HIGHLIGHT, ROSEM TEAM FOR INDO-FRENCH CO-PRODUCTION

Source: Screendaily (written by Liz Shackleton)
 
India's Highlight Films is joining forces with France's Rosem Films to co-produce The Conqueror, written and to be directed by female Indian filmmaker Alka Raghuram.

Highlight's Mahesh Mathai and Rosem's Sylvain Bursztejn are jointly producing the Hindi-language film which has secured backing from Fonds Sud Cinema and is currently looking for further co-producers.

Scheduled to shoot in the mountainous Ladakh region of India in summer 2009, the film tells the story of a boy who is left mute and raging after he witnesses the murder of his mother in a blood feud.

When he becomes a man at the age of 12, the boy assumes responsibility for avenging his mother and winning back the lost honour of his village.

Raghuram is making her feature debut with the film. She has previously directed well-received shorts such as The Ant And The Monkey which was selected for the Giffoni Film Festival in 2007.

Mathai is also a director whose credits include Bhopal Express, which opened the Panorama section of the Berlin film festival in 2000, and Broken Thread, starring Linus Roache and Saffron Burrows, which is currently awaiting release.

Rosem has previously co-produced Chinese-language titles such as Lou Ye's Summer Palace and Wang Chao's Luxury Car, which won the prize of Un Certain Regard at Cannes in 2006. The Conqueror marks the company's first foray into Indian film production.

KOREAN GOVERNMENT UNVEILS STIMULUS FOR CARTOON INDUSTRY

Souce: Variety (written by Han Shuhee)

The South Korean government is to deliver its third stimulus package to local cultural industries, with the announcement that it will invest 410 billion won ($274 million) in what it calls ``killer content'' with international potential by 2013.

Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will provide $33.3 million for comics, $67 million for animation, $40 million for character-driven content and $134 million to develop human resources.

Notably, it will select three to five projects every year via open competition and put $670,000 into them, to nurture them into global products.

``We will support killer content projects, in order to give birth to the next Mickey Mouse,'' Yoo In-chon, the minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said at a press conference.

The ministry will also launch an initiative commemorating 100 years of Korean comics in 2009. Package will include an export drive for Korean cartoonists and creation of a comics fund that would be available for film and TV projects based on comics.

For the animation industry, the ministry will set up new policies to formalize broadcasting of animation content on cable, satellite and IPTV.
In October,  the ministry announced a five-year investment plan worth $500 million to develop digital content.  A few days later the Korean Film Council unveiled its $55.5 million film fund to bail out the struggling movie industry.

FEMINIST FILM FESTIVAL HELD IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN

Source: Daily Times

The "Feminist Film Festival — Breaking Female Stereotypes" started at the South Asia Media Centre on November 21st with a screening of 'Khamosh Pani', directed by Sabeeha Sumar.

Organised by the Lahore Film and Literary Club, in collaboration with SAFMA (South Asian Free Media Association), the festival was attended by a large number of students, journalists and citizens. The story of the film revolves around the creation of Pakistan, terrorism, women's issues and the propaganda of extremists. Following the screening of the movie, a panel discussion was held in which participants discussed different aspects of the story.

The festival continued the following day with the screening of four films -- 'I Am Learning' directed by Farah Usman, 'Sweeping Statement' directed by Nabila Malik, 'Double Discourse' directed by Sarah Tareen, and 'Bahisht' (Paradise) directed by Seeret Jafri. On the last day of the event a seminar on 'Women As Victims of Domestic Violence' wase held in addition to a screening of the film 'Provoked', directed by Jag Mundhera.

YOUNG IN THE CITY EXPLORES VISIONS OF PHNOM PENH

Source: Phnom Penh Post (writtin by Thomas Gam Nielsen)

Freestyle bikers in Hun Sen Park, skate enthusiasts atop Sorya Shopping Centre and alternative rockers looking to transcend ubiquitous love ballads - these are just a few aspects of Cambodia's thriving youth culture explored by a group of young journalists in the new short film collection Young in the City.

The collection originated as a school assignment for nine broadcast journalism students from the Department of Media and Communication at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.

Chan Soratha, 23, one of the collection's producers, said his professor's instructions were simply to film residents of Phnom Penh under the age of 24. He and his eight colleagues took it from there.

"After seeing the final results, I think it shows that there are many kinds of lifestyles in Phnom Penh and, of course, we have only shown a fraction of them in our documentaries," Chan Soratha said.

The collection of 20 short films debuted at the Bophana Audiovisual Resource Centre last week to an audience of expats and local residents; and while its production quality might fall well short by Hollywood standards, Young in the City does feature incisive narration and keen insight on how young Cambodians view life in their capital.

Eclectic collection
And don't be fooled by the title. These films are much more than a day-in-the-life home movie collection. The filmmakers chose from a broad cross-section of Phnom Penh culture, from athletes and paperboys to garment workers and snail vendors.

    ...It shows that there are many kinds of lifestyles in Phnom Penh.


In one segment, student Chhin Sothea interviews 17-year-old Yi, the Sorya Shopping Centre inline skate champ for 2007 and a grade 12 student who says many of her friends were inspired to join the Sorya skate club after she took up the sport.

"I wanted to show this story to people because most skaters are guys, and to tell about a young girl who skated would be interesting," he said.

In "Strong as a Man", Chan Soratha profiles Sophora, 19, a member of Cambodia's only female rugby team who says family support and her joy of the game keeps her coming back to Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium for gruelling weekly practice sessions.

Social themes
Social themes also feature prominently in the collection. In "The Snail Boy", student Tiep Seiha tells the story of young Long, a steamed snail vendor from Kandal province. "Sometimes the police throw away my snails, and I have to pay to get my cart back," Long tells Tiep Seiha.

Sun Sat, 17, sells newspapers so that his sisters and brothers won't have to. "The Paper Boy" was the brainchild of student Touch Yinmony.

"I want to become a journalist and thought it would be interesting to show another side of the newspaper industry," he said, adding that he wanted people to understand why some young people do not get a proper education.

At just 44 minutes in length, Young in the City merely scratches the surface of life in Phnom Penh. But what emerges is an eclectic and intelligent portrait of the joys and challenges of youth in the Kingdom's capital city.

Young in the City is slated for a second screening at Bophana, though the date has yet to be fixed. Copies of the collection on DVD can be purchased for US$2 each by calling the Royal University of Cambodia's Department of Media and Communications at 023 884 408.

SHAH RUKH KHAN'S MALAYSIAN 'KNIGHTHOOD' POSTPONED

Source: AFP

Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan has postponed a controversial ceremony to award him a Malaysian "knighthood" because he is too busy, officials said Wednesday.

Khan is to be presented with an award from southern Malacca state which carries the title "Datuk", equivalent to a British knighthood, after a 2001 film set in Malacca boosted its profile as a tourist destination.

The award has proved contentious, with some questioning whether Khan is deserving or whether local artists and celebrities should be recognised instead.

"The ceremony has been postponed for now," a senior Malacca official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"We wanted the ceremony to take place over a weekend but Shah Rukh's schedule was such that we could not agree on a date so we are now working on a new one that will keep everyone happy, but it hasn't been fixed yet," he said.

Since the filming of Khan's 2001 movie, "One 2 Ka 4" at a popular resort in Malacca, the number of tourists coming from India has increased significantly, state officials say.

The 42-year-old heart-throb was to have received his award on November 29, in a ceremony aired live on India's top entertainment channel, Zee TV.

"The postponement of the award shows just how ridiculous it is to give such an award to Shah Rukh as Malaysia and the award most probably does not even picture on his radar," opposition politician Lim Kit Siang told AFP.

Malaysia has become a popular location for Indian films, which have a huge following among ethnic Indians and the majority Muslim-Malays.

VIETNAMESE CHILDREN'S FILMS ENTERED IN JAPANESE CONTEST

Source: Vietnamnews

Several outstanding films made by Vietnamese children were chosen as contenders for a Japanese film contest to be held in December.

Out of a number of entrants, 39 three-minute films were chosen as finalists in the second annual Vietnamese national film-making contest, which was held on November 8 at the National Cinema Centre in Ha Noi. The jury did not award prizes, but did name 11 of the most outstanding pieces, including Tinh Mau Tu, Mau (Colour), Qua Tang Tu Thien Nhien (Gift from the Nature), Nhung Chu Meo Nha Em (The Cats of My House), Bau Troi Xanh (The Blue Sky), among others.

The 11 most outstanding films will be shown in a film festival for Vietnamese and Japanese students in Ibushiki, Japan from December 6-7.

The organising committee hopes the contest will help nourish the souls of Vietnamese children; it hopes to help nurture them to become motivated, emotionally healthy people with goals and dreams for the future. To make the films, some pupils used family cameras and others used equipment funded by the Japanese government. The thematically diverse films show the perspective of children on the environment, the reality of unlucky people who crave happiness in their lives, and their relationships between family and school.

The goal of the contest is not to find exceptional talent, but to help children feel excited about making films and to use them to express thoughts and ideas about the life that surrounds them. Technical film-making expertise is not important.

"The most important thing is that the children had the chance to express things they pay attention to in every day life," say Dang Nhat Minh, president of the jury board.

At this time the contest is limited to students from Viet Nam and Japan only. In the future the contest will be expanded to include students from Japan, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Viet Nam, Myanmar, said Sugi Roytaro, Japanese ambassador to Viet Nam and founder of the contest.

The contest, co-organised by the Ministry of Education and Training and the Japanese Embassy in Viet Nam, was first organised last year. It has received special attention and support from a number of students nationwide. — VNS

BRATISLAVA PRESENTING THE BEST OF LOCAL FILMS

Source: Cineuropa.org

The 10th Bratislava International Film Festival (Nov 28–Dec 5) will screen a selection of the best short films, documentaries and features made in Slovakia in the last year, including Juraj Lehotsky's award-winning documentary Blind Loves.

Many of the films are documentaries. Director Pavol Barabas has two adventure stories: Bhutan and Carstensz – The Seventh Summit. Sahraa Karimi's Afghan Women Behind the Wheel looks at women drivers in that war-torn country. Daniel Liska's East Of Everest offers a glimpse into Himalayan culture.

Dusan Trancik's documentary The Optimist examines the life of Ludovit Winter, a businessman and spa founder. The Journey of Magdalena Robinson (directed by Marek Šulík) tells the story of a concentration-camp survivor and of Slovakia's wartime legacy.

Peter Benovsky’s The Last Caravan looks at four families of itinerant entertainers, and Daniel Zemancik’s Janik presents a man who runs an escort service for older gentlemen.

Features in the selection include two period films: Vaclav Marhoul's Tobruk, about a Czechoslovak battalion in Libya during WW2; and Dusan Rapos’ Gypsy Virgin, about a woman musician in the 18th century.

The section includes three features under an hour in length: comedy Big Respect (directed by Viktor Csudai), thriller Surprise (dir. Gabriel Hostaj) and Smog (directed by Daniel Rihak), about an under-achiever musician.

Shorter films include Mill (directed by Mariana Cengel-Solcanska), a retelling of a ballad. Rural Round (directed by Diana Novotna) follows a village doctor. Clothes For Her (directed by Jana Szaboova) is a grandfather's personal story.

The selection is rounded out by animated shorts About Socks and Love (directed by Michaela Copikova), Metamorphoses (dir. Lenka Psencikova) and The String (directed by Michal Meszaros).

EUROPA DISTRIBUTION HIGHLIGHTS CHALLENGE OF DIGITAL SWITCHOVER

Source: ScreenDaily.com

70 European distributors, including 50 independents, met in Estoril Portugal, where the conference was held as a part of the Estoril film festival, and called for a collective approach to the common chalenges presented by digitalization.

Europa Distribution also held its General Assembly and elected its new board of administration.

The director brothers Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne took over the association's title of Presidency of Honour.

The Belgian directors said in a statement, "We believe that the very existence of Europa Distribution is essential in order to develop a strong European film industry that combines market ambitions and cultural diversity, and also to improve the circulation of European movies in Europe. Therefore, it is for us a pleasure and an honour to take over the presidency of this network, thus showing our commitment to the cause of independent film distribution in Europe."

SUCCESSFUL JUBILEE EDITION OF CONNECTING COTTBUS

The 10th Connecting Cottbus demonstrated one thing above all: there is a functioning network of filmmakers from Eastern Europe and Germany. Many new faces from 13 countries came to Cottbus to present their latest projects and find partners for the realisation. During the public pitchings, they received feedback from colleagues from many countries - including those from outside of Eastern Europe - with some of them being long-standing visitors to the East-West co-production market.

The film projects, which were presented on the first day of Connecting Cottbus, are in various stages of production and are looking for different kinds of support, foremostly co-production partners, but also world sales companies, creatives from other countries and editorial input. Thus, Connecting Cottbus is also a plaform for project ideas at an early stage of development, which have the potential to be realised across borders.

The CoCo Best Pitch Award 2008 went to the Romanian project THE BEAR, whose clear and humorous presentation by producer Tudor Giurgiu (Libra Film) and author/director Dan Chisu won over the audience: a black comedy about post-revolutionary Romania with a circus bear as the central character. The award, which is donated by EastWest Filmdistribution, consists of a voucher for script doctoring services to the value of 3,000 €.

Producer and Connecting Cottbus regular Tudor Giurgiu: "Apart from its extremely professional working  atmosphere, Connecting Cottbus primarily offers the time and space to get to know your potential partners and colleagues. Many East European producers who are now successful, first met each other here - new faces are always coming along and everybody has time to speak, exchange ideas and agree to cooperations. Connecting Cottbus is for me‚ 'Human Connection Cottbus'."

The project pitchings on the first day of Connecting Cottbus, which aim to attract the audience's attention, were followed a day later by the One-to-Ones where the participants can have more detailed business meetings - with the run on meetings this year bigger than ever before.

Gabriele Brunnenmeyer, artistic director of Connecting Cottbus, and her team were pleased about the positive response to the selected projects.

Thus the discussion 'Focus Baltic States' on the first day of CoCo with the presentation Baltic Event by Lili Pilt showed, above all, that the film and television industry in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania is in the process of being bult up. The financial framework for many projects is often in the no-budget area, but films are made nevertheless. Because of the different organisational structures of the film funding organisations - some are directly under the auspices of the culture ministries  - it makes it more difficult to achieve independent financing for national film projects.

The co-production panel with the question title "Blessing and Curse?" on the second Connecting Cottbus day featured a top-notch lineup including Karl Baumgartner (Pandora Film), Srdan Golubovic (director of THE TRAP), Manfred Schmidt (Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung), Ellis Driessen (Holland Film Meeting / Fortissimo Film), Pavel Strnad (Negativ) and Katriel Schory (Israel Film Fund). The panel focused on the oft-posed question about the pros and cons of cross-border co-productions. Apart from the increased access to international markets, the exchange of knowledge and creative ideas are uppermost in many people's minds. For smaller countries, an international co-production is often the only possibility to be able to finance a film project, Srdan Golubovic said. The negative form of international co-productions – or so-called "Europuddings" where a mixture of arbitrary ingredients from each of the co-production countries is detrimental to the film's story – belongs to the past, according to Karl Baumgartner. International co-production markets increasingly offer one the chance to find the right partners – at Connecting Cottbus, these are partners from the East European countries. For example, a long-standing collaboration has now existed between Pavel Strnad (Negativ Film) and Karl Baumgartner on several projects such as COUNTRY TEACHER which won the Audience Award at this year's FilmFestival Cottbus.

Connecting Cottbus is held within the framework of the FilmFestival Cottbus which celebrated its "coming of age" this year with record full cinemas. At the opening, the Federal Foreign Minister and patron of the 18th edition Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed the guests from 39 countries to "the most important meeting place for the East European film scene". The grown-up festival presented 136 films from 30 countries, attracted around 500 professional guests from around the world to the Lausitz region, and thus underlined once more its importance as a unique forum for contemporary Central and East European filmmaking - not least as a platform for co-productions in the making at Connecting Cottbus.

Connecting Cottbus is supported by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, the MEDIA Programme of the European Union, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung and the Robert Bosch Foundation. The organiser of Connecting Cottbus ist pool production GmbH.

Further information at www.connecting-cottbus.de

EUROPEAN FILM PROMOTION (EFP) WITH NEWLY DESIGNED WEBSITE

European Film Promotion (EFP) is online with a newly designed website. The new online image of EFP presents itself in a clear, concise and user-friendly manner at www.efp-online.com. The website, moreover, offers free access to the constantly updated bio and filmographies of young actors, producers and distributors with whom EFP has worked since 1997 in its various programmes. "We have now found a design which reflects EFP's extensive range of activities and offers a complementary service for filmmakers and cineastes," explains EFP managing director Renate Rose.

With national export and promotion organizations from 30 countries, EFP is uniquely positioned to promote and market European cinema - and the talent behind it - throughout the world. Currently, EFP is preparing SHOOTING STARS - Europe's best young actors to be showcased at the 59^th Berlin International Film Festival (February 5-15, 2009). In order to give SHOOTING STARS an even higher profile, EFP has recently launched its own website for this programme. www.shooting-stars.eu is a unique platform for European acting talent, providing an archive with the biographies of all of the SHOOTING STARS since 1998 and publishing up-to-date news about the programme during the Berlinale.

THE 27 STARS OF EUROPEAN FILM EXPOSED DURING FRENCH PRESIDENCY OF THE EU

Source: ScreenDaily.com

The best of recent European films were shown in 80 theatres across France for the Stars of European Film event, which is sponsored by director Costa Gavras and organised by the Culture Ministry as part of the French presidency of the EU. Commenting on this initiative, French Minister of Culture Christine Albanel said that "European film is enjoying a revival". She remarked: "Ten years ago, the market share for US film was 80% in European theatres and today it stands at almost 60%. In France, during November and December, no fewer than 21 European features will be released.”

She continued: "But we still have to work hard to improve circulation of European films within the borders of the EU. The market share for non-domestic films is still on average less than 10%, even if it has increased in recent years. We must dispel the idea that only US films are likely to appeal to European audiences."

The line-up included 27 non-domestic European features released during the last three years. For more information visit the Stars of European Film official website.

STUDIO HAMBURG SCALES DOWN FEATURE FILM ACTIVITIES

Source: ScreenDaily.com

The step was taken after the stand alone companies specifically set up to provide the co-financing for Studio Hamburg International Production's (SHIP) two English language family entertainment films were forced to file for bankruptcy this month.

The companies had co-financed two English language films to date: The Three Investigators - The Secret Of Skeleton Island; and The Three Investigators - The Secret of Terror Castle.

The move is also in line with a perceived shift in focus at Studio Hamburg following the departure in September of studio chief Sytze van der Laan.

Van der Laan was responsible for setting up Studio Hamburg International Production with a view to becoming an international player; the restructure following his departure hinted at a return to the company's traditional focus on TV productions.

Talking exclusively to Screendaily, Studio Hamburg's head of press Ingrid Meyer-Bosse said:

"The insolvency … does not have any impact on the operational activities of Studio Hamburg regarding the development of feature films. However, due to the poor performance of the SHIP activities abroad, we have decided to downscale the feature activities and to focus on a project-by-project basis rather than financing a full slate."

Studio Hamburg International Production, had produced or co-produced five projects to date: the two Three Investigator films, both directed by Florian Baxmeyer; Jamie Thraves' Patricia Highsmith adaptation The Cry Of The Owl; Christoph Schrewe's Canadian-German co-production The Conclave; and Peter Kahane's German language children's film Red Zora, co-produced with Multimedia Film- und Fernsehproduktion.

Meanwhile, Malte Grunert, who headed up Studio Hamburg International Productions until last month, has since set up his own Hamburg-based production house Amusement Park Films which will focus on English language international co-productions as well as German language features.

A new feature by Florian Baxmeyer - All Inclusive - and Bille August's Heaven On Earth as a co-production with Arthouse Productions and Zentropa are among the projects currently being developed by Grunert.

Walt Disney plans to release The Three Investigators - The Secret of Terror Castle in Germany on March 19, 2009.

WARNER BROS. TO OFFER LEGAL MOVIE DOWNLOADS IN CHINA

Source: The Times

In an attempt to make headway against rampant film piracy, Warner Bros. will distribute newly released films online in China.

The studio struck a deal with Union Voole Technology in China to offer new movies, as well as those that have never been seen in Chinese theaters, at rental prices ranging from 60 cents to $1. The inexpensive video-on-demand service seeks to entice China's estimated 253 million Internet users to pay for Hollywood fare rather than download illicit copies.

"Every major American company has tried to figure out and crack the nut in China," said Kevin Tsujihara, president of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. "We believe that we have an opportunity, through digital distribution," to solve that problem.

The rapid growth of Internet access in China presents a way for the studios to establish a legitimate business in China, where an industry study estimated $2.7 billion in lost potential sales due to pirated DVDs in 2005, the most recent year for which data are available. About 93% of the movies sold in China are counterfeit -- black-market discs sold in stores and by legions of roaming vendors who peddle them at subway stations and from their bicycles.

Budding services such as Beijing-based Voole, whose launch date has not been announced, seek to give Hollywood a chance to beat the pirates by making films quickly available online.

"Let's take a crack at creating a real digital market there," Tsujihara said.

Voole also has acquired distribution rights from Warner and Sony Pictures Television International for an online subscription service launching Nov. 12 that will charge a flat rate for unlimited online viewing.

"We believe that Voole is committed to providing the [Chinese] with legitimate content from the major Hollywood studios," Jiande Chen, chief representative of Sony Pictures Entertainment China Inc., said in an e-mail.

Industry observers note a change in the Chinese market since the Beijing Olympics. New-media companies are bursting onto the scene and gaining traction in the marketplace. Even popular pirate sites, such as Xunlei, are working to purge unauthorised content and replace it with licensed movies and television shows, as investors urge the companies to improve revenue and move toward a public stock offering, according to people familiar with the situation.

David Wertheimer, who heads the Entertainment Technology Center at USC, applauded the studios for experimenting with new pricing, release windows and technologies to stem piracy.

"Warner Bros. recently announced day-and-date digital distribution in Korea -- it's an experiment to see how consumers will react, whether it will help stem some of the piracy, and it's a gutsy move. It breaks many of the rules," Wertheimer said in response to an e-mailed question.

"Time will tell how it worked, but one thing that heartens me is that the studios are not doing what the music industry did; instead they are out there taking risks," Wertheimer wrote.

ISABEL COIXET WORKS WITH RINKO KIKUCHI AND SERGI LÓPEZ IN JAPAN

Source: ScreenDaily.com

The movie, which will be in both Japanese and English, "is," according to Coixet, auteur behind Elegy and The Secret Life Of Words, "a reflection of my fascination for contemporary Japanese culture and of the atmosphere of novels from authors like Haruki Murakami and Banana Yoshimoto; of my self confessed addiction to wasabi as well as the almost material energy that the city of Tokyo emits at night, a mixture of expectation, mystery, shadows and sweetness with such a lasting effect."

Kikuchi plays the central character, a solitary girl who leads a double life working nights at a Tokyo fishmarket and as a hit-woman. Lopez plays a Spaniard who runs a wine business in Tokyo whom she is hired to kill.

The film will be produced by Mediapro and Versátil Cinema, and will star Sergi López and Oscar nominee Rinko Kikuchi. It will shoot in Tokio and Barcelona for six weeks.

ADITYA ASSARAT GETS GOING WITH TURIN FUNDING

Source: Variety

Thai filmmaker Aditya Assarat was granted 80,000 Euro by the TorinoFilmLab to develop his next film project High Society.

TorinoFilmLab, which is a part of Torino Film Festival event, said it rewarded the project for its "lyrical treatment of a contemporary and universal theme." The $450,000 project, which is set to shoot starting April next year, is the story of a young man who finds himself too Western to be Thai and too Asian to be Western.

Pic is to be produced by Assarat's Pop Pictures and already counts France's Memento Films International and HGermany's Flying Moon FilmProduktion as co-producers.

JOHNNIE TO’S FRENCH CAST FOR HIS NEW FILM VENGEANCE

Source: Variety

Pic, about a French assassin-turned-chef who comes to Hong Kong to avenge a murder, is set up as an ARP production in partnership with Hong Kong shingle Media Asia and produced by To’s Milkyway Image.

According to Media Asia, the €9 million ($11.5 million) film has begun its scheduled 60-day shoot in Hong Kong and is scheduled for delivery next summer. The film also stars To regulars Anthony Wong, Simon Yam, Lam Suet and Lam Ka Tung with a script by frequent collaborator Wai Ka-fai.

For To, pic is the continuation of a love-in between France and Asia, but a change of project. The director was ramping up to shoot a remake of French classic Le Cercle Rouge with Studio Canal and the Hong Kong thriller Death of a Hostage.

According to a spokesman for Milkyway, Le Cercle Rouge is still in development while shooting has halted on Hostage while the director's focus shifts to Vengeance.

MANOEL DE OLIVEIRA TO MAKE ANOTHER FILM AS HE TURNS 100

Source: Screen International

Veteran Portuguese film maker Manoel De Oliveira will celebrate his 100^th birthday on December 12 by shooting a new film, Singularidades De Uma Rapariga Loira, in his home country.

Based on a 19^th century short story by Jose Maria Eca De Queiros, Singularidades will star Ricardo Trepa as a young man who´s life is completely transformed when he falls hopelessly in love with a mysterious blonde girl. Filmes Lusomundo is producing and distributing the film in Portugal.

De Oliveira has already written the script and is planning to shoot in Portugal's capital city, Lisbon. He has also assured that one of his sons would take over filming if required. The director hopes to have the film ready for next year's Berlin film festival.

LAUNCH OF DOGMA MOBILE FILM FESTIVAL

Source: Cineuropa.org

Always at the forefront of innovation, Zentropa co-founder Peter Aalbæk Jensen, part of Filmmakers’ Independent Digital Distribution (FIDD) with Lars von Trier, Susanne Bier, Bille August and some 160 European filmmakers, has teamed up with Denmark’s public broadcaster DR and Nokia to create the first Dogma Mobile Film Festival.

“With this festival, we want to explore the mobile film genre as an art form in its own right,” said festival director Niels Aalbæk Jensen (brother of Peter). “The mobile phone is an obvious tool for new filmmakers to create dogma films that push the limits of how films can be produced.”

To take part in this new film competition, any mobile phone owner can sign up at the website and submit his or her film made on a set subject matter, according to specific Dogma rules. But unlike the original Dogma 95, concept where filmmakers had to comply with strict rules, here they are allowed to create their own “Dogma manifest”.

Once they have taken the “vow of chastity”, they can make their film and upload it on the website. ”Unlike YouTube, where you find mostly ‘look at me’ films, we want to teach youngsters how to take the camera away from themselves and explore the world,” said Aalbæk Jensen.

The first competition – on the subject “If I Were President” – will be judged by professionals that include actress Isabella Rossellini; Aryan Kaganoff, mobile film director (South Africa); Ferhan Cook, mobile content expert (UK); Jukka-Pekka Laakso, Tampere Film Festival (Finland); and Søren Hyldgaard, film music composer (Denmark).

Candidates vying for the €3,000 cash prize have until December 31 to submit their mobile film. The winner will be announced on February 1, 2009.

Dogma Mobile is part of FIDD’s new initiatives to make digital technology user-friendly to filmmakers and help them improve their skills. Founded in 2005, FIDD also operates the regional TV channel Skandinavia and the VOD portal Movieurope supported by the MEDIA Programme.

EUROPEAN NEW TRAINING PROGRAMMES

Source: Cineuropa.org

The MEDIA Programme has updated its guide on training initiatives for professionals in the European audiovisual industry. The main schemes of the guide include development and production skills (for features, documentary and animation films), scriptwriting skills and distribution, as well as marketing, exhibition, new technologies and training for trainers.

In the field of screenwriting, the new Mediterranean Film Institute’s programme, based on two residence and two online workshops on script development, has been awarded for the first time. Trainers include experts from Columbia University and the UK’s National Film and Television School.

The biggest scheme is the one for production/development. As in previous years, it includes the EAVE and Erich Pommer Institute workshops, the Discovery Campus and Eurodoc in the field of documentary film, as well as the Cartoon Master on animation.

A new programme launched by FAS Screen Training Ireland has benefited for the first time from European support. Executives of production companies learn about new business opportunities in existing and developing markets, developing and implementing a Strategic Plan, personal management and leadership skills, and building international networks.

This year, the Media Business School offers two courses on distribution: Marketing & Distribution and Multi Platforms Business School, as well as the prestigious Master in European Audiovisual Management.

As every year, MEDIA supports one of the best known training initiatives in Europe, the Berlinale Talent Campus, a creative summit for filmmakers with many lectures, ateliers and excursions.

MEDIA 2007 is the fourth audiovisual support programme of the European Commission. It was launched for the period 2007-2013 with a budget of €755m, of which €97m are allocated for 2009. Moreover, the decision of the European Parliament, which implements the programme, determines that approximately 7% of the total budget should be dedicated to the acquisition and improvement of skills.

DISCUSSING FUTURE COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN GERMAN FILM INDUSTRY AND BOLLYWOOD

Source: Screen International

The event was organised by Berlin-Brandenburg Film Commission (BFFC) and inward investment agency Berlin Partner in November.

India's burgeoning film industry has recently been building strong links with Hollywood. Now, German industry representatives also hope to attract Bollywood, which has a huge fan base in Germany.

The event forged links with Indian producers and creative professionals and facilitated discussions on co-production opportunities and possibilities for development of potential joint projects.

The BFFC will provide connections to the appropriate regional contacts and will offer assistance to potential Indian partners on issues relating to applications, shooting permits, locations and equipment.

The BFFC is the central contact agency for production companies and filmmakers who are interested in shooting a film in Berlin. 

BFFC's representative, Christiane Raab commented: "Attractive financing and funding opportunities, internationally competitive service providers, a large pool of creative cinema professionals and a wide array of impressive settings make Germany's capital region an internationally attractive location for film production."

EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL STARTS IN OSAKA, JAPAN

The Osaka European Film Festival celebrates its 15th edition, and is running intermittently over November and early December in the metropolitan city of the Kansai region.

The rich program includes a tribute to film music composer Maurice Jarre with screenings of David Lean classics on new prints, a focus on Eastern Europe cinema, a selection of lesser known French films of the Nouvelle Vague, a workshop and screenings of animation films of the Estonian Children's Animation Studio, which produces films made by kids as well as a series of premiere screenings of recent European films.

Later this month, some of these films will also be screened in Tokyo.

More information on www.oeff.jp

KOREAN ACTOR CHOI MIN-SHIK RECEIVED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN LYON, FRANCE

Korean actor Choi Min-sik, famous for his role in the award-winning film Old Boy was the guest of honour at the recently held Asiexpo Lyon Asian Film Festival in France.

On the closing night of the 10th of November, he received an achievement award for his remarkable career. "I never met such a passionate audience as in Lyon", said the actor.

The Indian film, Mumbai Meri Jan, directed by Nishikant Kamat won the audience award.

Photo credit: Maxime Roccisano

KUALA LUMPUR INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL TO RETURN WITH FREE SCREENINGS

The second edition of the Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival (KLIFF) will be held for four days from Nov 26 to 29. Sponsored by the film state authority of Malaysia (FINAS), the event is centered on the theme of "Celebrating Cultural Diversity" this year.

The festival director and former actress Wafa Abdul Kadir announced to local media that the festival "has a long-term goal, that is, to create another Cannes. Yes, we want to put Malaysia on the world map as a hub of the film industry".

The jury is headed by local filmmaker U-Wei Shaari, and there will be 48 films in the official selections.

Screenings will take place at the Golden Screen Cinemas Mid Valley and Pavilion. Admission is free.

More information on KLIFF's website

NIKITA MIKHALKOV AND CHEN KAIGE RECEIVE KUROSAWA AWARD

Source: Screen International

Russian actor-director Nikita Mikhalkov and Chinese filmmaker Chen Kaige have received this year's Akira Kurosawa Award. The announcement was made by the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF, October 18-26).

Awarded annually for lifetime achievements in film directing, the trophy carries with it a cash prize of $50,000. The award was presented at the TIFF closing ceremony.

Nikita Mikhalkov began his career as a child actor in the late 50s and began directing in the late 1960s. His directing credits include Golden Lion winner Close To Eden and 2007 Oscar-nominated drama 12. His 1994 film Burnt by the Sun won the Academy Award for best foreign-language film.

Chen Kaige is known internationally for such films as Yellow Earth, Palme d'Or winner Farewell My Concubine and The Emperor and the Assassin. He is currently in post-production on large-scale biopic Mei Lanfang, starring Leon Lai and Zhang Ziyi.

While the prize is generally awarded to two recipients, last year's lone winner was The Killing Fields producer Lord David Puttnam, who chaired TIFF's first competition jury in 1985. Other previous recipients include Kon Ichikawa, Milos Forman, Yoji Yamada, Clint Eastwood and Steven Spielberg.

NATIONAL FILM CENTRE SET TO OPEN IN LITHUANIA IN 2009

Source: Europa Cinemas

“The government has approved the project for the National Film Centre, which I hope will be launched in 2009,” said Gerda Butkuviené, Chief Officer of Cinema at the Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture. A new Cinema Law is being drafted, taking into consideration the regulations for a future centre, based on a project approved by the country’s Ministry of Culture on July 29 of this year.

The future Film Centre will coordinate all film production and distribution activities in the Republic of Lithuania and will replace the existing dual support system from the Ministry of Culture and the Culture and Sport Support Foundation. According to Butkuviené, another priority for the Lithuanian film industry is to develop international relations. The country ratified the European Convention on cinema co-production in 1999 but doesn’t have any bilateral co-production agreements in place yet.

Lithuania joined Eurimages in May 2007 and the first feature film that received a grant from the Council of Europe Film Production Support last July was the urban road movie Low Lights (Diringas) by Ignas Miškinis, produced by Ieva Norvilienė (Tremora productions). The €1 million project, currently shooting, is co-produced with Germany’s Dagstar Film and with support from Filmstiftung NRW and DFFF.

“We couldn’t get more support from our funds in Lithuania, so thanks to Eurimages we can make a film which meets European standards and we can achieve our creative ideas,” stressed Norvilienė. Meanwhile, Tremora’s other production, The Collectress, which screened in Karlovy Vary 2008, is continuing its festival tour with Pusan, Sao Paulo, Valencia, Mannheim-Heidelberg ...

The annual (2008) budget for film from the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture is €2.3m. Between two to three Lithuanian feature films are produced each year.

WENDERS HELPS TO TURN 'FIRST PAGE' IN TAIPEI

Source: Screen International

The notorious German filmmaker Wim Wenders will executive produce First Page Taipei, the debut feature of Taipei-born and San Francisco-raised director Arvin Chen. Wenders stated that he and his director have two things in common: a Silver Bear and a love of films about cities.

Chen secured his Silver Bear at the 2007 Berlin Film Festival for his short film Mei, which took a romantic perspective on Taiwan's night market eateries. His new feature is about a young man whose girlfriend dumps him to move to Paris. He agrees to deliver a package to France for a gangster only to fall in love with another woman during an adventure-filled night in Taipei.

Originally scheduled to shoot in November 2008, the 30-day shoot has been delayed until March 2009 as final financing of the $1.4m film is put in place. The film has secured $450,000 from the government's strategic subsidy fund and the producers are expected to make a formal application for the financial support of the newly formed Taipei Film Commission.

Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin who is also chairman of the Taipei Film Commission, stated: "I'm confident that when people see the film, they'll fall in love with Taipei." Chen confirmed that he wants to present a romantic image of Taipei. The city has recently announced greater support for shooting on public property in the capital.

Wenders himself describes Taipei as a "buzzing amazing city" unlike the "sleepy town" he visited 30 years ago when promoting his film An American Friend. He added: "Taiwan has great locations, great actors, great crew and hopefully a guardian angel from Germany." Wenders stated that he won't attend the shoot, noting that he personally never liked having producers on set.

First Page Taipei was first presented at the 2007 PPP projects market in Pusan. The feature is produced by Cologne and Los Angeles-based Greensky Films and Taiwan's Atom Cinema. Also attached as producers are Michelle Cho, Lee In-ah, Lui Oi-leng and Liu Wei-jen. Other than the producers, the director insisted that the entire cast and crew will originate from Taiwan.

Wenders is not the only German filmmaker flying into Taipei. Monika Treut arrives in Novemeber to colour-correct her new feature, Ghosted. The HD-shot film is about a German woman visiting Taipei to get over the death of her lesbian lover. It received $310,000 from the strategic subsidy fund as well as minor financial support from the Taipei Film Commission.

TEST

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SHAW BROTHERS CALLS OFF SALE DUE TO FINANCIAL CRISIS

Source: Screen International

Hong Kong's Shaw Brothers has announced to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that it has ended all talks to sell a majority stake in the company, citing the current global financial crisis.

The announcement marks the end of a bid by Chinese property developer Yeung Kwok-keung to buy a 75% stake in the company from Sir Run Run Shaw, the centenarian founder of the once-mighty Shaw Brothers studios.

Shaw Brothers is no longer active in film production but is the largest shareholder in Hong Kong's leading free-to-air broadcaster TVB with a 26% stake. It also owns the $200m shooting facility, Shaw Studios, which has hosted productions such as Ang Lee's Lust, Caution.

Sir Run Run was hoping to offload the stakes in Shaw Brothers and TVB before he retires. According to local press reports, Yeung was unable to secure syndicated loan financing of $644m-$902m (HK$5-7bn) necessary for the purchase, as shares in his property development company Country Gardens Holdings have slumped.

CREATION OF REGIONAL FILM FUNDS IN POLAND TO TREASURE CULTURE

Source: Europa Cinemas

The promotion of regions, the boosting of the economy, efficient investment returns, support for local filmmakers, the preservation of traditions and cultural heritage: all these advantages have become clear to the Polish regional authorities who have actively embarked on the creation of film funds. While the first such fund was launched in Lodz in 2007, there are currently a further seven in operation and the number is increasing.

The most active and powerful funds include the one based in Lower Silesia (Wroclaw) which has a budget of €600,000, the Gdansk fund (€300,000 earmarked for 2009), the Silesia Film fund (Katowice), and the Poznan, Western Pomerania (Koszalin and Szczecin), Krakow and Bialystok funds. Gdynia and Lublin are in the process of setting up their own financing bodies and the Mazovia fund (Warsaw) is also being developed.

Despite the recent nature of these regional film funds, they have already made an impact and backed several films by acclaimed Polish directors: Magdalena Piekorz’s Sleep, Witold Leszczynski’s The Old Man and the Dog and Waldemar Krzystek’s Little Moscow (which won the Golden Lion at the 2008 Gdynia Polish Film Festival).

However, despite the marked increase in financing and the growth in domestic film production, Polish auteur films (including those lauded at international festivals) don’t attract large audiences at home. For instance, Jerzy Skolimowski’s Four Nights with Anna only drew 4,970 viewers during its first week-end on release on 12 screens. Meanwhile, Michal Rosa’s Scratch has garnered only 4,883 admissions.

The best-performing Polish productions are romantic comedies such as Tomasz Konecki’s Lejdis (2m admissions) and Piotr Weresniak’s Don’t Lie, Darling (1.2m admissions).

EUROPE ON THRESHOLD OF DIGITAL FRACTURE – PROTESTS AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN FRANCE

Source: Cineuropa.org, Screencine Daily

The transition to digital projection in European theatres was the subject of a speech given by Véronique Cayla, director general of the National Film Centre (CNC), as part of the Dijon Film Meetings organised mid-October by the ARP (L'ARP - société civile des Auteurs-Réalisateurs-Producteurs). Calling on territorial collectivities (cities, departments and regions) to study the issue in order to protect France’s excellent network of cinemas, Cayla reminded those present that the CNC is able to provide them with a tool for the economic simulation of the financing conditions of the changeover to digital projection.

Developed with the intention of "enabling all movie theatres to convert to digital", the tool identifies the costs and revenue (savings) induced by the transition to digital, according to detailed parameters: size of establishment, type of unreleased films screened (number of prints, power of the distributor), distribution costs (master digital, print, transport, storage, key management), exhibition costs (projector, server, installation, maintenance) and financing scenarios. The CNC can thus provide an accurate estimation, theatre by theatre, and define the possible contributions from different market stakeholders.

The equipping of theatres is at this stage expected to cost €80,000 per screen, €10,000 per establishment and €4000 per projection room. A total of 20% of these expenses will be borne by the exhibitor.

Confident about France’s conversion to digital, Cayla nonetheless said she felt "more concerned about the rest of Europe". She commented: "Until now, people haven’t taken an interest in this problem even though theatres will disappear along with their specific programming". She continued: "It’s all the more sad given that in many Eastern European countries, there are few theatres. However, it would be a great opportunity for film circulation. We have to put pressure on Europe and encourage digital technology in theatres."

Independent Distributor’s Initiative

At the same time, French DIRE (United European Independent Distributors) and SDI (Union of Independent Distributors) have sounded the alarm on issues affecting the sector. These include the growing concentration of operators, the increasingly rapid turnover of films in theatres, the inflation of distribution costs and overbidding by powerful integrated groups whose main activity is not film, but who take advantage of the French systems of support. Considering themselves as "the only guarantors of creative replenishment and the diversity of films in theatres", independent distributors underline that their situation has never been as precarious and call on the authorities to adopt urgent measures.

Signatories of a two-part Platform ("Analysis of the current situation" and "Our proposals"), DIRE and SDI call for five main measures. Firstly, they would like to see the creation by the National Film Centre (CNC) of an independent distributor certification in order to differentiate them from integrated groups of theatres, distribution arms of TV networks, telecommunications groups and Internet service providers.

Secondly, they demand funding reform with an increase in selective support and a redirecting of automatic support towards companies whose revenue depends mainly on film distribution in theatres.

DIRE and SDI also point out the necessity for support during the transition to digital distribution of films in theatres. In their dealings with exhibitors, independent distributors would like to see a guarantee of the level of payment sharing and intervention from the CNC to curb the explosion of film promotion costs, for which movie theatres are charging them more and more, thus reducing their share of the takings.

Finally, the Platform calls on the authorities to reduce the imbalance caused by the relations of dominance with TV networks.

IRELAND LAUNCHES DIGITAL SCHEME

Source: Cineuropa.org

Ireland’s Cultural Cinema Consortium (CCC) is in the process of setting up a new scheme to provide funding grants to cinemas to buy and install digital projection equipment.
Under the scheme grants will be offered to cover 85% of installation costs for up to 10 cinemas across Ireland with a maximum funding cap of €75,000 per screen. In order to avail of the grant, cinemas must prove that they provide a majority of diverse programming annually.
The Digitisation Scheme is a partnership between the Arts Council (AC) and the Irish Film Board (IFB).

IFB Chief Executive Simon Perry said: “It is vital that public funding intervenes to ensure that cinemas offering Irish audiences a wider choice of film, than that available in mainstream commercial cinemas, are not left behind in the digital race.”

Fionnuala Sweeney, head of Film and International Arts at the AC, added: “The Arts Council is delighted to be offering this grant scheme in partnership with the Irish Film Board, through the Cultural Cinema Consortium. It will help art house cinemas play their part in the digital age and ensure that Irish audiences have access to a diverse range of cinema programming.”

So far, the CCC has supported the development of Smithfield’s Light House Cinema, Galway’s Solas Picture Palace and has also awarded smaller grants to film venues and organisations for the buying of film projection equipment.

The CCC was established with the mission of supporting and developing a national infrastructure for cultural cinema in Ireland. The scheme endeavours to ensure that Irish audiences have access to a range of non-mainstream cinema programming by giving full time Irish cinema operators the opportunity to go digital.

AWARDED ROMANIAN NEW WAVE FILMMAKERS RECEIVE SUPPORT FOR THEIR FUTURE PROJECTS

Source: Screen Daily, Europa Cinemas

The Romanian Film Board (CNC) has awarded nearly 5.3 million Euro to production and development funding, including grants, of new projects from Un Certain Regard winner Cristi Puiu, Camera d'Or laureate Corneliu Porumboiu, and actress Fanny Ardant on her directorial debut.

The single largest award, 417,000 Euros, went to Aurora, directed by Puiu (The Death of Mr. Lazarescu) and produced by Mandragora Movies. The story portrays a man who, after losing almost everything in a divorce, isolates himself and gradually become possessed by a desire for revenge. Puiu pitched the project at the Berlin co-production market earlier this year and is aiming for a 2009 shoot.

Periscop Pictures received 392,000 Euros for Intermediar, a new project written and directed by Porumboiu and starring Dragos Bucur (Boogie, The Death Of Mr. Lazarescu). The five-week shoot will start Nov 3. The story is a closely-guarded secret, but executive producer Marcela Ursu tells that a final cut would be ready next spring.

The CNC awarded 100,000 Euros to Ashes and Blood, a Romanian-minority co-production between Paulo Branco's Alfama Films and Tudor Giurgiu's Libra Film. The story revolves around a widow with three children who, years after husband's assassination, returns to his country, reviving old hatreds between rival clans. The film stars Ronit Elkabetz (The Band's Visit) and prominent Romanian actors Razvan Vasilescu and Olga Tudorache. Actor-turned-director Fanny Ardant (Elizabeth, 8 Women) started shooting last week in the Carpathian Mountains.

Libra received 270,000 Euros for The Bear, a black comedy about a circus manager who, after the collapse of communism, tries to solve the circus' financial problems by selling its bears to German hunters. The film is the directorial debut of Dan Chisu Sitaru.

Hai-Hui Entertainment of Romania received 75,000 Euros for Aglaja (Why the Child Is Cooking In Polenta). Hai-Hui is the minority co-producer in the project with Budapest-based Inforg.

Adrian Sitaru (Waves, Hooked) received 145,000 Euros for his project For Love with Best Intentions, developed in Cinefondation and currently in the Binger Filmlab Script Development Programme.

Other projects receiving CNC funds include The Winged Horses, produced by Artist Film and directed by Hungarian director Judit Elek (Memories of a River), which received 140,000 Euros. Mediapro Pictures received a combined 515,000 Euros for two features: Ana, by veteran director Alexa Visarion, and Afacerea Est, directed by Igor Cobileanschi.

EUROPEAN FILM PROMOTION WELCOMES CROATIA AND SERBIA AS NEW MEMBERS

Source: EFP, Europa Cinemas

European Film Promotion (EFP) is continuously reaching further East. The CROATIAN AUDIOVISUAL CENTRE and the FILM CENTER SERBIA (FCS) are about to join EFP, the European-wide network of film promotion and export organisations. The European network will thus consist of 29 promotion agencies from 30 countries across Europe. “EFP is very pleased to see these two countries coming on board”, says Renate Rose, EFP Managing Director. “The filmmakers from Eastern and Central Europe give a lot of input for the Western countries. This offers new subject-matter, other narrative forms and a different aesthetic. Moreover, it also provides a new market. On the other hand, the new members will benefit a lot from the experience of the established network.” EFP’s activities are financially supported by its member organizations and the MEDIA Programme of the European Union.

Founded in 2008, the young CROATIAN AUDIOVISUAL CENTRE is eager to foster the visibility of the vibrant Croatian Cinema throughout the world. As a governing and strategic body for the audiovisual sector in Croatia, one of new member´s main objectives is to support the positioning and release of Croatian films on the international market. With the acclaimed No One's Son (Ničiji Sin) by Arsen Anton Ostojic, Croatian Cinema was just recently participating at the film festivals in Pusan, Cottbus and Warsaw. The film has also been named as Croatia's official entry for next year's Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. Dejan Acimovic´s I Have to Sleep my Angel (Moram spavat', andjele) is currently competing for the EFA nominations and received the Audience Award at this year´s Munich Film Fest. Vinko Brešan´s latest film Will Not Stop There (Nije kraj) has recently been awarded a prize at Croatia´s Pula Film Festival. Furthermore, the acclaimed Behind the Glass (Iza stakla) by Zrinko Ogresta, was shown in competition in Karlovy Vary 2008 and since then has been invited to Cairo, Ghent, Denver (US), Kerala and Goteborg.

Albert Kapović, Chief Executive of CROATIAN AUDIOVISUAL CENTRE is very much looking forward to sharing the knowledge and experience with fellow EFP members: „The Croatian Audiovisual Centre is strongly committed to all initiatives aimed at enhancing the visibility of European cinema at major film markets and promoting cultural diversity. We believe that joining the EFP family will bring great benefit to Croatian films and filmmakers and give them the opportunity to contribute on their part to promotion of European cinema and cultural diversity.“

Based on the achievement of the historical and highly respected Film Institute, the government-organized FILM CENTER SERBIA (FCS) was established in 2004 under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture. One of the main mandates is to promote the national film industry and make it noticeable and accessible internationally. Drawing on a respected number of films by acclaimed filmmakers such as Emir Kusturica and Stefan Arsenijevic, the FCS is working on re-establishing the country’s former reputation as a vibrant cinematography. Serbia’s official entry for next year's Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film Turneja (The Tour) by Goran Marković was recently screened at festivals in Montreal (Best director and FIPRESCI Award), Pusan and London and will soon be presented at the film festivals in Raindance, Cairo, Montpellier, Seville, Thessaloniki and Palm Springs. At the moment, Goran Paskaljević is in preproduction on his new film Honeymoon, the first Albanian – Serbian co-production, while Srdjan Karanović is in postproduction of his new film Besa.

Miroljub Vučković, acting director of FCS says: “The current moment of Serbian cinema does not promise a revolution (the times of revolutions are long gone - with the wind!) but indicates that we are approaching an impending turning point. A turning point of expression, as well as of perception of new films coming from Serbia. European Film Promotion is a point of gravity for various initiatives, numerous exchanges of knowledge and experience. It is a moving mirror for all of us who want to give as well as to receive. Becoming a member of EFP presents a new challenge and a new motivation for Serbian film makers.”

More information on the CROATIAN AUDIOVISUAL CENTRE at www.havc.hr, and on the FILM CENTER SERBIA at www.fcs.co.rs:

CROATIAN AUDIOVISUAL CENTRE
Albert Kapović, Chief Executive
Kralja Zvonimira 20
HR 10 000 Zagreb
Phone +385 1- 4655 439
Fax +385 1- 4655 442
Email info@havc.hr
www.havc.hr

FILM CENTER SERBIA
Miroljub Vučković, Acting Director
Zagrebacka 9/III
YU 11 000 Belgrade
Phone +381 11- 262 5131
Fax +381 11- 263 4253
Email fcs.office@fcs.