund, director Venezuela, "The Liberator," Alberto Arvelo, director Noticeably missing from the list are Dardenne brothers’ "Two Days, One Night," which picked up major steam after star Marion Cotillard picked up a number of critics awards for Best Actress. And after winning the Palme d’Or at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival,...
- 12/19/2014
- by Matt Patches
- Hitfix
Nine features will advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 87th Academy Awards®. Eighty-three films had originally been considered in the category. The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are: Argentina, “Wild Tales,” Damián Szifrón, director; Estonia, “Tangerines,” Zaza Urushadze, director; Georgia, “Corn Island,” George Ovashvili, director; Mauritania, “Timbuktu,” Abderrahmane Sissako, director; Netherlands, “Accused,” Paula van der Oest, director; Poland, “Ida,” Pawe? Pawlikowski, director; Russia, “Leviathan,” Andrey Zvyagintsev, director; Sweden, “Force Majeure,” Ruben Östlund, director; Venezuela, “The Liberator,” Alberto Arvelo, director. Foreign Language Film nominations for 2014 are being determined in two phases. The Phase I committee, consisting of several hundred Los Angeles-based Academy members, screened the original submissions in the category between mid-October and December 15. The group’s top six choices, augmented by three additional selections voted by the Academy’s Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee, constitute the shortlist. The...
- 12/19/2014
- by HollywoodNews.com
- Hollywoodnews.com
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the shortlist of nine films that will advance to the next stage in the Foreign Language Film Oscar race. As was widely expected Pawel Pawlikowski’s 60s-set Polish drama Ida, fresh off of five European Film Awards, is in. Also turning up unsurprisingly are Argentina’s box office smash Wild Tales by Damián Szifrón; Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Russian corruption drama Leviathan; Sweden’s existential avalanche drama/comedy Force Majeure from Ruben Östlund; and Alberto Arvelo’s Venezuelan Simon Bolivar biopic The Liberator (see full list below). In a nice turn of events for Mauritania and respected helmer Abderrahmane Sissako, the African country scored its first shortlist mention with Timbuktu, its first-ever submission. Sissako told me earlier this week that were Timbuktu to make the shortlist it would be important “for everyone behind it.” That includes not only the country, but all of Africa.
- 12/19/2014
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline
You know Mommy was way “too much” for the conservative voters. Ida will win this probably. Argentina, “Wild Tales,” Damián Szifrón, director; Estonia, “Tangerines,” Zaza Urushadze, director; Georgia, “Corn Island,...
- 12/19/2014
- by Sasha Stone
- AwardsDaily.com
Pawel Pawlikowski's Ida, a drama about a nun-in-training who discovers secrets about her family's past, Andrey Zvyagintsev's Leviathan, a dark comedy about a land dispute in a small Russian town, and Damian Szifron's Wild Tales, a much more free-wheeling comedy about people pushed to their limits, are among the nine foreign-language films that have been selected to move forward in the competition for the foreign-language film Oscar. The list includes Abderrahmane Sissako's Timbuktu, the first film ever submitted from Mauritania for the award. The lineup also consists of Zaza Urushadze's Tangerines from Estonia, George Ovashvili's Corn
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- 12/19/2014
- by THR Staff
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Poland’s “Ida,” Sweden’s “Force Majeure” and Russia’s “Leviathan” are among the films that have made the Oscar shortlist in the Best Foreign Language Film category, the Academy announced on Friday.
The other shortlisted films were Argentina’s “Wild Tales,” Estonia’s “Tangerines,” Georgia’s “Corn Island,” Mauritania’s “Timbuktu,” the Netherlands’ “Accused” and Venezuela’s “The Liberator.”
In a highly competitive year with at least 15 films that could easily have made the list, a number of notable films were left off.
Also read: Oscar Foreign Language Contenders, 2014: The Complete List
Among them are Turkey’s “Winter Sleep,...
The other shortlisted films were Argentina’s “Wild Tales,” Estonia’s “Tangerines,” Georgia’s “Corn Island,” Mauritania’s “Timbuktu,” the Netherlands’ “Accused” and Venezuela’s “The Liberator.”
In a highly competitive year with at least 15 films that could easily have made the list, a number of notable films were left off.
Also read: Oscar Foreign Language Contenders, 2014: The Complete List
Among them are Turkey’s “Winter Sleep,...
- 12/19/2014
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The Academy has announced the nine films that will advance for consideration for the Best Foreign Language category at the 2015 Oscars and among them is what I believe to be the #1 favorite, Pawel Pawlikowski's Ida out of Poland. I'm happy to see Damian Szifron's hilarious Wild Tales also among the contenders and sad to see Xavier Dolan's Mommy didn't make the cut. Of the lot, and outside of the films I've already mentioned, I've only also seen Force Majeure and Leviathan. Some may be surprised the Dardennes' Two Days, One Night out of Belgium missing the cut considering it's been nominated several times elsewhere, not only for Foreign Language, but also star Marion Cotillard. Zaza Urushadze's Tangerines out of Estonia was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award in the same category while Abderrahmane Sissako's Timbuktu was a hit at Cannes taking the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and Fran?...
- 12/19/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
AMPAS has announced the nine features on the shortlist for the Foreign Language Film Academy Award. The list of nine has been whittled down from a record 83 submissions. The list, in alphabetical order by country, is:
Argentina, “Wild Tales,” Damian Szifron
Estonia, “Tangerines,” Zaza Urushadze
Georgia, “Corn Island,” George Ovashvili
Mauritania, “Timbuktu,” Abderrahmane Sissako
Netherlands, “Accused,” Paula van der Oest
Poland, “Ida,” Paweł Pawlikowski
Russia, “Leviathan,” Andrey Zvyagintsev
Sweden, “Force Majeure,” Ruben Ostlund
Venezuela, “The Liberator,” Alberto Arvelo
Pawlikowski's "Ida" is apparently the front runner at the moment, but don't count out "Force Majeure," "Leviathan" and "Timbuktu" which are popping up on a lot of this year's critical Top 10 lists.
There are some notable absentees though who didn't make this round including Xavier Dolan's "Mommy," Nuri Bilge Ceylan's "Winter’s Sleep," the Dardenne brothers' "Two Days One Night," and Bertrand Bonello "Saint Laurent".
This short list will be...
Argentina, “Wild Tales,” Damian Szifron
Estonia, “Tangerines,” Zaza Urushadze
Georgia, “Corn Island,” George Ovashvili
Mauritania, “Timbuktu,” Abderrahmane Sissako
Netherlands, “Accused,” Paula van der Oest
Poland, “Ida,” Paweł Pawlikowski
Russia, “Leviathan,” Andrey Zvyagintsev
Sweden, “Force Majeure,” Ruben Ostlund
Venezuela, “The Liberator,” Alberto Arvelo
Pawlikowski's "Ida" is apparently the front runner at the moment, but don't count out "Force Majeure," "Leviathan" and "Timbuktu" which are popping up on a lot of this year's critical Top 10 lists.
There are some notable absentees though who didn't make this round including Xavier Dolan's "Mommy," Nuri Bilge Ceylan's "Winter’s Sleep," the Dardenne brothers' "Two Days One Night," and Bertrand Bonello "Saint Laurent".
This short list will be...
- 12/19/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Paramount's "Selma" from director Ava Duvernay is picking up steam this awards season. The Martin Luther King drama has been announced to be the opening night movie of the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival. The festival will close on Sunday, January 11 with the Us premiere of "Boychoir" from director Francois Girard. David Oyelowo, who plays the beloved King in "Selma," is also being honored at the fest with Breakthrough Performance Award, Actor.
Here's the complete press release which includes the list of Easter European movies in a program titled Eastern Promises:
Palm Springs, CA (December 16, 2014) . The 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) will launch on Friday, January 2 with the opening night screening of the GoldenGlobe nominated Selma directed by Ava Duvernay. The Festival will wrap on Sunday, January 11 with the Us premiere of Boychoir directed by François Girard. New this year, the festival will focus on...
Here's the complete press release which includes the list of Easter European movies in a program titled Eastern Promises:
Palm Springs, CA (December 16, 2014) . The 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) will launch on Friday, January 2 with the opening night screening of the GoldenGlobe nominated Selma directed by Ava Duvernay. The Festival will wrap on Sunday, January 11 with the Us premiere of Boychoir directed by François Girard. New this year, the festival will focus on...
- 12/17/2014
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Selma and Boychoir will bookend the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff), set to run from January 2-12.
For the first time, the festival will focus on 20 films from Eastern Europe in the strand called Eastern Promises.
The 20 films in Eastern Promises are:
Afterlife (Virág Zomborácz, Hungary);
Corn Island (George Ovashvili, Georgia);
Cowboys (Tomislav Mršić, Croatia);
Fair Play (Andrea Sedláčková, Czech Republic-Slovakia-Germany)
Ida (Pawel Pawlikowski, Poland);
In The Crosswind (Martti Helde, Estonia);
The Guide (Oles Sanin, Ukraine);
The Japanese Dog (Tudor Christian Jurgiu, Romania);
Kebab & Horoscope (Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov Grzegorz Jaroszuk, Poland);
The Lesson (Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov Bulgaria-Greece);
Mirage (Szabolcs Hajdu, Hungary-Slovakia);
No One’s Child (Vuk Ršumović, Serbia-Croatia);
The Reaper (Zvonimir Juric, Croatia-Slovenia);
Rocks In My Pockets (Signe Baumane, Latvia);
See You In Montevideo (Dragan Bjelogrlic, Serbia);
Tangerines (Zaza Urushadze, Estonia);
These Are The Rules (Ognjen Svilicic, Croatia-France-Serbia);
Three Windows And A Hanging (Isa Qosja, Kosovo);
The...
For the first time, the festival will focus on 20 films from Eastern Europe in the strand called Eastern Promises.
The 20 films in Eastern Promises are:
Afterlife (Virág Zomborácz, Hungary);
Corn Island (George Ovashvili, Georgia);
Cowboys (Tomislav Mršić, Croatia);
Fair Play (Andrea Sedláčková, Czech Republic-Slovakia-Germany)
Ida (Pawel Pawlikowski, Poland);
In The Crosswind (Martti Helde, Estonia);
The Guide (Oles Sanin, Ukraine);
The Japanese Dog (Tudor Christian Jurgiu, Romania);
Kebab & Horoscope (Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov Grzegorz Jaroszuk, Poland);
The Lesson (Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov Bulgaria-Greece);
Mirage (Szabolcs Hajdu, Hungary-Slovakia);
No One’s Child (Vuk Ršumović, Serbia-Croatia);
The Reaper (Zvonimir Juric, Croatia-Slovenia);
Rocks In My Pockets (Signe Baumane, Latvia);
See You In Montevideo (Dragan Bjelogrlic, Serbia);
Tangerines (Zaza Urushadze, Estonia);
These Are The Rules (Ognjen Svilicic, Croatia-France-Serbia);
Three Windows And A Hanging (Isa Qosja, Kosovo);
The...
- 12/16/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Palm Springs International Film Festival has increasingly become an important stop on the awards calendar for foreign language films. While the desert fest hands out an international critics prize, it’s more about the filmmakers getting a chance to rub shoulders with Academy members just before nominations ballots are due. The upcoming 26th annual fest is running January 2-12 and has announced the movies that will compete for the Fipresci prize in its Awards Buzz section. Fifty of the 83 official submissions for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar are on the list with the titles chosen believed by festival programmers to be the strongest entries in this year’s Academy Awards race. A special jury of international film critics will screen the films and hand out a Fipresci for an individual title as well as Best Actor and Best Actress. While the fest doesn’t always match the eventual Oscar winner,...
- 12/2/2014
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline
The organisers of the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) will screen 50 of the 83 foreign-language Oscar submissions.
A jury of international film critics will be convened to bestow the Fipresci Award for best foreign language film of the year, as well as best actor and best actress in this category.
Further film programmes will be announced in the coming weeks. Psiff is set to run from January 2-12.
The Awards Buzz selections in alphabetical order of country are:
A Few Cubic Meters Of Love (Afghanistan), Jamshid Mahmoudi:
Wild Tales (Argentina), Damián Szifrón;
Charlie’s Country (Australia), Rolf de Heer;
The Dark Valley (Austria), Andreas Prochaska;
Nabat (Azerbaijan), Elchin Musaoglu;
Two Days, One Night (Belgium-France-Italy), Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne;
The Way He Looks (Brazil), Daniel Ribeiro;
Mommy (Canada), Xavier Dolan;
To Kill A Man (Chile), Alejandro Fernández Almendras;
The Nightingale (China), Philippe Muyl;
Mateo (Colombia), Maria Gamboa;
Cowboys (Croatia), Tomislav Mršić;
Behavior (Cuba), Director [link=nm...
A jury of international film critics will be convened to bestow the Fipresci Award for best foreign language film of the year, as well as best actor and best actress in this category.
Further film programmes will be announced in the coming weeks. Psiff is set to run from January 2-12.
The Awards Buzz selections in alphabetical order of country are:
A Few Cubic Meters Of Love (Afghanistan), Jamshid Mahmoudi:
Wild Tales (Argentina), Damián Szifrón;
Charlie’s Country (Australia), Rolf de Heer;
The Dark Valley (Austria), Andreas Prochaska;
Nabat (Azerbaijan), Elchin Musaoglu;
Two Days, One Night (Belgium-France-Italy), Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne;
The Way He Looks (Brazil), Daniel Ribeiro;
Mommy (Canada), Xavier Dolan;
To Kill A Man (Chile), Alejandro Fernández Almendras;
The Nightingale (China), Philippe Muyl;
Mateo (Colombia), Maria Gamboa;
Cowboys (Croatia), Tomislav Mršić;
Behavior (Cuba), Director [link=nm...
- 12/2/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Every year Hollywood gets a curated batch of films from dozens of countries seeking an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. One film per nation is chosen to represent the best of its cinematic production during the previous year. Certainly the chosen film is not always the ideal candidate, but the reasoning behind the selection usually follows two patterns: there are countries that go with the best film even if this is not the most appealing choice and there are countries that go with the most ambitious, industry-friendly, and financially successful work. This year the astonishing number of submissions – a total of 83 – makes for an incredible list of films that range from those that sport festival pedigree of the highest caliber, unknown gems looking for an audience, expensive visual achievements, and obscure art house hopefuls.
This year more than most, there are a great number of films with serious possibilities. There is no unshakable front-runner, but there are numerous favorites. Yet, looking at last year’s 9 shortlisted films and eventual 5 nominees, nothing is written in stone. Critics and audience favorites like “ The Past” (Iran), “Gloria” (Chile), “Heli” (Mexico), and “Wadjda” (Saudi Arabia) were left out to include surprises like “The Missing Picture“ (Cambodia), “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker” (Bosnia & Herzegovina) or “The Notebook” (Hungary).
With Awards Season now in full swing and knowing that this is one of the most difficult races to follow, here is a comprehensive list that includes information for each of the 83 submissions. Below each poster you will find the title of the film linked to its page on IMDb Pro followed by the title in the original language; the director’s name also linked to his/her IMDb Page; the language the film is primarily in; the name of the U.S. distributor if there is one; the name of the film’s International Sales Agent (Isa) or Production Company (PC) linked to the film’s page on Cinando; and a link to the film’s trailer (most of them have English subtitles, others are only in the original language, and a few are videos related to the film because a trailer wasn't available). In addition, reviews and interviews with many of these filmmakers will be added regularly.
Before getting into the list, let’s take a look at some of the statistics and patterns among these 83 foreign language features.
Period Dramas/Biopics
Several countries selected films based on the lives of prominent local figures or great period pieces, both showcase the level of films being produced across the globe in terms of production value and scope. Mexico’s “Cantinflas,” Venezuela’s “The Liberator,” Kyrgyzstan “Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains,” Bolivia’s “Forgotten,” Indonesia’s “Soekarno,” Greece’s “Little England,” Macedonia’s “To the Hilt,” Hong Kong’s “The Golden Era,” Austria’s “The Dark Valley,” Switzerland’s “The Circle,” Bulgaria’s “Bulgarian Rhapsody,” Serbia’s “ See You in Montevideo,” Slovakia’s “A Step Into the Dark” and New Zealand’s “The Dead Lands” are some of the most expensive films ever made in their respective territories. All of them are epic productions that highlight an important historical period using impressive cinematography, a great number of extras, intricate costumes, lavish locations, detailed production design, as well as great battle sequences in several of them. Other more traditional biopics/period pieces on the list include France’s “Saint Laurent,” The Netherlands “ Accused,” Germany’s “Beloved Sisters,” Spain’s “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed” and the Czech Republic’s “Fair Play”
Masters and Festival Winners
Not surprisingly many of the films on the list come into this race after winning important awards at international festivals. Furthermore, a handful of them are from master filmmakers, masters in the making, or unique new voices. These films include Belgium’s “Two Days, One Night” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, Nyff, AFI Fest) by the Dardenne Brothers, Canada’s “Mommy” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, AFI Fest) by prodigy Xavier Dolan, Chile’s “To Kill a Man” (Sundance, Rotterdam, Cartagena) by Alejandro Fernandez Almendras, Hungary's "White God" (Cannes) by Kornél Mundruczó, Norway’s “1001 Grams” (Tiff) by Bent Hamer, Poland’s “Ida”(Tiff, Sundance) by Pawel Pawlikowski, Russia’s “Leviathan” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, AFI Fest) by Andrey Zvyagintsev, Sweden’s “Force Majeure” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff) by Ruben Östlund, and Turkey’s “ Winter Sleep” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. All of these films have played at renowned international festivals and most have earned important recognition there.
Out of the Box
Whether they are aware of their actual possibilities at a nomination or not, each year a few countries take the risk of sending a film that defies convention despite having more safe choices. But that is not say they are entirely out of the race, films like “The Missing Picture” and “Dogtooth” prove that sometimes there is room for daring and unique filmmaking. With “Rocks in My Pockets” Latvia is the only country to submit an animated film this year. The film is an inventive and colorful look at depression. Then there is the almost-silent and highly poetic Ecuadorian entry “Silence in Dreamland” and Singapore’s musically driven drama “Sayang Disayang.” However, the boldest selection has to be the Philippines’ “Norte, the End of History” by acclaimed auteur Lav Diaz, which runs over four hours and is inspired by Dostoyevsky Crime and Punishment.
Documentaries
Only two countries chose to go with non-fiction entries. One of them is Panama’s “Invasion,” which deals with the aftermath of the U.S. intervention in that country in 1989. This is the Central American nation’s first ever Oscar submission. The other documentary contending is Portugal’s “ What Now? Remind Me,“ a self-portrait by filmmaker Joaquim Pinto exploring his struggles living with HIV. One should note that Portugal is one of the few countries in Western Europe to have never obtained a nomination in the category despite entering films consecutively for several decades.
Lgbt
Films with stories that highlight sexual diversity occasionally make their way into this list. Last year the only Lgbt title submitted was “ Soongava: Dance of the Orchids,” which surprisingly came from Nepal and dealt with the relationship between two young women in the traditional Asian society. This time around two countries selected films with similar themes. Brazil’s festival darling “ The Way He Looks” – a sweet coming-of-age tale- was an audacious choice among the many other films the South American country produces every year. Then there is Switzerland’s “The Circle” about a pioneering gay publication during the 1940s/1950s in Zurich and the real life relationship between two of its prominent members.
Surprising Choices
As it usually happens, some countries go against what the industry expects and decide to send films that weren’t on most people’s radars. Bulgaria for example selected “Bulgarian Rhapsody” by veteran director Ivan Nitchev over Sundance’s “Viktoria” by young female director Maya Vitkova. Similarly, Ukraine overlooked Cannes favorite “The Tribe”- a powerful drama entirely in sign language - and decided to go with “The Guide” by Oles Sanin. Nevertheless, the most shocking decision came from China. Instead of selecting a Chinese-directed film like Berlin’s Golden Bear winner “Black Coal, Thin Ice” or Zhang Yimou’s “Coming Home,” the Chinese selection committee chose “The Nightingale” by French director Philippe Muyl. Despite having a European helmer the film is authentically Chinese in terms of language and story, but it was still an unexpected move from the traditionally patriotic country.
First Timers
The unprecedented number of entries is in part due to the addition of countries submitting for the first time. Besides aforementioned Panama, there are three other debutant nations in the mix. Kosovo- a tiny Balkan state often associated with the rampart war that afflicted the region a few decades ago - is finally showcasing its film production. Their entry titled “Three Windows and a Hanging” is said to be a high quality, affecting drama. Malta - a European island nation near Italy - is often used as astonishing location for big budget studio films. This year, however, “ Simshar,” a great immigration drama will represent the country. Lastly, Mauritania – a prominently Muslim nation in Sub-Saharan Africa – selected Abderrahmane Sissako’s “Timbuktu,”which played in competition at Cannes,as their inaugural submission. Although Sissako has had several successful films at international festivals, this is the first time his country decides to participate.
Female Directors
Out of the 83 films, 14 were directed by women. That’s 17% of all entries. What’s more interesting is the fact that some of these films come from countries that are often seen as traditionally patriarchal societies. 3 Latin American entries were created by female directors: Colombia’s “Mateo,” Costa Rica’s “Red Princesses” and the Dominican Republic’s “Cristo Rey.” 4 from Asia: Hong Kong’s “ The Golden Era,” India’s “Liar’s Dice,” Japan’s “The Light Shines Only There,” and Pakistan’s “Dukhtar.” 2 from the Middle East: Israel’s “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” (Co-directed) and Palestine’s “Eyes of a Thief.” Lastly, 5 films from Europe: The Czech Republic’s “Fair Play,” Finland’s “Concrete Night,” Latvia’s “ Rocks in My Pockets,” Malta’s “Simshar” and the Netherlands’ “Accused.”
U.S. Distribution
Another interesting fact is the number of these films that already have U.S. distribution. Several of them have actually already opened theatrically here, and others are set to open early next year. Out 83 films, 24 already have U.S. distribution. That’s 29% of all films. Hopefully that number increases by the end of the season. The films are: Argentina’s “Wild Tales,” Austria’s “The Dark Valley,” Belgium’s “Two Days, One Night,” Brazil’s “The Way He Looks,” Canada’s “Mommy,” Chile’s “To Kill a Man,” France’s “Saint Laurent,” Germany’s “Beloved Sisters,” Hungary’s “White God,” Israel’s “ Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem,” Italy’s “Human Capital,” Latvia’s “Rocks in My Pockets,” Mauritania’s “Timbuktu,” Mexico’s “Cantinflas,” Norway’s “1001 Grams,” The Philippines “Norte, the End of History,” Poland’s “Ida,” Portugal's "What Now? Remind Me," Russia’s “Leviathan,” Spain’s “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed,” Sweden’s “Force Majeure,” Switzerland’s “The Circle,” Turkey’s “Winter Sleep,” and Venezuela’s “ The Liberator.”
To see which distribution company has each of these films please refer to the list below.
Afghanistan
"A Few Cubic Meters of Love" (چند متر مکعب عشق)
Dir: Jamshid Mahmoudi
Language: Persian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Argentina
"Wild Tales" (Relatos Salvajes)
Dir: Damián Szifrón
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
Trailer
Austria
"The Dark Valley" (Das finstere Tal)
Dir: Andreas Prochaska
Language: German
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
Isa: Films Distribution
Trailer
Australia
"Charlie's Country"
Dir: Rolf de Heer
Language: Yolŋu Matha/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Visit Films
Trailer
Azerbaijan
"Nabat"
Dir: Elcin Musaoglu
Language: Azerbaijani
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Bangladesh
"Glow of the Firefly" (Jonakir Alo)
Dir: Khalid Mahmood Mithu
Language: Bengali
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Impress Telefilm
Trailer
Belgium
"Two Days, One Night" (Deux jours, une nuit)
Dir: Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne
Language: French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Sundance Selects
Isa: Wild Bunch
Trailer
Bolivia
"Forgotten" (Olvidados)
Dir: Carlos Bolado
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Flor de Loto Pictures
Trailer
Bosnia & Herzegovina
"With Mom" (Sa mamom)
Dir: Faruk Loncarevic
Language: Bosnian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Scca/pro.ba
TraileR
Brazil
"The Way He Looks" (Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho)
Dir: Daniel Ribeiro
Language: Portuguese
U.S Distribution: Strand Releasing
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
Bulgaria
"Bulgarian Rhapsody" (българска рапсодия)
Dir: Ivan Nitchev
Language: Bulgarian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Cinepaz Eood
Trailer
Canada
"Mommy"
Dir: Xavier Dolan
Language: French/English
U.S Distribution: Roadside Attractions
Isa: Seville International
Trailer
Chile
"To Kill a Man" (Matar a un Hombre)
Dir: Alejandro Fernández Almendras
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
Trailer
China
"The Nightingale" (夜莺/Le promeneur d'oiseau)
Dir: Philippe Muyl
Language: Mandarin
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Kinology
Trailer
Colombia
"Mateo"
Dir: Maria Gamboa ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Alpha Violet
Trailer
Costa Rica
"Red Princesses" (Princesas Rojas)
Dir: Laura Astorga ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Latido Films Trailer
Croatia
"Cowboys" (Kauboji)
Dir: Tomislav Mrsic
Language: Croatian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Wide
Trailer
Cuba
"Behavior" (Conducta)
Dir: Ernesto Daranas
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Latido Films
Trailer
Czech Republic
"Fair Play"
Dir: Andrea Sedlácková Andrea Sedlácková
Language: Czech
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: IntraMovies
Trailer
Denmark
"Sorrow and Joy" (Sorg og glæde)
Dir: Nils Malmros
Language: Danish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Nordisk Film Production
Trailer
Dominican Republic
"Cristo Rey"
Dir: Leticia Tonos ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: The Little Film Company
Trailer
Ecuador
"Silence in Dreamland" (El Silencio en la Tierra de los Sueños)
Dir: Tito Molina
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: La Facultad
Trailer
Egypt
"Factory Girl" (فتاة المصنع )
Dir: Mohamed Khan
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: DayDream Art Production
Trailer
Estonia
"Tangerines" (Mandariinid)
Dir: Zaza Urushadze
Language: Estonian/Russian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Cinemavault
Trailer
Ethiopia
"Difret"
Dir: Zeresenay Mehari
Language: Amharic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
Finland
"Concrete Night" (Betoniyö)
Dir: Pirjo Honkasalo ♀
Language: Finnish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Film Republic Trailer
France
"Saint Laurent"
Dir: Bertrand Bonello
Language: French
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Europacorp
Trailer
Georgia
"Corn Island" (სიმინდის კუნძული)
Dir: George Ovashvili
Language: Georgian/Abkhazian/Russian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Arizona Productions
Trailer
Germany
"Beloved Sisters" (Die geliebten Schwestern)
Dir: Dominik Graf
Language: German /French
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Global Screen
Trailer
Greece
"Little England" (Μικρά Αγγλία)
Dir: Pantelis Voulgaris
Language: Greek
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Black Orange
Trailer
Hong Kong
"The Golden Era" (黄金时代)
Dir: Ann Hui ♀
Language: Mandarin
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Edko Films
Trailer
Hungary
"White God" (Fehér isten)
Dir: Kornél Mundruczó
Language: Hungarian/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: The Match Factory
Trailer
Iceland
"Life in a Fishbowl" (Vonarstræti)
Dir: Baldvin Zophoníasson
Language: None Yet
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
India
"Liar's Dice" (लायर्स डाइस)
Dir: Geethu Mohandas ♀
Language: Hindi
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Jar Pictures Trailer
Indonesia
"Soekarno"
Dir: Hanung Bramantyo
Language: Indonesian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Mvp Pictures
Trailer
Iran
"Today" (امروز )
Dir: Reza Mirkarimi
Language: Persian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Iraq
"Mardan"
Dir: Batin Ghobadi
Language: Kurdish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Versatile Trailer
Ireland
"The Gift" (An Bronntanas)
Dir: Tom Collins
Language: Irish/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Rosg/De Facto Films
Trailer
Israel
"Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem" (Gett: Le Procès de Viviane Amsalem)
Dir: Ronit Elkabetz ♀ & Shlomi Elkabetz
Language: Hebrew/French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Films Distribution
Trailer
Italy
"Human Capital" (Il Capitale Umano)
Dir: Paolo Virzì
Language: Italian
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
PC: Indiana Production Company
Trailer
Japan
"The Light Shines Only There" (そこのみにて光輝く)
Dir: Mipo Oh ♀
Language: Japanese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Open Sesame
Trailer
Kosovo
"Three Windows and a Hanging" (Tri Dritare dhe një Varje)
Dir: Isa Qosja
Language: Albanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: CMb Productions
Trailer
Kyrgyzstan
"Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains" (Курманжан Датка)
Dir: Sadyk Sher-Niyaz
Language: Kirghiz
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Aitysh Film
Trailer
Latvia
"Rocks in My Pockets" (Akmeņi manās kabatās)
Dir: Signe Baumane ♀
Language: Latvian
U.S Distribution: Zeitgeist Films
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Trailer
Lebanon
"Ghadi" (غدي)
Dir: Amin Dora
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Fortissimo Films
Trailer
Lithuania
"The Gambler" (Lošėjas)
Dir: Ignas Jonynas
Language: Lithuanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Wide
Trailer
Luxembourg
"Never Die Young"
Dir: Pol Cruchten
Language: French
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: EastWest Distribution
Trailer
MacEdonia
"To the Hilt" (До балчак)
Dir: Stole Popov
Language: Macedonian/French/English/ Turkish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Triangle Film- Skopje
Trailer
Malta
"Simshar"
Dir: Rebecca Cremona ♀
Language: Maltese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Kukumajsa Productions
Trailer
Mauritania
"Timbuktu"
Dir: Abderrahmane Sissako
Language: French/Arabic/Bambara/English/Songhay/Tamasheq
U.S Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Isa: Le Pacte
Trailer
Mexico
"Cantinflas"
Dir: Sebastian del Amo
Language: Spanish/English
U.S Distribution: Pantelion Films
Isa: 6 Sales
Trailer
Moldova
"The Unsaved" (La Limita de Jos a Cerului)
Dir: Igor Cobileanski
Language: Romanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Insomnia World Sales Trailer
Montenegro
"The Boys from Marx and Engels Street" (Djecaci iz ulice Marksa i Engelsa)
Dir: Nikola Vukcevic
Language: Serbian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Artikulacija Production
Trailer
Morocco
"The Red Moon" (القمر الأحمر)
Dir: Hassan Benjelloun
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Bentaqerla
Trailer
Nepal
"Jhola" (झोला)
Dir: Yadav Kumar Bhattarai
Language: Nepali
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Media for Culture
Trailer
The Netherlands
"Accused" (Lucia de B.)
Dir: Paula van der Oest ♀
Language: Dutch
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Fortissimo Films
Trailer
New Zealand
"The Dead Lands"
Dir: Toa Fraser
Language: Maori
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Xyz Films
Trailer
Norway
"1001 Grams" (1001 Gram)
Dir: Bent Hamer
Language: Norwegian/French/ English
U.S Distribution: Kino Lorber
Isa: Les Films du Losange
Trailer
Pakistan
"Dukhtar" (دختر، بیٹی)
Dir: Afia Nathaniel ♀
Language: Urdu
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Zambeel Films
Trailer
Palestine
"Eyes of a Thief" (عيون الحراميه)
Dir: Najwa Najjar ♀
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Ustura Films Trailer
Panama
"Invasion" (Invasión)
Dir: Abner Benaim
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Apertura Films Trailer
Peru
"The Gospel of the Flesh" (El Evangelio de la Carne)
Dir: Eduardo Mendoza de Echave
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: La Soga Producciones
Trailer
The Philippines
"Norte, the End of History" (Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan)
Dir: Lav Diaz
Language: Tagalog/English
U.S Distribution: The Cinema Guild
Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
Trailer
Poland
"Ida"
Dir: Pawel Pawlikowski
Language: Polish
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Portobello Film Sales
Trailer
Portugal
"What Now? Remind Me" (E Agora? Lembra-me)
Dir: Joaquim Pinto
Language: Portuguese
U.S Distribution: The Cinema Guild
PC: C.R.I.M Productions
Trailer
Romania
"The Japanese Dog" (Câinele Japonez)
Dir: Tudor Cristian Jurgiu
Language: Romanian/Japanese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
Trailer
Russia
"Leviathan" (Левиафан)
Dir: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Language: Russian
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Pyramide International
Trailer
Serbia
"See You in Montevideo" (Montevideo, vidimo se!)
Dir: Dragan Bjelogrlic
Language: Serbian/Spanish/ English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Intermedia Network
Trailer
Singapore
"Sayang Disayang"
Dir: Sanif Olek
Language: Malay/Indonesian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: ReelJuice
Trailer
Slovakia
"A Step Into the Dark" (Krok do tmy)
Dir: Miloslav Luther
Language: Slovak
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Trigon Production Trailer
Slovenia
"Seduce Me" (Zapelji me)
Dir: Marko Santic
Language: Slovenian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Radio-Television Slovenia
Trailer
South Africa
"Elelwani"
Dir: Ntshaveni Wa Luruli
Language: Venda
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: EastWest FilmDistribution
Trailer
South Korea
"Haemoo" (해무)
Dir: Sung Bo Shim
Language: Korean
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Finecut
Trailer
Spain
"Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed" (Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados)
Dir: David Trueba
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Outsider Pictures
Isa: 6 Sales
Trailer
Sweden
"Force Majeure" (Turist)
Dir: Ruben Östlund
Language: Swedish/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: Coproduction Office (Paris)
Trailer
Switzerland
"The Circle" (Der Kreis)
Dir: Stefan Haupt
Language: Swiss German/ German/ French
U.S Distribution: Wolfe Video
Isa: Wide House
Trailer
Taiwan
"Ice Poison" (冰毒)
Dir: Midi Z.
Language: Burmese/Chinese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Flash Forward Enterteinment
Trailer
Thailand
"The Teacher's Diary" (คิดถึงวิทยา)
Dir: Nithiwat Tharathorn
Language: Thai
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Gth
Trailer
Turkey
"Winter Sleep" (Kis uykusu)
Dir: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Language: Turkish/English
U.S Distribution: Adopt Films
Isa: Memento Films International
Trailer
Ukraine
"The Guide" (Поводир)
Dir: Oles Sanin
Language: Ukrainian/Russia/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Pronto Film
Trailer
United Kingdom
"Little Happiness" (Uzun Yol)
Dir: Nihat Seven
Language: Turkish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: 7&7 Producers' Sales Services
Trailer
Uruguay
"Mr. Kaplan"
Dir: Álvaro Brechner
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Memento Films International
Trailer
Venezuela
"The Liberator" (Libertador)
Dir: Alberto Arvelo
Language: Spanish/English/ French
U.S Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Isa: Mundial
Trailer...
This year more than most, there are a great number of films with serious possibilities. There is no unshakable front-runner, but there are numerous favorites. Yet, looking at last year’s 9 shortlisted films and eventual 5 nominees, nothing is written in stone. Critics and audience favorites like “ The Past” (Iran), “Gloria” (Chile), “Heli” (Mexico), and “Wadjda” (Saudi Arabia) were left out to include surprises like “The Missing Picture“ (Cambodia), “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker” (Bosnia & Herzegovina) or “The Notebook” (Hungary).
With Awards Season now in full swing and knowing that this is one of the most difficult races to follow, here is a comprehensive list that includes information for each of the 83 submissions. Below each poster you will find the title of the film linked to its page on IMDb Pro followed by the title in the original language; the director’s name also linked to his/her IMDb Page; the language the film is primarily in; the name of the U.S. distributor if there is one; the name of the film’s International Sales Agent (Isa) or Production Company (PC) linked to the film’s page on Cinando; and a link to the film’s trailer (most of them have English subtitles, others are only in the original language, and a few are videos related to the film because a trailer wasn't available). In addition, reviews and interviews with many of these filmmakers will be added regularly.
Before getting into the list, let’s take a look at some of the statistics and patterns among these 83 foreign language features.
Period Dramas/Biopics
Several countries selected films based on the lives of prominent local figures or great period pieces, both showcase the level of films being produced across the globe in terms of production value and scope. Mexico’s “Cantinflas,” Venezuela’s “The Liberator,” Kyrgyzstan “Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains,” Bolivia’s “Forgotten,” Indonesia’s “Soekarno,” Greece’s “Little England,” Macedonia’s “To the Hilt,” Hong Kong’s “The Golden Era,” Austria’s “The Dark Valley,” Switzerland’s “The Circle,” Bulgaria’s “Bulgarian Rhapsody,” Serbia’s “ See You in Montevideo,” Slovakia’s “A Step Into the Dark” and New Zealand’s “The Dead Lands” are some of the most expensive films ever made in their respective territories. All of them are epic productions that highlight an important historical period using impressive cinematography, a great number of extras, intricate costumes, lavish locations, detailed production design, as well as great battle sequences in several of them. Other more traditional biopics/period pieces on the list include France’s “Saint Laurent,” The Netherlands “ Accused,” Germany’s “Beloved Sisters,” Spain’s “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed” and the Czech Republic’s “Fair Play”
Masters and Festival Winners
Not surprisingly many of the films on the list come into this race after winning important awards at international festivals. Furthermore, a handful of them are from master filmmakers, masters in the making, or unique new voices. These films include Belgium’s “Two Days, One Night” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, Nyff, AFI Fest) by the Dardenne Brothers, Canada’s “Mommy” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, AFI Fest) by prodigy Xavier Dolan, Chile’s “To Kill a Man” (Sundance, Rotterdam, Cartagena) by Alejandro Fernandez Almendras, Hungary's "White God" (Cannes) by Kornél Mundruczó, Norway’s “1001 Grams” (Tiff) by Bent Hamer, Poland’s “Ida”(Tiff, Sundance) by Pawel Pawlikowski, Russia’s “Leviathan” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, AFI Fest) by Andrey Zvyagintsev, Sweden’s “Force Majeure” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff) by Ruben Östlund, and Turkey’s “ Winter Sleep” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. All of these films have played at renowned international festivals and most have earned important recognition there.
Out of the Box
Whether they are aware of their actual possibilities at a nomination or not, each year a few countries take the risk of sending a film that defies convention despite having more safe choices. But that is not say they are entirely out of the race, films like “The Missing Picture” and “Dogtooth” prove that sometimes there is room for daring and unique filmmaking. With “Rocks in My Pockets” Latvia is the only country to submit an animated film this year. The film is an inventive and colorful look at depression. Then there is the almost-silent and highly poetic Ecuadorian entry “Silence in Dreamland” and Singapore’s musically driven drama “Sayang Disayang.” However, the boldest selection has to be the Philippines’ “Norte, the End of History” by acclaimed auteur Lav Diaz, which runs over four hours and is inspired by Dostoyevsky Crime and Punishment.
Documentaries
Only two countries chose to go with non-fiction entries. One of them is Panama’s “Invasion,” which deals with the aftermath of the U.S. intervention in that country in 1989. This is the Central American nation’s first ever Oscar submission. The other documentary contending is Portugal’s “ What Now? Remind Me,“ a self-portrait by filmmaker Joaquim Pinto exploring his struggles living with HIV. One should note that Portugal is one of the few countries in Western Europe to have never obtained a nomination in the category despite entering films consecutively for several decades.
Lgbt
Films with stories that highlight sexual diversity occasionally make their way into this list. Last year the only Lgbt title submitted was “ Soongava: Dance of the Orchids,” which surprisingly came from Nepal and dealt with the relationship between two young women in the traditional Asian society. This time around two countries selected films with similar themes. Brazil’s festival darling “ The Way He Looks” – a sweet coming-of-age tale- was an audacious choice among the many other films the South American country produces every year. Then there is Switzerland’s “The Circle” about a pioneering gay publication during the 1940s/1950s in Zurich and the real life relationship between two of its prominent members.
Surprising Choices
As it usually happens, some countries go against what the industry expects and decide to send films that weren’t on most people’s radars. Bulgaria for example selected “Bulgarian Rhapsody” by veteran director Ivan Nitchev over Sundance’s “Viktoria” by young female director Maya Vitkova. Similarly, Ukraine overlooked Cannes favorite “The Tribe”- a powerful drama entirely in sign language - and decided to go with “The Guide” by Oles Sanin. Nevertheless, the most shocking decision came from China. Instead of selecting a Chinese-directed film like Berlin’s Golden Bear winner “Black Coal, Thin Ice” or Zhang Yimou’s “Coming Home,” the Chinese selection committee chose “The Nightingale” by French director Philippe Muyl. Despite having a European helmer the film is authentically Chinese in terms of language and story, but it was still an unexpected move from the traditionally patriotic country.
First Timers
The unprecedented number of entries is in part due to the addition of countries submitting for the first time. Besides aforementioned Panama, there are three other debutant nations in the mix. Kosovo- a tiny Balkan state often associated with the rampart war that afflicted the region a few decades ago - is finally showcasing its film production. Their entry titled “Three Windows and a Hanging” is said to be a high quality, affecting drama. Malta - a European island nation near Italy - is often used as astonishing location for big budget studio films. This year, however, “ Simshar,” a great immigration drama will represent the country. Lastly, Mauritania – a prominently Muslim nation in Sub-Saharan Africa – selected Abderrahmane Sissako’s “Timbuktu,”which played in competition at Cannes,as their inaugural submission. Although Sissako has had several successful films at international festivals, this is the first time his country decides to participate.
Female Directors
Out of the 83 films, 14 were directed by women. That’s 17% of all entries. What’s more interesting is the fact that some of these films come from countries that are often seen as traditionally patriarchal societies. 3 Latin American entries were created by female directors: Colombia’s “Mateo,” Costa Rica’s “Red Princesses” and the Dominican Republic’s “Cristo Rey.” 4 from Asia: Hong Kong’s “ The Golden Era,” India’s “Liar’s Dice,” Japan’s “The Light Shines Only There,” and Pakistan’s “Dukhtar.” 2 from the Middle East: Israel’s “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” (Co-directed) and Palestine’s “Eyes of a Thief.” Lastly, 5 films from Europe: The Czech Republic’s “Fair Play,” Finland’s “Concrete Night,” Latvia’s “ Rocks in My Pockets,” Malta’s “Simshar” and the Netherlands’ “Accused.”
U.S. Distribution
Another interesting fact is the number of these films that already have U.S. distribution. Several of them have actually already opened theatrically here, and others are set to open early next year. Out 83 films, 24 already have U.S. distribution. That’s 29% of all films. Hopefully that number increases by the end of the season. The films are: Argentina’s “Wild Tales,” Austria’s “The Dark Valley,” Belgium’s “Two Days, One Night,” Brazil’s “The Way He Looks,” Canada’s “Mommy,” Chile’s “To Kill a Man,” France’s “Saint Laurent,” Germany’s “Beloved Sisters,” Hungary’s “White God,” Israel’s “ Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem,” Italy’s “Human Capital,” Latvia’s “Rocks in My Pockets,” Mauritania’s “Timbuktu,” Mexico’s “Cantinflas,” Norway’s “1001 Grams,” The Philippines “Norte, the End of History,” Poland’s “Ida,” Portugal's "What Now? Remind Me," Russia’s “Leviathan,” Spain’s “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed,” Sweden’s “Force Majeure,” Switzerland’s “The Circle,” Turkey’s “Winter Sleep,” and Venezuela’s “ The Liberator.”
To see which distribution company has each of these films please refer to the list below.
Afghanistan
"A Few Cubic Meters of Love" (چند متر مکعب عشق)
Dir: Jamshid Mahmoudi
Language: Persian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Argentina
"Wild Tales" (Relatos Salvajes)
Dir: Damián Szifrón
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
Trailer
Austria
"The Dark Valley" (Das finstere Tal)
Dir: Andreas Prochaska
Language: German
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
Isa: Films Distribution
Trailer
Australia
"Charlie's Country"
Dir: Rolf de Heer
Language: Yolŋu Matha/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Visit Films
Trailer
Azerbaijan
"Nabat"
Dir: Elcin Musaoglu
Language: Azerbaijani
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Bangladesh
"Glow of the Firefly" (Jonakir Alo)
Dir: Khalid Mahmood Mithu
Language: Bengali
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Impress Telefilm
Trailer
Belgium
"Two Days, One Night" (Deux jours, une nuit)
Dir: Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne
Language: French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Sundance Selects
Isa: Wild Bunch
Trailer
Bolivia
"Forgotten" (Olvidados)
Dir: Carlos Bolado
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Flor de Loto Pictures
Trailer
Bosnia & Herzegovina
"With Mom" (Sa mamom)
Dir: Faruk Loncarevic
Language: Bosnian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Scca/pro.ba
TraileR
Brazil
"The Way He Looks" (Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho)
Dir: Daniel Ribeiro
Language: Portuguese
U.S Distribution: Strand Releasing
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
Bulgaria
"Bulgarian Rhapsody" (българска рапсодия)
Dir: Ivan Nitchev
Language: Bulgarian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Cinepaz Eood
Trailer
Canada
"Mommy"
Dir: Xavier Dolan
Language: French/English
U.S Distribution: Roadside Attractions
Isa: Seville International
Trailer
Chile
"To Kill a Man" (Matar a un Hombre)
Dir: Alejandro Fernández Almendras
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
Trailer
China
"The Nightingale" (夜莺/Le promeneur d'oiseau)
Dir: Philippe Muyl
Language: Mandarin
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Kinology
Trailer
Colombia
"Mateo"
Dir: Maria Gamboa ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Alpha Violet
Trailer
Costa Rica
"Red Princesses" (Princesas Rojas)
Dir: Laura Astorga ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Latido Films Trailer
Croatia
"Cowboys" (Kauboji)
Dir: Tomislav Mrsic
Language: Croatian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Wide
Trailer
Cuba
"Behavior" (Conducta)
Dir: Ernesto Daranas
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Latido Films
Trailer
Czech Republic
"Fair Play"
Dir: Andrea Sedlácková Andrea Sedlácková
Language: Czech
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: IntraMovies
Trailer
Denmark
"Sorrow and Joy" (Sorg og glæde)
Dir: Nils Malmros
Language: Danish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Nordisk Film Production
Trailer
Dominican Republic
"Cristo Rey"
Dir: Leticia Tonos ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: The Little Film Company
Trailer
Ecuador
"Silence in Dreamland" (El Silencio en la Tierra de los Sueños)
Dir: Tito Molina
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: La Facultad
Trailer
Egypt
"Factory Girl" (فتاة المصنع )
Dir: Mohamed Khan
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: DayDream Art Production
Trailer
Estonia
"Tangerines" (Mandariinid)
Dir: Zaza Urushadze
Language: Estonian/Russian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Cinemavault
Trailer
Ethiopia
"Difret"
Dir: Zeresenay Mehari
Language: Amharic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
Finland
"Concrete Night" (Betoniyö)
Dir: Pirjo Honkasalo ♀
Language: Finnish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Film Republic Trailer
France
"Saint Laurent"
Dir: Bertrand Bonello
Language: French
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Europacorp
Trailer
Georgia
"Corn Island" (სიმინდის კუნძული)
Dir: George Ovashvili
Language: Georgian/Abkhazian/Russian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Arizona Productions
Trailer
Germany
"Beloved Sisters" (Die geliebten Schwestern)
Dir: Dominik Graf
Language: German /French
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Global Screen
Trailer
Greece
"Little England" (Μικρά Αγγλία)
Dir: Pantelis Voulgaris
Language: Greek
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Black Orange
Trailer
Hong Kong
"The Golden Era" (黄金时代)
Dir: Ann Hui ♀
Language: Mandarin
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Edko Films
Trailer
Hungary
"White God" (Fehér isten)
Dir: Kornél Mundruczó
Language: Hungarian/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: The Match Factory
Trailer
Iceland
"Life in a Fishbowl" (Vonarstræti)
Dir: Baldvin Zophoníasson
Language: None Yet
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
India
"Liar's Dice" (लायर्स डाइस)
Dir: Geethu Mohandas ♀
Language: Hindi
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Jar Pictures Trailer
Indonesia
"Soekarno"
Dir: Hanung Bramantyo
Language: Indonesian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Mvp Pictures
Trailer
Iran
"Today" (امروز )
Dir: Reza Mirkarimi
Language: Persian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Iraq
"Mardan"
Dir: Batin Ghobadi
Language: Kurdish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Versatile Trailer
Ireland
"The Gift" (An Bronntanas)
Dir: Tom Collins
Language: Irish/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Rosg/De Facto Films
Trailer
Israel
"Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem" (Gett: Le Procès de Viviane Amsalem)
Dir: Ronit Elkabetz ♀ & Shlomi Elkabetz
Language: Hebrew/French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Films Distribution
Trailer
Italy
"Human Capital" (Il Capitale Umano)
Dir: Paolo Virzì
Language: Italian
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
PC: Indiana Production Company
Trailer
Japan
"The Light Shines Only There" (そこのみにて光輝く)
Dir: Mipo Oh ♀
Language: Japanese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Open Sesame
Trailer
Kosovo
"Three Windows and a Hanging" (Tri Dritare dhe një Varje)
Dir: Isa Qosja
Language: Albanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: CMb Productions
Trailer
Kyrgyzstan
"Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains" (Курманжан Датка)
Dir: Sadyk Sher-Niyaz
Language: Kirghiz
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Aitysh Film
Trailer
Latvia
"Rocks in My Pockets" (Akmeņi manās kabatās)
Dir: Signe Baumane ♀
Language: Latvian
U.S Distribution: Zeitgeist Films
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Trailer
Lebanon
"Ghadi" (غدي)
Dir: Amin Dora
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Fortissimo Films
Trailer
Lithuania
"The Gambler" (Lošėjas)
Dir: Ignas Jonynas
Language: Lithuanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Wide
Trailer
Luxembourg
"Never Die Young"
Dir: Pol Cruchten
Language: French
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: EastWest Distribution
Trailer
MacEdonia
"To the Hilt" (До балчак)
Dir: Stole Popov
Language: Macedonian/French/English/ Turkish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Triangle Film- Skopje
Trailer
Malta
"Simshar"
Dir: Rebecca Cremona ♀
Language: Maltese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Kukumajsa Productions
Trailer
Mauritania
"Timbuktu"
Dir: Abderrahmane Sissako
Language: French/Arabic/Bambara/English/Songhay/Tamasheq
U.S Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Isa: Le Pacte
Trailer
Mexico
"Cantinflas"
Dir: Sebastian del Amo
Language: Spanish/English
U.S Distribution: Pantelion Films
Isa: 6 Sales
Trailer
Moldova
"The Unsaved" (La Limita de Jos a Cerului)
Dir: Igor Cobileanski
Language: Romanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Insomnia World Sales Trailer
Montenegro
"The Boys from Marx and Engels Street" (Djecaci iz ulice Marksa i Engelsa)
Dir: Nikola Vukcevic
Language: Serbian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Artikulacija Production
Trailer
Morocco
"The Red Moon" (القمر الأحمر)
Dir: Hassan Benjelloun
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Bentaqerla
Trailer
Nepal
"Jhola" (झोला)
Dir: Yadav Kumar Bhattarai
Language: Nepali
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Media for Culture
Trailer
The Netherlands
"Accused" (Lucia de B.)
Dir: Paula van der Oest ♀
Language: Dutch
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Fortissimo Films
Trailer
New Zealand
"The Dead Lands"
Dir: Toa Fraser
Language: Maori
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Xyz Films
Trailer
Norway
"1001 Grams" (1001 Gram)
Dir: Bent Hamer
Language: Norwegian/French/ English
U.S Distribution: Kino Lorber
Isa: Les Films du Losange
Trailer
Pakistan
"Dukhtar" (دختر، بیٹی)
Dir: Afia Nathaniel ♀
Language: Urdu
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Zambeel Films
Trailer
Palestine
"Eyes of a Thief" (عيون الحراميه)
Dir: Najwa Najjar ♀
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Ustura Films Trailer
Panama
"Invasion" (Invasión)
Dir: Abner Benaim
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Apertura Films Trailer
Peru
"The Gospel of the Flesh" (El Evangelio de la Carne)
Dir: Eduardo Mendoza de Echave
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: La Soga Producciones
Trailer
The Philippines
"Norte, the End of History" (Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan)
Dir: Lav Diaz
Language: Tagalog/English
U.S Distribution: The Cinema Guild
Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
Trailer
Poland
"Ida"
Dir: Pawel Pawlikowski
Language: Polish
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Portobello Film Sales
Trailer
Portugal
"What Now? Remind Me" (E Agora? Lembra-me)
Dir: Joaquim Pinto
Language: Portuguese
U.S Distribution: The Cinema Guild
PC: C.R.I.M Productions
Trailer
Romania
"The Japanese Dog" (Câinele Japonez)
Dir: Tudor Cristian Jurgiu
Language: Romanian/Japanese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
Trailer
Russia
"Leviathan" (Левиафан)
Dir: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Language: Russian
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Pyramide International
Trailer
Serbia
"See You in Montevideo" (Montevideo, vidimo se!)
Dir: Dragan Bjelogrlic
Language: Serbian/Spanish/ English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Intermedia Network
Trailer
Singapore
"Sayang Disayang"
Dir: Sanif Olek
Language: Malay/Indonesian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: ReelJuice
Trailer
Slovakia
"A Step Into the Dark" (Krok do tmy)
Dir: Miloslav Luther
Language: Slovak
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Trigon Production Trailer
Slovenia
"Seduce Me" (Zapelji me)
Dir: Marko Santic
Language: Slovenian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Radio-Television Slovenia
Trailer
South Africa
"Elelwani"
Dir: Ntshaveni Wa Luruli
Language: Venda
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: EastWest FilmDistribution
Trailer
South Korea
"Haemoo" (해무)
Dir: Sung Bo Shim
Language: Korean
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Finecut
Trailer
Spain
"Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed" (Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados)
Dir: David Trueba
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Outsider Pictures
Isa: 6 Sales
Trailer
Sweden
"Force Majeure" (Turist)
Dir: Ruben Östlund
Language: Swedish/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: Coproduction Office (Paris)
Trailer
Switzerland
"The Circle" (Der Kreis)
Dir: Stefan Haupt
Language: Swiss German/ German/ French
U.S Distribution: Wolfe Video
Isa: Wide House
Trailer
Taiwan
"Ice Poison" (冰毒)
Dir: Midi Z.
Language: Burmese/Chinese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Flash Forward Enterteinment
Trailer
Thailand
"The Teacher's Diary" (คิดถึงวิทยา)
Dir: Nithiwat Tharathorn
Language: Thai
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Gth
Trailer
Turkey
"Winter Sleep" (Kis uykusu)
Dir: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Language: Turkish/English
U.S Distribution: Adopt Films
Isa: Memento Films International
Trailer
Ukraine
"The Guide" (Поводир)
Dir: Oles Sanin
Language: Ukrainian/Russia/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Pronto Film
Trailer
United Kingdom
"Little Happiness" (Uzun Yol)
Dir: Nihat Seven
Language: Turkish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: 7&7 Producers' Sales Services
Trailer
Uruguay
"Mr. Kaplan"
Dir: Álvaro Brechner
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Memento Films International
Trailer
Venezuela
"The Liberator" (Libertador)
Dir: Alberto Arvelo
Language: Spanish/English/ French
U.S Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Isa: Mundial
Trailer...
- 11/11/2014
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Russia big winner at FilmFestival Cottbus for second consecutive year.
Russia was the big winner for the second year in a row at the FilmFestival Cottbus with Ivan I. Tverdovsky’s Corrections Class picking up four awards at the weekend.
The feature debut received the International Jury’s main prize ¨for its unsentimental and unpretentious presentation of a powerful social theme presented through the prism of an excellent ensemble performance¨, thereby qualifying for the Connecting Cottbus Special Pitch Award, which will allow Tverdovsky and his producers to pitch a new project at the East-West co-production market in a year’s time.
Tverdovsky’s Russian-German co-production, which won the Best Debut prize at Kinotavr in Sochi and the East of the West Award in Karlovy Vary, also picked up the prizes from the Fipresci and Interfilm juries in Cottbus.
Last year, the main prize at Cottbus went to Russian director Alexander Veledinsky’s The Geographer Drank His Globe...
Russia was the big winner for the second year in a row at the FilmFestival Cottbus with Ivan I. Tverdovsky’s Corrections Class picking up four awards at the weekend.
The feature debut received the International Jury’s main prize ¨for its unsentimental and unpretentious presentation of a powerful social theme presented through the prism of an excellent ensemble performance¨, thereby qualifying for the Connecting Cottbus Special Pitch Award, which will allow Tverdovsky and his producers to pitch a new project at the East-West co-production market in a year’s time.
Tverdovsky’s Russian-German co-production, which won the Best Debut prize at Kinotavr in Sochi and the East of the West Award in Karlovy Vary, also picked up the prizes from the Fipresci and Interfilm juries in Cottbus.
Last year, the main prize at Cottbus went to Russian director Alexander Veledinsky’s The Geographer Drank His Globe...
- 11/10/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Panorama of European Cinema Festival pays tribute to Suleiman, Laverty, Ferris and Tsiolis.
The Georgian/German co-production Corn Island (Simindis kundzuli) directed by George Ovashvili swept the floor at the 27th Panorama of European Cinema Festival awards gala.
This poetic tale on the cycle of life told through the story of an old Abkhaz peasant and his teenage granddaughter received the two main awards, from the Fipresci jury and the audience.
The Fipresci award named after the late Greek master Theo Angelopoulos was handed over by his widow, producer Phoebe Angelopoulos.
Produced by Kazakhfilm, Focus-Fox Studio and the director’s own company, Corn Island is sold worldwide by France’s Pascale Ramonda.
Career awards were presented to Palestinian director Elia Suleiman and to longtime Ken Loach collaborator, screenwriter Tom Laverty.
While receiving his award Laverty, made an impassioned reference to the Greek social and financial crisis in the presence of deputy culture minister Angela Gerekou who awarded...
The Georgian/German co-production Corn Island (Simindis kundzuli) directed by George Ovashvili swept the floor at the 27th Panorama of European Cinema Festival awards gala.
This poetic tale on the cycle of life told through the story of an old Abkhaz peasant and his teenage granddaughter received the two main awards, from the Fipresci jury and the audience.
The Fipresci award named after the late Greek master Theo Angelopoulos was handed over by his widow, producer Phoebe Angelopoulos.
Produced by Kazakhfilm, Focus-Fox Studio and the director’s own company, Corn Island is sold worldwide by France’s Pascale Ramonda.
Career awards were presented to Palestinian director Elia Suleiman and to longtime Ken Loach collaborator, screenwriter Tom Laverty.
While receiving his award Laverty, made an impassioned reference to the Greek social and financial crisis in the presence of deputy culture minister Angela Gerekou who awarded...
- 10/27/2014
- by alexisgrivas@yahoo.com (Alexis Grivas)
- ScreenDaily
x
A record 83 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 87th Academy Awards. Kosovo, Malta, Mauritania and Panama are first-time entrants.
The 2014 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “A Few Cubic Meters of Love,” Jamshid Mahmoudi, director;
Argentina, “Wild Tales,” Damián Szifrón, director;
Australia, “Charlie’s Country,” Rolf de Heer, director;
Austria, “The Dark Valley,” Andreas Prochaska, director;
Azerbaijan, “Nabat,” Elchin Musaoglu, director;
Bangladesh, “Glow of the Firefly,” Khalid Mahmood Mithu, director;
Belgium, “Two Days, One Night,” Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, directors;
Bolivia, “Forgotten,” Carlos Bolado, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “With Mom,” Faruk Lončarevič, director;
Brazil, “The Way He Looks,” Daniel Ribeiro, director;
Bulgaria, “Bulgarian Rhapsody,” Ivan Nitchev, director;
Canada, “Mommy,” Xavier Dolan, director;
Chile, “To Kill a Man,” Alejandro Fernández Almendras, director;
China, “The Nightingale,” Philippe Muyl, director;
Colombia, “Mateo,” María Gamboa, director;
Costa Rica, “Red Princesses,” Laura Astorga Carrera, director;
Croatia, “Cowboys,” Tomislav Mršić,...
A record 83 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 87th Academy Awards. Kosovo, Malta, Mauritania and Panama are first-time entrants.
The 2014 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “A Few Cubic Meters of Love,” Jamshid Mahmoudi, director;
Argentina, “Wild Tales,” Damián Szifrón, director;
Australia, “Charlie’s Country,” Rolf de Heer, director;
Austria, “The Dark Valley,” Andreas Prochaska, director;
Azerbaijan, “Nabat,” Elchin Musaoglu, director;
Bangladesh, “Glow of the Firefly,” Khalid Mahmood Mithu, director;
Belgium, “Two Days, One Night,” Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, directors;
Bolivia, “Forgotten,” Carlos Bolado, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “With Mom,” Faruk Lončarevič, director;
Brazil, “The Way He Looks,” Daniel Ribeiro, director;
Bulgaria, “Bulgarian Rhapsody,” Ivan Nitchev, director;
Canada, “Mommy,” Xavier Dolan, director;
Chile, “To Kill a Man,” Alejandro Fernández Almendras, director;
China, “The Nightingale,” Philippe Muyl, director;
Colombia, “Mateo,” María Gamboa, director;
Costa Rica, “Red Princesses,” Laura Astorga Carrera, director;
Croatia, “Cowboys,” Tomislav Mršić,...
- 10/10/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Thursday the final submissions for the Foreign Language Film category for the 87th annual Academy Awards. A record 83 countries have entered a film for consideration, including Kosovo, Malta, Mauritania, and Panama for the first time. Notable selections include Xavier Dolan's Canadian drama Mommy, a favorite at this year's Cannes, Sweden's Force Majeure, and the Russian retelling of the Book of Job, Leviathan, winner of the Best Screenplay award at Cannes. Nominations will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 15, ahead of the live telecast on ABC Sunday, Feb. 22, from Hollywood. Last...
- 10/9/2014
- by Jake Perlman
- EW - Inside Movies
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the list of submissions for the 2015 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award. According to the Academy's press release, a record 83 countries have submitted films for consideration, including first-timers Kosovo, Malta, Mauritania, and Panama. Now, if only all those movies were made available for online viewing — or at least on DVD (outside of their respective countries). The 2015 Oscar nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 15, at 5:30 a.m. Pt in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The 2015 Oscar ceremony will be held on Sunday, February 22, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood. In the United States, the Oscarcast will be televised live by ABC; additionally, the Oscars will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide. See below the full list of 2015 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar submissions. Afghanistan, A Few Cubic Meters of Love,...
- 10/9/2014
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
The Academy has received a record 83 submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film Oscar.
Last year, a record 76 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Italian entry The Great Beauty, directed by Paolo Sorrentino.
Nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 15, 2015.
The awards ceremony will be held on Feb 22, 2015 in the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood.
The 2014 submissions are (in alphabetical order of country):
Afghanistan, A Few Cubic Meters Of Love, Jamshid Mahmoudi
Argentina, Wild Tales, Damián Szifrón
Australia, Charlie’s Country, Rolf de Heer
Austria, The Dark Valley, Andreas Prochaska
Azerbaijan, Nabat, Elchin Musaoglu
Bangladesh, Glow Of The Firefly, Khalid Mahmood Mithu
Belgium, Two Days, One Night, Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne
Bolivia, Forgotten, Carlos Bolado
Bosnia and Herzegovina, With Mom, Faruk Lončarevič
Brazil, The Way He Looks, Daniel Ribeiro
Bulgaria, Bulgarian Rhapsody, Ivan Nitchev
Canada, Mommy, Xavier Dolan
Chile, To Kill A...
Last year, a record 76 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Italian entry The Great Beauty, directed by Paolo Sorrentino.
Nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 15, 2015.
The awards ceremony will be held on Feb 22, 2015 in the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood.
The 2014 submissions are (in alphabetical order of country):
Afghanistan, A Few Cubic Meters Of Love, Jamshid Mahmoudi
Argentina, Wild Tales, Damián Szifrón
Australia, Charlie’s Country, Rolf de Heer
Austria, The Dark Valley, Andreas Prochaska
Azerbaijan, Nabat, Elchin Musaoglu
Bangladesh, Glow Of The Firefly, Khalid Mahmood Mithu
Belgium, Two Days, One Night, Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne
Bolivia, Forgotten, Carlos Bolado
Bosnia and Herzegovina, With Mom, Faruk Lončarevič
Brazil, The Way He Looks, Daniel Ribeiro
Bulgaria, Bulgarian Rhapsody, Ivan Nitchev
Canada, Mommy, Xavier Dolan
Chile, To Kill A...
- 10/9/2014
- ScreenDaily
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