German star August Diehl (Inglourious Basterds, A Hidden Life) and Oscar-nominated actress Andrea Riseborough (Birdman, To Leslie) have signed on to star in The Noise of Time, a new drama about the life of Russian composer Dimitri Shostakovich and his wife Nina, adapted from Julian Barnes’ book of the same name.
Two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton (The Father, Dangerous Liaisons) is adapting Barnes’ novel for the screen, with Polish director Jan Komasa (the Oscar-nominated Corpus Christi) attached to direct.
The film will trace the trajectory of Shostakovich’s life and career, beginning in 1936 when the 30-year-old composer first faced Stalin’s wrath after one of his operas is condemned as counter-revolutionary. He escapes execution but for decades Shostakovich is forced to be a cultural representative of the Soviet state, and struggles to maintain the integrity of his music.
Beta Cinema is handling world sales on the film and will be...
Two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton (The Father, Dangerous Liaisons) is adapting Barnes’ novel for the screen, with Polish director Jan Komasa (the Oscar-nominated Corpus Christi) attached to direct.
The film will trace the trajectory of Shostakovich’s life and career, beginning in 1936 when the 30-year-old composer first faced Stalin’s wrath after one of his operas is condemned as counter-revolutionary. He escapes execution but for decades Shostakovich is forced to be a cultural representative of the Soviet state, and struggles to maintain the integrity of his music.
Beta Cinema is handling world sales on the film and will be...
- 5/14/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Beta Cinema is launching pre-sales at Cannes on a big-screen version of Julian Barnes’ novel The Noise Of Time that is being adapted by two- time Academy Award winner Christopher Hampton and will star August Diehl and Andrea Riseborough.
Polish filmmaker Jan Komasa, who was Oscar nominated for his 2019 feature Corpus Christi, is lined up to direct the fictionalised account of the life of composer Dimitri Shostakovich in Stalinist Russia.
Diehl will star as Shostakovich, while Riseborough will play his wife Nita, Shostakovich’s wife and intellectual equal.
The story follows the trajectory of the Russian composer’s life and career,...
Polish filmmaker Jan Komasa, who was Oscar nominated for his 2019 feature Corpus Christi, is lined up to direct the fictionalised account of the life of composer Dimitri Shostakovich in Stalinist Russia.
Diehl will star as Shostakovich, while Riseborough will play his wife Nita, Shostakovich’s wife and intellectual equal.
The story follows the trajectory of the Russian composer’s life and career,...
- 5/14/2024
- ScreenDaily
Beta Cinema is launching pre-sales at Cannes on a big-screen version of Julian Barnes’ novel The Noise Of Time that is being adapted by two- time Academy Award winner Christopher Hampton and will star August Diehl and Andrea Riseborough.
Polish filmmaker Jan Komasa, who was Oscar nominated for his 2019 feature Corpus Christi, is lined up to direct the fictionalised account of the life of composer Dimitri Shostakovich in Stalinist Russia.
Diehl will star as Shostakovich, while Riseborough will play his wife Nita, Shostakovich’s wife and intellectual equal.
The story follows the trajectory of the Russian composer’s life and career,...
Polish filmmaker Jan Komasa, who was Oscar nominated for his 2019 feature Corpus Christi, is lined up to direct the fictionalised account of the life of composer Dimitri Shostakovich in Stalinist Russia.
Diehl will star as Shostakovich, while Riseborough will play his wife Nita, Shostakovich’s wife and intellectual equal.
The story follows the trajectory of the Russian composer’s life and career,...
- 5/14/2024
- ScreenDaily
Picture Tree Intl. has boarded Berlin Film Festival title “Measures of Men,” which focuses on the genocide committed by the German army against the Ovaherero and Nama tribes in Southwestern Africa. The trailer debuts (below).
The film is written and directed by Lars Kraume, whose credits include Berlin’s “The Silent Revolution” and Toronto’s “The People vs. Fritz Bauer.” It stars Leonard Scheicher, Namibian actor Girley Charlene Jazama and “Toni Erdmann” star Peter Simonischek.
The film has its world premiere on Feb. 22 in the Berlinale Special section, and will be released in Germany by Studiocanal in late March.
The film begins in Berlin at the end of the 19th century when a delegation of the Ovaherero and Nama tribes travels to the city. Alexander Hoffmann, a student of ethnology, is impressed by the intellect of their translator Kezia Kambazembi, and begins to question the racial theories of white supremacy.
The film is written and directed by Lars Kraume, whose credits include Berlin’s “The Silent Revolution” and Toronto’s “The People vs. Fritz Bauer.” It stars Leonard Scheicher, Namibian actor Girley Charlene Jazama and “Toni Erdmann” star Peter Simonischek.
The film has its world premiere on Feb. 22 in the Berlinale Special section, and will be released in Germany by Studiocanal in late March.
The film begins in Berlin at the end of the 19th century when a delegation of the Ovaherero and Nama tribes travels to the city. Alexander Hoffmann, a student of ethnology, is impressed by the intellect of their translator Kezia Kambazembi, and begins to question the racial theories of white supremacy.
- 2/17/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Screening this evening Jan. 6 as part of the Uruguay’s Arca Festival, “Inside the Uffizi” has already done steady business for boutique Berlin-based documentary shingle Magnetfilm, headed by Georg Gruber.
Rights have been sold to Sky in Italy and Hugo East for China, and an online release planned on streamers via Docodigital scheduled before the end of March on iTunes, Google, Amazon, Rakuten for Tvod and Est in the U.S, Canada, Spain, selected Spanish-language territories in Latin America such as Argentina, and Italy.
Directed by award-winning German film-maker Corinna Belz (“Gerhard Richter Painting”) together with Enrique Sánchez Lansch, the film takes us behind the scenes of the world’s second oldest art museum, the Uffizi in Florence, Italy, pausing to allow us to take in masterworks by Renaissance giants like Caravaggio, Botticelli, Titian and Gentileschi, with some lavish camera work lingering in mouth-watering detail in what is a very special place for art lovers.
Rights have been sold to Sky in Italy and Hugo East for China, and an online release planned on streamers via Docodigital scheduled before the end of March on iTunes, Google, Amazon, Rakuten for Tvod and Est in the U.S, Canada, Spain, selected Spanish-language territories in Latin America such as Argentina, and Italy.
Directed by award-winning German film-maker Corinna Belz (“Gerhard Richter Painting”) together with Enrique Sánchez Lansch, the film takes us behind the scenes of the world’s second oldest art museum, the Uffizi in Florence, Italy, pausing to allow us to take in masterworks by Renaissance giants like Caravaggio, Botticelli, Titian and Gentileschi, with some lavish camera work lingering in mouth-watering detail in what is a very special place for art lovers.
- 1/6/2023
- by Douglas Wilson
- Variety Film + TV
American director returns to festival for fifth time.
American director Oliver Stone will attend this year’s Zurich Film Festival (September 26 – October 6) as president of the jury.
He will be joined on the International Competition jury by Colombian director Ciro Guerra, Italian director Laura Bispuri, German actor Sebastian Koch, and Swiss producer Tiziana Soudani.
Zurich’s International Documentary Film Competition will this year be chaired by British producer Simon Chinn. He will be joined by American producer Stephen Nemeth, Swiss director Anja Kofmel, French director Maryam Goormaghtigh, and Swiss documentary filmmaker Christian Frei.
The Focus Competition, which selects first, second or third features from Switzerland,...
American director Oliver Stone will attend this year’s Zurich Film Festival (September 26 – October 6) as president of the jury.
He will be joined on the International Competition jury by Colombian director Ciro Guerra, Italian director Laura Bispuri, German actor Sebastian Koch, and Swiss producer Tiziana Soudani.
Zurich’s International Documentary Film Competition will this year be chaired by British producer Simon Chinn. He will be joined by American producer Stephen Nemeth, Swiss director Anja Kofmel, French director Maryam Goormaghtigh, and Swiss documentary filmmaker Christian Frei.
The Focus Competition, which selects first, second or third features from Switzerland,...
- 8/29/2019
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Oliver Stone will serve as the jury president of the international competition at this year’s Zurich Film Festival, it was announced Thursday. The Oscar-winning filmmaker will also present his Showtime documentary series “The Putin Interviews” and the restored version of his 1991 film “The Doors” at the festival.
“Oliver Stone is an edgy Hollywood auteur who continues to create epoch-making masterpieces and manages to broach explosive issues with brilliance,” said festival co-directors Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri. “We are delighted that [he] has accepted our invitation.”
The international competition jury also comprises Colombian filmmaker Ciro Guerra, Italian director Laura Bispuri, German actor Sebastian Koch, and Swiss producer Tiziana Soudani.
Double Oscar-winning documentary producer Simon Chinn has been tapped to chair the festival’s documentary film competition. German producer Thomas Kufus heads the Focus Competition, which is for Swiss, German or Austrian productions from a director making his or her first, second or third feature.
“Oliver Stone is an edgy Hollywood auteur who continues to create epoch-making masterpieces and manages to broach explosive issues with brilliance,” said festival co-directors Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri. “We are delighted that [he] has accepted our invitation.”
The international competition jury also comprises Colombian filmmaker Ciro Guerra, Italian director Laura Bispuri, German actor Sebastian Koch, and Swiss producer Tiziana Soudani.
Double Oscar-winning documentary producer Simon Chinn has been tapped to chair the festival’s documentary film competition. German producer Thomas Kufus heads the Focus Competition, which is for Swiss, German or Austrian productions from a director making his or her first, second or third feature.
- 8/29/2019
- by Robert Mitchell
- Variety Film + TV
Oscars: Switzerland Selects Markus Imhoof’s Refugee Documentary ‘Eldorado’ As Foreign Language Entry
Switzerland has selected Markus Imhoof’s refugee documentary Eldorado to represent it in the Foreign Language Oscar race.
Once again, the country has gotten its bid in early, choosing the doc that celebrated its world premiere at the Berlinale 2018. The film draws inspiration from Imhoof’s personal encounter encounter with Giovanna, a refugee child who was taken in by his family during World War II. He tracks today’s refugees on their dangerous journey to Europe.
It was screened out of competition at the German film festival and received a Special Mention from the jury of the Amnesty International Film Prize.
The film was coproduced by Thelma Film in Switzerland (Pierre-Alain Meier), Zero One Film in Berlin (Thomas Kufus), Swiss Radio and Television (Srf) and Bavarian Broadcasting (Br). Peter Indergand, the award-winning Swiss cinematographer, was behind the camera and the soundtrack was composed by Peter Scherer.
Eldorado has been sold...
Once again, the country has gotten its bid in early, choosing the doc that celebrated its world premiere at the Berlinale 2018. The film draws inspiration from Imhoof’s personal encounter encounter with Giovanna, a refugee child who was taken in by his family during World War II. He tracks today’s refugees on their dangerous journey to Europe.
It was screened out of competition at the German film festival and received a Special Mention from the jury of the Amnesty International Film Prize.
The film was coproduced by Thelma Film in Switzerland (Pierre-Alain Meier), Zero One Film in Berlin (Thomas Kufus), Swiss Radio and Television (Srf) and Bavarian Broadcasting (Br). Peter Indergand, the award-winning Swiss cinematographer, was behind the camera and the soundtrack was composed by Peter Scherer.
Eldorado has been sold...
- 8/3/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
What happens when a prosecutor tracks down one of the most evil criminals of the century, only to find that politics and corruption prevent him from issuing an arrest warrant? This is the true story of the hunt for the Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann — not from the Pov of the Israeli agents that pounced on him in Argentina, but a German prosecutor hemmed in on all sides by Nazi sympathizers in his own government bureaucracy.
The People vs. Fritz Bauer
Blu-ray
Cohen Media Group
2015 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 105 min. / Der Staat gegen Fritz Bauer / Street Date January 10, 2017 / 30.99
Starring Burghardt Klaußner, Ronald Zehrfeld, Michael Schenck, Cornelia Goöscher, Lilith Stangenberg.
Cinematography Jens Harant
Film Editor Barbara Gies
Original Music Christopher M. Kaiser, Julian Maas
Written by Lars Kraume, Olivier Guez
Produced by Thomas Kufus
Directed by Lars Kraume
As a movie reviewer I’m attracted to certain subjects. I’ve written up...
The People vs. Fritz Bauer
Blu-ray
Cohen Media Group
2015 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 105 min. / Der Staat gegen Fritz Bauer / Street Date January 10, 2017 / 30.99
Starring Burghardt Klaußner, Ronald Zehrfeld, Michael Schenck, Cornelia Goöscher, Lilith Stangenberg.
Cinematography Jens Harant
Film Editor Barbara Gies
Original Music Christopher M. Kaiser, Julian Maas
Written by Lars Kraume, Olivier Guez
Produced by Thomas Kufus
Directed by Lars Kraume
As a movie reviewer I’m attracted to certain subjects. I’ve written up...
- 1/3/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Nazi hunter thriller wins best film at the annual ‘Lolas’.
Lars Kraume’s Nazi hunter thriller, The People Vs. Fritz Bauer, won six Lola statuettes at this year’s German Film Awards after being tipped as the evening’s hot ticket with nine nominations.
The co-production between Berlin’s zero one film and Cologne-based Terz Film picked up the evening’s top award - the Lola in Gold for Best Film - as well as the statuettes for Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Ronald Zehrfeld), Best Production Design (Cora Pratz), and Best Costume Design (Esther Walz).
Accepting the Gold statuette from the hands of Germany’s State Minister for Culture and Media Monika Grütters, producer Thomas Kufus dedicated the award to the memory of Fritz Bauer.
Kurth knocks out Klaußner
While many thought that it was foregone conclusion that Burghart Klaußner would take the Lola home for his portrayal of the state prosecutor Fritz Bauer, nobody...
Lars Kraume’s Nazi hunter thriller, The People Vs. Fritz Bauer, won six Lola statuettes at this year’s German Film Awards after being tipped as the evening’s hot ticket with nine nominations.
The co-production between Berlin’s zero one film and Cologne-based Terz Film picked up the evening’s top award - the Lola in Gold for Best Film - as well as the statuettes for Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Ronald Zehrfeld), Best Production Design (Cora Pratz), and Best Costume Design (Esther Walz).
Accepting the Gold statuette from the hands of Germany’s State Minister for Culture and Media Monika Grütters, producer Thomas Kufus dedicated the award to the memory of Fritz Bauer.
Kurth knocks out Klaußner
While many thought that it was foregone conclusion that Burghart Klaußner would take the Lola home for his portrayal of the state prosecutor Fritz Bauer, nobody...
- 5/31/2016
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Beta Cinema inks deals, including Germany, on competition drama.
Beta Cinema has closed a string of deals on hard-hitting Berlin competition drama 24 Weeks.
Following a competitive situation in Germany, writer-director Anne Zohra Berrached’s second feature was snapped up by Neue Visionen in an all rights deal.
Deals have also closed in Benelux (September Films), Poland (Aurora Films), Greece (Feelgood Entertainment), Turkey (Filmarti), Ex-Yugoslavia (Discovery Films), Hungary (Cirko), Columbia (Cineplex), Taiwan (Swallow Wings), China (Lemon Tree Entertainment) and Korea (JinJin Pictures).
Deals are pending in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and France.
24 Weeks stars celebrated German actress Julia Jentsch, who won the Silver Bear for Best Actress in the Oscar-nominated Sophie Scholl: The Final Days, and was produced by zero one, the outfit behind Toronto drama The People Vs. Fritz Bauer.
The story follows cabaret performer Astrid (Jentsch), who when six months pregnant learns that her unborn child will be severely disabled. She and her...
Beta Cinema has closed a string of deals on hard-hitting Berlin competition drama 24 Weeks.
Following a competitive situation in Germany, writer-director Anne Zohra Berrached’s second feature was snapped up by Neue Visionen in an all rights deal.
Deals have also closed in Benelux (September Films), Poland (Aurora Films), Greece (Feelgood Entertainment), Turkey (Filmarti), Ex-Yugoslavia (Discovery Films), Hungary (Cirko), Columbia (Cineplex), Taiwan (Swallow Wings), China (Lemon Tree Entertainment) and Korea (JinJin Pictures).
Deals are pending in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and France.
24 Weeks stars celebrated German actress Julia Jentsch, who won the Silver Bear for Best Actress in the Oscar-nominated Sophie Scholl: The Final Days, and was produced by zero one, the outfit behind Toronto drama The People Vs. Fritz Bauer.
The story follows cabaret performer Astrid (Jentsch), who when six months pregnant learns that her unborn child will be severely disabled. She and her...
- 2/17/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Beta Cinema inks deals, including Germany, on competition drama.
Beta Cinema has closed a string of deals on had-hitting Berlin competition drama 24 Weeks.
Following a competitive situation in Germany, writer-director Anne Zohra Berrached’s second feature was snapped up by Neue Visionen in an all rights deal.
Deals have also closed in Benelux (September Films), Poland (Aurora Films), Greece (Feelgood Entertainment), Turkey (Filmarti), Ex-Yugoslavia (Discovery Films), Hungary (Cirko), Columbia (Cineplex), Taiwan (Swallow Wings), China (Lemon Tree Entertainment) and Korea (JinJin Pictures).
Deals are pending in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and France.
24 Weeks stars celebrated German actress Julia Jentsch, who won the Silver Bear for Best Actress in the Oscar-nominated Sophie Scholl: The Final Days, and was produced by zero one, the outfit behind Toronto drama The People Vs. Fritz Bauer.
The story follows cabaret performer Astrid (Jentsch), who when six months pregnant learns that her unborn child will be severely disabled. She and her...
Beta Cinema has closed a string of deals on had-hitting Berlin competition drama 24 Weeks.
Following a competitive situation in Germany, writer-director Anne Zohra Berrached’s second feature was snapped up by Neue Visionen in an all rights deal.
Deals have also closed in Benelux (September Films), Poland (Aurora Films), Greece (Feelgood Entertainment), Turkey (Filmarti), Ex-Yugoslavia (Discovery Films), Hungary (Cirko), Columbia (Cineplex), Taiwan (Swallow Wings), China (Lemon Tree Entertainment) and Korea (JinJin Pictures).
Deals are pending in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and France.
24 Weeks stars celebrated German actress Julia Jentsch, who won the Silver Bear for Best Actress in the Oscar-nominated Sophie Scholl: The Final Days, and was produced by zero one, the outfit behind Toronto drama The People Vs. Fritz Bauer.
The story follows cabaret performer Astrid (Jentsch), who when six months pregnant learns that her unborn child will be severely disabled. She and her...
- 2/17/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Beta acquires the second feature of Two Mothers director Anne Zohra Berrached.
Ahead of this year’s Berlinale (Feb 11-21), Beta Cinema has taken worldwide rights for German competition entry 24 Weeks, the second feature of director-writer Anne Zohra Berrached.
The film stars Julia Jentsch, who won the Silver Bear for Best Actress in the Oscar-nominated Sophie Scholl: The Final Days, and was produced by zero one, which made Toronto title The People Vs. Fritz Bauer.
Berrached, whose first feature Two Mothers won the Dialogue in Perspective Award at Berlinale 2013 and the First Steps Award, wrote the script with Carl Gerber.
The story centres on cabaret performer Astrid (Jentsch), who six months pregnant learns that her unborn child will be severely disabled. She and her husband Marcus (Bjarne Maedel) have a choice, but little time.
Astrid feels lost, impossible to continue her comedy routine and, ultimately, only she can take this weighty decision of what to do.
The...
Ahead of this year’s Berlinale (Feb 11-21), Beta Cinema has taken worldwide rights for German competition entry 24 Weeks, the second feature of director-writer Anne Zohra Berrached.
The film stars Julia Jentsch, who won the Silver Bear for Best Actress in the Oscar-nominated Sophie Scholl: The Final Days, and was produced by zero one, which made Toronto title The People Vs. Fritz Bauer.
Berrached, whose first feature Two Mothers won the Dialogue in Perspective Award at Berlinale 2013 and the First Steps Award, wrote the script with Carl Gerber.
The story centres on cabaret performer Astrid (Jentsch), who six months pregnant learns that her unborn child will be severely disabled. She and her husband Marcus (Bjarne Maedel) have a choice, but little time.
Astrid feels lost, impossible to continue her comedy routine and, ultimately, only she can take this weighty decision of what to do.
The...
- 1/25/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Historical thriller secures deals out of Toronto.
Beta Cinema’s The People vs. Fritz Bauer has scored a series of sales out of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Lars Kraume’s riveting historical thriller, which won the audience award at Locarno, has been acquired by Italy’s Valerio de Paolis Cinema, Caramel (Spain), Cineart (Benelux), Scanbox (Scandinavia), Strada Films (Greece), Lev Cinemas (Israel), Alfa Films (Argentina), and New Select (Japan).
As previously announced Arp has acquired France and LookNow! Switzerland.
Advanced negotiations are underway with distributors from the Us, according to Beta.
The film stars German actors Burghart Klaussner (The White Ribbon) and Ronald Zehrfeld (Phoenix) and chronicles the efforts of German district attorney Fritz Bauer to bring Nazi war criminal Adolph Eichmann to justice.
The People vs. Fritz Bauer is produced by Thomas Kufus’ zero one film in co-production with Terz Film, Wdr, Hr and Arte.
German distributor is Alamode.
Beta Cinema’s The People vs. Fritz Bauer has scored a series of sales out of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Lars Kraume’s riveting historical thriller, which won the audience award at Locarno, has been acquired by Italy’s Valerio de Paolis Cinema, Caramel (Spain), Cineart (Benelux), Scanbox (Scandinavia), Strada Films (Greece), Lev Cinemas (Israel), Alfa Films (Argentina), and New Select (Japan).
As previously announced Arp has acquired France and LookNow! Switzerland.
Advanced negotiations are underway with distributors from the Us, according to Beta.
The film stars German actors Burghart Klaussner (The White Ribbon) and Ronald Zehrfeld (Phoenix) and chronicles the efforts of German district attorney Fritz Bauer to bring Nazi war criminal Adolph Eichmann to justice.
The People vs. Fritz Bauer is produced by Thomas Kufus’ zero one film in co-production with Terz Film, Wdr, Hr and Arte.
German distributor is Alamode.
- 9/23/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Independent production and distribution company Main Street Films (which recently had a domestic success with the male stripper doc "La Bare") will theatrically release Christian Schwochow’s acclaimed spy drama "West" across the U.S. on November 7. Set during the Berlin Wall-era, the film’s release date will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9. "West" was also one of the films shortlisted to be Germany’s candidate for the Foreign Language Academy Award.
The film was also part of the Kino! Fetival of German Films, which we covered back in June. Read More Here
"'West' is a strong and emotional film that accurately portrays the fear and tension that existed between the East and the West during the Berlin Wall-era and is an important reminder of Germany’s recent history,” said Craig Chang, Chairman of Main Street Films.
“This is a very personal film for me,” said Christian Schwochow, director. “My family left in 1989 just after the wall came down, but it was still a time of great uncertainty. All we had was hope that life would be better and that’s a great motivator. Releasing "West" during the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall is very special, especially after having the opportunity to collaborate with my mother, who wrote the screenplay.”
Winning the Fipresci prize at the 2013 Montreal Film Festival and the Best Actress award for Jôrdis Triebel at the 2014 German Film Awards, West is based on Julia Franck’s autobiographical novel Camp Fire and adapted by the director’s mother and regular screenwriting partner, Heide Schwochow.
Set during the late 1970s, three years after Nelly Senff’s boyfriend Wassilij’s apparent death, she decides to escape from behind the Berlin Wall with her son Alexej, leaving her traumatic past behind. Pretending to marry a West German, she crosses the border to start a new life. But soon her past starts to haunt her as the Allied Secret Service begin to question Wassilij’s mysterious disappearance. Fraught with paranoia, Nelly is forced to choose between discovering the truth about her former lover and her hopes for a better tomorrow.
"West" stars Jördis Triebel, Alexander Scheer, Tristan Göbel, and Jacky Ido (who is currently the lead actor in Luc Besson's TV series Taxi Brooklyn), and is produced by ö Filmproduktion’s Katrin Schlösser, zero one film’s Thomas Kufus, and Terz Filmproduktion’s Christoph Friedel. Helge Sasse of Senator Film Produktion, Barbara Buhl of Wdr, Stefanie Groß of Swr, Cooky Ziesche of rbb, and Georg Steinert of Arte are co-producers.
Take a look at this exclusive trailer courtesy of Main Street Films
About Main Street Films
Established in 2007, Main Street Films is an independent film entertainment company and has emerged as one of the industry's most exciting production, acquisition, and distribution driven ensembles. On the distribution side, Main Street Films focuses on creating and distributing high quality films across multiple genres for diverse audiences within the entertainment space. Opening later this year is the critically acclaimed The Turning starring Oscar® winner Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving, based on Tim Winton’s award-winning collection of short stories.
The film was also part of the Kino! Fetival of German Films, which we covered back in June. Read More Here
"'West' is a strong and emotional film that accurately portrays the fear and tension that existed between the East and the West during the Berlin Wall-era and is an important reminder of Germany’s recent history,” said Craig Chang, Chairman of Main Street Films.
“This is a very personal film for me,” said Christian Schwochow, director. “My family left in 1989 just after the wall came down, but it was still a time of great uncertainty. All we had was hope that life would be better and that’s a great motivator. Releasing "West" during the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall is very special, especially after having the opportunity to collaborate with my mother, who wrote the screenplay.”
Winning the Fipresci prize at the 2013 Montreal Film Festival and the Best Actress award for Jôrdis Triebel at the 2014 German Film Awards, West is based on Julia Franck’s autobiographical novel Camp Fire and adapted by the director’s mother and regular screenwriting partner, Heide Schwochow.
Set during the late 1970s, three years after Nelly Senff’s boyfriend Wassilij’s apparent death, she decides to escape from behind the Berlin Wall with her son Alexej, leaving her traumatic past behind. Pretending to marry a West German, she crosses the border to start a new life. But soon her past starts to haunt her as the Allied Secret Service begin to question Wassilij’s mysterious disappearance. Fraught with paranoia, Nelly is forced to choose between discovering the truth about her former lover and her hopes for a better tomorrow.
"West" stars Jördis Triebel, Alexander Scheer, Tristan Göbel, and Jacky Ido (who is currently the lead actor in Luc Besson's TV series Taxi Brooklyn), and is produced by ö Filmproduktion’s Katrin Schlösser, zero one film’s Thomas Kufus, and Terz Filmproduktion’s Christoph Friedel. Helge Sasse of Senator Film Produktion, Barbara Buhl of Wdr, Stefanie Groß of Swr, Cooky Ziesche of rbb, and Georg Steinert of Arte are co-producers.
Take a look at this exclusive trailer courtesy of Main Street Films
About Main Street Films
Established in 2007, Main Street Films is an independent film entertainment company and has emerged as one of the industry's most exciting production, acquisition, and distribution driven ensembles. On the distribution side, Main Street Films focuses on creating and distributing high quality films across multiple genres for diverse audiences within the entertainment space. Opening later this year is the critically acclaimed The Turning starring Oscar® winner Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving, based on Tim Winton’s award-winning collection of short stories.
- 9/19/2014
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Main Street Films will theatrically release Christian Schwochow’s spy drama and German foreign-language Oscar submission West in the Us on November 7.
The film takes place during the Berlin Wall era and the release commemorates the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9.
“West is a strong and emotional film that accurately portrays the fear and tension that existed between the East and the West during the Berlin Wall era and is an important reminder of Germany’s recent history,” said Main Street Films chairman Craig Chang.
“West is a very personal film for me,” said Schwochow. “My family left in 1989 just after the wall came down, but it was still a time of great uncertainty. All we had was hope that life would be better and that’s a great motivator.
The director’s mother and regular screenwriting partner Heide Schwochow adapted the screenplay from Julia Franck’s autobiographical novel Camp Fire...
The film takes place during the Berlin Wall era and the release commemorates the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9.
“West is a strong and emotional film that accurately portrays the fear and tension that existed between the East and the West during the Berlin Wall era and is an important reminder of Germany’s recent history,” said Main Street Films chairman Craig Chang.
“West is a very personal film for me,” said Schwochow. “My family left in 1989 just after the wall came down, but it was still a time of great uncertainty. All we had was hope that life would be better and that’s a great motivator.
The director’s mother and regular screenwriting partner Heide Schwochow adapted the screenplay from Julia Franck’s autobiographical novel Camp Fire...
- 8/12/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
German director Christian Schwochow will present his film West and participate in a Q&A on the opening night gala of Kino! Festival Of German Films in New York on June 12.
West won the Fipresci prize at the 2013 Montreal Film Festival and is based on Julia Franck’s novel Lagerfeuer.
Heide Schwochow adapted the Berlin Wall-era mystery starring Jördis Triebel, Alexander Scheer, Tristan Göbel and Jacky Ido.
Ö Filmproduktion’s Karin Schlösser produced with zero one film’s Thomas Kufus and terz Filmproduktion’s Christoph Friedel.
Main Street Films chairman Craig Chang and president Harrison Kordestani plan to release the film theatrically later this year.
West won the Fipresci prize at the 2013 Montreal Film Festival and is based on Julia Franck’s novel Lagerfeuer.
Heide Schwochow adapted the Berlin Wall-era mystery starring Jördis Triebel, Alexander Scheer, Tristan Göbel and Jacky Ido.
Ö Filmproduktion’s Karin Schlösser produced with zero one film’s Thomas Kufus and terz Filmproduktion’s Christoph Friedel.
Main Street Films chairman Craig Chang and president Harrison Kordestani plan to release the film theatrically later this year.
- 6/12/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Projects from Bulgaria, Belgium and Macedonia have picked up prizes at the When East Meets West (Wemw) international co-production meetings in Trieste.
The main prize, the Wemw Development Award, provided by the local regional fund Friuli Venezia Giulia Audiovisual Fund (Fvg), went to Bulgarian producer Martichka Bozhilova and director Galin Stoev for Endless Garden, which is looking for a Belgian co-producer.
The €1.1m dramedy will be theatre director Stoev’s debut feature and already has Berlin-based Thomas Kufus’ zero one film and Media onboard as partners.
Endless Garden had previously been pitched during the Sofia Meetings last March.
A special mention was given by the jury of Eave’s Kristina Trapp, Torino Film Lab’s Mathieu Darras and the Berlinale’s Nikolai Nikitin to the Czech/Slovak documentary comedy Never Give Up by Matej Minac.
A new prize this year, sponsored by Belgium’s Filmmore with €5,000 worth of post-production services, went to the...
The main prize, the Wemw Development Award, provided by the local regional fund Friuli Venezia Giulia Audiovisual Fund (Fvg), went to Bulgarian producer Martichka Bozhilova and director Galin Stoev for Endless Garden, which is looking for a Belgian co-producer.
The €1.1m dramedy will be theatre director Stoev’s debut feature and already has Berlin-based Thomas Kufus’ zero one film and Media onboard as partners.
Endless Garden had previously been pitched during the Sofia Meetings last March.
A special mention was given by the jury of Eave’s Kristina Trapp, Torino Film Lab’s Mathieu Darras and the Berlinale’s Nikolai Nikitin to the Czech/Slovak documentary comedy Never Give Up by Matej Minac.
A new prize this year, sponsored by Belgium’s Filmmore with €5,000 worth of post-production services, went to the...
- 1/22/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Arnon Goldfinger's "The Flat" goes to Sundance Selects for North American, Latin American, UK and Scandinavian rights (excluding Jewish festival and educational rights, which are being handled by Ruth Diskin Films Ltd). "The Flat" debuted at the Jerusalem International Film Festival in 2011, where Goldfinger won Best Director, before playing Tribeca where it won Best Editing (here's Indiewire's Meet the Filmmaker interview). Among the film's other honors is the Israeli Academy Award's Best Documentary award. Goldfinger also wrote the documentary, and co-produced with Thomas Kufus. The synopsis for "The Flat," which Sundance Selects plans to release October 19, is below. At age 98, director Goldfinger's grandmother passed away, leaving him the task of clearing out the Tel Aviv flat that she and her husband shared for decades since immigrating from Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Sifting through a dense mountain of...
- 7/27/2012
- by Sophia Savage
- Indiewire
More Berlinale coverage
Berlin -- The project: "24h Berlin," a 24-hour documentary capturing one day in the life of Germany's capital. The team: A 400-person crew with 70 directors under the guidance of director Volker Heise and producer Thomas Kufus. The budget: Less than $4 million.
"It's pretty ambitious, pretty crazy actually," Thomas Kufus of Berlin's Zero One Films says of his his company's epic documentary "24h Berlin." "No one has ever attempted something like this before -- trying to capture an entire city in one day."
The crazy idea came from Heise, Kufus' partner, and director of the award-winning reality series "Schwarzwaldhaus 1902."
Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Kufus thought the time was right to take documentaries to the next level. His nonfiction film tries to tell not just one of the 4 million stories in the naked city, but all of them.
Unlike traditional TV docs, "24h...
Berlin -- The project: "24h Berlin," a 24-hour documentary capturing one day in the life of Germany's capital. The team: A 400-person crew with 70 directors under the guidance of director Volker Heise and producer Thomas Kufus. The budget: Less than $4 million.
"It's pretty ambitious, pretty crazy actually," Thomas Kufus of Berlin's Zero One Films says of his his company's epic documentary "24h Berlin." "No one has ever attempted something like this before -- trying to capture an entire city in one day."
The crazy idea came from Heise, Kufus' partner, and director of the award-winning reality series "Schwarzwaldhaus 1902."
Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Kufus thought the time was right to take documentaries to the next level. His nonfiction film tries to tell not just one of the 4 million stories in the naked city, but all of them.
Unlike traditional TV docs, "24h...
- 2/7/2009
- by By Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
WHISPERING PAGES
(Russia/Germany)
This is cold, dark, depressing cinema as only a few Russian directors can create. It's ''Whispering Pages'' by Alexander Sokurov, recognized as the only legitimate heir to the late Andrei Tarkovsky. This tedious film will appeal only to a few brave festgoers and committed cineastes.
''Whispering Pages'' chronicles a midnight visit to the brooding streets, caverns and apartments of St. Petersburg of the past century, principally as sketched in Dostoyevsky's ''Notes from the Underground'' and ''Crime and Punishment.''
As is common in Sokurov's cinema, camera movements are almost painfully slow, protagonists appear to be rooted to the ground and only dim rays of light illuminate the characters much of the time. Raskolnikov's well-known confession scene from ''Crime and Punishment, '' which occurs toward the end of the film, brings to ''Whispering Pages'' a bit of needed meaning and depth. It's one of the few literary segments worth waiting for.
''TICHIE STRANICY'' (WHISPERING PAGES) (Russia/Germany). Eskomfilm, Syktyvkar, North Foundation (St. Petersburg), Zero-Film (Berlin)
Producers: Vladimir Fotiev, Martin Hagemann, Thomas Kufus. Director/Screenwriter: Alexander Sokurov. Photography: Alexander Burov. Cast: Alexander Cherednik (Hero), Elisaveta Koroleva (Girl), Sergei Barkovsky (Civil Servant).
77 mins, black-and-white, color
LAW OF COURAGE
(Italy)
Alessandro di Robilant's ''Law of Courage'' is another in an ongoing series of Italian anti-Mafia films based on fact. As a detailed tele-feature, its purpose is to inform. And although the message is wrapped in the guise of a fast-paced political thriller, the market is still television with a possible spinoff at international festivals.
This is the story of Sicilian district attorney Rosario Livatino, the ''boy judge'' (''Il Giudice Richter''), who was assassinated in 1991 for investigating killings ordered by warring Mafia families in the provinces.
The screenplay in turn is based on a book by Nando Della Chiesa, the son of the general murdered by the Mafia in 1982. And it opens with an actual speech given by Livatino in 1984 titled ''The Role of the Judge in a Changing Society, '' the apparent reason why he was murdered.
Giulio Scarpati portrays without sentimentality the determined district attorney who lived by a moral code, one who also knew he was marked for death by the Mafia. Unfortunately, the musical score doesn't let us forget this either.
''IL GIUDICE RAGAZZINO'' (LAW OF COURAGE) (Italy). RCS Films & TV, RAI 2
(Rome)
Director: Alessandro Di Robilant. Screenwriters: Andrea Purgatori, Ugo Pirro, based on a book by Nando Dalla Ciesa. Photography: David Scott. Cast: Giulio Scarpati (Rosario Livatino), Sabrina Ferilli (Angela Guarnera).
92 mins, color
SOMETHING FISHY
(France)
The bright side of this quirky hard-boiled detective story by Tonie Marshall is anti-heroine Anemone, who carries the story effortlessly despite dips and turns in the narrative.
''Something Fishy'' is a Gallic cross between Peter Falk's seedy Columbo and Raymond Chandler's stubborn travel-by-night private eyes.
The weak side of the ledger is three stories in one. First, we're introduced to Maxime's (Anemone) AC/DC male/female relations, then her renewed acquaintance with a long-neglected 17-year-old son and finally to a portrait of a tired and vulnerable detective caught in the middle of a murder case that leads right to the door of Maxime's ex-husband, a crooked real estate dealer. The meat of the film is found in the third segment.
This second feature of Marshall -- the daughter of American director William Marshall and French actress Micheline Presle -- confirms she's a promising directorial talent. Presle herself makes a commanding cameo appearance as the distraught widow of the murdered man.
''PAS TRES CATHOLIQUE'' (SOMETHING FISHY) (France). Les Productions du 3eme Etage (Paris), AB Films, M6 Films, Planetes et Compagnie.
Producer: Michel Propper, Frederic Bourboulon. Director/Screenwriter: Tonie Marshall. Photography: Dominique Chapius. Cast: Anenome (Maxime), Gregoire Colin (Baptiste).
100 mins, color
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
(Russia/Germany)
This is cold, dark, depressing cinema as only a few Russian directors can create. It's ''Whispering Pages'' by Alexander Sokurov, recognized as the only legitimate heir to the late Andrei Tarkovsky. This tedious film will appeal only to a few brave festgoers and committed cineastes.
''Whispering Pages'' chronicles a midnight visit to the brooding streets, caverns and apartments of St. Petersburg of the past century, principally as sketched in Dostoyevsky's ''Notes from the Underground'' and ''Crime and Punishment.''
As is common in Sokurov's cinema, camera movements are almost painfully slow, protagonists appear to be rooted to the ground and only dim rays of light illuminate the characters much of the time. Raskolnikov's well-known confession scene from ''Crime and Punishment, '' which occurs toward the end of the film, brings to ''Whispering Pages'' a bit of needed meaning and depth. It's one of the few literary segments worth waiting for.
''TICHIE STRANICY'' (WHISPERING PAGES) (Russia/Germany). Eskomfilm, Syktyvkar, North Foundation (St. Petersburg), Zero-Film (Berlin)
Producers: Vladimir Fotiev, Martin Hagemann, Thomas Kufus. Director/Screenwriter: Alexander Sokurov. Photography: Alexander Burov. Cast: Alexander Cherednik (Hero), Elisaveta Koroleva (Girl), Sergei Barkovsky (Civil Servant).
77 mins, black-and-white, color
LAW OF COURAGE
(Italy)
Alessandro di Robilant's ''Law of Courage'' is another in an ongoing series of Italian anti-Mafia films based on fact. As a detailed tele-feature, its purpose is to inform. And although the message is wrapped in the guise of a fast-paced political thriller, the market is still television with a possible spinoff at international festivals.
This is the story of Sicilian district attorney Rosario Livatino, the ''boy judge'' (''Il Giudice Richter''), who was assassinated in 1991 for investigating killings ordered by warring Mafia families in the provinces.
The screenplay in turn is based on a book by Nando Della Chiesa, the son of the general murdered by the Mafia in 1982. And it opens with an actual speech given by Livatino in 1984 titled ''The Role of the Judge in a Changing Society, '' the apparent reason why he was murdered.
Giulio Scarpati portrays without sentimentality the determined district attorney who lived by a moral code, one who also knew he was marked for death by the Mafia. Unfortunately, the musical score doesn't let us forget this either.
''IL GIUDICE RAGAZZINO'' (LAW OF COURAGE) (Italy). RCS Films & TV, RAI 2
(Rome)
Director: Alessandro Di Robilant. Screenwriters: Andrea Purgatori, Ugo Pirro, based on a book by Nando Dalla Ciesa. Photography: David Scott. Cast: Giulio Scarpati (Rosario Livatino), Sabrina Ferilli (Angela Guarnera).
92 mins, color
SOMETHING FISHY
(France)
The bright side of this quirky hard-boiled detective story by Tonie Marshall is anti-heroine Anemone, who carries the story effortlessly despite dips and turns in the narrative.
''Something Fishy'' is a Gallic cross between Peter Falk's seedy Columbo and Raymond Chandler's stubborn travel-by-night private eyes.
The weak side of the ledger is three stories in one. First, we're introduced to Maxime's (Anemone) AC/DC male/female relations, then her renewed acquaintance with a long-neglected 17-year-old son and finally to a portrait of a tired and vulnerable detective caught in the middle of a murder case that leads right to the door of Maxime's ex-husband, a crooked real estate dealer. The meat of the film is found in the third segment.
This second feature of Marshall -- the daughter of American director William Marshall and French actress Micheline Presle -- confirms she's a promising directorial talent. Presle herself makes a commanding cameo appearance as the distraught widow of the murdered man.
''PAS TRES CATHOLIQUE'' (SOMETHING FISHY) (France). Les Productions du 3eme Etage (Paris), AB Films, M6 Films, Planetes et Compagnie.
Producer: Michel Propper, Frederic Bourboulon. Director/Screenwriter: Tonie Marshall. Photography: Dominique Chapius. Cast: Anenome (Maxime), Gregoire Colin (Baptiste).
100 mins, color
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 2/14/1994
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.