Iran’s independent filmmakers are making their presence felt in Cannes, despite the challenges they face at home or in exile abroad.
A key focus is the premiere of Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed Of The Sacred Fig which premieres at Cannes on May 24. The dissident filmmaker fled Iran earlier this month after receiving an eight-year prison sentence.
It is understood that some 70 independent Iranian films were submitted to Cannes this year, while the Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (Iifa) has a stand in the Market.
Also making an impact in Cannes is the Woman Life Freedom Project with billboard posters...
A key focus is the premiere of Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed Of The Sacred Fig which premieres at Cannes on May 24. The dissident filmmaker fled Iran earlier this month after receiving an eight-year prison sentence.
It is understood that some 70 independent Iranian films were submitted to Cannes this year, while the Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (Iifa) has a stand in the Market.
Also making an impact in Cannes is the Woman Life Freedom Project with billboard posters...
- 5/21/2024
- ScreenDaily
Mariette Rissenbeek, producer and outgoing Berlinale executive director, is advising on a new $5m Luxembourg-based fund to support underrepresented voices in cinema, initially with a Mena orientation.
The Poetry in Motion Fund: Independent voices of Cinema is the brainchild of women’s rights activist Fedra Fateh, instigator of The Woman Life Freedom Project in Cannes and deputy director of the Torino Film Festival.
“We want to do things differently but at a very high level,” she said. ”We want to fill the gaps that are not being met by traditional funders and the film commissions. We want to advance social...
The Poetry in Motion Fund: Independent voices of Cinema is the brainchild of women’s rights activist Fedra Fateh, instigator of The Woman Life Freedom Project in Cannes and deputy director of the Torino Film Festival.
“We want to do things differently but at a very high level,” she said. ”We want to fill the gaps that are not being met by traditional funders and the film commissions. We want to advance social...
- 5/19/2024
- ScreenDaily
Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha’s My Favourite Cake in is screening in Competition at the Berlinale today (February 16) but the directors are unable to attend the festival, having been prevented from leaving Iran by its government.
“Six months ago security guards raided our editor’s office, and took all the computers, hard drives and copies of the film,” said Sanaeeha. “They told us there will be a court case, and because of that we can’t leave the country.”
The government still holds their passports and has tried to make them withdraw the film from Berlin. “It feels like...
“Six months ago security guards raided our editor’s office, and took all the computers, hard drives and copies of the film,” said Sanaeeha. “They told us there will be a court case, and because of that we can’t leave the country.”
The government still holds their passports and has tried to make them withdraw the film from Berlin. “It feels like...
- 2/16/2024
- ScreenDaily
Justine Triet’s Anatomy Of A Fall continued its prize-winning run on Monday at France’s 29th Lumière Awards clinching Best Film and Best Screenplay, while its German star Sandra Hüller won Best Actress.
The Lumières fete the best films, performances and technical achievements of French cinema across 13 categories.
The French equivalent of the Golden Globes, they are voted on by the Académie des Lumières which is made up of France-based international journalists representing 36 countries.
In other key prizes, Thomas Cailley won Best Director for Cannes 2023 Un Certain Regard opener The Animal Kingdom, while Arieh Worthalter won Best Actor for his performance in Cédric Khan’s Cannes Directors’ Fortnight opener The Goldman Case.
Triet’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner Anatomy of a Fall, which was nominated in six Lumière categories, is on an award-winning streak.
The movie swept the board at the European Film Awards in Berlin last December...
The Lumières fete the best films, performances and technical achievements of French cinema across 13 categories.
The French equivalent of the Golden Globes, they are voted on by the Académie des Lumières which is made up of France-based international journalists representing 36 countries.
In other key prizes, Thomas Cailley won Best Director for Cannes 2023 Un Certain Regard opener The Animal Kingdom, while Arieh Worthalter won Best Actor for his performance in Cédric Khan’s Cannes Directors’ Fortnight opener The Goldman Case.
Triet’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner Anatomy of a Fall, which was nominated in six Lumière categories, is on an award-winning streak.
The movie swept the board at the European Film Awards in Berlin last December...
- 1/22/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
The rise of quality in the entries of this list becomes evident every year, with movies from countries such as Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Jordan finding a number of way outs through festivals and streamers, winning awards all over. Of course, Iran still heads the region, as its biggest movie industry, but the biggest surprise this year came from Sri Lanka, which produced three films of true quality.
Without further ado, here are the best West-Central Asian (rest of Asia one could say) films of 2023, in random order. Some films may have premiered in 2022, but since they mostly circulated in 2023, we decided to include them.
20. Under the Sky of Damascus by Heba Khaled, Talal Derki, Ali Wajeeh (Syria)
“Under the Sky of Damascus” is a great documentary, a testament to the quality and the impact of the medium, and a movie that truly deserved the International Competition Golden...
Without further ado, here are the best West-Central Asian (rest of Asia one could say) films of 2023, in random order. Some films may have premiered in 2022, but since they mostly circulated in 2023, we decided to include them.
20. Under the Sky of Damascus by Heba Khaled, Talal Derki, Ali Wajeeh (Syria)
“Under the Sky of Damascus” is a great documentary, a testament to the quality and the impact of the medium, and a movie that truly deserved the International Competition Golden...
- 1/4/2024
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
France’s awards season has officially kicked off with Justine Triet’s “Anatomy of a Fall” landing six nominations at the Lumières Awards, including best film and director.
The courtroom drama, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, is the season’s frontrunner. The Lumières are voted on by Paris-based correspondents working for foreign outlets across 36 countries.
Sandra Huller, who stars in the film as a German novelist put on trial after her French husband dies mysteriously, is nominated for best actress, while Milo Machado Graner, who plays her astute, low-vision son, is nominated for best male newcomer.
“Anatomy of Fall” has been on a roll, garnering a raft of international prizes at the European Film Awards, Gothams, as well as Los Angeles and the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, along with four Golden Globe nominations for best film, screenplay, actress and foreign film. The movie that was...
The courtroom drama, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, is the season’s frontrunner. The Lumières are voted on by Paris-based correspondents working for foreign outlets across 36 countries.
Sandra Huller, who stars in the film as a German novelist put on trial after her French husband dies mysteriously, is nominated for best actress, while Milo Machado Graner, who plays her astute, low-vision son, is nominated for best male newcomer.
“Anatomy of Fall” has been on a roll, garnering a raft of international prizes at the European Film Awards, Gothams, as well as Los Angeles and the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, along with four Golden Globe nominations for best film, screenplay, actress and foreign film. The movie that was...
- 12/15/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
French-Iranian director Emily Atef’s Mercy received €450,000, the biggest slice of funding
Six projects by women filmmakers including Emily Atef, Hafsia Herzi and Lucile Hadzhihalović have received support from the German-French Funding Commission’s Minitraité co-production fund.
The largest single amount of production funding - €450,000 - was awarded to French-Iranian director Emily Atef’s English-language Mercy, an adaptation of Lara Santoro’s eponymous novel. Set in 1997, it is the story of a friendship between a US correspondent in Kenya and a local woman from the slums joining forces to combat the AIDS crisis in the country.
Earlier this year, Atef...
Six projects by women filmmakers including Emily Atef, Hafsia Herzi and Lucile Hadzhihalović have received support from the German-French Funding Commission’s Minitraité co-production fund.
The largest single amount of production funding - €450,000 - was awarded to French-Iranian director Emily Atef’s English-language Mercy, an adaptation of Lara Santoro’s eponymous novel. Set in 1997, it is the story of a friendship between a US correspondent in Kenya and a local woman from the slums joining forces to combat the AIDS crisis in the country.
Earlier this year, Atef...
- 12/14/2023
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
Justine Triet’s Anatomy Of A Fall is the frontrunner for France’s Lumiere awards, the country’s answer to the Golden Globes, with 6 nominations, including for best film and best director.
The courtroom drama, starring Sandra Hüller as a writer who may have murdered her husband, won the Palme d’Or in Cannes this year and swept the European Film Awards on the weekend, taking 5 trophies, including best film. Anatomy of Fall, a Neon release in the U.S., has been nominated for 4 Golden Globes.
Tran Anh Hung’s foodie period drama The Taste of Things, which was picked over Anatomy of a Fall as France’s country’s official Oscar contender in the best international feature category, received just one Lumiere nom, for best cinematography.
Another French courtroom drama, Cedric Kahn’s The Goldman Case, picked up 5 Lumiere noms, tying with Thomas Cailley’s sci-fi tale The Animal Kingdom.
The courtroom drama, starring Sandra Hüller as a writer who may have murdered her husband, won the Palme d’Or in Cannes this year and swept the European Film Awards on the weekend, taking 5 trophies, including best film. Anatomy of Fall, a Neon release in the U.S., has been nominated for 4 Golden Globes.
Tran Anh Hung’s foodie period drama The Taste of Things, which was picked over Anatomy of a Fall as France’s country’s official Oscar contender in the best international feature category, received just one Lumiere nom, for best cinematography.
Another French courtroom drama, Cedric Kahn’s The Goldman Case, picked up 5 Lumiere noms, tying with Thomas Cailley’s sci-fi tale The Animal Kingdom.
- 12/14/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Japan has dominated this year’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Apsa), with German filmmaker Wim Wenders’ latest Tokyo-set pic and Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car follow-up taking the top prizes.
Wenders’ Cannes competition title Perfect Days won Apsa’s Best Film award, while Hamaguchi’s enigmatic Venice title Evil Does Not Exist nabbed the Jury Grand Prize this evening at the Australian ceremony.
“It is with great pleasure and pride that my Japanese producers Takuma Takasaki and Koji Yanai and myself received the news that our film Perfect Days was awarded Best Picture at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards,” Wenders said, accepting the award via video message.
He added: “Wow, what an honor. Especially for a German director. The film was, in many ways, a dream come true for all of us, especially the fact that nobody less than the great Koji Yakusho played the leading role, the humble public servant,...
Wenders’ Cannes competition title Perfect Days won Apsa’s Best Film award, while Hamaguchi’s enigmatic Venice title Evil Does Not Exist nabbed the Jury Grand Prize this evening at the Australian ceremony.
“It is with great pleasure and pride that my Japanese producers Takuma Takasaki and Koji Yanai and myself received the news that our film Perfect Days was awarded Best Picture at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards,” Wenders said, accepting the award via video message.
He added: “Wow, what an honor. Especially for a German director. The film was, in many ways, a dream come true for all of us, especially the fact that nobody less than the great Koji Yakusho played the leading role, the humble public servant,...
- 11/3/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Japan heads the nominations, followed by China.
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist heads the nominations for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, with nods in four categories including best film, best director, best screenplay and best cinematography.
The Japanese feature premiered at Venice where it picked up both the jury and Fipresci prize, and centres on a father and daughter in a rural village, whose peaceful lives are disrupted by proposals to build a camping site in their area.
Hamaguchi’s latest film, following Oscar-winner Drive My Car, was just ahead of China’s Snow Leopard by the late Tibetan director Pema Tseden,...
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist heads the nominations for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, with nods in four categories including best film, best director, best screenplay and best cinematography.
The Japanese feature premiered at Venice where it picked up both the jury and Fipresci prize, and centres on a father and daughter in a rural village, whose peaceful lives are disrupted by proposals to build a camping site in their area.
Hamaguchi’s latest film, following Oscar-winner Drive My Car, was just ahead of China’s Snow Leopard by the late Tibetan director Pema Tseden,...
- 10/3/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
2D computer animation also took the distribution award.
Sebastien Laudenbach and Chiara Malta’s French-Italian 2D computer animation Chicken For Linda! won the Cristal for best feature film at Annecy International Animation Film Festival this evening.
It was one of two prizes received by the film, alongside the Gan Foundation award for distribution.
Scroll down for the list of feature film winners
Chicken For Linda! (French title: Linda veut du poulet!) follows a mother and daughter, grieving following the loss of the mother’s late husband, who go on a quest across strike-paralysed Paris in search of the key ingredient...
Sebastien Laudenbach and Chiara Malta’s French-Italian 2D computer animation Chicken For Linda! won the Cristal for best feature film at Annecy International Animation Film Festival this evening.
It was one of two prizes received by the film, alongside the Gan Foundation award for distribution.
Scroll down for the list of feature film winners
Chicken For Linda! (French title: Linda veut du poulet!) follows a mother and daughter, grieving following the loss of the mother’s late husband, who go on a quest across strike-paralysed Paris in search of the key ingredient...
- 6/17/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Chicken for Linda! a French and Italian kids feature from directors Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach, has won top prize, the Cristal award, for best film at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
The 2D feature follows a mother struggling to make a chicken dinner for her daughter Linda, despite the fact that she doesn’t know how to cook and has picked a day when the whole country is on strike, making it nearly impossible to find a chicken to buy. Produced by Dolce Vita Films, Chicken for Linda! also picked up Annecy’s Gan Foundation Award for distribution.
Four Souls of Coyote, a 2D feature about Indigenous creation tales, from director Áron Gauder, took the jury prize, while Japanese feature The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes, from director Tomohisa Taguchi, took the Paul Grimault Award.
Sirocco and the Kingdom of Air Streams from French director Benoît Chieux,...
The 2D feature follows a mother struggling to make a chicken dinner for her daughter Linda, despite the fact that she doesn’t know how to cook and has picked a day when the whole country is on strike, making it nearly impossible to find a chicken to buy. Produced by Dolce Vita Films, Chicken for Linda! also picked up Annecy’s Gan Foundation Award for distribution.
Four Souls of Coyote, a 2D feature about Indigenous creation tales, from director Áron Gauder, took the jury prize, while Japanese feature The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes, from director Tomohisa Taguchi, took the Paul Grimault Award.
Sirocco and the Kingdom of Air Streams from French director Benoît Chieux,...
- 6/17/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
At Annecy with four features, including buzzy main competition entry “Mars Express,” Strasbourg-based Amopix will create a second studio, Amopix Annecy, located in the Route des Creuses to the west of Annecy.
The move comes as Amopix, the animation studio behind Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight title “Margarethe 89,” produced by Eddy, is embarking on some 10 new titles, either as an animation studio or producer or both, including Louis Clichy’s “Le Corset” and “Shalotte, an Onion for All Cases,” a TV series produced in international co-production, a potential growth axis, Amopix founder Mathieu Rolin told Variety.
Reasons for setting up in Annecy cut several ways: the location, which is highly attractive thanks to its exceptional geographical position and the presence in Annecy of the world’s biggest animation festival.
Public sector policies, implemented by Citia, behind the Annecy Intl. Film Animation Festival, are backing the development of a local animation sector with dedicated incentives.
The move comes as Amopix, the animation studio behind Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight title “Margarethe 89,” produced by Eddy, is embarking on some 10 new titles, either as an animation studio or producer or both, including Louis Clichy’s “Le Corset” and “Shalotte, an Onion for All Cases,” a TV series produced in international co-production, a potential growth axis, Amopix founder Mathieu Rolin told Variety.
Reasons for setting up in Annecy cut several ways: the location, which is highly attractive thanks to its exceptional geographical position and the presence in Annecy of the world’s biggest animation festival.
Public sector policies, implemented by Citia, behind the Annecy Intl. Film Animation Festival, are backing the development of a local animation sector with dedicated incentives.
- 6/9/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Leading lights of contemporary Iranian cinema, including “Holy Spider” actor Zar Amir Ebrahimi, “The Siren” director Sepideh Farsi, “The Opponent” helmer Milad Alami and producer Kaveh Farnam, turned up at the Cannes Film Festival to raise the alarm on the repression faced by Iranian cinema during a session hosted by Amazon Prime Video’s Sahar Baghery.
Iran has been the centerstage of widespread protests driven by women against the Islamic regime since Mahsa Amini died in police custody for for wearing her hijab too loosely in September 2022. Although the rebellion has garnered vocal support outside of Iran, it hasn’t succeeded in dethroning the Iranian regime. A number of dissident Iranian filmmakers and talent have been jailed over the last six months, notably Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof who was recently released from prison. Rasoulof was nevertheless banned from leaving Iran to serve on the jury of Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
Iran has been the centerstage of widespread protests driven by women against the Islamic regime since Mahsa Amini died in police custody for for wearing her hijab too loosely in September 2022. Although the rebellion has garnered vocal support outside of Iran, it hasn’t succeeded in dethroning the Iranian regime. A number of dissident Iranian filmmakers and talent have been jailed over the last six months, notably Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof who was recently released from prison. Rasoulof was nevertheless banned from leaving Iran to serve on the jury of Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
- 5/25/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Gebeka is the animatoin feature specialist launched by Hildegarde and Goodfellas in 2021.
Gebeka International, a Hildegarde-Goodfellas company has signed a slew of international sales for animated features Wojtek Wawszczyk’s Diplodocus and Kristina Dufková’s Living Large.
Dinosaur adventure tale Diplodocus has sold to Signature Entertainment in the UK, and across Europe to Vertigo Films in Spain, Cinemundo in Portugal, Pro Film in Bulgaria, Acme Film in the Baltics, Ads Service for Hungary and Romania, Distri7 for Benelux, Arthouse Traffic in Ukraine and Njutafilms for Scandinavia.
The film has also sold to Boxoo Entertainment for Korea and Vietnam, Forefront Media Group in South Africa,...
Gebeka International, a Hildegarde-Goodfellas company has signed a slew of international sales for animated features Wojtek Wawszczyk’s Diplodocus and Kristina Dufková’s Living Large.
Dinosaur adventure tale Diplodocus has sold to Signature Entertainment in the UK, and across Europe to Vertigo Films in Spain, Cinemundo in Portugal, Pro Film in Bulgaria, Acme Film in the Baltics, Ads Service for Hungary and Romania, Distri7 for Benelux, Arthouse Traffic in Ukraine and Njutafilms for Scandinavia.
The film has also sold to Boxoo Entertainment for Korea and Vietnam, Forefront Media Group in South Africa,...
- 5/24/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Leading animation festival will open with Benoît Chieux’s Sirocco And The Kingdom Of The Winds.
French director Benoît Chieux’s Sirocco And The Kingdom Of The Wind is to open the Annecy International Animation Film Festival which runs from June 11-17.
The film – about two young sisters who discover a passage between this world and the extraordinary universe of The Kingdom of the Winds - is one of 11 titles selected for the festival’s official competition, where it will compete for the Crystal award.
Scroll down for full list
Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry’s Kensuke’s Kingdom – which is...
French director Benoît Chieux’s Sirocco And The Kingdom Of The Wind is to open the Annecy International Animation Film Festival which runs from June 11-17.
The film – about two young sisters who discover a passage between this world and the extraordinary universe of The Kingdom of the Winds - is one of 11 titles selected for the festival’s official competition, where it will compete for the Crystal award.
Scroll down for full list
Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry’s Kensuke’s Kingdom – which is...
- 4/28/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Celebrating six decades as the animation industry’s premier international showcase and cementing a growing position as Hollywood’s preferred French getaway, the Annecy Intl. Animation Festival revealed its 2023 program in Paris on Thursday, unveiling a formidable selection of world premieres and industry debuts.
If only for the breadth of this year’s official selection, Annecy looks set to for its most fulsome and abundant edition.
Among the 11 titles competing for this year’s Cristal – Annecy’s top prize – Jérémie Périn’s sci-fi drama “Mars Express” and Jim Capobianco & Pierre-Luc Granjon stop-motion Leonardo da Vinci epic “The Inventor” will make their world premieres. Other eagerly anticipated titles include “Chicken for Linda!” from Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach, “Four Souls of Coyote” from by Áron Gauder, and “The Inseparables” by Jérémie Degruson.
Titles like Liu Jian’s “Art College 1994” and Sepideh Farsi’s “The Siren” will arrive in the idyllic French...
If only for the breadth of this year’s official selection, Annecy looks set to for its most fulsome and abundant edition.
Among the 11 titles competing for this year’s Cristal – Annecy’s top prize – Jérémie Périn’s sci-fi drama “Mars Express” and Jim Capobianco & Pierre-Luc Granjon stop-motion Leonardo da Vinci epic “The Inventor” will make their world premieres. Other eagerly anticipated titles include “Chicken for Linda!” from Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach, “Four Souls of Coyote” from by Áron Gauder, and “The Inseparables” by Jérémie Degruson.
Titles like Liu Jian’s “Art College 1994” and Sepideh Farsi’s “The Siren” will arrive in the idyllic French...
- 4/27/2023
- by Ben Croll and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival has unveiled the line-up for its 2023 edition, running from June 11 to 17.
More than 13,000 animation professionals are set to descend on the French festival’s lakeside setting for its traditional mix of screenings programs across all formats, Work-in-Progress and First-Look sneak peeks, and presentations going behind the scenes of upcoming animation productions.
Competition title Sirocco And The Kingdom Of The Winds by French director Benoît Chieux opens the festival. The fantasy follows the adventures of two young sisters as they try to make their way home after getting trapped in the world of their favorite book.
A Cat In Paris and Phantom Boy director Alain Gagnol co-wrote the screenplay for the feature lead produced by Paris-based Sacrebleu Productions.
The film, which world premieres in Annecy, is among 11 titles competing for the festival’s Crystal award.
Another three French productions debut in Competition: Chiara Malta and...
More than 13,000 animation professionals are set to descend on the French festival’s lakeside setting for its traditional mix of screenings programs across all formats, Work-in-Progress and First-Look sneak peeks, and presentations going behind the scenes of upcoming animation productions.
Competition title Sirocco And The Kingdom Of The Winds by French director Benoît Chieux opens the festival. The fantasy follows the adventures of two young sisters as they try to make their way home after getting trapped in the world of their favorite book.
A Cat In Paris and Phantom Boy director Alain Gagnol co-wrote the screenplay for the feature lead produced by Paris-based Sacrebleu Productions.
The film, which world premieres in Annecy, is among 11 titles competing for the festival’s Crystal award.
Another three French productions debut in Competition: Chiara Malta and...
- 4/27/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
In “The Siren” (2023), shown in the Berlinale's Panorama section, the director, Sepideh Farsi, shows the violence of 1980's Iran-Iraq war through the perspective of 14-year old Omid. Farsi repurposes the coming-of-age and adventure movie conventions, and juxtaposes them with the grim context of the conflict. The effect is as haunting, as it is surprisingly endearing.
Sirens is screening at Berlinale
This is the first animated film in Farsi's career which spanned from feature-length fiction to documentary works, predominantly focusing on contemporary Iran. With a story inspired by the director's families' experiences, screenplay penned by Javad Djavahery and animation overseen by Zaven Najjar, “The Siren” starts in the pre-lapsarian Abadan, a major Iranian city which will be soon pummelled by Sadam Husein's Iraqi forces. In the opening scene, boys play football. The game, however, is interrupted by a sudden missile strike. This triggers a rapid chain of events: Omid's older brother joins the army; whoever can,...
Sirens is screening at Berlinale
This is the first animated film in Farsi's career which spanned from feature-length fiction to documentary works, predominantly focusing on contemporary Iran. With a story inspired by the director's families' experiences, screenplay penned by Javad Djavahery and animation overseen by Zaven Najjar, “The Siren” starts in the pre-lapsarian Abadan, a major Iranian city which will be soon pummelled by Sadam Husein's Iraqi forces. In the opening scene, boys play football. The game, however, is interrupted by a sudden missile strike. This triggers a rapid chain of events: Omid's older brother joins the army; whoever can,...
- 3/9/2023
- by Olek Młyński
- AsianMoviePulse
The Doha Film Institute has recruited an impressive mix of film directors and talents comprising Christopher Hampton, David Parfitt, Jacqueline West, Lynne Ramsay, and Michael Winterbottom who will hold master classes and act as mentors during its upcoming Qumra Arab industry incubator.
The event, which is back in person after a two-year hiatus, will run physically March 10-15 in the Qatari capital of Doha, followed by an online program March 19-21. Qumra, which means “camera” in Arabic, blends together a creative workshop, co-production market, and festival elements. The event, now at its ninth edition, was established by the Doha Film Institute (Dfi) to help foster first and second works, mostly by Arab directors and to create curated networking opportunities between the Arab and international film communities.
“The latest edition of Qumra will continue its presence as a unique and important platform for important voices and compelling stories in Arab and world cinema,...
The event, which is back in person after a two-year hiatus, will run physically March 10-15 in the Qatari capital of Doha, followed by an online program March 19-21. Qumra, which means “camera” in Arabic, blends together a creative workshop, co-production market, and festival elements. The event, now at its ninth edition, was established by the Doha Film Institute (Dfi) to help foster first and second works, mostly by Arab directors and to create curated networking opportunities between the Arab and international film communities.
“The latest edition of Qumra will continue its presence as a unique and important platform for important voices and compelling stories in Arab and world cinema,...
- 2/19/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The Berlinale red carpet on Saturday became a protest platform against Iran’s repressive regime when a group of Iranian filmmakers and talents, joined by jury president Kristen Stewart, chanted “Women, Life, Freedom!” and demanded the release of imprisoned journalists and an Iranian rapper.
Actress Golshifteh Farahani, who is also on the jury; “Holy Spider” actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi; and “The Siren” director Sepideh Farsi were among dozens of Iranian film professionals participating in the protests hosted by Berlinale co-directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian.
Protesters with signs demanded freedom for female Iranian journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi who are behind bars, accused of “conspiring against national security” for being the first to report on Mahsa Amini’s death, and for the release of dissident Iranian hip hop artist Toomaj Salehi who has been accused of spreading propaganda and could face the death penalty.
The Berlin red carpet protest...
Actress Golshifteh Farahani, who is also on the jury; “Holy Spider” actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi; and “The Siren” director Sepideh Farsi were among dozens of Iranian film professionals participating in the protests hosted by Berlinale co-directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian.
Protesters with signs demanded freedom for female Iranian journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi who are behind bars, accused of “conspiring against national security” for being the first to report on Mahsa Amini’s death, and for the release of dissident Iranian hip hop artist Toomaj Salehi who has been accused of spreading propaganda and could face the death penalty.
The Berlin red carpet protest...
- 2/18/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
At this year’s Berlin Film Festival, politics and protests, not cinema and celebrities, have gotten top billing.
The activist uproar, whether its protesting environmentalists, demonstrations on the rights of women in Iran, or shows of solidarity with the embattled people of Ukraine, has created a media echo that has often overpowered what has been happening on screen.
Thursday’s opening night red carpet so no fewer than three demonstrations. Holy Spider star Zahra Amir Ebrahimi, together with two German-Iranian actresses, The Empress star Melika Foroutan and Jasmin Tabatabai (Bandits, The Baader Meinhof Complex), joined activists to unveil a banner reading “Women Life Freedom,” the slogan of the anti-government, pro-women’s rights protests that have rocked Iran since last September. Before the ceremony started, demonstrators representing concession workers and ushers in Berlin’s movie theaters, held up banners to call for fairer wages. And members of environmental activist group Last...
The activist uproar, whether its protesting environmentalists, demonstrations on the rights of women in Iran, or shows of solidarity with the embattled people of Ukraine, has created a media echo that has often overpowered what has been happening on screen.
Thursday’s opening night red carpet so no fewer than three demonstrations. Holy Spider star Zahra Amir Ebrahimi, together with two German-Iranian actresses, The Empress star Melika Foroutan and Jasmin Tabatabai (Bandits, The Baader Meinhof Complex), joined activists to unveil a banner reading “Women Life Freedom,” the slogan of the anti-government, pro-women’s rights protests that have rocked Iran since last September. Before the ceremony started, demonstrators representing concession workers and ushers in Berlin’s movie theaters, held up banners to call for fairer wages. And members of environmental activist group Last...
- 2/18/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Downpour on red carpet didn’t stop around 100 guests showing solidarity.
Kristen Stewart and her fellow Competition jurors were among around 100 people participating in a demonstration of solidarity with the women and people of Iran today at the Berlinale.
Despite persistent rain for much of the day, the demo went ahead at 14.55 today (February 18) on the red carpet in front of the Berlinale Palast. It began with a group of about 40 people, predominantly Iranian citizens, including Holy Spider actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi.
They were joined firstly by Berlinale co-directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian. Many attendees held signs with the slogan ‘Zan,...
Kristen Stewart and her fellow Competition jurors were among around 100 people participating in a demonstration of solidarity with the women and people of Iran today at the Berlinale.
Despite persistent rain for much of the day, the demo went ahead at 14.55 today (February 18) on the red carpet in front of the Berlinale Palast. It began with a group of about 40 people, predominantly Iranian citizens, including Holy Spider actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi.
They were joined firstly by Berlinale co-directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian. Many attendees held signs with the slogan ‘Zan,...
- 2/18/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Kristen Stewart joined Iranian filmmakers in a demonstration showing solidarity for Iran’s “Women, Life, Freedom” protests on the red carpet of the Berlin Film Festival on Saturday.
Stewart is attending the festival this year as the president of its international jury.
Holy Spider actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi, The Siren director Sepideh Farsi and actress Golshifteh Farahani, who is a member of Stewart’s international jury, were among more than 50 Iranian professionals participating in the act of solidarity.
Festival co-chiefs Carlo Chatrian and Mariëtte Rissenbeek also joined the demonstration to flank Stewart in the photo-call.
The demonstration followed news that the popular protests – sparked by the killing in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September – had flared up in several cities across Iran overnight.
Earlier on Saturday, Ebrahimi and Farsi participated in a Berlinale-hosted panel discussion on the role of cinema and art in the ongoing popular revolution.
Tehran-born actress Ebrahimi,...
Stewart is attending the festival this year as the president of its international jury.
Holy Spider actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi, The Siren director Sepideh Farsi and actress Golshifteh Farahani, who is a member of Stewart’s international jury, were among more than 50 Iranian professionals participating in the act of solidarity.
Festival co-chiefs Carlo Chatrian and Mariëtte Rissenbeek also joined the demonstration to flank Stewart in the photo-call.
The demonstration followed news that the popular protests – sparked by the killing in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September – had flared up in several cities across Iran overnight.
Earlier on Saturday, Ebrahimi and Farsi participated in a Berlinale-hosted panel discussion on the role of cinema and art in the ongoing popular revolution.
Tehran-born actress Ebrahimi,...
- 2/18/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Iranian cinema got a rare bit of good news recently. Earlier this month, two of the country’s most famous dissident directors —Jafar Panahi (Taxi, No Bears) and Mohammad Rasoulof (Berlin Golden Bear winner There Is No Evil) were released from prison after months behind bars.
The elation surrounding their release was short lived: Rasoulof was soon served with new, dubious, charges that could land him in back in jail. And Panahi is still banned from making movies or from leaving the country. And given the continued, and brutal, suppression of protesters in the country by the Tehran regime, there is little cause for celebration.
“Releasing some individuals among thousands who have been arrested during a few past months, doesn’t lead me to optimism,” notes Iranian documentary filmmaker Farahnaz Sharifi (Profession: Documentarist). “Considering all these issues and censorship and restrictions we are facing with, there is a long process...
The elation surrounding their release was short lived: Rasoulof was soon served with new, dubious, charges that could land him in back in jail. And Panahi is still banned from making movies or from leaving the country. And given the continued, and brutal, suppression of protesters in the country by the Tehran regime, there is little cause for celebration.
“Releasing some individuals among thousands who have been arrested during a few past months, doesn’t lead me to optimism,” notes Iranian documentary filmmaker Farahnaz Sharifi (Profession: Documentarist). “Considering all these issues and censorship and restrictions we are facing with, there is a long process...
- 2/18/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The wave of protests sparked across Iran by the death of Mahsa Amini by Iranian morality police in September came amid a banner year for Iranian cinema.
But as 2023 kicks off, more than 500 people who have protested her death and called for justice have been killed while prominent members of the Iranian film industry were either arrested, put on trial or banned from making movies. The result being that the country’s cinematic community has largely ground to a halt.
Which raises the question: unless something changes, how many films actually shot in Iran will be surfacing on the international festival circuit going forward?
In 2022, Iran-based directors landed slots in all major international film festivals and won major awards. Revered auteur Jafar Panahi took the Venice Special Jury Prize for “No Bears” and Houman Seyyedi’s tragicomedy “World War III,” which was Iran’s candidate for the international Oscar, scooped two statuettes on the Lido.
But as 2023 kicks off, more than 500 people who have protested her death and called for justice have been killed while prominent members of the Iranian film industry were either arrested, put on trial or banned from making movies. The result being that the country’s cinematic community has largely ground to a halt.
Which raises the question: unless something changes, how many films actually shot in Iran will be surfacing on the international festival circuit going forward?
In 2022, Iran-based directors landed slots in all major international film festivals and won major awards. Revered auteur Jafar Panahi took the Venice Special Jury Prize for “No Bears” and Houman Seyyedi’s tragicomedy “World War III,” which was Iran’s candidate for the international Oscar, scooped two statuettes on the Lido.
- 2/18/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
When the Iran-Iraq war broke out in 1980, director Sepideh Farsi was a high school student in Iran. At age 16, she was incarcerated for being an anti-Islamic Republic activist. Farsi stayed in her country until 1984 and then moved to France, where she experienced the second half of the conflict.
In her first animated feature, “The Siren” — which opens Berlin’s Panorama section — the Paris-based director revisits this war through the story of a 14-year-old boy named Omid, who decides to brave the Iraqi siege of Abadan, the capital of the Iranian oil industry. After opting to stay in the city with his grandfather and a bunch of other diehards, Omid and the others take over an abandoned boat he finds in Abadan’s port, which becomes their ark.
Farsi spoke to Variety about her wish to come to terms with her country’s past with “The Siren” and her hope for Iran’s future.
In her first animated feature, “The Siren” — which opens Berlin’s Panorama section — the Paris-based director revisits this war through the story of a 14-year-old boy named Omid, who decides to brave the Iraqi siege of Abadan, the capital of the Iranian oil industry. After opting to stay in the city with his grandfather and a bunch of other diehards, Omid and the others take over an abandoned boat he finds in Abadan’s port, which becomes their ark.
Farsi spoke to Variety about her wish to come to terms with her country’s past with “The Siren” and her hope for Iran’s future.
- 2/16/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Film is about the impact of police misconduct on a Parisian family.
Bac Films and Wild Bunch International are kicking off sales on Mehdi Fikri’s hot market title After the Fire at the European Film Market.
The film is Fikri’s first feature following his short Descente screened in Horizons at Venice in 2021.
The incendiary drama about police violence features a starry cast including French talents Camelia Jordana, who won the Cesar for best newcomer for her role in Yvan Attal’s Le Brio, and Sofiane Zermani, who stars in Netflix’s French-language film No Limit. They star alongside Sofian Khammes,...
Bac Films and Wild Bunch International are kicking off sales on Mehdi Fikri’s hot market title After the Fire at the European Film Market.
The film is Fikri’s first feature following his short Descente screened in Horizons at Venice in 2021.
The incendiary drama about police violence features a starry cast including French talents Camelia Jordana, who won the Cesar for best newcomer for her role in Yvan Attal’s Le Brio, and Sofiane Zermani, who stars in Netflix’s French-language film No Limit. They star alongside Sofian Khammes,...
- 2/15/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Sales
Chris O’Dowd (“Puffin Rock”), Amy Huberman (“Derry Girls”), Beth McCafferty and Eva Whittaker (“Wolfwalkers”) lead the voice cast of “Puffin Rock and the New Friends,” the film based on the TV series “Puffin Rock.”
Following their collaboration on Oscar nominees “Song of the Sea” and “The Breadwinner,” WestEnd Films is teaming again with Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon and Northern Ireland’s Dog Ears on the film and is launching sales at Berlin’s European Film Market (EFM), where first footage will be shown to buyers.
“Puffin Rock and the New Friends” sees Oona, Baba, May and Mossy joined by a new characters Isabelle, Phoenix and Marvin. When the last Little Egg of the season disappears under mysterious circumstances, Oona and her new friends race against time to bring the Little Egg home before a big storm hits Puffin Rock and puts the entire island in danger.
The film...
Chris O’Dowd (“Puffin Rock”), Amy Huberman (“Derry Girls”), Beth McCafferty and Eva Whittaker (“Wolfwalkers”) lead the voice cast of “Puffin Rock and the New Friends,” the film based on the TV series “Puffin Rock.”
Following their collaboration on Oscar nominees “Song of the Sea” and “The Breadwinner,” WestEnd Films is teaming again with Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon and Northern Ireland’s Dog Ears on the film and is launching sales at Berlin’s European Film Market (EFM), where first footage will be shown to buyers.
“Puffin Rock and the New Friends” sees Oona, Baba, May and Mossy joined by a new characters Isabelle, Phoenix and Marvin. When the last Little Egg of the season disappears under mysterious circumstances, Oona and her new friends race against time to bring the Little Egg home before a big storm hits Puffin Rock and puts the entire island in danger.
The film...
- 2/13/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The Berlin Film Festival and its accompanying European Film Market will not accredit any companies or media outlets with direct ties to the Russian or Iranian governments, the Berlinale confirmed in a statement Wednesday.
Berlin introduced a ban on Russian-backed companies and outlets last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, following a policy also implemented by the Cannes and Venice festivals. Now Berlin has added Tehran to the list, responding to the Iranian government’s brutal crackdown on the wave of protests that have rocked the country for months. The demonstrations were triggered by the death, in September, of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after being arrested by the country’s morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab incorrectly.
Germany is home to a large Iranian diaspora —including such film luminaries as Berlin Alexanderplatz director Burhan Qurbani and actress Jasmin Tabatabai (The Baader Meinhof Complex) —and...
Berlin introduced a ban on Russian-backed companies and outlets last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, following a policy also implemented by the Cannes and Venice festivals. Now Berlin has added Tehran to the list, responding to the Iranian government’s brutal crackdown on the wave of protests that have rocked the country for months. The demonstrations were triggered by the death, in September, of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after being arrested by the country’s morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab incorrectly.
Germany is home to a large Iranian diaspora —including such film luminaries as Berlin Alexanderplatz director Burhan Qurbani and actress Jasmin Tabatabai (The Baader Meinhof Complex) —and...
- 1/18/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Film delegations, companies and journalists working for media outlets with direct ties to the Russian and Iranian governments will be persona non grata at the upcoming Berlinale.
The Berlinale, which comprises the Berlin Film Festival and the European Film Market (EFM), has issued a statement to Variety that sees the org adopt the same policy employed last year by the Cannes and Venice festivals following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The new aspect pertains to Iran where the wave of protests sparked in September by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini for allegedly wearing a loose hijab has caused more than 500 civilians to be killed by government security forces.
Like Cannes and Venice, Berlin isn’t prohibiting films by independent Russian and Iranian directors from participating at the festival.
For example Paris-based Iranian director Sepideh Farsi’s “The Siren,” an animation feature set in Iran’s oil capital, Abadan, in...
The Berlinale, which comprises the Berlin Film Festival and the European Film Market (EFM), has issued a statement to Variety that sees the org adopt the same policy employed last year by the Cannes and Venice festivals following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The new aspect pertains to Iran where the wave of protests sparked in September by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini for allegedly wearing a loose hijab has caused more than 500 civilians to be killed by government security forces.
Like Cannes and Venice, Berlin isn’t prohibiting films by independent Russian and Iranian directors from participating at the festival.
For example Paris-based Iranian director Sepideh Farsi’s “The Siren,” an animation feature set in Iran’s oil capital, Abadan, in...
- 1/18/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
U2 documentary ‘Kiss The Future’ added to Berlinale Special; further Generation titles revealed.
The Berlinale has completed the Panorama section for its 2023 edition with a raft of world premieres including UK thriller Femme, starring George MacKay and Candyman star Nathan Stewart-Jarrett.
The festival, which is set to run from February 16-26, has also revealed fresh titles selected for its Generation competition and the addition of U2 documentary Kiss The Future as a Berlinale Special screening.
The Panorama strand will comprise 35 films from 30 countries, including 28 world premieres and 11 debuts. Having previously announced several titles, the festival revealed that animated feature The...
The Berlinale has completed the Panorama section for its 2023 edition with a raft of world premieres including UK thriller Femme, starring George MacKay and Candyman star Nathan Stewart-Jarrett.
The festival, which is set to run from February 16-26, has also revealed fresh titles selected for its Generation competition and the addition of U2 documentary Kiss The Future as a Berlinale Special screening.
The Panorama strand will comprise 35 films from 30 countries, including 28 world premieres and 11 debuts. Having previously announced several titles, the festival revealed that animated feature The...
- 1/18/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Sepideh Farsi’s “La Sirène” (“The Siren”) is opening the Berlin Film Festival’s Panorama strand.
The program, which comprises 35 films from 30 countries, including 28 world premieres and 11 debuts, includes new films by Patric Chiha, İlker Çatak, Frauke Finsterwalder, Maite Alberdi, Milad Alami and Apolline Traoré. They feature a galaxy of well-known protagonists and actors such as Joan Baez, Jafar Panahi, Payman Maadi, George MacKay, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Fan Bingbing, Sandra Hüller and Susanne Wolff.
Panorama Selections
“After”
by Anthony Lapia | with Louise Chevillotte, Majd Mastoura, Natalia Wiszniewska
France
World premiere | Debut film
“All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White”
by Babatunde Apalowo | with Tope Tedela, Riyo David, Martha Ehinome Orhiere, Uchechika Elumelu, Floyd Anekwe
Nigeria
World premiere | Debut film
“And, Towards Happy Alleys”
by Sreemoyee Singh | with Jafar Panahi, Nasrin Soutodeh, Jinous Nazokkar, Farhad Kheradmand, Aida Mohammadkhani
India
World premiere | Debut film | Documentary
“La Bête dans la...
The program, which comprises 35 films from 30 countries, including 28 world premieres and 11 debuts, includes new films by Patric Chiha, İlker Çatak, Frauke Finsterwalder, Maite Alberdi, Milad Alami and Apolline Traoré. They feature a galaxy of well-known protagonists and actors such as Joan Baez, Jafar Panahi, Payman Maadi, George MacKay, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Fan Bingbing, Sandra Hüller and Susanne Wolff.
Panorama Selections
“After”
by Anthony Lapia | with Louise Chevillotte, Majd Mastoura, Natalia Wiszniewska
France
World premiere | Debut film
“All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White”
by Babatunde Apalowo | with Tope Tedela, Riyo David, Martha Ehinome Orhiere, Uchechika Elumelu, Floyd Anekwe
Nigeria
World premiere | Debut film
“And, Towards Happy Alleys”
by Sreemoyee Singh | with Jafar Panahi, Nasrin Soutodeh, Jinous Nazokkar, Farhad Kheradmand, Aida Mohammadkhani
India
World premiere | Debut film | Documentary
“La Bête dans la...
- 1/18/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
London-set revenge thriller Femme, starring George MacKay and Candyman actor Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, has been selected for the Berlinale’s Panorama strand.
It was among a raft of fresh additions to the festival’s Panorama, Generation and Berlinale Special strands announced on Wednesday.
The picture is co-directed by Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping and is based on their 2021 BAFTA-nominated short film of the same name.
Stewart-Jarrett plays a drag queen whose life is destroyed by a homophobic attack and then plots revenge on one of the perpetrators (MacKay) when he spots him in a gay sauna.
The 21 new Panorama titles also include France-based Austrian director Patric Chiha’s The Beast In The Jungle.
A contemporary adaptation of Henry James’s 1903 novella of the same name, the drama follows a man and woman who frequent a huge nightclub for 25 years in anticipation of a mysterious event.
The cast features Anaïs Demoustier,...
It was among a raft of fresh additions to the festival’s Panorama, Generation and Berlinale Special strands announced on Wednesday.
The picture is co-directed by Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping and is based on their 2021 BAFTA-nominated short film of the same name.
Stewart-Jarrett plays a drag queen whose life is destroyed by a homophobic attack and then plots revenge on one of the perpetrators (MacKay) when he spots him in a gay sauna.
The 21 new Panorama titles also include France-based Austrian director Patric Chiha’s The Beast In The Jungle.
A contemporary adaptation of Henry James’s 1903 novella of the same name, the drama follows a man and woman who frequent a huge nightclub for 25 years in anticipation of a mysterious event.
The cast features Anaïs Demoustier,...
- 1/18/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Films Boutiques has boarded Amr Gamal’s “The Burdened” ahead of its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.
Slated for the Panorama section, “The Burdened” will be the first Yememi film to play in the official selection of the Berlinale.
The movie takes place in Aden, Yemen, where Isra’a and Ahmed put all their efforts offering a normal life and education to their three young children. When they find out that Isra’a is pregnant again, they have to make difficult decisions guided only by their family’s interest. “The Burdened” stars Khaled Hamdan and Abeer Mohammed.
Gamal previously directed “10 Days before the Wedding” and the series “Last Chance.” “The Burdened” is produced by Mohsen Alkhalifi and Amr Gamal at Adenium Productions, Yemen-based company.
Co-producers are Amjad Abu Alala, Mohammed Alomda at Station Films, Sudan, and Red Sea International Film Festival at Saudi Arabia. The movie was lensed by Mrinal Desai,...
Slated for the Panorama section, “The Burdened” will be the first Yememi film to play in the official selection of the Berlinale.
The movie takes place in Aden, Yemen, where Isra’a and Ahmed put all their efforts offering a normal life and education to their three young children. When they find out that Isra’a is pregnant again, they have to make difficult decisions guided only by their family’s interest. “The Burdened” stars Khaled Hamdan and Abeer Mohammed.
Gamal previously directed “10 Days before the Wedding” and the series “Last Chance.” “The Burdened” is produced by Mohsen Alkhalifi and Amr Gamal at Adenium Productions, Yemen-based company.
Co-producers are Amjad Abu Alala, Mohammed Alomda at Station Films, Sudan, and Red Sea International Film Festival at Saudi Arabia. The movie was lensed by Mrinal Desai,...
- 12/15/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The Berlin Film Festival has unveiled the first titles selected for its Panorama section at the upcoming in-person edition that takes place February 16-26. (Scroll down for the full list)
Among the highlights are Tina Satter’s debut feature Reality starring Euphoria and The White Lotus’ Sydney Sweeney and focusing on the arrest of the American whistle-blower Reality Winner.
Jennifer Reeder is also in with Perpetrator, described as a subversive film that throws conventions to the wind. Kiah McKirnan and Alicia Silverstone star.
Willem Dafoe turns up as an art thief in Vasilis Katsoupis’ Inside. And, Ira Sachs is back with Passages, starring Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw and Adèle Exarchopoulous.
Of the 14 films selected, eleven are world premieres.
Here’s the full list announced today
Al Murhaqoon (The Burdened)
by Amr Gamal | with Khaled Hamdan, Abeer Mohammed, Samah Alamrani, Awsam Abdulrahman, Shahd Algonfedy
Yemen / Sudan / Saudi Arabia 2023
Panorama | World Premiere...
Among the highlights are Tina Satter’s debut feature Reality starring Euphoria and The White Lotus’ Sydney Sweeney and focusing on the arrest of the American whistle-blower Reality Winner.
Jennifer Reeder is also in with Perpetrator, described as a subversive film that throws conventions to the wind. Kiah McKirnan and Alicia Silverstone star.
Willem Dafoe turns up as an art thief in Vasilis Katsoupis’ Inside. And, Ira Sachs is back with Passages, starring Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw and Adèle Exarchopoulous.
Of the 14 films selected, eleven are world premieres.
Here’s the full list announced today
Al Murhaqoon (The Burdened)
by Amr Gamal | with Khaled Hamdan, Abeer Mohammed, Samah Alamrani, Awsam Abdulrahman, Shahd Algonfedy
Yemen / Sudan / Saudi Arabia 2023
Panorama | World Premiere...
- 12/15/2022
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Selected films include Tina Satter’s ‘Reality’ with Sydney Sweeney in Panorama.
The Berlinale has revealed the first films that will play in its 2023 edition, announcing 14 features for the Panorama strand and nine for the youth-focused Generation section; plus a full move to Potsdamer Platz for the European Film Market, returning as a physical event for the first time since 2020.
The 14 Panorama titles include Reality, the feature debut of US filmmaker Tina Satter, which depicts a young woman confronted at home by the FBI, which leads her life to unravel. The film stars Sydney Sweeney, known for her roles in TV hits Euphoria,...
The Berlinale has revealed the first films that will play in its 2023 edition, announcing 14 features for the Panorama strand and nine for the youth-focused Generation section; plus a full move to Potsdamer Platz for the European Film Market, returning as a physical event for the first time since 2020.
The 14 Panorama titles include Reality, the feature debut of US filmmaker Tina Satter, which depicts a young woman confronted at home by the FBI, which leads her life to unravel. The film stars Sydney Sweeney, known for her roles in TV hits Euphoria,...
- 12/15/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
The Berlin Film Festival has revealed the first tranche of titles for its Panorama and Generation strands.
The Panorama lineup includes films from Ukraine, Yemen and about Iran. Of the 14 films selected, 11 are world premieres. There are new films by Sepideh Farsi, Jennifer Reeder, Tina Satter, Sacha Polak, Malene Choi and Ira Sachs.
The films selected for the Generation Kplus and Generation 14plus competitions include nine shorts and nine features, including 11 world premieres.
Stars featured in titles across the strands include Willem Dafoe, Ben Whishaw, Adèle Exarchopoulous, Leon Dai and Sydney Sweeney.
The festival takes place Feb. 16-26, 2023.
Panorama Titles
“Al Murhaqoon” (“The Burdened”)
by Amr Gamal. With Khaled Hamdan, Abeer Mohammed, Samah Alamrani, Awsam Abdulrahman, Shahd Algonfedy
Yemen/Sudan/Saudi Arabia
“Au cimetière de la pellicule” (“The Cemetery of Cinema”)
by Thierno Souleymane Diallo
France/Senegal/Guinea/Saudi Arabia
“El castillo” (“The Castle”)
by Martín Benchimol. With Justina Olivo,...
The Panorama lineup includes films from Ukraine, Yemen and about Iran. Of the 14 films selected, 11 are world premieres. There are new films by Sepideh Farsi, Jennifer Reeder, Tina Satter, Sacha Polak, Malene Choi and Ira Sachs.
The films selected for the Generation Kplus and Generation 14plus competitions include nine shorts and nine features, including 11 world premieres.
Stars featured in titles across the strands include Willem Dafoe, Ben Whishaw, Adèle Exarchopoulous, Leon Dai and Sydney Sweeney.
The festival takes place Feb. 16-26, 2023.
Panorama Titles
“Al Murhaqoon” (“The Burdened”)
by Amr Gamal. With Khaled Hamdan, Abeer Mohammed, Samah Alamrani, Awsam Abdulrahman, Shahd Algonfedy
Yemen/Sudan/Saudi Arabia
“Au cimetière de la pellicule” (“The Cemetery of Cinema”)
by Thierno Souleymane Diallo
France/Senegal/Guinea/Saudi Arabia
“El castillo” (“The Castle”)
by Martín Benchimol. With Justina Olivo,...
- 12/15/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
The Berlin International Film Festival has unveiled the first films selected to run in the Panorama and Generation sidebars of its 2023 edition.
The lineups include films featuring Willem Dafoe, Alicia Silverstone and The White Lotus star Sydney Sweeney and a broad geographical range, with features from Ukraine, Yemen and Iran, among others.
Ira Sachs’ Passages, a Paris-set drama featuring Ben Whishaw, Adèle Exarchopoulous and German actor Franz Rogowski, will have its European premiere in Berlin’s Panorama section, while the Jennifer Reeder-directed Perpetrator, described as a “bloody coming-of-age story” featuring Silverstone, Christopher Lowell and Kiah McKirnan, will have its world premiere bow in Berlin.
Another U.S. title heading to Berlin is Reality, the directorial debut of filmmaker Tina Satter featuring The White Lotus and Euphoria star Sweeney as Nsa whistleblower Reality Winner, who received a five-year prison sentence for leaking an...
The Berlin International Film Festival has unveiled the first films selected to run in the Panorama and Generation sidebars of its 2023 edition.
The lineups include films featuring Willem Dafoe, Alicia Silverstone and The White Lotus star Sydney Sweeney and a broad geographical range, with features from Ukraine, Yemen and Iran, among others.
Ira Sachs’ Passages, a Paris-set drama featuring Ben Whishaw, Adèle Exarchopoulous and German actor Franz Rogowski, will have its European premiere in Berlin’s Panorama section, while the Jennifer Reeder-directed Perpetrator, described as a “bloody coming-of-age story” featuring Silverstone, Christopher Lowell and Kiah McKirnan, will have its world premiere bow in Berlin.
Another U.S. title heading to Berlin is Reality, the directorial debut of filmmaker Tina Satter featuring The White Lotus and Euphoria star Sweeney as Nsa whistleblower Reality Winner, who received a five-year prison sentence for leaking an...
- 12/15/2022
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Inaugurated in 2021, the Annecy Residency program takes three selected projects on a six-month journey, beginning with a three-month script workshop before moving to Annecy’s Papeteries Image Factory for a similar bout of tailored mentorships and visual experimentation. At the end, the filmmakers launch their development titles at the MIFA market.
When directors Pierre Le Couviour and Amine El Ouarti brought their residency-honed title “Le Cœur à danser” to last year’s MIFA, they very quickly found an eager partner in French studio Vivement Lundi, teaming with the Rennes-based production house to develop the project even further. That extra work paid off, and when the World War I-set folktale returned to pitch at this year’s MIFA, the project broke out as a serious buzz title, inspiring immediate and ardent distributor attention before claiming two of the three top prizes for best feature pitch.
That’s just a single 2021 residency project.
When directors Pierre Le Couviour and Amine El Ouarti brought their residency-honed title “Le Cœur à danser” to last year’s MIFA, they very quickly found an eager partner in French studio Vivement Lundi, teaming with the Rennes-based production house to develop the project even further. That extra work paid off, and when the World War I-set folktale returned to pitch at this year’s MIFA, the project broke out as a serious buzz title, inspiring immediate and ardent distributor attention before claiming two of the three top prizes for best feature pitch.
That’s just a single 2021 residency project.
- 6/16/2022
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
Competition titles ‘Pacification’, ‘Triangle Of Sadness’, ‘Boy From Heaven’ also backed.
Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk’s Ukrainian co-production Pamfir is one of 49 European films at this year’s Marché du Film to receive Film Sales Support (Fss) from the European Film Promotion (Efp) network.
Twenty-one sales companies are receiving a total of €78,000 for promotion and marketing campaigns of the 49 titles. Thirty-three of the films are completed, with a further 13 still in later stages of production.
Pamfir is Ukrainian director Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk’s debut feature, and plays in Directors’ Fortnight at the festival. A co-production between Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, Chile and Luxembourg, it...
Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk’s Ukrainian co-production Pamfir is one of 49 European films at this year’s Marché du Film to receive Film Sales Support (Fss) from the European Film Promotion (Efp) network.
Twenty-one sales companies are receiving a total of €78,000 for promotion and marketing campaigns of the 49 titles. Thirty-three of the films are completed, with a further 13 still in later stages of production.
Pamfir is Ukrainian director Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk’s debut feature, and plays in Directors’ Fortnight at the festival. A co-production between Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, Chile and Luxembourg, it...
- 5/12/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
France’s Les Film d’Ici and Netherlands’ Submarine have boarded “They Shot the Piano Player,” the much-awaited new animated project from Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal after their 2012 Oscar-nominated “Chico & Rita.” The producers join existing producers Trueba PC, Mariscal Studios and Peru’s Tondero production team.
Sold internationally by Films Constellation, the animated feature is a celebratory evocation of the eruption of world-renowned Latino musical movement Bossa Nova in the ’60s and ’70s through the personal story of a young Brazilian piano virtuoso, Tenorio Jr, whose disappearance is being researched by a journalist – Jeff Goldblum attached to voice.
“Fernando and Javier have developed a powerful and moving film combining a unique artistic, political and humanistic approach. It is an important story, given the film’s many layers that will entertain audiences worldwide,” Serge Lalou at Les Films D’ici told Variety.
The French company – always stimulated by genre hybridization,...
Sold internationally by Films Constellation, the animated feature is a celebratory evocation of the eruption of world-renowned Latino musical movement Bossa Nova in the ’60s and ’70s through the personal story of a young Brazilian piano virtuoso, Tenorio Jr, whose disappearance is being researched by a journalist – Jeff Goldblum attached to voice.
“Fernando and Javier have developed a powerful and moving film combining a unique artistic, political and humanistic approach. It is an important story, given the film’s many layers that will entertain audiences worldwide,” Serge Lalou at Les Films D’ici told Variety.
The French company – always stimulated by genre hybridization,...
- 9/24/2021
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
France’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the leading global get-together for all things animation, has unveiled the lineup for this year’s Work in Progress section, among the most highly anticipated events of the world’s animation calendar. When a physical event is possible, lines begin to form early in the morning as fans of the high-profile projects hope to get into the limited seating available at the Salle Pierre Lamy.
A barometer for future standout awards and/or box office success, recent high-profile projects featured at Annecy’s Work in Progress include Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Oscar-winner “Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse” and Oscar nominees in Netflix’s “Klaus” and “Over the Moon,” Cartoon Saloon’s “Wolfwalkers,” Claude Barras’ “My Life as a Zucchini,” Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar’s “Ernest & Celestine,” Michael Dudok de Wit’s “The Red Turtle” and Dean DeBlois’ “How to Train Your Dragon 2.
A barometer for future standout awards and/or box office success, recent high-profile projects featured at Annecy’s Work in Progress include Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Oscar-winner “Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse” and Oscar nominees in Netflix’s “Klaus” and “Over the Moon,” Cartoon Saloon’s “Wolfwalkers,” Claude Barras’ “My Life as a Zucchini,” Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar’s “Ernest & Celestine,” Michael Dudok de Wit’s “The Red Turtle” and Dean DeBlois’ “How to Train Your Dragon 2.
- 5/3/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Upcoming films by Ruben Östlund, Julia Ducournau, Jonas Carpignano, Susanna Nicchiarelli and Anca Damian, among the selection. At its 156th meeting held from 13 to 16 October in Strasbourg, the Board of Management of the Council of Europe's Eurimages Fund agreed to support 11 fiction films, one documentary and four animation projects for a total amount of €4,799,300. The share of eligible projects with female directors examined at this Eurimages Board of Management meeting was 26%; 62.5% of the projects supported were directed by women; €2 819,300 was awarded to these projects, representing 58.7% of the total amount awarded. The projects selected: The Siren - Sepideh Farsi (France/Germany/Luxembourg/Belgium) (animation film) (read news)Titane - Julia Ducournau (France/Belgium)Wolf - Nathalie Biancheri (Ireland/Poland)A Chiara - Jonas Carpignano (Italy/France) (read news)The Albanian Virgin - Bujar Alimani (Germany/Belgium)Titina - Kajsa Næss (Norway/Belgium) (animation film)The Island - Anca Damian (Romania/France...
- 10/22/2019
- Cineuropa - The Best of European Cinema
The sixth edition of the Venice Gap-Financing Market (August 30 – September 1), which takes place during the Venice Film Festival, will feature 51 projects in the final stages of development and funding.
Of those, 23 projects from Europe and beyond are narrative features with 70% funding in place. Five projects are documentaries.
Among highlights are Czech feature Sarlatan by Oscar-nominated Polish director Agnieszka Holland (Mr. Jones) about a man gifted with exceptional abilities set against the background of the events of the totalitarian ’50s; Russian film Air by Dovlatov director Alexey German Jr; Grbavica director Jasmila Zbanic’s Euro co-pro Quo Vadis Aida (working title); and Canadian pic Saint-Narcisse by Bruce La Bruce.
Here’s a full list of projects taking part in the market:
28 Selected Fiction And Documentary Projects
Air (Russia) by Alexey German Jr., SAGa, Metrafilms Alam (France, Lebanon, Belgium) by Firas Khoury, Mpm Film A la sombra de los árboles (Chile) by Matías Rojas Valencia,...
Of those, 23 projects from Europe and beyond are narrative features with 70% funding in place. Five projects are documentaries.
Among highlights are Czech feature Sarlatan by Oscar-nominated Polish director Agnieszka Holland (Mr. Jones) about a man gifted with exceptional abilities set against the background of the events of the totalitarian ’50s; Russian film Air by Dovlatov director Alexey German Jr; Grbavica director Jasmila Zbanic’s Euro co-pro Quo Vadis Aida (working title); and Canadian pic Saint-Narcisse by Bruce La Bruce.
Here’s a full list of projects taking part in the market:
28 Selected Fiction And Documentary Projects
Air (Russia) by Alexey German Jr., SAGa, Metrafilms Alam (France, Lebanon, Belgium) by Firas Khoury, Mpm Film A la sombra de los árboles (Chile) by Matías Rojas Valencia,...
- 7/2/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
German actress Franka Potente will be making her directorial debut with “Home,” a California-set redemption drama starring Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates, Jake McLaughlin and Lil Rel Howery.
Jonas Katzenstein and Maximilian Leo at leading German film production company Augenschein Filmproduktion developed the story and will produce together with Bac Films Prods.’ David Grumbach, Leontine Petit and Erik Glijnis at the Dutch banner Lemming Films, and Christine Günther and Chevy Chen at German outfit Fireglory.
Bac Films has picked up international sales rights to “Home” and will distribute the film in France.
“Home” tells the story of Marvin Hacks (McLaughlin), who comes home after more than 20 years in prison and finds out that, even after two decades, his small American hometown has not forgotten the atrocity he committed. Despite the confrontation and hostility from the locals, Marvin will do what it takes to reclaim his place in society.
“‘Home’ is a...
Jonas Katzenstein and Maximilian Leo at leading German film production company Augenschein Filmproduktion developed the story and will produce together with Bac Films Prods.’ David Grumbach, Leontine Petit and Erik Glijnis at the Dutch banner Lemming Films, and Christine Günther and Chevy Chen at German outfit Fireglory.
Bac Films has picked up international sales rights to “Home” and will distribute the film in France.
“Home” tells the story of Marvin Hacks (McLaughlin), who comes home after more than 20 years in prison and finds out that, even after two decades, his small American hometown has not forgotten the atrocity he committed. Despite the confrontation and hostility from the locals, Marvin will do what it takes to reclaim his place in society.
“‘Home’ is a...
- 5/16/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
France’s Bac Films has boarded a pair of politically engaged Middle Eastern films from women directors: Sepideh Farsi’s animated feature “The Siren” and Kaouther Ben Hania’s “The Man Who Sold His Skin.”
“The Siren” is produced by Les Films d’Ici, the banner behind “Waltz With Bashir” and “Funan,” and co-produced by Luxembourg’s Bac Cinéma, Germany’s Katuh Studio and Belgium’s Lunanime.
“Siren,” set in 1980, unfolds in Abadan, the capital of the Iranian oil industry where locals are resisting an Iraqi siege. The film follows the journey of 14-year-old Omid who has braved the siege and stayed in the city with his grandfather, waiting for his elder brother to return from the front line. Omid tries to save his family using an abandoned boat he finds in Abadan’s port.
Bac Films is handling international sales, on top of co-producing, and is showing a teaser...
“The Siren” is produced by Les Films d’Ici, the banner behind “Waltz With Bashir” and “Funan,” and co-produced by Luxembourg’s Bac Cinéma, Germany’s Katuh Studio and Belgium’s Lunanime.
“Siren,” set in 1980, unfolds in Abadan, the capital of the Iranian oil industry where locals are resisting an Iraqi siege. The film follows the journey of 14-year-old Omid who has braved the siege and stayed in the city with his grandfather, waiting for his elder brother to return from the front line. Omid tries to save his family using an abandoned boat he finds in Abadan’s port.
Bac Films is handling international sales, on top of co-producing, and is showing a teaser...
- 5/15/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
A total of 36 projects will be in Berlin.
Source: X-Filme
Run Lola Run
The Berlinale co-production market (February 17 – 21, 2018) will welcome 36 new feature film projects that are looking for co-producers. In addition, five production companies will be introduced in the ‘company matching’ programme.
Projects include new films by Todd Solondz, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Aisling Walsh and Franka Potente.
Scroll down for lineup
Hundreds of movies have resulted from the previous fifteen editions of the event. Two films to emerge from recent editions confirmed for this year’s Competition section of the Berlinale are Figlia mia (Daughter of Mine) directed by Laura Bispuri and Mein Bruder heißt Robert und ist ein Idiot by Philip Gröning.
For the 2018 market, 21 feature film projects with budgets ranging from €750,000 to €6m, were selected from 326 submissions. The projects, which will be presented by their producers already have either production support from their home countries, or financing of at least 30 percent in place.
Two additional film projects...
Source: X-Filme
Run Lola Run
The Berlinale co-production market (February 17 – 21, 2018) will welcome 36 new feature film projects that are looking for co-producers. In addition, five production companies will be introduced in the ‘company matching’ programme.
Projects include new films by Todd Solondz, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Aisling Walsh and Franka Potente.
Scroll down for lineup
Hundreds of movies have resulted from the previous fifteen editions of the event. Two films to emerge from recent editions confirmed for this year’s Competition section of the Berlinale are Figlia mia (Daughter of Mine) directed by Laura Bispuri and Mein Bruder heißt Robert und ist ein Idiot by Philip Gröning.
For the 2018 market, 21 feature film projects with budgets ranging from €750,000 to €6m, were selected from 326 submissions. The projects, which will be presented by their producers already have either production support from their home countries, or financing of at least 30 percent in place.
Two additional film projects...
- 1/12/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- 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
This year at the International Women's Film Festival in Dortmund, the Rwe Film Award is being conferred for a sixth time on a feature film director. With the prize money totalling €15,000, eight feature films have been entered – all made by women directors who can look back on a long and notable career of film-making.
Including works from Poland, Colombia, Japan and Iran, the spectrum ranges from a Balkan comedy to a radical docufiction drama about cancer and thus celebrates a wealth of film creativity that could hardly be more diverse. Four of the films to be screened in Dortmund are receiving their German premieres.
The award will be decided by an international jury: Kate Kinninmont, Chair of Women in Film & Television UK and the film director and festival manager Amal Ramsis, who comes from Egypt, confirmed their participation yet.
The prize money is to be divided between the director (€5,000) and the German distributing company (€10,000) to help promote the theatrical release of the winning film in Germany.
Silke Räbiger, Festival Director of the Dortmund | Cologne International Women's Film Festival said, "In recent times, there's been a lot of movement come into the issue of gender equality in the movie business – with the Dortmund | Cologne festival having played no small part. After all, it is one of the most active women's film festivals around the world in terms of initiating networks and debates."
Carl Ernst Giesting, CEO of Rwe Vertrieb Ag, a power company added, "The International Women's Film Festival is an inseparable part of the cultural life of the city. Rwe Vertrieb Ag is pleased once again to support this future-oriented project for the entire region."
Birgit Jörder, Mayor and Festival Patron: "Here we get to see the entire gamut of female film-making creativity while also giving career starters an opportunity to come and see their role models."
The participating films are
-"Body" by Małgorzata Szumowska (Pl),
-"Eden" by Mia Hansen-løve (F),
-"Ella" by Libia Stella Gomez (Col),
-"Frailer"by Mijke de Jong (Nl),
-"Still the Water" by Naomi Kawase (Jp/F/Es),
-"Love Island" by Jasmila Žbanić (Hr/B|H/D/Ch),
-"Bad Hair" by Mariana Rondón (Ven),
-"Red Rose" by Sepideh Farsi (Ir/Gr/F).
All films also compete for the audience award sponsored by trailer ruhr magazine.
Including works from Poland, Colombia, Japan and Iran, the spectrum ranges from a Balkan comedy to a radical docufiction drama about cancer and thus celebrates a wealth of film creativity that could hardly be more diverse. Four of the films to be screened in Dortmund are receiving their German premieres.
The award will be decided by an international jury: Kate Kinninmont, Chair of Women in Film & Television UK and the film director and festival manager Amal Ramsis, who comes from Egypt, confirmed their participation yet.
The prize money is to be divided between the director (€5,000) and the German distributing company (€10,000) to help promote the theatrical release of the winning film in Germany.
Silke Räbiger, Festival Director of the Dortmund | Cologne International Women's Film Festival said, "In recent times, there's been a lot of movement come into the issue of gender equality in the movie business – with the Dortmund | Cologne festival having played no small part. After all, it is one of the most active women's film festivals around the world in terms of initiating networks and debates."
Carl Ernst Giesting, CEO of Rwe Vertrieb Ag, a power company added, "The International Women's Film Festival is an inseparable part of the cultural life of the city. Rwe Vertrieb Ag is pleased once again to support this future-oriented project for the entire region."
Birgit Jörder, Mayor and Festival Patron: "Here we get to see the entire gamut of female film-making creativity while also giving career starters an opportunity to come and see their role models."
The participating films are
-"Body" by Małgorzata Szumowska (Pl),
-"Eden" by Mia Hansen-løve (F),
-"Ella" by Libia Stella Gomez (Col),
-"Frailer"by Mijke de Jong (Nl),
-"Still the Water" by Naomi Kawase (Jp/F/Es),
-"Love Island" by Jasmila Žbanić (Hr/B|H/D/Ch),
-"Bad Hair" by Mariana Rondón (Ven),
-"Red Rose" by Sepideh Farsi (Ir/Gr/F).
All films also compete for the audience award sponsored by trailer ruhr magazine.
- 3/16/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
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