Hisham Zaman’s A Happy Day, Ole Giæver’s Let The River Flow and Margreth Olin’s Songs Of Earth have been shortlisted
Hisham Zaman’s A Happy Day, Ole Giæver’s Let The River Flow and Margreth Olin’s Songs Of Earth have been shortlisted to be the Norwegian entry for best international feature at the 96th Academy Awards.
A Happy Day centres around three teenagers longing to escape the refugee camp where they live in north Norway. It had its world premiere in Toronto’s Centrepiece strand and is produced by Zaman’s Snowfall Cinema in co-production with Zentropa Denmark and Rein Film.
Hisham Zaman’s A Happy Day, Ole Giæver’s Let The River Flow and Margreth Olin’s Songs Of Earth have been shortlisted to be the Norwegian entry for best international feature at the 96th Academy Awards.
A Happy Day centres around three teenagers longing to escape the refugee camp where they live in north Norway. It had its world premiere in Toronto’s Centrepiece strand and is produced by Zaman’s Snowfall Cinema in co-production with Zentropa Denmark and Rein Film.
- 9/19/2023
- by Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
Prior selections Close, Drive My Car, The Worst Person In The World all garnered international feature film Oscar submissions.
Aki Kaurismäki’s Cannes jury prize winner Fallen Leaves and Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s About Dry Grasses starring Cannes best actress winner Merve Dizdar – both Oscar submissions this year – are among the international line-up at the upcoming 59th Chicago International Film Festival (October 11–22).
Alice Rohrwacher’s La Chimera and Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Pictures Of Ghosts are two other Cannes selections to feature in the roster, while Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist and Lina Soualem’s Bye Bye Tiberias both launched in Venice.
Aki Kaurismäki’s Cannes jury prize winner Fallen Leaves and Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s About Dry Grasses starring Cannes best actress winner Merve Dizdar – both Oscar submissions this year – are among the international line-up at the upcoming 59th Chicago International Film Festival (October 11–22).
Alice Rohrwacher’s La Chimera and Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Pictures Of Ghosts are two other Cannes selections to feature in the roster, while Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist and Lina Soualem’s Bye Bye Tiberias both launched in Venice.
- 9/14/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
A trio of teenage refugees try to escape from a detention center located in an absurdly remote area of northern Norway in the first trailer for A Happy Day, the new film from Letter to the King director Hisham Zaman.
The Hollywood Reporter received the exclusive first-look trailer for the dark comedy, which will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday, Sept. 11 in TIFF’s Centerpiece section.
Right away it’s clear this is not going to be a typical refugee tale. The first time we see the three teenage protagonists: Hamid (Salah Qadi), Aras (Ravand Ali Taha), and Ismail (Mohamed Salah), who live together at a refugee center for unaccompanied minors, they are talking about a dream one of them had of escape.
“The police were chasing me through the snow,” one recounts, “I saw a donkey. Suddenly my head popped out of the...
The Hollywood Reporter received the exclusive first-look trailer for the dark comedy, which will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday, Sept. 11 in TIFF’s Centerpiece section.
Right away it’s clear this is not going to be a typical refugee tale. The first time we see the three teenage protagonists: Hamid (Salah Qadi), Aras (Ravand Ali Taha), and Ismail (Mohamed Salah), who live together at a refugee center for unaccompanied minors, they are talking about a dream one of them had of escape.
“The police were chasing me through the snow,” one recounts, “I saw a donkey. Suddenly my head popped out of the...
- 9/7/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Zaman’s previous films ’Before Snowfall’ and ’Letter To The King’, both won the Best Nordic Film prize in Goteborg.
REinvent International Sales has boarded the Toronto world premiere A Happy Day directed by Hisham Zaman.
Zaman’s third feature, selected for TIFF Centerpiece, follows his earlier festival hits Before Snowfall and Letter To The King, which both won the Dragon award for Best Nordic Film in Goteborg.
A Happy Day is about three teenage boys stuck in a refugee camp in the frozen north of Norway who come up with a plan to escape to a better world. Their...
REinvent International Sales has boarded the Toronto world premiere A Happy Day directed by Hisham Zaman.
Zaman’s third feature, selected for TIFF Centerpiece, follows his earlier festival hits Before Snowfall and Letter To The King, which both won the Dragon award for Best Nordic Film in Goteborg.
A Happy Day is about three teenage boys stuck in a refugee camp in the frozen north of Norway who come up with a plan to escape to a better world. Their...
- 9/6/2023
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
The industry programme at the Norwegian festival included a focus on UK projects.
Two veryr different projects from female directors have been the talk of the industry at Haugesund’s New Nordic Films market this week.
Amanda Kernell won the pitching prize after the Co-Production Market presentation of her third feature film, The Curse - A Love Story while Thea Hvistendahl’s work in progress Handling The Undead, which reunites Renate Reinsve and Anders Danielsen Lie after The Worst Person in the World, hugely impressed buyers and festival programmers alike
The Curse will follow Kernell’s Venice 2016 premiere Sami Blood and Sundance 2020 selection Charter.
Two veryr different projects from female directors have been the talk of the industry at Haugesund’s New Nordic Films market this week.
Amanda Kernell won the pitching prize after the Co-Production Market presentation of her third feature film, The Curse - A Love Story while Thea Hvistendahl’s work in progress Handling The Undead, which reunites Renate Reinsve and Anders Danielsen Lie after The Worst Person in the World, hugely impressed buyers and festival programmers alike
The Curse will follow Kernell’s Venice 2016 premiere Sami Blood and Sundance 2020 selection Charter.
- 8/25/2023
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Auteurs Agnieszka Holland, Wim Wenders, Hamaguchi Ryusuke and Aki Kaurismaki are among the filmmakers featured in the Toronto International Film Festival’s (TIFF) Centrepiece program.
The strand, previously known as Contemporary World Cinema, which honors and celebrates global cinematic achievements, features 47 titles from filmmakers representing 45 countries.
TIFF has also revealed the additional lineup of galas, special presentations and documentaries, which feature star wattage from around the world including Tommy Lee Jones and Anil Kapoor.
“We are very excited to present the new Centrepiece program, a cinematic journey that transcends boundaries and embraces the art of human experience,” said Anita Lee, TIFF chief programming officer. “The rebranding of the TIFF program, formerly Contemporary World Cinema, is a reflection of the festival’s vision to provide an elevated platform for international cinema, acclaimed titles from festivals around the globe, highly anticipated premieres from Canadian and international talents, and the latest work of influential filmmaking luminaries.
The strand, previously known as Contemporary World Cinema, which honors and celebrates global cinematic achievements, features 47 titles from filmmakers representing 45 countries.
TIFF has also revealed the additional lineup of galas, special presentations and documentaries, which feature star wattage from around the world including Tommy Lee Jones and Anil Kapoor.
“We are very excited to present the new Centrepiece program, a cinematic journey that transcends boundaries and embraces the art of human experience,” said Anita Lee, TIFF chief programming officer. “The rebranding of the TIFF program, formerly Contemporary World Cinema, is a reflection of the festival’s vision to provide an elevated platform for international cinema, acclaimed titles from festivals around the globe, highly anticipated premieres from Canadian and international talents, and the latest work of influential filmmaking luminaries.
- 8/10/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Ahead of Toronto International Film Festival kicking off in less than a month, the festival announced more additions, including Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist, Close Your Eyes by Víctor Erice, Fallen Leaves by Aki Kaurismäki, Green Border by Agnieszka Holland, Perfect Days by Wim Wenders, About Dry Grasses by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, and more.
“We are very excited to present the new Centrepiece programme, a cinematic journey that transcends boundaries and embraces the art of human experience,” said Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer. “The rebranding of the TIFF programme, formerly Contemporary World Cinema, is a reflection of the Festival’s vision to provide an elevated platform for international cinema, acclaimed titles from festivals around the globe, highly anticipated premieres from Canadian and international talents, and the latest work of influential filmmaking luminaries.”
See the lineup below.
Centrepiece Programme 2023
100 Yards Xu Haofeng, Xu Junfeng | China
International Premiere
About...
“We are very excited to present the new Centrepiece programme, a cinematic journey that transcends boundaries and embraces the art of human experience,” said Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer. “The rebranding of the TIFF programme, formerly Contemporary World Cinema, is a reflection of the Festival’s vision to provide an elevated platform for international cinema, acclaimed titles from festivals around the globe, highly anticipated premieres from Canadian and international talents, and the latest work of influential filmmaking luminaries.”
See the lineup below.
Centrepiece Programme 2023
100 Yards Xu Haofeng, Xu Junfeng | China
International Premiere
About...
- 8/10/2023
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
The programme comprises 47 films from 45 countries.
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has unveiled the line-up for its Centrepiece programme, with 47 titles screening from filmmakers representing 45 countries.
Included in the programme (previously known as Contemporary World Cinema) are Victor Erice’s Close Your Eyes, getting its North American premiere; Aki Kaurismaki’s Fallen Leaves, receiving its Canadian premiere; and Agnieszka Holland’s Green Border, a North American premiere.
Scroll down for the full list of Centrepiece titles
TIFF also announced additional titles for its Galas, Special Presentations and Documentaries programmes, among them the world premiere of Brian Helgeland’s Finestkind.
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has unveiled the line-up for its Centrepiece programme, with 47 titles screening from filmmakers representing 45 countries.
Included in the programme (previously known as Contemporary World Cinema) are Victor Erice’s Close Your Eyes, getting its North American premiere; Aki Kaurismaki’s Fallen Leaves, receiving its Canadian premiere; and Agnieszka Holland’s Green Border, a North American premiere.
Scroll down for the full list of Centrepiece titles
TIFF also announced additional titles for its Galas, Special Presentations and Documentaries programmes, among them the world premiere of Brian Helgeland’s Finestkind.
- 8/10/2023
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
The Toronto International Film Festival has added 59 more films to the lineup of its 2023 festival, including 47 international films in the Centrepiece program, which in previous years was known as Contemporary World Cinema. New films were also added to the Galas, Special Presentations and Documentary sections.
World premieres among the new selections include “Finestkind,” a crime thriller from Brian Helgeland (screenwriter of “L.A. Confidential”) starring Tommy Lee Jones and Ben Foster; The Movie Teller,” a film set in Chile starring Berenice Bejo from “An Education” director Lone Scherfig; and Jessica Yu’s “Quiz Lady,” with Sandra Oh and Awkwafina.
The Centrepiece selections include a number of films from May’s Cannes Film Festival, among them Wim Wenders’ “Perfect Days,” Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s “About Dry Grasses,” Aki Kaurismaki’s “Fallen Leaves,” Ramata-Toulaye Sy’s “Banel & Adama,” Amjad Al Rasheed’s “Inshallah a Boy,” Joanna Arnow’s “The Feeling That the...
World premieres among the new selections include “Finestkind,” a crime thriller from Brian Helgeland (screenwriter of “L.A. Confidential”) starring Tommy Lee Jones and Ben Foster; The Movie Teller,” a film set in Chile starring Berenice Bejo from “An Education” director Lone Scherfig; and Jessica Yu’s “Quiz Lady,” with Sandra Oh and Awkwafina.
The Centrepiece selections include a number of films from May’s Cannes Film Festival, among them Wim Wenders’ “Perfect Days,” Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s “About Dry Grasses,” Aki Kaurismaki’s “Fallen Leaves,” Ramata-Toulaye Sy’s “Banel & Adama,” Amjad Al Rasheed’s “Inshallah a Boy,” Joanna Arnow’s “The Feeling That the...
- 8/10/2023
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The Toronto International Film Festival continues to expand its 2023 lineup with 47 films from 45 countries in the Centerpiece program, previously known as Contemporary World Cinema. The highlights include Cannes Film Festival winners “Fallen Leaves” from Aki Kaurismäki and “Perfect Days” from Wim Wenders as well as Agnieszka Holland’s Venice-bound “Green Border.” See the full lineup below.
“We are very excited to present the new Centrepiece program, a cinematic journey that transcends boundaries and embraces the art of human experience,” said Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer, in an official statement. “The rebranding of the TIFF program, formerly Contemporary World Cinema, is a reflection of the festival’s vision to provide an elevated platform for international cinema, for acclaimed titles from festivals around the globe, highly anticipated premieres from Canadian and international talents, and the latest work of influential filmmaking luminaries.”
Centerpiece Program 2023
About Dry Grasses (Kuru Otlar Üstüne) Nuri Bilge Ceylan...
“We are very excited to present the new Centrepiece program, a cinematic journey that transcends boundaries and embraces the art of human experience,” said Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer, in an official statement. “The rebranding of the TIFF program, formerly Contemporary World Cinema, is a reflection of the festival’s vision to provide an elevated platform for international cinema, for acclaimed titles from festivals around the globe, highly anticipated premieres from Canadian and international talents, and the latest work of influential filmmaking luminaries.”
Centerpiece Program 2023
About Dry Grasses (Kuru Otlar Üstüne) Nuri Bilge Ceylan...
- 8/10/2023
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Despite the ongoing SAG-AFTRA actors and WGA writers strikes, the Toronto Film Festival continues to turn up the star wattage for its 48th edition, adding movies with Dakota Johnson, Bérénice Bejo, Awkwafina, Sandra Oh and Mads Mikkelsen to its lineup on Thursday.
For the Gala section, TIFF unveiled the A-list heavy crime drama Finestkind from Brian Helgeland, the Oscar-winning writer-director behind Mystic River and L.A. Confidential; and A Knight’s Tale, which stars Ben Foster, Jenna Ortega, Tommy Lee Jones and Toby Wallace.
Also headed to Roy Thomson Hall is the South Korean drama A Normal Family, directed by Hur Jin-ho, the Korean auteur who in the past premiered Dangerous Liaisons and April Snow in Toronto. TIFF earlier tapped fellow Korean director Ryoo Seung-wan’s Smugglers for its Special Presentations sidebar, and has now bumped that drama up to a gala screening in Toronto after a world bow in Locarno.
For the Gala section, TIFF unveiled the A-list heavy crime drama Finestkind from Brian Helgeland, the Oscar-winning writer-director behind Mystic River and L.A. Confidential; and A Knight’s Tale, which stars Ben Foster, Jenna Ortega, Tommy Lee Jones and Toby Wallace.
Also headed to Roy Thomson Hall is the South Korean drama A Normal Family, directed by Hur Jin-ho, the Korean auteur who in the past premiered Dangerous Liaisons and April Snow in Toronto. TIFF earlier tapped fellow Korean director Ryoo Seung-wan’s Smugglers for its Special Presentations sidebar, and has now bumped that drama up to a gala screening in Toronto after a world bow in Locarno.
- 8/10/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Haugesund’s New Nordic Films market runs August 23-26.
Haugesund’s New Nordic Films market has unveiled the works in progress presentations for its 2022 edition, running August 23-26.
The line-up includes new films from the likes of Pathfinder director Nils Gaup’s new drama The Riot (Sulis), sold by REinvent and set against a workers revolt in 1907 Lapland; The Worst Person In The World producer Thomas Robsahm, who presents Aurora Gossé’s Norwegian youth film Dancing Queen, sold by Level K; and Berlinale prize-winning director Selma Vilhunen’s new Finnish production, polyamory drama Four Little Adults.
Scroll down for full...
Haugesund’s New Nordic Films market has unveiled the works in progress presentations for its 2022 edition, running August 23-26.
The line-up includes new films from the likes of Pathfinder director Nils Gaup’s new drama The Riot (Sulis), sold by REinvent and set against a workers revolt in 1907 Lapland; The Worst Person In The World producer Thomas Robsahm, who presents Aurora Gossé’s Norwegian youth film Dancing Queen, sold by Level K; and Berlinale prize-winning director Selma Vilhunen’s new Finnish production, polyamory drama Four Little Adults.
Scroll down for full...
- 8/12/2022
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
More than 300 industry delegates from top shingles including Warner Bros Discovery, Viaplay, Germany’s Constantin Film, The Match Factory and France’s TF1 Studio are expected on the shores of Haugesund, Norway, over Aug. 23-26, for Scandinavia’s major film showcase, New Nordic Films.
Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or winner “Triangle of Sadness” will both open the film confab festivities and screen alongside 18 new Nordic finished films at the market. But for the avid buyers and programmers of Nordic content, the biggest draw will be the 18 works in progress – half of them looking for sales and distribution – and 23 pics in development available for co-production and financing.
“We’ve noticed a shift in recent years, with buyers and sellers favouring the Works in Progress and Nordic Coproduction Market over the market screenings. These seem to be more valuable for the industry,” said Gyda Velvin Myklebust, head of New Nordic Films.
Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or winner “Triangle of Sadness” will both open the film confab festivities and screen alongside 18 new Nordic finished films at the market. But for the avid buyers and programmers of Nordic content, the biggest draw will be the 18 works in progress – half of them looking for sales and distribution – and 23 pics in development available for co-production and financing.
“We’ve noticed a shift in recent years, with buyers and sellers favouring the Works in Progress and Nordic Coproduction Market over the market screenings. These seem to be more valuable for the industry,” said Gyda Velvin Myklebust, head of New Nordic Films.
- 8/12/2022
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Upcoming features from Margarethe Von Trotta and Fernando Trueba also receive support.
Co-productions from Belgian director Lukas Dhont, Canada’s Brandon Cronenberg and UK filmmaker Fyzal Boulifa are among 49 selected for support in the latest Eurimages funding round.
Dhont, whose transgender dancer drama Girl won the Camera d’Or at Cannes in 2018, received €300,000 toward his anticipated second feature, Close.
The Belgium-France-Netherlands co-production centres on two 13-year-old boys who have always been incredibly close but drift apart after their relationship is questioned by schoolmates. When tragedy strikes, one is forced to confront why he distanced himself from his closest friend.
German...
Co-productions from Belgian director Lukas Dhont, Canada’s Brandon Cronenberg and UK filmmaker Fyzal Boulifa are among 49 selected for support in the latest Eurimages funding round.
Dhont, whose transgender dancer drama Girl won the Camera d’Or at Cannes in 2018, received €300,000 toward his anticipated second feature, Close.
The Belgium-France-Netherlands co-production centres on two 13-year-old boys who have always been incredibly close but drift apart after their relationship is questioned by schoolmates. When tragedy strikes, one is forced to confront why he distanced himself from his closest friend.
German...
- 6/29/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Upcoming features from Margarethe Von Trotta and Fernando Trueba also receive support.
Co-productions from Belgian director Lukas Dhont, Canada’s Brandon Cronenberg and UK filmmaker Fyzal Boulifa are among 49 selected for support in the latest Eurimages funding round.
Dhont, whose transgender dancer drama Girl won the Camera d’Or at Cannes in 2018, received €300,000 toward his anticipated second feature, Close.
The Belgium-France-Netherlands co-production centres on two 13-year-old boys who have always been incredibly close but drift apart after their relationship is questioned by schoolmates. When tragedy strikes, one is forced to confront why he distanced himself from his closest friend.
German...
Co-productions from Belgian director Lukas Dhont, Canada’s Brandon Cronenberg and UK filmmaker Fyzal Boulifa are among 49 selected for support in the latest Eurimages funding round.
Dhont, whose transgender dancer drama Girl won the Camera d’Or at Cannes in 2018, received €300,000 toward his anticipated second feature, Close.
The Belgium-France-Netherlands co-production centres on two 13-year-old boys who have always been incredibly close but drift apart after their relationship is questioned by schoolmates. When tragedy strikes, one is forced to confront why he distanced himself from his closest friend.
German...
- 6/29/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Letter To The King and Before Snowfall director Hisham Zaman has two films in post and plans to shoot in Armenia in 2017.
Kurdish-Norwegian filmmaker Hisham Zaman – who previously made features Before Snowfall and Letter To The King — is busy with two films in post-production, and one Armenia-set feature likely to shoot in 2017.
The Armenia-set film, which is in development, is “a mafia story but also a love story,” he said. It will shoot in Russia, Armenia and possibly also Turkey.
The film is set in Armenia just after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early ’90s.
“This film is a genre film but also follows people facing big change in the region. It focuses on the human aspect after the collapse.”
His new 11-minute short film The Boy In The Picture will be ready in April or May. He describes it as a “simple story, a journey of a young boy with his mother...
Kurdish-Norwegian filmmaker Hisham Zaman – who previously made features Before Snowfall and Letter To The King — is busy with two films in post-production, and one Armenia-set feature likely to shoot in 2017.
The Armenia-set film, which is in development, is “a mafia story but also a love story,” he said. It will shoot in Russia, Armenia and possibly also Turkey.
The film is set in Armenia just after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early ’90s.
“This film is a genre film but also follows people facing big change in the region. It focuses on the human aspect after the collapse.”
His new 11-minute short film The Boy In The Picture will be ready in April or May. He describes it as a “simple story, a journey of a young boy with his mother...
- 3/7/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Netflix, Sundance and Efm are among new delegates attending the second edition of the Dfi’s Qumra.
The Doha Film Institute today launched the second edition of Qumra, which is dedicated to supporting Dfi-backed first- and second-time filmmakers on both a creative and practical level.
Festival directors, producers, sales executives, fund managers, script consultants, distributors and other experts attend to meet with and mentor the new talents, discuss their forthcoming projects and see works in progress. This year’s emerging filmmakers represent 33 projects from 19 countries.
Returning industry delegates attending Qumra include Cameron Bailey from Toronto, Mirsad Purivatra from Sarajevo, Melbourne-based script consultant Claire Dobbs, Christophe Leparc of Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, Selim El Azar from Gulf Films, Gianluca Chakra of Front Row, Paul Baboudjian of Screen Institute Beirut, French producer Marie-Pierre Macia of Mpm Film, Frederic Corvez of Urban Distribution International, and representatives from Wild Bunch.
New delegates joining the second edition include Funa Maduka from Netflix, producer...
The Doha Film Institute today launched the second edition of Qumra, which is dedicated to supporting Dfi-backed first- and second-time filmmakers on both a creative and practical level.
Festival directors, producers, sales executives, fund managers, script consultants, distributors and other experts attend to meet with and mentor the new talents, discuss their forthcoming projects and see works in progress. This year’s emerging filmmakers represent 33 projects from 19 countries.
Returning industry delegates attending Qumra include Cameron Bailey from Toronto, Mirsad Purivatra from Sarajevo, Melbourne-based script consultant Claire Dobbs, Christophe Leparc of Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, Selim El Azar from Gulf Films, Gianluca Chakra of Front Row, Paul Baboudjian of Screen Institute Beirut, French producer Marie-Pierre Macia of Mpm Film, Frederic Corvez of Urban Distribution International, and representatives from Wild Bunch.
New delegates joining the second edition include Funa Maduka from Netflix, producer...
- 3/4/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
The Lesson by co-directors Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov was the big winner at this year’s Sofia International Film Festival in Bulgaria.
The duo’s feature debut became the second Bulgarian feature in Siff’s 19-year history to receive the international jury’s Grand Prix after Dragomir Sholev’s Shelter in 2011.
The Lesson also picked up the Audience Award, the Fipresci International Critics’ Prize and the award for the Best Bulgarian Feature Film.
Accepting the award, Valchanov pointed to the importance of the Sofia Meetings where The Lesson had originally been pitched and said that this event should be ¨an example¨ to the Bulgarian state to develop a long-term and sustainable film policy for the future.
The sentiment was echoed by international jury president Stephan Komanderev (The Judgement) when he presented the ¨Sofia City Of Film¨ Grand Prix to the young directors.
The Lesson, which is handled internationally by Wide Management, premiered last year...
The duo’s feature debut became the second Bulgarian feature in Siff’s 19-year history to receive the international jury’s Grand Prix after Dragomir Sholev’s Shelter in 2011.
The Lesson also picked up the Audience Award, the Fipresci International Critics’ Prize and the award for the Best Bulgarian Feature Film.
Accepting the award, Valchanov pointed to the importance of the Sofia Meetings where The Lesson had originally been pitched and said that this event should be ¨an example¨ to the Bulgarian state to develop a long-term and sustainable film policy for the future.
The sentiment was echoed by international jury president Stephan Komanderev (The Judgement) when he presented the ¨Sofia City Of Film¨ Grand Prix to the young directors.
The Lesson, which is handled internationally by Wide Management, premiered last year...
- 3/16/2015
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Khadija Al-Salami’s I Am Nojoom, Age 10 And Divorced was awarded best fiction film in the Muhr Feature competition at this year’s Dubai International Film Festival (Diff), while Nujoom Al Ghanem’s Nearby Sky won the award for best non-fiction film.
Al-Salami’s Yemen-uae-France co-production is based on the true story of a Yemeni teenager who fought to escape an arranged marriage to a much older man.
Al Ghanem’s Nearby Sky is about a female Emirati camel owner who ignores the disapproval of local society to enter her camels into beauty pageants and auctions. Based in the UAE, Al Ghanem has previously made several award-winning documentaries.
The Jury Prize in the Muhr Feature competition went to Salim Abu Jabal’s documentary Roshmia, about an old couple who face losing their home due the building of a road between Mount Carmel and the sea. Hisham Zaman’s Letter To The King, Yacine Mohamed...
Al-Salami’s Yemen-uae-France co-production is based on the true story of a Yemeni teenager who fought to escape an arranged marriage to a much older man.
Al Ghanem’s Nearby Sky is about a female Emirati camel owner who ignores the disapproval of local society to enter her camels into beauty pageants and auctions. Based in the UAE, Al Ghanem has previously made several award-winning documentaries.
The Jury Prize in the Muhr Feature competition went to Salim Abu Jabal’s documentary Roshmia, about an old couple who face losing their home due the building of a road between Mount Carmel and the sea. Hisham Zaman’s Letter To The King, Yacine Mohamed...
- 12/16/2014
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Titles include the world premiere of thriller I’m Dead and the new feature from Egyptian director Daoud Abdel Sayed.
The Dubai International Film Festival (Dec 10-17) has unveiled the competition line-up for the Muhr Feature Awards.
The awards, first launched in 2006, aims to recognise artistic excellence from within the Arab world.
Titles include:
Dolphins, Waleed Al ShehhiI’m Dead, Yacine Mohamed BenelhadjI am Nujoom, Aged 10 and Divorced, Khadija Al-SalamiThe Sea is Behind, Hicham LasriIn This Land Lay Graves of Mine, Reine MitriA Letter to the King, Hisham ZamanThe Narrow Frame of Midnight, Tala HadidThe Council,Yahya AlabdallahOut of the Ordinary, Daoud Abdel Sayed
Dolphins is directed by Waleed Al Shehhi, who secured funding from Diff’s post-production fund Enjaaz in cooperation with Watani and Filmi before going on to win the Iwc Filmmaker Award during the 2013 edition of the Festival.
In its world premiere, Dolphins follows the intertwined stories of three people within a 24 hour period...
The Dubai International Film Festival (Dec 10-17) has unveiled the competition line-up for the Muhr Feature Awards.
The awards, first launched in 2006, aims to recognise artistic excellence from within the Arab world.
Titles include:
Dolphins, Waleed Al ShehhiI’m Dead, Yacine Mohamed BenelhadjI am Nujoom, Aged 10 and Divorced, Khadija Al-SalamiThe Sea is Behind, Hicham LasriIn This Land Lay Graves of Mine, Reine MitriA Letter to the King, Hisham ZamanThe Narrow Frame of Midnight, Tala HadidThe Council,Yahya AlabdallahOut of the Ordinary, Daoud Abdel Sayed
Dolphins is directed by Waleed Al Shehhi, who secured funding from Diff’s post-production fund Enjaaz in cooperation with Watani and Filmi before going on to win the Iwc Filmmaker Award during the 2013 edition of the Festival.
In its world premiere, Dolphins follows the intertwined stories of three people within a 24 hour period...
- 11/3/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Iceland’s Oscar submission takes top prize in Lübeck; Edward Snowden gives video introduction to Citizenfour at Dok Leipzig; arson attack hits Lgbt screening in Kyiv.
Baldvin Baldvin Zophoníasson’s Life In A Fishbowl was the big winner at this year’s Nordic Film Days in Lübeck, taking home the Ndr Film Prize, worth $15,655 (€12,500)
Lead actor Thorsteinn Bachmann accepted the award in person from the five-person jury, which said it was “a touching and hopeful film about seemingly hopeless situations”.
The co-production between Iceland, Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic is Iceland’s submission for the Best Foreign-Language Film Oscar and is being handled internationally by Films Boutique.
Special mentions were also given to Hisham Zaman’s Letter To The King (Norway) and J-p Valkeapää’s They Have Escaped (Finland) by the jury comprising actors Victoria Trauttmansdorff and Niklas Osterloh, producer Christoph Thoke, Ndr commissioning editor Diana Schulte-Kellinghaus and Finnish film-maker Kirsi Marie Liimatainen.
Festival-goers voted for...
Baldvin Baldvin Zophoníasson’s Life In A Fishbowl was the big winner at this year’s Nordic Film Days in Lübeck, taking home the Ndr Film Prize, worth $15,655 (€12,500)
Lead actor Thorsteinn Bachmann accepted the award in person from the five-person jury, which said it was “a touching and hopeful film about seemingly hopeless situations”.
The co-production between Iceland, Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic is Iceland’s submission for the Best Foreign-Language Film Oscar and is being handled internationally by Films Boutique.
Special mentions were also given to Hisham Zaman’s Letter To The King (Norway) and J-p Valkeapää’s They Have Escaped (Finland) by the jury comprising actors Victoria Trauttmansdorff and Niklas Osterloh, producer Christoph Thoke, Ndr commissioning editor Diana Schulte-Kellinghaus and Finnish film-maker Kirsi Marie Liimatainen.
Festival-goers voted for...
- 11/3/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Irrfan Khan, Christina Voros and Catherine Dussart to preside over feature competition juries; seven world premieres of Arab films in feature competitions.
Abu Dhabi Film Festival (Oct 23-Nov 1) has released the names of its jury members, who will select the award winners of this year’s Adff competitions.
This year’s Narrative Features jury led by Mumbai-based actor Irrfan Khan (The Lunchbox, Life of Pi) will be rounded out by Algerian novelist and academic Waciny Laredj, award-winning English writer-director Steven Shainberg, Australian film director Cate Shortland and Palestinian actor Ali Suliman.
The panel evaluating the New Horizons section led by Paris-based film producer Catherine Dussart (The Missing Picture) includes Syrian actor Bassel Al Khayat, Moroccan filmmaker Leila Kilani, Geneva-based Indian filmmaker Anup Singh and film critic Charles Tesson, artistic director of Critics’ Week at the Cannes Film Festival.
Heading the Documentary Features jury is Brooklyn-based director and cinematographer Christina Voros. The other jury...
Abu Dhabi Film Festival (Oct 23-Nov 1) has released the names of its jury members, who will select the award winners of this year’s Adff competitions.
This year’s Narrative Features jury led by Mumbai-based actor Irrfan Khan (The Lunchbox, Life of Pi) will be rounded out by Algerian novelist and academic Waciny Laredj, award-winning English writer-director Steven Shainberg, Australian film director Cate Shortland and Palestinian actor Ali Suliman.
The panel evaluating the New Horizons section led by Paris-based film producer Catherine Dussart (The Missing Picture) includes Syrian actor Bassel Al Khayat, Moroccan filmmaker Leila Kilani, Geneva-based Indian filmmaker Anup Singh and film critic Charles Tesson, artistic director of Critics’ Week at the Cannes Film Festival.
Heading the Documentary Features jury is Brooklyn-based director and cinematographer Christina Voros. The other jury...
- 10/20/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
We travel now overseas to two of my all-time favorite places on Earth. I lived in Norway many years ago (and went back for the first time just last summer for my birthday). And Iceland is just about my favorite vacation spot these days. Well, okay, I've only been there twice but I'm eager for a third. It's so otherworldly beautiful. If you saw Land Ho! this summer (reviewed), that sweet comedy is basically one long commercial for booking a flight to Reykjavik, post-haste.
Norway
The land of the midnight sun has chosen three finalists for consideration for Oscar submission and I write this prematurely since they'll name their official pick tomorrow. I'll be travelling to Toronto so you might hear before I do. The race is between these three films: Bent Hamer's 1001 Grams, which premieres in Toronto, a romantic drama about a female scientist who travels to Paris...
Norway
The land of the midnight sun has chosen three finalists for consideration for Oscar submission and I write this prematurely since they'll name their official pick tomorrow. I'll be travelling to Toronto so you might hear before I do. The race is between these three films: Bent Hamer's 1001 Grams, which premieres in Toronto, a romantic drama about a female scientist who travels to Paris...
- 9/2/2014
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Blind, 1001 Grams and Letter to the King considered for submission for the Best Foreign-Language Feature.
The Norwegian Film Institute has shortlisted three features for the nomination as Best Foreign-Language Feature at the 87th Academy Awards.
The titles, selected from 32 premieres, are Eskil Vogt’s Blind, Bent Hamer’s 1001 Grams and Hisham Zaman’s Letter to the King (Brev til kongen). The Norwegian committee will make its final decision on Sept 3.
Sundance entry Blind centres on a woman who recently lost her sight and retreats to the safety of her apartment, but her deepest fears and repressed fantasies soon take over. Vogt’s feature debut won four Amandas earlier this month and also picked up prizes at Sundance and Berlin.
1001 Grams will have its world premiere in Toronto before its local release on Sept 26. Produced, directed and written by Hamer, for his own BulBul Film, it follows a recently divorced, work-obsessed woman scientist in her late 30s who...
The Norwegian Film Institute has shortlisted three features for the nomination as Best Foreign-Language Feature at the 87th Academy Awards.
The titles, selected from 32 premieres, are Eskil Vogt’s Blind, Bent Hamer’s 1001 Grams and Hisham Zaman’s Letter to the King (Brev til kongen). The Norwegian committee will make its final decision on Sept 3.
Sundance entry Blind centres on a woman who recently lost her sight and retreats to the safety of her apartment, but her deepest fears and repressed fantasies soon take over. Vogt’s feature debut won four Amandas earlier this month and also picked up prizes at Sundance and Berlin.
1001 Grams will have its world premiere in Toronto before its local release on Sept 26. Produced, directed and written by Hamer, for his own BulBul Film, it follows a recently divorced, work-obsessed woman scientist in her late 30s who...
- 8/28/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
A Thousand Times Good Night, Blind take spoils at Amanda Awards.Scroll down for full list of winners
Norwegian director Erik Poppe’s A Thousand Times Good Night, starring French actress Juliette Binoche, took home Best Norwegian Feature and two other prizes at Saturday’s (Aug 16) Amanda Awards in Haugesund.
The drama, which had already won the Special Jury Grand Prix in Montreal and Founders Award in Chicago, also scooped Norwegian national film awards for Best Cinematography (John Christian Rosenlund) and Best Score (Armand Amar).
Binoche stars alongside Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as a war reporter torn between her job and her family.
The other big winner on the night was Eskil Vogt’s feature debut Blind which collected four awards, including Best Director and Best Actress (Ellen Dorrit Petersen).
Blind, about a woman coming to terms with blindness, previously took the World Cinema Scriptwriting award in Sundance and the Europa Cinemas Label in Berlin.
Televised by Norway...
Norwegian director Erik Poppe’s A Thousand Times Good Night, starring French actress Juliette Binoche, took home Best Norwegian Feature and two other prizes at Saturday’s (Aug 16) Amanda Awards in Haugesund.
The drama, which had already won the Special Jury Grand Prix in Montreal and Founders Award in Chicago, also scooped Norwegian national film awards for Best Cinematography (John Christian Rosenlund) and Best Score (Armand Amar).
Binoche stars alongside Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as a war reporter torn between her job and her family.
The other big winner on the night was Eskil Vogt’s feature debut Blind which collected four awards, including Best Director and Best Actress (Ellen Dorrit Petersen).
Blind, about a woman coming to terms with blindness, previously took the World Cinema Scriptwriting award in Sundance and the Europa Cinemas Label in Berlin.
Televised by Norway...
- 8/18/2014
- by jornrossing@aol.com (Jorn Rossing Jensen)
- ScreenDaily
Letter to the King
Written by Hisham Zaman and Mehmet Aktas
Directed by Hisham Zaman
Norway/UAE, 2014
Kurdish-Norwegian director Hisham Zaman’s second feature is a well-observed ensemble piece, focusing on five refugees who are given the chance to visit Oslo for the day. They live comfortably in a nearby centre but their uncertain status restricts their freedom and makes them unable to move on with their lives.
Each character’s individual story represents an attempt to make a clean break from their situation; they seek legitimacy and progress, in various forms, where it has otherwise been denied. Apart from one notable exception, the stories are commonplace, normal, emphasising that, despite their troubled histories, these people find themselves in an arbitrary position, brought together by their nation’s cruel fate.
The title, Letter to the King, comes from the story of Mirza (Ali Bag Salimi), an 83-year-old Kurd who’s...
Written by Hisham Zaman and Mehmet Aktas
Directed by Hisham Zaman
Norway/UAE, 2014
Kurdish-Norwegian director Hisham Zaman’s second feature is a well-observed ensemble piece, focusing on five refugees who are given the chance to visit Oslo for the day. They live comfortably in a nearby centre but their uncertain status restricts their freedom and makes them unable to move on with their lives.
Each character’s individual story represents an attempt to make a clean break from their situation; they seek legitimacy and progress, in various forms, where it has otherwise been denied. Apart from one notable exception, the stories are commonplace, normal, emphasising that, despite their troubled histories, these people find themselves in an arbitrary position, brought together by their nation’s cruel fate.
The title, Letter to the King, comes from the story of Mirza (Ali Bag Salimi), an 83-year-old Kurd who’s...
- 6/22/2014
- by Rob Dickie
- SoundOnSight
Our International Sales Agent (Isa) of the Day coverage resumed for this year's Cannes Film Festival. We feature successful, upcoming, innovative and trailblazing agents from around the world (during and after the festival) and cover the latest trends in sales and distribution. Beyond the numbers and deals, this segment will also share inspirational and unique stories of how these individuals have evolved and paved their way in the industry, and what they envision for the new waves in global cinema.
New Morning Films is a relatively new sales company based in Paris that represents exquisite art house films including "Letter to the King" and "Before Snowfall" (both by Hisham Zaman), which both won The Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film at the Goteborg Film Festival in 2013 and 2014. Its founder Germain Labeille has years of experience to draw from, and it all began as a child in Melbourne, Australia when the chairman of Village Roadshow sparked his interest in cinema by inviting him to private screenings. As an adult, he studied acting, production, and eventually worked in film sales for Rezo, Jour2Fete, and Albany Films International.
What's unique about Germain is his experience living in Poland for several years, which gave him fluency in the country's language and culture. This intercultural experience places him ahead of most when it comes to representing Polish and Eastern European talent, and has helped him to take on the Polish documentary "Minkowski | Saga" by Rafael Lewandowski, the feature "Little Crushes" by Aleksandra Gowin & Ireneusz Grzyb, and the Slovenian Film "Good to Go" by Matevz Luzar.
Germain shares his experience, his passion to help new directors, and his intercultural perspective on doing business:
How did you first get into film?
The father of my best friend in Melbourne was the chairman of Village Roadshow. I first met him when he was developing the video rental business in Australia back in the 80s. He would invite me to private screenings and hired me to sell ice cream and popcorn, while letting me eat the ice cream as a reward on the side. Each time I took the plane to Melbourne, he would organize a stopover in Hong Kong and welcome me as a guest to his studios. It made for a very wonderful childhood. When I was 11, he said to me, "Germain, one day you'll also work in the cinema industry," and I always kept it in mind. That's probably why I'm here, in a way.
How did you start New Morning Films?
My first job in sales (apart from selling ice cream) was with Rezo for eight months. I started out as an assistant. That's where I learned this industry is about promoting and defending creative voices that need help to get out there, and you need to be passionate to do that.
My next job was with a distribution company specialized in art house films called Jour2Fete, and then I went on to open up international sales for Albany Films International. Nearly a year ago, I moved on and opened my own company. This is how New Morning Films was born.
How's your first year of business going?
It's going well, because of all these contacts I've built over the years with other sales companies. People on the major festival circuit have started to know me, so it's much easier. The main thing in this industry is to have the contacts. If you don't have them, it's extremely difficult.
What makes New Morning Films welcoming to its clients?
My idea is to promote new directors that don't know how to get the ball rolling with their films. I come in with my contacts and experience to expose their films in ways they can't do on their own.
I work very close with producers, and we move together. I don't disappear once the agreement is signed, and we collaborate to show these films because the business is tough right now. There's a distribution revolution going on, and the question is how to succeed in getting these young directors out there - especially with theatrical distribution going down.
What is the biggest challenge of working with first time directors?
The challenge with young producers and directors is that they have extremely high expectations, and you have to help them find the balance. They can make fantastic films, but this is a competitive world. Some think they're going to win awards at every festival, and become acclaimed overnight. In a way, it's very understandable, because they've put so much time, money, and soul into their films. The main goal of first time films is to be seen as much as possible. Maybe it won't be released everywhere, but it's a sure fire way to get people talking.
Please talk about the New Morning Films Slate.
I have eight films in my care, and they've all done really well at gaining awards and attention at festivals. They're from all over the world: from Canada ("Une Jeune Fille-a Journey" by Catherine Martin), the USA, Poland, Slovenia, Spain ("Violet" by Luiso Berdejo) Germany, Scandinavia ("Princess" by Arto Halonen) and Kurdistan. I also like following the careers of the directors; I'm lucky enough to have two films by Hisham Zaman ("Letter to the King" and "Before Snowfall"), who won the Tiger Award in Goteborg two years in a row. This is the first time it's ever happened to a director. All his films talk about the cultural differences and difficulties that the Kurdistan people encounter in places like Germany and Scandinavia.
How do you approach the challenges of doing business between multiple countries and cultures?
Every country has a certain way of doing business, and it helps to know about it before you dive in. With China for example, it's extremely difficult to release a film there, because there's a lot of censorship that you have to consider. Due to this difficulty, there are very few European and American art house films that succeed in breaking into the Chinese market.
Every country and culture has its stereotypes, in which there is some truth. The Americans go straight to the point. They're very pragmatic, and the contracts are very long! With the Russians, it can take longer to get answers, and their organization is different. Really, it is a question of observation and listening. It comes from experience, and learning how to deal with them. As for the Spanish, the film makers are very passionate, so it's important not to let their excitement overwhelm you... even if it turns into anger. At the end of the day, you have to do your best to be aware of how people think, and genuinely reach an understanding with them.
Learn about the New Morning Films catalog here.
More about New Morning Films:
New Morning Films is a new independent sales company based in Paris, France. It is handled by Germain Labeille, who formerly managed Albany Films International after working at Rezo and Jour2Fete, a French quality Art House distributor. Nmf's editorial line is dedicated to the promotion of upscale Art House, and Indie Films by gifted and promising directors.
In order to build up a close and transparent work relationship with the producers and directors, our catalogue will privilege quality over quantity with no more than six films a year.
Besides Berlin and Cannes, the company will attend key markets and festivals including Warsaw and Thessaloniki to seek out rising talents.
Nmf's ultimate goal is to make use of all means of communication and innovative networks to stimulate emerging talents and optimize film visibility.
New Morning Films is a relatively new sales company based in Paris that represents exquisite art house films including "Letter to the King" and "Before Snowfall" (both by Hisham Zaman), which both won The Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film at the Goteborg Film Festival in 2013 and 2014. Its founder Germain Labeille has years of experience to draw from, and it all began as a child in Melbourne, Australia when the chairman of Village Roadshow sparked his interest in cinema by inviting him to private screenings. As an adult, he studied acting, production, and eventually worked in film sales for Rezo, Jour2Fete, and Albany Films International.
What's unique about Germain is his experience living in Poland for several years, which gave him fluency in the country's language and culture. This intercultural experience places him ahead of most when it comes to representing Polish and Eastern European talent, and has helped him to take on the Polish documentary "Minkowski | Saga" by Rafael Lewandowski, the feature "Little Crushes" by Aleksandra Gowin & Ireneusz Grzyb, and the Slovenian Film "Good to Go" by Matevz Luzar.
Germain shares his experience, his passion to help new directors, and his intercultural perspective on doing business:
How did you first get into film?
The father of my best friend in Melbourne was the chairman of Village Roadshow. I first met him when he was developing the video rental business in Australia back in the 80s. He would invite me to private screenings and hired me to sell ice cream and popcorn, while letting me eat the ice cream as a reward on the side. Each time I took the plane to Melbourne, he would organize a stopover in Hong Kong and welcome me as a guest to his studios. It made for a very wonderful childhood. When I was 11, he said to me, "Germain, one day you'll also work in the cinema industry," and I always kept it in mind. That's probably why I'm here, in a way.
How did you start New Morning Films?
My first job in sales (apart from selling ice cream) was with Rezo for eight months. I started out as an assistant. That's where I learned this industry is about promoting and defending creative voices that need help to get out there, and you need to be passionate to do that.
My next job was with a distribution company specialized in art house films called Jour2Fete, and then I went on to open up international sales for Albany Films International. Nearly a year ago, I moved on and opened my own company. This is how New Morning Films was born.
How's your first year of business going?
It's going well, because of all these contacts I've built over the years with other sales companies. People on the major festival circuit have started to know me, so it's much easier. The main thing in this industry is to have the contacts. If you don't have them, it's extremely difficult.
What makes New Morning Films welcoming to its clients?
My idea is to promote new directors that don't know how to get the ball rolling with their films. I come in with my contacts and experience to expose their films in ways they can't do on their own.
I work very close with producers, and we move together. I don't disappear once the agreement is signed, and we collaborate to show these films because the business is tough right now. There's a distribution revolution going on, and the question is how to succeed in getting these young directors out there - especially with theatrical distribution going down.
What is the biggest challenge of working with first time directors?
The challenge with young producers and directors is that they have extremely high expectations, and you have to help them find the balance. They can make fantastic films, but this is a competitive world. Some think they're going to win awards at every festival, and become acclaimed overnight. In a way, it's very understandable, because they've put so much time, money, and soul into their films. The main goal of first time films is to be seen as much as possible. Maybe it won't be released everywhere, but it's a sure fire way to get people talking.
Please talk about the New Morning Films Slate.
I have eight films in my care, and they've all done really well at gaining awards and attention at festivals. They're from all over the world: from Canada ("Une Jeune Fille-a Journey" by Catherine Martin), the USA, Poland, Slovenia, Spain ("Violet" by Luiso Berdejo) Germany, Scandinavia ("Princess" by Arto Halonen) and Kurdistan. I also like following the careers of the directors; I'm lucky enough to have two films by Hisham Zaman ("Letter to the King" and "Before Snowfall"), who won the Tiger Award in Goteborg two years in a row. This is the first time it's ever happened to a director. All his films talk about the cultural differences and difficulties that the Kurdistan people encounter in places like Germany and Scandinavia.
How do you approach the challenges of doing business between multiple countries and cultures?
Every country has a certain way of doing business, and it helps to know about it before you dive in. With China for example, it's extremely difficult to release a film there, because there's a lot of censorship that you have to consider. Due to this difficulty, there are very few European and American art house films that succeed in breaking into the Chinese market.
Every country and culture has its stereotypes, in which there is some truth. The Americans go straight to the point. They're very pragmatic, and the contracts are very long! With the Russians, it can take longer to get answers, and their organization is different. Really, it is a question of observation and listening. It comes from experience, and learning how to deal with them. As for the Spanish, the film makers are very passionate, so it's important not to let their excitement overwhelm you... even if it turns into anger. At the end of the day, you have to do your best to be aware of how people think, and genuinely reach an understanding with them.
Learn about the New Morning Films catalog here.
More about New Morning Films:
New Morning Films is a new independent sales company based in Paris, France. It is handled by Germain Labeille, who formerly managed Albany Films International after working at Rezo and Jour2Fete, a French quality Art House distributor. Nmf's editorial line is dedicated to the promotion of upscale Art House, and Indie Films by gifted and promising directors.
In order to build up a close and transparent work relationship with the producers and directors, our catalogue will privilege quality over quantity with no more than six films a year.
Besides Berlin and Cannes, the company will attend key markets and festivals including Warsaw and Thessaloniki to seek out rising talents.
Nmf's ultimate goal is to make use of all means of communication and innovative networks to stimulate emerging talents and optimize film visibility.
- 6/8/2014
- by Erin Grover
- Sydney's Buzz
Hisham Zaman has become the first director to be a two-time winner of Gothenburg’s Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film.
This year, Zaman’s Letter to The King won the top prize (and its lucrative €113,000 award), following on last year’s win for Before Snowfall.
Letter To The King is about a group of refugees, all with their own agendas, on an excursion to Oslo.
The jury said: “Letter to the King is a film that takes us to a subculture that is not very well-known. It tells us about people stuck in some kind of no man’s land. It is a film that is compassionate and honest in its presentation of human existence.
“To tell a story with multiple characters is a difficult task, and we appreciate the way all the pieces are put together.”
The jury comprised Chad director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Icelandic producer Agnes Johansen, Norwegian producer Kalle Løchen, Swedish director...
This year, Zaman’s Letter to The King won the top prize (and its lucrative €113,000 award), following on last year’s win for Before Snowfall.
Letter To The King is about a group of refugees, all with their own agendas, on an excursion to Oslo.
The jury said: “Letter to the King is a film that takes us to a subculture that is not very well-known. It tells us about people stuck in some kind of no man’s land. It is a film that is compassionate and honest in its presentation of human existence.
“To tell a story with multiple characters is a difficult task, and we appreciate the way all the pieces are put together.”
The jury comprised Chad director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Icelandic producer Agnes Johansen, Norwegian producer Kalle Løchen, Swedish director...
- 2/2/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Hisham Zaman has become the first director to be a two-time winner of Gothenburg’s Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film.
This year, Zaman’s Letter to The King won the top prize (and its lucrative €113,000 award), following on last year’s win for Before Snowfall.
Letter To The King is about a group of refugees, all with their own agendas, on an excursion to Oslo. “Letter to the King is a film that takes us to a subculture that is not very well-known. It tells us about people stuck in some kind of no man’s land. It is a film that is compassionate and honest in its presentation of human existence. To tell a story with multiple characters is a difficult task, and we appreciate the way all the pieces are put together,” said the jury of Chad director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Icelandic producer Agnes Johansen, Norwegian producer Kalle Løchen, Swedish director...
This year, Zaman’s Letter to The King won the top prize (and its lucrative €113,000 award), following on last year’s win for Before Snowfall.
Letter To The King is about a group of refugees, all with their own agendas, on an excursion to Oslo. “Letter to the King is a film that takes us to a subculture that is not very well-known. It tells us about people stuck in some kind of no man’s land. It is a film that is compassionate and honest in its presentation of human existence. To tell a story with multiple characters is a difficult task, and we appreciate the way all the pieces are put together,” said the jury of Chad director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Icelandic producer Agnes Johansen, Norwegian producer Kalle Løchen, Swedish director...
- 2/2/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Russian feminist punk rock protest group Pussy Riot is on the poster and Russia is in focus at Sweden’s 37th Göteborg International Film Festival (Jan 24-Feb 3) – the largest showcase in the Nordic countries.
The selection of 20 films “is both artistically strong and takes up current subjects, such as freedom of speech and distribution of resources,” explained the festival’s artistic director Marit Kapla.
The focus includes Russian director Aleksej German’s Hard to Be a God (Trudno byt Bogom), completed by his wife Svetlana Karmelita and son after German’s death.
Taisija Krugovykh and Vasilij Bogatov’s Pussy versus Putin, about Pussy Riot’s action, will be introduced by the directors, as will Alexander Gentelev’s Putin’s Games.
Unspooling almost 500 films from 76 countries at 25 venues, adding seminars, concerts, talk-shows and exhibtions, the festival – which last year registered 132,447 admissions – will again honour Best Nordic Film with a Dragon Award and Sek 1 million ($150,000) cash, this year from...
The selection of 20 films “is both artistically strong and takes up current subjects, such as freedom of speech and distribution of resources,” explained the festival’s artistic director Marit Kapla.
The focus includes Russian director Aleksej German’s Hard to Be a God (Trudno byt Bogom), completed by his wife Svetlana Karmelita and son after German’s death.
Taisija Krugovykh and Vasilij Bogatov’s Pussy versus Putin, about Pussy Riot’s action, will be introduced by the directors, as will Alexander Gentelev’s Putin’s Games.
Unspooling almost 500 films from 76 countries at 25 venues, adding seminars, concerts, talk-shows and exhibtions, the festival – which last year registered 132,447 admissions – will again honour Best Nordic Film with a Dragon Award and Sek 1 million ($150,000) cash, this year from...
- 1/13/2014
- by jornrossing@aol.com (Jorn Rossing Jensen)
- ScreenDaily
Actor prizes go to Dame Judi Dench and Jesse Eisenberg; Enough Said, starring the late James Gandolfini, wins audience award.Scroll down for full list of winners
The 7th Abu Dhabi Film Festival handed out its Black Pearl awards at a closing ceremony tonight (Oct 31), including cash prizes amounting to around $700,000.
The Black Pearl for Narrative Feature, worth $100,000, went to A Touch of Sin (Tian zhu ding) directed by Jia Zhangke.
The film, which played in competition at Cannes where it won the best screenplay award, revolves around four threads set in vastly different geographical and social milieus across modern-day China and features random acts of violence.
The Narrative jury, presided over by two-time Oscar nominated actress Jacki Weaver, gave the special jury award ($50,000) to Hiner Saleem’s My Sweet Pepper Land, centred on a law man in a small town on the border of Iran, Iraq and Turkey.
In addition, Dame Judi Dench won best...
The 7th Abu Dhabi Film Festival handed out its Black Pearl awards at a closing ceremony tonight (Oct 31), including cash prizes amounting to around $700,000.
The Black Pearl for Narrative Feature, worth $100,000, went to A Touch of Sin (Tian zhu ding) directed by Jia Zhangke.
The film, which played in competition at Cannes where it won the best screenplay award, revolves around four threads set in vastly different geographical and social milieus across modern-day China and features random acts of violence.
The Narrative jury, presided over by two-time Oscar nominated actress Jacki Weaver, gave the special jury award ($50,000) to Hiner Saleem’s My Sweet Pepper Land, centred on a law man in a small town on the border of Iran, Iraq and Turkey.
In addition, Dame Judi Dench won best...
- 10/31/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The full line up has been unveiled for the 7th edition of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival.
Daniel Schechter’s Life Of Crime will open the 7th edition of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, which runs Oct 24- Nov 2.
13 Arab feature films (seven of which are world premieres) will compete across different sections of the festival, including Rani Massalha’s Giraffada and Nejib Belkhadi’s Bastardo in the New Horizons Competition, Ahmed Abdallah’s Rags And Tatters and Hicham Ayouch’s Fevers in the Narrative Feature Competition, and Sherief Elkatsha’s Cairo Drive and Mohammad Soueid’s The Boy From Aleppo in the Documentary Feature Competition.
Tobe Hooper’s UAE horror Djin will screen in the festival’s Showcase section.
Films competing in the Narrative Feature Competition include Jun Robles Lana’s Barber’s Tales, Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners, Danis Tanovic’s An Episode In The Life Of An Iron Picker, Jasmila Zbanic’s [link...
Daniel Schechter’s Life Of Crime will open the 7th edition of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, which runs Oct 24- Nov 2.
13 Arab feature films (seven of which are world premieres) will compete across different sections of the festival, including Rani Massalha’s Giraffada and Nejib Belkhadi’s Bastardo in the New Horizons Competition, Ahmed Abdallah’s Rags And Tatters and Hicham Ayouch’s Fevers in the Narrative Feature Competition, and Sherief Elkatsha’s Cairo Drive and Mohammad Soueid’s The Boy From Aleppo in the Documentary Feature Competition.
Tobe Hooper’s UAE horror Djin will screen in the festival’s Showcase section.
Films competing in the Narrative Feature Competition include Jun Robles Lana’s Barber’s Tales, Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners, Danis Tanovic’s An Episode In The Life Of An Iron Picker, Jasmila Zbanic’s [link...
- 10/1/2013
- by sarah.cooper@screendaily.com (Sarah Cooper)
- ScreenDaily
The full line up has been unveiled for the 7th edition of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival.
Daniel Schechter’s Life Of Crime will open the 7th edition of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, which runs Oct 24- Nov 2.
13 Arab feature films (seven of which are world premieres) will compete across different sections of the festival, including Rani Massalha’s Giraffada and Nejib Belkhadi’s Bastardo in the New Horizons Competition, Ahmed Abdallah’s Rags And Tatters and Hicham Ayouch’s Fevers in the Narrative Feature Competition, and Sherief Elkatsha’s Cairo Drive and Mohammad Soueid’s The Boy From Aleppo in the Documentary Feature Competition.
Tobe Hooper’s UAE horror Djin will screen in the festival’s Showcase section.
Films competing in the Narrative Feature Competition include Jun Robles Lana’s Barber’s Tales, Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners, Danis Tanovic’s An Episode In The Life Of An Iron Picker, Jasmila Zbanic’s [link...
Daniel Schechter’s Life Of Crime will open the 7th edition of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, which runs Oct 24- Nov 2.
13 Arab feature films (seven of which are world premieres) will compete across different sections of the festival, including Rani Massalha’s Giraffada and Nejib Belkhadi’s Bastardo in the New Horizons Competition, Ahmed Abdallah’s Rags And Tatters and Hicham Ayouch’s Fevers in the Narrative Feature Competition, and Sherief Elkatsha’s Cairo Drive and Mohammad Soueid’s The Boy From Aleppo in the Documentary Feature Competition.
Tobe Hooper’s UAE horror Djin will screen in the festival’s Showcase section.
Films competing in the Narrative Feature Competition include Jun Robles Lana’s Barber’s Tales, Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners, Danis Tanovic’s An Episode In The Life Of An Iron Picker, Jasmila Zbanic’s [link...
- 10/1/2013
- by sarah.cooper@screendaily.com (Sarah Cooper)
- ScreenDaily
Before Snowfall
Written by Kjell Ola Dahl and Hisham Zaman
Directed by Hisham Zaman
Norway, 2012
Hisham Zaman’s directorial debut opens with Siyar (Abdullah Taher), a 16-year-old boy from Kurdish Iraq, being wrapped from head to toe in cling film. He is preparing to submerge himself in an oil tanker in an attempt to illegally cross the border into Turkey, making for Istanbul where he believes his runaway sister, Nermin (Bahar Ozen), is hiding with her lover. She has escaped an arranged marriage, bringing dishonour to the family, and Siyar has accepted the responsibility of resolving the situation. He embarks on a dangerous journey, replete with perilous border crossings and unfamiliar environments, with the intention of killing Nermin and restoring his family to honour.
Despite being filmed with a cast of non-professional actors, Before Snowfall is an extremely slick production and features some captivating performances, particularly from the lead, Taher.
Written by Kjell Ola Dahl and Hisham Zaman
Directed by Hisham Zaman
Norway, 2012
Hisham Zaman’s directorial debut opens with Siyar (Abdullah Taher), a 16-year-old boy from Kurdish Iraq, being wrapped from head to toe in cling film. He is preparing to submerge himself in an oil tanker in an attempt to illegally cross the border into Turkey, making for Istanbul where he believes his runaway sister, Nermin (Bahar Ozen), is hiding with her lover. She has escaped an arranged marriage, bringing dishonour to the family, and Siyar has accepted the responsibility of resolving the situation. He embarks on a dangerous journey, replete with perilous border crossings and unfamiliar environments, with the intention of killing Nermin and restoring his family to honour.
Despite being filmed with a cast of non-professional actors, Before Snowfall is an extremely slick production and features some captivating performances, particularly from the lead, Taher.
- 6/27/2013
- by Rob Dickie
- SoundOnSight
The programme for the 67th Edinburgh International Film Festival has launched and the selection looks every bit as eclectic and exciting as last year’s proved to be. For the second year running, artistic director Chris Fujiwara and his team have put together an unpredictable, intriguing and determinedly international array of films, allowing plenty of opportunity for emerging talents and lesser-known directors to showcase their work.
As well as the big opening and closing night gala films, respectively Breathe In and the world premiere of Scottish rom-com Not Another Happy Ending (starring Doctor Who’s Karen Gillan), the highlights include strands from South Korea, America and Sweden, Jean Grémillon and Richard Fleischer retrospectives, and several interesting-looking documentaries.
Due to the variety and unconventiality of the selection, it is difficult, and not entirely preferable, to pick out a list of sure-fire hits, but here are ten films that you should certainly...
As well as the big opening and closing night gala films, respectively Breathe In and the world premiere of Scottish rom-com Not Another Happy Ending (starring Doctor Who’s Karen Gillan), the highlights include strands from South Korea, America and Sweden, Jean Grémillon and Richard Fleischer retrospectives, and several interesting-looking documentaries.
Due to the variety and unconventiality of the selection, it is difficult, and not entirely preferable, to pick out a list of sure-fire hits, but here are ten films that you should certainly...
- 6/7/2013
- by Rob Dickie
- SoundOnSight
If there was any doubt that this year’s Tribeca Film Festival featured one heck of a varied slate, last night’s awards ceremony put that question to rest. The festival’s many winners included films about rockets, Flemish bluegrass music, an Internet-popular dwarf cat, Oxycontin, Hurricane Sandy, and Thomas Haden Church (well, sort of). The night’s big winner was Kim Mordaunt‘s feature, The Rocket, an Aussie entry that picked up both The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature and Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film for young star Sitthiphon Disamoe. Other standout winners include The Broken Circle Breakdown, Whitewash, Oxyana, and The Kill Team. You want variety? Tribeca has got variety in spades. After the break, check out all the winners of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature: The Rocket, directed by Kim Mordaunt (Australia). Winner receives $25,000, sponsored by Aka, and...
- 4/26/2013
- by Kate Erbland
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Winners of the 12th annual Tribeca Film Festival competition categories were announced last night, with “The Rocket,” “The Kill Team,” “Whitewash,” and “Oxyana” taking home the top prizes. The winning films will be screened again on Sunday, April 28. A full list of winners is below. The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature “The Rocket,” directed by Kim Mordaunt (Australia) Special Jury Mention “Stand Clear of the Closing Doors,” directed by Sam Fleischner Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film Sitthiphon Disamoe in “The Rocket,” directed by Kim Mordaunt (Australia) Best Actress in a Narrative Feature FilmVeerle Baetens as Elise Vandevelde in “The Broken Circle Breakdown,” directed by Felix van Groeningen (Netherlands, Belgium) Best Cinematography in a Narrative Feature Film Marius Matzow Gulbrandsen, for “Before Snowfall,” directed by Hisham Zaman (Germany, Norway) Best Screenplay for a Narrative Feature Film “The Broken Circle Breakdown,” written by Carl Joos and Felix van Groeningen...
- 4/26/2013
- backstage.com
Tribeca’s 12th annual festival, running from April 17-28, recently announced that their festival awards, including the top juried world competitions going to The Rocket, The Kill Team, Whitewash and Oxyana. See below for the official press release.
2013 Tribeca Film Festival Announces Awards
* * *
The Rocket, The Kill Team, Whitewash And Oxyana
Win Top Awards In Juried World Competitions
* * *
Sandy Storylines Wins First-ever Bombay Sapphire Award For Transmedia
* * *
Festival Awards $155,000 In Cash Prizes
[April 25, 2013 – New York, NY] – The 12th annual Tribeca Film Festival, co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, and presented by founding sponsor American Express, announced the winners of its competition categories tonight at a ceremony hosted at the Conrad New York in New York City. The Festival runs through April 28, 2013.
The world competition winners for narrative and documentary films were chosen from 12 narrative and 12 documentary features from 14 countries. Best New Director prizes were awarded to a first-time director for both narrative and documentary films,...
2013 Tribeca Film Festival Announces Awards
* * *
The Rocket, The Kill Team, Whitewash And Oxyana
Win Top Awards In Juried World Competitions
* * *
Sandy Storylines Wins First-ever Bombay Sapphire Award For Transmedia
* * *
Festival Awards $155,000 In Cash Prizes
[April 25, 2013 – New York, NY] – The 12th annual Tribeca Film Festival, co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, and presented by founding sponsor American Express, announced the winners of its competition categories tonight at a ceremony hosted at the Conrad New York in New York City. The Festival runs through April 28, 2013.
The world competition winners for narrative and documentary films were chosen from 12 narrative and 12 documentary features from 14 countries. Best New Director prizes were awarded to a first-time director for both narrative and documentary films,...
- 4/26/2013
- by Christopher Clemente
- SoundOnSight
The 12th annual Tribeca Film Festival unveiled on Thursday the winners of its awards at a ceremony Thursday evening. Among the films juries selected for top prizes? Australian film The Rocket, Dutch-Belgian film The Broken Circle Breakdown, and American documentary The Kill Team.
The awards were announced as the festival heads into its second and last weekend. Films will screen through Sunday, and the winners of the Heineken Audience Awards, determined by audience votes throughout the festival, will be announced on Saturday.
Though the juries for the festival were populated with several familiar names from the movie world — including Whoopi Goldberg,...
The awards were announced as the festival heads into its second and last weekend. Films will screen through Sunday, and the winners of the Heineken Audience Awards, determined by audience votes throughout the festival, will be announced on Saturday.
Though the juries for the festival were populated with several familiar names from the movie world — including Whoopi Goldberg,...
- 4/26/2013
- by Emily Rome
- EW - Inside Movies
Tribeca Film Festival's Artistic Director Frédéric Boyer and I met up for a conversation at MoMA PS1 during Michelangelo Frammartino's World Premiere of the breathtaking 28 minute continuous cinematic installation Alberi in the Vw Dome. This is Boyer's second year at Tribeca, after running the Directors’ Fortnight program at the Cannes Film Festival. We discussed how to bring nature into an urban setting through films like Bruno Barreto's Reaching For The Moon, Reha Erdem's Jîn, Whitewash, directed by Emanuel Hoss-Desmarais, Hisham Zaman's Before Snowfall, and Red Obsession, directed by David Roach and Warwick Ross.
Interacting with cats, Lil Bub & Friendz, tree people, and being Tricked by Paul Verhoeven - Tribeca 2013 challenges the boundaries of cinema.
Anne-Katrin Titze: This is your second year at Tribeca.
Frédéric Boyer: Yes, my second edition as Artistic Director for the Tribeca Film Festival.
Akt:...
Interacting with cats, Lil Bub & Friendz, tree people, and being Tricked by Paul Verhoeven - Tribeca 2013 challenges the boundaries of cinema.
Anne-Katrin Titze: This is your second year at Tribeca.
Frédéric Boyer: Yes, my second edition as Artistic Director for the Tribeca Film Festival.
Akt:...
- 4/23/2013
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The 2013 Tribeca Film Festival (Tff), presented by American Express®, is pleased to announce the films selected for the World Narrative Competition category. The 2013 film selection includes feature films from 30 different countries, including 53 World Premieres, 7 International Premieres, 15 North American Premieres, 6 U.S. Premieres and 8 New York Premieres. A total of 113 directors will present feature works at the Festival, with 35 of these filmmakers marking their feature directorial debuts. Among these directors, 26 are women. The 2013 film slate was chosen from a total of 6005 submissions. In keeping with Tribeca’s mission of nurturing dialogue between American filmmakers and their global counterparts, our competition selections embody the quality and diversity of contemporary cinema both in this country and abroad. Themes such as love, coming of age, and reinvention are relevant in all cultures and communities as these films ably demonstrate. These tweleve features also reflect the universal power of film and storytelling that Tribeca celebrates in its competition.
- 3/7/2013
- by vmblog@hollywoodnews.com (Vitale Morum)
- Hollywoodnews.com
New York’s own Tribeca Film Festival has previously announced its Opening Night Film, rock doc Mistaken for Strangers, and now the fest has begun rolling out the rest of their slate, including today’s announcement of their World Narrative and Documentary Competition titles and their Viewpoints section. As part of newish Tribeca tradition, each section will also have its own “Opening Night” film, with Big Men opening the World Documentary competition, Bluebird opening the World Narrative competition, and the documentary Flex is Kings kicking off the Viewpoints section. All three films will premiere on April 18th. Guess which one features Adam Driver. Check out the full listing of all the just-announced titles after the break. World Narrative Feature Competition Alì Blue Eyes (Alì ha gli occhi azzurri), directed by Claudio Giovannesi, written by Filippo Gravino and Giovannesi. (Italy) – International Premiere. Claudio Giovannesi’s award-winning second dramatic feature captures one week in the life of sixteen-year-old troublemaker...
- 3/5/2013
- by Kate Erbland
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Tribeca Film Festival organizers on Wednesday announced 46 of the 89 feature films screening at the New York-set festival starting next month, including selections in the World Narrative and Documentary Competition film sections, as well as out-of-competition Viewpoints screenings.
"Big Men," a documentary about American corporations pursuing oil reserves in Africa, will serve as the opening night film for the World Documentary portion; "Bluebird," a small-town drama featuring "Girls" star Adam Driver, will kick-off the World Narrative slate. "Flex Is Kings," a documentary about Brooklyn street performers, is the Viewpoints opener. All three films premiere on April 18. The Tribeca Film Festival runs from April 17 through April 28, with "Mistaken For Strangers," a documentary about The National, serving as the fest's opening night film.
"Our competition selections embody the quality and diversity of contemporary cinema from across the globe,” Tribeca Film Festival Artistic Director Frederic Boyer said in a release. “The cinematic proficiency that...
"Big Men," a documentary about American corporations pursuing oil reserves in Africa, will serve as the opening night film for the World Documentary portion; "Bluebird," a small-town drama featuring "Girls" star Adam Driver, will kick-off the World Narrative slate. "Flex Is Kings," a documentary about Brooklyn street performers, is the Viewpoints opener. All three films premiere on April 18. The Tribeca Film Festival runs from April 17 through April 28, with "Mistaken For Strangers," a documentary about The National, serving as the fest's opening night film.
"Our competition selections embody the quality and diversity of contemporary cinema from across the globe,” Tribeca Film Festival Artistic Director Frederic Boyer said in a release. “The cinematic proficiency that...
- 3/5/2013
- by Christopher Rosen
- Huffington Post
The Tribeca Film Festival announced the first half of its 2013 movie slate today, including its World Narrative and Documentary Competition film categories, along with selections from the out-of-competition Viewpoints section, which highlights international and independent cinema. Festival organizers reviewed more than 6,000 submissions to select 89 feature-length films from 30 different countries for this year’s festival, which boasts 53 world premieres. “Our competition selections embody the quality and diversity of contemporary cinema from across the globe,” said Frederic Boyer, Tribeca’s artistic director. “The cinematic proficiency that harnesses this lineup is remarkable and we’re looking forward to sharing these new perspectives, powerful performances,...
- 3/5/2013
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
Related story: MEIFF acknowledges local talent
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Paul Haggis' "In the Valley of Elah" closed the inaugural Middle East International Film Festival here Friday, while Nic Balthazar's "Ben X" took home the Black Pearl Grand Jury Prize for best feature at a glittering gala award ceremony held at the Emirates Palace.
Also honored Friday were Michael James Rowland's "Lucky Miles", which took the award for best new director (feature film); Nadine Labaki's "Caramel", which garnered its female cast a joint best actress award; and Karl Markovics "The Counteirfeiters", which received the Black Pearl for best actor. Paul Taylor's "We Are Together" earned the documentary nod.
The Black Pearl Award carries a cash prize of AED300,000 ($81,710).
"I think they gave the grand jury prize to 'Ben X' because the production value was so strong and solid as much as the vision, and on every level they succeeded," festival director Jon Fitzgerald told The Hollywood Reporter. "And 'Lucky Miles' ... this guy had a lot of different actors that he brought together in remote locations, not an easy film to pull off, a good choice for new filmmaker."
Producer Gundny Hummelvoll and director Hisham Zaman of "Bawke" received the Black Pearl for top short film.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Paul Haggis' "In the Valley of Elah" closed the inaugural Middle East International Film Festival here Friday, while Nic Balthazar's "Ben X" took home the Black Pearl Grand Jury Prize for best feature at a glittering gala award ceremony held at the Emirates Palace.
Also honored Friday were Michael James Rowland's "Lucky Miles", which took the award for best new director (feature film); Nadine Labaki's "Caramel", which garnered its female cast a joint best actress award; and Karl Markovics "The Counteirfeiters", which received the Black Pearl for best actor. Paul Taylor's "We Are Together" earned the documentary nod.
The Black Pearl Award carries a cash prize of AED300,000 ($81,710).
"I think they gave the grand jury prize to 'Ben X' because the production value was so strong and solid as much as the vision, and on every level they succeeded," festival director Jon Fitzgerald told The Hollywood Reporter. "And 'Lucky Miles' ... this guy had a lot of different actors that he brought together in remote locations, not an easy film to pull off, a good choice for new filmmaker."
Producer Gundny Hummelvoll and director Hisham Zaman of "Bawke" received the Black Pearl for top short film.
- 10/20/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The largest short film festival and market in North America announced its award winners Tuesday. This year, the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films & Short Film Market (ShortFest) screened more than 333 shorts in competition featuring 74 world premieres, 56 North American premieres and 16 U.S. premieres. The fest racked up more than 2,500 filmmaker submissions, from more than 48 countries. Three jury awards were presented, including a Panavision grand jury award to Hubert Davis for "Aruba"; a best of festival award to Hisham Zaman for "Bawke"; and a future filmmaker award to Alex Weil for the animated CG film "One Rat Short". Audience awards for favorite live-action short went to Vince Marcello for "Zombie Prom" and Leonid Prudovsky for "Dark Night;" the favorite documentary short went to Desiree Handal for "Chicken"; and DreamWorks Animation staffers Cameron Hood and Kyle Jefferson won favorite animated short for "First Flight".
- 8/30/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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