text:
Martin Blaney
Martin Blaney covers Germany for Screen.
'King of the Belgians' wins at Odesa film festival
24-Jul-2017Summer 1993 and My Happy Family also take home prizes from Ukrainian festival.
Transatlantyk Festival honours Lucrecia Martel, Edward Norton
21-Jul-2017Argentinian filmmaker and US actor honoured in Poland.
Bavarian fund backs Daniel Radcliffe action comedy 'Guns Akimbo'
6-Jul-2017Fund also supporting adaptation of erotic classic Fear Of Flying.
Munich: Zvyagintsev, Pinho and Lass among winners
3-Jul-2017Cannes competition title Loveless wins best international film.
Moscow Film Festival presents top prize to China's 'Crested Ibis'
30-Jun-2017Qiao Liang's drama wins top prize at Moscow fest.
Munich fest preview: Coppola, Cranston and Cannes films
21-Jun-2017The festival has secured an impressive array of films from this year's Cannes.
'My Happy Family' and 'God's Own Country' triumph at Transilvania
12-Jun-2017All the winners from the event in Cluj.
Mindjazz inks deals ahead of Cannes market
19-May-2017EXCLUSIVE: Sales company inks deals on From Business To Being, Silentium.
Ukraine's film and TV cash rebate finally signed off by president
4-May-2017New Cinema Law offers incentives to foreign producers and will be showcased in Cannes.
Serbia's 'Requiem For Mrs J.' wins top prize at goEast
3-May-2017My Happy Family also wins two awards at Wiesbaden festival.
EFP names 2017 Producers on the Move ahead of Cannes
3-May-2017Two of this year's group have films playing at the festival.
'Taste Of Cement' wins top prize at Visions du Réel in Nyon
2-May-2017The Gaze of the Sea, School Life, Stars of Gaomeigu also winners at Swiss fetsival.
'Toni Erdmann' triumphs at Germany's Lolas
28-Apr-2017Maren Ade named best director as female filmmakers flourish.
Visions du Réel round-up: deals for 'Taste Of Cement', 'The Village'
27-Apr-2017Also in Nyon: Gloria Films projects; Docs in Progress
Poland's 'The Last Family' wins in Vilnius
7-Apr-2017Kosovo on track to join Creative Europe; LGBT road movie scores US, UK deals.
How the UK is addressing its crew shortage
25-Mar-2017The need for specialist courses is rising; how does this compare in France and Germany?
'Godless' wins top prize at Sofia Film Festival
20-Mar-2017Sofia Meetings industry winners include UK project The Tentmaster's Daughter; The Expendables 4 heads to Bulgaria.
Germany ups film funding by €50m in major boost to sector
16-Mar-2017German government reveals bold plan to increase film funding to €150m from 2018; Toni Erdmann scores six German Film Awards nominations.
Cartoon Movie wraps, Latido to grow animation offering
13-Mar-2017France animation event eyes permanent home in Bordeaux.
Cartoon Movie reveals winners, upcoming animations
10-Mar-2017Oscar-nominated My Life As A Courgette wins two prizes as industry present upcoming animations.
'SS-GB' director Philipp Kadelbach's new feature gets German deal
3-Mar-2017UFA Distribution teams up with Global Screen to sell So Viel Zeit, based on Frank Goosen novel.
Berlin Film Festival 2017: winners revealed
18-Feb-2017UPDATE WITH KEY SPEECHES: Hungarian title On Body And Soul takes best film; Aki Kaurismaki, Sebastian Lelio among winners; Insyriated and I Am Not Your Negro scoop Panorama audience awards; 2018 festival dates revealed.
Atlas picks up Dutch dramedy 'Tulips, Love, Honour And A Bike'
14-Feb-2017EXCLUSIVE: Sales outfit also boards spy drama Margery Booth, which has Stephen Fry attached.
Christian Petzold's 'Transit' goes to Match Factory
13-Feb-2017EXCLUSIVE: German sales agent boards next project from the director of Phoenix [pictured].
Atlas picks up Gérard Corbiau's 'Saving Mozart'
13-Feb-2017Belgian director is mosted noted for his 1994 biographical drama Farinelli [pictured].
Berlinale industry show solidarity for imprisoned Oleg Sentsov
12-Feb-2017Agnieszka Holland among those to voice concern for the Ukrainian director's ongoing incarceration.
Wavelength secures French deal for 'You Can't Escape Lithuania'
12-Feb-2017EXCLUSIVE: LGBT road movie goes to Optimale; Slingshot Films picks up Ivan.
Mindjazz Pictures International strikes deals with Netflix, KMBO
11-Feb-2017EXCLUSIVE: Netflix has taken world rights to Trainer!, a documentary about coaches in Germany's Bundesliga.
Shooting Star Louis Hofmann join animation 'The Heinzels'
11-Feb-2017EXCLUSIVE: Hofmann will voice a character in the feature from the producers of Rabbit School.
Robert Schwentke's 'The Captain' underway in Görlitz
10-Feb-2017Emerging talent Max Hubacher [pictured] stars in Second World War drama.
German studios, producers rally for a more competitive incentive
10-Feb-2017"Germany doesn't exist on the map – at least for US producers," says Studio Babelsberg CEO Christoph Fisser.
Beta to sell X Filme drama, TV series 'Babylon Berlin' inks deals
9-Feb-2017X Filme board Josef Bierbichler's adaptation of his 2011 novel Mittelreich.
Russian animation 'Snow Queen 3' gets France deal
9-Feb-2017EXCLUSIVE: Universal/KLB to release in French cinemas in winter 2017-2018.
Women producers triumph at When East Meets West co-pro forum
25-Jan-2017Trieste event welcomed 350 industry professionals this year.
Poland expected to launch filming incentive in 2017
19-Jan-2017The Polish Ministry of Culture is proposing a €22m annual budget for the 25% rebate scheme.
Germany's Studio Babelsberg to return to local production
13-Jan-2017Production lot has previously housed international productions including Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Are much shorter theatrical windows around the corner?
2-Jan-2017We investigate why cracks are beginning to appear in the traditionally rigid theatrical window structure.
2016 Germany box office report: Local hits but year-on-year slump
17-Dec-2016It was the worst performance in five years for locally produced films in the first nine months of the year.
'Toni Erdmann' takes top prizes at the European Film Awards
10-Dec-2016Germany's Oscar hopeful wins five major awards in Wroclaw at politically charged ceremony.
Ken Loach: "The barbarians are at the door"
10-Dec-2016Speaking at the European Film Awards, UK director calls for "collective voice" among European industry.
Tallinn: Ghost town doc wins Screen Best Pitch award
24-Nov-2016The prize offers editorial coverage during the winning film's life-cycle.
Tallinn: Digital Single Market is "right on track"
22-Nov-2016The second half of the EFF explored the progress of the European Commission's Digital Single Market strategy.
Tallinn: European Film Forum sees windows opportunity
22-Nov-2016Distribution windows, Netflix curation and finding audiences were among key topics at the European Film Forum (EFF).
Cottbus Grand Prix goes to Russia's 'Zoology'
14-Nov-2016Festival's industry strand crowns work-in-progress winners from Macedonia and Ukraine.
'Heartstone' wins at Nordic Film Days
7-Nov-2016Heartstone and Norwegian film-makers win big in Lübeck; Austerlitz takes home Golden Dove at Leipzig.
Krakow Film Foundation launches doc-focused sales outfit at DOK Leipzig
31-Oct-2016Titles on its debut slate include Wojciech Kasperski's award-winning Icon [pictured].
Moscow KinoPoisk: Roger Christian readies 'Black Angel', Latido boards debut
26-Oct-2016KFM: Russian investor boards 'Black Angel' remake, 'made in Russia' blockbusters, KFM pitching winners, Latido picks up Ukrainian debut
Tallinn: Baltic Event and Main Competition line-up revealed
21-Oct-2016Screen Pitch competition line-up; Queen Of Spades opens Main Competition.
Moscow market to showcase Igor Voloshin, Darya Zhuk, Zaza Urushadze
14-Oct-2016Close to 40 films will be presented at the inaugural edition of the Russian event.
Polish master Andrzej Wajda dies aged 90
10-Oct-2016Revered director of Katyn and The Promised Land passed away on Sunday.
'Toni Erdmann' producers scoop awards at Filmfest Hamburg
10-Oct-2016Berlin's Komplizen Film won prizes for Radu Jude's Scarred Hearts and Emin Alper's forthcoming Sisters - Kiz Kardesler.
Turkey exits Creative Europe, Israel set to join
4-Oct-2016Turkey's decision to leave the European funding programme has taken EU and local culture organisations by surprise.
Euro round-up: Ukraine approves rebate, 'Last Family' sweeps Poland's Gdynia fest
26-Sep-2016Locarno premiere took home eight awards; meanwhile Ukraine greenlights cash rebate scheme.
Production pioneer: the German backer of 'Toni Erdmann', 'Rush' and 'Amélie'
31-Aug-2016Film- und Medienstiftung NRW celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. CEO Petra Müller talks to Martin Blaney about forging a path as one of the most successful funds in the industry.
Jodorowsky actor to debut film at new co-pro event
22-Aug-2016Jodorowsky actor directorial debut to be presented at new co-production event; Reygadas curates for Filmfest Hamburg.
Global Screen to handle Enid Blyton reboot 'Hanni & Nanni'
19-Aug-2016Global Screen is to handle international sales on a reboot of the successful German Hanni & Nanni franchise based on Enid Blyton's classic St Clare's book series.
'Godless' triumphs in Locarno
13-Aug-2016Bulgarian drama won the Golden Leopard as well as Best Actress for star Irena Ivanova.
Locarno sponsor to pull out after 15 years
12-Aug-2016Energy company AET has been one of the festival's four primary sponsors for 15 years.
Locarno reveals Open Doors winners
9-Aug-2016This year's winners include film-makers from Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.
Locarno briefs: Piazza Grande subject to minor arson attack
8-Aug-2016The Piazza Grande was subject to an arson attack; Switzerland has selected its 2017 Oscar candidate; The Doc Alliance Selection winner has been revealed; Nyon festival changes afoot.
Locarno: industry spotlight
5-Aug-2016This year's Industry Days (August 6-8) at Locarno Film Festival has a sharper focus on the market potential of films at script stage, finds Martin Blaney.
Locarno: Swiss cinema to become more competitive
5-Aug-2016Speaking at Locarno, Switzerland's Interior Minister has talked up the country's recent efforts to compete more on the international stage.
Locarno: Open Doors Hub spotlights south Asian projects
3-Aug-2016This year Locarno's annual co-production lab introduces a fresh format — a three-year focus on eight south Asian countries. Martin Blaney reports on the new Open Doors Hub.
Locarno, Wroclaw set for 2017 date clash
1-Aug-2016EXCLUSIVE: Wroclaw moves 2017 dates to accommodate World Games; Polish festival reveals 2016 New Horizons winners.
Agnieszka Holland, Bodo Kox present projects at Polish Days
29-Jul-2016Projects from directors Bodo Kox and Adrian Panek are also being introduced.
Moscow gets October film market
26-Jul-2016EXCLUSIVE: Market is due to screen more than 100 new Russian and foreign films to industry and public.
Odessa's Grand Prix goes to UK's 'Burn Burn Burn'
25-Jul-2016Directors Chanya Button, Adrian Sitaru, Xavier Seron scoop prizes; festival reveals works in progress winners.
Ukraine's Cinema Law to provide cash injection, rebate scheme
22-Jul-2016EXCLUSIVE: Ukraine film industry set to receive fivefold cash injection and first rebate scheme.
Berlinale to get additional €1m cash injection
11-Jul-2016Festival to receive additional funding from Germany's State Minister for Culture and Media in 2017.
Munich Filmfest wrap: Florian Eichinger named best director
4-Jul-2016Eichinger's Hands Of A Mother won three prizes at the German Cinema New Talent Awards.
Creative Europe launches $135m guarantee facility
30-Jun-2016Initiative will support 10,000 creative sector SMEs.
German-Chinese alliance on $20m fantasy-adventure 'Fox Mission'
23-Jun-2016Christian Alvart's Berlin-based Syrreal Entertainment enters agreement with Jiabo Culture.
Terrence Malick lines up WWII feature 'Radegund'
22-Jun-2016New Roy Andersson feature About Endlessness also gets backing from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.
Beta reunites with Oscar-winner von Donnersmarck
21-Jun-2016Shoot is underway in Berlin on The Lives Of Others director's third film.
'Dogs', 'Tikkun', 'Sparrows' triumph in Transilvania
6-Jun-2016Gallery: Pictures from the closing night and awards ceremony of the 15th Transilvania film festival; festival hands out industry development prizes.
Romania mulls joining film tax incentive club
3-Jun-2016The Romanian government is considering tax incentives to attract more foreign producers to shoot in the country.
Cannes hit 'Toni Erdmann' to open Munich festival
2-Jun-2016The event will host 19 world premieres in its New German Cinema strand.
'The People Vs. Fritz Bauer' wins six German Film Awards
31-May-2016Nazi hunter thriller wins best film at the annual 'Lolas'.
Transilvania fest to honour Sophia Loren
27-May-2016The festival will also honour Mad Max: Fury Road producer Iain Smith.
European Commission proposes Netflix, Amazon content quota
25-May-2016The updated Audiovisual Directive will enforce VoD platforms such as Netflix to ensure at least a 20% share of European content in their catalogues.
Studiocanal to co-produce, sell German children's classic
29-Apr-2016The Little Witch (Die Kleine Hexe) will star German actress Karoline Herfurth and reunite the production team behind local box office hit Heidi.
Russia's 'Insight' among goEast winners
27-Apr-2016goEast winners in Wiesbaden; Polish Film Institute backs Ida producers; Berlin-based A Company launches Ukrainian distributor.
Nazi-hunter thriller 'Fritz Bauer' tops German Film Awards nominations
20-Apr-2016Lars Kraume's drama has nine nominations, including Best Film and Best Director; Colonia, A Heavy Heart and Me & Kaminski score five nominations.
Moscow's Screen Best Pitch winner now in post-production
19-Apr-2016Andrey Silvestrov's critique of contemporary society is currently in post-production.
Vilnius: 'Thirst' and 'I, Olga Hepnarova' share top honour
15-Apr-2016The festival's industry event featured 20 work-in-progress projects.
Constantin Film named top German producer-distributor
8-Apr-2016Constantin Film has been named Germany's most successful producer and distributor of German films for 2015.
'Sparrows' scoops Prague Grand Prix
29-Mar-2016Prague International Film Festival's primary award went to Iceland for the second year running.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic doc scores Euro deals
24-Mar-2016EXCLUSIVE: Deals on Becoming Zlatan include Studiocanal for UK, Bac for France and Alamode for Germany.
SquareOne Entertainment talks growing production
23-Mar-2016As German films continue to wow local audiences, distributor SquareOne Entertainment is expanding into production and decreasing the number of international films it buys.
Women filmmakers triumph in Sofia
21-Mar-2016Elitsa Petkova received the Bulgarian festival's Grand Prix for her feature debut Zhaleika [pictured].
Hof Film Days founder Heinz Badewitz dies at 74
14-Mar-2016World's second longest-serving film festival director died last week while attending Graz film festival.
Filmart 2016: HAF profiles
13-Mar-2016Profiles of projects from the 14th Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).
Amazon boards first German feature
10-Mar-2016Bullyparade – Der Film will be based on the German cult TV series.
Belgrade co-pro event foregrounds women
9-Mar-2016Belgrade hosts co-pro meeting dedicated to women filmmakers as study reveals industry progress on gender equality in region.
Former EAVE president Alan Fountain dies aged 69
4-Mar-2016Former EAVE and Channel 4 executive died unexpectedly on Thursday.
Nettelbeck, Qurbani titles among Sommerhaus slate
23-Feb-2016EXCLUSIVE: Features from Sandra Nettelbeck, Thomas Stuber, Caroline Link and Burhan Qurbani on slate for German outfit.
Emir Baigazin planning new trilogy
16-Feb-2016EXCLUSIVE: The Wounded Angel director is planning a series of films about modern nightlife in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Switzerland launches cash rebate scheme
16-Feb-2016EXCLUSIVE: Ukraine could also have a 25% rebate scheme in place by Cannes.
Paramount tunes into German fund
15-Feb-2016Berlin Station will be one of the first series to benefit from the new fund.
'Soy Nero' producer teams with Israel, Cyprus
14-Feb-2016EXCLUSIVE: Producer of Rafi Pitts' Berlinale Competition title is lining up several new projects.
Filmmakers show solidarity for Oleg Sentsov
14-Feb-2016Ukrainian filmmaker was sentenced to 20 years in a Russian jail for alleged terrorist activities.
X Filme planning first global digital release for German film
14-Feb-2016EXCLUSIVE: Punk Berlin 1982 will become the first German feature to have a global release on digital platforms.
Wizart sells 3D animation 'Urfin'
13-Feb-2016EXCLUSIVE: Shooting Stars has taken the film for the Middle East, while BestFilm has taken it for the Baltic states.
Report claims bulk of public film funding goes to men
13-Feb-2016EXCLUSIVE: EWA's report find "significant under-representation" of women directors in film industry.
David Oakes, Simon Callow to star in Russian period drama 'The Portrait'
12-Feb-2016EXCLUSIVE: David Oakes and Simon Callow will both feature in Anastasia and Elena Baranoff's adaptation of The Portrait.
EFM: Mia Hansen-Love, Olivier Assayas titles secure German deals
11-Feb-2016Distributor Weltkino also agree long-term cooperation with France's CG Cinema.
Studiocanal takes 'The Land Of The Enlightened' for UK
11-Feb-2016EXCLUSIVE: Pieter-Jan De Pue's Sundance winner to receive market premiere at EFM.
Bruch, Fries to star in 'Babylon Berlin' series
10-Feb-2016The 16-part TVseries Babylon Berlin is based on Volker Kutscher's bestselling crime thrillers.
Dieter Kosslick's Berlin days
9-Feb-2016In his 15th year as festival director, the Berlinale's Dieter Kosslick discusses the 2016 line-up with Martin Blaney and his plans to further grow the festival.
Dutch investor resurrects Helkon Media
2-Feb-2016Jasper M. de Gier will relaunch the company, which was declared insolvent 13 years ago.
Clive Owen, Alba Rohrwacher join Meryl Streep on Berlin jury
2-Feb-2016Festival to honour David Bowie, Alan Rickman and Ettore Scola through special screenings; security to be tightened.
Slovenia big winner at When East Meets West co-pro forum
27-Jan-2016Sonja Prosenc's History Of Love scooped three prizes at the co-production forum.
Picture Tree readies German distribution push
25-Jan-2016Elisabeth Scharang's Jack, Simon Jaquemet's War (Chrieg) earmarked for local distribution.
Trieste forum hosts Grozeva/Valchanov, Ribeiro, Giurgiu projects
22-Jan-2016When East Meets West (WEMW) co-production forum received record number of submissions.
Austrian filming incentive tightens entry criteria
21-Jan-2016Spectre and Fog In August among projects to tap into incentive.
Tallinn: 'Erik Stoneheart', Screen Best Pitch winner
18-Jan-2016Estonia's Ilmar Raag and Evelin Soosaar-Penttilä of Amrion Ltd. were the recipients of the latest Screen International Best Pitch Award at Tallinn's Baltic Event for their film project 'Erik Stoneheart'.
Berlinale chief talks security and refugee initiatives ahead of 2016 edition
12-Jan-2016Festival adapts to recent security concerns and adds initiatives for refugees.
German box office hits record $1.22bn in 2015
8-Jan-2016Local hits such as Fack Ju Göhte 2 helped score a record year in Germany - even before the release of Star Wars.
The 54 films to tempt festival directors in 2016
6-Jan-2016From debut feature directors to seasoned veterans, Screen looks ahead to the films most likely to tempt international festival directors in 2016
German-Israeli doc programme adds 'Angry Indian Goddesses' co-producer
21-Dec-2015EXCLUSIVE: Collection of shorts due to screen as omnibus film at German and Israeli festivals in 2017.
'Das Boot' (1981)
18-Dec-2015Director: Wolfgang Petersen (Germany)
Germany gets multi-million euro production boost
16-Dec-2015International film and TV co-production fund opens as Studio Babelsberg begins work on new backlot.
European Film Awards full of political resonance
13-Dec-2015Paolo Sorrentino's Youth was among the big winners on an evening of political messages.
'The Lives Of Others' team reunite on German-language drama
11-Dec-2015German regional fund also backs Austrian Oscar-winner of The Counterfeiters.
EC unveils controversial content portability plans
9-Dec-2015Plans to implement cross-border portability of content spark industry concern.
Film Republic signs San Sebastian title 'Pikadero'
9-Dec-2015EXCLUSIVE: San Sebastian and Zurich comedy-drama gets UK sales company.
Box office analysis 2015: Russia
27-Nov-2015SCREEN SUBSCRIBERS: Weak local titles are suffering in the face of particularly strong product from Hollywood and a dwindling art-house sector in 2015.
Appeal rejected for jailed Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov
26-Nov-2015The 20 and 10-year sentences meted out to Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov's and his co-defendant Aleksandr Kolchenko have been upheld by the military division of the Russian Supreme Court.
MEPs make recommendations on DSM strategy
23-Nov-2015The European Union's Digital Single Market (DSM) Strategy has occupied the minds of members of the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) ahead of a meeting of EU Audiovisual and Culture Ministers in Brussels this week.
Jailed Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov could be traded in prisoner exchange
23-Nov-2015The possibility of a prisoner exchange has been mooted ahead of the Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov's appeal against his 20-year sentence before Russia's Supreme Court tomorrow (Nov 24).
Eurimages unveils 'innovative projects' initiative
20-Nov-2015Lab Projects to support unconventional films.
National funders react to Tallinn audience with Ansip
20-Nov-2015Funding executives were upbeat about European Commission Vice-President Andrus Ansip's statements on the place of the film sector within the Digital Single Market (DSM) strategy.
Box office analysis 2015: Germany
20-Nov-2015SCREEN SUBSCRIBERS: A slapstick comedy has become the biggest local film of all time in what is set to be the most successful year at the German box office in history.
Ukraine joins EU's Creative Europe programme
19-Nov-2015Ukraine has become the seventh European Union (EU) neighbouring country to join the Creative Europe this year.
EC's Andrus Ansip talks DSM plans
19-Nov-2015European Commission vice-president Andrus Ansip failed to allay industry concerns about plans for copyright reform as part of the the Digital Single Market (DSM) strategy when he spoke on the second day of the European Film Forum in Tallinn.
EC's DSM strategy given short shrift at Tallinn forum
18-Nov-2015The European Commission's proposed Digital Single Market (DSM) strategy for the film industry has been given short shrift at the opening of the European Film Forum in Tallinn.
European Shooting Stars 2016 jury unveiled
18-Nov-2015Also… former Shooting Star joins Jan Forsström's The Great Bear, pitched at this week's Baltic Event.
Amadeus takes Tallinn title 'The Find'
18-Nov-2015Amadeus Entertainment has picked international sales for the Russian film The Find (Nakhodka) by Victor Dement.
Lithuania scores Baltic Event hat-trick
18-Nov-2015Estonian project Erik Stoneheart wins Screen Best Pitch Award.
Estonia to join tax rebate club in 2016
18-Nov-2015Estonia is to become the latest European country to join the tax rebate club attracting foreign productions to shoot at its locations.
'The Tribe' director in first Ukraine, Norway co-pro
17-Nov-2015Luxembourg, the second feature by The Tribe director Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy, is set to become the first ever co-production between Ukraine and Norway.
Bodrov, Mokritsky films win development funding
17-Nov-2015New projects by Sergei Bodrov and Sergei Mokritsky awarded development funding by Russian Cinema Fund
BBC, C4 respond to AV Media Services consultation
16-Nov-2015UK broadcasters BBC and Channel 4 and industry bodies FIAPF and EFADs are among more than 400 organisations and private individuals who responded to the European Commission's (EC) public consultation on the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD)
Russia's Ministry of Culture demands 'Dau' producer return funding
16-Nov-2015Russia's Ministry of Culture is calling for Phenomen Films, the producer of Ilya Khrzhanovsky's marathon project Dau, to return $340,000 (RUB22.5m) in production funding as well as $120,000 (RUB8m) in interest.
Reel Suspects picks up Lithuanian drama 'King's Shift'
16-Nov-2015EXCLUSIVE: Paris-based sales agent Reel Suspects has taken on international sales for Lithuanian director Ignas Miskinis' third feature, King's Shift (previously known as Deadweight).
Copyright on agenda at Ansip meeting with European filmmakers
13-Nov-2015A delegation of film industry professionals discussed the EC's proposed copyright reform with vp Andrus Ansip.
New German Film Law in the pipeline
11-Nov-2015Proposals for a new German Film Law (FFG) have been revealed in a "discussion draft" by the State Ministry for Culture and Media (BKM) a week ahead of a top-level film industry summit in Berlin.
DSM update: "portability" in first tranche of copyright proposals
10-Nov-2015Enhancing cross-border portability of content throughout Europe will be included in a ¨Communication on the modernisation of the EU copyright rules¨ as part of the European Commission's Digital Single Market (DSM) strategy to be unveiled on December 9.
Croatia big winner in Cottbus; Iceland to the fore in Lübeck
9-Nov-2015Dalibor Matanic's The High Sun wins hat trick at Cottbus.
Ukraine, Georgia winners at connecting cottbus
6-Nov-2015In other Cottbus news, F&ME boards The Disciple and Macedonia backs Sugar Kid.
Ukraine lands major fantasy film shoot
5-Nov-2015Olias Barco shooting Polina with international cast.
Tverdovsky starts shooting second feature
4-Nov-2015Ivan I. Tverdovsky's second feature Zoology starts production at locations in Russia tomorrow (Nov 5) a year after he took home four prizes from FilmFestival Cottbus for Corrections Class.
Russia's Supreme Court to hear Sentsov appeal
3-Nov-2015Russia's Supreme Court will hear the appeal against Ukrainian filmmaker's Oleg Sentsov's 20-year sentence on November 24.
Wolfgang Petersen comes home
2-Nov-2015It's a kind of closing of the circle for German-born Hollywood director Wolfgang Petersen with his latest film project Vier gegen die Bank.
Russia's ArtDocFest confirms first titles
2-Nov-2015Festival runs in St Petersburg and Moscow from Dec 9-16.
'Brothers' wins DOK Leipzig's Golden Dove
2-Nov-2015New festival director Leena Pasanaen also talks future plans.
Wide House to sell 'Hitler's Hollywood'
30-Oct-2015Sales agent Wide House is to be reunited with German filmmaker Rüdiger Suchsland on his next documentary Hitler's Hollywood for delivery next year.
Wolfgang Petersen returns to Germany for Warner Bros crime caper
28-Oct-2015Veteran German director Wolfgang Petersen is set to make his first film in Germany for 30 years.
DSM: Oettinger stresses special case for film industry
27-Oct-2015The principle of territoriality should be preserved for the European film industry in the European Commission's (EC) plans for a Digital Single Market (DSM) strategy, according to Günter Oettinger, European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society.
'Alaska Is A Drag' wins in Wroclaw
26-Oct-2015Round-up of news from the sixth American Film Festival and US in Progress showcase.
Norway, Belgium join expanded distribution initiative
23-Oct-2015EXCLUSIVE: Norway's Arthaus and Belgium's Imagine Film Distribution have joined an expanded second edition of the distribution initiative launched last year by Poland's Gutek Film with FestivalScope as SCOPE50.
Jim Carrey thriller 'True Crimes' sets Krakow shoot date
22-Oct-2015EXCLUSIVE: Principal photography on thriller True Crimes, starring Jim Carrey, will begin in Poland's Krakow on Nov 7.
Screen pitch winners among Baltic Event line-up
21-Oct-2015Former winners of Screen International's Best Pitch Award are among the producers with projects at the co-production market during the 14th edition of Tallinn's Baltic Event (Nov 16-18).
Germany's One Two Films to co-produce Laura Dern-starrer 'The Tale'
20-Oct-2015Berlin-based One Two Films is making its first foray into Stateside production as the co-producer on Jennifer Fox's fiction feature debut The Tale, which begins shooting at locations in Louisiana today (Oct 20).
LFS's Ben Gibson to join Berlin film school amid student protests
19-Oct-2015Ben Gibson, former director of the London Film School (LFS), is set to become the first non-German director of Berlin's German Film & Television Academy (dffb).
Connecting Cottbus to feature new projects from Ruman, Ostrochovský
16-Oct-2015The East-West co-production market has selected 10 projects this year, down from 13 in 2014.
Denmark, Iceland dominate Lübeck Nordic competition
14-Oct-2015The German festival will screen Grimur Hákonarson's Rams, Tobias Lindholm's A War and Klaus Harö's The Fencer in its 2015 programme.
MEPs vote to reverse Creative Europe budget cuts
13-Oct-2015The reformed draft budget will now be put to vote at the European Parliament.
'Mustang', 'Nice People' among Filmfest Hamburg winners
12-Oct-2015Festival favourite Mustang took the festival's art cinema prize, while documentary Nice People won the audience award.
Germany calls for cultural diversity guarantee in TTIP talks
9-Oct-2015The German government has issued a clear call for guarantees of diversity in the areas of culture and media in the ongoing TTIP free trade negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the US.
Leipzig to host Mansky, Belc, Gordillo world premieres
8-Oct-2015New films by Vitaly Mansky, Alexandru Belc and Joseph Gordillo are among the world premieres in competition at this year's DOK Leipzig (Oct 26 - Nov 1).
Gore Verbinski, Wim Wenders projects secure German finance
7-Oct-2015Iranian director Shirin Neshat to also receive support from German fund.
Nordic focus at Leipzig co-production meeting
6-Oct-201535 projects will be presented to 70 potential partners.
Diaphana picks up 'Young Karl Marx'
29-Sep-2015France's Diaphana Distribution has picked up Haitian-born Raoul Peck's long-gestating project, The Young Karl Marx.
Gay docu-drama 'The Circle' to screen at Russia's EFP showcase
29-Sep-2015St Petersburg's EFP showcase will features eight titles this year.
Russia's Gosfilmofond plans Cannes alternative
29-Sep-2015Russia's National Film Foundation Gosfilmofond is planning an alternative international film festival to be staged in Nice during next year's Cannes Film Festival.
'Concrete Night', 'They Have Escaped' win in Helsinki
28-Sep-2015Pirjo Honkasolo's Concrete Night and J-P Valkeapään's They Have Escaped were among the winners at the Finnish Film Week (Sept 18-24) in Helsinki.
EastWest picks up hamster drama 'Raffi'
26-Sep-2015Vienna-based sales agent EastWest Distribution has picked up international distribution for Raffi (Rettet Raffi) by the German film-maker Arend Agthe.
German Directors' Guild nominates 'Labyrinth of Lies', 'Summers Downstairs'
25-Sep-2015Oscar submission Labyrinth of Lies and comedy drama Summers Downstairs are among films on the shortlist for the Metropolis 2015 directing prize awarded by the German Directors' Guild.
'1944' producer turns to comedy with 'The Reunion' remake
25-Sep-2015The Danish comedy The Reunion (Klassefesten) from 2011 is being given an Estonian remake by 1944's producer Kristian Taska of Taska Film.
'Dragonfly' doc named best pitch at Finnish Film Affair
24-Sep-2015Once I Was A Dragonfly was selected from 10 works in progress presented to the festival's jury.
Mannheim to honour Olivier Assayas
22-Sep-2015Clouds of Sils Maria director to receive Master of Cinema Award.
'Summers Downstairs' wins at Oldenburg
21-Sep-2015Tom Sommerlatte's debut Summers Downstairs (Im Sommer wohnt er unten) was picked by the audience at this year's Oldenburg International Film Festival (Sep 16-20) for the German Independence Award.
EC to launch geo-blocking consultation
18-Sep-2015Also… European Parliament lends support to jailed Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov.
'Ida' wins at Polish Film Institute Awards
17-Sep-2015Ida producer Opus Film and distributors Against Gravity and Next Film were among the winners at the 8th Polish Film Institute Awards.
Lithuanian-Polish industry talk co-pros...on the high seas
14-Sep-2015Ahead of the Gdynia Film Festival, Lithuanian and Polish industry took part in a co-production meeting with a difference.
Sokurov's 'Francofonia' scores sales
10-Sep-2015EXCLUSIVE: Films Boutique has racked up a slew of sales for Russian director Alexander Sokurov's Francofonia, following its world premiere at Venice last week.
Mannheim-Heidelberg fest adds TV strand
8-Sep-2015International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg is the latest film festival to dedicate a section to quality television serial drama with the launching of a new competition for the New Creators Award.
Venice: Makhmalbaf dedicates award to Oleg Sentsov
7-Sep-2015Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf has dedicated the Robert Bresson Award to imprisoned Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov.
Match Factory reunites with Sam Garbarski on 'Bye-Bye Germany'
4-Sep-2015EXCLUSIVE: The Match Factory is working again with Belgian director Sam Garbarski on international sales for his new feature film, starring Moritz Bleibtreu and Alba Rohrwacher.
EU cuts MEDIA Programme budget for 2016
3-Sep-2015Creative Europe's MEDIA sub-programme's budget has been set at $116.3m, down from $117.5m in 2014.
Films Boutique to sell Ofir Raul Graizer's 'The Cakemaker'
2-Sep-2015Drama will explore gay relationships as well as connections between Israel and Germany.
Oldenburg grows as discovery channel
1-Sep-2015Festival director Torsten Neumann speaks to Martin Blaney about this year's Oldenburg film festival, an event dubbed 'the German Sundance'
Arthouse exhibitors criticise EU bonus scheme
27-Aug-2015Arthouse exhibitors from Poland to Venezuela have added their voices to the chorus of disapproval about Europa Cinemas' new bonus payment scheme to promote partnerships between cinemas and online distribution platforms.
International outrage at Oleg Sentsov verdict
26-Aug-2015The sentences handed down by a Russian military court to the Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov and activist Alexander Kolchenko have provoked a wave of international protest.
Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov sentenced to 20 years
25-Aug-2015Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov has been sentenced to 20 years in a verdict passed today (Aug 25) by a military court in Russia's Rostov-on-Don.
Sokurov, Fedorchenko show solidarity with Sentsov
24-Aug-2015Russian filmmakers Alexander Sokurov and Alexey Fedorchenko are among the latest to speak out in public in support of their Ukrainian colleague Oleg Sentsov.
Producers Lab Toronto unveils 2015 line-up
24-Aug-2015The UK's Hanan Kattan, Germany's Peter Rommel and Canada's Chantelle Kadyschuk are among those selected for this year's Producers Lab Toronto (PLT).
'The Norm' adaptation to be pitched at Venice Market
21-Aug-2015An adaptation of Vladimir Sorokin's bestselling novel The Norm is among eight film projects to be presented at a pitching forum in Venice by Roskino in cooperation with the Venice Film Market on Sept 6 .
EC's "ill-conceived idea" under fire from exhibitors
20-Aug-2015The European Commission has come under fire from exhibitor associations for the introduction of a new bonus payment scheme in the Europa Cinemas network's deadlines to promote partnerships between exhibitors and online distribution platforms.
State prosecutor calls for 23 years for Sentsov
19-Aug-2015Oleg Sentsov and co-defendant Aleksandr Kolchenko are currently standing trial in Rostov, Russia.
EU to support S Med filmmakers with $2.2m
18-Aug-2015A total 120 projects from Morocco to Syria are set to be supported over the next three years by the new $2.2m (€2m) ICAM programme co-funded the European Union.
Serbia joins tax incentive club
17-Aug-2015Serbia has become the latest country to offer tax incentives to international film and television productions when they shoot in the territory.
S Korea's 'Right Now, Wrong Then' wins top prizes at Locarno
15-Aug-2015The Golden Leopard of Locarno Film Festival's 68th edition went to Right Now, Wrong Then by South Korea's Hong Sang-soo.
'Wonderland' producers in Hot Spot with Oscar winner
13-Aug-2015Producers plan feature debut of Student Academy Award winner Talkhon Hamzavi.
Locarno round-up: Swiss films headed to Mexico, Brazil
12-Aug-2015Swiss cinema is to be put in the spotlight in Mexico and Brazil over the next two years.
Oldenburg fest to host EFA nomination jury
11-Aug-2015EXCLUSIVE: Germany's Oldenburg International Film Festival is to play host to the nomination committee for the European Film Awards' European Discovery - Prix Fipresci for the first time this year.
Locarno: Algeria wins trio at Open Doors
11-Aug-2015Algerian filmmakers were the big winners when the awards were handed out today (Tues) at Locarno's Open Doors co-production lab, this year dedicated to the Maghreb region.
Locarno: 'Sand Storm' wins First Look on Israel
11-Aug-2015Film about female empowement in a conservative Bedouin community wins showcase.
Locarno round-up: Film Republic takes Carte Blanche title
10-Aug-2015In other news: Doc Alliance winner revealed; Viennale boss signs to 2018; update to reports of Tunisian filmmakers pulling titles.
Tunisian filmmakers exit Locarno in Israel protest
7-Aug-2015Tunisian filmmakers have withdrawn projects destined for Locarno's Open Doors co-production lab in protest at the festival's refusal to drop the Israeli focus in the Industry Days' revamped First Look showcase.
Locarno round-up: Swiss cinema goes international
7-Aug-2015Swiss filmmakers' activities at home and abroad are to be given a welcome boost by the introduction of new financial instrument - the Film Standort Schweiz (FiSS) – and a new government decree for international cooperation.
Vyborg to show Stalin drama
6-Aug-2015Yevgeny Yevtushenko's 1990 drama Stalin's Funeral, starring Vanessa Redgrave as an English journalist, will be shown at Vyborg's "Window on Europe" Film Festival of Russian Cinema (Aug 7-13)
Locarno 2015: Industry Days
6-Aug-2015Locarno's sixth annual Industry Days (Aug 8-10) is bigger than ever, thanks to the latest rollout of networking initiatives.
Locarno 2015: Beyond borders
6-Aug-2015Locarno's annual co-production lab will this year shine the spotlight on up-and-coming film-makers from the Maghreb region.
Locarno's Marco Solari slams corruption claims
5-Aug-2015Locarno Film Festival president Marco Solari has hit out claims that festival sponsors' invitations to more than 80 Swiss politicians could be construed as corruption or trying to curry influence.
'Captain America: Civil War' benefits from new German funding
4-Aug-2015Studio Babelsberg's co-production of the upcoming Captain America sequel and Steven Quale's action film The Lake are to benefit from new German funding specifically targeted at VFX studios.
"Breakthrough" for defence in Oleg Sentsov trial
3-Aug-2015Key prosecution witness retracts testimony.
'Lucifer' wins Wroclaw Grand Prix
3-Aug-2015Miguel Gomes' Arabian Nights wins FIPRESCI Jury prize at New Horizons festival.
'Ida' producer readies first project with own company
31-Jul-2015Ewa Puszczynska, a producer on Pawel Pawlikowski's Oscar-winning Ida, is preparing the first feature project of her own new company.
Mohsen Makhmalbaf to preside over Russia's On The Edge jury
30-Jul-2015Filipino director Lav Diaz among jury members.
Martine Reicherts named Creative Europe head
28-Jul-2015Xavier Prats Monné to take a new EC role.
Verbinski, Barron, von Trotta backed by German funds
24-Jul-2015Funds MDM and FFF Bayern are providing more than $9.4m (€8.6m).
Tavernier warns of EC's "carte blanche for US cinema"
23-Jul-2015Veteran director Bertrand Tavernier has criticised vice-president Andrus Ansip's intentions for the Digital Single Market.
Tobis Film to return to production
22-Jul-2015German distributor of Southpaw, Transcendence to return to production.
Skolimowski, Bajon in Gdynia competition
21-Jul-2015New films by Jerzy Skolimowski, Filip Bajon and Marcin Wrona are among selected titles.
Women directors victorious in Odessa
20-Jul-2015Deniz Gamze Ergüven's Mustang and Eva Neymann's Song Of Songs among winners; industry awards.
Georgia and Ukraine to join tax rebate club
17-Jul-2015Hosts of Michel Hazanavicius's The Search and Transporter 3 set to add rebates; Ukraine to join Creative Europe framework.
Historic Kiev cinema eyes return after arson attack
14-Jul-2015Zhovten cinema was victim of arson attack during festival's LGBT sidebar; Baltic to Black Sea development network launched in Odessa.
EU project spotlights Arab women filmmakers
10-Jul-2015Arab women filmmakers will be one of the key priorities in a new European Union-backed initiative, the MedFilm Programme, for the South Mediterranean countries from Morocco to Syria.
Odessa presents new projects by Slaboshpytskiy, Mansky, Bartas
8-Jul-2015New film from The Tribe director among projects at Odessa.
StudioCanal to sell Nazi euthanasia drama 'Fog In August'
7-Jul-2015EXCLUSIVE: StudioCanal to handle world sales on Kai Wessel's wartime drama.
'For Some Inexplicable Reason' wins Grand Prix at VOICES
6-Jul-2015Germany's Burhan Qurbani wins best director prize for We Are Strong. We Are Young.
Creative Europe's 'level playing field' plans under fire
2-Jul-2015EXCLUSIVE: Plans by the European Commission (EC) to create a level playing field between high and low production capacity countries in its Creative Europe MEDIA sub-programme have come increasingly under fire from film distributors in the larger EU Member States.
Oleg Sentsov trial "not before end of July"
30-Jun-2015EXCLUSIVE: The trial of the detained Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov is expected "not before the end of July", according to his cousin Natalja Kaplan.
Locarno gets investment boost
26-Jun-2015Festival gets five-year commitment from regional government.
'Losers' triumphs in Moscow
26-Jun-2015Veteran Bulgarian actor Ivaylo Hristov's third feature film as director, the coming-of-age tale Losers, won the Golden St. George Prize for best film on Friday at the 37th edition of the Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF), which ran from June 19-26.
Silvestrov's 'The Ice Hole' wins Screen's first Moscow prize
24-Jun-2015Producer-director Andrey Silvestrov's The Ice Hole was named the winner of the first Screen International Best Pitch Award at the Moscow Business Square (MBS).
Schipper's 'Victoria' victorious at German Lolas
22-Jun-2015Sebastian Schipper's Victoria was the big winner at this year's German Film Awards, taking home six statuettes from its seven nominations including the Golden Lolas for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Lead Actor.
Creative Europe set for 8% budget boost
17-Jun-2015EXCLUSIVE: European Union plans to increase Creative Europe's budget by 8% for 2016.
New funds boost German, French film industries
16-Jun-2015Co-production between Germany and France is set to be given an additional boost with the creation of two new development funds.
Digital Single Market on MPAA agenda
12-Jun-2015The European Commission's plans for a Digital Single Market (DSM) were high on the agenda as the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) held its annual strategy meeting in Berlin for first time.
Ukraine bans 'Under Electric Clouds'
10-Jun-2015Alexey German Jr.'s Under Electric Clouds has become the first high-profile title to fall victim to Ukraine's new distribution ban on Russian films and TV series, which came into effect last week.
'Call Me Marianna' wins four in Krakow
8-Jun-2015Feature about gender reassignment wins international documentary competition.
Tzoumerkas, Csaszi among new Nipkow intake
5-Jun-2015EXCLUSIVE: Greece's Syllas Tzoumerkas and Hungary's Adam Csaszi are among 13 international filmmakers selected to each spend three months in Berlin as part of the Nipkow Programme residency.
New Brüggemann, Ranisch films in Munich Fipresci premiere
4-Jun-2015New films by Dietrich Brüggemann, Alex Ranisch and Philip Koch are to be judged by Munich Film Festival's first ever Fipresci jury in its New German Cinema sidebar at this year's forthcoming edition (June 25 - July 4).
European films win online distribution funding boost
2-Jun-2015Creative Europe's MEDIA sub-programme is to boost its funding for the online distribution of European films this year.
Krakow focus on Lithuania; Polish doc showcase
29-May-2015Lithuanian documentaries will be in the spotlight at this year's 55th Krakow Film Festival (May 31-June 7) which opens with Krzysztof Kopczynski's The Dybbuk. A Tale Of Wandering Souls.
Moscow Business Square to spotlight Finland, Austria
27-May-2015The film industries of Finland and Austria will be under the spotlight at the 7th Moscow Business Square (MBS) (June 21-22).
Euro commissioners differ on Digital Single Market views
26-May-2015Commissioners singing from different song sheets as European funders reiterate their views on Digital Single Market strategy
EU ministers discuss Digital Single Market strategy
20-May-2015European media and culture ministers discussed the European Commission's plans for a Digital Single Market (DSM) at this week's Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council in Brussels.
Fiction version of 'The Forecaster' planned
19-May-2015Screenplay for the feature film is being written by the US screenwriter Matthew Wilder
VOICES call for Polish cinema focus
19-May-2015Krzysztof Zanussi's Foreign Body to screen as part of Russian festival's Polish cinema focus.
Locarno nabs Doc Award from Cannes
17-May-2015Locarno Film Festival is to host the 8th Doc Alliance Selection (DAS) Award, after being announced during Cannes for the past seven years .
Venice, London next stops for European Film Forum
17-May-2015As the European Commission limbers up for its second European Film Forum in Cannes on Monday (May 18), plans are already afoot to take the audiovisual summit to the film festivals in Venice, San Sebastian, London and Tallinn.
David Kross to portray legendary goalie "Bert" Trautmann
15-May-2015EXCLUSIVE: German actor David Kross, who appeared opposite Kate Winslet in Stephen Daldry's Oscar-winning The Reader, has been cast as the legendary German-born goalkeeper Bernd 'Bert' Trautmann who was in goal for Manchester City from 1949 to 1964.
Ruzowitzky to direct Hesse adaptation 'Narcissus and Goldmund'
14-May-2015EXCLUSIVE: Oscar-winning Austrian director Stefan Ruzowitzky (The Counterfeiters) is to direct Hermann Hesse's 1930 international bestseller and cult novel Narcissus and Goldmund.
Oettinger throws down gauntlet to European cinema
13-May-2015EXCLUSIVE: On the eve of his first visit to the Cannes Film Festival, European Commissioner Günther Oettinger has challenged the European film industry to deliver evidence supporting their calls for maintaining the territoriality principle.
Sentsov now a year in detention in Russia
12-May-2015Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov's detention by the Russian authorities has been extended by yet another two months to July 11.
Cannes: German firms line up market premieres
11-May-2015m-appeal has picked up Argentinian director Gabriel Lichtmann's How To Win Enemies ahead of the Marché du Film in Cannes.
World of Locations: Austria
8-May-2015Austria has emerged as an attractive location in the last 12 months — and not just for film-makers looking for snow.
World of Locations: Germany
8-May-2015Germany's well-established network of federal and state funds, and efficient film infrastructure means many big footloose productions base themselves in the territory.
Cannes: Media Luna adds four to slate
8-May-2015EXCLUSIVE: Films by Petri Kotwica and Jan Prusinovský are among four new titles acquired by Media Luna New Films ahead of next week's Cannes Marché.
Film industry "concerned" over Digital Single Market plans
7-May-2015The European Commission's Digital Single Market (DSM) Strategy has failed to allay growing concerns within the European film and TV industries about the Brussels-based institution's response to the digital revolution.
Europe unveils Digital Single Market strategy
6-May-2015Proposals include an end to "unjustified geo-blocking" and a modernisation of copyright law.
Cannes: EC drops MEDIA Prize
5-May-2015EXCLUSIVE: Talks underway for a new European Audience Prize.
Roskino, Russian Cinema join forces for Cannes
1-May-2015Roskino and Russian Cinema are joining forces for the first time to present companies in the Russian Pavilion at the forthcoming Marché du Film in Cannes.
'No One's Child', 'Koza' win at Wiesbaden
29-Apr-2015Serbian director Vuk Rsumovic's No One's Child and Slovak filmmaker Ivan Ostrochovský fiction debut Koza were the big winners at the 15th edition of the goEast Festival of Central and East European Film (April 22-28) in Wiesbaden.
Euro commissioner looks to drop VOD geo-blocking
28-Apr-2015Geo-blocking and territoriality were high on the agenda when European Commissioner Andrus Ansip met with members of the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education for an ¨exchange of views¨ in Strasbourg.
Agnieszka Holland: crisis of content in Euro cinema
27-Apr-2015The European Film Academy's (EFA) chairwoman Agnieszka Holland has spoken of a ¨crisis of content¨ in European cinema and called on the continent's broadcasters to invest more in ambitious TV series.
EC plans Creative Europe changes
23-Apr-2015EXCLUSIVE: The European Commission (EC) is planning changes to its Creative Europe programme from 2016.
'Luna Papa' director Bakhtiar Khudojnazarov dies aged 49
21-Apr-2015Award-winning director's Waiting For The Sea opened the Rome Film Festival in 2012.
Cannes: EFP names 20 Producers on the Move
21-Apr-2015Denmark's Katja Adomeit and Germany's Ingmar Trost among upcoming European producers set to be showcased at Cannes.
Istanbul Meetings winners revealed
17-Apr-2015New projects by Karabey, Aydogan, Sakaoglu among award winners at Istanbul Meetings
Oleg Sentsov's detention extended
14-Apr-2015Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov's detention in Russia's Lefortovo prison has been extended once again - this time until May 11 after a decision by the regional court judge Elena Kaneva.
Bekmambetov animation series sold to North America
13-Apr-2015EXCLUSIVE: Timur Bekmambetov's 3D children's animated series Alisa Knows What To Do! has been picked up for distribution in North America.
Odessa film festival denied state funding
10-Apr-2015This year's Odessa International Film Festival has again been denied any state funding by the Ukrainian State Film Agency (USFA).
Hopeful signs for European copyright reform
9-Apr-2015The European Commission (EC) may be showing some flexibility on its stance towards its plans for copyright reform following extensive protests from the European film and television industries in recent weeks.
'Koza' wins at Vilnius Film Festival
7-Apr-2015Ivan Ostrochovský's boxer drama Koza has been named Best Film at the 20th Vilnius International Film Festival.
Schtonk! director Helmut Dietl dies aged 70
31-Mar-2015The German film and TV industries were mourning on Monday the death of director, writer and producer Helmut Dietl from lung cancer. He was 70.
'Leviathan' producer takes aim with 'Duellist'
30-Mar-2015Fanny Ardant attached to 19th century feature; Vincent Cassel and Vladimir Mashkov eyed for lead role.
'Star Wars' producer readies first Czech-Dutch co-pro
27-Mar-2015EXCLUSIVE: Prague-based US producer Rick McCallum is behind what is likely to be the first official Czech-Dutch co-production with writer-director Karin Babinská's romantic drama Following The Dream (Za Sny).
Oscar-winners join EU copyright plans protest
26-Mar-2015'The Artist' director Michel Hazanavicius leads call against the creation of a Digital Single Market
Moscow film festival to make major cuts
23-Mar-2015Two days cut from festival, competition titles reduced and line-up almost halved in the face of tough economic circumstances.
Film funders warn against copyright changes
17-Mar-2015European film funders warn EU from making "big bang" policy changes to copyright, authors call for fair remuneration
'The Lesson' wins four in Sofia
16-Mar-2015The Lesson by co-directors Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov was the big winner at this year's Sofia International Film Festival in Bulgaria.
Russian producers plan film on murdered TV journalist
10-Mar-2015Film will focus on Russian journalist and TV presenter Vladislav Listyev; Oliver Stone eyed as director.
Oettinger under fire over copyright proposals
9-Mar-2015EXCLUSIVE: European Commissioner receives criticism from major UK, German and French players as well as European producers associations.
Brussels copyright plans meet resistance
5-Mar-2015Resistance is growing within the European film industry to the European Commission's plans for copyright reform as part of its Digital Single Market (DSM).
Russia to back military history films in 2015
2-Mar-2015Crimea and Ukraine-themed films and those showcasing "family values" among those to get support.
Germany's Commerzbank boosts financing to $340m
26-Feb-2015Germany's Commerzbank is prepared to serve as a financier of more international co-productions going forward as it increased its annual financing volume for film and TV production to $340m (€300m) in 2014.
European Parliament calls for copyright reform
25-Feb-2015European Commissioner Günther Oettinger's proposals for a Single European Copyright Title has now received from support from some quarters in the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg.
German distributors score EFM spree
18-Feb-2015German distributors Neue Visionen and Salzgeber & Co. Medien each acquired a raft of new titles at this year's European Film Market (EFM).
Aronofsky hails Berlin's "incredible selection"
16-Feb-2015"An incredible selection" was the verdict given by jury president Darren Aronofsky about the Berlinale's 2015 competition line-up.
New EFM director reflects on first market
13-Feb-2015The European Film Market's Matthijs Wouter Knol ended his first edition as director today confident that the new initiatives introduced had been accepted by the industry.
Kosslick talks ticket dilemma, VOD
12-Feb-2015Berlinale director discusses ticket sales, VOD platforms and the spirit of 'Baumi'.
EFADs: interface with a common voice
11-Feb-2015The European Film Agency Directors (EFADs) association of national funders from 31 countries across Europe met in Berlin this week to discuss key objectives and address future challenges facing the film industry.
EU Commissioner begins Euro film industry talks
9-Feb-2015Keynote at the Creative Europe MEDIA day conference was Oettinger's first face-to-face encounter with the European film professionals.
Eye On Films network expands
9-Feb-2015EXCLUSIVE: EoF channels will now be launched on Spain's Filmin, Turkey's Salonsuz and Chile's Ojocorto.
Doc&Film to sell Gaza-set hybrid
9-Feb-2015EXCLUSIVE: Stefano Savona's Samouni Road mixes live action and animation.
Romania launches first regional fund
8-Feb-2015EXCLUSIVE: Transilvania Film Fund to be launched in April with initial budget of at least €100,000.
Films Distribution acquires Young Karl Marx
7-Feb-2015Company to handle international sales on Raoul Peck's long gestating The Young Karl Marx; key roles cast.
Moritz Bleibtreu to play "culinary Bond"
7-Feb-2015EXCLUSIVE: German actor to star in film version of Tom Hillenbrand's Devil's Fruit.
Pluto Film signs child abuse drama
7-Feb-2015Verfehlung is the German sales agent's first acquisition at the EFM.
Müller signals support for German film industry
6-Feb-2015Müller spoke at the opening of this year's Berlinale last night [Feb 5].
Films Distribution takes Innocent with Ida star
6-Feb-2015EXCLUSIVE: Latest feature from Anne Fontaine has just started principal photography in Poland's Mazury region and stars Ida's Agata Kulesza.
Match Factory picks up The Burglar
6-Feb-2015EXCLUSIVE: Film is Rohlfilm's second collaboration with Israeli film-maker Hagar Ben-Asher following The Slut [pictured].
Cinema Paradiso, Persepolis directors join Berlin, I Love You
4-Feb-2015Directors of Oh Boy, Persepolis and Cinema Paradiso among those to join omnibus film; Ai Weiwei shooting remotely this weekend from Beijing.
EFM: German sales outfit launches in Berlin
4-Feb-2015Berlinale serves as launchpad for new German sales outfit Pluto Film.
EFM: German sales agents line-up premieres
2-Feb-2015Global Screen and Picture Tree International are lining up a number of market premieres to be unveiled at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin later this week.
Berlinale: film industry to meet Euro commissioner
30-Jan-2015European film professionals community will be looking to hear more concrete proposals about future EU policy for film and TV sector when Günther Oettinger, the European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, comes to the Berlinale.
Berlinale director: no plans for German MIP
27-Jan-2015EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Berlinale festival director Dieter Kosslick.
Docs dominate When East Meets West winners
21-Jan-2015Projects from Italy, Ireland, Hungary and Poland were the winners at this year's edition of the When East Meets West (WEMW) co-production market.
New EFM market director talks future plans; debutants revealed
19-Jan-2015EXCLUSIVE: Companies from Panama, US, Middle East to debut at Berlin's EFM; Matthijs Wouter Knol discusses his first six months as market director.
Mitic, Mansky, Jashi projects join East Doc Platform
16-Jan-2015New documentaries by Boris Mitic, Vitaly Mansky and Salome Jashi are among the projects being pitched at this year's East Doc Platform in Prague (March 2-8).
Critics' Week Berlin to be launched
13-Jan-2015Citizenfour, The Cut and Quatsch to screen at Berlinale; Critics' Week Berlin to be launched
Screen Best Pitch winners talk Impaled Rektum
13-Jan-2015The Screen International Best Pitch Award at Tallinn's Baltic Event last December went to Finnish producers Kaarle Aho and Kai Nordberg of Making Movies Oy who were pitching Impaled Rektum with the feature debutants Jukka Vidgren and Juuso Laatio [pictured].
EP calls for balanced funding for Euro cinema
7-Jan-2015The European Parliament has called for more balanced funding for European cinema in order to reach wider audiences within Europe and beyond.
Lucia Recalde Langarica, MEDIA
7-Jan-2015MEDIA's new head of unit, Lucia Recalde Langarica, talks to Martin Blaney about how innovation in technology, people and content can be used to realise Europe's untapped potential
Oscar-nominated director in East Meets West line-up
5-Jan-2015Oscar-nominated UK director Tanel Toom and Estonian documentary maker Jaak Kilmi are among 22 film-makers with film projects in the fifth edition of the When East Meets West (WEMW) co-production forum (Jan 18-20).
Ida wins 2014 LUX Film Prize
17-Dec-2014Ida has continued its winning streak by being voted as the winner of the eighth LUX Film Prize by members of the European Parliament.
MEDIA needs 'balance between continuity and innovation'
17-Dec-2014EXCLUSIVE: New MEDIA head Lucia Recalde Langarica tells Screen about untapped potential in European talent.
Ida is big winner at EFAs
14-Dec-2014UPDATE: Pawlikowski is only third Polish director to win EFA's top prize; Steve McQueen pays tribute to Jean Vigo; Ukrainian diector Oleg Sentsov gets an empty seat at the awards in Riga.
Mother, Modris big winners at new Riga festival
12-Dec-2014New Riga Meetings platform welcomes projects including two projects by Finnish film-maker Aku Louhimies.
Maisie Williams, Joachim Fjelstrup among 2015 Shooting Stars
11-Dec-201410 European actors to be celebrated by EFP in Berlin.
Moldova and Ukraine to join MEDIA
3-Dec-2014Countries are set to have partial participation in Creative Europe's MEDIA sub-programme.
Lucifer, Eddie Redmayne win in Tallinn
1-Dec-2014Redmayne lauded for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.
Finnish comedy wins Screen Best Pitch Award
28-Nov-2014Producers from Finland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Poland and Russia picked up awards at this year's 13th Baltic Event co-production market (Nov 24-28) in Tallinn.
Study spotlights distribution, production funding imblance
25-Nov-2014New study highlights imbalance between funding for distribution and production.
Neumann weighs in on DFFF debate
20-Nov-2014Bernd Neumann, Germany's former State Minister for Culture and Media, has weighed in with his own comments about the discussion on the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) spend incentive.
Berlinale cuts discount by 50%
17-Nov-2014The Berlinale has cut its discounts for festival and market accreditation for next year's film festival.
Euro filmmakers "in shock" over training threat
12-Nov-2014Film-makers across Europe are "in shock" after learning the news that the Nipkow Programm has not received backing from the EU's Creative Europe programme for 2015-2016.
Corrections Class wins four at Cottbus
10-Nov-2014Russia big winner at FilmFestival Cottbus for second consecutive year.
European Parliament calls for more flexibility
5-Nov-2014Changes to release windows could bring larger audiences to European cinema says EP deputy Bogdan Wenta.
Set report: Race
3-Nov-2014From the Berlin set of Jesse Owens story Race, Martin Blaney talks to the producers about their approach to the defining story of the 1936 Olympics.
Life In A Fishbowl wins at Nordic Film Days
3-Nov-2014Iceland'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.
1001 Grams to open Nordic Film Days
29-Oct-2014Norway's submission to the Oscars to open 56th edition; Jihlava docfest winners revealed.
Germany, Italy launch co-pro development fund
28-Oct-2014Co-Production Development Fund launched between Germany and Italy; growing concern about future of German incentive DFFF
Nellis premiere to open Jihlava festival
23-Oct-2014The world premiere of Czech fiction film-maker Alice Nellis' documentary Auditioning For Parenthood will open the 18th Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival tonight (Oct 23).
Pasanen named DOK Leipzig director
21-Oct-2014Finnish documentary expert Leena Pasanen has been appointed as the first non-German in the almost 60-year history of DOK Leipzig to succeed Claas Danielsen as its festival director.
Clouds of Sils Maria to open EFP showcase
15-Oct-2014Olivier Assayas' Cloud of Sils Maria will open European Film Promotion's (EFP) second edition of its WestWind showcase of European cinema in Moscow's Formula Kino Horizont Cinema tonight.
Kozlovsky to star in Russian epic Mathilde
14-Oct-2014EXCLUSIVE: "Russia's Brad Pitt" to star in Alexey Uchitel's period drama.
Ozon wins audience prize in St Petersburg
12-Oct-2014St Petersburg International Media Forum closes inaugural edition with world premiere of Serena.
Sokurov aiming for Cannes with Louvre film
7-Oct-2014Russian Ark director hopes to take Francofonia, Louvre Under German Occupation to the next Cannes Film Festival.
St Petersburg Forum examines Russian co-pros
6-Oct-2014A roundup of news from the inaugural St Petersburg International Media Forum includes a busy French delegation and a local controversy brewing over Leviathan.
Race producers plan to re-team
1-Oct-2014Four producers on Stephen Hopkins' Jesse Owens biopic Race have joined forces to produce English-language features in the future for the international market.
St Petersburg unveils first line-up
1-Oct-2014Last Broadcast director Lance Weiler among those set to deliver masterclasses at the St Petersburg International Media Forum, which opens tonight with Mommy [pictured].
Future Commissioner 'vague' on Euro cinema
30-Sep-2014The European film industry can probably not expect to be high on the agenda of the Commissioner-designate for Digital Economy and Society Günther Oettinger if his grilling by the European Parliament (EP) last night is anything to go by.
Northern Seas Film Forum projects revealed
29-Sep-2014Projects unveiled for the Northern Seas Film Forum at the St Petersburg International Media Forum.
Ida producer to pitch at Connecting Cottbus
25-Sep-2014New projects by the producers of Ida and Crulic are among 13 selected from Albania to Ukraine to be pitched at this year's Connecting Cottbus East-West co-production market (November 6-7).
Gods reigns supreme in Gdynia
22-Sep-2014Lukasz Palkowski's Gods was the big winner at this year's annual showcase of Polish cinema at the Gdynia Film Festival which ended with a gala awards ceremony at the weekend.
MEDIA moving house, Swiss cash for distribution
16-Sep-2014Creative Europe's MEDIA sub-programme is set to come under the responsibility of the Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society to reflect the future role of the digital shift in the development of the creative content industry in Europe.
Restored Deluge to open Gdynia
15-Sep-2014Restored, re-edited version of The Deluge to open Michal Oleszczyk's first year at Gdynia
When East Meets West expands beyond Europe
11-Sep-2014Trieste's When East Meets West (WEMW) co-production market is to cast its net wider to include North America for the first time.
German funds foster links with Norway, Denmark
9-Sep-2014Closer collaboration is being promoted by two German public film funds and opposite numbers in Norway and Denmark.
Zübert set for English-language debut
8-Sep-2014EXCLUSIVE: Tour de Force director to adapt TC Boyle's cult novel Water Music.
Stampfer and Vogelbacher launch IFP
7-Sep-2014IFP will advise international film and TV productions "in the areas of film financing and the provision of technical services with a special focus on Germany".
Sokurov, Probst, Bondarchuk back new St. Petersburg event
1-Sep-2014Filmmaker Alexander Sokurov, EFM president Beki Probst and actor-director-producer Fyodor Bondarchuk (Stalingrad) are among the high-profile names backing a new event in St. Petersburg.
EFP launches new producer initiative
28-Aug-2014European Film Promotion (EFP) has launched a new initiative, Producers Lab Hamburg (PLH), bringing producers from across Europe to meet with their Hamburg-based opposite numbers.
K5 to sell Danish post-war story
22-Aug-2014K5 International has taken on distribution for Martin Zandvliet's Land Of Mine (Under Sandet) about a sensitive chapter in Danish post-war history.
Producers Lab Toronto reveals line-up
20-Aug-2014The UK's Isabelle Stead, Canada's George Ayoub and Australia's Kristian Moliere are among those selected for this year's Producers Lab Toronto.
Filipino drama wins top Locarno prize
16-Aug-2014Locarno's Golden Leopard has been awarded to Filipino director Lav Diaz's five-and-a-half-hour epic From What Is Before.
Carlo Chatrian talks Locarno highlights
15-Aug-2014Locarno director talks highlights and UK presence at the festival and looks to 2015.
TFL launches distribution fund
13-Aug-2014Fund is dedicated to supporting audience development strategies; Meanwhile, Beta Cinema has acquired Toronto title Labyrinth of Lies.
Greenaway plans second Eisenstein film
12-Aug-2014Peter Greenaway is to return to the legendary Russian film director Sergey Eisenstein for a second feature, The Eisenstein Handshakes, this time to be located in Switzerland, after the Mexican-set Eisenstein in Guanajato.
Swiss film industry in funding call
11-Aug-2014LOCARNO: Swiss film industry calls for additional $22m (CHF 20m) injection of funding; swift deal on Creative Europe recedes.
Swiss filmmakers in diversity call
7-Aug-2014Young Swiss filmmakers are calling for greater diversity in Swiss fiction production and the introduction of a new funding instrument to support up-and-coming directors.
Aviva Silver returns to EC
6-Aug-2014Aviva Silver, who was head of unit at the MEDIA Programme until June 2013, is set to resume playing a key role in forging future European audiovisual and cultural policy.
Depardieu's Viktor to premiere in Russia
5-Aug-2014New films from Krzysztof Zanussi and Ralph Fiennes to also world premiere at Window To Europe Film Festival.
White Shadow wins in Wroclaw
4-Aug-2014Noaz Deshe's feature debut White Shadow was the big winner at this year's T-Mobile New Horizons in Poland's Wroclaw.
WIDE starts presales on Solstice
1-Aug-2014Wroclaw New Horizons roundup: works in progress include Close Ups and I, Olga Hepnarova.
Locarno 2014: Industry Days steps up
31-Jul-2014Locarno's fifth annual Industry Days (Aug 9-11) will feature an increasingly proactive Swiss presence, as well as a more international approach with STEP IN.
Sundance teams with Polish festival
31-Jul-2014The Sundance Film Festival has entered into a partnership with Poznan's Transatlantyk Film Festival to present a selection of its titles at the forthcoming fourth edition running from August 8-14.
Locarno 2014: a return to Africa
31-Jul-2014In her first year as head of Locarno Film Festival's co-production lab Open Doors, Ananda Scepka brings the focus back to Sub-Saharan Africa. Martin Blaney discovers why
Dominique Pinon joins DuhLess 2
30-Jul-2014French actor Dominique Pinon and Serbia's Milos Bikovic have joined the cast of Roman Prygunov's DuhLess 2, the sequel to his 2012 box-office success based on Sergey Minaev's eponymous novel.
Brazilian delegation set for Locarno
29-Jul-2014Film-maker Kleber Mendoça, who won the FIPRESCI Prize at Rotterdam and Wroclaw's New Horizons for his fiction feature debut Neighbouring Sounds in 2012, will be in Locarno next month as part of an almost 60-strong Brazilian delegation.
Creative Europe to cut budgets
28-Jul-2014Distribution and training programmes face budget cuts in 2015.
New Horizons Studio talent revealed
25-Jul-2014Young filmmakers to participate in the 5th New Horizons Studio.
K5 Independent takes Father
23-Jul-2014K5 Independent is to handle international sales for Visar Morina's feature debut Father (Babai) which is currently shooting in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Creative Europe names MEDIA head
22-Jul-2014Spanish-born Lucía Recalde Langarica has been named successor to Xavier Troussard as head of the MEDIA sub-programme for Creative Europe.
Odessa International Film Festival
21-Jul-2014Gallery of pictures from the Odessa International Film Festival (July 11-19).
MH17 tragedy overshadows Odessa
21-Jul-2014Talya Lavie's Zero Motivation won the Grand Prix at this year's Odessa International Film Festival (OIFF), overshadowed in its final days by the shooting down of a Malaysian Airways plane.
Dovzhenko biopic secures co-producers
18-Jul-2014Konstantin Konovalov's Odessa-set biopic about the Soviet film director Oleksandr Dovzhenko, Oleksandr Dovzhenko.Odessa-Debut, has already found co-producers in Finland and Argentina.
US majors eye Ukrainian blockbuster
17-Jul-2014Speaking at the Odessa Film Festival the producer of Sergey Mokritsky's war drama Unbroken said that the project had now completed principal photography.
First timers gear up for Locarno
16-Jul-2014EXCLUSIVE: Cinetic, Oscilloscope and Koch Media are among the first-time companies attending the Locarno Film Festival this year.
Buder departs Connecting Cottbus
15-Jul-2014Philipp Bräuer also announces decision to leave Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival.
Odessa honours Frears
14-Jul-2014UK director Stephen Frears has been awarded the Golden Duke Lifetime Achievement Award during the opening ceremony of the fifth edition of the Odessa International Film Festival (OIFF, July 11-19).
Puskepalis in Clinch with Leviathan star
11-Jul-2014Russian actor Sergey Puskepalis is to make his directorial debut and has cast Alexey Serebryakov, star of Cannes winner Leviathan.
Sentsov case heads to Strasbourg
10-Jul-2014The campaign to free Ukrainian film-maker Oleg Sentsov from detention in Russia has been taken to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Still Life wins at VOICES
9-Jul-2014Uberto Pasolini's second feature [pictured] wins at fifth edition of Russian showcase for young European cinema.
Industry mourns Frank Stehling
8-Jul-2014Filmboard Berlin-Brandenburg veteran was most recently MD of Berlin-based PRIMEHOUSE.
Odessa unveils works in progress
8-Jul-2014EXCLUSIVE: The Battle of Sevastopol among 11 projects being presented next week.
Award-winner pulled due to Russian obscenity law
7-Jul-2014EXCLUSIVE: Festival screening of Yes and Yes [pictured] pulled due to Russia's new anti-obscenity law.
German producers 'regret' over €10m cuts proposal
4-Jul-2014Germany's film producers have expressed ¨exceptional regret¨ at learning that Angela Merkel's cabinet has proposed reducing the annual budget for the DFFF ¨German spend¨ incentive by another €10m to €50m in the global federal budget for 2015.
Depardieu eyed for children's fantasy
3-Jul-2014Actor Gérard Depardieu is being considered for a Russian fantasy feature.
Russia fears death of arthouse cinema
2-Jul-2014New legislation banning use of obscene words came into effect yesterday [July 1].
UK Focus at Vologda's VOICES
1-Jul-2014UK film-makers are in the spotlight at the fifth edition of Vologda's VOICES festival (July 4-8), which will open with Ken Loach's Cannes Competition film Jimmy's Hall.
First MBS deals announced
30-Jun-2014EXCLUSIVE: Among the deals, Mexico's In Films We Trust will buy a package of eight Russian films from Timur Bekmambetov's Bazelevs.
Japan is big winner in Moscow
29-Jun-2014Japan was the big winner at this year's Moscow International Film Festival which ended on Saturday evening with the Golden St. George trophy for best film going to Kazuyoshi Kumakiri's My Man (Watashi-No Otoko) [pictured].
Bondarchuk says Battalion will top Stalingrad
27-Jun-2014Stalingrad 3D's producer-director Fyodor Bondarchuk has a US major in his sights for the national and international distribution of the forthcoming Russian war film, Battalion Of Death, set during the First World War.
Russian 'leaders' pitch projects to RCF
26-Jun-201431 projects were presented by nine Russian production houses at a pitching to the Russian Cinema Fund.
Bondarchuk prepared to bleep obscenities
25-Jun-2014Leading Russian actor-director-producer Fyodor Bondarchuk has indicated that he is prepared to bleep out the obscenities in Valeria Gai Germanika's new film Yes And Yes (Da I Da) to ensure its Russian theatrical release.
Framestore, David Kelly board Mexican Cold War film
24-Jun-2014EXCLUSIVE: The UK's Framestore and producer David P. Kelly are set to partner on a $5m Mexican Cold War feature Lunik III, pitched at this week's Moscow Business Square (MBS).
Patrick Cassavetti boards Lenin?!
23-Jun-2014EXCLUSIVE: Veteran UK producer Patrick Cassavetti has boarded Marat Alykulov's black comedy Lenin?!.
Creative Europe chief to step down
20-Jun-2014EXCLUSIVE: Xavier Troussard to leave after 12 months in role.
Serbia first non-EU country to sign Creative Europe agreement
19-Jun-2014Serbia has become the first non-European Union country to sign up and participate in the European Union's new Creative Europe programme.
EC backs Berlinale, Rotterdam funds
18-Jun-2014Co-production funds run by the Berlin and Rotterdam film festivals and a new day-and-date initiative are among new projects by supported by the European Commission (EC).
The Tribe wins at Tarkovsky fest
17-Jun-2014Ukrainian feature wins Grand Prix at 'Zerkalo' Andrey Tarkovsky International Film Festival.
Sentsov's lawyer speaks out
12-Jun-2014Ukrainian film-maker "cruelly beaten", threatened with rape and isolated from lawyers.
Red Army, Apes to bookend Moscow
12-Jun-201435th edition of the festival runs June 19-28.
Berlinale and Cannes winners competing in Odessa
11-Jun-2014Peter Webber to head jury, David Puttnam to deliver lecture during fifth edition of the Ukranian festival.
Thilo Rothkirch dies aged 65
11-Jun-2014European animators mourn passing of producer-director Thilo Rothkirch.
UK and Latin America focus at 6th MBS
10-Jun-2014Moscow Business Square (June 21-24) runs parallel to the Moscow International Film Festival.
Test wins at Kinotavr
9-Jun-2014Alexander Kott's love story [pictured] awarded the Grand Prix and the prize for best cinematography.
Transilvania Trophy goes to Spain
8-Jun-2014The Transilvania International Film Festival's (TIFF) main prize went this year to Spanish film-maker Rodrigo Sorogoyen's Stockholm as the week-long festival came to a close on June 8.
Transilvania reveals first grants
6-Jun-2014An observational documentary and two fiction films are the first projects to be supported by the Transilvania Film Festival Fund (TFFF).
Leviathan producer named Russian leader
5-Jun-2014Non Stop Productions, producer of Cannes winner Leviathan, is among nine "industry leaders" selected by the Russian Cinema Fund (Fond Kino) to take a share of $55m (RUB1.9bn).
Jeunet's Spivet to open Munich
4-Jun-2014Jean-Pierre Jeunet's The Young and Prodigious Spivet will be the opening film at this year's Filmfest München (June 27-July 5) after Jeunet previously kicked off the festival in Munich in 2001 with Amelie From Montmartre.
Fack Ju producer moves to Constantin
3-Jun-2014Lena Schömann, producer of box office hit Fack Ju Göhte (Suck Me Shakespeer), is switching to Constantin Film after 12 years at the distributor-producer's subsidiary Rat Pack Filmproduktion.
Russian cash for Solondz, Fiennes projects
2-Jun-2014Films by Todd Solondz, Ralph Fiennes and Andrei Konchalovsky as well as an adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky's White Nights, starring Daniel Brühl, are among 12 projects to be supported by Russia's Ministry of Culture this year.
Transilvania expands industry offering
30-May-2014A gala open-air screening of Stephen Frears' Philomena will tonight (May 30) launch the Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF) which is expanding its industry dimension for its 13th edition.
Cannes winner to head Kinotavr jury
29-May-2014After winning Best Screenplay at Cannes for Leviathan, Andrei Zvyagintsev is to head the jury at the 25th "Kinotavr" Open Russian Film Festival in Sochi.
Helma Sanders-Brahms dies aged 73
28-May-2014The German film industry is mourning the passing of film-maker Helma Sanders-Brahms, one of the leading women directors of the New German Cinema with a broad international following, at the age of 73 after a long illness.
EU-US free trade talks under fire
27-May-2014The TTIP free-trade talks between the EU and US continue to come under fire from a growing chorus of European film-makers and EU Culture Ministers.
EC backs online distribution
22-May-2014€5.5m will be made available for online distribution initiatives.
Ukrainian director arrested by Russian Secret Service
18-May-2014Oleg Sentsov has been allegedly "kidnapped" by the FSB.
Swiss industry quietly confident about return to MEDIA
18-May-2014As Swiss producers, distributors and cinema-owners gather in Cannes, those dark days of February's Berlinale seem far away when the Swiss referendum on an ¨ Initiative against mass immigration¨ looked like resulting in the Swiss industry being denied access in future to the EU's Creative Europe programme.
Rohfilm to reunite with Asher
18-May-2014EXCLUSIVE: Berlin-based production house to team up with The Slut director on Deadsea.
Distribution analysis to be presented in Cannes
16-May-2014Findings of analysis into three new distribution strategies to be presented today.
ARP Seléction picks up Maidan
15-May-2014EXCLUSIVE: Sergei Loznitsa's documentary world premieres as a special screening in Official Selection.
Russia sets two stands at Cannes
13-May-2014Roskino and Russian Cinema Fund to make presentations.
Gold for Reitz's Home From Home
10-May-2014The Golden Lola for best feature film went to veteran director Edgar Reitz's Home From Home - Chronicle of a Vision at the German Film Awards.
Beta boards Jim Broadbent drama
9-May-2014EXCLUSIVE: Beta Cinema will handle international sales on German director Isabelle Stevers' grotesque drama Cooking Cats, which began shooting in Cologne last week.
Comedy on Films Boutique's Cannes slate
8-May-2014EXCLUSIVE: Comedies dominate Films Boutique's line-up of market premieres at next week's Marché du Film in Cannes.
Latin American docs triumph in Nyon
5-May-2014Documentaries from Latin America were the big winners at this year's Visions du Réel (April 25-May 3) in Switzerland's Nyon.
Sacro GRA gets triple day-and-date
2-May-2014Doc Alliance lines up triple day-and-date premiere with Venice winner.
Global Screen, Picture Tree reveal Cannes market premieres
30-Apr-2014New films by actor-director Matthias Schweighofer, Marco Kreuzpaintner, Robert Glinski, and Bettina Oberli are among the titles being lined up by German sales agents Global Screen and Picture Tree International (PTI) for the Marché du Film in Cannes next month.
German producers join Ataman project
29-Apr-2014Detailfilm reunites with director Kutlug Ataman following their collaboration on The Lamb.
Media Luna takes five for Cannes
25-Apr-2014EXCLUSIVE: New films by Dominique Deruddere, Alfonso Zarauza and Chus Gutiérrez are among five new titles acquired by Cologne-based Media Luna New Films ahead of Cannes' Marché du Film.
Love & Engineering to open Visions du Réel
23-Apr-2014Tonislav Hristov's Love & Engineering is to open the 20th edition of the Visions du Réel documentary film festival.
EFP names Producers on the Move 2014
23-Apr-2014UK's Tristan Goligher and Germany's Henning Kamm among upcoming European producers set to be showcased at Cannes.
Warner Bros. Germany secures Madame Bovary
22-Apr-2014Warner Bros. Germany has picked up German-speaking European rights for Sophie Barthes' new adaptation of Gustave Flaubert's classic novel Madame Bovary, which is currently in post production.
Ida wins at Wiesbaden's goEast
16-Apr-2014Pawel Pawlikowski's Ida received the Skoda Film Prize for Best Film at Wiesbaden's goEast – Festival of Central and Eastern European Film, which ended with the awards ceremony on Tuesday evening (April 15).
Greenaway receives CNC support
14-Apr-2014Other projects supported by Romania's film fund include Cristian Mungiu's RMD and Tudor Giurgiu's Apropierea.
Screen Int'l winner wins fresh funding
10-Apr-2014EXCLUSIVE: Screen award-winner among seven features funded by Lithuanian Film Centre (LFC).
German fund budget cut by $14m
9-Apr-2014Plans by the German government to slash the budget for incentive programme DFFF by €10m ($13.8m) has surprised the film community.
R&C boards 'explicit sex' project
8-Apr-2014Berlin-based sales outfit Raspberry&Cream (R&C) is partnering with Jürgen Brüning Filmproduktion to co-produce Like Cattle Towards Glow, which aims to achieve a new way of portraying sex on screen.
European creatives talk industry future
7-Apr-2014Film-makers Stephen Frears, Béla Tarr, Costa-Gavras, and veteran theatre director Peter Brook are among 50 leading figures of the European creative community to sign a declaration "For a New Deal for Culture in Europe."
Japanese Dog wins at Vilnius
4-Apr-2014Romania was the big winner at Vilnius' Kino Pavasaris (Cinema Spring) festival with Tudor Cristian Jurgiu's feature debut Japanese Dog was named Best Film in the New Europe - New Names competition.
Putin eyes Crimean film scene
3-Apr-2014Ahead of this week's NIKA Awards ceremony in Moscow, Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin heard the plans by Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky to re-launch the film festival in Crimea's Yalta and the festival for children's cinema in the small resort town of Gurzuf.
Constantin retains German crown
2-Apr-2014Constantin Film has been named by the German Federal Film Board (FFA) as the nation's top producer of German films for the ninth consecutive year in 2013 and the top distributor for the tenth consecutive year.
Former EFP president dies aged 56
31-Mar-2014Éva Vezér, the former European Film Promotion (EFP) president, died at the weekend following a serious illness.
Greenaway planning second Eisenstein film
27-Mar-2014Gosfilmofond to collaborate with Greenaway [pictured] on Eisenstein Among Friends; director is currently shooting Eisenstein in Guanajuato.
Keeper wins big at Swiss Film Awards
24-Mar-2014I Am The Keeper, Dreamland and Father's Garden win at Swiss Film Awards; First Saas-Fee Filmfest honours Soldate Jeannette and Love Steaks.
Filmart 2014: Russia steps it up
24-Mar-2014The territory is responding to China's growing interest in Russian films by establishing a pavilion to raise its profile at Filmart.
UK's Amadeus join Russia's Filmart stand
24-Mar-2014UK sales agent Amadeus Entertainment has joined the Russian Cinema umbrella stand at Hong Kong's Filmart, which begins today (March 24).
Karl Baumgartner, obituary
19-Mar-2014International co-production and co-production markets around the globe will not be the same now following the news that the internationally respected German producer-distributor Karl Baumgartner has died at the age of 65.
Sevastopol festival chief thanks Putin
19-Mar-2014Elena Naumova praises Russian president Putin's agreement to annex Crimea and Sevastopol.
Prague to honour Kosslick, Wajda
18-Mar-2014Berlinale festival director Dieter Kosslick and veteran Polish film-maker Andrzej Wajda are to receive the Kristian Award for their Contributions to World Cinema at this week's Prague International Film Festival – Febiofest.
Blind Dates takes top Sofia prize
17-Mar-2014Georgia was the big winner at the 18th edition of the Sofia International Film Festival (SIFF) which closed at the weekend with the Grand Prix for Best Film and Best Director award going to Levan Koguashvili's second feature Blind Dates.
Festival chiefs back Ukrainian colleagues
14-Mar-2014EXCLUSIVE: Call for directors, producers and sales agents to give their films for free to festivals in troubled Ukraine.
Kiri Trier moves from Fox to ARRI
12-Mar-2014Trier to develop in-house projects and co-productions at the Munich-based company.
Bekmambetov to direct Yolki 1914
11-Mar-2014Timur Bekmambetov's first outing as a director since his Hollywood film Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter sees him going back in time again to the beginning of the First World War at the end of 1914.
Jarmusch, Wajda to open Prague
7-Mar-2014Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive and Andrzej Wajda's Walesa: A Man Of Hope will open this year's ¨Febiofest¨.
Ukrainian film funder forced to resign
5-Mar-2014International colleagues have expressed concern at the news that Kateryna Kopylova, head of the Ukrainian State Film Agency since December 2010, was forced to resign her post at the end of last week.
Picture Tree plants US deals
5-Mar-2014Berlin's Picture Tree International (PTI) has secured several deals with US distributors, following its debut as an exhibitor at the European Film Market (EFM).
Odessa festival reacts to Ukraine unrest
3-Mar-2014With the conflict between Ukraine and neighbouring Russia escalating over the weekend, the organisers of the Odessa International Film Festival (OIFF) have reaffirmed their determination to stage the fifth edition from July 11-19.
Mira Fornay project among Sofia Meetings
26-Feb-2014New films by Mira Fornay, Radu Jude and Stephan Komandarev are among the projects to be pitched at this year's Sofia Meetings (March 13-16).
EFM deals: Protagonist, Wide, Gaumont
24-Feb-2014Protagonist Pictures, Wide, Gaumont and TF1 International have concluded fresh deals in Germany with features from this year's European Film Market.
Yann Demange's '71 sells to Germany
21-Feb-2014EXCLUSIVE: German distributors have revealed further acquisitions concluded at last week's European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin.
Beta secures Berlin winner deals
19-Feb-2014EFM: Brisk business for Beta Cinema; Pandastorm buys five.
Camino to move into production
18-Feb-2014EXCLUSIVE: Camino Filmverleih, distributor of Berlinale Competition titles Stations of the Cross and Jack, is to make a foray into production this year.
Russians close EFM deals
17-Feb-2014UK distributor Signature Entertainment's acquisition of 3D animation feature The Snow Queen and its sequel was one of several deals signed at the Russian Cinema stand at this year's European Film Market (EFM).
Asian triumph at the Berlinale
16-Feb-2014Asia was the big winner at the 64th Berlin Film Festival, taking home four Bears, including the Golden Bear for Best Film and Silver Bear for Best Actor (Liao Fan) for Diao Yinan's Black Coal, Thin Ice (Bai Ri Yan Huo).
Life of Riley wins Berlin's Fipresci prize
14-Feb-2014Veteran French director Alain Resnais' latest feature Life Of Riley (Aimer, Boire et Chanter) has received the Fipresci International Critics Prize as the Best Film in the 64th Berlinale's Competition.
EFM boss defends 2014 market
14-Feb-2014EXCLUSIVE: Beki Probst, head of Berlin's European Film Market (EFM), has hit back at claims that the 2014 edition was "sluggish" or "lukewarm" while the Berlinale Co-Production Market has handed out its awards.
German box office topped €1bn in 2013
13-Feb-2014German cinemas generated more than €1bn ($1.37m) at the box office in 2013 for the second year running.
Tiger winner sold to Germany
13-Feb-2014EXCLUSIVE: Outplay Films has sold Rotterdam winner Something Must Break to Germany and closed a brace of other film sales elsewhere in Europe.
Cannes Critics' Week launches initiative
12-Feb-2014Cannes' Critics' Week project to support the next generation of film critics plus news on plans for the 36th Moscow film festival and changes at Odessa.
Eye on Films channel coming to Cinecliq
12-Feb-2014Global network to launch stand-alone VoD channel on the New York-based platform.
'Home' wins top German Critics Award
11-Feb-2014Edgar Reitz's Home From Home [pictured] wins best film, while Katrin Gebbe's Cannes 2013 title Tore Tanzt wins best debut.
Capricci boards Wounded Angel
11-Feb-2014EXCLUSIVE: Second feature from Kazakh film-maker Emir Baigazin to be co-produced by French production company.
Robert Redford & Wim Wenders, Cathedrals of Culture
11-Feb-20143D project receives its world premiere on Feb 12 in the Berlinale Special sidebar.
Swiss membership of Creative Europe in doubt
10-Feb-2014Switzerland's future membership of the European Union's Creative Europe framework programme has been thrown into doubt after yesterday's vote in favour of new immigration curbs.
ARRI finds homes for Reitz's Home
10-Feb-2014EXCLUSIVE: ARRI Media Worldsales closes number of deals on Edgar Reitz's latest feature.
Cathedrals of Culture gathers buyers
10-Feb-2014EXCLUSIVE: 3D film project sells to the likes of Australia and Poland.
Lars Wiebe joins SquareOne
9-Feb-2014Wiebe [pictured] appointed head of German productions as company expands its production activities into Germany.
Weingartner making English debut
9-Feb-2014Hans Weingartner's to make first English-language film for Praia do Futuro producer Hank Levine.
EFM debut for LGBT sales arms
9-Feb-2014LGBT sales company with Rotterdam/Gothenburg film and further four titles
Weydemanns re-team with Harper
8-Feb-2014Ahead of the world premiere of Los Ángeles [pictured], Damian John Harper has announced his next project with Weydemann Brothers.
Bavaria Pictures unveils slate
8-Feb-2014EXCLUSIVE: Everardo Gout's $35m adaptation of The Postcard Killers heads up slate.
Studio Hamburg to release Zulu
7-Feb-2014Zulu lined up as first release for Studio Hamburg Enterprises.
Ant!pode adds raft of titles
6-Feb-2014EXCLUSIVE: Slate includes Garry Bardin's animation trilogy Three Strains - Rondo, Exodus, Elegia and Anna Melikyan's The Star.
Exponenta takes Saint Petersburg
6-Feb-2014EXCLUSIVE: Debut feature from Andrey Khvostov [pictured] tells the story of a young Brit who discovers he has a secret half-brother in Russia.
Raspberry & Cream gets Fucking Different
6-Feb-2014EXCLUSIVE: Latest compliation of shorts from Kristian Petersen premiere in Panorama.
Swiss filmmakers launch distributor
6-Feb-2014Vinca Film will handle theatrical release of their documentaries and films in Switzerland.
ARRI sells Little Ghost to US/Canada
3-Feb-2014ARRI Worldwide secures North American deal ahead of the EFM, where it will showcase two market premieres.
Keanu Reeves sci-fi heads to Babelsberg
31-Jan-2014Brian Kirk's feature debut, sci-fi romance Passengers, starring Keanu Reeves and Rachel McAdams, is set to be Studio Babelsberg's first international production for 2014.
German sales agents grab festival films
29-Jan-2014New films by Michael Tully, Denis Coté, Göran Hugo Olsson and Maximilian Leo are among the latest pickups by German sales agents Films Boutique and Media Luna.
Russian sales agent takes IFFR title
29-Jan-2014Fledgling Russian sales agent Ant!pode Sales & Distribution has picked up international distribution for Oksana Bychkova's Another Year (Esche odin god).
Future of German film funding secured
28-Jan-2014The future of German film funding is secure after a ruling today by the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe against an action filed by the multiplex chain UCI.
Berlinale Kamera for Baumgartner
28-Jan-2014In more Berlinale news, two new episodes of House of Cards to be shown on festival closing day.
Love Steaks wins Berlin slot
27-Jan-2014Slamdance winner won the Max Ophüls Prize at the weekend, granting it a slot in the Berlinale.
EastWest takes six including Whispers
24-Jan-2014Vienna-based sales agent EastWest Distribution has picked up six new titles including Rotterdam premiere Whispers Behind The Wall.
East Meets West winners named
22-Jan-2014Projects from Bulgaria, Belgium and Macedonia have picked up prizes at the When East Meets West (WEMW) international co-production meetings in Trieste.
EFM director talks 2014 market
22-Jan-2014EXCLUSIVE: Beki Probst, market director at Berlin's European Film Market (EFM), talks about the debut of South African filmmakers at the market and how the figures compare to last year's event.
Global Screen unveils EFM line-up
21-Jan-2014Frauke Finsterwalder's tragicomic Finsterworld and a new screen adaptation of the children's classic Pinocchio are among five market premieres being unveiled by Munich-based Global Screen at next month's EFM in Berlin.
Kosslick talks Berlinale challenges
20-Jan-2014EXCLUSIVE: The return of the Zoo-Palast cinema to the Berlinale's roster of screening venues is "the greatest challenge facing us this year," according to festival director Dieter Kosslick.
Picture Tree unveils EFM slate
17-Jan-2014Berlin-based sales and production company Picture Tree International (PTI) has secured distribution rights to four new titles ahead of this year's European Film Market (EFM).
First Berlinale 2014 prize awarded
14-Jan-2014Sandra Kaudelka and Sebastian Metz have been named joint winners of the Berlinale's third "Made in Germany" prize.
Russian minister revives film quota plans
14-Jan-2014Russia's Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky has revived proposals for screening quotas for Russian films in cinemas
EC to probe studios' pay-TV deals
14-Jan-2014Hollywood's five major studios' licensing agreements with leading European pay TV operators such as the UK's BSkyB and France's Canal+ are to be investigated by the European Commission (EC).
EFM first-timers line up
13-Jan-2014More than 20 companies have already been confirmed as first-time exhibitors at next month's European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin.
Fack Ju Gohte leads 2013 German BO
10-Jan-2014Austria's local hits led by documentary Alphabet; Local film boom in Switzerland.
Kristijonas Vildziunas & Uljana Kim, Seneca's Day
9-Jan-2014Martin Blaney talks to the director and producer of Seneca's Day, winner of the best pitch award at the 2013 Baltic Event.
Berlinale grows market venues
8-Jan-2014Berlinale Paula and Perspektive prizes confirmed.
Raspberry&Cream boards Pierrot Lunaire
7-Jan-2014Bruce LaBruce's film [pictured] will have its world premiere at Berlinale; Beta Cinema picks up Alain Gsponer's Solothurn opener Akte Grüninger.
Russian government to boost film funding
6-Jan-2014Meanwhile, Russia pulls the plug on its co-development fund with Germany.
Benelux focus at When East Meets West
19-Dec-2013Benelux is the regional focus for Trieste's fourth edition of its When East Meets West (WEMW) co-production forum (January 20-22, 2014) being held during the Trieste Film Festival.
Physician producers open to sequels
17-Dec-2013Beta sells other territories on the film based on Noah Gordon's trilogy of books.
German-French fund backs Pitts, Sokurov
17-Dec-2013New films by Rafi Pitts [pictured], Alexander Sokurov, Benoit Jacquot and Volker Schlöndorff are among 12 projects backed by the German-French "Mini-Traité" Co-production Fund in 2013 with a total of over €3m.
New Europe Coalition planned
13-Dec-2013A coalition of film professionals from the EU's new Member States is likely to be one of the results of the Audiovisual Summit in Warsaw this week.
Holland: Europe's "mental Iron Curtain"
13-Dec-2013A "mental Iron Curtain" has formed between Western and Eastern Europe, according to Polish film director Agnieszka Holland.
Set report: Trash
13-Dec-2013Stephen Daldry's Trash built an enormous dump filled with fake rubbish. Martin Blaney visited the set on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro.
EC's Vassiliou sets out 2014 agenda
8-Dec-2013Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism, and Youth, has outlined key elements of her agenda for the European audiovisual industry in 2014.
The Great Beauty wins top EFA
8-Dec-2013Other winners included Love Is All You Need, The Act of Killing, The Congress and The Broken Circle Breakdown.
EU targets production, audience growth
5-Dec-2013The European Union will invest €3.4m in co-production funds and audience development for the first time as part of its Creative Europe programme for the cultural and creative sectors from January 1.
Ex-Central Partnership boss launches Dreamteam
3-Dec-2013The Russian distribution sector is gaining a new player with the launch of Dreamteam.
Great Beauty wins EurAsia Grand Prix
3-Dec-2013Sorrentino's Cannes hit wins at Tallinn's Black Nights Film Festival.
Baltic Event hands out five awards
2-Dec-2013Producers from Lithuania, Romania, Denmark and Finland were the recipients of five awards presented at the Baltic Event's Co-Production Market (Nov 26-29).
Euro producers get €4m Creative Europe boost
29-Nov-2013The European Union's support for the development of independent producers' projects will receive an extra €4m annually from 2014 as part of Creative Europe's MEDIA sub-programme.
Concussion lands Russian deal; Perez goes to US
27-Nov-2013Lesbian drama release a bold move given anti-gay legislation in Russia.
Netflix "open" to Euro investment
22-Nov-2013Netflix is "open" to investing in original European series and feature films, according to Christopher Libertelli, vp of global public policy at the US VoD provider.
Creative Europe approved by European Parliament
19-Nov-2013The European Union's Creative Europe framework programme has been given a resounding vote of confidence by the European Parliament.
German distribs close AFM deals
19-Nov-2013EXCLUSIVE: New films by David Cronenberg, Quentin Dupieux and Lone Scherfig are among the titles acquired by German distributors at this year's AFM.
Europe's Cinema Communication unveiled
14-Nov-2013The European Commission (EC) has finally adopted a new Communication on state aid for films and other audiovisual works.
Tallinn market projects revealed
12-Nov-2013New projects from Pakalnina, Louhimies and Kilmi at Tallinn market.
Geographer wins Cottbus top prize
11-Nov-2013Films from Russia, Kosovo and Serbia were the main winners at this year's FilmFestival Cottbus and its parallel East-West co-production market Connecting Cottbus.
Berlinale accreditation fee up 25%
8-Nov-2013The Berlinale has introduced a 25% price hike for festival accreditation for next year's film festival (Feb 6-16).
Pounding Heart wins at DOK Leipzig
4-Nov-2013DOK Leipzig's Golden Dove for Best International Documentary went to the US, while Norway scored a hat-trick at the Nordic Film Days in Lübeck.
Polish genre festival unveils line-up
1-Nov-2013Poland's first international genre film festival to host European premiere of Tsui Hark 3D Sea Dragon
Arab spring film wins at Jihlava
29-Oct-2013Arab spring compilation wins Jihlava's main award; Best Czech film for HBO-backed doc
Pan-Euro pacts ahead of Creative Europe
28-Oct-2013Two new pan-European alliances are in the process of being created ahead of the launching of the European Union's Creative Europe framework programme in January 2014.
German sales agents unveil AFM titles
23-Oct-2013German sales agents have revealed a raft of market premieres to be presented at the forthcoming American Film Market (AFM) (Nov 6-13).
Tykwer to direct first TV series
22-Oct-2013EXCLUSIVE: German director Tom Tykwer is to direct his first TV series, Babylon Berlin, as an internationally financed, German-language production.
Ida triumphs in Warsaw
21-Oct-2013Pawel Pawlikowski's Ida scored a second top festival prize in one night, after success in London.
Emerging Producers named at Jihlava
18-Oct-2013Nearly 20 rising documentary filmmakers named at the Czech Republic festival.
Stalingrad best opening for Russian film
14-Oct-2013Actor-director Fedor Bondarchuk's $30m war spectacle Stalingrad has had the strongest opening ever for a locally produced film with $14.3m takings from 1,400 screens across Russia on its first weekend.
Pasolini, Polanski to bookend Warsaw
11-Oct-2013Uberto Pasolini's Still Life to open this year's Warsaw Film Festival (WFF) tonight, which will close with Roman Polanski's Venus In Fur on Oct 20.
Media Luna sells four to Brazil
10-Oct-2013EXCLUSIVE: Cologne-based Media Luna New Films has closed deals for four titles to be theatrically released in Brazil.
FCC strikes sympathetic note for German film funding
9-Oct-2013Multiplex chain UCI will be hoping its ten-year odyssey to secure a ruling for its action against the constitutional nature of the German Film Law (FFG) will have a happy end at the Federal Constitutional Court.
Rio spotlights co-production
7-Oct-2013Brazilian producers' growing interest in co-production was under the spotlight at this year's RioMarket, held alongside the Rio International Film Festival.
Vassiliou, industry discuss cinema communication
1-Oct-2013European commissioner meets delegation including Amanda Nevill, Peter Dinges to discuss cultural diversity.
Von Gunten tackles climate change
1-Oct-2013Look Now! will release ThuleTuvalu [pictured] in Swiss cinemas in early 2014.
Ascot acquires Tracks from HanWay
28-Sep-2013Swiss distributor Ascot Elite Entertainment has acquired all German rights from HanWay Film Sales for John Curran's Tracks.
FAMA lines up country and western doc
28-Sep-2013Switzerland's fascination with the Wild West and country music is one of the next projects for Zurich-based FAMA Film, which has produced Anne Thommen's Zurich title Neuland.
Dares producer works on debuts
28-Sep-2013Germany's Zum Goldenen Lamm Filmproduktion, the producer of Marc Rensing's The Woman Who Dares which has its world premiere at Zurich, is currently shooting the feature debuts from Marc Brumund and Christina Schiewe.
Warsaw, Brindisi, Cottbus reveal projects
26-Sep-2013New films by Krzysztof Zanussi, Merab Kokochashvili and Jan Cvitkovic are among the projects from Eastern Europe being presented at platforms in Warsaw, Brindisi and Cottbus in the coming weeks.
Hooligan film barred over "human rights" issues
23-Sep-2013Anton Bormatov's social drama Kicking In taken out of competition over "human rights" issues.
Russian director forgoes funding in gay row
19-Sep-2013Kirill Serebrennikov to look abroad to finance his planned biopic on the composer Piotr Tchaikovsky following a heated debate about the composer's sexuality.
EFP reveals Busan line-up
18-Sep-2013Albert Serra and Pawel Pawlikowski are among 23 European film-makers who will be presenting their films in person as part of European Film Promotion's (EFP) Opening Doors programme at this year's Busan International Film Festival (Oct 3-13).
Creative Europe guarantee facility delayed
17-Sep-2013The guarantee facility scheme planned as part of the Creative Europe framework programme is now not expected to begin fully operating until 2016.
Keanu Reeves eyes Finnish thriller
16-Sep-2013EXCLUSIVE: Keanu Reeves has been approached to star in Antti J. Jokinen's thriller The Criminal about organised crime in Finland and Russia.
Ant!pode adopts Fedorchenko's Baby
8-Sep-2013EXCLUSIVE: Fledgling Russian sales outfit Ant!pode Sales & Distribution will handle international sales for Alexey Fedorchenko's adaptation of the Strugatsky brothers' sci-fi novella Baby.
Eternal Return travels to US, Germany
7-Sep-2013EXCLUSIVE: Rights to The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas have been sold by m-appeal to North America and Germany ahead of its North American premiere in Toronto.
New Russian fund backs three
2-Sep-2013The recently created Saint-Petersburg-based Point Of View (POV) Development Fund has backed three film projects a total of $86,000 (€65,000).
Germany selects Two Lives for Oscars
28-Aug-2013Georg Maas' Two Lives (Zwei Leben) has been selected as Germany's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 86th Academy Awards.
Picture Tree takes two Toronto titles
23-Aug-2013Berlin-based sales agent Picture Tree International (PTI) has picked up two Toronto titles – Mary Queen Of Scots and Metalhead – for international distribution.
Russia readies first online premiere
22-Aug-2013Russia's new anti-piracy legislation will be put to the test with the country's first online premiere ahead of a theatrical release.
Serra's Death wins Locarno Golden Leopard
18-Aug-2013Europa Cinemas Label awarded to Tableau Noir; Fipresci prize goes to What Now? Remind Me. Talk of Marco Mueller's return with new Palazzo project.
Godard, Meier join Sarajevo omnibus
14-Aug-2013EXCLUSIVE: Jean-Luc Godard and Ursula Meier are among 14 directors set to participate in an omnibus film that will mark next year's centenary of the First World War.
'Chechnya' wins top Locarno co-pro prize
13-Aug-2013Film-makers from Georgia were the big winners at the Open Doors awards ceremony at the Locarno Film Festival.
Swiss move into talks for Creative Europe membership
12-Aug-2013European Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou also talks about future funding for Locarno festival.
Locarno roundup: Wetlands stirs controversy
12-Aug-2013Social media platforms ban explicit trailer for Wetlands.
Match Factory strikes deals for Locarno films
7-Aug-2013EXCLUSIVE: The Match Factory has signed a raft of deals for Sam Garbarski's Vijay And I and David Wnendt's Wetlands ahead of their world premieres in Locarno.
Walesa producer plans Polish Mafia film
31-Jul-2013EXCLUSIVE: Poland's Akson Studio, producer of Andrzej Wajda's Venice title Walesa. Man Of Hope, is preparing a film set in the world of the Polish mafia.
Kosslick to "godfather" SOFA training
29-Jul-2013Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick is to serve as a "godfather" to the new training venture School of Film Agents (SOFA) and has revealed he wants attract more TV product to Berlin's EFM.
Celestial Wives wins at Wroclaw
29-Jul-2013Rural Russian film takes top prize at Poland's New Horizons International Film Festival.
Manana to produce Floating director's third film
26-Jul-2013EXCLUSIVE: Piotr Kobus' distribution-production company Manana is to produce Tomasz Wasilewski's third feature which aims to go into produciton at the end of 2014.
Wroclaw awards Best Pitch prize
25-Jul-2013New Horizons Studio's Best Pitch prize has been awarded to Aleksandra Terpinska for documentary comedy project Czech Swan.
Odessa International Film Festival
22-Jul-2013Photos from the 4th Odessa International Film Festiva, which ran from July 15-23.
The Geographer wins at Odessa
22-Jul-2013Russian director Alexander Velidinsky's The Geographer Drank His Globe Away was the big winner at the 4th Odessa International Film Festival (OIFF).
New territories eye Creative Europe
18-Jul-2013Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia could be among six potential new members of the European Union's (EU) forthcoming Creative Europe programme, which is expected to begin operations from January 2014.
In Bloom wins at VOICES
15-Jul-2013Co-directors Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross' second feature In Bloom has continued its successful run of winning prizes by picking the Grand Prix at the 4th edition of the Vologda Independent Cinema From European Screens Festival (VOICES).
Draft Cinema Communication fails to dispel industry concerns
15-Jul-2013The European Commission's latest draft Cinema Communication on state aid for films and other audiovisual works has failed to dispel major concerns expressed by various sections of the European film industry, particularly about proposed territorialisation guidelines.
St Petersburg to join 'Cities of Love' series
2-Jul-2013Russia's St Petersburg, the "Venice of the North", is set to join Paris, New York and Berlin celebrated in the Cities of Love omnibus franchise.
Tepegöz's Zerre wins top Moscow prize
1-Jul-2013Turkish director Erdem Tepegöz's social drama The Particle (Zerre) has won the Golden George for Best Film at the 35th Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF).
Russian co-pro development fund launched
26-Jun-2013The St Petersburg-based P.O.V. Development Fund has been launched with a budget of $130,000 (€100,000) to encourage international co-productions with Russian producers attached as lead or delegate producers.
Russia's Luxor nabs new Nevsky
25-Jun-2013Russian distributor Luxor has picked up the upcoming film from actor/producer Alexander Nevsky, Black Rose, shooting in Moscow until July 7.
Moscow prepares launch; Media Luna nabs two
19-Jun-2013As this year's Moscow International Film Festival readies for launch, Germany's Media Luna New Films has picked up international distribution rights to a title in competition at the 35th edition.
Mixed reaction to AV exclusion
18-Jun-2013Trade ministers' decision to exclude audiovisual services from EU-US free trade agreement has provoked a mixed reaction from European film-makers and politicians.
AV services excluded from EU-US talks
15-Jun-2013European Trade Ministers agreed on Friday evening (June 14) in Luxembourg to a negotiating mandate for the forthcoming EU-US free-trade talks which excludes audiovisual services.
Compromise possible for AV sector in EU-US talks
14-Jun-2013France may be stopped from using its veto to stop free-trade talks beginning soon with the US.
Moscow Co-Pro Forum unveils line-up
12-Jun-2013New projects by Peter Greenaway, Pavel Lungin and Valeria Gai Germanika are among 18 feature films selected to be pitched at the fifth edition of Moscow Business Square's Co-Production Forum.
Barroso labelled "dangerous" for Euro culture
12-Jun-2013The European film industry and European Commission (EC) at loggerheads over the question of the "cultural exception", as director Costa-Gavras and The Artist actress Bérénice Bejo weighed in to the debate.
Transilvania International Film Festival
11-Jun-2013Photos from the 12th Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF) , which ran from May 31 to June 9.
Ship of Theseus triumphs at Transilvania
10-Jun-2013The debut feature of India's Anand Gandhi adds to prizes won in Dubai and Tokyo.
Cinema Communication deadline extended
4-Jun-2013Deadline for feedback on Cinema Communication extended as EU plans criticised by almost 70 European film funds.
Anthropology boards For The Dogs
3-Jun-2013EXCLUSIVE: New Berlin-based production outfit Anthropology is to be the German partner on Philip Noyce's For The Dogs, which will begin shooting in Germany from August.
EU ploughing $4.6m into digital projects
30-May-2013The European Union's MEDIA Programme is to provide €3.5m ($4.6m) for new initiatives developed for the digital era, which must be launched from January 2014.
Germany's Alamode nabs Warmest Colour
29-May-2013Munich-based distributor Alamode Film has picked up Palme d'Or winner Blue Is The Warmest Colour for Germany.
German firms score Cannes sales
29-May-2013ARRI Worldsales, M-appeal and Ascot Elite reveal new deals secured at Cannes' Marché du Film.
Schlöndorff returning to US
23-May-2013EXCLUSIVE: Montauk, which will be loosely based on Max Frisch's eponymous novel, will also see Schlöndorff [pictured] reunited with the Swiss author's work for the first time since 1992.
ARRI'S Ploe scores pre-sales
22-May-20133D animation [pictured] sells to CIS, China and South Korea, among others.
Wenders: loss of 'cultural exception' would be disaster
20-May-2013German director Wim Wenders has waded into the increasingly fractious debate about the "cultural exception" possibly being abandoned in new trading relations between the EU and US. Wenders has insisted that the European film industry must have state subsidy and support if it is to survive.
Senator expands into Switzerland
14-May-2013Germany's Senator Entertainment is to expand its distribution activities into Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein through an exclusive cooperation with Zurich-based Praesens-Film from June 1 and will also include distribution via DVD/Blu-Ray and VoD.
Media Luna, ARRI ready market debuts
14-May-2013German sales companies Media Luna New Films and ARRI Worldsales have unveiled a raft of new titles being premiered at Cannes' Marché du Film,
Vinterberg to receive EU prize
13-May-2013Thomas Vinterberg to receive EU Prix MEDIA in Cannes at beginning of this year's two-day European Rendezvous
Match Factory debuting six at Cannes
10-May-2013New films by Ari Folman, Hany Abu-Assad and Sam Garbarski are among six market premieres being presented at The Match Factory at Cannes' Marché du Film.
German sellers ready Cannes slates
7-May-2013Sales companies Films Boutique, EastWest Filmdistribution and Beta Cinema have a raft of market premieres being lined up to screen at Cannes' Marché du Film.
Russian sales firm to launch at Cannes
7-May-2013New films by Alexey Fedorchenko, Alexander Veledinsky and debutants Natasha Merkulova and Alexey Chupov are on the slate of the new Russian sales company Antipode Sales & Distribution being launched at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
Locarno co-pro projects unveiled
2-May-2013New projects from Ovashvili, Pirveli and Shek selected for Locarno's Open Doors.
Hat-trick for Swiss documentaries
29-Apr-2013Swiss documentaries are currently riding on a wave of success, having picked up main prizes at festivals in Switzerland and Austria at the weekend in addition to the Golden Lola for Markus Imhoof's More Than Honey.
Oh Boy wins six Lolas
27-Apr-2013Oh Boy takes home six Lolas while Cloud Atlas bags five.Separately, European film industry have been engaged in a game of political ping pong with Brussels.
EFP selects Producers on the Move for Cannes
24-Apr-2013European Film Promotion (EFP) selects a record 29 emerging producers for the networking initative, with the Kosovo and Montenegro represented for the first time.
22-Apr-201313th edition of the goEast festival wrapped on April 16 in Wiesbaden, Germany.
The Interval wins best film at Bolzano
22-Apr-2013Leonardo di Costanzo's The Interval was named the best feature film at this year's Bolzano Cinema Festival with a special mention for Stefano Lodovichi's feature debut Aquadro.
In Bloom wins at goEast
17-Apr-2013In Bloom wins the Skoda Award at Wiesbaden's goEast; Visions du Réel opens with Alphée des étoiles
International Women's Film Festival Dortmund
15-Apr-2013Photos from the 2013 edition of the festival, which wrapped yesterday [April 14].
EC reveals Creative Europe budget
15-Apr-2013The European Commission (EC) has issued a revised budget breakdown for the proposed Creative Europe framework programme from 2014-2020.
EC asks for extra €2.5m for MEDIA
8-Apr-2013EXCLUSIVE: 27 initiatives backed by MEDIA Mundus for 2013-2014
EFP extends to Australia, New Zealand
5-Apr-2013European Film Promotion (EFP) is expanding its activities to Australia and New Zealand by welcoming producers from both film industries to participate in the fourth edition of Producers Lab Toronto.
Constantin named top German producer distributor
3-Apr-2013Constantin Film has been named by the German Federal Film Board (FFA) as the nation's most successful producer and distributor of German films for the eighth consecutive year.
EU backs EFP's first Russia push
3-Apr-2013European Film Promotion will make its first foray into the Russian market with a European film event in Moscow this autumn.
Vilnius International Film Festival
2-Apr-2013Photos from the 18th edition of the Vilnius International Film Festival, which ran March 14-28.
Fribourg International Film Festival
26-Mar-2013Photos from the 27th edition of the Fribourg International Film Festival, which ran March 16-23.
Sister tops Swiss Film Awards
25-Mar-2013Ursula Meier's Sister and documentary More Than Honey were the big winners at this year's Swiss Film Awards.
Prague International Film Festival
25-Mar-2013Photos from the 20th edition of the Prague International Film Festival, which ran March 14-22.
EU's Vassiliou seeks to allay French free trade talk fears
22-Mar-2013EXCLUSIVE: In a move to allay French fears about forthcoming free trade talks with the US, the EU's Education and Culture Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has outlined her position publicly for the first time.
Diagonale - Festival of Austrian Cinema
19-Mar-2013The 16th edition of Diagonale took place from March 12-17 in Graz, Austria.
Oh, Boy wins top Sofia prize
18-Mar-2013Jan Ole Gerster's debut Oh, Boy won this year's FocusFox Grand Prix at the Sofia International Film Festival's (SIFF).
ARRI, Trixter form animation alliance
11-Mar-2013Cinematography technology group ARRI and Munich-based animation studio Trixter have forged a strategic alliance to co-produce and sell animation internationally.
Eurimages unveils doc development prize
11-Mar-2013Theatrical documentaries are to benefit from a new Co-Production Development Award being launched by the Council of Europe's support fund, Eurimages.
Post-EFM German deals secured
5-Mar-2013EXCLUSIVE: ARRI Worldsales announces EFM deals. Constantin Film acquires four titles while Ascot Elite pick up six.
EC plans third consultation on state aid
5-Mar-2013European Commission (EC) planning to launch a third round of consultation on its Cinema Communication this spring.
EU pledges $5.6m to digital distribution
26-Feb-2013The European Union is to pledge $5.6m (€4.2m) to VoD platforms and digital cinema distribution (DCD).
Child's Pose wins Berlin's Golden Bear
16-Feb-2013Gloria and An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker also among those to pick up awards in Berlin. The US secured one for Prince Avalanche director David Gordon Green. Browse the Berlinale's full list of winners.
Berlinale boss looks to future
15-Feb-2013EXCLUSIVE: Festival director Dieter Kosslick plans further expansion of Berlin's European Film Market (EFM); first prizes awarded; World Cinema Fund in the spotlight.
Hollywood heads to Germany
13-Feb-2013After a lacklustre year in 2012, Germany is now overwhelmed with Hollywood stars working on films shooting here from George Clooney and Bill Murray to Emma Watson and Michael Douglas.
Made In Germany winner with Youth's One Two
12-Feb-2013The $6.7m (€5m) story about the lives of "Rubble Ladies" in post-war Germany is scheduled to shoot in 2015.
Odessa launches industry platform
12-Feb-2013This year's edition, which will be held during the 4th Odessa International Film Festival (OIFF) from July 12-20.
German Shooting Star Saskia Rosendahl in Qurbani's second feature
11-Feb-2013Principal photography on the teamWorx Ludwigsburg production will begin on April 22.
Franco-German co-pro treaty extended
11-Feb-2013Since its founding in 2001, the "mini-traité" has been financed by the FFA and CNC with €1.5m annually, backing more than 90 Franco-German co-productions.
Silver's Cannes swansong
11-Feb-2013EXCLUSIVE: Cannes Film Festival is likely to be Aviva Silver's final appearance as head of the MEDIA unit before moving to a new position within the European Commission (EC).
Schell and Adorf cast as Marx and Engels
11-Feb-2013Veteran actors Maximilian Schell and Mario Adorf have been cast in a new feature as philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
Belle Epoque to make next Rabaté
10-Feb-2013EXCLUSIVE: Cologne-based Belle Epoque Films, the German producer of Guillaume Nicloux's Berlinale film The Nun, is to produce cartoonist Pascal Rabaté's next feature.
Creative Europe in sight
10-Feb-2013EXCLUSIVE: Creative Europe has come one step nearer after the 27 EU leaders agreed on Friday in Brussels to an overall $1.3tn (€960bn) budget for 2014-20.
Action Concept sells Guardians
10-Feb-2013EXCLUSIVE: Til Schweiger's action film Guardians has been sold by Action Concept throughout Asia, Europe and Latin America.
Distribution round-up: Salzgeber acquires La Partida, Unconditional; TMG finds Solace
9-Feb-2013La Partida [pictured] is currently in post-production, while Solace will begin shooting in May and will be released theatrically by Concorde Filmverleih next year.
Future of Berlinale's World Cinema Fund secured
9-Feb-2013This year's Berlinale programme features two WCF-funded films: Harmony Lessons and Workers.
Ulrich Seidl talks up horror title
8-Feb-2013EXCLUSIVE: Seidl producing his wife's horror film Ich seh/Ich seh.
Amour Fou readies Hausner shoot
8-Feb-2013Shooting starts Monday (Feb 11) in Luxembourg on Jessica Hausner's new feature film Amour Fou, which will be the first project to go into production for the Amour Fou label.
Reflexion Films debut at EFM
8-Feb-2013Reflexion Films, a new sales company based in Moscow, has unveiled a line-up of features for its EFM debut.
Berlin to host first major Martin Scorsese exhibition
7-Feb-2013The Deutsche Kinemathek at Potsdamer Platz is staging the world's first major exhibition dedicated to Martin Scorsese.
Wenders' 3D series sold to 10 broadcasters
7-Feb-2013Tel Aviv-based Cinephil and Wim Wenders' Neue Road Movies have pre-sold the 3D series Cathedrals of Culture to ten broadcasters around the world.
Kon-Tiki star cast in Viking saga
7-Feb-2013Oscar-nominated Norwegian drama Kon-Tiki's star Tobias Santelmann has been cast as the lead in Elite Film Produktion's English-language historical action adventure Northmen - A Viking Saga.
Tiberius secures EFM acquisitions
7-Feb-2013Munich-based Tiberius Film has started its 2013 EFM well this year with three acquisitions for release in 2014.
Eurimages reboots distribution fund
7-Feb-2013Eurimages is to re-launch a distribution fund that will benefit seven countries without access to the EU's MEDIA Programme.
Wild Bunch Benelux snaps up Goodnight
7-Feb-2013Wild Bunch has picked up all Benelux rights to Erik Poppe's English-language debut A Thousand Times Goodnight, which stars Juliette Binoche.
Berlin gets $93m fest boost
7-Feb-2013Berlin's economy is to receive a $93m (€69m) boost over the 11 days of the Berlinale, according to a report by the Investitionsbank Berlin.
Maeck back to Burroughs for Smash The Control Machine
7-Feb-2013Fatih Akin's former production partner Klaus Maeck is to revisit the New York of the 1980s for the first project of his new Hamburg-based company Interzone Pictures.
Bombay Berlin brings love triangle to EFM
7-Feb-2013Indo-German sales company Bombay Berlin Film has picked up Blue Throat Entertainment's maiden project, the love triangle film Ishq Actually, for the EFM.
Sola Media premieres English version of Nordic hit
7-Feb-2013Germany's Sola Media is presenting the English language version of Nils Gaup box-office hit Journey To The Christmas Star in a market at the EFM for the first time.
Range to direct David Bowie, Iggy Pop biopic
6-Feb-2013A biopic based around David Bowie and Iggy Pop's collaboration in 1970s West Berlin is to be directed by Gabriel Range.
Estonia's Jaak Kilmi and Kiur Aarma plan historical drama
4-Feb-2013Estonian filmmaker/producer duo Jaak Kilmi and Kiur Aarma are going back in time to the eve of the First World War for their next feature film project The Hoppers (Hüppajad) which won the Screen International Best Pitch Award at Tallinn's Baltic Event in December.
Memento's Artscope picks up Berlinale title In Bloom
1-Feb-2013Artscope, a label of Paris-based Memento Films International, has picked the Georgian Berlinale Forum title In Bloom by Nana Ekvtimshvili and Simon Gross.
Media Luna adds three more titles
1-Feb-2013Films are A Fold In My Blanket [pictured], Three Kids and Jackie.
Paradise: Love scores Austrian hat trick; Marcel Gisler's Rosie dominates Swiss noms
31-Jan-2013The Austrian and Swiss film industries are currently gripped with awards fever with the Austrian Film Awards presented for the third time in Vienna and the nominations for the Swiss Film Awards (aka as the Quartzs) announced at this week's Solothurn Film Days.
Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival
29-Jan-2013The 34th Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival took place in Saarbrücken, Germany from Jan 21-27 with Rainer Frimmel and Tizza Covi's The Shine of Day taking the top prize.
Berlin unveils competition jury
28-Jan-2013Filmmakers Susanne Bier, Andreas Dresen and Shirin Neshat have been named as members of the Berlinale's seven-person International Jury headed by Chinese director Wong Kar Wai.
New German sales/production outfit launched
24-Jan-2013EXCLUSIVE: Andreas Rothbauer and Alec Schulmann have joined forces to launch the Berlin-based integrated sales and production outfit Picture Tree International (PTI).
Berlin market on Asia's radar, Probst feted by the Swiss
21-Jan-2013EXCLUSIVE: Berlin's European Film Market (EFM) is now firmly on the Asian film industry's radar, according to market director Beki Probst.
Germany's Commerzbank doubles film finance to $400m
21-Jan-2013Commerzbank, the second biggest bank in Germany, is planning to double its commitment to the financing of film and TV production for the next four years.
Kosslick reveals plans for Berlinale's future
18-Jan-2013Quality international television and VoD are on festival director Dieter Kosslick's agenda for the Berlinale's future.
Vartiainen to head MEDIA unit; Commission launches pilot project
18-Jan-2013Finland's Sari Vartiainen has succeeded Constantin Daskalakis as the new head of the MEDIA unit at Brussel's Education, Audiovisual, and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), with responsibility for the operational management of the EU's MEDIA Programme.
m-appeal picks up two Berlinale titles
18-Jan-2013Berlin-based m-appeal has taken on international distribtion for two films from Cuba and Greece selected for this year's Berlinale.
German incentive supports record 115 projects in 2012
18-Jan-2013The German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) incentive scheme supported a record 115 projects, including 40 international co-productions and a new adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, totalling $78.2m (€58.4m) in 2012.
Creative Europe given "key priority" by Irish Presidency of EC
14-Jan-2013The European Commission's (EC) proposed Creative Europe programme has been given "key priority" in Ireland's Presidency of the European Council for the first six months of 2013.
Austrian incentive scheme extended for another two years
14-Jan-2013Austria's film production incentive scheme "Filmstandort Austria" (Film Location Austria - FISA) has been extended to the end of 2014 with an annual budget of $10m (€7.5m).
German Film Awards unveils longlist
11-Jan-2013Cloud Atlas, Lore, More Than Honey and Die Abenteuer Des Huck Finn are among 46 titles selected by members from the German Film Academy for the longlist of the 2013 German Film Awards (aka Lolas).
Lives of Others producers reunite with Schweighöfer for third directorial outing
10-Jan-2013Wiedemann & Berg Film, producers of Oscar-winning The Lives Of Others, are to be reunited with actor-producer-director Matthias Schweighöfer for his third directorial outing Vaterfreuden later this year.
m-appeal takes on sales for three Rotterdam titles
9-Jan-2013Berlin-based world sales company m-appeal has taken on international distribution for Tiger Competition entry My Dog Killer and Bright Future titles Kayan and What They Don't Talk About When They Talk About Love.
Berlinale unveils new German talent line-up
8-Jan-2013Former Shooting Star Max Riemelt headlines with Katharina Schüttler and Hanno Kofler in Stephan Lacant's Free Fall, which will open in the Berlinale's Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar showcasing the work of Germany's next generation of filmmakers.
German box office set to hit €1bn
8-Jan-2013German cinemas are expected to have shattered the €1bn ($1.31bn) turnover barrier in 2012.
Malkovich to play Casanova in The Giacomo Variations
4-Jan-2013John Malkovich is set to be reunited with Austrian film and opera director Michael Sturminger for a big screen adaptation of The Giacomo Variations.
Lionsgate secures US rights to Reasonable Doubt
3-Jan-2013Samuel L. Jackson thriller is Bavariapool's first international co-production.
Haneke withdraws Amour from Austrian Film Awards
3-Jan-2013Michael Haneke's multi-award-winning Amour will not figure in the nominations for this year's Austrian Film Awards after the director decided not to submit the film for consideration by the members of the Austrian Film Academy (AFA).
Trieste reveals co-pro projects
2-Jan-2013EXCLUSIVE: New films by Zglinski, Mitic and Mikesch among 22 projects selected for the first co-production forum of 2013 in Trieste, which also presents its first Italian Screenings to international buyers
MEPs adopt Creative Europe report
19-Dec-2012Copyright reform in EC Commissioner Kroes' digital "to-do" list for 2013/14.
Montenegro and Russia welcomed into EFP family, EFP receives backing for 2013 activities
18-Dec-2012Montenegro and Russia are the latest European countries to be welcomed into the European Film Promotion (EFP) family, bringing the network's membership up to 35 promotional organisations operating from 36 countries across Europe.
New Wim Wenders Foundation to acquire director's films held by third parties
14-Dec-2012Rights to all of Wim Wenders' films still held by third parties – such as Hamburg producer Peter Schwarzkopff - are to be acquired by the newly founded Wim Wenders Foundation (WWF) in Düsseldorf by the end of this year.
Boe Følsgaard, Rosendahl among 2013 Shooting Stars
12-Dec-2012Ten up-and-coming European acting talents unveiled for European Film Promotion's Shooting Stars showcase at next year's Berlinale.
Status Quo set to rock Berlin market
11-Dec-2012EXCLUSIVE: Status Quo are set to rock next February's Berlinale as they join the army of sellers at the festival's parallel European Film Market (EFM).
German funds back new projects by Akin, Aladag and Verhoeven
10-Dec-2012Christmas has come early this year for Germany's producers as national and regional funds paid out a total of more than €12m production support to such filmmakers as Fatih Akin, Feo Aladag, Rosa von Praunheim and Simon Verhoeven in their last funding sessions for 2012.
Quartet co-producer DCM boards Buck's second children's film
7-Dec-2012DCM, the Berlin-based German co-producer of Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut Quartet, is to produce Detlev Buck's second children's film after his 2007 adaptation of Cornelia Funke's Hands Off Mississippi.
EC reveals plans for copyright in the digital age
6-Dec-2012European Commission agrees on two-track action to ensure copyright stays "fit for purpose" in the digital economy.
Wenders and Loach sign Creators' Petition
4-Dec-2012Wim Wenders, Bela Tarr, Ken Loach [pictured] and Paul Laverty are among nearly 16,000 names from the European film industry who have so far signed a Creators' Petition arguing for the safeguarding of authors' rights.
EC's Cinema Communication debate dominates Rendez-Vous in Berlin
30-Nov-2012CNC president Eric Garandeau and the German Federal Film Board board member Peter Dinges are criticial of EC's plan.
EC backs Euro VOD festival in China
29-Nov-2012The European Commission is backing the first EU Film Festival Online (EUFF) in China.
Baltic Event names top co-pro titles
28-Nov-2012Projects from Kazakhstan, Lithuania and Estonia were voted by sales agents, distributors and potential co-producers as the most promising at the Baltic Event's 8th Co-Production Market.
EC addresses Cinema Communication concerns
28-Nov-2012European Commission VP Joaquín Almunia has tried to allay EU member states' concerns about the forthcoming Cinema Communication, which aims to set out new State aid rules for films and other audiovisual works.
Ukraine's House With A Turret wins Black Nights
28-Nov-2012Germany's Oh Boy picks up Audience Award.
Creative Europe reaches "important milestone"
27-Nov-2012The proposed Creative Europe programme reached "an important milestone" yesterday (26 Nov) after a decision taken by the EU's 27 ministers of culture at a meeting in Brussels of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) Council under the chairmanship of Cyprus' Minister for Education & Culture George Demosthenous.
Co-pro projects emerge ahead of Rendez-Vous
23-Nov-2012New projects by Arslan, Azoulay, Elkabetz to pitched at co-production market during 10th German-French Rendez-Vous
Europa Cinemas secures two years of MEDIA funding
22-Nov-2012The Europa Cinemas (EC) network has secured a further two years of funding from the European Union's MEDIA Programme.
Eurimages to lower funding cap
22-Nov-2012Pan-European co-production fund Eurimages has unveiled a number of changes to its guidelines that will come into effect from January 2013.
German distributors secure AFM deals
21-Nov-2012Several German distributors returned from this year's American Film Market with signed and sealed deals for new acquisitions.
First European VoD film festival reveals line-up
20-Nov-2012The programme has been unveiled for Europe's first video on demand film festival, which will screen through seven VoD providers.
Iran's Karimi wins Mannheim-Heidelberg awards
19-Nov-2012Iranian filmmaker Niki Karimi has received the main award and Newcomer of the Year at the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival.
Germany drafts new VoD regulations
15-Nov-2012Angela Merkel's coalition cabinet has greenlit new regulations concerning video-on-demand (VoD) services in the draft German Film Law (FFG) that would come into effect from the beginning of 2014.
Creative Europe faces 470+ amendments; Almodovar supports threatened student project
12-Nov-2012EXCLUSIVE: European Parliament deputies have tabled over 470 amendments to the European Commission's proposed Creative Europe programme following the draft report by Italian MEP Silvia Costa (Screen Daily, Oct 2).
Polish cinema wins big at Cottbus
12-Nov-2012Polish cinema was the big winner at this year's FilmFestival Cottbus with the international jury unanimously awarding Maria Sadowska's Women's Day the €20,000 Main Prize for Best Film.
New films to be unveiled at 11th Baltic Event
12-Nov-2012New projects by Estonia's Jaak Kilmi, Finland's Klaus Harö and Georgia's Bakur Bakuradze being presented at the 11th Baltic Event in Tallinn
Germany boosts film funding to €70m
9-Nov-2012Germany's State Minister for Culture and Media Bernd Neumann has secured an additional €10m for the DFFF incentive programme's annual budget from next year, bringing the total available to domestic and international productions up to €70m.
MEDIA-supported VOD initiative courts controversy
8-Nov-2012Windows debate spurred on by exhibition cancellation of titles launch through special VOD programme.
Haneke wins in Vienna; Austrian film fund boost
7-Nov-2012Directors Michael Haneke, Kenneth Lonergan, Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel were among the winners at the 50th Viennale.
Locarno's Chatrian talks about programme plans and Cukor retrospective
5-Nov-2012Locarno's new artistic director Carlo Chatrian to continue festival's "idea of cinema as a meeting place and act of discovery" as he unveils plans to dedicate the 2013 retrospective to George Cukor and announces a reshuffle of selection committee.
Tiberius Film adds three with AFM buys
3-Nov-2012Deals led by raunchy comedy Johnson acquired from Salt.
Bille August signs up for Nabokov's Laughter
1-Nov-2012Danish filmmaker Bille August has signed up to direct an adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov's 1932 novel Laughter in the Dark.
EC scheme awards €2m to Wild Bunch, ARP and Artificial Eye
23-Oct-2012Distributors Wild Bunch, ARP and Artificial Eye have secured nearly €2m from the European Commission (EC) to support simultaneous multiplatform releases – a scheme that has drawn criticism from cinema-owners.
EFP sends communication to EP and EC, call to lobby national politicians over Creative Europe programme
23-Oct-2012Over 400 figures from the European film industry, including Carey Mulligan [pictured], put their name to European Film Promotion's communication to the European Parliament and European Commission.
US deals for Deflowering and Out in the Dark
22-Oct-2012North American deals have signed by Berlin's m-appeal for Michiel ten Horn's The Deflowering of Eva van End and Michael Mayer's Out in the Dark.
Fonteyne's Tango Libre wins Warsaw Grand Prix
22-Oct-2012Festival director Stefan Laudyn also announced that the CentEast Market will "hopefully" expand next year to include films from Chinese independent filmmakers.
Red Square Screenings boasts Pussy Riot and Jason Flemyng projects
19-Oct-2012The punk feminist band Pussy Riot [pictured'] and UK actor Jason Flemyng might seem unlikely bedfellows, but not for those attending the first edition of the Red Square Screenings (RSS) (Oct 15-19) where they appeared in 'works in progress' presented to 100 industry professionals.
Film Manufacturers boards Oscar-nominated Marc Rothemund's bestseller adaptation Galapagos
18-Oct-2012Katharine Otto-Bernstein's New York-based Film Manufacturers Inc. has joined Munich-based Telepool and KJ Entertainment to develop and produce German director Marc Rothemund's Galapagos which is due to begin shooting in autumn 2013.
German and Russian superstars unite in comedy by Cloud Atlas co-producer
16-Oct-2012Germany's Til Schweiger and Russia's Fyodor Bondarchuk are to unite as lead actors in Antalyagrad to be produced by Cloud Atlas co-producer and distributor Alexander Rodnyansky.
Digital age a major opportunity for film, says EC's Kroes
11-Oct-2012EC Commissioner Kroes declares that digital age "isn't a threat to the film industry", but "an opportunity".
EC's state aid for film delayed
10-Oct-2012The European Commission's Cinema Communication on state aid for the film industry will have its publication delayed by "some weeks" after initial plans to unveil the proposed new regulation in October or November.
Winners revealed at 20th Filmfest Hamburg
8-Oct-2012Dolan, Shortland, Glasner among winners at 20th anniversary edition of Filmfest Hamburg.
Leading European players contribute to 'critical assessment' of EC's Creative Europe MEDIA strand
5-Oct-2012BFI, Match Factory and CNC among those consulted; Italian MEP Barbara Matera [pictured] has also sent a report on proposed Creative Europe programme to Committee on Culture and Education
European Parliament drafts 197 amendments to EC's Creative Europe programme
2-Oct-2012EXCLUSIVE: Italian MEP Silvia Costa's [pictured] report will be presented at the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education in Brussels next week.
Chelsom, Temple, Dorrie, Wenders benefit from €9.7m payout by German regional funds
30-Sep-2012New films by Peter Chelsom, Julian Temple, Doris Dörrie and Wim Wenders [pictured] are among the projects benefitting from over €9.7m funding allocated by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and Film-und Medienstiftung NRW.
Warsaw's CentEast, Connecting Cottbus and Red Square Screenings unveil project lineups
27-Sep-2012This year will see the ten 'works in progress' projects presented as part of the Red Square Screenings in Moscow, ahead of the Warsaw presentation for the first time.
Leading figures from European film industry meet with EC Commissioners for cinema roundtable
26-Sep-2012Studio Babelsberg CEO Carl Woebcken, BFI Director Amanda Nevill, and European Film Promotion's president Christian Lemche were among the key movers and shakers invited to a high-level roundtable meeting in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss how the EU should support the European film industry.
Germany's DFFF extended by €180m to 2015
24-Sep-2012The European Commission greenlights second extension of Germany's DFFF incentive scheme to 2015, Commissioner to present report on CCIs contribution to growth and jobs.
Focus Features to handle sales on Perez's Alone In Berlin
24-Sep-2012EXCLUSIVE: Sony Classics already in place to distribute English-language adaptation of Hans Fallada's bestselling novel.
Eurasia international jury declines to award grand prix
23-Sep-2012EurasiaInternational Film Festival's international jury, under the presidency of German director-producer Wolfgang Petersen, announced on the closing ceremony at Almaty's Palace of the Republic in Kazakhstan at the weekend that it has decided not to award a grand prix for best film.
108 Media reports sales on Kazakh Oscar entry
22-Sep-2012The Toronto-based sales agent has racked up its first sales on Akan Satayev's Myn Bala – Warriors Of The Steppe.
Ursula Meier's Sister entered for Oscar race
21-Sep-2012Jury praised Meier's film for its "intelligent and original screenplay".
Russia, Kazakhstan seek more collaborations
19-Sep-2012Russia's Cinema Fund (RCF/Fond Kino) and Kazakhfilm have signed a memorandum of understanding to foster closer cooperation between the two nations' film industries.
Austrian director Stefan Ruzowitzky returns to subject of the Holocaust
18-Sep-2012Documentary project, now shooting, is based on Christopher Browning's Ordinary Men.
Banks' thumbs-up for Creative Europe's proposed guarantee facility
17-Sep-2012The European Commission's proposed guarantee facility for the cultural and creative sectors within the framework of Creative Europe from 2014 has been given a resounding thumbs-up by leading representatives of the banking sector.
European cinema exhibitors: 'Safeguarding the cinema-going experience should be a top priority'
14-Sep-2012International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), CICAE and Europa Cinemas urge policy-makers to put cinema at centre of "new agenda for film".
Austria chooses Haneke's Amour for Oscar entry
4-Sep-2012Palme d'Or winner was picked by a nine-person jury.
Carlo Chatrian to succeed Olivier Pere at Locarno
4-Sep-2012Italian-born writer and festival programmer Carlo Chatrian has been chosen by Locarno Festival's Board of Governors to succeed Olivier Père as the artistic director and officially take up his post from Nov 1.
Arthouse exhibitors voice concerns about 35mm switchoff
3-Sep-2012European arthouse exhibitors have voiced growing concern about the challenges posed for their sector by the impending 35mm "switchoff".
Ready for launch
2-Sep-2012The hottest German-language projects in the works from celebrated veterans and talented newcomers.
Drawing heat
2-Sep-2012From the tipped star of Cate Shortland's Lore to new directors attracting a cult following, Screen profiles Germany's talents to watch.
The right formula
2-Sep-2012Generous financing options, ambitious film-makers and world-class facilities are making Germany a vital co-producer.
Follow the money
2-Sep-2012Germany's network of film funds has made the territory a key international co-producer.
HiFilm's Solomon readies shoot for Hotea's Roxanne
31-Aug-2012Romania's Ada Solomon of HiFilm Productions has her next feature debut, Valentin Hotea's Roxanne, going into production on September 12, a week after the world premiere of Paul Negoescu's debut A Month In Thailand in Venice Critics' Week.
Germany's Oscar entry is Christian Petzold's Barbara
30-Aug-2012Nine-person jury chose the Berlinale film over other titles such as Shores Of Hope and Guardians.
UK actor Toby Kebbell to take lead in Lore producer's first English-language film
28-Aug-2012EXCLUSIVE: UK actor Toby Kebbell has been cast in the lead part of US director Tony Pemberton's Buddha's Little Finger, which is based on Victor Pelevin's eponymous novel and marks Lore producer Rohfilm's first foray into English-language production.
First titles unveiled for Viennale's 50th edition
26-Aug-2012There are only two months to go before the Viennale's 50th edition opens on October 25 and festival director Hans Hurch and his team have already revealed some of the titles selected for this year's lineup.
Global Screen picks up TIFF world premiere Lunarcy! and Montreal world premiere The Weekend
22-Aug-2012Company will also handle Danquart's Run, Boy, Run! which has begun shooting.
Tahar Rahim, Lea Seydoux start shoot for Zlotowski
13-Aug-2012Elle Driver handling international sales on the story of forbidden love.
Locarno's Golden Leopard awarded to Brisseau's Girl From Nowhere
13-Aug-2012Cate Shortland's Lore wins audience award; Olivier Pere points to 'good formula' for programme as admissions rise.
MEDIA chief Silver has 'very positive meeting' in Locarno about Swiss membership of Creative Europe
10-Aug-2012The MEDIA Programme's unit head Aviva Silver reports having had a "very positive meeting" in Locarno this week with the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (BAK) about membership of the Creative Europe framework programme.
Caroline Link to bring Heidi to big screen
10-Aug-2012German director Caroline Link, who won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2003 for Nowhere In Africa (Nirgendwo in Afrika), is now attached as director for a new film version of the children's classic Heidi.
Locarno's new Step In initiative explores challenges for Eastern and Central Europe
7-Aug-2012Locarno's new Step In initiative, which focused in its first edition on the visibility of European auteur cinema in Eastern and Central European countries drew a mixed response from the attending distributors, exhibitors and sales agents.
Filmmakers from Senegal and Burkina Faso awarded two Open Doors awards apiece
7-Aug-2012A roundtable at Locarno's 10th co-production lab also focussed on new local and regional initiatives that have recently been launched.
New partners join Eye on Films from Croatia, Egypt, South Africa, South Korea
7-Aug-2012EXCLUSIVE: The network supporting first films also adds a new sales company partner.
Trieste's When East Meets West plans showcase of new Italian films
6-Aug-2012Forum also announces that German-speaking countries – Austria, Germany and Switzerland – will be the guest focus region for the third edition of the WEMW forum.
Locarno to expand beyond August dates in 2013
6-Aug-2012A new three-day event is to be held in Locarno and Monte Verità before Easter 2013; competition titles find sales companies.
Locarno's president describes festival's international profile as 'still too weak and vulnerable'
2-Aug-2012Marco Solari said festival could "continue to rank among the greatest festivals in the world, improving the efficiency of its organisation."
Swiss culture minister ignites controversy over policy remarks
30-Jul-2012On the eve of the Locarno Film Festival Switzerland's daily newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) has reported that Alain Berset wants the government to champion more "innovative" fare, sparking concern over the future of local mainstream product.
New Horizons awards go to Thursday Till Sunday, Donoma, Punk Syndrome
30-Jul-2012Festival presents 469 films over 11 days; Fipresci prize goes to Neighbouring Sounds by Brazil's Kleber Mendonca. Polish-Indian co-production talks becomes reality.
German co-financier of Traffic and Gangs Of New York making first foray into local production
26-Jul-2012EXCLUSIVE: Splendid Medien, the Cologne-based co-financier of such US mainstream films as Traffic and Gangs Of New York, is set to make its first foray into local German production this autumn.
Haneke actress Susanne Lothar dies at 51
26-Jul-2012German actress Susanne Lothar, who appeared in four films by Michael Haneke, has died at the age of 51.
MEDIA backs new films from Greenaway, Folman, and Loznitsa; Libya now eligible for European funding
25-Jul-2012New films from Peter Greenaway (Goltzius & The Pelican Company), Ari Folman (The Congress) and Sergei Loznitsa (In The Fog, pictured) are among 38 titles awarded a total of over €1.36m by the European Commission's MEDIA i2i Audiovisual Programme.
First edition of New Horizons' Polish Days includes new films from Folman, Wajda
24-Jul-2012New works in progress event in Wroclaw attracts more than 180 industry attendees.
Broken wins Odessa audience grand prix, Golden Duke
22-Jul-2012UK director Rufus Norris' feature debut Broken starring Tim Roth (pictured), Cillian Murphy and Rory Kinnear has won Odessa International Film Festival's (OIFF) Grand Prix, the Golden Duke statuette and $15,000 in prize money.
Sam Riley to play title role in Softley's Ivanhoe
20-Jul-2012UK actor Sam Riley is to play the title role in Iain Softley's epic adaptation of Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe which is being developed by Berlin-based Egoli Tossell Film New GmbH (ETF) with Spain's Morena Films as a European co-production with partners from Belgium and the UK.
Bavaria boosts film fund for international productions
19-Jul-2012The increasing competition between the German Länder to attract film productions to their respective regions has taken on a new dimension this week with Bavaria's introduction of a € 6m dedicated programme for international productions over the next two years .
Creative Europe, Eurimages on Ukraine's agenda
18-Jul-2012The European Union's planned Creative Europe framework programme should be made accessible for the EU Neighbourhood countries, according to professionals from Ukraine and Moldova.
Peter Greenaway – Eisenstein project '99pc in place'
15-Jul-2012Speaking at the third Odessa International Film Festival the veteran director said financing was nearly complete on his €5m feature Eisenstein In Guanajuato.
Sweden's Avalon big winner at third edition of Russia's VOICES film festival
11-Jul-2012Also announced, Odessa International Film Festival, which runs July 13-21, will open with the screening of Matteo Garrone's Reality.
Haneke co-producers reunite for Wolfgang Becker's latest feature
10-Jul-2012The adaptation of Daniel Kehlmann's bestseller Ich & Kaminski will be Wolfgang Becker's first feature since Good Bye, Lenin!, which he made ten years ago.
Constantin launches new label for low-budget productions and creative filmmakers
9-Jul-2012Alpenrot to work on films with budgets of €1m or under.
Mockert to produce Anthony Minghella's brother's directorial debut
9-Jul-2012Veteran German producer Rainer Mockert is returning to feature production with Dominic Minghella's directorial debut Doria and Austrian Walter Bannert's drama Kolyma set in the postwar Soviet Union.
Thierry Potok has big plans for Germany's Hürth studios
6-Jul-2012Former Studio Babelsberg chief Thierry Potok returns to managing a German studio, set sights on bigger MMC studios and von Trier's Nymphomaniac.
German Films Previews hosts 11 market premieres in Hamburg.
6-Jul-2012New German films by Meerapfel, Schmidt, Klandt shown at 12th German Films Previews in Hamburg, promo-reels from Reitz and Buck.
Moscow's Grand Prix won by UK's Junkhearts
2-Jul-2012Eddie Marsan named Best Actor, Sokurov calls for 2bn rouble rescue package for Lenfilm Studios.
Russia's Glavkino boasts largest sound stage in Eastern Europe
2-Jul-2012Glavkino's in-house production division has already backed $16m action film August 8th.
Moscow Co-Production Forum's best pitch awards go to UK and Russia
27-Jun-2012Projects by the UK's Cowboy Films and Russia's Trikita Entertainment were awarded best pitch prizes at this year's Moscow Co-Production Forum.
Russia benefits from its membership of Eurimages with support for production and exhibition
27-Jun-2012Russia's arthouse cinema sector has now received support from the pan-European fund Eurimages.
Greenaway reveals more details about his next feature Food Of Love at Moscow Co-production Forum
25-Jun-2012Peter Greenaway revealed more details about his next feature Food Of Love when he pitched the project at this week's fourth Moscow Co-Production Forum as part of the Moscow Business Square.
New film planned about Julian Assange's internet dating adventures
25-Jun-2012EXCLUSIVE: After his documentary on the imprisoned Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, German filmmaker Cyril Tuschi is now setting his sights on Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
European Commission wants Catalonia to open up distribution of non-Spanish films
21-Jun-2012The European Commission (EC) has requested Spain to put an end to the discriminatory rules in the Catalan Law on Cinema, which hurts the distribution of non-Spanish films.
Ruminov, Litvinova projects among titles at first Moscow market
21-Jun-2012Films by Pavel Ruminov, Renata Litvinova and Avdotya Smirnova are among 20 titles to be screened at the first DOORS film market (June 21-24) which is being organised by Roskino and the Russian Film Commission USA as part of the Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF).
Vassiliou rejects 'unofficial rumours' about MEDIA brand disappearing after 2014
20-Jun-2012EC Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou denied 'unofficial rumours' that the MEDIA brand would disappear after 2013 when she appeared at a session of the European Parliament's Committee for Culture and Education on Tuesday afternoon (June 19).
Calls for clarification of EC's draft Cinema Communication
19-Jun-2012Many European film organisations have called for more clarification and precision in the European Commission's (EC) draft Cinema Communication in their responses submitted by the 14 June deadline and now obtained by Screen.
22 new projects by Greenaway, Lungulov, Amati and Nikonova to be pitched in Moscow, 15 features presented in Sochi
18-Jun-2012New films by Peter Greenaway, Darko Lungulov, Martina Amati and Angelina Nikonova are among 22 projects to be pitched at next week's fourth Moscow Co-production Forum.
Volker Schlöndorff calls for release of Ulzhan co-screenwriter Atabayev
17-Jun-2012German filmmaker Volker Schlöndorff has called for the release of the Kazakh director and author Bolat Atabayev who was taken into custody in Almaty on Friday (June 15) for allegedly inciting social discord.
Calls for reforms to German spend incentive DFFF
15-Jun-2012Also, German reaction to EC's proposed Cinema Communication at Film Industry Summit.
Romania's Adrian Sitaru planning first English language film with UK's Vernon Films
15-Jun-2012Anca Damian, whose animated documentary Crulic won the Grand Prix in Annecy, also now in post on her English language debut.
Eurimages commissioned report on co-production convention calls for "modest modifications"
13-Jun-2012Also freezes distribution support after cases of fraud revealed.
William Moseley headlines Gossner's Alpine drama
13-Jun-2012Moseley [pictured] joins a cast including Claudia Cardinale, Fritz Karl and Eugenia Costantini.
Global Screen picks up The Black Brothers, Beta Cinema gets The Taste Of Apple Seeds
12-Jun-2012Global Screen has taken on world sales for Xavier Koller's action adventure family film The Black Brothers which will begin shooting in the Swiss canton of Ticino from Thursday (June 14).
Daly, Pitts, Maoz to take part in Berlinale Residency
11-Jun-2012Rebecca Daly, Rafi Pitts and Samuel Maoz are among six filmmakers who will be the first participants of the Berlinale Residency.
Rival project to Kreuzpaintner's Fassbinder project planned
11-Jun-2012EXCLUSIVE: Rainer Werner Fassbinder Foundation, set up by his late mother, says it is in negotiations with European and US partners to produce a film about the director's life and career.
Trier's Oslo, August 31st wins Transilvania Trophy
10-Jun-2012Oslo, August 31st by Norway's Joachim Trier won this year's € 15,000 Transilvania Trophy at the Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF) which closed at the weekend in Romania's Cluj.
Romanian Days attracts attendees including Kosslick, Olla, Vandevorst, Slot
10-Jun-2012Radu Jude's Everybody In Our Family [pictured] wins the event's best feature prize.
Eurozone crisis will see MEDIA Mundus funding limited
10-Jun-2012The present Eurozone economic crisís has prompted the European Commission (EC) to propose that planned expenditure on MEDIA Mundus projects to be capped at € 4.5m in its draft budget for 2013.
Kosovo's Film Centre becomes EFP's 33rd member
7-Jun-2012Kosovo's film body, Kosova Cinematography Center (KCC), has become the 33rd member of the pan-European film promotion umbrella European Film Promotion (EFP).
Rodnyansky expands presence in Russia through launch of A Company's own distribution arm, cooperation with Fox
6-Jun-2012Company launches this week at Kinotavr Open Russian Film Festival.
Ascot Elite and Senator Film go on spending sprees in Cannes
31-May-2012Ascot Elite Entertainment and Senator Film both had busy markets in Cannes with more than half a dozen new titles apiece in their luggage.
Film journalist Claudia Laffranchi dies, aged 49
24-May-2012Journalist and film expert Claudia Laffranchi, affectionately known as the "Face of the Piazza Grande" after serving as host and master of ceremonies of Locarno Film Festival's nightly open-air screenings for seven years from 2005 to 2011, has unexpectedly died at the age of 49.
Territories voice "key concerns" about EU's proposed Cinema Communication
22-May-2012The UK, Germany, France and Austria have voiced "key concerns" in a joint position paper on the European Commission's (EC) draft Cinema Communication for state aid for films and other audiovisual works.
UK's 011 Productions to co-produce Bettinga's feature debut
22-May-2012UK producer Zorana Piggott's 011 Productions is to co-produce the feature debut of German filmmaker Eicke Bettinga who is competing in Cannes' Short Films Competition this year with Gasp which has its world premiere on May 26.
Loznitsa plans project about Nazi massacre
22-May-2012Project is one of five story ideas that the director is currently developing.
Cannes European Rendezvous talks Creative Europe
21-May-2012New EU initiatives for European cinema such as the Prix MEDIA and the proposed Creative Europe programme are at the focus of the 10th edition of the European Rendezvous in Cannes from May 20-22.
Resnais' co-producer Alamode Film boards two German projects
21-May-2012Munich-based distributor Alamode Film is already lining up its next projects after making its first foray into production by serving as the German co-producer on 89-year-old French director Alain Resnais' latest feature You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet (Vous N'Avez Encore Rien Vu).
Alamode Film boards two German projects
21-May-2012Munich-based distributor Alamode Film is already lining up its next projects after making its first foray into production by serving as the German co-producer on Alain Resnais' competition title You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet (Vous N'Avez Encore Rien Vu).
Bavaria teams with Russia and Italy for sci-fi film Amphibian Man
20-May-2012English-language project to be penned by writer-director Sergei Bodrov [pictured].
Wenders to stay with 3D for next feature project starring Sarah Polley
20-May-2012Director Wim Wenders is to stay with the 3D format for his next feature film project Every Thing Will Be Fine.
Hawke in talks for Georgia-UK project Epic
17-May-2012Tbilisi-based Producer on the Move Vladimer Katcharava of 20 Steps Productions will partner with the UK's Film & Music Entertainment for the first co-production between the UK and Georgia, Epic.
Film Base Berlin, Shaftesbury Films team for Paul Black's The Same Eyes
16-May-2012Don 2's German co-producer Film Base Berlin is teaming up with Patrick Cassavetti of Canada's Shaftesbury Films to produce Paul Black's second feature The Same Eyes.
Europe's Ministers of Culture agree to a 'balanced compromise text' for the Creative Europe programme
10-May-2012The European Union's Council of Culture Ministers agreed at a session in Brussels on Wednesday morning to a so-called partial general approach to the European Commission's proposed Creative Europe programme after the Danish EU Presidency made a number of adjustments the proposal's text.
European Commission rules that Spain must recover €265m public funding granted to Ciudad de la Luz studio
9-May-2012The European Commission (EC) has ruled that Spain must recover the €265m public funding granted by the Valencia Regional Government in 2000 to the Ciudad de la Luz (City of Light) studio complex in Alicante.
First European shoot for Korean action director Ryoo
9-May-2012South Korean action specialist Ryoo Seung-wan is shooting in Europe for the first time with his $9m spy thriller In Berlin which is filming in the German capital for nine days before moving to Latvia's Riga for another 15 day of shooting.
Media Luna adds two new Cannes titles
8-May-2012Cologne-based sales agent Media Luna New Films has unveiled two new titles to its lineup at this year's Marché du Film in Cannes.
Europe's regions have their say on Creative Europe
8-May-2012As EU culture ministers prepare to travel to Brussels this week for a two-day session of the Education, Youth Culture and Sport Council, Europe's regions also have their say on the proposed Creative Europe framework programme fron 2014.
Aktis Film picks up Snowchild for Cannes market premiere
8-May-2012Leipzig-based world sales outfit Aktis Film International will be presenting its latest acquisition, Uta Arning's Snowchild, as a market premiere at Cannes' Marché du Film.
Film Finances sets up shop in Germany
7-May-2012The completion guarantees specialist has set up shop in Germany with Cologne-based subsidiary Film Finances Germany (FFG).
Beta Cinema to unveil two market premieres in Cannes
4-May-2012New films by Ralf Huettner and Irina Probost will be presented as market premieres by Beta Cinema at the forthcoming Marché du Film in Cannes.
Global Screen to handle Denis Dercourt's third feature
4-May-2012Global Screen, the world sales joint venture of Bavaria Film and Telepool, are to handle French director Denis Dercourt's seventh feature film Zum Geburtstag and Arne Birkenstock's documentary about the art forger Wolfgang Beltracchi.
Films Boutique selling two Critics' Week world premieres
4-May-2012Berlin-based Films Boutique will handle international sales for David Lambert's Beyond The Walls (Hors Les Murs) and Bulgarian Ilian Metev's documentary Sofia's Last Ambulance [pictured] which will both have their world premieres in this year's Critics' Week in Cannes.
The Match Factory to handle sales on Schwochow's third feature
2-May-2012Campfire will begin shooting this autumn, adapted from Julia Franck's 2003 novel.
In The Fog locks distribution for Germany, Russia, Poland, France
1-May-2012EXCLUSIVE: The Match Factory handles sales for Sergei Loznitsa's Cannes competitor, set in the German-occupied western frontiers of the USSR in 1942.
Matthew's Laws wins Nyon Grand Prix; Sasnals triumph in Linz
29-Apr-2012Matthew's Laws, Dutch filmmaker Marc Schmidt's journey into the world of autism, was awarded the Grand Prix at Nyon's Visions du Réel International Documentary Film Festival in Switzerland (Apr 20-27), which reported admissions up year-on-year by 4,000 to 25,000.
Stopped On Track claims four Lolas including best film
29-Apr-2012Andreas Dresen's moving cancer drama earned the Golden Lola at the German Film Awards on Saturday night (Apr 28) and won for best director, male lead for Milan Peschel and supporting actor for Otto Mellies.
Creative Europe comes in for criticism at public hearing in Brussels
26-Apr-2012Experts express concern at European Commission's proposed programme
Mommy Is Coming to North America and France
26-Apr-2012EXCLUSIVE: Berlin-based sales outfit Raspberry&Cream has sold Cheryl Dunye's kinky comedy Mommy Is Coming to TLA Releasing for the US, Canada and France.
Living takes top prize at goEast; Crossing Europe opens
25-Apr-2012Russian newcomer wins Golden Lily and FIPRESCI prize at Wiesbaden's goEast, Crossing Europe gets underway with Crulic – The Path To Beyond and others and Plzen launches Industry Days
M-Appeal picks up Israeli debut for Cannes market premiere
25-Apr-2012EXCLUSIVE: Berlin-based sales company picks up first-time Israeli film-maker Michael Mayer's Out In The Dark
Film-makers call for distribution and exhibition to remain central to the MEDIA Programme
24-Apr-2012Ken Loach, the Dardenne brothers and Jerzy Skolimowski among signatories supporting 37% budget increase
EFP selects Producers on the Move for Cannes
23-Apr-201225 emerging producers chosen for the networking initiative, including the first producer selected from Georgia
Calls for minimum budget for each of Creative Europe's strands
23-Apr-2012Calls have been growing for the European Commission to be more specific on the level of the budgets allocated to the three stands in its proposed Creative Europe framework programme.
Scud makes Voyage to Europe
20-Apr-2012Hong Kong filmmaker Scud has made his first foray into shooting in Europe with his fifth feature Voyage which was filming in Germany's Hanover this week before moving on to the Dutch capital of Amsterdam.
Thorsten Ritter joins Beta Cinema
19-Apr-2012Thorsten Ritter, formerly head of Bavaria Film International, has joined the Munich-based sales company Beta Cinema as executive vice president with responsibility for worldwide acquisitions, sales and marketing.
StudioCanal Germany boards Christian Alvart's Banklady
17-Apr-2012StudioCanal Germany has boarded Banklady, Christian Alvart's first German language film since Antibodies in 2005, and Oscar winner Caroline Link's latest project Exit Marrakech (working title) as a co-producer and distributor.
Antonia Campbell-Hughes to star in Constantin biopic
16-Apr-2012Rising Irish star Antonia Campbell-Hughes has been cast as Natascha Kampusch in Constantin Film's English-language biopic 3096 (working title) to be directed by German-American Sherry Hormann at the Bavaria Film studios outside Munich from next month.
Uwe Boll back in the director's chair for Bailout
12-Apr-2012Maverick German director Uwe Boll has been reunited with the Vancouver-based independent production house Brightlight Pictures Inc. for his new feature project The Bailout which has begun shooting in the Canadian city before travelling to New York.
Marc-Daniel Dichant to oversee expansion at Falcom Media
11-Apr-2012Marc-Daniel Dichant has joined producer-distributor Falcom Media to oversee an expansion of its production output.
Kim Basinger to star in new feature by Morgenthaler; One Two wraps Israeli debut Youth
11-Apr-2012Kim Basinger is set to take the lead role in Danish writer-director Anders Morgenthaler next feature film Petit which will be shooting mainly in Hamburg this summer.
Constantin and SamFilm continue successful collaboration; von Garnier to direct first German film since 1996
10-Apr-2012Leading German distributor Constantin Film is continuing its collaboration with SamFilm after the box-office success of the Munich-based production house's adaptation of the Enid Blyton classic Famous Five book series (Fünf Freunde).
Global Screen to handle sales of Oops! Noah Is Gone
5-Apr-2012Global Screen is to handle international sales for Ulysses Filmproduktion's 3D CGI animation film Oops! Noah Is Gone… which is expected to go into production at the end of year as a co-production with Belgium, Luxembourg and Ireland.
Schweighofer kicks off Warner slate with Goller's Frau Ella
4-Apr-2012EXCLUSIVE: Actor-producer-director Matthias Schweighöfer is to be reunited with director Markus Goller for Frau Ella, the first project of Schweighöfer's four-picture deal with Warner Bros Entertainment.
Iron Sky co-producer turns to First World War for DH Lawrence adaptation
4-Apr-2012Oliver Damian's Berlin-based 27 Films Productions, the German co-producer on Iron Sky, is turning to the First World War for an adaptation of DH Lawrence's 1923 novella The Fox to be directed by Matthias Luthardt [pictured].
Constantin Film named Germany's most successful producer and distributor of 2011
3-Apr-2012For the seventh year in a row, Constantin Film has been named by the German Federal Film Board (FFA) as the nation's most successful producer and distributor of German films.
ARRI Media Worldsales to handle Reitz's Die andere Heimat
3-Apr-201279-year-old director will start shooting the project on April 17.
Bavaria Film and Senator Film strike partnership
2-Apr-2012Bavaria Film and Senator Film are to become partners as Senator's Munich-based production arm Senator Film München comes on board Bavaria Film's subsidiary Bavaria Pictures.
Fribourg's Grand Prix for Israel's Never Too Late, four prizes for Brazil's Julia Murat
2-Apr-2012Special jury award goes to Al-Abdallah's The Last Friday.
Courage named Best Film in Vilnius, parallel industry event attracts 80 delegates
30-Mar-2012Other winnesr include Best Intentions, Untouchables, A Place We Call Home.
Moritz Hemminger leaving Telepool and Global Screen
30-Mar-2012He will join ARRI from April 1.
East-West initiatives launched between EU and Caucasus, and CIS countries
29-Mar-2012The Stuttgart Animation Co-Production Forum and the Baltic Bridge East by West (B'EST) are two initiatives being launched this year to bring film professionals together from Eastern and Western Europe for collaboration on film projects.
Lithuanian parliament sets May 8 tax incentive vote
28-Mar-2012The Baltic state is set to become the latest European country to join the circle of production hubs offering tax rebates to film producers.
EU committee calls for better recoupment and windows flexibility for online distribution
28-Mar-2012Flexibility of release windows, fair remuneration for rights holders for online distribution and net neutrality called for in European Parliament committee report.
Locarno's Casa Del Cinema project secures funding
28-Mar-2012The Locarno Film Festival's long gestating Casa Del Cinema project has taken a major step forward following a CHF 10m donation by the recently established private foundation Fondazione Stella-Chiara.
Andreas Rothbauer leaving Beta Cinema
27-Mar-2012Andreas Rothbauer, Head of Theatrical Sales & International Acquisitions at Beta Cinema, is to leave after 12 years in the post.
Meise's Still Life wins at Diagonale; Fribourg opens with Salt
26-Mar-2012Michael wins several awards in Graz; Thierry Jobin takes the helm at Switzerland's Fribourg.
Barbara leads nominations for Germany's Lola Awards
23-Mar-2012Christian Petzold's Berlinale competition film Barbara has received eight nominations for this year's German Film Awards, known popularly as the Lolas, which will be presented in a gala ceremony at Berlin's Friedrichstadtpalast on April 27.
European Commission's plans for Creative Europe under scrutiny
23-Mar-2012The European Commission's (EC) proposal for a new Creative Europe programme to replace the current Culture, MEDIA and MEDIA Mundus programmes from 2014 has come under criticism from German politicians and representatives of the German arts and media world.
Sofia's Grand Prix goes to Brazil's Julia Murat, local filmmaker Bojanov receives four awards
19-Mar-2012Stories Only Exist When Remembered wins the Grand Prix for Best Film; Special Award goes to Magic Valley; Konstantin Bojanov wins Best Director and three more.
Swiss Oscar entry Summer Games receives three Swiss Film Prizes
18-Mar-2012Switzerland's Oscar entry Summer Games was the big winner at this year's Swiss Film Prize "Quartz 2012" ceremony held in Lucerne at the weekend, picking up the awards for Best Fiction Film, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography.
Board backs Olla to remain in Eurimages post; projects by Gondry and Pawlikowski backed at latest session
15-Mar-2012Nearly €5m awarded to 16 productions.
EC launches public consultation on rules for state film support schemes
14-Mar-2012The European Commission publishes 12-page draft Cinema Communication which "intends to create a level playing field between member states and to encourage cross-border productions."
Klitschko documentary sold to Universal Pictures
14-Mar-2012Universal Pictures has picked up global rights to Sebastian Dehnhardt's documentary Klitschko about the boxing brothers Vitaly and Vladimir.
EU's MEDIA Mundus backs 35 projects with €5m
14-Mar-2012The new Berlinale Filmmakers-in-Residence Programme, Europa Cinemas International, and EFP's third edition of Producers Lab Toronto are among 35 projects supported with a total of € 5m by the European Union's MEDIA Mundus programme for 2012.
Second features by Gardev, Jalali and Achim, debuts by Segal and Chiarini to be pitched at Sofia Meetings
13-Mar-2012Second features by Javor Gardev, Babak Jalili and Gabriel Achim [pictured] and debuts by Ron Segal and Duccio Chiarini are among 14 projects being pitched at the ninth edition of the Sofia Meetings which kick off in the Bulgarian capital on Thursday (March 15).
Studio Hamburg and C-Films reteam for Simple as Night Train To Lisbon starts shooting
12-Mar-2012Markus Goller [pictured] to direct Simple, a coming-of-age story about two brothers.
UK's DCMS seeking views on EC's plans for Creative Europe
9-Mar-2012German Producers Alliance calls for changes to a future guarantee fund and retention of MEDIA Desks/Antenna.
Global Screen reports strong debut at Berlinale's EFM
9-Mar-2012Global Screen, the joint venture of Telepool and Bavaria Media, did brisk business with its wide-ranging lineup at its first market in the new incarnation during the Berlinale's European Film Market (EFM).
Jihlava launches new platform for documentary producers, East Doc Platform launched in Prague
8-Mar-2012A new networking and training platform for European documentary producers is to be launched by the Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival during its 16th edition between October 25-28, 2012.
Ascot Elite secures seven titles at EFM, Splendid Film picks up nine
1-Mar-2012New films by Brian de Palma and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are among seven new acquisitions made by Zurich-based Ascot Elite Entertainment Group at lastmonth's European Film Market (EFM), while Cologne's Splendid Film has picked up nine titles for exploitation in German-speaking Europe and the Benelux.
Germany floats towards €1bn
23-Feb-2012The German box office increased year-on-year in 2011 but didn't crack the elusive billion-euro mark. Martin Blaney reports on the year's highlights
UPDATE: Caesar Must Die wins Berlin's Golden Bear
19-Feb-2012Other winners include Fliegauf, Petzold.
MEDIA says Bosnia & Herzegovina to be full member by end of year
24-Jan-2012Bosnia and Herzegovina is expected to become a full member of the EU's MEDIA Programme later this year.
39 new film projects looking for partners at 9th Berlinale Co-Production Market
17-Jan-2012New films by such award-winning directors as Russia's Alexei Popogrebsky, Romania's Tudor Giurgiu and Finland's Petri Kotwica [pictured] are among 39 new film projects from 30 countries, which have been selected for the ninth edition of the Berlinale Co-Production Market (Feb 12-14).
Sonia Mehandjiyska to head distribution at Global Screen; Thorsten Ritter to leave Bavaria
16-Jan-2012Former Echo Bridge Entertainment VP international sales to head recently formed Telepool and Bavaria Media joint venture.
European Film Market's Probst 'very excited' about new American indies presence
13-Jan-2012So far, nearly 550 market premieres scheduled.
Never Alone
12-Jan-2012The true story behind Finnish director Klaus Harö's fifth feature film Never Alone (Nie Allein), which received the Screen Internatonal Best Pitch Award at December's Baltic Event in Tallinn, has fascinated the director and producer Ilkka Matila alike ever since their childhoods.
Kosslick: Berlinale may consider Cannes or Locarno management model in the future
12-Jan-2012Dieter Kosslick notes strong Asian, German, French selections for 2012 Berlinale; popular themes include upheaval and exercise of power.
Ophüls Prize Film Festival to include nine world premieres in competitions
11-Jan-2012Weingartner's Hut In The Woods will open festival in Saarbrucken.
DCM assumes sole ownership of Delphi Filmverleih
9-Jan-2012DCM to become sole owner of distributor Delphi Filmverleih by acquiring remaining 50% stake from founder Claus Boje
Kosslick likely to stay at head of Berlinale until 2016
21-Dec-2011Berlinale chief Dieter Kosslick is set to remain at the head of the leading international festival event until 2016.
Georgia joins European Film Promotion
20-Dec-2011Georgia has become European Film Promotion's (EFP) 33rd member with the acceptance of the Georgian National Film Center (GNFC) into the promotional network to present its films and talent at international marketing activities under the European banner.
Wolfgang Braun steps down as head of StudioCanal Germany
20-Dec-2011Wolfgang Braun, chairman and CEO at StudioCanal in Germany since July 2009, will exit the company on Jan 1, 2012.
Eye on Films network grows to 30 distributors; deals signs on Iranian, Canadian films
19-Dec-2011Charlotte Rampling and Maria de Medeiros are among a number of European actors who have been approached to be recruited as "godmothers" to promote the work of the Eye on Films (EoF) network which was launched at the beginning of 2011.
Projects by Fridriksson, Cvitkovic, Ronde to be pitched at Trieste co-production market
16-Dec-2011Second edition of multi-region co-production forum to be held Jan 19-21 in Trieste.
Eurimages mooting idea of associate membership for the likes of South Africa, Argentina
13-Dec-2011Eurimages head notes that non-member UK is "special case."
European Film Promotion unveils 2012 Shooting Stars longlist
8-Dec-2011UK actor Riz Ahmed and Germany's Anna Maria Mühe are among ten up-and-coming European acting talents selected from a longlist of 23 candidates.
Bychkova, Quabeck and Mindadze films among 12 projects submitted to German-Russian Co-Development Fund
7-Dec-2011Also, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg launches another two artist in residence initiatives with Mumbai and Hong Kong.
MEDIA head calls for more lobbying; working paper suggests possible MEDIA financial breakdown
6-Dec-2011Commission Staff Working Paper says bigger countries could see more slate funding; Europa Cinemas could get almost €100m.
Melancholia wins top prize at European Film Awards
4-Dec-2011Other winners include In A Better World, The King's Speech, We Need To Talk About Kevin, The Kid With A Bike and Pina. Special honours bestowed upon Michel Piccoli [pictured] and Mads Mikkelsen.
German broadcasters allay producers' concerns after the dismissal of Degeto CEO
3-Dec-2011Germany's public broadcaster ARD has sought to allay producers' concerns after the dismissal of Hans-Wolfgang Jurgan, CEO of ARD's central film purchasing agency Degeto Film, this week "for serious organisational deficiencies".
Finnish drama Never Alone among Baltic Event winners
2-Dec-2011Films from Finland, Georgia and Hungary were voted by sales agents, distributors and potential co-producers as the most promising projects at the Baltic Event's 7th Co-Production Market which came to a close on Friday evening (Dec 2).
Christian Lemche elected new EFP president
30-Nov-2011Danish Film Institute's Lemche takes over presidency of European Film Promotion from Eva Vezer
Tallinn's Black Nights gives grand prix to A Simple Life
30-Nov-2011Other festival prize winners include We Need To Talk About Kevin, Barzakh, 33 Animals of Santa Claus, and Kotoko.
German and French film producers meet to discuss projects at Paris Rendezvous
25-Nov-2011A dramatic comedy with Holocaust survivors, a horror film set in Morocco and a Balkan Romeo and Juliet love story were among 25 projects presented to potential production partners at this year's German-French Film Meeting in Paris (Nov 23-24).
EC commissioner unveils Creative Europe programme details
23-Nov-2011Vassiliou says new programme (which replaces MEDIA) will allocate more than €900m for film/audiovisual sectors; European parliament passes resolution on digitisation.
Ireland's Parked wins top prize at Mannheim-Heidelberg
21-Nov-2011Irish filmmaker Darragh Byrne's feature directorial debut Parked, starring Colm Meaney and Colin Morgan, won the main award at this year's edition of the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival which came to a close on Sunday evening.
Industry disputes claims of European 'subsidy race'
17-Nov-2011European Commission had argued in consultation on EU state aid for film industry that countries were in a race to attract US productions.
Lindhardt, Solomon among jurors for EFP's Shooting Stars
15-Nov-2011The jury of experts has been named to select Europe's 10 best acting talents for European Film Promotion's (EFP) Shooting Stars 2012 showcase, which will be held during the upcoming Berlinale from Feb 11-13, 2012
UK films among world premiere line-up at Mannheim-Heidelberg
9-Nov-2011World premieres of films by UK directors Martin Wallace and Zam Salim are in the lineup of the 60th anniversary edition of the International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg which kicked off on Wednesday (9) with the international premiere of Reynir Lyngdal's Our Own Oslo.
Ounpuu, Härö and Kotwica projects at Baltic co-production market
8-Nov-201113 projects from 10 countries will be presented at the Baltic Event's 7th Co-Production Market in the Estonian capital of Tallinn from November 29 to December 2.
Russian films triumph in Cottbus, Zelenka gives Best Pitch
7-Nov-2011Russian cinema was the big winner at this year's FilmFestival Cottbus with Angelina Nikonova's feature debut Twilight Portrait taking home the € 20,000 main prize for best film.
Verhoeven's hit sequel among Beta's half dozen market premieres
2-Nov-2011Beta's AFM slate includes Men In The City II, Summer In Orange, Westwind.
Czech director Martin Marecek big winner in Jihlava
31-Oct-2011Czech director Martin Marecek's Solar Eclipse was the evening's big winner at the weekend's awards ceremony of the 15th Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival which was followed by a screening of Jafar Panahi's This Is Not A Film.
Berlinale and European Film Market (EFM) plan digital innovations for 2012
26-Oct-2011Moving its accreditation procedure online is one of the innovations introduced for the 2012 editions of the Berlinale and European Film Market (EFM) next February.
Europa Cinemas cancels plans for Athens conference
25-Oct-2011November event called off due to fears over disruptions in Greece.
EC wants European film industry to strengthen ties with China
25-Oct-2011Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou is visiting Beijing this week.
EC proposes 20% budget increase for next generation of EU MEDIA Programme for 2014-2020
25-Oct-2011The next generation of the European Union's MEDIA Programme from 2014-2020 could see a 20% hike in its budget to € 900m from € 755m for MEDIA 2007.
Nicolas Cage to headline first film project from Bavariapool International Coproductions
18-Oct-2011Nicolas Cage is to headline Brian Goodman's psychological thriller Black Butterfly (working title) which will be the first project for the cinema from Bavariapool International Coproductions, a joint venture between Bavaria Film and Telepool.
Wojciech Smarzowski's Rose takes top prize in Warsaw
17-Oct-2011Polish cinema triumphed at the International Competition of this year's Warsaw Film Festival (Oct 7-16) with Wojciech Smarzowski's Rose picking up the Warsaw Grand Prix and Greg Zglinski's Courage taking the special jury award for Best Actor as well as the ecumenical jury's award.
Janet McTeer joins cast of von Trotta's Hannah Arendt
13-Oct-2011UK actress Janet McTeer, who recently appeared opposite Glenn Close in Rodrigo Garcia's Albert Nobbs, will play the novelist Mary McCarthy in German director Margarethe von Trotta's latest feature Hannah Arendt (working title) which begins shooting on location in North Rhine-Westphalia this weekend.
Special Flight/A Morning Stroll opens Leipzig, Jihlava turns 15 with many industry events
10-Oct-2011Boom year for submissions to DOK Leipzig; Jihlava plans new inspiration forum.
m-appeal takes on international sales for Golden Shell winner and Veit Helmer's Baikonur
7-Oct-2011m-appeal has taken on international sales for Isaki Lacuesta's San Sebastian Golden Shell winner The Double Steps (Los Pasos Dobles) and German filmmaker Veit Helmer's romantic comedy Baikonur, which will both have their international premieres in Busan tonight.
Culture action plan also to encourage co-production between EU and Brazil
6-Oct-2011Encouraging more co-production between the EU and Brazil could be part of a new Joint Programme on Culture signed by the European Commission (EC) and Brazil.
More than 350 individuals, organisations respond in MEDIA Mundus consultation
5-Oct-2011More than 350 individuals and organisations from the European Union (EU) and around the globe have participated in a public consultation on the next round of the MEDIA Mundus Programme after 2013.
Otto leaves Sony to join Ascot Elite's German operations
3-Oct-2011Daniel Otto has been appointed as the Head of Acquisitions; Sales and Co-Productions at Swiss Ascot Elite Entertainment Group's Munich-based German theatrical operation Ascot Elite Filmverleih.
29-Sep-2011Producers Karsten Stöter, Liz Watts and Paul Welsh talk about working with acclaimed Australian director Cate Shortland on her German-language project Lore.
Colla and Madsen among 20 European filmmakers showcased by EFP in Korea's Busan
27-Sep-2011Switzerland's Rolando Colla, Romania's Adrian Sitaru and Denmark's Ole Christian Madsen are among 20 European directors who will be having their latest films showcased by European Film Promotion (EFP) at the forthcoming Busan International Film Festival (Oct 6-14).
Extremely Tragic Story top winner at Adana's Golden Boll
25-Sep-2011Festival prize money totals $543,500.
Page Eight, A Dangerous Method to book-end Warsaw
22-Sep-2011David Hare's Page Eight and David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method will open and close this year's Warsaw Film Festival (WFF) which is running for ten days on nine cinema screens with a programme of 127 feature-length films and 97 shorts from 59 countries from October 7-16.
Quiet Revolution, Fobic Films to co-produce Enthoven's Winnipeg
16-Sep-2011Belgian director Geoffrey Enthoven's dark comedy Winnipeg, will be an English language Canada/Belgium co-production
15-Sep-2011Yella and Jerichow director Christian Petzold and producer Florian Koerner von Gustorf speak about their latest collaboration.
Filmfest Hamburg 2011 programme unveiled, No Sex Is No Option opens Filmfest Oldenburg
14-Sep-2011Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof's Good Bye will kick-off Filmfest Hamburg's 2011 lineup of over 150 titles on September 29.
Future MEDIA Programme should promote 'film literacy'
12-Sep-2011The European Union's MEDIA Programme should be opened up to cultural goals and promote 'film literacy' in the support programme's next generation from 2014, according to recommendations made during the European Culture Congress in the Polish city of Wroclaw at the weekend.
Cloud Atlas awarded the maximum amount by German incentive programme
6-Sep-2011The €100m Cloud Atlas has become the first project in the history of the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) incentive programme to be awarded the maximum possible sum of Euros 10m.
Gabriela Bacher joins Kreuzpaintner's Summerstorm as CEO and co-shareholder
4-Sep-2011Bacher joins Berlin-based production outfit after recent success with local hit What A Man
Berlin Today Award to be presented for last time in 2012, new screening venue added for Berlinale
1-Sep-2011The Berlinale Talent Campus (BTC) will making its last presentation of the Berlin Today Award (BTA) during the Campus' 10th anniversary edition next February.
Tyrannosaur marks Bavaria Film's return to theatrical distribution
25-Aug-2011UK actor Paddy Considine's Tyrannosaur is set to mark Bavaria Film's return to the world of theatrical distribution when the film opens in German cinemas on October 13.
Viennale paying tribute to Jeremy Thomas, Harry Belafonte and Chantal Akerman
22-Aug-2011This year's Viennale (Oct 20 – Nov 2) will be staging special programmes to celebrate the work of UK producer Jeremy Thomas [pictured], US actor and political activitist Harry Belafonte and the Belgian director Chantal Akerman.
New genre pitching forum coming to Croatia's Zadar festival
21-Aug-2011Industry figures will discuss a new pitching forum dedicated to films in the thriller and horror genres at the upcoming Film Forum Zadar festival in Croatia.
Films Boutique takes on new films from Enthoven, Tsitos and Jude
18-Aug-2011Berlin-based sales agent Films Boutique has secured international distribution rights for new films from Geoffrey Enthoven, Filipos Tsitos and Radu Jude.
The Match Factory picks up Orizzonti opener Cut, and new Petzold film
17-Aug-2011The Match Factory has picked up international distribution rights for Iranian filmmaker Amir Naderi's new feature Cut which will have its world premiere as the opening film of Venice's Horizons (Orizzonti) section on Sept 1.
Locarno's Golden Leopard awarded to Argentina's Back To Stay
13-Aug-2011The international jury headed by Portuguese producer Paolo Branco presented the festival's top honour to Argentinian-born Milagros Mumenthaler for her debut feature Back To Stay (Abrir Puertas Y Ventanas).
Locarno's Pere claims 'perfect balance' for 2011 festival
11-Aug-2011The 64th Locarno Film Festival achieved "a perfect balance" this year, according to Olivier Père in his second outing as the festival's artistic director. Also, the ambitious Casa Del Cinema project could be in place by 2015.
Locarno's Open Doors top award shared by two Indian projects
10-Aug-2011The Trapper's Snare and Burqa Boxers win the Open Doors Co-Production Lab awards.
Brandenburg launches €5m gap financing programme
10-Aug-2011The State of Brandenburg and the regional investment bank ILB have launched a € 5m gap financing programme for films produced in the Berlin-Brandenburg region.
Second edition of Producers Lab Toronto selects 24 producers from Europe and Canada
8-Aug-2011Producers Lab Toronto has selected 24 producers from Europe and Canada for the second edition of the lab (Sept 7-10).
Fest hits should be rewarded, Swiss minister says
8-Aug-2011Meanwhile, Locarno kicks off with rain, Abel Ferrara honours and Cowboys & Aliens.
Aviva Silver speaks about future MEDIA Programme from 2014
8-Aug-2011Role of international projects discussed going forward.
German films sold to Asia, South America and Scandinavia
8-Aug-2011Rainer Matsutani's horror thriller Room 205, Christian Zübert's comedy drama Three Quarters Moon and Joseph Vilsmaier's mountaineering drama Nanga Parbat are among a raft of titles sold by German sales companies at this year's German Films Previews.
Hell to China and CIS, other Locarno titles picked up for sales
5-Aug-2011Also, Swiss distributor Ascot Elite adds five titles.
UFA Cinema partners for first time with Warner Bros.
3-Aug-2011Also, Warner starts shoot for Ludwig II starring Sabin Tambrea.
Attenberg wins Grand Prix at Wroclaw's New Horizons
1-Aug-2011Greek filmmaker Athina Rachel Tsangari won this year's Grand Prix for her feature debut Attenberg at the 11th edition of the New Horizons International Film Festival which sold more than 110,000 tickets in its eleven days from July 21-31.
State of the art studio to open in Wroclaw, 2012
29-Jul-2011Wroclaw's traditional feature film studios WFF is to be transformed into a state-of-the-art facility with a focus on innovative special effects techniques from 2012.
Shooting wrapped on Zentropa Poland's first Polish-language project
27-Jul-2011Baby Blues is the second feature from Kasia Roslaniec, who was also participating in New Horizons Studio training programme in Wroclaw this week.
Cate Shortland's Lore backed by Germany's DFFF
22-Jul-2011Australian director's WWII drama latest international co-production to benefit from DFFF incentive this year.
German-Russian Co-Production Treaty signed after years in the works
21-Jul-2011Journey to get treaty created has been more than 10 years.
IM Global, TrustNordisk, Pacha Pictures and UK's Blue Light among newcomers to Locarno
20-Jul-2011International sales and distribution company IM Global, Copenhagen-based TrustNordisk, the new French-Arab sales outfit Pacha Pictures, and UK producer-distributor Blue Light are among more than 20 companies already confirmed to attend Locarno's Industry Days for the first time this year.
Calls for future MEDIA Programme to increase support for digitisation of cinemas
19-Jul-2011New report from Polish MEP calls on Europe to speed up the digital shift, as the European Commission gathers views on how Europe can move towards a digital single market.
Kinoforum, St Petersburg
18-Jul-2011Photos from the awards ceremony at the second edition of the St Petersburg International Kinoforum which took place Jul 10-15.
Black Blood, A Separation triumph at Kinoforum
16-Jul-2011Films from China and Iran took home the top prizes at the second edition of the Saint Petersburg International Kinoforum (Jul 10-15), which despite teething troubles was attended by 40,000 cinemagoers at six cinemas and other special venues.
German media mogul Leo Kirch dies at 84
14-Jul-2011Kirch Group became one of the biggest film and TV concerns in Europe
Alexey German Jr's Under Electric Clouds starts casting
14-Jul-2011Russian-Ukrainian-Polish co-production to start shooting from October after German Jr completes short film From Tokyo
Russia's Rock Films joins Friends From France
12-Jul-2011Anne Weil and Philippe Kotlarski's 1982-set feature will shoot in Germany, Russia and Israel
French-Russian Film Academy launched, Carole Bouquet and Pavel Lungin serve as presidents
12-Jul-2011Relations between the French and Russian film industries are set to be given an additional boost with the creation of the French-Russian Film Academy.
Tyrannosaur crowned king at VOICES, St Petersburg's Kinoforum kicks off
11-Jul-2011Pure also wins big in Vologda; Kinoforum, presents two competition programmes.
Ralph Fiennes in talks to return to 19th century Russia
11-Jul-2011Ralph Fiennes is in talks to star in another adaptation of 19th Russian literature – Ivan Turgenev's 1872 play A Month In The Country.
German Films Previews to include films by Glawogger, Fehlmann, Thalheim
8-Jul-201175 buyers set to attend the Hamburg event starting July 10.
Le Quattro Volte producer to partner on Italian remake of Uchitel's The Stroll
8-Jul-2011Project is discussed by Cinecitta Luce at Russia's Voices festival, where there is a strong Italian presence.
Switzerland, Germany and Austria sign trilateral co-production agreement
6-Jul-2011Trilateral co-production agreement between Switzerland, Germany and Austria comes into effect, but international visibility of Swiss cinema dealt a blow by ministry's cost-cutting.
Aktis acquires KVIFF competitor Lollipop Monster
6-Jul-2011Aktis Film International has acquired the international distribution rights for Ziska Riemann's feature debut Lollipop Monster which has its international premiere in Karlovy Vary's main competition today (July 6).
Sherry Hormann to direct one of Bernd Eichinger's last screenplays
5-Jul-2011The US born director of Desert Flower has been picked by producer-distributor Constantin Film to direct Kampusch, one of the last projects which Bernd Eichinger had been working on before his untimely death in January this year.
Le Havre, In A Better World amongst winners at Filmfest Munchen
4-Jul-2011Hell and In A Better World also picked up awards at the festival in St Petersberg.
EC proposes €1.6bn for culture and the audiovisual industry from 2014-2020
3-Jul-2011The European Commission has proposed in its Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2014-2020 to allocate €1.6bn for culture and the audiovisual industry.
Ukraine eyeing Eurimages membership
1-Jul-2011Ukraine is the next East European country signalling interest to become a member of the Council of Europe's co-production fund Eurimages.
Second edition of Moscow Business Square attended by about 350 professionals
30-Jun-2011Moscow Co-Production Forum included new project from team behind Innocent Saturday, as well as Sarah Bernhardt English-language project.
New international film festival to start in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
30-Jun-2011Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent is to host its first international film festival this October organised by the Uzbekkino National Agency and the Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan.
Georgia to become 36th Eurimages member
29-Jun-2011"Revolutionary" change to guidelines making projects with non-European directors eligible, collaboration between European Producers Club and Russian Cinema Fund
Bekmambetov goes outside Russia for Six Degrees sequel
29-Jun-2011The sequel to Russian hit comedy Six Degrees Of Celebration has begun shooting with directors including Oksana Bychkova and Alexander Kott.
German funds partner with Russia's RCF to encourage joint development of films
28-Jun-2011Also German-Polish co-production treaty in the works.
Munich to open with The Kid With A Bike
23-Jun-2011Festival will show 237 titles in festival director Andreas Strohl's last edition.
European Commission launches public consultation on EU state aid for film industry
20-Jun-2011The European Commission has launched a public consultation as part of a review of the criteria for assessing the compatibility of national, regional, and local film and audiovisual support schemes with European Union state aid rules.
EU commissioner: we won't cut MEDIA Programme
19-Jun-2011The funding source's budget is to be kept at its current level and could possibly be increased in the European Union's budget period for 2014-2010, EU budget commissioner Janusz Lewandowski told a delegation of filmmakers in Warsaw on Friday [17].
European Commissioner proposes guarantee fund for cultural and creative industries
16-Jun-2011Androulla Vassiliou wants to work with the European Investment Bank to provide guarantees to banks for loans to cultural and creative industries
Fernando Meirelles' 360 first English language production to tap Austrian incentive
15-Jun-2011The €11m project shot in Austria last month
Argentina's No Return takes top prize at Transilvania's Cluj
13-Jun-2011Romanian Days awards go to Morgen and Outbound at Transilvania International Film Festival.
Media Luna New Films adds four new titles
10-Jun-2011Films by Hong Kong filmmaker Scud and Finland's Riamo O. Niemi are among four new titles acquired by Media Luna New Films for international distribution.
Locarno names first two competition titles, plans two new initiatives
8-Jun-2011Mia Hansen-Love's third feature Goodbye First Love [pictured] will have its international premiere.
Restructured Egoli Tossell lines up slate including Hirschbiegel project
7-Jun-2011Films by Peter Chelsom, Maria von Heland, and Oliver Hirschbiegel are among the projects being lined up by a reinvigorated Egoli Tossell Film (ETF) for its 2011/2012 slate following the restructuring of the Berlin-based production company after its insolvency at the beginning of this year.
Locarno's Pere reveals "stronger American presence"; Rohrer moves to Solothurn
31-May-2011Locarno's Olivier Père is expecting to have a "stronger American presence" for his second outing as artistic director at this year's festival (Aug 3-13).
Beta Cinema secures US deal on My Best Enemy
27-May-2011The deal was one of almost two dozen sales agreements concluded by Beta Cinema at this year's Cannes market.
UK actors Max Irons and Claire Foy set to star in Boris Damast's Vivaldi
27-May-2011Celsuis is handling international sales on the historical drama to shoot this autumn; Patricia Riggen also planning different Vivaldi project.
Circles (Krugovi)
26-May-2011The Trap director Srdan Golubovic's latest feature is the true story of a Serbian soldier who risked his life to protect a Muslim civilian during the war in Bosnia.
Kinowelt and Universum buy big in Cannes
26-May-2011New films by Niels Arden Oplev, Olivier Megaton and Martin Scorsese were bought by German independent distributors Kinowelt and Universum Film at this year's Cannes ...
German sellers and buyers report brisk business at Cannes Market
23-May-2011Constantin says it has best market in history including Resident Evil 5 deal with Sony;
James Foley thriller in Bavaria Film Partners slate, Dakota Fanning attached
15-May-2011Coming of age thriller Furious Angel one of the first projects lined up for production by new Munich-based co-production/co-financing entity
Four X-Filme classics find new home at The Match Factory
15-May-2011Run Lola Run (Lola Rennt) and Wintersleepers (Winterschläfer) among the four to move to Cologne-based sales agent
Critic and filmmaker Michael Althen dies
12-May-2011German film critic and filmmaker Michael Althen passes away aged 48.
Claim that industry "not part of the process" in planning new MEDIA Programme
12-May-2011European Commission comes under fire from professionals over future of MEDIA
Senator Film sets up Munich base after 17-year absence
9-May-2011Germany's Senator Entertainment has established two new production arms in Munich after 17 years' absence from the Bavarian capital.
Locarno's Open Doors launches new initiative
9-May-2011Locarno Film Festival's co-production lab Open Doors is to launch a new initiative entitled Carte Blanche from this August.
Future of MEDIA up for discussion in Cannes
9-May-2011The ninth edition of Cannes' European Rendezvous focuses on MEDIA's preparations for the new programme
Mobilising for MEDIA
6-May-2011The future role of the European Union's MEDIA programme in the continent's film industry remains unclear following plans to restructure arts spending in Europe. Martin Blaney reports
Bavaria to begin presales on Eddie – The Sleepwalking Cannibal
6-May-2011Bavaria Film International will begin presales on its latest acquisition of writer-director Boris Rodriguez's Eddie – The Sleepwalking Cannibal at the Marché du Film in Cannes.
Til Schweiger box-office hit among four Beta market premieres
5-May-2011Beta's Cannes Market titles also include family film The Tigerduck Gang.
Filmmakers have Niki Lauda's near fatal crash of 1976 in their sights
5-May-2011Former Formula One racing champion Niki Lauda's near fatal crash on the Nürburgring in August 1976 is at the heart of two rival film projects.
The Match Factory has four world premieres in Cannes
3-May-2011The Match Factory will be coming to Cannes this year with four new films as world premieres showing in the festival's Official Selection.
Locarno Open Doors selects 12 Indian projects
3-May-2011Projects by Indian filmmakers Anup Singh [pictured] and Alka Raghuram are among 12 selected for this year's edition of the Open Doors co-production lab to be held in Locarno from August 6-9.
EastWest Filmdistribution picks up two Cannes world premieres
3-May-2011EastWest Filmdistribution has pickedup international distribution rights for two films having world premieres in Cannes this year.
Films Boutique offers two Fortnight titles, two market premieres
1-May-2011Berlin-based sales company's slate includes Guilty of Romance, Iris in Bloom.
Klitschko doc lands North American deal at Tribeca
28-Apr-2011Sebastian Dehnhardt's documentary Klitschko about the Ukrainian-born heavyweight boxing champions Vitaly and Vladimir Klitschko has been sold to US distributor Corinth Films.
Atrix Films boards The Sandman for Cannes Marché
27-Apr-2011Munich-based sales outfit readies comedy The Sandman (Der Sandmann) for Cannes.
Loznitsa re-teams with Deckert for WWII drama In The Fog
26-Apr-2011My Joy director's second feature is set to start shooting in Latvia in September
Cinepool presents four new titles in lineup at Cannes Marché
21-Apr-2011Titles include comedy, historical drama and family film.
EFP selects candidates for Producers On The Move in Cannes
20-Apr-201125 producers to participate in 12th edition, including first producer invited from Albania.
German funds back new projects from Vincent Perez, Cate Shortland, Jos Stelling
19-Apr-2011Three German funds invest over $25m in new projects from Vincent Perez, Cate Shortland, Jos Stelling and others
Galter and Marais share Linz's Crossing Europe Award
18-Apr-2011Lluís Galter's Caracremada and Pia Marais' At Ellen's Age [pictured] shared the Crossing Europe Award in this year's European Competition in the Austrian city of Linz at the weekend.
Kaplanoglu, Teoman and Özge projects supported by new German-Turkish fund
15-Apr-2011New films by Semih Kaplanoglu, Seyfi Teoman and Asli Özge are among the first supported by the German-Turkish Co-Production Development Fund with a total of €100,000.
Oliver Schmitz leaves directors chair on Russendisko, replaced by screenwriter
15-Apr-2011Berlin-based production house Black Forest Films has changed directors in the middle of shooting the film adaptation of Wladimir Kaminer's bestseller Russendisko.
Mexico's Sanchez wins Nyon's Grand Prix
14-Apr-2011Mexican filmmaker Tatiana Huezo Sanchez's El Lugar Mas Pequeno won the Grand Prix for Best Feature-Length Film at this year's Visions du Réel international documentary festival in Switzerland's Nyon.
Zurich Film Festival to launch competition for German-language documentaries
13-Apr-2011The Zurich Film Festival has announced that it will be launching a new competition for German-language documentaries at its seventh edition from September 22-October 2, 2011.
Balabanov's A Stoker wins goEast top prize
13-Apr-2011Marian Crisan wins best director prize for Morgen.
Mike Medavoy to get honour in Locarno
11-Apr-2011Veteran US producer Mike Medavoy to receive Locarno Film Festival's Raimondo Rezzonico Prize
Romanian film critic Alex Leo Serban dies at 51
11-Apr-2011The Romanian film community is in deep shock this weekend at the news that one of its most loved and highly respected film critics Alex Leo Serban has died of cancer at the age of 51.
Vincent Wants To Sea wins gold at German Lolas
11-Apr-2011Ralf Huettner's Vincent Wants To Sea (Vincent Will Meer) picked up the Golden Lola for best feature film at this year's German Film Awards in Berlin. Tom Tykwer's Three ...
UK's House of Lords calls for continued support for future MEDIA Programme
8-Apr-2011The United Kingdom's House of Lords has added its voice to the growing line of supporters for a future MEDIA Programme.
DFFF pays out more than $9m for Hansel and Gretel in 3D
5-Apr-2011Tommy Wirkola's 3D feature started shooting last month at Babelsberg.
EU culture ministers reaffirm support for MEDIA Programme
29-Mar-2011Future support for the European Union's MEDIA Programme was given additional boost at an informal meeting of EU Ministers for Culture held at the Royal Palace in the Hungarian town of Gödöllö this week.
Poetry wins Grand Prix in Fribourg, The Fatherless bags prizes at Graz's Diagonale
28-Mar-2011South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-Dong's Poetry picked up the Le Regard d'Or Grand Prix and FIPRESCI Award at Switzerland's Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF) which celebrated its 25th edition this year.
Oberhausen launches VOD platform that gives filmmakers more options
24-Mar-2011Short films by Robert Frank, Jan Svankmajer and Jeanne Faust are among the first titles available at Oberhausen Films Online, a new kind of video-on-demand platform launched by the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen.
European sales companies join forces to launch Europa International
22-Mar-2011Michael Weber [pictured] of The Match Factory is the founding president of the group, which also includes representatives from HanWay, TrustNordisk and ...
European Commission supporting film in the Mediterranean with $15m
21-Mar-2011The European Commission is supporting the film industry in the Mediterranean region through a third edition of its Euromed Audiovisual Programme with $15m (€11m) between 2011-2013.
EC President commits to 'close cooperation' with industry for MEDIA's future
21-Mar-2011European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has committed to a "close and permanent exchange and cooperation" with European filmmakers for planning the framework of the future MEDIA Programme, according to France's ARP.
Mungiu: European filmmakers able to take risks thanks to MEDIA
18-Mar-2011European filmmakers have been able to take risks thanks to the European Union's MEDIA Programme, director Cristian Mungiu declared in a keynote speech during the public hearing on MEDIA and MEDIA Mundus in Brussels today.
European film industry faces MEDIA showdown with EU
18-Mar-2011Securing the future of the MEDIA Programme could be just one battle of many to come betwen leading lights of theEuropean film industry and their counterparts at the European Commission.
Bulgarian filmmakers appeal to prime minister
16-Mar-2011Continuing concerns about the future of the Bulgarian film industry have led the local community to petition Prime Minister Boyko Borissov [pictured] "to find a lasting solution for the tremendous problems of Bulgarian cinema."
European Commission earmarks $19.5m for African, Caribbean and Pacific films
15-Mar-2011The European Commission is to support filmmakers from the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) with a total of $19.5m (€14m) as part of its new ACP-EU Support Programme to the ACP Cultural Sectors running between 2011 and 2016.
Shelter wins in Sofia; Indian Wife, Youth take pitches awards
14-Mar-2011Dragomir Sholev's feature debut Shelter has become the first Bulgarian film to win the Grand Prix of Sofia International Film Festival's (SIFF) International Competition.
Swiss Oscar entry wins two awards at this year's Swiss Film Prize
14-Mar-2011Switzerland's 2011 Oscar entry La Petite Chambre by Stéphanie Chuat and Véronique Reymond won the awards for Best Film and Best Screenplay at this year's Swiss Film Prize Quartz 2011.
Tykwer's Three picks up six Lola nominations
11-Mar-2011Tom Tykwer's love triangle with a difference Three (Drei) has picked up six nominations for this year's German Film Awards which will be presented at a gala ceremony in Berlin's Friedrichstadtpalast on Friday, April 8.
EC Commissioner Vassiliou responds to producers' fears about MEDIA
11-Mar-2011Androulla Vassiliou, EC Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, has sought to allay European producers' concerns about the financial independence of a future MEDIA Programme.
European industry mobilises ahead of MEDIA hearing
10-Mar-2011European film professionals are anxious to hear what's discussed on March 18 about the hotly debated future of the MEDIA Programme.
Sofia Meetings pitches include new films from Qurbani, Akram, Horvath
9-Mar-2011Second features by Burhan Qurbani, Barmak Akram and Viktor Chouchkov Jr and debuts by Lili Horváth and Tom Shoval are among 18 projects being pitched at the eighth edition of the Sofia Meetings which kicks off in the Bulgarian capital on Thursday.
Barroso claims threats of cuts to MEDIA are 'completely inaccurate'
7-Mar-2011European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has denied that he has been behind plans to reduce or completely cut the MEDIA Programme after its current cycle comes to an end in December 2013.
Telepool has strong EFM with Leave, Days To Come
4-Mar-2011Munich-based sales company Telepool reports that this year's European Film Market (EFM) was "a very successful market" with further deals concluded for Feo Aladag's award-winning When We Leaveand "great interest" shown by buyers from the US in Lars Kraume's futuristic thriller The Days To Come.
Flying Concorde
3-Mar-2011In an extract from Screen's new Independent Distribution Report, Martin Blaney looks at how larger German independents grew their market share despite an overall dip in box office.
Telepool handling sales for first film from Cinema Jenin
1-Mar-2011Munich-based Telepool is handling international sales on the documentary After The Silence, which is the first film project to be supported by the German-Palestinian initiative Cinema Jenin.
Top filmmakers sign petition to support future of MEDIA Programme
23-Feb-2011More than 300 European filmmakers including Wim Wenders and Mike Leigh sign the petition.
Beta signs more than 35 deals during busy EFM
22-Feb-2011Hot sellers include My Best Enemy, Almanya, In Darkness, Black Bread and Naples
EFM 2011: Berlin's most successful ever market for arthouse titles
21-Feb-2011Hot sellers included Nader and Simin: A Separation, Tomboy and documentary Khodorkovsky.
Berlin's Golden Bear goes to Farhadi's A Separation
19-Feb-2011This marks the first time that an Iranian film has won the Golden Bear; other winners include The Turin Horse, If Not Us, Who, The Forgiveness of Blood and
Kosslick says 2011 Berlinale couldn't 'avoid the political'
19-Feb-2011Dieter Kosslick says Bela Tarr FIPRESCI prize could be a show of solidarity with Hungarian filmmakers; he also talks about challenges of digital cinema in regards to festival and market.
Brownian co-producers to reunite for Leopold's next film
17-Feb-2011The Netherlands' Circe Films and Germany's Coin Film, co-producers of Nanouk Leopold's Forum film
Europe's national film agencies support MEDIA future
16-Feb-2011Agencies offer Declaration in support of MEDIA after Berlinale meeting.
Haas joins Paramount Germany
16-Feb-2011Former Disney and Sony Pictures studio executive Maike Haas has brought onboard by Paramount Pictures Germany as executive consultant for local language acquisition and production.
Berlinale's World Cinema Fund launches new programme for Africa
16-Feb-2011A new WCF programme entitled WCF Factories will contribute in the near future to the greater creative and structural autonomy of African cinema.
New heads for funding bodies in Ireland, Austria, Switzerland
16-Feb-2011Funder appointments met with widespread approval.
Bille August checks in for Holmqvist's The Unit
16-Feb-2011Story is about an unusual romance between society outcasts in the near future.
Unafilm leaves behind Despair for new co-productions
16-Feb-2011Our Grand Despair's German producer boarding new projects by Adrian Sitaru Xavier Simon, Norbert ter Hall
Senator Entertainment taps new P&A fund
15-Feb-2011Senator Entertainment has signed an agreement with the newly established PandA fund to guarantee up to 70% of the P&A costs on the future releases of its distribution arm Senator Film Verleih.
Steinborn's Arden lines up films with directors including Ainouz
15-Feb-2011Former X-Filme exec Andro Steinborn lining up projects by Karim Ainouz, Nadav Schirmann and Marianne Sägebrecht culture clash comedy with his new company Arden Film
MEDIA programme to have three major meetings about programme's future
15-Feb-2011MEDIA unit head Aviva Silver speaks about programme's future, cinema digitization pilot project launched with €2m in 2011
Komplizen Film co-produces new films by Gomes, Albert
14-Feb-2011Berlin/Munich-based company hot for Tabu and Otherworld.
Delphi back in business, buying at EFM
14-Feb-2011Berlin-based Delphi Filmverleih busy at Berlin and Unifrance Rendezvous.
Berlinale Talent Campus targets Tokyo, Durban gets DocStation
14-Feb-2011Tokyo Filmex could become the next venue to host one of the Berlinale Talent Campus (BTC) Campus Abroad programmes.
Manchevski plans fake documentary
14-Feb-2011Mothers director tackles mockumentary.
German-Turkish Co-Production Development Fund launched
13-Feb-2011Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, FilmFörderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein team with Istanbul film festival and Turkey's Ministry for Culture.
Michael London's Groundswell climbs into Koltai's Treehouse
13-Feb-2011Jeremy Irons, Tom Sturridge and Kim Cattrall to star.
Industry worries about MEDIA's future
13-Feb-2011Some industry observers are worried that with the current economic climate, MEDIA after 2013 will be severely curtailed or phased out.
German producer Grunert readies third project with David Mackenzie
13-Feb-2011Berlin/Hamburg-based producer Malte Grunert is to embark on a third collaboration with director David Mackenzie after being one of the producers on Perfect Sense and You Instead ...
Wenders' Neue Road plan his next feature to shoot in Canada
13-Feb-2011Wim Wenders' Berlin-based Neue Road Movies, the producer of his 3D dance film Pina, is planning to shoot two films in Eastern Europe this year and preparing Wenders' ...
Beta Cinema books several deals for Goethe!
12-Feb-2011Beta Cinema is off to a flying start at this year's European Film Market with sales concluded for Philipp Stölzl's Goethe! to US distributor
Italy's state of South Tyrol launches €5m film fund
12-Feb-2011South Tyrol received the greenlight from the European Commission in Brussels this week.
KfW Bank Group offers new film financing plans
11-Feb-2011Germany's KfW Bank Group has now launched its raft of film financing instruments for development funding as well as interim and gap financing.
Maryanne Redpath and Florian Weghorn
11-Feb-2011The co-directors of Berlin's Generation section talk about its new venue and why film-makers keep coming back for more.
MEDIA Mundus launched by EU Commissioner in Berlin
11-Feb-2011MEDIA Mundus aims to strengthen ties between the European and global film industries.
Wim Wenders
11-Feb-2011The German director talks about his 3D film Pina, world premiering out of competition in Berlin this week, which explores the work of the renowned choreographer Pina Bausch.
European cinema attendance a mixed bag in 2010
11-Feb-20112010 was "a year of mixed results" for cinema attendance in Europe, according to provisional figures collated by the Strasbourg-based European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO).
Lailaps plans international slate including August's Time
11-Feb-2011German outfit takes rights to three screenplays; director Billie August attached to In A Different Time.
REM movies into Utopia Ltd
11-Feb-2011Rapid Eye Movement takes Sandra Trostel's debut feature.
Wieland Speck
10-Feb-2011Wieland Speck, who heads up the Panorama section at the Berlin Film Festival, talks about 30 years on the job.
Serbian football hit set for sequel; Soul Food sells original
10-Feb-2011The sequel to the current Serbian box-office hit Montevideo, Taste of a Dream, is set to begin shooting at original locations in Uruguay from March.
Aktis Films picks up Thome's Red Room and Adlon re-issue
10-Feb-2011Aktis Film International has taken on films by two New German Cinema veterans for this year's European Film Market.
German cinemas sold 20m fewer tickets in 2010
9-Feb-2011Ticket sales down but every sixth cinemagoer saw a 3D film.
State Minister for Culture Neumann throws weight behind incentive extension
9-Feb-2011On the eve of this year's Berlinale, State Minister for Culture Bernd Neumann has signalled his support for further extension of the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) incentive programme.
New films added to lineups for Media Luna, Beta Cinema and m-appeal
8-Feb-2011My Best Enemy has already pre-sold to the UK (Metrodome), Japan (Klockworx), Czech Republic/Slovakia (Hollywood C.E.) and China (ERG Film).
Khodorkovsky doc to premiere at Berlinale despite break-in
5-Feb-2011The world premiere in Berlin of Cyril Tuschi's Khodorkovsky will apparently now go ahead despite reports that a final version of the film was stolen from the LALA Films offices yesterday [Feb 3].
Babelsberg to co-produce Paramount action movie
4-Feb-2011Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters to star Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton [pictured].
Films Boutique, Media Luna, Telepool line up EFM slates
4-Feb-2011Films Boutique and Media Luna New Films are among the latest sales agents to add titles to their sales lineups for the forthcoming Berlinale.
Berlin adds extra venue, Taxi Driver 4K to line-up
1-Feb-2011Berlin's European Film Market (EFM) has added another venue to its existing screening facilities due to the increase in demand for screening slots.
Egoli Tossell planning financial reorganisation
31-Jan-2011Just two weeks after winning a Golden Globe for its co-production of Olivier Assayas' Carlos, Berlin-based Egoli Tossell Film (ETF) has announced the restructuring of the company's finances via the German equivalent of Chapter 11 (Insolvenzplanverfahren).
World premieres by Kaurismäki, Dörfler added to Berlin Panorama
26-Jan-2011World premieres of new documentaries by Mika Kaurismäki (Mama Afrika) and Peter Dörfler (The Big Eden) are among the last batch of films to be confirmed by the Berlinale's Panorama 2011 lineup.
UPDATED: Tributes pour in for Bernd Eichinger
26-Jan-2011German chancellor Merkel calls him a 'passionate motivator and dreamer'; Berlinale adds special screening.
Bernd Eichinger dies at 61
26-Jan-2011The German film industry is in a state of deep shock at the news that film producer Bernd Eichinger has died at the age of 61 from a heart attack during a meal with family and friends in Los Angeles on Monday evening.
Ophuls winner The Albanian to screen at Berlinale, Culinary Cinema lineup unveiled
24-Jan-2011Johannes Naber's feature debut The Albanian (Der Albaner) will be presented in the Berlinale's Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar after winning the main prize at the Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival in Saarbrücken at the weekend.
Aamir Khan, Sandy Powell among members of Berlinale's jury
21-Jan-2011Festival holding place open for Panahi; Berlinale Special screenings to include Late Bloomers, The King's Speech, Toast.
Locarno dedicates 2011 to Vincente Minelli and gets more funding
21-Jan-2011This year's Locarno Film Festival (Aug 3-13) will dedicate its retrospective to the work of the American director Vincente Minnelli.
m-appeal picks up Rent Boys and Karen
20-Jan-2011m-appeal has picked up Rosa von Praunheim's Rent Boys (Die Jungs vom Bahnhof Zoo) ahead of its world premiere in the Berlinale's Panorama next month.
Berlin's Panorama programme adds more titles
19-Jan-2011New films by Constantine Giannaris, Sabine Bernardi and Iciar Bollain have been added as the organisers for the Berlinale's Panorama are close to finalising the 2011 lineup for Berlin's Panorama section. Also added is UK 3D film The Mortician (pictured).
Berlin's EFM to screen a record 40 3D films
19-Jan-2011At least 40 3D films to screen at EFM; new exhibitors at market will include Albania and UAE.
UPDATE: Berlin competition adds premieres by Tarr, Marston, Köhler
18-Jan-2011German production companies are involved in about half the Competition titles.
Berlinale plans Jafar Panahi film screenings, censorship discussion
18-Jan-2011Panahi had been invited to serve on Berlinale jury before his conviction; Rafi Pitts plans global protest in support of Panahi during Berlinale.
LOLAs longlist out; German Film Academy joins forces with Berlinale
17-Jan-2011Berlinale competition films Pina and If Not Us, Who? and Sundance documentary The Green Wave on LOLA longlist, premiere of new Berlinale programme LOLA@Berlinale as collaboration between festival and German Film Academy
Berlinale boss says 2011 festival will be 'the usual Kosslick mixture'
17-Jan-2011Dieter Kosslick tells Screen that the programme is also notable for films by and about women, as well as Latin American and Indian work, plus a diverse group of 3D films.
Mundruczo, Riklis projects selected for Berlinale Co-Production Market
14-Jan-2011New films by such award-winning directors as Lucia Puenzo, Eran Riklis, Uberto Pasolini and Kornel Mundruczo [pictured] are among 38 projects from 25 countries which have been selected for pitching to 450 potential co-production and financing partners at the eighth Berlinale Co-Production Market (Feb 13-15).
Film critic Thierry Jobin named new director of Fribourg festival
14-Jan-2011Thierry Jobin, responsible for the film section of the Swiss daily newspaper Le Temps since 1998, has unanimously been appointed the director of the Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF) which will celebrate its 25th anniversary from March 19-26.
Berlinale Generation to include Street Kids United, Jorgen + Anne
13-Jan-2011The Berlinale's Generation sidebar has finalised its 2011 lineup of 59 films (including 32 shorts) from 32 countries selected for the competitions of Generation Kplus and Generation 14plus.
Record number of films supported in DFFF incentive's fourth year
12-Jan-2011A record number of 114 projects were supported with $ 75.4m (€ 57.9m) by the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) in its fourth year of operations.
Utopia Ltd. to open Berlinale's Perspektive Deutsches Kino
11-Jan-2011The Perspektive's new section head Linda Söffker has now completed her lineup of 11 films.
Germany box office revenues slip almost 9% in 2010, local films struggle
10-Jan-2011Box-office revenues in Germany fell year-on-year by almost 9% in 2010, according to figures collated by Rentrak EDI.
Berlin's Panorama selections include Elite Squad 2, Mothers
4-Jan-2011The Berlinale's Panorama section has now unveiled almost half of its 2011 lineup for next month's festival, including 10 world premieres of new films by such directors as Rosa von Praunheim, Alexander Zeldovich and newcomers Jan Schomburg and Marie Kreutzer.
Heisenberg's The Robber leads nominations for Austrian Film Awards
28-Dec-2010Hausner's Venice and Roehler's Jud Suess - Film Ohne Gewissen also have multiple nominations.
Baltic Event Best Pitch winner: Under Electric Clouds
20-Dec-2010The Screen International Best Pitch Award was presented for the third time during Tallinn's Baltic Event co-production market (Dec 1-3). This year's winners, Russian director Alexei German Jr and producer Artem Vassiliev, talk about their project Under Electric Clouds.
2010 3D releases mitigate German admissions drop
19-Dec-2010Additional revenues generated by 3D releases in 2010 cushioned the negative effects of a year-on-year decline in film-going in Germany.
German culture and media minister Neumann agrees to finance boost
19-Dec-2010State Minister For Culture And Media Bernd Neumann handed German producers and the country's reputation as film hub a boost after he agreed with the Reconstruction Credit Institute (KfW) to a package of financing instruments for development funding as well as intermediate and gap financing.
Illegal wins Golden Bull at Festival on Wheels in Artvin
17-Dec-2010Olivier Masset-Depasse's second feature Illegal has won this year's Golden Bull at the International Golden Bull Film Competition held in Turkey's Artvin as part of the 16th edition of Festival on Wheels.
Berlin's European Film Market "nearly booked solid"; new docs services offered
16-Dec-2010With just under two months before Berlin's European Film Market (EFM) opens its doors on February 10, 2011, the organizers are already reporting that exhibition space in the EFM venues at the Martin-Gropius-Bau and the Marriott Hotel are "nearly booked solid" with companies from almost 50 countries set to attend.
Andrea Riseborough and Alexander Fehling among 2011 Shooting Stars
14-Dec-2010UK actress Andrea Riseborough (pictured) and Germany's Alexander Fehling are among ten up-and-coming European acting talents which have been selected from a longlist of 25 candiates for European Film Promotion's Shooting Stars showcase at next February's Berlin International Film Festival.
Swiss market share climbs by 50% as record number of local films released in cinemas
14-Dec-2010Swiss films' market share climbed year-on-year by around 50% to 5.2% in 2010 from last year's 3.5% with a record number of local film – 82 – released in the cinemas.
My Joy wins in Tallinn, Baltic Event expanded further East, but fewer buyers
5-Dec-2010In co-pro market, Hungarian director Arpad Bogdan and his producer Gabor Sipos from Laokoon Filmgroup won for thriller Necromancer.
UPDATED: Polanski's Ghost Writer has record-setting wins at EFAs
5-Dec-2010Roman Polanski's The Ghost Writer was the big winner at the 23rd European Film Awards which took place in Tallinn, Estonia, on Saturday night.
2-Dec-2010Shooting wrapped last week on Veit Helmer's fourth feature Baikonur in a 'Zero-G' Airbus A300 at the French Test Flight Centre in Bordeaux.
10 1/2 wins top prize at Mannheim Heidelberg
22-Nov-201010 1/2 by Canada's Daniel Grou (aka Podz) picked up the Main Award of this year's Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival which ended on Sunday evening.
Skanhaus Group plans to invest $24m in new studio complex near Berlin
17-Nov-2010UK-based Skanhaus Group is planning to invest $24m (Euros 18m) in the construction of a new film production complex north-east of Berlin which is being billed as the world's "first eco-friendly film studio."
Madsen, Kolar among jurors for EFP's Shooting Stars
17-Nov-2010The jury of experts has been named to select Europe's ten most talented up-and-coming actors to participate in European Film Promotion's (EFP) Shooting Stars 2011 showcase, which will be held during the forthcoming Berlinale from Feb 12-14, 2011.
Bize's The Life Of Fish opens 59th Mannheim-Heidelberg festival
11-Nov-2010The Chilean film-maker's film will open the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival today (November 11) and runs until November 21.
New pitching platform at Berlinale for Central European producers
10-Nov-2010Berlin's Hungarian Institute (Collegium Hungaricum Berlin) is to host a new pitching platform, Pitch Stop, for producers from Central Europe as part of its "Cinema Total" initiative during the forthcoming Berlin Film Festival.
New Austrian incentive FISA backs 5 films with €1m
8-Nov-2010Peter Payer's Where Is Little Manuela is one of five projects to be supported by Austria's new film financing incentive Film Location Austria.
Serbia's White White World wins Cottbus top prize
7-Nov-2010Serbian filmmaker Oleg Novkovic's modern-day Greek tragedy White White World (Beli, Beli Svet) has been awarded the Grand Prix for Best Film at the 20th edition of FilmFestival Cottbus (Nov 2-7).
Viennale posts record attendance as German zombie film and Romanian debut win prizes
3-Nov-2010Mexican director Pedro González-Rubio's Alamar and the Austrian avant-garde short Shadow Cuts were the closing films tonight of this year's edition of the Vienna International Film Festival (Viennale) which posted record attendance figures.
The Woman With A Broken Nose opens 20th edition of FilmFestival Cottbus
2-Nov-2010Culture Minister Neumann attending; Connecting Cottbus copro market convenes for 12th time.
Warsaw's CentEast market welcomes more than 200 participants
18-Oct-2010Over 200 participants attended the sixth edition of the CentEast Market, the industry arm of the Warsaw International Film Festival , running from Oct 15-17.
Berlinale market extends birthday discount offer for second year for 'early birds'
18-Oct-2010The Berlin International Film Festival is retaining the € 100 discount on its market badges, which was introduced as a 60th birthday present last year, as an offer for "early birds" for a limited period.
German sales agent Beta Cinema takes on Toronto surprise hit Viva Riva! from the Congo
14-Oct-2010German sales agent Beta Cinema has picked up writer-director Djo Tunda Wa Munga's feature debut Viva Riva! and signed its first deals with the US, UK and Australia/New Zealand.
Three Musketeers is sixth international production at Studio Babelsberg in 2010
13-Oct-2010Berlin's shooting frenzy continues with Paul W.S. Anderson 3D project.
German zombie film Rammbock sold to US, Japan and other territories
12-Oct-2010Sales to distributors in the US, Japan, Poland and Romania are among the deals signed by the Vienna-based EastWest Filmdistribution for Marven Kren's zombie film Rammbock which had its international premiere on the Piazza Grande in Locarno in August.
Sarah Bolger cast in lead for 3D fantasy adventure Starbright
8-Oct-2010Irish actress Sarah Bolger has been cast in the lead of Canadian writer-director Francesco Lucente's 3D fantasy fairytale adventure Starbright which will begin shooting in the US in early 2011.
Dorsch leaves German Films
7-Oct-2010Christian Dorsch has left the German film industry's Munich-based promotional agency German Films Service + Marketing GmbH "to take up new professional challenges."
Paramount's German outpost picks up second German production
6-Oct-2010Shooting has begun today on Elmar Fischer's sensitive comedy Offroad, which marks the second local pickup by the German outpost of Paramount Pictures.
Germany's Splendid unveils Toronto deals
4-Oct-2010Splendid Medien signed deals for German-language territories and the Benelux to four films at last month's Toronto International Film Festival.
Good Bye, Lenin! director Becker plans second feature Oskar
4-Oct-2010Seven years after his last film Good Bye, Lenin!, director Wolfgang Becker is now in preparations for a second feature project entitled Oskar alongside the previously announced Ich und Kaminski.
Zurich's international Golden Eye goes to Woman With A Broken Nose
2-Oct-2010European films took home all of the prizes at this year's edition of the Zurich Film Festival which will come to an end on Sunday evening (Oct 3) with a gala screening of Oliver Stone's Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.
David Lynch to receive Film Award Cologne 2010
1-Oct-2010Last year's award is still waiting for Polanski.
Gainsbourg opens Filmfest Hamburg, Douglas Sirk Award for Julian Schnabel
30-Sep-2010Joann Sfar's Gainsbourg will open the 18th edition of Filmfest Hamburg tonight.
Uncle Boonmee German co-producer backed by new regional film fund
28-Sep-2010Hans W. Geissendoerfer, one of the co-producers of this year's Golden Palm winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, has become one of the first film producers to benefit from a new regional fund based in South Tyrol.
Fribourg fest director Waintrop moving to Geneva arthouse cinema
27-Sep-2010He will leave his post as director of the Fribourg Festival after the festival's 25th edition.
Swiss Oscar entry nominated for Prix Europa
27-Sep-2010Switzerland's Oscar entry La Petite Chambre by Stéphanie Chuat and Véronique Reymond is among fiveSwiss films nominated in this year's Prix Europa competition, being held in Berlin from October 16 to23.
Markus Welter starts shoot for 3D slasher film One Way Trip
27-Sep-2010Shooting begins today at Swiss locations on Markus Welter's 3D horror slasher film One Way Trip.
Disney Research gets Swiss innovation award
25-Sep-2010Disney Research Zurich (DRZ) has been awarded the Tell Award "for most significant Swiss Technology and Innovation Investment in 2009" in recognition of the Walt Disney Company's inward investment into the Greater Zurich Area.
Constantin Film and Michael Steiner plan future collaborations
24-Sep-2010Constantin Film Schweiz and Michael Steiner, director of Zurich Film Festival's opening film Sennentuntschi, are to collaborate on film projects in the future.
Swiss national fund backs five international co-productions
24-Sep-2010Switzerland's Federal Office of Culture (BAK) has awarded over $2.6m (CHF 2.5m) to five international co-productions in the latest round of funding from its film section.
Zurich Film Foundation doles out $1m; Film Office plans afoot
24-Sep-2010New feature films from Oliver Paulus, Isabel Kleefeld and Friederike Jehn are among the projects supported with over USD 1m (CHF 1m) by the Zurich Film Foundation at its latest sitting.
Pellegrino sets up new company with writer-director Birgit Stein
23-Sep-2010Producer-financier Roland Pellegrino has set up the Stuttgart-based production outfit PS-Filmproduction with writer-director Birgit Stein to produce her feature debut No Mercy.
Atrix sells out on Turtle doc, adding sales to Japan and China
23-Sep-2010Hot sellers are Turtle: The Incredible Journey and How To Cook Your Life.
Bavaria sells Silence; EEAP takes on Kokowääh
21-Sep-2010Bavaria Film International has closed a series of all-rights deals for Baran bo Odar's debut feature The Silence (Das letzte Schweigen).
Switzerland, Austria select Academy Award submissions
19-Sep-2010Switzerland and Austria have announced their entries for the best foreign language film category at the Academy Awards, selecting fiction feature debuts by directing duos.
When We Leave named Germany's Oscar submission
17-Sep-2010Feo Aladag's feature debut When We Leave (Die Fremde) has been selected by Germany as its national entry for the Academy Awards' Foreign Language Film category.
Berlinale revamps EFM local cinema showcase
17-Sep-2010The German Cinema sidebar at EFM will now feature films from the longlist for the German Film Awards.
Austria launches 20m euros film financing incentive
14-Sep-2010Austria launches new film incentive after green light from Brussels; International co-productions attract most support from German fund this year
Match Factory sells Attenberg to Benelux and Austria
13-Sep-2010Cologne-based sales agent The Match Factory signed deals for Athina Rachel Tsangari's Attenberg to Benelux and Austria ahead of the awarding of the Best Actress Coppa Volpi to Ariane Lebed in Venice on Saturday evening.
Films Boutique picks up Colombian animated doc
11-Sep-2010Berlin-based sales agent Films Boutique has picked up the international rights for Jairo Eduardo Carrillo's Little Voices which premiered in Venice Days..
When We Leave finds North American buyers
11-Sep-2010Munich-based sales agent Telepool has sold Feo Aladag's feature debut When We Leave (Die Fremde) to the US and Canada.
Berlin-based EEAP signs exclusive distribution deal with Bulgaria
10-Sep-2010Berlin-based license trader Eastern European Acquisition Pool (EEAP) has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Bulgaria's leading theatrical distributor and exhibitor Alexandra Groupholding.
World premiere of Sennentunschi opens Zurich Film Festival
9-Sep-2010Michael Steiner's long-awaited fourth film Sennentuntschi will open this year's Zurich Film Festival as a world premiere.
Camino Filmverleih to release Womb in Germany
8-Sep-2010Stuttgart-based distributor Camino Filmverleih will release Benedek Fliegauf's English language debut Womb in Germany next spring.
m-appeal picks up The Christening; Media Luna New Films Silence is Golden
5-Sep-2010Berlin-based sales company m-appeal has added Polish filmmaker Marcin Wrona's second feature film The Christening to its lineup ahead of its international premiere in Toronto's Vanguard sidebar next week.
Films Boutique picks up international distribution for Special Treatment
3-Sep-2010Berlin-based sales agent Films Boutique has taken on international distribution for writer-director Jeanne Labrune's Special Treatment (Sans Queue Ni Tete) which will have its world premiere as a Special Presentation at this month's Toronto International Film Festival.
Bavaria, Beta bulk up slates ahead of awards season
27-Aug-2010Bavaria Film International has taken on worldwide sales rights to Icelandic film-maker Fridrik Thor Fridriksson's melancholic comedy Mamma Gogo ahead of its international premiere in Toronto.
German writer/director Christoph Schlingensief dies at 49
23-Aug-2010Christoph Schlingensief, the "enfant terrible" of the German theatre and film scene, has lost his battle against lung cancer at the age of 49 on Aug 21.
SquareOne takes on Hungry Rabbit Jumps, Dark Tide, Ironclad
17-Aug-2010German independent licence trader SquareOne Entertainment is set to consolidate its new position in the German theatrical market with further acquisitions to be released with distribution partner Universum Film.
French sales company picks up Golden Leopard winner; Lubitsch retrospective to tour
16-Aug-2010French sales agent/theatrical distributor Capricci Films has taken on international sales for Winter Vacation by China's Li Hongqi, which won Locarno's Golden Leopard at the weekend. Plus other touring news from Locarno.
China's Winter Vacation lights up Locarno summer
14-Aug-2010Locarno's top award, the Golden Leopard (Pardo d'oro), has been awarded by the international jury headed by Singaporean film-maker Eric Choo to Li Hongqi for his third feature Winter Vacation.
Olivier Père says his first Locarno exceeds expectations
13-Aug-2010Ahead of the awards ceremony at the Piazza Grande on Saturday evening, Olivier Père is very enthusiastic about his first outing as Locarno's artistic director.
12-Aug-2010Shooting wrapped this week on Eran Riklis' first film to be shot in Germany, a drama inspired by the life of Israel's most famous basketball coach Ralph Klein.
German film investor CP Medien to wind down
12-Aug-2010German film investor CP Medien, who raised €450m from private investors to channel into around 40 films between 1995 and 2002, is currently being wound up.
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan projects take top awards at Locarno's Open Doors
10-Aug-2010Films from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan were the winners at the end of this year's Open Doors event in Locarno, which was dedicated to projects from Central Asia.
FiGa Films sells Aardvark to Spain, with strong interest elsewhere
10-Aug-2010International sales agent FiGa Films has sold Kitao Sakurai's Argentinian-US film Aardvark, a Locarno selection, to Madrid-based distributor Aquelarre.
Producers Lab Toronto participants to include Tilic, Jackowski, Selen, Marr
10-Aug-2010The new Producers Lab Toronto will welcome 24 producers from Europe and Canada.
Swiss government suggests creation of new film funding body by 2012
9-Aug-2010Changes are afoot in Swiss cinema to reorganize the national film funding system from 2012.Also, Nyon festival announces changes.
Palestine's Cinema Jenin re-opens thanks to international support
5-Aug-2010Cinema Jenin, one of Palestine's largest and most impressive movie houses, is re-opening today thanks to international support after remaining closed for more than 20 years since the first Intafada in 1987.
German Films Previews stir interest in new Tykwer, Fliegauf films
19-Jul-2010A promoreel of Tom Tykwer's urban love story Three (Drei), Benedek Fliegauf's Womb and Wolfgang Panzer's drama The Day Of The Cat (Der grosse Kater) were ...
Studio Babelsberg expansion plans supported by Potsdam and Brandenburg
15-Jul-2010Studio Babelsberg's desire to increase the number of sound stages has received support from the local authorities in Potsdam and the federal state of Brandenburg.
Strong presence for German productions for Pere's first Locarno competition
14-Jul-2010German cinema has a high profile Olivier Pere's first outing as artistic director of the Locarno International Film Festival this year.
German Films Previews to present 19 films including Womb and The Silence
13-Jul-2010Almost 100 international buyers will be attending the 10th edition of the German Films Previews, which will be held in Hamburg this year from July 15-18.
MMC Studios lines up shoots with Szabo, Rappeneau and Hallstrom
29-Jun-2010Cologne's MMC Studios are currently giving Studio Babelsberg a run for its money in the no-holds barred competition for hosting attractive international projects with films by Istvan Szabo, Jean-Paul Rappeneau and Lasse Hallström lined up on its sound stages for the coming months
Venezuelan debut earns top prize at Moscow Int'l Film Festival
27-Jun-2010Venezuela's Marcel Rasquin's Brother (Hermano) was presented with the Golden St George Grand Prix at this year's Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF), which closed on Saturday evening [26] with jury president Luc Besson's latest film The Extraordinary Adventures Of Adele Blanc-Sec.
German film industry mourns passing of Frank Giering at 38
25-Jun-2010The actor played the lead roles in Christopher Roth's Baader and Romuald Karmakar's Nightsongs.
Swiss and Austrian producers join forces for 3D slasher film
24-Jun-2010Zurich-based HesseGreutert Film and Vienna's Superfilm are to co-produce the first 3D feature film to come from Switzerland and Austria.
Sony Russia eyes international co-productions; starts 3D shoot for Best Movie
22-Jun-2010Sony Pictures Entertainment Russia is considering becoming involved in international co-production in the future as its local franchise The Very Best Movie starts shooting in 3D this week.
Moscow's Co-Production Forum held for second time while first edition of film market lacks fizz
21-Jun-2010The forum attracted 150 foreign delegates over three days.
LA-based fund accesses $ 50m Russian investment for slate of international co-productions
21-Jun-2010Projects include Simon West's Dali biopic and Patricia Riggen's Vivaldi.
WFC. International Capital Group extends its portfolio to include first film fund
20-Jun-2010WFC. International Capital Group has extended its portfolio of financial services to the field of media funds with the setting up of its Motion Picture Fund 1.
Aktis strikes for Broken Nose; in Moscow with Berlin
18-Jun-2010German sales agent Aktis Film International has picked up international sales for Serbian director Srdjan Koljevic's second feature The Woman With a Broken Nose which won five awards at last week's Cinema City film festival in Novi Sad.
Von Trotta, Hallstrom and Riggen backed by Filmstiftung NRW
16-Jun-2010New feature films by Margarethe von Trotta, Lasse Hallström and Patricia Riggen are among 11 projects awarded around €5.7m production funding by the Düsseldorf-based Filmstiftung NRW at its latest session.
My Joy, Truce lead winners in Sochi
14-Jun-2010Sergei Loznitsa's Cannes competition film My Joy took two prizes at this year's Kinotavr Open Russian Film Festival which came to a close in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Sunday evening (June 13).
New law to make broadcasters pay into German film fund
13-Jun-2010Germany's broadcasters will be required to make statutory payments to the German Federal Film Board (FFA) in future after the Bundestag passed an amendment to the existing German Film Law (FFG) on Friday [11].
Munich Film Festival to open with Me Too
11-Jun-2010Abbas Kiarostami and Mads Mikkelsen to be honoured at the festival which opens on June 25.
German funds support new films from Michael Glawogger, Istvan Szabo
10-Jun-2010International co-productions with countries as diverse as Argentina, China, Spain, and Finland are among new projects supported with over $7.2m (€6m) by the two national funds German Federal Film Board (FFA) and German Federal Film Fund (DFFF).
Ascot's German theatrical arm readies launch with Buried
9-Jun-2010Leading Swiss independent distributor Ascot Elite Entertainment has now put its German theatrical arm Ascot Elite Filmverleih, in place to begin with its first release – Rodrigo Cortes' Buried - this autumn.
China's Jia Zhang-ke youngest director ever to receive Locarno's Leopard of Honour
8-Jun-2010China's Jia Zhang-ke is to become the youngest director ever to receive Locarno's Leopard of Honour at the forthcoming edition in August.
Match Factory climbs The Wall with Martina Gedeck
8-Jun-2010The Match Factory has picked up international sales for Julian Roman Pölsler's adaptation of Marlene Haushofer's bestselling novel The Wall (Die Wand) which has begun shooting in Upper Austria.
Media Luna to handle sales on Black Field, Im Not Harry Jenson
7-Jun-2010The Cologne based company will handle the Greek cross gender love story and New Zealand murder mystery.
Mundane History takes grand prize in Cluj
7-Jun-2010Thai director Anocha Suwichakornpong was presented with her prize by Wim Wenders, who himself received a lifetime achievement award.
German national, regional funds hand out over €9m to European productions
4-Jun-2010Cronenberg's Method gets €0.5m from MFG Baden-Württemberg, while MDM awards Golubovic, Dresen.
22 projects selected for Moscow Co-Production Forum
3-Jun-2010New features by Ismailova, Lehto and Pak among projects in the event taking place 18-20 June.
Cinepool's busy Cannes sales led by Legends of Valhalla and 7 Dwarves
2-Jun-2010Munich-based Cinepool made its first sales on two stereoscopic 3D animation films in a raft of deals at a busy Cannes market.
EFP adds Alabanian National Center of Cinematography
1-Jun-2010European FIlm Promotion now has 31 members in 32 countries.
Beta reports strong Cannes market sales
28-May-2010Hot sellers include Au Revoir Taipei, Vincent Wants To See and
The Match Factory does brisk business with Palme d'Or winner Uncle Boonmee
27-May-2010New deals include Pyramide for France, Karma for Spain and BIM for Italy.
Falcom, Le Pacte come on board for animated Moon Man
26-May-2010Katharina Thalbach, Ulrich Tukur and Ulrich Noethen are among the voice cast.
Loznitsa's My Joy heads for competition in Sochi
24-May-2010Kinotavr Open Russian Film Festival held at the Black Sea resort of Sochi from June 6 -13 will have 14 titles in competition.
Germany's Pro-Fun expands into sales
21-May-2010The new division - Pro-Fun Media - International Sales - has been launched with three titles.
Funds management
21-May-2010Worth more than $400m per year, Germany's array of funds can make up a significant portion of a budget. Martin Blaney explores the ups and downs of the territory's funding options, and how each can be tapped.
Friends in all the right places
21-May-2010Who are the German co-producers that international producers need to know when contemplating a shoot in the territory? Martin Blaney profiles a selection.
The German connection
17-May-2010With its generous array of finance and an ever-expanding pool of talent, Germany is a natural location choice for film shoots from around the world. Martin Blaney looks at how the territory's muscular production sector is strengthening its international links.
Europe's major studio
17-May-2010Berlin's venerable Studio Babelsberg is playing a key role in Germany's production upturn. Now it is looking to strengthen its offer as a co-producer.Martin Blaney reports.
Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg backs new projects by Cronenberg, Wright, Gansel and von Garnier
6-May-2010Latest funding round backs 20 projects backed with over $7.4m (€ 5.8m).
New features by Ismailova and Vakkasova among Open Doors Central Asia selection
5-May-2010Locarno Film Festival's co-production event Open Doors Factory selects 12 projects from 114 applications.
Films Boutique picks up two Un Certain Regard premieres
4-May-2010The two new additions to Berlin-based sales company's slate are Tuesday After Christmas and R U There.
War drama The Blacks wins Linz's Crossing Europe Award
26-Apr-2010Crossing Europe Award for Best European Documentary goes to Erik Gandini's Videocracy.
The White Ribbon dominates Germany's Lola Awards
25-Apr-2010Michael Haneke's The White Ribbon continued its run of awards by sweeping the board at this year's German Film Awards with ten Lolas, including Golden Lolas for best feature film, direction, screenplay, cinematography and leading actor for Burghart Klaussner.
Paramount Germany unveils first local pickup, German funds pay out over €10m in support
22-Apr-2010Tim Fehlmann's post-apocalyptic thriller 2016 – Das Ende der Nacht has been unveiled as Paramount Pictures Germany's first local pickup.
Petra Müller named managing director of Filmstiftung NRW
20-Apr-2010She replaces Michael Schmid Ospach as the head of the film fund.
EFP selects candidates for Producers On The Move in Cannes
20-Apr-2010The line-up includes Son Of Babylon producer Isabelle Stead and Lauranne Bourrachot, who produced A Prophet.
Volcano casts cloud on Linz's Crossing Europe
20-Apr-2010The seventh edition of the festival will be affected by the travel chaos
Morawetz to join Kinowelt in Austria
19-Apr-2010Outgoing Disney manager to become Kinowelt's new distribution partner in Austria.
Liman's Cannes competition debut among Ascot Elite acquisitions
19-Apr-2010The Swiss distributor has also secured rights to Soderbergh's Knockout and Nigel Cole's Made in Dagenham.
Luciano Barisone suceeds Jean Perret as director of Visions du Réel
18-Apr-2010Luciano Barisone, artistic director of Florence's Festival dei Popoli since 2008, has been named the successor to Jean Perret as director of Nyon's Visions du Réel.
Sony Pictures to release new children's film franchise Yoko
16-Apr-2010Franziska Buch will direct the German-Austrian-Swedish co-production about an 11 year old girl and her friendship with a yeti.
Veteran German filmmaker Werner Schroeter dies at 65
14-Apr-2010The Golden Bear winning director had been battling cancer
BavarianBankFund extended for another 10 years
8-Apr-2010The fund has provided gap financing for the production and distribution of commercially promising feature films.
EFP working with Toronto for new Producers Lab
7-Apr-2010The three-day event during TIFF 2010 will include pitching sessions, roundtable meetings and case studies.
German box office up 18% in first quarter
5-Apr-2010German cinemas have reported that box office takings climbed 18% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2010 thanks to such 3D releases as Avatar and Alice In Wonderland.
Constantin Film named Germany's most successful producer and distributor of 2009
1-Apr-2010Company gets FFA "Industry Tiger" award and was allocated over €2.8m "reference" funding for future projects.
31-Mar-2010For German cinema-owners, 2009 was one of the most successful years ever thanks to 3D which boosed the theatrical performance of already big releases such as Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs and Up.
SquareOne Entertainment moves into German theatrical market
30-Mar-2010The Munich-based outfit will start by co-distributing StreetDance 3D with Universum Film in June.
German funds back new projects from Kusturica, Wright, von Garnier
29-Mar-2010Projects backed in $15m funding round include Joe Wright's thriller Hanna, now shooting at Babelsburg Studios.
Nyon's Visions du Reel to present 30 world premieres
26-Mar-2010Festival will open with Kinshasa Symphony on April 15.
goEast unveils competition for April festival
25-Mar-2010Alexey Popogrebsky's Silver Bear winner How I Ended This Summer, Peter Calin Netzer's Medal Of Honor and Robert Glinski's Piggies are in the programme.
25-Mar-2010Wim Wenders 3D dance project Pina, about the legendary dance choreographer Pina Bausch who died before production began, is about to enter its second phase of shooting.
Hessen extends film funding scheme until 2013
23-Mar-2010The German state has extended its film investment programme for a further four years.
La Pivellina wins Diagonale Grand Prix
21-Mar-2010Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel's La Pivellina won the Grand Diagonale Prize for Best Austrian Feature Film at festival director Barbara Pichler's second year heading up the annual national showcase of Austrian cinema in Graz.
The White Ribbon leads nominations for Germany's Lola awards
19-Mar-2010Michael Haneke's award winning film scores the best nominations at the German film industry awards.
M-appeal sells Last Summer Of The Boyita
9-Mar-2010Berlin based sales company secures more deals following last month's European Film Market
Animal Heart is surprise winner at Swiss Film Prizes
8-Mar-2010Julia's Disappearance lost out to surprise winner Animal Heart at the Swiss Film Prizes
Aktis picks up Homies
5-Mar-2010Aktis Film picks up rights to Adnan G Kose's hiphop drama
Henry of Navarre producer launches feature film label
4-Mar-2010Ziegler Film launches cinema label to concentrate its activities on feature film production
European Union to launch new production fund
3-Mar-2010The European Union's MEDIA Programme is launching a new production guarantee fund, worth 8m euros
Bavarian fund backs Reynolds, Emmerich, Dietl
3-Mar-2010Germany's Bavarian fund will support new projects from Kevin Reynolds, Roland Emmerich and Helmut Die.
Eva Hubert to stay at Hamburg film fund
2-Mar-2010Eva Hubert will stay on as managing director of Hamburg based regional fund Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein GmbH (FFHSH) for another five years
Durban Film Festival to launch African continent's first co-production market
27-Feb-2010The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) is to launch the CineMart-style Durban FilmMart (DFM).
Cinepool, Beta Cinema reveal EFM sales
26-Feb-2010German sales agents Cinepool and Beta Cinema did brisk business at last week's European Film Market (EFM).
Buyers swarm to Match Factory's Honey
25-Feb-2010Sales agent The Match Factory has concluded a raft of deals on Semih Kaplanoglu's Honey (Bal), which became the second Turkish film in the Berlinale's history to win the Golden Bear last weekend.
Tom Tykwer's One Fine Day leads launch of FilmAfrica! training scheme
22-Feb-2010Tom Tykwer (pictured) and Marie Steinmann's One Fine Day Films and the Deutsche Welle Akademie launch new training scheme for African film-makers.
"Optimistic" EFM offers light at the end of the tunnel
22-Feb-2010There was a glimmer of optimism at this year's European Film Market, according to director Beki Probst who said she was "agreeably surprised" buy this year's edition.
Semih Kaplanoglu's Honey takes Berlinale Golden Bear
22-Feb-2010Semih Kaplanoglu's Honey (Bal), the third part of his reverse-order trilogy after Egg and Milk, became only the second Turkish film to win the Golden Bear in Berlin.
Drei Freunde picks up German rights on Dispensables
18-Feb-2010Young German theatrical distributor Drei Freunde has picked up German language rights for Andreas Arnstedt's international award-winning film The Dispensables (Die Entbehrlichen) from sale agent Aktis Film International.
Ascot Elite burrows into German theatrical market
18-Feb-2010Swiss distributor Ascot Elite is launching into the German theatrical market with the release of Rodrigo Cortes' Sundance buzz film Buried.
Match Factory raises sales on Submarino
18-Feb-2010The Match Factory has closed a raft of deals for key territories on Thomas Vinterberg's Submarino, which screened in competition here in Berlin.
Pinewood, Studio Hamburg form joint venture
17-Feb-2010Pinewood Studios and Studio Hamburg have launched a joint venture to encourage European and international film-makers to shoot in Germany.
Travel ban forced Panahi to stay home
17-Feb-2010Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi has fallen victim to the travel ban imposed by president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's regime
Rumours abound on next fund chief
17-Feb-2010The German film industry rumour-mill has gone into overdrive during the Berlinale over who will replace Filmstiftung NRW chief Michael Schmid-Ospach when he departs in April.
Bittersuess lines up Love, Run Boy Run and Santiago
17-Feb-2010Berlin-based Bittersuess Pictures is lining up new films by directors Christian Alvart, Pepe Danquart and Christian Schwochow.
Independent, Mogador team on erotic thriller
17-Feb-2010Independent Partners Films and Mogador Films have announced plans to collaborate on a second erotic arthouse film. Rolf Peter Kahl will direct The Lost Love, and Melanie Kretschmann (Blutsfreundschaft) is already attached to star.
Pere promises flexibility in Piazza Grande line-up
16-Feb-2010Locarno Film Festival's new artistic director Olivier Pere will be more flexible in his programming for the nightly open-air programme on the town's Piazza Grande.
Karathanos reveals new projects
16-Feb-2010New films from Tadjik director Bakhtiar Khudojnazarov and Georgia's Dito Tsintsadze are being lined up for production this year by Thanassis Karathanos of Twenty Twenty Vision and Pallas Film.
White Ribbon scoops German critics' awards
16-Feb-2010Michael Haneke's Oscar-nominated The White Ribbon took four prizes, including best film and screenplay, at the German Film Critics Association Awards last night.
Badge holders breathe sigh of relief as screenings ban is lifted
15-Feb-2010EFM non-buyer badge holders were relieved yesterday after a stressful couple of days in which they found themselves barred from the competition press screenings.
Generation faces 2011 premiere rule
15-Feb-2010From 2011, films seeking selection for the Berlinale's Generation sidebar, which focuses on children's and youth titles, must be European premieres.
Cinema Chile to push country's films as a brand
15-Feb-2010Chilean producers have launched a cinema brand at the EFM in a bid to raise the profile of Chilean films internationally.
NFD commits to local film with new hires
14-Feb-2010Nordisk Film Distribution (NFD) has appointed Lone Korslund as head of co-productions, and Rasmus Krogh as its new local film buyer.
I Phone You engages Kohlhaase
14-Feb-2010Wolfgang Kohlhaase (Summer In Berlin), winner of this year's honorary Golden Bear, is attached as screenwriter to the Chinese-German culture-clash comedy I Phone You (working title).
Allfilm boards Screen best pitch title Rat King
14-Feb-2010Estonia's Allfilm will co-produce Petri Kotwica's third feature Rat King, which received the Screen International Best Pitch Award at Tallinn's Baltic Event Co-Production Market last December.
Bodrov in town to outline plans for Mongol sequel
13-Feb-2010Russian writer-director-producer Sergei Bodrov will be in Berlin on Sunday to unveil his upcoming directing and production slate, including The Great Khan, the anticipated sequel to his Oscar-nominated 2007 film, Mongol.
Neumann praises Berlinale's 'bridge building'
13-Feb-2010Germany's Culture Minister Bernd Neumann has praised the Berlinale's for building cultural bridges
Producers hatch romantic portmanteau in Berlin
12-Feb-2010An English language omnibus featuring 10 short films by German and international directors has been hatched with the title Love Berlin – How We Met. The film, which will shoot this summer, plans to show the city at its most romantic.
Aktis adds two to EFM slate
12-Feb-2010Sales agent Aktis Film International adds two new films to EFM Berlinale line-up.
International shoots flock to Germany
12-Feb-2010International films shooting in Berlin during the Berlinale is becoming something of a tradition.
Media Luna acquires Tenants
12-Feb-2010Media Luna New Films has acquired international rights to veteran Brazilian filmmaker Sergio Bianchi's TheTenants (Don't Like It, Leave) (Os Inquilinos).
Sola picks up Sycholt's Themba
12-Feb-2010Sola Media picks up international rights to South Africa-set football tale Themba.
Joint venture to simplify film insurance policies
11-Feb-2010European Film Bonds (EFB) and German Film Insurance Association Deutsche Filmversicherungsgemeinschaft (DFG) announced joint venture to simplify insurance.
Berlinale reboots German films
11-Feb-2010Organisers moot restructure of German film strands for 2011 edition.
Films Boutique picks up Dancing Dreams
11-Feb-2010Films Boutique has taken international rights to documentary Dancing Dreams, which has its world premiere in Berlin this weekend (February 14).
Wide falls in love with Borcuch's Sundance title
11-Feb-2010Wide Management takes international rights to Jacek Borcuch's Sundance competition title
3D films boost 2009 German box office
10-Feb-2010German box office and cinema admissions boosted by 3D and local titles.
German funds support international co-productions with $20m
5-Feb-2010German funds pay out more than $20m in support fpr international co-productions, including David Cronenberg's The Talking Cure.
An anniversary party to savour
4-Feb-2010The 60th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival (Feb 12-21) will be marked by a citywide celebration and an eye-catching line-up comprising the festival's favourite film-makers and emerging new directors. Martin Blaney reports
Focus, Fortissimo, Timeless to use new EFM 3D venue for market premieres
4-Feb-2010Sales companies line-up to present 3D features at the European Film Market's dedicated venue.
The Match Factory adds Salmenpera's Bad Family to Berlin slate
3-Feb-2010The Match Factory has added Aleksi Salmenpera's third feature, Bad Family (Paha Perhe), to its Berlinale slate. The film will have its international premiere in the Panorama section.
Optimum takes UK rights to Ivan Engler and Ralph Etter's Cargo
2-Feb-2010The UK-based outfit becomes the latest distributor to acquire the co-directors' debut feature.
Berlinale completes line-up for 60th anniversary edition
1-Feb-2010Berlinale festival director Dieter Kosslick reveals late additions to this year's programme.
Beta Film to handle sales on new Agnieszka Holland feature
31-Jan-2010The German outfit will handle international sales on Hidden (working title).
M-appeal picks up Panorama and Forum titles ahead of Berlin
29-Jan-2010German sales agent pickes up features by von Praunheim, Navia
German government agrees new film funding law
28-Jan-2010Broadcasters face statutory contributions to film funding under new plans
Renee Zellweger, Cornelia Froboess to sit on Berlinale's international jury
27-Jan-2010Actress Renee Zellweger (pictured), Italian writer-director Francesca Comencini and verteran German actress Cornelia Froboess have been confirmed as members of the international jury at the 60th Berlinale, which will be led by director Werner Herzog.
Ascot Elite takes German-speaking rights to Cortes' Buried
27-Jan-2010Switzerland's Ascot Elite Entertainment Group has acquired all German-speaking European rights to Rodrigo Cortes' Sundance thriller Buried.
Medienboard director Kirsten Niehuus extends contract until 2014
26-Jan-2010Kirsten Niehuus, executive director of the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (MBB), has extended her contract until 2014.
Bavaria, Memento, Sola Media and Aktis Film snap up Berlinale titles
25-Jan-2010Bavaria Film International, Memento Films International, Sola Media and Aktis Film International have taken on sales for six films screening at this year's Berlinale.
Berlinale completes Panorama line-up
22-Jan-2010The line-up for the Berlinale's Panorama is now complete with the confirmation of the remaining films including projects from Ferzan Ozpetek, Andreas Kleinert, Rosa von Praunheim, Feo Aladag and Patrick Hughes.
Germany's Beta Cinema, Media Luna New Films take on Berlin titles
22-Jan-2010Germany's Beta Cinema and Media Luna New Films will be handling sales for two new films having their world premieres in the Berlinale's Forum and Panorama sections next month.
The new internationalist
22-Jan-2010With ambitious plans to build on Bavaria Film's successful local film-production activities, the company's head tells Martin Blaney why he believes international co-productions are the key to its future
IndiePix acquires Venice Silver Lion winner Women Without Men
22-Jan-2010New York-based IndiePix has acquired all US media rights to Women Without Men, which won the Silver Lion Award in Venice last autumn, as well as Sundance entry All My Friends Are Funeral Singers.
Austria to fast-track launch of €20m film incentive
21-Jan-2010The Austrian government is planning to pay out €5m ($7.1m) to film projects this year after 'fast-tracking' the introduction of its production incentive.
Rob Marshall's Nine to receive birthday screening at Berlin
21-Jan-2010Rob Marshall's Nine and new films by Doris Dorrie, Matti Geschonneck and Jo Baier will be screened as part of the Berlinale's Special programme this year.
Berlinale official selection hosts world premieres from Vinterberg, Baumbach
20-Jan-2010Thomas Vinterberg's Submarino, Noah Baumbach's Greenberg (pictured) and Benoit Delephine's Mammuth are among 12 additional world premieres that will screen in the official selection at this year's Berlin Film Festival.
Berlinale's International Forum unveils 19 world premieres for 40th edition
19-Jan-2010New films by Angela Schanelec (pictured), Nicolas Wadimoff, Arvin Chen and Thomas Arslan are among 19 world premieres in the 40th edition of the Berlinale's International Forum.
Sony reveals second German project after Friendship! success
19-Jan-2010Sony Pictures Releasing is forging ahead with preparations for its second local production after the strong opening of Markus Goller's comedy Friendship!.
Quanan Wang's Apart Together to open 60th Berlinale
19-Jan-2010The world premiere of Quanan Wang's Apart Together (Tuan Yuan) will open the Berlinale's 60th edition on February 11, while Yoji Yamada's About Her Brother (Otouto) (pictured) will close the festival on February 20.
Berlinale's Co-Production Market reveals line-up
18-Jan-2010New projects by Italy's Marco Bechis, the UK's Benjamin Ross and Russia's Andrey Zvyagintsev as well as directorial debuts by actors Hiam Abbass and Ulrich Thomsen are among the 37 projects selected for the seventh edition of the Berlinale Co-Production Market (February 14-16).
Producers share top prize at 31st Bavarian Film Awards
18-Jan-2010Desert Flower producer Peter Herrmann and Dietmar Güntsche and Wolfgang Behr, producers of Wolfgang Panzer's Der Grosse Kater, shared the best producer prize at the 31st Bavarian Film Awards held over the weekend.
Jean Perret to leave Visions Du Reel
14-Jan-2010Jean Perret, director of Visions du Reel - Nyon International Film Festival since its inception in 1995, is leaving in August.
Berlinale reveals line-up for Perspektive local film section
14-Jan-2010Dietrich Bruggemann's Run If You Can and RP Kahl's Bedways will bookend the Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar at the Berlin Film Festival.
Germany's DFFF awards $11.5m to Emmerich, Collet-Serra
14-Jan-2010The German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) has paid out $11.5m (€8m) to major international projects by Roland Emmerich and Jaume Collet-Serra.
Probst aims to be flexible in run up to EFM
13-Jan-2010Flexibility has been the key to preparing the 2010 edition of the European Film Market (EFM), according to market director Beki Probst.
Berlin unveils first wave of Panorama, Forum titles
12-Jan-2010Documentaries are set to put in a strong showing at the Berlinale's Panorama section this year as selectors announce that half of the 50-title programme has now been confirmed. A third of the final line-up will be made up of documentaries.
The White Ribbon, Storm lead nominations for German film critics' awards
11-Jan-2010Michael Haneke's The White Ribbon and Hans-Christian Schmid's Storm have each scored four nominations for the German Film Critics' Association's (VDFK) awards.
The Match Factory boards Epstein and Friedman's Howl
8-Jan-2010Cologne-based The Match Factory has picked up international sales for Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's Howl, which will be the narrative world premiere on the first night of the Sundance Film Festival.
Independent cinema in "the best of health", says Berlinale chief
23-Dec-2009Independent cinema is in the best of health, says Berlinale chief Dieter Kosslick, who is currently completing the competition line-up for the forthcoming 60th edition (February 11-21).
Rat King wins Screen's Best Pitch Award at Tallin
17-Dec-2009Finnish film-maker Petri Kotwica's third feature, Rat King, scooped Screen International's Best Pitch Award at the Baltic Event Co-Production Market, held in Tallinn, at the start of December
Veteran film historian and critic Ron Holloway dies at 76
17-Dec-2009The international film festival circuit will not be the same following the sad news that the veteran film historian, critic and filmmaker Ron Holloway died in Berlin on Wednesday morning at the age of 76.
Haneke, White Ribbon triumph at European Film Awards
14-Dec-2009Michael Haneke's The White Ribbon (Das Weisse Band) was the big winner at this year's European Film Awards, taking awards for European film, director and screenwriter of the year.
Ajami scoops Grand Prix at Tallinn Black Nights festival
7-Dec-2009Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani's Ajami, which premiered at this year's Director's Fortnight, picked up the Grand Prix for Best Eurasian film in the EurAsia competition at this year's Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
Ascot Elite, Splendid Films close raft of post-AFM deals
4-Dec-2009Independent Swiss distributor Ascot Elite and Cologne-based Splendid Films have unveiled deals on films acquired at last month's AFM.
The Match Factory takes on international sales for Tom Tykwer's Three
1-Dec-2009The Match Factory will handle international sales for Tom Tykwer's latest feature film, Three (Drei) which completed principal photography in Berlin last week.
Germany's Senator launches Cologne production arm
23-Nov-2009German producer-distributor Senator Entertainment is launching a Cologne-based production arm to be called Senator Film Koln Produktion to take advantage of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) as an international production hub.
Baltic co-production market unveils new projects
20-Nov-2009Projects from Estonian film-maker Kadri Kousaar, Finland's Petri Kotwica, Poland's Bartosz Konopka and Uzbek producer-director Ella Vakkasova are among 12 projects selected for the Baltic Event Co-Production Market.
German nationwide digital exhibition plan in tatters
18-Nov-2009An all-industry solution for a nationwide digital roll-out in German cinemas has stalled after the UCI Kinowelt cinema chain refused to withdraw its legal action against the German Federal Film Board (FFA).
Austrian film-makers protest against Cruise film funding
12-Nov-2009James Mangold's action comedy Knight & Day, starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, has become the target of protests from Austrian film-makers after receiving $448,455 (€300,000) in support from the Salzburg authorities.
Hausner's Lourdes wins Viennale best film award
4-Nov-2009Jessica Hausner 's Lourdes was presented with the Vienna Film Prize for best film as the Viennale wrapped on Wednesday evening (November 4) with a screening of Coen brother's A Serious Man.
Germany at AFM
4-Nov-2009Horror, a local hit comedy and a family animation.
The Station agents
30-Oct-2009Berlin-based producer Egoli Tossell Film has comfortably ramped up its activities to focus on $10m-$22m international films, scoring initial success this autumn with Michael Hoffman's The Last Station. Martin Blaney reports
Former Kinowelt marketing chief launches new venture
30-Oct-2009Georg Miros, the former head of marketing and sales at Kinowelt Filmverleih, has joined forces with local distributor Eduard Barnsteiner to launch distribution and production outfit Projektor Filmverleih und Filmproduktion.
New German government pledges support for film
28-Oct-2009Angela Merkel's new government confirmed its support for the local film industry as it prepared to be sworn in on Wednesday (October 28).
World premiere of Koepp's Berlin-Stettin opens Leipzig
26-Oct-2009Veteran German documentary film-maker Volker Koepp's latest project Berlin-Stettin will open the International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film tonight (October 26).
M-appeal takes international distribution for Last Cowboy Standing
21-Oct-2009M-appeal, the Berlin-based sales company, has taken on the international distribution for Zaida Bergroth's debut feature Last Cowboy Standing, which had its international premiere at the Pusan International Film Festival.
Hausner's Lourdes takes Grand Prix at 25th Warsaw Film Festival
19-Oct-2009Austrian director Jessica Hausner's third feature Lourdes, which had its world premiere at Venice last month, took the Grand Prix at the 25th edition of the Warsaw Film Festival, which ran October 9-18.
La Pivellina to be first Austrian title to open Viennale
14-Oct-2009Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel's debut feature The Little One (La Pivellina), will become the first Austrian production in the Viennale's 47-year history to open the festival, which runs October 22 to November 4.
Berlin kicks off birthday year with Market pass discounts
13-Oct-2009The Berlin Internationa Film Festival has kicked the celebrations for its 60th birthday next year by slashing the price of its Market Badge and European Film Market (EFM) Screening Pass for a limited period.
ndF: and Beta Film create venture to focus on children's films
5-Oct-2009Munich production house ndF: and sales agent Beta Film have joined forces to launch a new venture that will produce feature films for the children's and youth sector.
Studio Braun in independent arena
2-Oct-2009Studio veteran Wolfgang Braun talks to Martin Blaney about the challenges of his new role as head of recently galvanized German distributor Kinowelt
Germany at Mipcom
1-Oct-2009Screen International brings you the profiles of German broadcasters ProSiebenSat.1 Media, ZDF, RTL Television, and Ard Degeto.
Switzerland submits Meier's Home to Academy
20-Sep-2009Ursula Meier's feature debut Home has been selected by Switzerland to be entered for the Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
The Swiss connection
28-Aug-2009The Zurich Film Festival's MD and artistic director talks to Martin Blaney about his other role, as managing director of production outfit Millbrook Pictures, which made a splashy debut with a $4.3m investment in Oliver Stone's W.
Xiaolu Guo's She, A Chinese takes Locarno's Golden Leopard
17-Aug-2009This year's Golden Leopard in Locarno was awarded to Chinese novelist-filmmaker Xiaolu Guo for the UK-German-French co-production She, A Chinese.
Germany's DFFF halves support over first six months of 2009
30-Jul-2009The German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) has supported 50% fewer projects over the first half of 2009 compared to the same period last year.
The X man
24-Jul-2009Invigorated by his success at this year's Cannes with The White Ribbon, German producer Stefan Arndt of X-Filme explains his vision for getting arthouse cinema into production.
From conception to Womb
23-Jul-2009Could his contemporary fairy tale about cloning, starring Eva Green and Matt Smith, push Hungarian director Benedek Fliegauf into the mainstream? Martin Blaney visits the German set of Womb.
German exhibitors report best six months since 2004
17-Jul-2009German exhibitors have posted their best six months for five years driven by a strong performance of local and international films, according to data for Nielsen EDI.
German Films Preview draws buyers to Cologne
16-Jul-2009The third German Films Previews in Cologne, which ran July 12 – 15, attracted more than 80 international buyers and saw a number of films sold.
Battle to convince courts of the threat of piracy
9-Jul-2009Martin Blaney looks at how the German film industry is effected by piracy.
Wolfgang Braun joins Kinowelt as chief executive
6-Jul-2009German film industry veteran Wolfgang Braun has been appointed as CEO of sales and distribution company, Kinowelt. He replaces Jan-Pelgrom de Haas, who left the company at the end of last month.
Regional German funds support Alex Winter's horror remake
6-Jul-2009Frankfurt's HessenInvestFilm and Stuttgart-based MFG Baden-Württemberg have allocated $1.9m (€1.35m) to Germany's first 3D live action film, Alex Winter's The Gate.
German film fund to invest $56m in digital expansion
23-Jun-2009The German Federal Film Board (FFA) is planning to invest $56m (€40m) to help speed up the development digital cinema.
Jan-Pelgrom de Haas to step down from Kinowelt
22-Jun-2009Kinowelt chief executive Jan-Pelgrom de Haas is stepping down from the company at the end of this month for family reasons.
Open Road, Whiskey to premiere at Munich FilmFest
10-Jun-2009Michael Meredith's The Open Road and German Film Award-winner Andreas Dresen's latest feature Whisky With Vodka are among over 30 world premieres at this year's Munich Filmfest.
Austria set to launch incentive scheme
4-Jun-2009Austria is considering launching a film industry incentive before the end of this year.
Locarno to honour producer Martine Marignac
3-Jun-2009France's Martine Marignac will receive the Raimondo Rezzonico Prize for Best Independent Producer at the Locarno International Film Festival in Augus
Portugal's Pantheon picks up Kinatay and Milk Of Sorrow
2-Jun-2009Portuguese distributor Pantheon has picked up Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza's Kinatay and this year's Berlin Golden Bear winner The Milk Of Sorrow by Peru's Claudia Llosa.
Iannucci's In The Loop to open 20th Emden-Nordeney Festival
1-Jun-2009Armando Iannucci's political satire In The Loop will open the 20th edition of the Emden-Norderney International Film Festival (June 10-17).
German footballer Jens Lehmann follows in Cantona's footsteps
1-Jun-2009Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is following in the footsteps of football star-turned-actor Eric Cantona with his first acting role in Stefanie Sycholt's Themba.
Munich's CineMerit Award 2009 goes to Michael Haneke
29-May-2009Palme d'Or winner Michael Haneke will be presented with the Filmfest München's CineMerit Award 2009 for his services to cinema as an art form.
German distributors hit Marche with gusto
28-May-2009German distributors went on a spending spree at Cannes picking up news films by Michael Douglas, George Romero, Sophie Marceau and Cecile de France.
Macedonian Film Fund joins EFP
28-May-2009The Macedonian Film Fund has become the 30th member of European Film Promotion (EFP), the pan-European network of film promotion and export organisations.
Studio building
28-May-2009Thomas Peter Friedl tells Martin Blaney why running the new German film company UFA Cinema is his dream job
German court lifts ban on Martin Weisz's cannibal film
28-May-2009The German Federal Supreme Court has lifted the ban on Martin Weisz's Butterfly – A Grimm Story (Rohtenburg), a horror film based on the true story of a cannibal.
Universum picks up four titles in Cannes spending spree
27-May-2009Munich-based Universum Film has picked up German rights for another four titles to add to its previous acquisition of Hideo Nakata's psychological thriller Chatroom.
Wenders to direct first 3D dance feature
26-May-2009Wim Wenders and the legendary choreographer Pina Bausch are collaborating on the first dance feature film to be shot in 3D.
Actor Daniel Brühl launches production venture with Film1
25-May-2009German actor Daniel Brühl is launching a production company with Berlin-based Film1. Fouronfilm will concentrate on international co-productions.
HanWay Films sells Black Death to 12 distributors
15-May-2009UK-based sales agent HanWay Films has already concluded pre-sales with 12 distributors for Christopher Smith's medieval mystery thriller Black Death
Atlas starts presales on Quick, Slip Me A Bride
13-May-2009German sales agent Atlas International film will be in Cannes to handle pre-sales for the UK romantic comedy Quick, Slip Me A Bride.
Match Factory adds The Light to Cannes line-up
11-May-2009The Match Factory has added Kyrgyz filmmaker Aktan Arym Kubat's next feature The Light to its sales line-up.
Glawogger's Contact High to premiere at Cannes Market
11-May-2009Austrian director Michael Glawogger's latest feature film Contact High will receive its market premiere through The Match Factory at Cannes this week.
Gus van Sant named as jury president of KunstFilmBiennale
11-May-2009US filmmaker Gus van Sant will serve as the president of the International Jury for this year's KunstFilmBiennale.
Munich retrospective dedicated to British director Stephen Frears
11-May-2009The British director Stephen Frears will be honoured with a retrospective at this year's Munich Filmfest, which will be held from 26 June - 4 July.
M-Appeal picks up Karaoke
8-May-2009Berlin-based sales agent M-Appeal has picked up international distribution for Chris Chong Chan Fui's Karaoke in this year's Directors' Fortnight.
German regional fund hands $14.7m to co-productions
7-May-2009Germany's leading regional film fund, Filmstiftung NRW, has allocated $14.7m (€11m) – a third of its annual budget - to 35 projects, including a film by UK director Alex Winter.
Films Boutique picks up new films by Rodrigues and Safdie brothers
7-May-2009Berlin-based sales agent Films Boutique has picked up Joao Pedro Rodrigues' To Die Like A Man and US indie filmmakers Josh & Benny Safdie's Go Get Some Rosemary.
German film fund back on track
7-May-2009German film production will step up a gear this week after the Berlin-based German Federal Film Board finally agreed its budget for 2009. It is understood to be close to last year's $93.4m (€70m).
Locarno reveals 2009 jury line-up
6-May-2009The Locarno International Film Festival has announced the first names for this year's official juries. The Swiss festival takes place between August 5 – 15 this year.
Bavaria completes Cannes slate
6-May-2009Bavaria Film International has added genre titles Ole Bornedal's Deliver Us From Evil and Jonathan auf der Heide's Van Diemen's Land to its sales slate for this year's Cannes.
Bavaria Film picks Bad Day To Go Fishing
5-May-2009Munich-based sales agent Bavaria Film International will handle international sales for Alvaro Brechner's feature film debut Bad Day To Go Fishing (Mal Dia Para Pescar).
First Ticino Film Prize to be presented at Locarno
1-May-2009The Swiss canton of Ticino is presenting its Film Prize (Premio Cinema Ticino) during this year's Locarno Film Festival (August 5-15).
Thierry Potok steps down from Germany's VIP fund
1-May-2009Thierry Potok, the head of private German media fund VIP Medienfonds, is returning to producing after almost a year in the role.
Canadian filmmaker wins top prize at Nyon
1-May-2009Canadian filmmaker Richard Brouillette's study of neo-liberalism and democracy Encirclement won the Grand Prix at Nyon's Visions du Reel documentary festival, which closed on April 30.
Volkswagen drops Berlinale sponsorship
30-Apr-2009Volkswagen is scrapping its seven year sponsorship of the Berlinale, ahead of the festival's 60th anniversary next year.
The Other Bank wins Golden Lily
29-Apr-2009Georgian director George Ovashvili's film debut The Other Bank (Gagma Napiri) picked up the GoldenLily for best film and the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize at this year's goEast Festival.
Medienboard boosts 2009 budget by $1.3m
27-Apr-2009Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (MBB), the German regional fund, will invest an additional $1.3m(Euros 1m) in the film projects this year.
Florian Gallenberger's epic drama John Rabe wins four Lolas
25-Apr-2009Florian Gallenberger's epic drama John Rabe about the "Oskar Schindler of China" was the big winner at this year's German Film Awards, taking home four Golden Lolas, including for Best Film and Best Lead Actor for Ulrich Tukur as John Rabe.
Market Report Germany
17-Apr-2009With around 30 releases a year, the German market was the third most important for French films abroad, after the US and Russia, with 5.6 million tickets sold according to Unifrance. Asterix At The Olympic Games and Welcome To The Sticks were the two top French-language performers in Germany last year.
EFP selects candidates for Producers On The Move in Cannes
15-Apr-2009European Film Promotion (EFP), the Hamburg-based promotional organisation, has selected 23aspiring European producers for the 10th edition of its Producers On The Move networking initiative,which will be held during the Cannes Film Festival next month.
Medienboard fund supports international productions
15-Apr-2009New films by Roman Polanski, Christopher Smith, Danis Tanovic and Agnieszka Holland are among 36projects awarded more than $5.9m (Euro 4.5m) by Germany's second largest regional film fund,Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.
Eichinger and Edel reunite for Bushido biopic
14-Apr-2009The Baader Meinhof Complex's writer-producer Bernd Eichinger and director Uli Edel are to bereunited this summer for a biopic of Germany's No. 1 rapper Bushido.
German Federal Film Fund gives $2m to new projects
3-Apr-2009New films by Leander Haussmann, Benedek Fliegauf and Isabelle Stever will receive $2m (Euro 1.5m) from incentive scheme German Federal Film Fund (DFFF).
German films take 30% of local market in first quarter
2-Apr-2009German films took almost 30% of the local box-office over the first quarter of 2009, according to figures from Nielsen EDI. It is down from 33% for the same period last year.
Hamburg backs projects by Polanski, Espinosa and Guo
30-Mar-2009International co-productions by Roman Polanski, Daniel Espinosa and Xiaolu Guo are among the projects to be supported by FilmFörderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein (FFHSH), which has handed out a total of $3.5m (Euro 2.69m) at its latest funding session.
German cinemas post strong first quarter with $280m takings
30-Mar-2009German cinemas have posted a strong start to the year with one of their strongest first quarter performances in five years, according to figures from Nielsen EDI.
Waltz With Bashir producer boards Turkish project
27-Mar-2009Razor Film is to produce Turkish filmmaker Asli Özge's next feature film Asphyxia (working title).
El Sistema to open Nyon's Visions du Reel 2009
25-Mar-2009Paul Smaczny and Maria Stodtmeier's El Sistema will be the opening film at the 2009 Nyon International Film Festival.
German producers fear $135m worth of production at risk
24-Mar-2009Work on more than 30 German feature film projects could be 'at acute risk' in 2009 because of the uncertainty surrounding the finances of the German Federal Film Fund (FFA), according to the German Producers Alliance.
Kill Daddy Good Night wins at Diagonale, My Magic in Fribourg
23-Mar-2009Glawogger's Kill Daddy GoodNight wins Austrian Diagonale Grand Prix, Eric Khoo's My Magic top winner at Switzerland's Fribourg.
Babelsberg boards Boxhagener Platz and Jerry Cotton
19-Mar-2009Studio Babelsberg will co-produce two German feature productions Matti Geschonneck's Boxhagener Platz and Cyrill Boss and Phillip Stennert's Jerry Cotton.
Jude, Komanderev win best pitch prizes at Sofia Meetings
16-Mar-2009At the Sofia International Film Festival's sixth Sofia Meetings, atotal of 22 projects werepresented in the Second Films Pitching lineup, the Plus Minus One selection of debut and third features, and the new Sofia Cinelinks Sarajevo programme.
John Rabe leads German Film Awards with seven nominations
13-Mar-2009John Rabe is the clear favourite for this year's German Film Awards after picking up seven nominations including best film, and best director for Florian Gallenberger.
How Senator builtThe Reader into a German hit
13-Mar-2009It might have a UK director and US producers, but The Reader has been largely perceived as a local film by Germany's cinema-goers, thanks to the source material of Bernhard Schlink's best-selling 1995 novel. It also has a large number of German actors in the cast and the film was shot mainly in Germany.
Berlinale film The Secret Of Kells wins at Cartoon Movie Tributes
9-Mar-2009Brendan And The Secret Of Kells was the big winner at this year's Cartoon Movie in Lyon, winning best European director and best producer.
Antoniazzi's Small Fish to open Austria's Diagonale
8-Mar-2009Marco Antoniazzi's feature debut Small Fish (Kleine Fische) will open this year's Diagonale - Festival of Austrian Cinema (March 17-22) in the Styrian capital of Graz.
Ursula Meier's Home is big winner at Swiss Film Prizes
8-Mar-2009Ursula Meier's Home was the big winner at this year's ceremony for the Swiss Film Prizes which were presented for the first time in a gala event in Lucerne on Saturday evening (March 7).
Award winning Burma VJ picked up by Oscilloscope and Dogwoof
6-Mar-2009Zurich-based sales agent First Hand Films has concluded deals for the UK and US for Anders Ostergaard's award-winning festival favourite Burma VJ - Reporting From A Closed Country with Dogwoof for the UK and Oscilloscope Laboratories for the US.
Germany's MDM fund awards $4.6m in first funding round of 2009
5-Mar-2009Films from Israel's Eran Riklis and Hungary's Kornel Mundruczo are among the projects sharing more than $4.6m (Euros 3.7m) from Germany's Leipzig-based regional film fund Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM).
Constantin posts profit as parent company plans delisting
4-Mar-2009German producer-distributor Constantin Film posted positive turnover and operating results for 2008 as its parent company Highlight announced plans to delist Constantin and merge with it as Constantin Medien.
Berlinale announces dates for 60th anniversary edition
3-Mar-2009The Berlin film festival has announced that its 60th anniversary edition will run from February 11 to 21, 2010, thus avoiding a potential overlap with the Rotterdam film festival.
Road movie and black comedy among winners at Belgrade
2-Mar-2009The 2009 Belgrade co-production market chose Georgian director Tamara Sulamanidze's feature debut and second features from Kazakhstan's Nariman Turebayev and Macedonia's Igor Panov as best in group at this year's B2B Belgrade Industry Meetings.
Georgia planning tax incentives for film production
2-Mar-2009Georgia is planning to introduce its own programme of tax incentives for film production in the second halfof 2009.
German Federal Film Board's finances in question after court ruling
27-Feb-2009Future financing of the German Federal Film Board (FFA) was potentially put into question after the German Administrative Court ruled this week that the national funding institution's cinema levy is unconstitutional.
Finalists for the Cartoon Movie Tributes 2009 announced
26-Feb-2009Irish animator Tomm Moore who directed Berlinale offering Brendan and The Secret Of Kells, French distributor Bac Films and the production team behind Niko & The Way To The Stars are among the finalists nominated for this year's Cartoon Movie Tributes.
Belgrade Fest hosts fourth co-production market
26-Feb-2009The 37th Belgrade International Film Festival FEST has opened its fourth East-West co-production market, the B2B Industry Meetings.
Bavarian fund backs projects by Hirschbiegel, Wieland and Kraus
25-Feb-2009New films by Sundance winner Oliver Hirschbiegel, Ute Wieland and Chris Kraus are among the projects receiving funding totalling $5m (Euros 3.9m) from the Bavarian regional fund FFF Bayern.
Ascot picks up five more titles in EFM
24-Feb-2009Leading Swiss independent distributor Ascot Elite, acquired the rights for German speaking Europe to another five titles to add to the previously announced black thriller comedyChawby Shin Jeong-Won.
Tom Tykwer dreams big with 'fascinating' adaptation ofCloud Atlas
20-Feb-2009Much has happened in Berlin in the decade between the release of Tom Tykwer's Run Lola Run, which exploded onto the European film-making scene in the late 1990s, and his latest film, The International, which opened this month's Berlinale.
Germany's TMG picks up new films by Redford, Gilliam, Carpenter
17-Feb-2009Herbert Kloiber's Tele München Group (TMG) acquired the German rights to new films by Robert Redford, Terry Gilliam and John Carpenter at this year's European Film Marketduring the Berlinale.
Berlin Bear winners sell well for Match Factory, Bavaria
17-Feb-2009Sales have been strong for Berlin Bear winners handled by German-based sales agents The Match Factory and Bavaria Film International.
Film producers to access Saxony-Anhalt $64m loan programme
16-Feb-2009Film producers will have access to a $64m (Euros 50m) loan programme in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt which has been launched to support the media industry in the state.
Peru's The Milk Of Sorrow wins Golden Bear at Berlinale
14-Feb-2009For the second year running, the Berlinale's Golden Bear has gone to Latin America with the International Jury led by Tilda Swinton selecting Peruvian filmmaker Claudia Llosa's second feature The Milk Of Sorrow for the top honours this year.Sold internationally by The Match Factory and supported by the Berlinale's World Cinema Fund among others, ...
Berlin's EFM a 'mixed bag', according to market director Beki Probst
14-Feb-2009'It has been a mixed bag this year' was market director Beki Probst's verdict on the 2009 edition of the European Film Market (EFM) which finally closed its doors on February 13.'Some people would say it was good, some better than what they expected and some that it was not good,' observed Probst in an exclusive interview with Screen Daily. 'In a way, I think we have had that kind of reaction in other years. Only, this year you have the ...
Fidalgo takes Norwegian rights to two Berlin competitors
12-Feb-2009Norwegian distributor Fidalgo has acquired two films which had their world premieres in this year's Competition at the Berlinale.
Dieter Kosslick extends Berlinale contract till 2013
12-Feb-2009Dieter Kosslick is staying put at the Berlinale - the festival director confirmed to Screen that his contract as festival director has been extended by another two years until April 30, 2013, four weeks before his 65th birthday.
Match Factory floats with Vinterberg's Submarino
12-Feb-2009The Match Factory has taken on sales for Thomas Vinterberg's low budget feature Submarino which is based on the novel of the same name by Jonas T Bengston.
Universum Film developing Tractors bestseller with UK's Trijbits
12-Feb-2009German distributor Universum Film has joined forces with UK-based producer Paul Trijbits of Ruby Films for the development of an adaptation of Marina Lewycka's A Short History Of Tractors In Ukrainian.
German distributor Universum Film developing Tractor bestseller with UK's Trijbits
11-Feb-2009German distributor Universum Film has joined forces with UK-based producer Paul Trijbits of Ruby Films for the development of an adaptation of Marina Lewycka's A Short History Of Tractors In Ukrainian.
Uchitel to hunt Lions with Sokolovsky
11-Feb-2009Russian director Alexey Uchitel's company Rock Films has lined up local filmmaker Vadim Sokolovsky to direct thriller Hunting The Lions.
Winter booked for Gate remake by H20, MMC
11-Feb-2009UK-born actor-director Alex Winter, still best known for playing Bill in the Bill & Ted films, has been confirmed as the director for a remake of the 1987 horror film The Gate which could become the first 3D feature film to be shot completely in Germany later this year.
Eva Green, Matt Smith to star in Benedek Fliegauf's Womb
10-Feb-2009Eva Green and Matt Smith, the UK's new Doctor Who, are to star in Hungarian director Benedek Fliegauf's first English language feature film Womb which will begin shooting on location at Germany's North Sea coast at the beginning of March.The production by Waltz With Bashir producers Razor Film and Budapest-based Inforg Studio is being co-produced by ASAP Films, ...
Locarno's Open Doors to focus on Greater China
10-Feb-2009Greater China will be the focus region of the Open Doors co-production platform at this year's Locarno Film Festival.
Szasz signs for The Notebook
10-Feb-2009Agota Kristof's award-winning anti-war novel The Notebook (Le Grand Cahier) is to be adapted for the cinema screen by Hungarian writer-director Janos Szasz.
Russia steps up as fourth biggest European market
9-Feb-2009The Russian Federation became Europe's fourth largest cinema market in terms of cinema attendance in 2008, according to estimates from the Strasbourg-based European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO).
EU's MEDIA International funding increased by$3m for 2009
9-Feb-2009The European Commission's MEDIA International initiative has more than doubled its budget for 2009, isencouraging new approaches to distributionand will expand to include projects designed to reach new audiences.
Match Factory joins Tanovic's Cirkus
9-Feb-2009The Match Factory (TMF) will handle international sales for Oscar-winning director Danis Tanovic's Cirkus Columbia (working title) which will be his first feature to be shot in his Bosnian homeland.
Media Luna picks up Memory, Jennifer
9-Feb-2009Media Luna Entertainment has picked up Memory, the second feature by Matthias Luthardt, who is the president of the 'Dialogue en perspective' jury of young German and French film buffs for this year's Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar.
Schmidtz Katze lines up English language thriller slate
9-Feb-2009German production outfit Schmidtz Katze Filmkollektiv (SKF) is in Berlin to look for an international sales partner for a three-picture slate of English-language thrillers.
Sophie goes to Turkey for Atlas
9-Feb-2009Turkey's Horizon has picked up Leif Bristow's family film Sophie which begins shooting in Canada this week with Brittany Bristow, John Rhys-Davies, Augustus Prew and German actor Thure Riefenstein in the cast.
Films Boutique picks up Rots, Jude titles
8-Feb-2009Berlin-based sales company Films Boutique has picked up four new titles for international distribution, including two Forum titles - Esther Rots' Can Go Through Skin and Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude's The Happiest Girl In The World.
Match Factory waltzes again with Folman
8-Feb-2009The Match Factory is continuing its collaboration with Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman after handling international sales on his Oscar-nominated animated documentary Waltz With Bashir.
GrandHotel to make gay footballer story
7-Feb-2009Berlin-based GrandHotelPictures has unveiled its development slate which includes Iranian-born Reza Memari's adaptation of Ronny Blaschke's Versteckspieler, a biography of the gay footballer Marcus Urban from former eastern Germany.
UK's Hudson launches Cologne-based production outfit
7-Feb-2009UK-born, Cologne-based director Steve Hudson has launched his own production company GRINGO Films with producer Sonja Ewers to develop and produce international features.
Kinowelt's Ziannis sets up new sales shop Aktis
6-Feb-2009Former Kinowelt world sales chief Stelios Ziannis is in Berlin with his new sales company Aktis Film International.
Atrix boards Murnberger's Bone Man
6-Feb-2009Beatrix Wesle's Munich-based Atrix Films has taken all international rights, excluding German-speaking territories, to Wolfgang Murnberger's laconic mystery drama The Bone Man (Der Knochenmann) which will be having its world premiere in Panorama.
Rotterdam and Berlin could overlap in 2010
6-Feb-2009The Rotterdam and Berlin film festivals are on a potential collision course with their dates for 2010 when the Berlinale will be celebrating its 60 th anniversary.
Tom Tykwer teams up with the Wachowskis
6-Feb-2009Tom Tykwer is teaming up with the Wachowski brothers on one of two projects he currently has in development.
Basterds swings German cash
5-Feb-2009Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds has been awarded $8.7m (Euros 6.8m) support by Germany's much praised DFFF incentive scheme.
Number of buyers at EFM increases year-on-year by almost 40%
2-Feb-2009The number of international buyers attending this year's European Film Market (EFM) at the Berlinale is set to increase by almost 40% year-on-year.
Medienboard backs films from Stölzl, Garbarski, Haussmann
31-Jan-2009Just a week before the 59th Berlinale opens, local regional film fund Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (MBB) has announced over $6.8m (Euros 5.3m) for 38 projects, including new films by director Philipp Stölzl, Sam Garbarski, and Leander Haussmann.
German films - Doors open for rush of local films
30-Jan-2009The entire Berlin festival this year acknowledges the role played by German production houses in international projects.
Interview: EFM director Beki Probst
30-Jan-2009As director of the Berlinale's European Film Market (EFM) for 20 years, Beki Probst has borne witness to seismic changes at both the festival and the international film business. One of the most striking changes she has observed is in the attitudes of people attending the market.
The Match Factory to present five world premieres at EFM
27-Jan-2009Cologne-based sales agent The Match Factory will handle international sales on four new films invited to screen in Berlinale's Competition.
Films by Loncraine, Scherfig and Guggenheim complete Berlinale programme
27-Jan-2009Richard Loncraine's 1950s-set My One And Only, starring Renee Zellweger, Kevin Bacon, and Logan Lerman, will screen as a world premiere in Competition, while Scherfig's An Education, with Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard and Dominic Cooper, will be coming direct from Sundance for a gala presentation at the Friedrichstadtpalast in the Berlinale Special sidebar.
Happy New Year bags four Swiss Film Prize nominations
26-Jan-2009Christoph Schaub's Happy New Year garnered four nominations for the 2009 Swiss Film Prize QUARTZ in the categories of best fiction film, best screenplay, best actor and best film score.
Bavaria Film International adds six Berlinale world premieres to EFM sales slate
26-Jan-2009Bavaria Film International has added six of the forthcoming Berlinale's world premieres to its sales slate for the upcoming European Film Market (EFM).
Interview: Oliver Hirschbiegel
23-Jan-2009The Northern Ireland 'Troubles' of the 1970s are a long way from Oliver Hirschbiegel's hugely successful drama Downfall about the last days of Adolf Hitler, but the German director sees many similarities.
Berlinale's 2009 Panorama programme finalised
21-Jan-2009The section's main programme will open on February 5 with Danish actress-director Rie Rasmussen's debut feature Human Zoo while the Panorama Special strand will kick off with another debut, North (Nord) by Norway's Rune Denstad Langlo.
Berlinale announces members of International Jury
20-Jan-2009The Berlinale has announced the members of the International Jury, joining jury president Tilda Swinton.
Khlebnikov, Schipper, Ottinger and Lom premieres at Berlinale Forum
19-Jan-2009World premieres of new films by Boris Khlebnikov, Sebastian Schipper, Ulrike Ottinger and Petr Lom have been confirmed as the Berlinale's Forum section finalises its 2009 line-up of 48 films from 31 countries.
Baader Meinhof and John Rabe share top Bavarian prize
18-Jan-2009Uli Edel's Oscar shortlisted The Baader Meinhof Complex and Florian Gallenberger's John Rabe shared the top honour of the Producer Prize at the 30th Bavarian Film Awards held in Munich at the weekend.
UFA Cinema slate to include Robert Harris's Vaterland.
16-Jan-2009German producer-distributor UFA Cinema has added eight projects to its ambitious production slate, including a new screen adaptation of Robert Harris's international bestseller Vaterland.
Elevenworld premieres in 14 latest titles for Berlinale Competition
15-Jan-2009Some eleven of the 14 latest films announced for the Berlinale's Competition programme are world premieres, including new films by Stephen Frears (Cheri), Bertrand Tavernier (In the Electric Mist), Francois Ozon (Ricky) and Andrzej Wajda (Sweet Rush).
Panorama world premieres include Breillat, Winterbottom, Glawogger
14-Jan-2009World premieres of new films by Catherine Breillat, Micheal Winterbottom and Michael Glawogger will screen in Berlinale's Panorama section.
Generation and Perspektive Deutsches Kino line-ups complete
13-Jan-2009Lars Büchel's Lippel's Dream, and Alexis Dos Santos's Unmade Beds make the Berlinale's Generation selection while Lars Jessen's Dorfpunks and Stefan Schaller's To Each His Own are invited to Perspektive Deutsches Kino as selectors finalise their line-ups for 2009.
Ascot Elite adds four new titles to 2009 release slate
13-Jan-2009Leading Swiss indepedent distributor Ascot Elite has acquired rights for Kari Skogland's Fifty Dead Men Walking with up-and-coming star Jim Sturgess, Ben Kingsley and Rose McGowan, from Handmade Films International.
Visitor passfor the EFM, Wild Bunch returns (almost) to the market
13-Jan-2009The European Film Market plans a number of logistical changes to make life easier for its delegates and in doing so has brought sales agent Wild Bunch back into the market - almost.
Berlinale co-production market selects The Diary from Bille August
12-Jan-2009The Diary from Bille August is one of 22 projects chosen for the official selection of Berlin's 6th co-production market.
Germany's M-Appeal picks up Panorama world premiere Ghosted
12-Jan-2009Berlin-based sales agent M-Appeal has picked up Monika Treut's latest feature Ghosted which will have its world premiere in the Berlinale's Panorama section next month.
US indies and strong Asian presence in Berlinale's Forum
9-Jan-2009Films from the USA, Lebanon, Germany, and Asia are among the new titles confirmed for the Forum's programme at next month's Berlinale.
German 2008 box office up 3.5%, year on year, admissions up 1.57%
9-Jan-20092008 ended with a 3.5% year on year increase in box-office takings and a year on year increase of 1.57%admissions in German cinemas, according to figures collated by Nielsen EDI.
Projects by Alvart, Stölzl, Schwochow planned by new Berlin outfit
8-Jan-2009Berlin-based production outfit Bittersuess Pictures has revealed new feature projects by Christian Alvart, Philipp Stölzl and Christian Schwochow.
Berlin Panorama announces first half of programme and Forum titles
7-Jan-2009World premieres of The Countess, by Julie Delpy, Fig Trees by John Greyson, Light Gradient by Jan Krüger and Ghosted by Monika Treut are among the 21 titles selected so far for the Berlinale Panorama by section director Wieland Speck.
More than 90 first-time exhibitors as Berlin's EFM sells out
6-Jan-2009The Berlinale's European Film Market (EFM) has sold out with 386 companies and organisations from 55 countries booking, including more than 50 first time exhibitors.
Senator and IM Internationalmedia make management changes
30-Dec-2008Publicly-listed Senator Entertainment and IM Internationalmedia have announced management shakeouts in the final days of 2008.
Sieben's Distance to open Berlinale's Perspektive Deutsches Kino
19-Dec-2008Writer-director Thomas Sieben's feature debut Distance (Distanz) will open the Berlinale's Perspektive Deutsches Kino - the sidebar dedicated to German films on February 6.
European Film Market launches documentary initiative
19-Dec-2008The European Documentary Network (EDN) is collaborating with the Berlinale's European Film Market (EFM) to provide a new initiative for documentary sellers entitled Meet The Docs.
Stelios Ziannis to leave Germany's Kinowelt International
19-Dec-2008Stelios Ziannis, head of world sales at Germany's Kinowelt International for the past eight years, is leaving the company of his own accord at the end of December.
Production fund to double for German film funder MFG
18-Dec-2008Christmas has come early for film producers in Germany's Baden-Württemberg region as Prime-Minister Günter H. Hettinger and Media Minister Wolfgang Reinhart have agreed to more than double regional film fund MFG Baden-Württemberg's production budget.
Six world premieres selected for Berlinale's Generation section
17-Dec-2008World premieres of new films by Sweden's Fredrik Edfeldt and Germany's Lars Büchel are among the first 13 titles selected for Generation, the Berlinale's section for children and young people.
Oliver Berben new managing director of Constantin Film Produktion
15-Dec-2008Oliver Berben has been appointed as the managing director of Constantin Film's production arm Constantin Film Produktion from January 1, 2009.
Moodysson's MammothjoinsBouchareb, Potter, Ade, Miller at Berlinale
12-Dec-2008Lukas Moodysson's Mammoth, with Gael Garcia Bernal, Michelle Williams, and Sophie Nyweide, and world premieres of new films by Sally Potter, Maren Ade, Rebecca Miller and Rachid Bouchareb are among ten titles confirmed so far for the Competition programme of the 2009 Berlinale international film.
International co-productions benefit from $11.4mGerman support
5-Dec-2008New international co-productions by Poland's Agnieszka Holland, Serbia's Oleg Novkovic and Sweden's Björn Runge are among a raft of feature projects supported with a total of over $ 11.4m (Euros 9m) by German public film funders at their latest funding sessions.
Senator Entertainment to reduce number of international titles
4-Dec-2008Germany 's financially beleaguered Senator Entertainment has said that it will reduce the number of international titles it acquires for distribution in future.
Joel Silver and Studio Babelsberg Group agree five-year alliance
3-Dec-2008US producer Joel Silver and the Studio Babelsberg Group have agreed a strategic partnership until 2013.
Tykwer's The International to open 59th Berlin Film Festival
28-Nov-2008The world premiere of Tom Tykwer's The International, starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts has been named as the opening film of the 2009 Berlinale on February 5.
Co-production focus at Festival of German Films in London
28-Nov-2008International co-production will bea focus of this year's Festival of German Film at London's Curzon Soho Cinema, which begins November 28 (Friday).
Studio Hamburg scales down feature film activities
27-Nov-2008Germany 's Studio Hamburg has decided to scale down its feature film activities after the disappointing international performance of its English language projects.
Spanish-German co-production The Anarchist's Wife to go to Sundance
27-Nov-2008Marie Noelle and Peter Sehr's The Anarchist's Wife (Die Frau des Anarchisten) has been selected for Sundance Film Festival's World Cinema Competition in January.
Germany and France plan $376,000 co-development fund
21-Nov-2008Germany and France are planning to launch a $376,000 (Euros 300,000) co-development fund from next year as part of their existing bilateral mini co-production agreement.
Moszkowicz commits to Constantin for another five years
20-Nov-2008Constantin Film's executive director for production Martin Moszkowicz has had his contract as a member of the German producer-distributor's management board extended to end 2013.
2009 European Film Awards to be held in Essen
19-Nov-2008The 22nd European Film Awards in December 2009 will be hosted by the North Rhine-Westphalian city of Essen and not Berlin as generally expected.
Mannheim top prize for Rain, FIPRESCI Prize to Borderline
19-Nov-2008Argentinian director Paula Hernandez's Rain (Lluvia) received the top award at this year's Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival.
Russia dominates awards at FilmFestival Cottbus
16-Nov-2008Russian cinema was the big winner for the second year running at the FilmFestival Cottbus - Festival of East European Cinema (November 11-16) taking home six of the 12 awards presented at the weekend. The International Jury, which included the Israel Film Fund's Katriel Schory, Oscar-winning set designer Allan Starski, and Kosovo-born actress Arta Dobroshi, gave their Main Prize for Best Film to Alexey Uchitel's
Cottbus gives boost to German-Russian film relations
13-Nov-2008Relations between the German and Russian film industries have been given a boost at this week's FilmFestival Cottbus - Festival of European Cinema.
14 projects to be pitched at Cottbus East-West co-production market
13-Nov-2008New films from Romania, Slovenia, Austria and Bulgaria are among 14 projects from 13 countries selected for presentation at this year's Connecting Cottbus East-West co-production market.
Tilda Swinton to be jury president at Berlinale 2009
12-Nov-2008Actress Tilda Swinton has been named as president of the international jury for the next edition of the Berlinale (February 5 - 15 2009) by festival director Dieter Kosslick.
Mannheim Meetings co-production market selects 50 film projects
10-Nov-2008The Mannheim Meetings has selected 50 projects from Europe, Canada, Latin America, and Africa for this year's edition of the co-production market for arthouse films, which runs from November 12 to 16. Almost half of the selected projects are from Western Europe including UK film-maker David Andrew Ward's wry thriller New Instruction, to be produced by Lightvalve Media.The Polish Bride director ...
Beta Cinema clinches US deal with MPI for Il Divo
7-Nov-2008Beta Cinema has announced its first raft of sales at the AFM, including a US sale to MPI Media Group for Paolo Sorrentino's Cannes award-winner Il Divo. The drama about the controversial Italian politician Giulio Andreotti has also been sold to Germany (Delphi Film), Sweden (Folkets Bio), Denmark (Sunrise Film), Poland (Against Gravity, and HBO Poland for pay-TV), Czech ...
Oliver Hirschbiegel's back with Angel Face at Telepool
7-Nov-2008Telepool has secured world rights, excluding German speaking territories, to Downfall director Oliver Hirschbiegel's new project Angel Face (working title).The adaptation of the best-selling book by Spiegel magazine author Andreas Ulrich unites Hirschbiegel with Moritz Bleibtreu, the lead actor in his 2001 psychodrama The Experiment. Principal photography on the German-Italian thriller by Munich-based ...
Axiom in UK, Star Sands in Japan take on Dornhelm's La Boheme
4-Nov-2008UK distributor Axiom and Japan's Star Sands/Theaters have acquired Robert Dornhelm's film version of the Puccini opera La Boheme ahead of its market premiere at the AFM.According to sales agent Beta Cinema, the film featuring opera stars Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon has also been picked up by Palace for Australia and New Zealand and Hollywood Classics for Czech Republic and Slovakia.La Boheme is currently on release in Germany and Austria through NFP/Warner ...
Leipzig's top prize for Rene, FIPRESCI Award for Oblivion
3-Nov-2008Czech filmmaker Helena Trestikova's Rene has received the International Jury's Golden Dove at the International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film.
Berlinale expands eastwards with new venue for 2009
3-Nov-2008The Berlinale will include Europe's largest revue theatre, the Friedrichstadtpalast, as one of its screening venues at the 2009 festival.
Gomes receives FIPRESCI at Viennale for Aquele Querido Mes De Agosto
31-Oct-2008Portuguese director Miguel Gomes received the FIPRESCI Critics Award at this year's Viennale for Aquele Querido Mes De Agosto.
AFM buzz - Germany
31-Oct-2008German sales agents will be at the AFM presenting a diverse range of product from the territory. Bavaria Film International will have a promo-reel of Esther Gronenborn's mystery thriller Kaifeck Murder, starring Benno Furmann and Alexandra Maria Lara, which is inspired by one of Germany's most infamous crimes.
Beta Cinema presents four market premieres at AFM
30-Oct-2008The Munich-based sales agent will be having market screenings for the first time of:
Berlinale 2009 retrospective dedicated to 70mm
28-Oct-2008The programme will concentrate on 70mm films which were originally shot on 65mm or 70mm negative film and then printed onto 70mm for the cinema screen. It will be prepared by the Deutsche Kinemathek - Museum for Film & Television.
South-East Asian projects backed by World Cinema Fund
28-Oct-2008Three South-East Asian film projects have been backed with a total of Euros 160,000 by the Berlinale's World Cinema Fund (WCF).
Aramid backs first German P&A fund for independents
27-Oct-2008Aramid Capital Partners (ACP) is behind the launch of PA CO, the first fund in Germany specialised in P&A financing for independent films.
On Set: Christian Alvart's Pandorum
24-Oct-2008German director Christian Alvart could not believe his eyes when he was given an early draft of Pandorum to read by UK producers Jeremy Bolt and Paul WS Anderson of Impact Pictures and Robert Kulzer of Germany's Constantin Film: Travis Milloy's spec script was similar to a project Alvart had been developing himself called No Where.
Berlinale doubles festival accreditation fee
23-Oct-2008The Berlinale has introduced a 100% price hike for festival accrediation next year (February 5-15).
Strong European representation under EFP's AFM umbrella
21-Oct-200828 European sales agents and production companies from 13 countries have registered at European Film Promotion's (EFP) umbrella office in Santa Monica's Loews Hotel for the forthcoming AFM.
Khamsa and Still Walking take top awards at Eurasia Film Festival
20-Oct-2008Tunisian-born filmmaker's Karim Dridi's Khamsa was named Best Film at this year's International Eurasia Film Festival at the Turkish resort of Antalya.
Strong Austrian presence as 2008 Viennale opens
17-Oct-2008Austrian filmmakers will have an unprecedented presence at this year's Viennale (Vienna International Film Festival).
Fatih Akin's Soul Kitchen, begins shooting in Germany
15-Oct-2008Shooting began today (October 15) in Hamburg on Soul Kitchen, Fatih Akin's first feature film since his European Film Award 2007 winning The Edge Of Heaven. The Match Factory will be handling international sales.
European promotion network expands to 30 countries
15-Oct-2008The European-wide network European Film Promotion (EFP) is expanding to 30 countries, with the arrival of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre and the Film Centre Serbia (FCS) as the latest members.
Senator's head of acquisitions leaves for Atlas Film + Medien
11-Oct-2008Milada Rybarova has exited her position as Head of Acquisitions at the beleaguered German producer-distributor Senator Entertainment to take up the newly created post of VP Sales and Acquisitions at Atlas Film + Medien from this week. Rybarova began working at Senator in 2000 as an acquisitions executive and was made Head of Acquisitions in 2003. Commenting on Rybarova's appointment, Atlas Film + Medien's majority shareholder and board chairman Paul Liwa explained ...
German domestic market share at record 21.3%
10-Oct-2008German films have secured a market share of 21.3% in the first nine months of 2008, according to figures collated by Nielsen EDI. This is almost 50% higher than 2007's 14.4% share and higher than 2006's record 20.3%.
A Perfect Day opens Antalya's Eurasia Film Festival
8-Oct-2008The festival has programmed more than 60 Turkish premieres of international titles including The Wrestler, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Genova,
Beta Cinema picks up world sales for German feature on Iraq War
7-Oct-2008Beta Cinema has picked up world rights for Lancelot von Naso's feature debut Ceasefire (Waffenstillstand).
German admissions take dip in third quarter 2008
6-Oct-2008German cinema admissions have slipped by 7% in the third quarter of 2008 though box-office revenues remain stable, according to figures from EDI Nielsen.
Beta joins forces with Discovery's Hoerl to launch doc sales outfit
6-Oct-2008International distributor Beta Film and former Discovery Germany CEO Patrick Hoerl have joined forces to launch the new sales company Autentic. The company will focus on the acquisition and sales of documentaries and to foster co-productions with German and foreign partners.
Tulpan named Best Filmat Zurich film festival
5-Oct-2008Documentary film-maker Sergei Dvortsevoy's feature debut Tulpan was awarded the Golden Eye for best feature film at the 4th Zurich Film Festival.The tragicomedy set in the steppes of Kazakhstan had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard in Cannes and was now shown for the first time in the German speaking area.The International Jury under president Peter Fonda gave its Golden Eye award for best debut feature to Arash T. Riahi's refugee drama
Japanese anime focus for 2009 Locarno
3-Oct-2008The world of Japanese anime will be the subject of the retrospective for next year's Locarno Film Festival (August 5-15, 2009) which will also mark the last edition under artistic director Frederic Maire before he becomes head of the Swiss Cinematheque in Lausanne.
Loveridge joins Eastwest Filmdistribution
1-Oct-2008International film industry stalwart Helen Loveridge has joined the sales team of EastWest Filmdistribution working out of its London office.
Tiziana Finzi steps down from Locarno team
30-Sep-2008Italian-born Tiziana Finzi is to leave her post at the Locarno Film Festival team after nine years citing 'personal reasons.' A graduate in Architecture and History of Cinema at the universities of Venice and Trieste, Finzi joined Locarno in 1999 when she became the chief programmer for the Filmmakers of the Present, Video Competition and In Progress sections. In 2006, she became Head of Programming, a delegate of the Artistic Direction, and the director of the ...
Atom Egoyan to receive Douglas Sirk award
26-Sep-2008Filmfest Hamburg will honour Canadian writer-director Atom Egoyan this weekend with the Douglas Sirk Award.
Olivier Pere named as Locarno artistic director from 2009
25-Sep-2008Olivier Père has been named as the next artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival, succeeding Frederic Maire, and will take up his post from September 1, 2009.
3Rosen Filmverleih and Alpenrepublik join German distribution scene
24-Sep-2008New German distribution companies, 3Rosen Filmverleih and Alpenrepublik to release Love Comes Lately and My Friend From Faro
TwentyTwenty Vision to co-produce Rafi Pitts' The Hunter
22-Sep-2008Berlin-based production house TwentyTwenty Vision will be the German co-producer on Iranian-British director Rafi Pitts' fifth feature The Hunter.
Swiss selectLewinsky'sThe Friend as Oscar entry
22-Sep-2008Micha Lewinsky's feature debut The Friend (Der Freund) has been selected by an expert group convened by the Federal Office for Culture to be Switzerland's entry for the Foreign Language Oscar.The drama about a shy outsider who poses as the boyfriend of a woman after her sudden death and is welcomed into her family was named Best Film at this year's Swiss Film Awards.In addition, the newly created prize of Best Emerging Actor or ...
A Mouse's Tale winner of Cartoon d'Or
19-Sep-2008French-born Benjamin Renner's graduation film from La Poudriere animation school A Mouse's Tale has been named the winner of this year's Cartoon d'Or at the 19th Cartoon Forum in Ludwigsburg.
Fortissimo Films picks up Parque Via
19-Sep-2008Fortissimo Film Sales has picked up world sales for Mexican filmmaker Enrique Rivero's feature debut Parque Via.
Studio Babelsberg to co-produce Inglorious Bastards
18-Sep-2008Studio Babelsberg has now confirmed that it will be serving as the German co-producer on Quentin Tarantino's Second World War drama Inglorious Bastards.
Telepool to handle distribution rights on Der Grosse Kater
18-Sep-2008Munich-based Telepool will handle international distribution on Wolfgang Panzer's adaptation of Thomas Hürlimann's 1998 bestselling novel Der Grosse Kater.
New programme manager forBerlinale Talent Campus
17-Sep-2008Dutch-born Matthijs Wouter Knol has become the fourth programme manager at the Berlinale Talent Campus.
Cartoon expands with EU MEDIA International support
17-Sep-2008Cartoon Connection is one of 18 projects involving partners from Canada, Latin America, India, China, South Korea, Japan, Morocco, Bosnia, Turkey and Georgia, which have been provided with almost $2.88m (Euros 2m) by the EU to develop closer cooperation between European and third country film professionals.
Berlinale Co-Production Market announces deadline
16-Sep-2008The 6th Berlinale Co-Production Market has announced that submissions are now open for new film projects for the 2009 market (Feb. 8-10).
Berlinale Co-Production Market announces deadline
16-Sep-2008The 6th Berlinale Co-Production Market has announced that submissions are now open for new film projects for the 2009 market (Feb. 8-10).
Berlinale Co-Production Market announces deadline
16-Sep-2008The 6th Berlinale Co-Production Market has announced that submissions are now open for new film projects for the 2009 market (Feb. 8-10).
Baader Meinhof Complex is German entry for foreign language Oscar
16-Sep-2008Germany has announced its entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar as Uli Edel's The Baader Meinhof Complex.
Berlinale's European Film Market centres business presence
16-Sep-2008The Berlinale's European Film Market (EFM) has found an alternative venue for its EFM Business Offices which are currently on Potsdamer Platz.
German incentive programme to pay outall $86.4m annual budget.
15-Sep-2008The German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) incentive programme will pay out all of its $86.4m (Euros 61m) annual budget this year.
Goetz Spielmann's Revanche named as Austria's Oscar entry
14-Sep-2008Goetz Spielmann's Revanche has been selected as Austria's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at next year's Academy Awards.The rural drama had its world premiere in the Panorama Special section of the Berlinale in February and is handled internationally by The Match Factory.To date, Revanche has received 10 prizes and been shown at 27 international festivals, most recently in Telluride and Toronto, picking up the prize ...
Match Factory takes on Wuste projects from Oberli, Taddicken
12-Sep-2008The Match Factory will handle international sales on two new feature film projects by Wüste Film - Bettina Oberli's The Murder Farm (Tannöd) and Sven Taddicken's Zwölf Meter Ohne Kopf - which both began principal photography this week.
IM Internationalmedia's future as 'Film library company'
12-Sep-2008The beleaguered IM Internationalmedia Group may see its future operating as 'a mere film library company.' according to the company's interim report for the first half of 2008,
IM Internationalmedia's future as 'Film library company'
12-Sep-2008The beleaguered IM Internationalmedia Group may see its future operating as 'a mere film library company.' according to the company's interim report for the first half of 2008,
Blow to Germany as Cartoon Movie market moves to Lyon
12-Sep-2008Just days before this year's Cartoon Forum financing market is held in the south-west German town of Ludwigsburg from Sept 16, Brussels-based CARTOON has announced that its annual market for animation feature films, Cartoon Movie, is leaving its venue of 10 years at Potsdam's Babelsberg Studios to be held in France's Lyon.
Peter Fonda to serve as jury president in Zurich
11-Sep-2008Veteran actor-director Peter Fonda will serve as the president of the feature film jury at this year's Zurich Film Festival which will open on September 25 with the Swiss premiere of Uli Edel's Der Baader Meinhof Komplex in the presence of the director Edel, producer Bernd Eichinger, author Stefan Aust and actors Moritz Bleibtreu and Nadja Uhl.Fonda will be joined in the seven-person ...
Catherine Buresi named European Film Market deputy director
8-Sep-2008French-born Catherine Buresi has been appointed as the deputy director for Berlin European Film Market (EFM). She took up her post as from September 1 as the successor to Karen Arikian who stepped downas deputy director after this year's Berlinale in February to become the executive director of the Hamptons International Film Festival in March.
3L follows Adam Resurrected with Among Farmers, Hangtime
8-Sep-2008Germany's 3L Filmproduktion, co-producer of Paul Schrader's Adam Resurrected which screens in Toronto's Masters section this week after its world premiere in Telluride, has returned to Germany's recent dark past to back Dutch-born filmmaker Ludi Boeken's latest feature Among Farmers (Unter Bauern).The German-French co-production with Joachim von Mengershausen's FilmForm, Cologne-based Pandora ...
Films Boutique takes on sales for Woschitz's Universalove
7-Sep-2008Berlin-based fledgling sales agent Films Boutique has picked up international rights for Austrian filmmaker Thomas Woschitz's Universalove which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last night.The co-production by Austria's Kranzelbinder Gabriele Production (KGP) with Luxembourg's Red Lion, Serbia's Art & Popcorn and the donaufestival.at was shot on location in Belgrade, Brooklyn, Luxembourg, Marseilles, ...
Media Luna adds five titles including Katia's Sister
6-Sep-2008Sales company Media Luna Entertainment has added five new titles to its Toronto lineup, including Mijke de Jong's Katia's Sister (Het Zusie Van Katia) which will have its North American premiere in Toronto tonight.De Jong's intimate portrait of a 13-year-old girl living in Amsterdam who loses her Russian mother and older sister Katia to the world of prostitution had its world premiere in the International Competition of the Locarno International ...
Momentum takes UK rights to Let The Right One In
3-Sep-2008Momentum Pictures has secured all rights for the UK and Ireland to Tomas Alfredson's Swedish vampire romance Let The Right One In from sales agent Bavaria Film International.
Grbavica director Zbanic starts shoot for On The Path
3-Sep-2008Bosnian filmmaker Jasmila Zbanic, winner of Berlin's Golden Bear in 2006 for her feature debut Grbavica, began shooting her second feature film On The Path in Bosnia-Herzegovina today.
Germany's UFA Cinema unveils 11-film production slate
29-Aug-2008Germany's UFA Cinema has unveiled an 11-picture production slate encompassing bestseller adaptations, family entertainment and political cinema, with the first project going before the camera in spring 2009.The company's executive managers Wolf Bauer, Thomas Peter Friedl, Nico Hofmann and Jürgen Schuster have selected 11 projects from more than 60 in active development:- Bad Karma (Mieses ...
Profile: Online company mediapeers
29-Aug-2008'We do not want to replace the Mipcoms and AFMs of this world,' says Moritz Viehweger, co-managing director of mediapeers, the new Berlin-based virtual film and TV market.
Beta Cinema handling sales on two Venice world premieres
22-Aug-2008Beta Cinema is to handle international sales on two Italian films - Marco Pontecorvo's Pa-Ra-Da, the opening film of the Horizons sidebar, and Uberto Pasolini's Venice Days title Machan - which are having their world premieres at next week's Venice Film Festival.
Zurich to welcome Sly Stallone for first Golden Icon Award
20-Aug-2008Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone is to receive the Golden Icon Award which is presented for the first time in recognition of an actor or actress's life's work at this year's Zurich Film Festival (Sept25 to October 5).
Constantin's theatrical distribution up 92% in first half of 2008
20-Aug-2008Constantin Film's theatrical distribution arm generated 92% more revenues year-on-year to June 30, according to the group's interim management report issued today for the first six months of 2008.
IM Internationalmedia filing for insolvency
19-Aug-2008The beleaguered IM Internationalmedia filed for insolvency proceedings in Munich today since pending illiquidity was putting continued business operations at risk.
Five animated shorts nominated for Cartoon d'Or
19-Aug-2008Five animation shorts from Belgium, France and the UK have been nominated for this year's Cartoon d'Or prize which will be announced at an awards ceremony during the forthcoming Cartoon Forum (Sept 16-19) in Germany's Ludwigsburg.
Widely tipped Parque Via from Mexico wins Locarno Golden Leopard
17-Aug-2008Mexican director Enrique Rivero's feature debut Parque Via won the Golden Leopard at this year's Locarno International Film Festival which closed with the world premiere of Solveig Anspach's Back Soon.Based on the life of Nolberto Coria who plays himself (as Beto) in the story about the gap between rich and poor and white and Indios in Mexico, Parque Via also ...
Speculation heats up over Maire replacement in Locarno
15-Aug-2008Locarno's Frederic Maire has pronounced himself 'very pleased' with how his third outing as the festival's artistic director panned out this year. Speaking exclusively to ScreenDaily.com ahead of the announcement of the awards at the weekend, Maire pointed to such highlights as the reaction of the audience to the Amos Gitai film One Day You Will Understand ...
In Focus: Britta Knoller and Hans-Christian Schmid's Storm
15-Aug-2008Hans-Christian Schmid could not have wished for better timing to start shooting his latest feature project, the English-language political thriller Storm, about the aftermath of the Balkan war.
Oberli's The Murder Farm to star Jentsch, Bleibtreu
14-Aug-2008German actress Julia Jentsch, the star of Malgoska Szumowska's Locarno competition film 33 Scenes From Life, is to appear with Monica Bleibtreu in Swiss director Bettina Oberli's next feature The Murder Farm (Tannöd), which begins shooting in the Sauerland and Eifel regions of Germany from September.
Max & Co producers declare bankruptcy after megaflop
14-Aug-2008A dark cloud descended on Swiss cinema at this week's Locarno Film Festival with the news that Lausanne-based producers MAX-LeFilm and Cinemagination have been forced to declare bankruptcy after the flop of their $27.5m (CHF 30m) animation feature Max & Co.
Locarno deals: Finecut goes Drinking, Autre Homme sells to India
14-Aug-2008Finecut has acquired the world distribution rights to the South Korean film Daytime Drinking by Noh Young-seok which was screened as an international premiere in Locarno's International Competition at the weekend.
Wide Management to handle Montreal and Venice premieres
14-Aug-2008French sales company Wide Management will handle the international distribution for two films having world premieres at the forthcoming Montreal and Venice film festivals.
Chile, Dominican Republic/Mexico take awards at Locarno Open Doors
13-Aug-2008Filmmakers from Chile, Dominican Republic/Mexico and Guatemala were the recipients of the awards presented on Wednesday at the end of the Open Doors Factory organised by the Locarno International Film Festival with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Panov's War Is Over is first production out of Europe's Babylon
13-Aug-2008Macedonian-born Mitko Panov's The War Is Over has become the first project to go into production after being developed at the Babylon programme promoting cultural diversity in Europe.
Wide Management picks up Lionel Baier's Un Autre Homme
13-Aug-2008Paris-based sales agent Wide Management has picked up international distribution rights for Swiss director Lionel Baier's Un Autre Homme which had its world premiere in Locarno's International Competition at the weekend.
Swiss television increases its support for film industry by $2.3m
12-Aug-2008Swiss public television is to increase its support for independent Swiss production in gradual steps from the current annual $18.2m (CHF 19.8m) to $20.5m (CHF 22.3m) from 2011.
Warner comes on board for Simon Verhoeven's Maennerherzen
12-Aug-2008The Lives Of Others producer Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion is collaborating for the second time with the German outpost of Warner Bros. for Simon Verhoeven's Maennerherzen which begins shooting in Berlin today.
Goran Paskaljevic to shoot Honeymoon from October
11-Aug-2008Veteran Serbian film-maker Goran Paskaljevic (How Harry Became a Tree, The Optimists) will begin shooting his next feature Honeymoon from mid-October as the first film co-produced between Albania and Serbia.
Thoeren steps down from IM Internationalmedia
11-Aug-2008Konstantin Thoeren has stepped down from all of his responsibilities in the Internationalmedia Group with immediate effect.
M-Appeal takes on sales for Locarno title Yuri's Day
11-Aug-2008Berlin-based sales agent M-Appeal has picked up international distribution rights for the Russian-German co-production Yuri's Day (Yuriev Den) which has its international premiere in Locarno's Official Competition tomorrow.
Le, Gigandet, Moehring join cast of Alvart's Pandorum
8-Aug-2008Martial arts world champion Cung Le, US actor Cam Gigandet (winner of the MTV Movie Award for Best Fight Scene for his performance in Never Back Down), and German actors Wotan Wilke Moehring and Andre Hennicke have joined Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster in the cast of Christian Alvart's futuristic and claustrophobic thriller Pandorum.
The Match Factory picks up Turkish Venice title Milk
8-Aug-2008Cologne-based The Match Factory has picked up international distribution for its third Venice competition title with the acquisition of Turkish director Semih Kaplanoglu's Milk (Süt), the second part of his Yusuf trilogy.
TrustNordisk picks up Glasner's This Is Love
8-Aug-2008TrustNordisk will handle worldwide distribution for Matthias Glasner's latest feature This Is Love which is currently shooting on location in Berlin before moving to North Rhine-Westphalia next week.
Media Luna picks up Locarno competition title Autumn
7-Aug-2008With the Locarno film festival kicking off last night, Media Luna Entertainment has picked international distribution rights for Turkish director Özcam Alper's feature debut Autumn (Sonbahar) which has its international premiere in Locarno's International Competition on Thursday.
Vladivostok festival to host new Coproduction & Financing Forum
6-Aug-2008Vladivostok, Russia'sPacific Meridian International Film Festival of Asian-Pacific countries is staging a Coproduction & Film Financing Forum and the Generation Campus for young film-makers as part of its first Eurasia International Film Summit (Sept 14-17).[The name is not to be confused with Kazakhstan's Eurasia film festival also in September.]
Bavaria takes on Toronto world premiere Krabat
6-Aug-2008Bavaria Film International has picked up international distribution rights for Marco Kreuzpaintner's $15.5m (Euros 10m) fantasy film Krabat which will have its world premiere in the official selection of the forthcoming Toronto International Film Festival.
Weber steps down as CEO of Senator parent to take LA head job
6-Aug-2008As of Sept 1, Marco Weber will acquire all shares in Los Angeles-based Senator Entertainment Inc. and step down as chief creative officer of the German parent company Senator Entertainment AG.
Beta Cinema handling 1936 Olympics drama
5-Aug-2008Beta Cinema will handle international distribution for Kaspar Heidelbach's drama Berlin 1936 (working title) which begins shooting in North Rhine-Westphalia on Wednesday (Aug 6), just two days before the opening of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.The production by Cologne-based Gemini Film, one of co-producers of the Dardenne brothers' Cannes competition film The Silence Of Lorna, centres on the leading German track and field athlete ...
Swiss cinema continues decline in first half of 2008
1-Aug-2008Swiss cinema's market share has continued its downward trend, according to provisional figures for the first half of 2008, with local films only clinching a 2.3% slice of the box-office compared to last year's 7% and 2006's record 11.6%.Statistics collated by the industry body Procinema showed that the ambitious animation film Max & Co., released by Walt Disney, attracted 29,498 cinema-goers -- way below the makers' expectations. Next ...
Projects by Fliegauf, Alvart, Sax receive backing from German funds
31-Jul-2008New productions by Benedek Fliegauf, Christian Alvart, and Geoffrey Sax are among 35 projects receiving over $12m in support from the German Federal Film Board (FFA) and Leipzig-based Mitteldeutsche Medienfoerderung (MDM).At its latest sitting the Berlin-based FFA supported such projects as Hungarian director Fliegauf's first English language production, Womb, produced by Razor Film with Hungary's Inforg Studio, France's A.S.A.P. Films ...
Match Factory handles Venice competitors Jerichow, Teza
31-Jul-2008Cologne-based The Match Factory will handle international sales on two Venice competition titles - Christian Petzold's Jerichow and Haile Gerima's Teza - screening as world premieres at the festival.
John Goodman, David Wenham confirmed for Pope Joan
30-Jul-2008US actor John Goodman and Australian-born David Wenham have joined the cast of Soenke Wortmann's adaptation of Donna W. Cross' bestselling novel Pope Joan, which begins principal photography in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt next week.
Locarno to honour Chahine with Destiny screening
30-Jul-2008The Locarno International Film Festival will pay tribute to the Egyptian director Youssef Chahine, who died last weekend at the age of 82,with a special screening of his film Destiny (Al Massir) on the Piazza Grande on August 7.This film had also been shown eleven years ago at the festival as part of the Piazza Grande nightly open-air programme in 1997. 'We were greatly saddened at the passing away of Locarno's dear friend, Youssef Chahine', ...
Locarno adds new films from Francois Rotger, Sean Baker
29-Jul-2008New films by Francois Rotger and Sean Baker have been added to Locarno's official selection a week before the festival opens on Aug 6 with Brideshead Revisited on the Piazza Grande.
Schmid stirs up Storm with Berlin shoot starting today
29-Jul-2008Shooting begins in Berlin today for German filmmaker Hans-Christian Schmid's first major international English-language project Storm (Sturm) [working title] with a cast including Kerry Fox, Anamaria Marinca, Stephen Dillane, Rolf Lassgard and Alexander Fehling.
Studio Babelsberg hopes 2008 will be as strong as last year
24-Jul-2008Studio Babelsberg is optimistic that this year's operations will generate comparable results to 2007 which was the most successful financial year since the production complex's privatisation in 1992.
Torsten Koch and Oliver Koppert to head Constantin's distribution arm
22-Jul-2008Torsten Koch and Oliver Koppert have been appointed as managing directors of Constantin Film's theatrical distribution arm Constantin Film Verleih with effect from Oct 1.Koch, who has been Marketing & Publicity Director for Constantin Film since 1999, will serve as Marketing/Distribution Managing Director for Constantin Film Verleih, while Koppert will take over the position of Sales Managing Director. He had been sales director at the Munich-based outfit since April ...
Locarno Critics Week world premieres include Mr December
22-Jul-2008Locarno's Critics Week sidebar will present four world premieres and three international premieres in this year's programme of creative documentaries.
Maire's replacement search to start after Locarno festival ends
21-Jul-2008The search for a successor to Frederic Maire as Locarno Film Festival's artistic director will be launched once this year's edition has ended on August 16.
Local hits drive German box-office boom
20-Jul-2008Thanks to such local hits as Til Schweiger's romantic comedy Rabbit Without Ears and Dennis Gansel's school drama The Wave, box-office takings for German films increased year-on-year by almost 50% in the first half of 2008.
Kinowelt's distribution chief Miros leaves company
18-Jul-2008Georg Miros, head of marketing and sales at Leipzig-based Kinowelt Filmverleih since 2003, has left the company as of today to pursue new professional challenges.
Locarno adds Paskaljevic, Brakni to international jury
17-Jul-2008The members for Locarno's International Competition jury are now complete with the addition of French actress Rachida Brakni (The Over-Eater) and Serbian filmmaker Goran Paskaljevic to the previously announced line-up of directors Masahiro Kobayashi (Japan), Dani Levy (Switzerland), and Paolo Sorrentino (Italy), and Mexican producer Bertha Navarro.
Houellebecq to present premiere of feature debut in Locarno
16-Jul-2008Bestselling French writer Michel Houellebecq's feature film directorial debut The Impossibility Of An Island, adapted from his 2005 novel of the same name, will have its world premiere in Locarno's Play Forward sidebar which is dedicated to all contemporary forms of audio-visual experimentation and creation.
Europe, Latin America take centre stage in Locarno programme
16-Jul-2008European and Latin America cinema will have a high profile at this year's Locarno Film Festival which will open on August 6 with the European premiere of UK director Julian Jarrold's Brideshead Revisited and close August 16 with the world premiere of Solveig Anspach's Icelandic-French co-production Back Soon on the Piazza Grande.
Jerry Cotton, Flucht Aus Tibet gets top funding from FFF Bayern
15-Jul-2008New feature films by Joseph Vilsmaier, Margarethe von Trotta, Rainer Matsutani and Maria Blumencon are among the projects awarded a total $10m (Euros 6.26m) by the Bavarian regional fund FFF Bayern at its latest sitting.The largest amount - $ 1.1m (Eu 700,000) - went to Phillip Stennert and Cyrill Boss' action comedy Jerry Cotton by Rat Pack Filmproduktion and to Maria Blumencron's Flucht Aus Tibet, ...
Switzerland's Ascot Elite picks up 8 titles including Milk and Red Cliff
15-Jul-2008Leading Swiss independent distributor Ascot Elite Entertainment has announced eight new acquisitions for its release lineup. As part of a strategy to consolidate its market position, theZurich-based company has secured all rights for Focus Features' HarveyMilk biopic Milk, directed by Gus van Sant and starring Sean Penn andJosh Brolin, the Sam Mendes Untitled Project, and
Yerevan plans second Regional Co-Production Forum
15-Jul-2008Eight features and four documentary projects from Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Moldova, Turkey, Ukraine are being pitched to potential co-producers and financiers at the Directors Across Borders' (DAB) second Regional Co-Production Forum (July 15-17) during this week's Golden Apricot International Film Festival in Yerevan.The low-budget projects include the family drama Before And After by Moldovan director Violeta Gorgos, which was previously ...
Sasha Buehler moves from SquareOne to Constantin
11-Jul-2008Film and TV veteran Sasha Buehler is to join Constantin Film's acquisitions and licensing team from Oct 1 after spending the past three years as head of acquisitions for Munich's SquareOne Entertainment.
Locarno Swiss Cinema Day to include Luftbusiness
11-Jul-2008Three new Swiss films will have their world premieres during the Swiss Cinema Day at this year's Locarno Film Festival, while Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov's Yuri's Day (Yuriev Den) will screen in the International Competitiion.
Match Factory to sell Somali supermodel film Desert Flower
9-Jul-2008The Match Factory will be handling international sales on Sherry Hormann's adaptation of Waris Dirie's bestselling autobiography Desert Flower.
German box office slips 50% from first quarter to second quarter
7-Jul-2008Admissions to German cinemas fell by 50% in the second quarter compared to the first three months of 2008, according to figures prepared by EDI Nielsen.
New US, Spanish buyers line up for Locarno
7-Jul-2008Four weeks ahead of the opening of this year's Locarno filmfestival on August 6, its Industry Office has reported that buyers from the US, Spain and South Korea are among 10 companies coming to the Swiss festival for the first time this year.
Germany fails to keep up Q1 momentum
7-Jul-2008Admissions to German cinemas fell by 50% in the second quarter compared to the first three months of 2008, according to figures prepared by EDI Nielsen.
Karlovy Vary and Locarno premieres unveiled at Previews in Cologne
4-Jul-2008World premieres at this week's Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and Locarno's forthcoming Piazza Grande open-air programme are among 23 films being presented at the German Films Previews in Cologne from July 10-13.
Jan-Pelgrom de Haas takes CEO post at Kinowelt Group
3-Jul-2008Jan-Pelgrom de Haas has been appointed as CEO of the Kinowelt Group with immediate effect as the successor to Bertil Le Claire who stepped down from this post at the end of May.
Germany's DFFF extended from 2010 to 2012
3-Jul-2008The German Government has agreed to extend the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) for another three years from 2010 to 2012 with an annual budget of $94.2m (Euros 60m).
Berlinale WCF backsfive new projects with $315,770
2-Jul-2008Five new feature film projects from Lebanon, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey and Columbia have been selected by the Berlinale's World Cinema Fund (WCF) from 110 projects submitted from a total of 36 countries for production funding totalling $315,770 (Euros 200,000).
Koelmel unveils expanded production slate for renamed company
1-Jul-2008Following StudioCanal's takeover of Germany's Kinowelt Group earlier this year, Rainer Koelmel has now renamed his Munich-based production company Kinowelt Filmproduktion as Starhaus Filmproduktion as part of an expanded production slate.
Cannes hits taketop honours at Munich
29-Jun-2008Laurent Cantet'sThe Class, Matteo Garrone's Gomorrah and Valeria Gaia Germanica's Everybody Dies But Me were among the prizewinners at this year's Munich Filmfest which closed with the world premiere of Thomas Schamoni's documentary Botero.
Kolirin, Bernasconi, Toth line up for Locarno short jury
26-Jun-2008Filmmakers Fulvio Bernasconi (Fuori Dalle Corde) and Eran Kolirin (The Band's Visit) are among the five jury members for Locarno International Film Festival's Leopards of Tomorrow competitions for Swiss and international short films.The other members are the Hungarian actress Orsi Toth, who played the female lead in Kornel Mundruczo's Cannes competition film Delta, Dutch producer-director-DoP Dick Rijneke, and Angele Paulino, who ...
Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburghands out$8.7m
26-Jun-2008Feature films by veteran US actor Dennis Hopper, German comedy star Mario Barth and the Cannes/Sochi prize-winning production house Rohfilm are among 26 German and international projects awarded over $8.7m (Euros 5.6m) by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (MBB) in its latest funding session.
Davaa's new documentary project begins shooting in Mongolia
26-Jun-2008Principal photography on the Oscar-nominated filmmaker Byambasuren Davaa's new feature documentary project Two Horses Of Genghis KhanstartedMonday(June 23) in the Mongolian city of Ulaanbaatar.
Krabbe and Hershey to star in Albert Schweitzer biopic
26-Jun-2008Jeroen Krabbe and Barbara Hershey are headlining the cast of UK director Gavin Millar's biopic Schweitzer (working title) on the life of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Albert Schweitzer.
Gabizon leaves Telepool after 17 years
25-Jun-2008Marc Gabizon is to leave Telepool and its subsidiary Europool after 17 years of working for the Munich-based licensing group.Gabizon had been with Europool since 1991 and was appointed the managing director there in 2004. In addition, he had been an executive director and head of the film division at Telepool since 1999.Telepool is currently in negotiations to find a successor for Gabizon.
Wim Wenders and Dariush Mehrjui receive Yerevan honours
24-Jun-2008Germany's Wim Wenders and Iranian film-maker Dariush Mehrjui are to receive lifetime achievement awards at this year's Golden Apricot International Film Festival (July 13-20) in the Armenian capital of Yerevan.
Palme d'Orwinner The Class opens Munich Filmfest
19-Jun-2008Laurent Cantet's Palme d'Or winner The Class (Entre Les Murs) will open this year's Munich Filmfest on Friday evening (June 20), which will show 237 films from 41 countries, including a retrospective dedicated to the Bavarian film-maker and artist Herbert Achternbusch and an homage to the UK actress Julie Christie who will be presented with the CineMerit Award for her services to cinema on June 27.
Bize, Gomes projects selected for Locarno's Open Doors
16-Jun-2008New feature films by Chilean director Matias Bize and Brazilian filmmaker Marcelo Gomes are among 12 projects from 10 Latin American countries selected out of a total of 332 submissions to participate in the Open Doors Factory co-production meeting from August 10-12 during this year's Locarno Film Festival.
Shultes takes top prize atSochi
16-Jun-2008Georgian-born Bakur Bakuradze's Shultes won the Grand Prix for Best Film at this year's Kinotavr Open Russian Film Festival in Sochi.
Sony's German arm lines up local comedy
15-Jun-2008Deutsche Columbia Pictures Film Produktion, Sony Pictures Entertainment's (SPE) local German production arm, has begun pre-production on the comedy Friendship (Freundschaft) with the Oscar-winning Munich-based production company Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion and actor Til Schweiger and Tom Zickler's Barefoot Films.
Fortissimo picks up Baksy; Rezo sells Everybody to France
13-Jun-2008Fortissimo Films will handle international distribution on Guka Omarova's second feature Baksy (Native Dancer) which had its world premiere in competition at the Kinotavr Open Russian Film Festival in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Thursday night.The Russian-Kazakh-French-German co-production between the CTB Film Company, Kazakhfilm, Les Petites Lumieres, Kinofabrika, Cinetools Film and Caspian Beverage Holding was presented as a project at such past co-production ...
German fund backs new Wayne Wang feature
12-Jun-2008Germany's regional fund Filmstiftung NRW is backing Wayne Wang's next feature project 920 Sacramento with $1.86m (Euros 1.2m).
A Company buys out Prorom and Cinemania in EEAP
12-Jun-2008A Company Consulting & Licensing AG has acquired all of the shares in EEAP Eastern European Acquisition Pool which were held until now by Munich-based Prorom Media-Trade und the Ljubljana-based Cinemania Group. With this step, A Company now owns 100% of EEAP.
Akin, Tykwer and Weingartner backed by Hamburg fund
11-Jun-2008The Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein Film Fund has allocated over$4.8m (Euros 3.15m) to new feature projects by Fatih Akin, Tom Tykwer and Hans Weingartner as well as international co-productions by such filmmakers as Les Brodeuses directorEleonore Faucher, Norway's Sara Johnsen and Poland's Radek Wegrzyn.
Agreement signed to support German and Irish collaboration
10-Jun-2008North Rhine-Westphalia's regional film fund Filmstiftung NRW and the Irish Film Board have signed a cooperation agreement to support producers working together on feature films and documentaries.
Splendid's Cannes buys include Swing Vote, Unshakable
9-Jun-2008German distributorSplendid Film has acquired German-language rights for a raft of US features currently in postproduction or production.
German distributors announce Cannes sales
8-Jun-2008German distributors Kool Filmdistribution, Arsenal Filmverleih and Piffl Medien have unveiled a number of deals concluded during at the Cannes Film Festival.
EEAP acquires Saw 5, new Schweiger comedy
6-Jun-2008Berlin-based EEAP has secured Eastern European rights to Saw 5, the latest edition of the horror franchise, the Hilary Swank-starrer Betty Ann Waters, and Mike Judge's comedy Extract starring Jason Bateman.
Constantin dances with Step Up 3-D; Ascot takes Revolver
5-Jun-2008Constantin Film has secured the German-speaking rights toStep Up 3-D from Summit Entertainment after successfully releasing StepUp (over 620,000 admissions in Germany) and Step Up 2 The Streets (over900,000).The dance sequel is again being produced by Summit with TouchstonePictures, anf Offspring Entertainment and will be directed by
New Bondarchuk, Bychkova films to be presented at Sochi market
4-Jun-2008New films by such directors as Fedor Bondarchuk and Oksana Bychkova will rub shoulders with presentations of upcoming releases by Russian distributors and the US majors at this year's Russian International Cinema Market which is being held in the Black Sea resort of Sochi from June 5-10 to coincide with the Open Russian Film Festival 'Kinotavr'.
Locarno's Frederic Maire will move to head Swiss Film Archive
2-Jun-2008The Locarno Film Festival will now have to start looking for a new artistic director after the news that the present incumbent Frederic Maire is to become the successor to Herve Dumont as head of the Swiss Film Archive from November 1, 2009.
Bavaria takes on new Gronenborn, Haussmann films
2-Jun-2008Bavaria Film International has picked up worldwide distribution rights to new films by Esther Gronenborn and Leander Haussmann.
The Match Factory announces further sales for Cannes slate
30-May-2008Cologne-based sales agent The Match Factory has unveiled another raft of deals for this year's Cannes slate in addition to the previously annonuced sales.By the end of the market, the animated documentary and competition film Waltz With Bashir by Ari Folman had been sold to over 40 territories, the latest including Australia (Sharmill Films) and Scandinavia (Future Film).Deals on Sergey Dvortsevoy's feature debut Tulpan, which won the Un Certain ...
Films Distribution picks up Heisenberg's The Robber
30-May-2008Paris-based sales agent Films Distribution will handle international sales on Benjamin Heisenberg's second feature The Robber (Der Räuber) which completed a first block of shooting last week in Lower Austria and Vienna, including scenes during the 25th Vienna City Marathon.
Counterfeiters' Markovics to play Freud in new Adlon project
29-May-2008Karl Markovics, the lead actor in Stefan Ruzowitzky's Oscar-winning The Counterfeiters, is to play the legendary psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud in the fictionalised docudrama Mahler On The Couch by the father and son team of Percy and Felix Adlon.
New films by Popogrebsky and Voloshin to bepitched in Sochi
29-May-2008New feature films by Alexei Popogrebsky, Igor Voloshin and Alexander Kott are among eight projects selected from more than 20 entries for the second edition of the Producers' Pitching to be held during the 'Kinotavr' Open Russian Film Festival in Sochi (June 7-15).
Sorrentino and Levy line up for Locarno jury duty
28-May-2008Italian director Paolo Sorrentino, whose latest feature film Il Divo won the Jury Prize in Cannes' Official Competition, and Swiss actor-director Dani Levy (Mein Fuehrer) are among the first names to be confirmed as jury members for this year's International Competition at the Locarno International Film Festival (August 6-16).The other two confirmations so far are the Mexican producer Bertha Navarro (Pan's Labyrinth) and the Japanese filmmaker ...
Kinowelt's Cannes acquisitions include Toback and Aronofsky
28-May-2008Germany's Kinowelt has announced its first raft of acquisitions from the Cannes official programme and market as well as projects picked up on the strength of their screenplays.
Boomtown Media seals sales on music doc
27-May-2008Berlin-based sales company Boomtown Media International closed a number of distribution deals for major territories at last week's Cannes market for Thomas Grube's new theatrical documentary Trip To Asia / The Quest For Harmony.
Beta Cinema closes about 40 deals at Cannes market
27-May-2008Munich-based sales agent Beta Cinema has concluded around 40 deals at this year's Cannes market, including US pickups for the family entertainment film The Three Investigators And The Secret Of Skeleton Island, Veit Helmer's quirky comedy Absurdistan and Jo Baier's TV drama Stauffenberg.
H2O planning further international productions with Germany's MMC
14-May-2008Andras Hamori's LA-based H2O Motion Pictures is planning two international productions with Germany's Magic Media Company (MMC).Principal photography on thriller Running Wild, with lead actor and co-producer Samuel L. Jackson, will shoot later this year in South Africa and at the MMC studios in Cologne. Kevin Kerslake will direct Running Wild from a screenplay written by David Leland ...
Enid Blyton's schoolgirl heroines get big-screen treatment with UFA Cinema
12-May-2008Enid Blyton is set to be given the big-screen treatment by Germany's new player UFA Cinema with a feature film based on the bestselling children's author's St Clare's books from the 1940s.
Herbig, Wortmann and Davaa receive support from Bavarian fund
11-May-2008New films by leading German comedian Michael Bully Herbig, Soenke Wortmann, and Oscar-nominated documentary film-maker Byambasuren Davaa (The Story Of The Weeping Camel and The Cave of The Yellow Dog) are among 25 film and TV projects supported with $9.4m (Euros 6.1m) by Bavaria's FFF Bayern regional fund at its latest sitting.
Spielberg will shoot long-awaited Abraham Lincoln project after Tintin
10-May-2008Steven Spielberg's long-gestating project about US president Abraham Lincoln will be the director's next project after the first live-action Tintin film which goes into production this September.
MMC joins H20 as co-producer of Stephen Frears' feature
10-May-2008Cologne-based MMC Independent has become a co-producer with Andras Hamori's H20 Motion Pictures on Stephen Frears' latest feature project Cheri which is currently shooting in France and will be moving to Germany at the end of May.
Kinowelt CEO Bertil le Claire to leave at end of month
9-May-2008The Kinowelt Group's CEO Bertil le Claire has announced his plans to leave the company at the end of May. His duties will be overseen by Romain Bessi, Directeur General of the group's new owner StudioCanal, until a successor has been appointed.Le Claire joined Kinowelt in 1998 as the managing director for the world sales arm Kinowelt International and then took over the management of the whole group in 2003. Over the past five years, he served as ...
Bavaria picks up international for Daniel Burman's Argentine hit
8-May-2008Bavaria Film International has taken on international distribution for Argentinean director Daniel Burman's current box-office hit Empty Nest (El Nido Vacio).
Fred Kogel to step down as Constantin CEO, Burgener will succeed
8-May-2008Leading German producer-distributor Constantin Film has announced that its current CEO Fred Kogel has extended his contract until the end of the year, but will then be succeeded in this position by the group's present supervisory board chairman Bernhard Burgener.
Caruso, Conte plan $60m epic feature on life of William Tell
8-May-2008Veteran US producers Fred Caruso (Blue Velvet) and D. Constantine Conte (48 Hours) have unveiled plans to produce the $60m medieval epic feature The Adventures Of William Tell, based on the life of the legendary national hero of Switzerland.
Pre-Cannes, Waltz With Bashir sold to France, UK and Germany
8-May-2008A week ahead of its world premiere in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival, Ari Folman's Waltz With Bashir has been sold by The Match Factory to France (Le Pacte), the UK (Curzon Artificial Eye) and Germany (Pandora Filmverleih).
Locarno to honour US indie icon Christine Vachon
7-May-2008US producer and Killer Films co-founder Christine Vachon (Boys Don't Cry, I'm Not There) will be this year's recipient of Locarno's Raimondo Rezzonico Prize to highlight the work of major independent film producers.
Bavaria takes on sales for Critics Week title Moscow, Belgium
7-May-2008Bavaria Film International is handling international distribution on Christophe van Rompaey's feature debut Moscow, Belgium (Aanrijding In Moscou) which has been selected for this year's Critics' Week sidebar in Cannes.Produced by A Private View, the Flemish romantic comedy about a woman (played by actress-director Barbara Sarafian) whose life is full of dents and bruises is in the best tradition of British working-class ...
Ninja Assassin gets extra $2.7m from DFFF
6-May-2008James McTeigue's martial arts action film Ninja Assassin has become the first project this year to be awarded support from the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) over and above the prescribed 'cap' of Euros 4m.
Thierry Potok takes over management of Germany's VIP
6-May-2008Former Studio Babelsberg boss Thierry Potok has taken over the management of the German private media fund VIP Medienfonds from Peter H. Riedel 'with immediate effect.'Riedel had come to VIP last September as a successor to Dirk Specht, but his contract had from the outset been only temporary in nature and was linked to the attaining of 'certain strategic milestones'.Speaking to ScreenDaily.com, Potok explained that Riedel will continue working on ...
Weber reteams with Julia Roberts, Dennis Lee for Birds
6-May-2008After working together on Fireflies In The Garden, Senator Entertainment's Marco Weber, actress Julia Roberts and writer-director Dennis Lee are set to be reunited for an adaptation of Brad Kessler's novel Birds In Fall.
Media Luna picks up Family Rules, three market debuts for Cannes
1-May-2008Cologne-based sales company Media Luna Entertainment has picked up international distribution for Marc Meyer's ironic comedy Family Rules (Wir Sagen Du! Schatz) and is lining up another three market premieres for Cannes.
Senator's slate includes new features from Bornhak, Gansel
1-May-2008Senator Film has unveiled plans for two in-house productions and two co-productions this year, including new feature films by Achim Bornhak and Dennis Gansel, and an adaptation of Nick Greger's true story about his metamorphosis from one of Germany's leading right-wing extremists to an anti-Fascist.
Senator to bring horror video game Clock Tower to big screen
30-Apr-2008Senator Entertainment will bring the Capcom survival horror video game Clock Tower to the big screen under the direction of Martin Weisz (The Hills Have Eyes 2) from a screenplay by Eric Poppen (Borderland).
Kinowelt International unveils 'long-lost' Lubitsch
30-Apr-2008Kinowelt International will be unveiling a 'long-lost' film by Ernst Lubitsch and the 'Director's Cut' of Percy Adlon's 1987 international hit Bagdad Cafe as market premieres at the forthcoming Marche du Film in Cannes.
Babelsberg posts most successful financial year since privatisation
29-Apr-2008Studio Babelsberg has posted its most successful financial year since the privatisation of the production complex in 1992 thanks, in particular, to such international co-productions as the Wachowski brothers' Speed Racer, Bryan Singer's Valkyrie and Tom Tykwer's The International.On the publication of its annual report for 2007 on Tuesday morning in Frankfurt, ...
Babelsberg looking to expand to Tempelhof
28-Apr-2008Studio Babelsberg has reaffirmed its interest in locating film production facilities at Berlin's historical Tempelhof Airport after a public referendum at the weekend failed to attract enough support to prevent the airport's planned closure this autumn.Speaking to the local newspaper Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten on Monday, Studio Babelsberg president and CEO Carl Woebcken said his company still had the 'serious desire' to develop part of the Tempelhof site as a third production ...
Match Factory adds Liverpool to its Cannes slate
27-Apr-2008The Match Factory has added Argentinian film-maker Lisandro Alonso's Liverpool as the fifth title in its sales lineup for next month's Cannes Film Festival.
The Edge Of Heaven claims four Lolas
27-Apr-2008Fatih Akin's The Edge Of Heaven (Auf Der Anderen Seite) picked up four Golden Lolas, including for Best Film, at the German Film Awards at the weekend in Berlin.
Cannes quartet taken on by The Match Factory
25-Apr-2008Martin Blaney in Berlin
M-Appeal adds five titles to line-up for Cannes market
25-Apr-2008Fledgling Berlin-based company M-Appeal has added another five titles to its sales line-up, which will have their market premieres at the forthcoming Marche du Film in Cannes.
Beta Cinema lining up two market premieres for Cannes
23-Apr-2008German sales company Beta Cinema will have two market premiere screenings at next month's Marche du Film during the Cannes Film Festival.
Telepool takes on sales for German box-office hit Summer
22-Apr-2008Telepool will handle world sales for Mike Marzuk's Summer (Sommer) which has gone straight to the top of the German box-office chart on its first four days of release with over 230,000 admissions from 407 screens.
Morales steps down as Miromar CEO, Heizmann to take over
22-Apr-2008Michel Morales has stepped down from his post as CEO of the Ludwigsburg-based production house Miromar Entertainment to concentrate on the creative aspects of filmmaking and will be succeeded by Peter Heizmann.
The Match Factory to handle Petzold's new feature Jerichow
21-Apr-2008The Match Factory will handle international sales on Christian Petzold's new feature Jerichow which begins shooting in the east German town of Wittenberge, the Prignitz region and along the Elbe from today.
Citizen Havel, Everything Is Relativein firstDoc Alliance showcase
21-Apr-2008Pavel Koutecky and Miroslav Janek's Citizen Havel and Danish filmmaker Mikala Krogh's Everything Is Relative are among five creative theatrical documentaries to be showcased by a new venture called Doc Alliance created by five leading European documentary film festivals.
Ufa Cinema debuts with Mein Kampf
20-Apr-2008New producer-distributor Ufa Cinema, launched at the end of last year by the RTL Group and Freemantle Media through its German subsidiary UFA, has boarded its first project: Urs Odermatt's Mein Kampf.
Swiss Film Prize to move in 2009
20-Apr-2008Nextyear'sSwiss Film Prize is to move from January's Solothurn Film Days to a new venue at Lucerne's Culture and Conference Centre (KKL) on March 7 in a gala ceremony.
Germany - Rom-com lights up Q1
18-Apr-2008Box-office takings and cinema admissions in Germany are up 30% year-on-year for the first quarter of 2008, according to figures collated by Nielsen EDI.
Films du Losange takes on Schneider's Es Kommt Der Tag
17-Apr-2008Les Films du Losange will handle international sales on screenwriter Susanne Schneider's directorial debut Es Kommt Der Tag which began shooting at locations in Baden-Wuerttemberg and the Alsace region this week. The German-French co-production between Wueste Film Ost, Strasbourg-based Unlimited, Stuttgart's Filmtank, Wueste Film West, and broadcasters SWR, WDR and ARTE, received backing from MFG Baden-Wurttemberg, Filmstiftung NRW, the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF), the ...
Kousaar's Magnus takes two top prizes at goEast
15-Apr-2008Estonian director Kadri Kousaar's feature film debut Magnus picked up the Golden Lily for Best Film and the FIPRESCI Prize at this year's goEast - Festival of Central and Eastern European Film which closed with an awards ceremony in Wiesbaden tonight.
Hungary's Inforg to co-produce The Photograph, Womb
14-Apr-2008Hungarian production house Inforg Studio is to co-produce Polish filmmaker Maciej Adamek's feature debut The Photograph and Benedek Fliegauf's next project Womb, which will be his first feature to be shot in the English language.
EFP selects 22 producers for Cannes Producers on the Move
14-Apr-2008The Hamburg-based, pan-European promotional organisation European Film Promotion (EFP) has selected 22 aspiring European producers for its Producers On The Move networking initiative to take place during the Cannes Film Festival next month.
Once, The Secret of Grain and [Rec] to open Linz's Crossing Europe
13-Apr-2008John Carney's Oscar-winning Once and Abdellatif Kechiche's Cesar winner The Secret Of Grain will be the opening films at this year's fifth anniversary edition of the Crossing Europe Film Festival being held in Linz from April 22 - 27.The first evening will also see Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza's Spanish horror film [Rec] kicking off a new sidebar called ...
TrustNordisk to handle Schmid's Hague dramaStorm
11-Apr-2008TrustNordisk will handle international sales for German filmmaker Hans-Christian Schmid's first major international project Storm (Sturm) which sees him reunited with Requiem screenwriter Bernd Lange, this time as co-writers.
mdc takes on world sales for Kozole'sSlovenian Girl
11-Apr-2008Berlin-based sales agent mdc international will handle world sales for Damjan Kozole's latest feature film Slovenian Girl (Slovenka) which is currently shooting in Slovenia.
Poland's Tricks secures deals with UK, Germany, France
11-Apr-2008The UK, Germany, France, Israel and Taiwan are among 12 territories who have picked up the rights to Polish filmmaker Andrzej Jakimowski's second feature Tricks which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia last year and a Special Award at the Sao Paulo Film Festival, among others honours
Haneke, Gorris backed by German incentive scheme
9-Apr-2008New features by Michael Haneke, Marleen Gorris and Jaco van Dormael are among seven international co-productions awarded over $8.5m (Euros 5.4m) by the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) incentive scheme in the first quarter of 2008.Another $3.6m (Euros 2.3m) in incentives was paid out to nine German films, including Anno Saul's mystery thriller Die Tuer with Mads Mikkelsen and Jessica Schwarz, Christian Petzold's new drama
goEast 2008 launches project market and DVD label
9-Apr-2008An East-West project market is being held at Wiesbaden's goEast - Festival of Central and Eastern European Film (April 9-15), which will open Wednesday evening with Nikita Mikhalkov's Oscar-nominated film 12.The one-day event this coming weekend is being hosted by goEast in cooperation with the Robert Bosch Foundation and will be an opportunity for young filmmakers from Germany, Eastern and South-eastern Europe to present their story ...
Amos Gitai to receive this year's Locarno Leopard of Honour
8-Apr-2008The Leopard of Honour at this year's Locarno International Film Festival (August 6-16) will be awarded to Amos Gitai whose latest film One Day, You Will Understand was shown at this year's Berlinale.
German VOD market grows with ProSiebenSat.1-Disney deal
7-Apr-2008Germany's ProSiebenSat.1 Group and Disney-ABC International Television have closed their first deal for Subscription Video-on-Demand (SVoD) feature films for ProSiebenSat.1's video online store maxdome, licensing such library titles as Toy Story 2, Armageddon and Pearl Harbor, the first dealof its kind in Germany.
Tele München launches international sales arm with Sea Wolf
7-Apr-2008Herbert Kloiber's Tele Muenchen Group (TMG) has launched its own as-yet-unnamed international sales arm with the TV two-parter The Sea Wolf based on the classic Jack London novel as its first title.
Revanche takes grand prix at Austria's Diagonale
7-Apr-2008Goetz Spielmann's rural drama of guilt and revenge Revanche was awarded the Diagonale Grand Prix for Best Austrian Feature Film 2007/2008 at this year's showcase of Austrian filmmaking in Graz at the weekend.
Meurer, Curling to produce Stephen Fry's Handel biopic
7-Apr-2008Egoli Tossell Film Halle, the joint venture production company established by Berlin-based Egoli Tossell Film and the UK's Zepyhr Films initially to produce Michael Hoffman's $20.5m (Euros 13m) The Last Station, has other projects in the pipeline to be shot in Central Germany and particularly in the Land of Saxony-Anhalt. Speaking to ScreenDaily.com, producers Jens Meurer (Germany) and Chris Curling (UK) explained that their new joint company would be the German ...
Warner Bros takes on pirate comedy, Berlin Wall romance
4-Apr-2008Warner Bros. Pictures Germany has added Sven Taddicken's pirate comedy Zwoelf Meter Ohne Kopf, Peter Timm's tragicomic romance transcending the Berlin Wall Liebe Mauer, and Kai Wessel's Hildegard Knef biopic Hilde to its 2009 distribution lineup.
Wim Wenders heads down new Road with company name change
4-Apr-2008Wim Wenders has changed the name of his Berlin-based production company Wenders Images to Neue Road Movies whose first project will be The Palermo Shooting which is currently in post-production and be tipped for a premiere in Cannes.
Arri Media Worldsales picks up music drama Hanna's Words
3-Apr-2008Arri Media Worldsales will handle international distribution for Andreas Struck's third feature Hanna's Words which began principal photography in Cologne this week.
Telepool takes on Mikkelsen mystery The Door
2-Apr-2008Telepool will handle world sales for Anno Saul's mystery thriller The Door (Die Tuer) based on Akif Pirincci's 2001 novel Die Damalstuer.The film began shooting in Berlin last week. The co-production between Wueste Film and Senator Film Produktion stars the internationally known Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen - who worked with Wueste Film last year on Ole Christian Madsen's thriller ...
Senator picks up Splice, Superhero Movie, Young@Heart
1-Apr-2008German producer-distributor Senator Entertainment has added the science fiction thriller Splice, blockbuster parody Superhero Movie and the documentary Young@Heart to its 2008-2009 distribution lineup.
Constantinextends Eichinger's contract until 2014
1-Apr-2008Constantin Film and producer Bernd Eichinger have agreed a year in advance to extend their exclusive production contract by another five years until March 31, 2014.
Warner Bros Germany checks into The Last Station
31-Mar-2008Warner Bros. Pictures Germany will distribute Michael Hoffman's The Last Station which begins shooting from April 7 at locations in Brandenburg as a production of Egoli Tossell Halle, a production-specific outfit set up by Berlin-based Egoli Tossell Film and the UK-based Zephyr Films run by Chris Curling.The drama of Count Leo Tolstoy caught between the love of his life Sofya and a deceptive disciple Vladimir Chertkov ...
Strong documentary presence at Diagonale showcase of Austrian cinema
31-Mar-2008Documentaries are once again out in force at this year's Diagonale - Festival of Austrian Film (April 1-6) which opens in Graz on Tuesday evening with the world premiere of Othmar Schmiderer's Back To Africa.
Rebranded Instinctive boards 13 Semesters, The Disposables
28-Mar-2008The Berlin-based international film production and finance company Instinctive Film - previously known as Invicta Entertainment - is boarding its first local German-language film, Frieder Wittich's coming-of-age student comedy 13 Semesters. The film begins shooting in Darmstadt next Monday (March 31).
Doerrie's Cherry Blossoms leads German Lola nominations
28-Mar-2008Doris Doerrie's Berlinale competition film Cherry Blossoms - Hanami has attracted six nominations for this year's German Film Awards - the Golden and Silver Lolas - which will be presented in a gala ceremony in Berlin on April 25.
German box office makes strong start to 2008
27-Mar-2008Box-office takings and cinema admissions in Germany are up 30% year-on-year for the first quarter of 2008, according to figures collated by Nielsen EDI.
Ascot Elite adds to slate with Swiss sci-fi thriller Cargo
26-Mar-2008Zurich-based Ascot Elite Entertainment has unveiled a raft of new acquisitions, including the first ever Swiss science-fiction thriller Cargo by feature debutants Ralph Etter and Ivan Engler.
Fliegauf, Puiu and Carrito serve onLocarno juries
25-Mar-2008Film directors Benedek Fliegauf (Hungary), Cristi Puiu (Romania) and Albertina Carri (Argentina) are have been recruited as members of two official juries at this year's Locarno International Film Festival (August 6-16).
Transsiberian co-producer Universum boards Lippel's Dream
25-Mar-2008Universum Film, co-producer/distrubutor of Brad Anderson's thriller Transsiberian, has boarded its first German-language project, Lars Buechel's Lippel's Dream (Lippels Traum) which begins shooting in Morocco's Ouarzazate today.
Nu Boyana expands with new city streets sets
19-Mar-2008Outside sets re-creating streets of London, Paris and Berlin are being planned next year to join the 2.5 kilometres of New York streets currently in construction at Sofia's Nu Boyana Film Studios.
Melikyan's Mermaid wins Grand Prix at Sofia
17-Mar-2008Anna Melikyan's quirky coming of age tale Mermaid (Rusalka), which was the opening film of the Berlinale's Panorama last month, was the winner of this year's Grand Prix at the Sofia International Film Festival, the second time in three years that the top prize went to a Russian filmmaker (Alexei German Jr.'s Garpastum won in 2006).
Sundance winner Durakovo opens Nyon's doc festival Visions du Reel
14-Mar-2008Nino Kirtadze's Durakovo: Village Of Fools, winner of the World Cinema Directing Award: Documentary at this year's Sundance Film Festival, will open the Nyon International Documentary Film Festival 'Visions du Reel' held from April 17-23.
Progress takes on sales for German kids film Morphus
12-Mar-2008Progress Film-Verleih will handle world sales on Karola Hattop's new children's film Morphus which is shooting in Berlin until Easter after completing location work near Berchtesgaden and Wernigerode.
Bac takes on sales, French rights to Pablo - The Little Red Fox
11-Mar-2008Bac Films is set to handle international sales and French theatrical distribution for the animation feature Pablo - The Little Red Fox based on the popular TV series of the same name. Pitching the $ 11.9m (Euros 7.8m) project in development at last week's Cartoon Movie co-production forum, Toons 'n' Tales Filmproduktion's Sunita Struck added that the collaboration with France's Millimages planned to use the same co-production structure ...
Malaysia's Flower In The Pocketwins Fribourg Grand Prix
10-Mar-2008Malaysian director Liew Seng Tat's feature debut Flower In The Pocket was awarded the Grand Prix - the Regard d'Or - at this year's Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF), the first edition under the new artistic director Eduoard Waintrop.
Cartoon Tributes go to French projects including Persepolis
7-Mar-2008France was the big winner of this year's Cartoon Movie Tributes awarded to 'companies or personalities that have had a positive or dynamic influence on the European animation feature film industry' which were presented at the Cartoon Movie market in Babelsberg this afternoon.
Trust, Bac Films to handle international sales on Cartoon Movie projects
7-Mar-2008Trust Film Sales and Bac Films are to handle international sales on two projects pitched at this week's Cartoon Movie co-production market in Babelsberg.Trust will be handling international distribution for Valeria Edwina Saunders' Prima Ballerina which is being produced by her company Rambling Rose Animation Studio with Denmark's Zentropa, Hungarian Andras Erkel's Studio Baestarts and Germany's Lunaris Film- und Fernsehproduktion.
Pan-European digital cinema pilot project to launch in autumn
6-Mar-2008France's MK2, Hungary's Szimpla Film, Denmark's Nordisk Film and Belgium's Kinepolis Group are supporting a European 'Cinema on demand' film digitisation project entitled Europe's Finest which is being launched this autumn by Cologne-based reelport to digitise and distribute 30-40 European films.
Fifth Sofia Meetingsselects 22 second features for fifth edition
6-Mar-2008New feature films by Serbia's Dusan Milic, Estonia's Ilmar Raag and Germany's Marc Meyer are among 22 projects being presented at the fifth edition of the Sofia Meetings pitching forum for second feature films from March 13-16.
Managing director Stephan Schesch takes over Animation X
5-Mar-2008Managing director Stephan Schesch has taken over control of the Berlin-based production house Animation X Gesellschaft zur Produktion von Animationsfilmen following the exit of the shareholders X-Filme creative pool and David Groenewold's Promedium from the joint venture.
Dragon Hunters opens 10th Cartoon Movie market in Babelsberg
4-Mar-2008This year's Cartoon Movie co-production forum for European animation feature films will open in Potsdam on Wednesday evening March 5 with an avant-premiere screening of Dragon Hunters.
Revolver Germany on board for Czech co-production Normal
3-Mar-2008Revolver Film Germany, the German outpost of Raymond van der Kaaij's Dutch production outfit Revolver Film, has boarded its first co-production Normal by Julius Sevcik with Czech producer Karla Stojakova's Axman Production.
Tiberius' EFM pick-ups include Girl In The Park, Arn
29-Feb-2008QED International's Sigourney Weaver/Kate Bosworth thriller The Girl In The Park by David Auburn is among eight titles acquired by the Munich-based distributor Tiberius Film at the recent European Film Market in Berlin.
IM Internationalmedia appoints Prestel to management board
29-Feb-2008Sascha R. Prestel is joining IM Internationalmedia's CEO Konstantin Thoeren as a new member of the management board as of March 1, 2008.
Arsenal takes on German rights to CSNY Deja Vu
28-Feb-2008Stefan Paul and Egon Nieser of German distributor Arsenal Film has picked up the music documentary CSNY Deja Vu by Bernard Shakey a.k.a. Neil Young from Fortissimo Films.
Bavarian regional fund announces $10.6m in funding
26-Feb-2008New productions by actor-director Til Schweiger, Christian Ditter and Mike Barker are among 35 film and TV projects allocated over $10.6m (Euros 7.2m) by the Bavarian regional fund FFF Bayern at its latest sitting.The largest amount - $1.25m (Euros 850,000) - went to Schweiger's next feature project, the medieval slapstick comedy Zwei Ritter Geben Vollgas, which he will direct for Lionheart Entertainment, his own company Barefoot Films ...
Greenaway co-producer backs Istvan Szabo project
20-Feb-2008Veteran Hungarian director Istvan Szabo is to bring Magda Szabo's international bestseller The Door to the screen for Sandor Söth's Berlin/Leipzig-based Intuit Pictures and Jenö Habermann's Filmart in Budapest.Described by Söth to Screendaily.com as 'a morally complex story about age, loyalty and betrayal' between two strong women, a famous writer and her ageless housekeeper, Szabo's novel won the Prix Femina Etranger ...
Beta Cinema announces deals on Heart Of Fire, presales
20-Feb-2008Beta Cinema has concluded deals for Luigi Falorni's Berlinale competition film Heart Of Fire for France (Ocean Film), Italy (BIM Distribuzione) and Greece (Seven Films) and is currently 'in final negotiations' with distributors on the title for North America, the UK and Japan.According to Andreas Rothbauer, Beta Cinema's head of theatrical sales and international theatrical acquisitions, Veit Helmer's Sundance World Cinema competition ...
Bavaria Film International unveils more Berlin sales
20-Feb-2008Bavaria Film International (BFI) has announced additional deals on competition film and other titles at this year's Berlinale.All rights to Doris Doerrie's Cherry Blossoms have been picked up by Jour 2 Fete for France, Wanda Vision for Spain, Fidalgo for Norway, and Alfa Films for Argentina. These are in addition to previously reported sales to Benelux (Cinemien), South Korea (JinJin Pictures), Taiwan (Swallow Wings), Colombia (Cine ...
With Berlinale 2008 closed, Kosslick eyes later start for EFM
18-Feb-2008Now in his seventh year as festival director, the Berlinale's Dieter Kosslick is considering a later start for the European Film Market (EFM) during the festival.
Padilha's The Elite Squad takes Golden Bear in Berlin
16-Feb-2008Click on film title to see review
Bavaria closes further deals on Cherry Blossoms and Black Ice
14-Feb-2008BavariaFilm International (BFI) has reported a raft of sales on two of itstitles in Berlinale Competition. DorisDoerrie's Cherry Blossoms - Hanami has now been sold to South Korea(JinJin Pictures), Taiwan (Swallow Wings), Colombia (Cine Colombia),Mexico (Cine Video y TV) and Greece (PCV) ...
Heart of Fire producers stack up new projects
14-Feb-2008Producers Sven Burgemeister of TV-60Film and Goldkind Film and Andreas Bareiss of BurkertBareiss Development have unveiled their slate of new projects ahead of the world premiere of Luigi Falorni's Heart Of Fire in competition at Berlin today.Bareiss and partner Gloria Burkert are producing newcomer Su Turhan's feature debut Ayla about honour killings and has a new project with Alain Gsponer (Life Actually) ...
Yvonne Catterfeld named to play Romy Schneider in German biopic
13-Feb-2008Yvonne Catterfeld is to play the legendary Austrian-born icon Romy Schneider in Josef Rusnak's biopic Eine Frau Wie Romy (literally A Woman Like Romy) which will begin shooting at locations in France and Germany from July 23.According to German press reports, actresses such as Jodie Foster and Eva Green had been interested in the role. However, director Rusnak pointed out that the project's French ...
Miromar lays out slate of films in English and German
12-Feb-2008Michel Morales's German company Miromar Entertainment, co-producer on the Heather Graham romantic comedy Buy Borrow Steal and the Viggo Mortensen drama Good, has unveiled a slate of English and German-language feature projects in development.The English language genre projects - with budgets up to Euros 7m - include the action film Car Pirates, based on ...
Petzold's Yella named best feature film by German critics
12-Feb-2008Christian Petzold's Berlinale 2007 competition film Yella picked up two prizes for Best Feature Film and Best Cinematography at the German Film Critics Awards presented in Berlin on Monday evening. Other prizewinners included Pia Marais' The Unpolished (Best Feature Debut), Ulrich Noethen (Bst Actor for Mein Fuehrer), Maren Kroymann (Best Actress for
Rezo takes on sales for Mikhail Khodorovsky documentary
12-Feb-2008Rezo Films is handling international sales on Cyril Tuschi's feature documentary Rise And Fall of Mikhail B Khodorovsky which begins shooting in Moscow today (Feb 11).The film will feature interviews being conducted with members of the former oil magnate's family and schoolfriends. The co-production between Tuschi's LaLa Films and Leipzig-based L.E. Vision received backing from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and the German ...
Schmid explores industry options in break from legal woes
12-Feb-2008Andreas Schmid, former CEO of VIP Medienfonds, who was sentenced by a Munich court to six years in prison for tax evasion last November, was in characteristically fighting mood on a visit to Berlin this week.At the festival to refresh old and forge new contacts, Schmid said that he had several enquiries from people interested in using his knowhow in the field of financing and packaging. 'Up to now the reaction has been very positive,' he observed. 'I hope everything ...
Transylvanian Film Festival to launch development fund for local writers
12-Feb-2008Cluj's Transylvanian International Film Festival (TIFF) is to launch a development fund dedicated to local screenwriters at this year's edition from May 30 to June 8. 'We are looking for new stories and new people in Romania in the first year', TIFF's honorary director Tudor Giurgiu told Screendaily.com. 'Euros 20,000 will be shared among five projects and we may extend the fund to projects from other East European countries in the future.'Giurgiu revealed that ...
Senator buys 25.1% stake in Berlin rights trader A Company
11-Feb-2008Senator Entertainment has taken a 25.1% stake in the Berlin-based rights trading company A Company Consulting & Licensing as part of a strategy to expand its own position in the international licensing business and invest in the burgeoning Central and East European market.Over the past five years, A Company has acquired over 200 films through its subsidiary EEAP Eastern European Acquisition Pool and exploited them in Central and Eastern Europe itself or through partners such ...
Nanni Moretti to be the subject of Locarno retrospective
11-Feb-2008Italian director-actor-producer Nanni Moretti will be the subject of this year's retrospective at the Locarno Interational Film Festival (August 6-16).'I am total fan of his work and am very happy that he will be in Locarno,' says the festival's artistic director Frederic Maire exclusively to Screen Daily.com. 'We will be showing the feature-length films, shorts and documentaries he directed as well as all of the works from his production company Sacher Film.''In ...
European lawyers launch film network in Berlin
11-Feb-2008Four leading continental European media and entertainment law firms - German law firm Unverzagt von Have, Spain's ECIJA, France's DDG Deprex Dian Guignot and Italy's ASSUMMA Studio Legale - are launching of the European Lawyers Audovisual Network (ELAN) here on Monday.According to Harro von Have, a partner at Unverzagt von Have, the goal of the network is 'to refer possibilities for co-production and financing of motion picture projects to interested clients.'
Taskovski Films launches Banja Luka International Film Festival
11-Feb-2008The UK-Czech production/sales company Taskovski Films is behind the launch of the Banja Luka International Film Festival (BLIFF) from May 2-9 in the city in northwest Bosnia and Herzegovina.Apart from a competitive programme for latest international features, documentaries and student films, this first edition will include sidebars dedicated to 100 Years of Russian Film, Peace and Tolerance, Film & Laughter, and Women Directors. Festival director Irene Taskovski ...
MEDIA plans to set up new programme for third countries
11-Feb-2008Closer cooperation between the audiovisual industries of the European Union and third countries could become part of a new and separate programme set up by the European Commission.At the MEDIA Day event in Berlin on Monday, Aviva Silver, head of the MEDIA Programme in Brussels, will be unveiling details of the preparatory action for third countries, which was awarded Euros 2m by the European Parliament.'It is something we have been trying to do under MEDIA 2007 ...
Kross, Herzsprung to star in Habermann's Mill for Juraj Herz
11-Feb-2008The Reader star David Kross and Germany's 'Shooting Star' Hannah Herzsprung are being lined up to appear in Juraj Herz's Habermann's Mill which is set to go into production later this year for Art Oko and KN Filmcompany. The Second World War drama set in the Sudetenland, which will be handled internationally by Atlas International Film, also has Ben Becker and Karl Roden pencilled in for lead ...
Munich's EVA to co-produce family adventure Raising Phoenix
10-Feb-2008Munich-based film and TV group Entertainment Value Associates (EVA) is to co-produce Marc Weigert's $15m family adventure project Raising Phoenix which is being produced by Weigert and Volker Engel's LA-based independent outfit Uncharted Territory.Raising Phoenix is due to go into production from April 2008, with location shooting likely to also be done in Berlin and ...
X Filme International boards films from Meyjes, Fox
10-Feb-2008New features by Menno Meyjes and Eytan Fox are being lined up by X Filme International in addition to its production of Julie Delpy's The Countess which begins shooting from Feb 18 in Berlin, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt.The X Filme Creative Pool subsidiary will serve as German co-producer for the UK's Future Films on Menno Meyjes' Last Battle Dreamer, starring Ryan Philippe and Abbie Cornish. The ...
Belgrade Industry Meetings unveils lineup of 12 projects for 2008 event
9-Feb-2008New feature projects by Albania's Gjergi Xhuvani, Croatia's Rajko Grlic and Israel's Yaky Yosha are among 12 projects selected for this year's B2B Belgrade Industry Meetings which will be held for the third time between February 29 and March 2.The complete lineup of projects are:Euro-Asian section:Frenzy, Emin AlperBulut Film, TurkeyInfiltration, Dover ...
War of words escalates between Brass Hat and VIP
9-Feb-2008A war of words is escalating between the British financier Brass Hat Media Avice (BHMA) and the beleaguered German media fund VIP Medienfonds 4 following the refusal of VIP's managing director Peter Riedel to honour a strategic co-investment partnership negotiated with BHMA by his predecessor Dirk Specht last September to manage VIP's funds. This has led BHMA to sue VIP for a court declaration in Munich's Regional Court and VIP in turn applying to have the action dismissed.
The Match Factory takes a spin with Waltz With Bashir
8-Feb-2008The Match Factory (TMF) has taken on international sales for Israeli director Ari Folman's first-ever animated documentary feature Waltz With Bashir, which is currently in postproduction and hotly tipped to premiere at this year's Cannes Film Festival.The co-production between Israel's Bridgit Folman Films Gang Ltd., France's Les Films d'Ici and Germany's Razor Film Produktion charts the filmmaker's personal journey toward discovering ...
German production outfit SKF lays out English-language slate
8-Feb-2008German production outfit Schmidtz Katze Filmkollektiv (SKF), which co-produced Berlin competition title Black Ice, has unveiled a new slate of English language projects budgeted between Euros 5m-10m, including a historical drama based on the life of Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of printing.'We are wanting to have more in-house development of projects working with writers from the outset and moving away from a minority to majority ...
Napola's Schilling plays young Hitler in Mein Kampf
8-Feb-2008Young German actor Tom Schilling, who appeared opposite Max Riemelt in Dennis Gansel's Napola and turns 26 on Sunday (Feb 10), has been cast as the young Hitler in Urs Odermatt's Mein Kampf, based on the 1987 stage play farce of the same name by the late George Tabori.The story of Mein Kampf sees Hitler down on his luck after being turned down for a place ...
Studio Babelsberg announces intentions to back US studio slate
8-Feb-2008Studio Babelsberg has revealed plans to invest '$500m or more' in a slate of features by an as-yet-unnamed US major studio to secure more Hollywood productions coming to shoot at the studios.Last year the production centre had hosted such big budget productions as Speed Racer, Valkyrie and The International and is currently serving as a co-producer on Stephen Daldry's
Senator hands back 56.2% stake in X Filme
7-Feb-2008Senator Entertainment and X Filme Creative Pool have decided to go their separate ways.An agreement was reached between X Filme managing director Manuela Stehr and Senator board member Christopher Borgmann for X Filme to take over the 56.2% stake Senator had been holding in X Filme since 2002.As Senator Entertainment board member Helge Sasse ponted out, 'it is time for both companies to go their own ways in production again as previously because Senator has been ...
Wolfgang Petersen, Senator team up for English-language TV series
6-Feb-2008Internationally renowned German director Wolfgang Petersen is returning to his TV roots by forging a joint venture with Germany's Senator Entertaiment to produce English-language TV series.The partnership, which will operate out of Senator's Cologne-based subsidiary Pro Programme und Produktionen fuer Buehne und Fernsehen, is to concentrate on the production of quality programming for the international market. This includes a documentary series about the Cold War, which is ...
Mr Nobody among films supported by German Federal Film Fund
6-Feb-2008Germany's German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) incentive scheme has awarded over $3.97m (Euros 2.7m) in funding in the first four weeks of 2008.Jaco van Dormael's $51.4m (Euros 35m) Mr Nobody, which was shooting at the Babelsberg Studios for 45 days last autumn, is one of three international co-productions supported with a total of $2.9m (Euro 1.98m) by the DFFF.The scifi drama starring Jared Leto and Berlinale competition jury ...
Match Factory strikes two pictures with Nimbus Film
6-Feb-2008The Match Factory (TMF) has picked up international rights for Danish filmmaker Soren Kragh-Jacobsen's political thriller What No One Knows which will have its world premiere in the Panorama Special section on February 11.The Nimbus Film production, which stars Anders W. Berthelsen, Maria Bonnevie and Ghita Norby, is the first collaboration with the Cologne/Munich sales agent. 'I must say, we are more than happy about this,' ...
First Hand shakes on Corridor #8, Brides Of Allah
5-Feb-2008Zurich/Berlin-based sales agent First Hand Films has picked up international rights for two documentaries which will be having their world premieres in the International Forum of this year's Berlinale.Esther van Messel's company will be handling sales for Bulgarian filmmaker Boris Despodov's directorial debut Corridor #8 about the European Union-backed project to construct a highway between Sofia and the Albanian capital Tirana. Despodov ...
Construction starts on $60m studio complex near Cape Town
4-Feb-2008Construction on the long-gestating Dreamworld Film City studio complex near Cape Town is set to begin this week.
Willson tapped to head Universal's new Berlin-based arm
4-Feb-2008Andrea Willson has been recruited by Universal Pictures to head its new Berlin-based local production arm to invest in the development and production of German language feature films.
Beta's EFM slate includes 32A, Absurdistan and Heart Of Fire
31-Jan-2008Beta Cinema will be having five market premieres at next week's European Film Market in Berlin, including Luigi Falorni's Competition film Heart of Fire (Feuerherz) which Senator will release in Germany this summer.
Match Factory takes on Chiko, Revanche, LoveAnd Other Crimes
31-Jan-2008Cologne/Munich-based sales agent The Match Factory will be handling international sales for three world premieres in the Berlinale's Panorama Special section next week.
Berlin-based M-Appeal launches with Rotterdam trio
29-Jan-2008A new Berlin-based sales company M-Appeal launched this week with a slate comprising threefilms in the Rotterdam line-up and another five titles to be presented at the forthcoming European Film Market (EFM).
Berlinale unveils sevenothermembers of competition jury
29-Jan-2008The Berlinale has unveiled the seven members of the International Jury who will join jury president Costa-Gavras in deliberating on the prizes for this year's competition. They are:
Sony Pictures Television extends deal with ProSieben
29-Jan-2008Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has extended its relationship with Germany's ProSiebenSat 1 Group through a multi-year volume deal.
Bavaria Film to unveil four market premieres at EFM
28-Jan-2008Bavaria Film International (BFI) will have four market premieres at the forthcoming European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin next week.
Invicta Entertainment sets up shop Berlin
28-Jan-2008Production and financing outfit Invicta Entertainment has set up its headquarters in Berlin to produce films in the $1m-$10m range for the international market.
Grbavica director on Berlinale Best First Feature Jury
25-Jan-2008Bosnian filmmaker Jasmila Zbanic, whose feature debut Grbavica won the Golden Bear at the Berlinale in 2006, is one of the three members of this year's international jury for the Best First Feature Award.
Locarno's Open Doors turns attention to Latin America
25-Jan-2008Latin American cinema will be the focus of this year's Open Doors project platform at the Locarno International Film Festival (August 6-16).
Production - Germany - Deutsche courage
25-Jan-2008The German film industry may never have looked so good. Last year, Germany hosted a record number of international and US productions and boasted a stunning array of local talent, including Oscar-winner Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (The Lives Of Others), Fatih Akin (The Edge Of Heaven) and Marc Rothemund (Sophie Scholl - The Final Days). Add to that an enticing film fund launched in January 2007 by the German government, and you have an amazing success story.
Micha Lewinsky's Der Freund is tops at Swiss Film Awards
24-Jan-2008Micha Lewinsky's Der Freund was named Best Film at this year's Swiss Film Awards which were presented for the 11th timelast night at the Solothurn Film Days.
World premiere of Golzow finale selected for Berlinale Forum
24-Jan-2008The 19th and final part of Winfried and Barbara Junge's monumental Children Of Golzow chronicle, ...they're living happily ever after. The Children of Golzow, is one of four world premieres being shown as Special Screenings in this year's Forum programme of the Berlinale.
Telepool unveiling four market premieres for Berlin's EFM
23-Jan-2008Munich-based sales company Telepool is lining up four market premieres at the forthcoming European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin next month.
Panorama adds documentaries including Isaac Julien's Derek
23-Jan-2008The Berlinale's Panorama section has completed its 2008 lineup by announcing the 18 new films selected for the documentary strand Panorama Dokumente. This last slew of films includes Isaac Julien's portrait of the late film-makerDerek Jarman in Derek; director-producer Dror Moreh's documentary Sharon on the former Israeli prime-minister Ariel Sharon, which will be handled internationally by Telepool; and Samson Vicent's portrait of one of the Berlinale's ...
Ascot Elite takes Swiss rights to The Interrogation Of Harry Wind
22-Jan-2008Ascot Elite Entertainment Group has picked up Swiss theatrical and DVD rights to Pascal Verdosci's political thriller The Interrogation Of Harry Wind which began shooting in Basle last week.
EFM German showcase includes market premiere of Love Life
21-Jan-2008Fatih Akin's The Edge Of Heaven and Hans Weingartner's Reclaim Your Brain are among 17 titles selected by programmer Heinz Badewitz to screen in the European Film Market's German Cinema showcase.The 2008 lineup, which is targeted primarily at accredited distributors, buyers, journalists, and programmers from festivals and cultural institutions, also includes market premieres of films by German actresses Maria Schrader (Love Life) and Nicolette ...
Berlinale Special adds films by Gitai, Staho and Grube
18-Jan-2008New films by Amos Gitai, Simon Staho and Thomas Grube are among the 12 projects seelcted for the Berlinale Special sidebar, which is part of the festival's official programme alongside the Competition.
Berlinaleadds world premieres including The Other Boleyn Girl
18-Jan-2008World premieres of Justin Chadwick's The Other Boleyn Girl, starring Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Dennis Lee's Fireflies In The Garden, with Julia Roberts and Willem Dafoe, and Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi's The Song Of Sparrows are among the last eight Competition titles to be confirmed.
Films by Doillon and Emigholz now confirmed for Berlinale Forum
17-Jan-2008New films by Jacques Doillon, Heinz Emigholz, and Benjamin Gilmour are among the Berlinale's Forum main programme of 36 films.
Berlinale Panorama adds titles from Arsenijevic, Kragh-Jacobsen
16-Jan-2008The Berlinale's Panorama programme has confirmed world premieres of new features by Denmark's Soren Kragh-Jacobsen (What No One Knows), Austria's Goetz Spielmann (Revanche), South Africa's Ralph Ziman (Jerusalema), and Serbia's Stefan Arsenijevic (Love And Other Crimes) among its latest raft of announced titles.
Leigh, Szabo, and Daldry lined up for Berlinale Talent Campus
16-Jan-2008Directors Mike Leigh, Istvan Szabo, and Stephen Daldry, actress Martina Gedeck and producer Bernd Eichinger are among 120 international experts speaking at the sixth Berlinale Talent Campus which be held between Feb 9-14. This year, the Talent Campus will be cooperating with the Federal Foreign Office and the World Cinema Fund to launch a new initiative Focus Africa to take an in-depth look at contemporary filmmaking in Africa with such guests as Nigerian actress ...
Berlin selects 29 shorts, including 11 in competition
15-Jan-2008The Berlinale has selected 29 films for its Shorts section, including a special presentation of Serbian director Zelimir Zilnik's 1975 nine-minute film Inventory about housing speculation and foreigners living in Munich.
Berlin's Perspektive Deutsches Kino to include Randl's debut
15-Jan-2008The Berlinale's Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar has now finalised its 2008 programme with five feature films, four documentaries and four short films.
Berlinale's Generation to open with Winky, Black Balloon
14-Jan-2008The Berlinale's Generation section for children and young people has finalised its 2008 lineup with 24 feature and 31 short films from 20 countries, including eight world and seven international feature film premieres.
Bavaria picks up Kollek's Berlinale competitorRestless
14-Jan-2008Bavaria Film International has take on the world sales for Israeli independent filmmaker Amos Kollek's latest feature Restless which has been selected by the Berlinale for one of the places in the 2008 Competition lineup.
Local market share for German and Swiss films drops in 2007
14-Jan-2008The German and Swiss cinemas saw their local market shares shrink dramatically in 2007, according to provisional year-end figures. After the euphoria of 2006 when German films had posted a market share of 23% thanks to such films as Perfume - Story Of A Murderer and football documentary Deutschland. Ein Sommermaerchen, the local industry was now brought down to the ground by the news that the ...
Berlinale expecting record numbers for market
13-Jan-2008Less than four weeks before the beginning of this year's Berlinale, the European Film Market (EFM) is is expecting to host more than 400 exhibitors from 50 countries at its market venues in the Martin Gropius Bau and the EFM Exhibitor Offices.
Berlinale Co-production Market selects 35 film projects
11-Jan-2008New projects by Agnieszka Holland, Bernard Rose, Deepa Mehta and Eran Riklis are among 35 film projects from 25 countries that have been selected for the fifth edition of the Berlinale's Co-Production Market.
Berlinale's Forum selects strong Asian titles
11-Jan-2008Asian cinema is well represented in the first batch of films confirmed by the Berlinale's International Forum section including titles by Singapore's Tan Pin Pin, Japan's Takahashi Izumi and Korea's Mun Jeong-hyun.
Berlin Panorama selects four docs including Heavy Metal In Baghdad
11-Jan-2008Documentaries on rock icon Patti Smith, gay Muslims, the South African political satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys and an Iraqi heavy metal band have been selected to screen in the Berlinale's Panorama programme.
Berlinale adds competitors including Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky
9-Jan-2008New films by Mike Leigh, Isabel Coixet and Amos Kollek are among another nine titles confirmed for this year's Berlinale Competition section in addition to the eight previously announced last month.
Berlin-Brandenburg and Hamburg funds receive more cash
2-Jan-2008Father Christmas did not forget the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (MBB) and Filmfoerderung Hamburg Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein (FFHSH) as local politicians have decided to increase their financial commitment to their respective funds.
New German fund to back Dunaway in Master Class
21-Dec-2007A new German private media fund Shalimah German Film Management is to be launched to attract investment for participation in a slate of Stateside projects and an in-house family production for the international market.
German box office fails to match 2006boom
20-Dec-2007After Germany's exhibitors' fortunes revived in 2006 following a catastrophic 2005, box-office takings and admissions have fallen back again this year by 8-9%, according to figures collated by Nielsen EDI.
Seven films announcedforBerlin Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar
20-Dec-2007The Berlinale's Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar has announced half of the section's programme for the seventh edition.
Berlin's EFM to welcome 25 new exhibitors including IM Global
19-Dec-2007Companies from the US, the UK, Spain, Ukraine, and Brazil are among 25 first-timers confirmed so far as exhibitors at the Berlinale's forthcoming European Film Market (EFM).
Berlinale's Generation unveils titles including Buddha Collapsed
18-Dec-2007The first 15 titles unveiled by the Berlinale's Generation section include 19-year-old Hana Makhmalbaf's debut feature shot in Afghanistan Buddha Collapsed Out Of Shame, Danish masters Jannik Hastrup and Flemming Quist Moeller's action-packed animated love story A Tale Of Two Mozzies and Elissa Downs' The Black Balloon, a sensitive portrayal of a mother's relationship with her autistic son.
Berlin Talent Campus expands short film competition
18-Dec-2007The Berlin Today Award (BTA), the Berlinale Talent Campus's short film competition, is being expanded for its next edition which will see the films focusing on the theme of 'My Wall' to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 2009.
Berlin Reverse Angle to include films by Fassbinder, Herzog, Wenders
17-Dec-2007Films by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Werner Herzog andWim Wenders are to be featured in a special Berlinale programmeentitled 'Rebellion of the Filmmakers', organised to accompany theworld premiere of the documentary Reverse Angle - Rebellion of theFilmmakers about the history of the legendary Germanproducer-distributor Filmverlag der Autoren. Founded in 1971 on a co-operative basis by 13 partners includingRainer Werner ...
Boll takes over world sales for 15+ titles from Allied Entertainment
17-Dec-2007Boll AG has taken over he world sales for 15+ titles from the LA-based genre specialist Allied Entertainment.The lineup includes Rafael Zielinski's classic teen sex comedy Screwballs and brings the total number of films handled internationally by Boll AG to 60. Other films in the deal include Fallen Angels starring Michael Ironside; Pups, with ...
FremantleMedia and RTL launch German producer-distributor Ufa
17-Dec-2007Together with the RTL Group, FremantleMedia has launched a new producer-distributor Ufa Cinema through its German subsidiary UFA to deliver feature films for the local market and possibly be the first step towards the creation of a European major studio. The new initiative already has 40 projects in the pipeline that will result in an annual slate of eight films per year from 2010 with its first projects being made known early next year. Plans are also afoot to ...
New German funding model generates spend of almost $588m
13-Dec-2007The German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) has generated a 'German spend' of almost $588m (Euros 400m) in its first year of operations after backing 99 feature film and documentary projects with over $87.3m (Euros 59.4m). Speaking exclusively to ScreenDaily.com, DFFF project manager Christine Berg explained that the 99 films with an overall production volume of $823.3m (Euros 560m) had German production costs of over $570.4m (Euros 388m).
Thomas Peter Friedl to leave Constantin Film after January
11-Dec-2007After over 18 years working in the field of distribution and for Constantin Film, Thomas Peter Friedl has announced that he will not be extending his contract as Distribution, Marketing & Central Services Director at Constantin Film after January 31, 2008.The management of the distribution arm Constantin Filmverleih will be taken over from February by Fred Kogel, Constantin Film's CEO and board member responsible for licence trading.While ...
Guy Maddin and Isabella Rossellini open 2008 Berlinale Forum
11-Dec-2007For the third year in a row, Guy Maddin and Isabella Rossellini will have films shown at the forthcoming Berlinale.My Winnipeg, Maddin's autobiographical fairytale about his Canadian native city, and Rossellini's three one-minute Green Porno shorts made for mobile phones and mobile video players will have their international premieres as the opening presentation of the Berlinale's Forum on February 8.Maddin's silent movie Brand ...
Beta Cinema to handle Helmer's third feature Absurdistan
11-Dec-2007Beta Cinema will handle world sales for German film-maker Veit Helmer's third feature Absurdistan which will have its world premiere in January in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival.
New jury selects nine actors for Shooting Stars at 2008 Berlinale
11-Dec-2007Romania's Anamaria Marinca, Germany's Hannah Herzsprung and the UK's Andrew Garfield are among nine of the best young actors in Europe who have been named by European Film Promotion (EFP) as the Shooting Stars of 2008 to be showcased at the forthcoming Berlinale.
The Weinstein Company picks up rights to Telepool 3D animation
10-Dec-2007The Weinstein Company has acquired rights from Munich-based Telepool for all English-language and Latin-American territories for the European 3D animated film Niko & The Way To The Stars by Michael Hegner and Kari Juusonen.Described as 'a modern-day fairytale for the whole family', the CGI-animated film about the adventures of the little reindeer Niko will have its European premiere on October 10, 2008 in Scandinavia where it is being released by Nordisk Film.
Berlinale announces five world premieres
10-Dec-2007World premieres of new films by Damian Harris, Doris Doerrie, Wang Xiaoshuai and Errol Morris are among the first eight titles confirmed so far for the Competition programme of next February's Berlinale (February 7-17).
Berlinale expects 5,000+ submissions for 2008 festival
6-Dec-2007Organisers are expecting that the 2008 edition of the Berlin International Film Festival will again be a record-breaking one when it opens its doors on Feb 7, 2008. Speaking to ScreenDaily.com during this week's Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia's Tallinn, Berlinale festival director Dieter Kosslick said that he expects more than 5,000 films to be submitted for consideration for selection to one of the festival's sections. A total of 4,921 titles were entered ...
Daldry's The Reader gets funding boost from Filmstiftung NRW
5-Dec-2007International co-productions by Dito Tsintsadze, Ben Verbong, Joergen Bergmark, and Stephen Daldry are among 14 projects awarded over $8m (Euros 5.5m) by the Duesseldorf-based regional fund Filmstiftung NRW this week.
Unknown starRappoport takes lead in new Serebrennikov feature
4-Dec-2007Russian-born actress Ksenia Rappoport, who was nominated for European Actress 2007 at last weekend's European Film Awards for her performance in Giuseppe Tornatore's The Unknown, has taken the lead in Kirill Serebrennikov's new feature Yuriev Den which has now begun shooting on location in the Russian town of Yuriev near Suzdal.
Romanian triumph at European Film Awards
2-Dec-2007Romanian cinema was the big winner at this year's 20th edition of the European Film Award when director Cristian Mungiu picked up the honours for European Film 2007 and European Director 2007 for his Palme D'Or-winning 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.
CNC/FFA joint commission backs new Gaspar Noe film
29-Nov-2007Three projects were supported by the CNC/FFA's German-French Funding Commission this week from its 'mini-traite' co-production fund.Funding of $737,925 (Euros 500,000) went to Gaspar Noe's Japan-set Enter The Void which is being produced as a majority French co-production by Fidelite Films with Berlin-based Essential Filmproduktion and Italy's BIM Distribuzione. Currently being shot in Japanese and English in Tokyo, the director's third ...
Francesco Rosi to receive Berlinale tribute and Golden Bear
27-Nov-2007Veteran Italian director Francesco Rosi is to be honoured with an Homage and an Honorary Golden Bear at February 2008's Berlin International Film Festival.
Costa-Gavras to serve as Berlinale jury president
26-Nov-2007The Greek-French director Costa-Gavras has been named as president of the International Jury for February's Berlin International Film Festival.Costa-Gavras has often seen his films shown at the Berlinale in past years: Music Box, with Armin Mueller-Stahl and Jessica Lange, received the Golden Bear at the 1990 festival, while La Petite Apocalypse, with director-actor Jiri Menzel in the lead role, ...
Baltic Event selects 12 projects for Tallinn co-production market
22-Nov-2007Films from Croatia, Romania, Estonia and Armenia are among a dozen projects selected from a record 37 submissions for the Baltic Event's third co-production market which will be held in the Estonian capital of Tallinn from Dec 3-4.
Berlin's WCF backs films from Armenia, Indonesia, Iran and Israel
21-Nov-2007Four film projects from Armenia, Indonesia, Iran and Israel have been backed by the Berlinale's World Cinema Fund (WCF) with a total of $325,680 (Euros 220,000) at its latest funding session chaired by festival director Dieter Kosslick. The four were selected from 108 submissions from 40 countries.
After record 2007, Babelsberg eyes more European projects in 2008
16-Nov-2007The looming threat of Hollywood actors and directors going on strike from mid-2008 has prompted Germany's Babelsberg Studios to concentrate more on enticing European and German feature film projects to shoot on its sound stages next year.
Schuermann steps down as CEO of Intermedia USA
15-Nov-2007Martin Schuermann has now stepped from his post as CEO and Chairman of the Board of Los Angeles-based Intermedia Film Equities USA to return to 'hands-on' production. In July, Schuermann had cited 'personal reasons' for leaving his other post as CEO of the IM Internationalmedia Group which he had held since succeeding Moritz Borman in May 2005. In an official statement on Schuermann's latest move, Intermedia stressed that it wanted 'to set the record straight that ...
VIP fund's former CEO sentenced to six years in prison
14-Nov-2007Andreas Schmid, the former CEO of the German private media fund VIP Medienfonds, was sentenced to six years imprisonment for tax evasion by a Munich court on Tuesday morning (Nov 13).
Final approval set for Brazil-Germany co-production agreement
14-Nov-2007After more than two years of legislative limbo, the new Brazil-Germany Co-Production Agreement has finally been approved by both houses in Brazil's National Congress and has now come into force.
Bavaria to handle omnibus projectMoving The Arts
13-Nov-2007Bavaria Film International is to handle international sales for the omnibus film project Moving The Arts which will bring together shorts from Atom Egoyan, Hal Hartley, Christian Petzold, Julio Medem, Laetitia Masson, and Jia Zhang-ke. Each will make a short film inspired by a work of post-modern art exhibited in the Dusseldorf museum K 21.
Russian cinema triumphs at Cottbus Festival
11-Nov-2007Russian cinema was the big winner at this year's FilmFestival Cottbus - Festival of East European Cinema (Nov 6-11) with Vera Storosheva's Travelling With Pets taking home five of the total 13 prizes.
Shadows and Tracey Fragments lead Bavaria's AFM deals
7-Nov-2007Macedonian filmmaker Milcho Manchevski's mystery love story Shadows and maverick Canadian director Bruce McDonald's The Tracey Fragments lead a raft of deals signed by Bavaria Film International at the AFM.The Tracey Fragments was sold to Atlantik in an all-rights deal for Scandinavia, following a deal with the UK's Soda Pictures that was struck during ...
Connecting Cottbus market to present 13 new features
7-Nov-2007New films from Romania, Georgia, Serbia and Sweden are among 13 projects which will be pitched to potential production partners at this year's Connecting Cottbus East-West co-production market which begins on Thursday.According to Connecting Cottbus's artistic director Gabriele Brunnenmeyer, the 2007 lineup was selected from over 50 entries from 23 countries and, as an innovation this year, the projects will all be in the running for the Coco Best Pitch Award, sponsored by ...
Akin's The Edge Of Heaven wins Europe's first LUX Prize
25-Oct-2007Fatih Akin's The Edge Of Heaven, Germany's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award, is the first winner of the European Parliament's new LUX Prize.
Ascot picks up three: Boarding Gate, Fido and Opium
24-Oct-2007Ahead of this year's American Film Market, Switzerland's Ascot Elite Entertainment Group has picked up all German language rights on three titles.
Wajda's Katyn to have international premiere at 2008 Berlinale
19-Oct-2007Veteran Polish director Andrzej Wajda' Katyn (aka Post Mortem) is set to have its international premiere at next February's Berlinale, Screen Daily.com learnt during this week's Warsaw Filmfest.
Theoren named CEO at IM Internationalmedia, replacing Schuermann
18-Oct-2007Veteran producer Konstantin Thoeren is to be appointed as CEO of IM Internationalmedia to join CFO Sascha Konzack who had been managing the company alone since the resignation of Martin Schuermann from the post of CEO in July.
Mannheim selects 54 projects including Holland's Christine
12-Oct-2007New film projects from Poland's Agnieszka Holland, Belgium's Geoffrey Enthoven, and the UK's Chris Forster are among 54 projects being pitched to potential partners at the Mannheim Meetings which begin on Sunday (Oct 14).
Wild Bunch picks up German animation The Three Robbers
12-Oct-2007Wild Bunch has picked up international distribution for Hayo Freitag's The Three Robbers (Die Drei Raeuber), the first animation feature by Animation X, the animation arm of the Berlin production house X-Filme creative pool and David Groenewold's Promedium.
Eight new Polish films to be screened at Warsaw's third CentEast
12-Oct-2007Veteran Polish film director Andrzej Wajda's Katyn, actor-director Jerzy Stuhr's Twist Of Fate and Dariusz Jablonski's feature debut Strawberry Wine are among eight new Polish films being shown as part of the Warsaw's International Film Festival's third CentEast Market (Oct 17-21) showcasing the best of Central and Eastern European cinema of the past six months with a special eye to the growing market possibilities in Eastern Europe itself.
John Cale to star in Aguero's Salamandra
11-Oct-2007Music legend John Cale is appearing opposite Argentinean actress Dolores Fonzi (El Aura) in Pablo Aguero's feature debut Salamandra which begins principal photography in a remote community in Patagonia from today (Oct 11).
Match Factory seals raft of deals for Wang'sThousand Years
10-Oct-2007The Match Factory has sealed a number of deals for Wayne Wang's San Sebastian Golden Shell winner A Thousand Years of Good Prayers and the companion piece The Princess Of Nebraska with rights going to France (Diaphana), Spain (Karma Films), Switzerland (Cineworx), and Argentina (Primer Plano).
Golden Lola winner and Perfume actress join Daldry's The Reader
9-Oct-2007Golden Lola winner Hannah Herzsprung and Perfume's Karoline Herfurth have joined the cast of Stephen Daldry's The Reader, which has been shooting in Berlin and Goerlitz since the end of September.
Telepool adds seven new titles to line-up ahead of AFM
8-Oct-2007Telepool has added seven new titles to its line-up ahead of this year's American Film Market.
Ascot Elite picks up three new titles including The Reader
3-Oct-2007Swiss independent distributor Ascot Elite has picked up three new titles including Stephen Daldry's Bernhard Schlink adaptation The Reader, which began shooting in Berlin and Goerlitz this week with Nicole Kidman, David Kross and Ralph Fiennes.
The Last Station gets $1.9m boost from DFFF
2-Oct-2007Michael Hoffman's Tolstoy drama The Last Station, starring Anthony Hopkins, Meryl Streep and Laura Linney, has received the fourth largest amount awarded by the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) to an international production this year.
The Reader denied permission to film atconcentration camp
28-Sep-2007Stephen Daldry's The Reader has been denied permission to shoot a scene with lead actor David Kross at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp on the outskirts of Berlin.
MD departs troubled German media fund
26-Sep-2007Beleaguered German private media fund VIP Medienfonds has been dealt another blow with the sudden departure of managing director Dirk Specht from the company. Specht had been brought to VIP in March 2006 to take over responsibility for the finances and controlling of the VIP funds and he was the sole manager of VIP's operations from June last year after Andreas Grosch was forced to step down. Specht's contract with VIP was terminated on Tuesday 'with immediate effect' ...
Berlin Senate agrees to $85m of state guarantees to 2013
26-Sep-2007With Berlin currently experiencing a boom in national and international production thanks to such films as the Speed Racer, Der Baader Meinhof Komplex, Valkyrie and The International shooting in town, the Berlin Senate has announced plans to make $85m (Euros 60m) available until 2013 for state-backed guarantees to boost region's attractiveness for film productions.
Switzerland chooses Late Bloomers as Oscar contender
26-Sep-2007Swiss Films has entered Bettina Oberli's comedy Late Bloomers (Die Herbstzeitlosen) for Switzerland to the Academy Award race for a nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
Wolfgang Braun to leave post at Disney Germany
25-Sep-2007Wolfgang Braun, general manager and senior vice president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Germany (previously known as Buena Vista International [Germany]), is stepping down from his post after 15 years as of Oct 1.
Wolfgang Braun to leave post at Disney Germany
25-Sep-2007Wolfgang Braun, general manager and senior vice president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Germany (previously known as Buena Vista International [Germany]), is stepping down from his post after 15 years as of Oct 1.
Beta Film picks up Wehling's desert-set drama Kronos
25-Sep-2007Beta Film has picked up the international distribution rights for Olav F. Wehling's Kronos which began shooting Monday on location in the Moroccan desert near Ouarzazate and Merzouga.
Ulrich Thomsen and Jack McGee join cast of Tykwer's The International
24-Sep-2007Festen's Ulrich Thomsen, Crash's Jack McGee and Million Dollar Baby's Brian F. O'Byrne have joined the multi-national cast for Tom Tykwer's action thriller The International, headlined by Clive Owen and Naomi Watts.
Berlin's EFM tightens access and starts premium first weekend rates
24-Sep-2007Berlin's European Film Market (EFM) is introducing new access restrictions to its venue in the Martin Gropius Bau for the first weekend (Feb 9-10), which may lead some accredited professionals looking to go elsewhere to do business at the festival.
Biblob and Antoniou join foreign-language film competitors
23-Sep-2007Bangladesh has selected Golam Rabbany Biblob's directorial debut On The Wings Of Dreams, while Greece has picked Angeliki Antoniou's Eduart for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the forthcoming 80th Academy Awards. Both films are being handled internationally by the Berlin-based sales agent MDC International who is also representing another Oscar national entry, Aleksi Salemnpera's box-office ...
Huayi Brothers to co-produce Gallenberger's John Rabe
21-Sep-2007Beijing-based Huayi Brothers Pictures is to co-produce and handle distribution in China for Florian Gallenberger's second feature film John Rabe, which will begin principal photography in Shanghai and at original locations in Nanking from Oct 18 to February 2008.
Dennis Hopper, Lou Reed, Patti Smith sign up for Wenders film
20-Sep-2007Dennis Hopper, Lou Reed and Patti Smith have joined the cast of Wim Wenders' new feature The Palermo Shooting which began shooting in his home town of Duesseldorf yesterday.
Internationalmedia plans 'new beginning' with strategic investor
19-Sep-2007Following the debacle of the cancellation of shooting on Jan de Bont's action thriller Stopping Power last month, the IM Internationalmedia Group has signed a deal memo with the strategic investor R Media Acquisition LLC for a reorganisation of the group's activities - including the divestment of its interest in the sales company IM Global - 'as a first necessary step' which may help it to convince existing business partners of a 'new beginning'.
The Edge Of Heavenis German Oscar entry
19-Sep-2007Fatih Akin's The Edge Of Heaven (Auf Der Anderen Seite), which had its world premiere in this year's official competition in Cannes, has been selected as Germany's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 80th Academy Awards. Akin's film had its North American premiere last week in Toronto and has been sold by sales agent The Match Factory to over 30 territories so far, including France, Italy, Spain, Russia, the UK, Japan, Korea, Australia, Brazil and ...
Daldry and Moodysson among recipients of $6.4m German fund
18-Sep-2007New feature films from Stephen Daldry, Lukas Moodysson, Srdjan Koljevic and Wolfgang Murnberger are among the projects receiving backing from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (MBB) and Filmstiftung NRW in their latest rounds of production funding totalling $6.4m (Euros 4.6m.)
Hamburg's Douglas Sirk Award goes to David Cronenberg
12-Sep-2007Canadian director David Cronenberg will receive the Douglas Sirk Award at this year's Filmfest Hamburg, running Sept 27 to Oct 4. Festival opens with best-selling author Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt's directorial debut Odette Toulemonde.
Beta Film coproducing and selling animation projects
12-Sep-2007Beta Film is serving as a sales agent and co-producer on two animation feature films - Moonbeam Bear and Princess Lillifee - which are currently in production.
Pan-Europe participants selected for first pitch forum
12-Sep-2007Thirteen screenwriters from all over Europe, including the UK, Poland, Hungary, Macedonia and Italy have been selected to present their screenplays to a panel of international producers at the first Central European Pitch Forum to be held during the Pecs International Film Festival on October 3.The Pitch Forum's organisershad 60 applications from 19 countries; the final selection ...
Senator Entertainment gets $28m loan
11-Sep-2007Senator Entertainment's reinvigorated return to the German production and distribution scene has been given an additional boost after the group secured a $28m (Euros 20m) loan agreement with the Berlin branch of the Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank to finance future acquisitions of film rights and film production.
Britfilms showcases UK cinema for German schools
11-Sep-2007Film Education UK has joined forces with Germany's educational body Vision Kino and the arthouse cinemas' association AG Kino-Gilde to launch Britfilms, a touring showcase of British cinema aimed at German schoolchildren, with accompanying teacher study guides and teaching materials.
Venice winner opens Warsaw International Film Festival
11-Sep-2007Andrzej Jakimowski's Venice Days title Tricks, which received the Europa Cinemas label and Laterna Magica Award in Venice last weekend, will open this year's Warsaw International Film Festival on October 12. The 'touching and intimate look at everyday working class life in the Polish countryside' will be released theatrically in Poland by Kino Swiat on October 26.
Telepool works on new comedy from Lives Of Others producer
8-Sep-2007Munich-based Telepool has boarded U-900, the third feature by The Lives Of Others producer Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion, as a sales agent and co-financier.The comedy about a submarine on the run in 1944 Germany is being directed by Sven Unterwaldt (7 Zwerge) and features Atze Schroeder, Oliver K. Wnuk, Yvonne Catterfeld, Goetz Otto and Maxim Mehmet.
In Focus - German production - Keen on the kino
8-Sep-2007Finding crew members has not been an easy task this summer with local production booming throughout Germany. In an echo of the motto 'diversity is our strength' from the halcyon days of New German Cinema in the 1970s, German film-makers are trying their hands at a smorgasbord of genres.
Lives Of Others producer finds funds and sales agent for comedy
7-Sep-2007Munich-based Telepool has boarded U-900, the third feature film by The Lives Of Others producer Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion, as a sales agent and co-financier.
UK and US films open world and international premieres in Oldenburg
7-Sep-2007UK director Julian Richards' coming of age drama Summer Scars and Stephan Geene's Berlin-set drama After Effect are among the world premieres at this year's Oldenburg International Film Festival which will open with Maggie Peren's comedy Stellungswechsel about a male escort agency on September 12.The festival, which has built up an international reputation ...
Film Fund fires up German industry
7-Sep-2007In the battle to lure high-budget footloose productions to international production hubs, two of the most prized of this year's scalps have gone to Germany. Both Bryan Singer's Valkyrie for United Artists and the Wachowski brothers' Speed Racer for Warner Bros have shot in the territory, seduced in no small part by the fiscal attractions of the new German Federal Film Fund (Dfff). Both were reportedly heading to Prague in the Czech Republic until Germany unveiled its new fund.
Four Minutes and The Edge of Heaven among Germany's Oscar offers
6-Sep-2007This year's Golden Lola winner Four Minutes by Chris Kraus and Fatih Akin's Cannes competition title The Edge Of Heaven are among seven films submitted for consideration as Germany's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at next year's Academy Awards.
Beta Cinema reps Stoehr's Berlin Calling
6-Sep-2007Germany's Hannes Stoehr's third feature Berlin Calling which shoots in Berlin this week, is to be sold internationally by Beta Cinema. Stoehr's third feature pivots on DJ Ickarus, aka Martin Karow who tours clubs around the globe with his manager and girlfriend. On the eve of their largest album release, Ickarus is admitted to a psychiatric clinic after overdosing at a gig. DJ Ickarus is played by real-life techno DJ Paul ...
The International breaks DFFF $5m cap
5-Sep-2007Tom Tykwer's action thriller The International, which begins principal photography in Germany from September 15, has become the third project to be awarded more than the $5m (Euros 4m) 'cap' from the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF).Originally, the German-UK co-production between Siebente Babelsberg Film and Columbia Pictures' Rose Line Productions had received $5m (Euros 4m) production support at the beginning of August.
Movies from 26 countries compete for European Film Awards
4-Sep-2007Cristian Mungiu's Palme D'Or winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, Chris Kraus Golden Lola-winner Four Minutes, Shane Meadows' This Is England and Tom Tykwer's Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer are among 42 films competing for this year's European Film Awards.Unlike previous years, no major film nation has more than ...
Sony Pictures returns to German-language production
4-Sep-2007Sony Pictures is making a comeback to the production of German-language feature films after acquiring the film rights to Tommy Jaud's bestselling second novel Resturlaub.The comedy about a German brewery manager's dream of beginning a new life at the other end of the world in Argentina has already sold more than 600,000 copies, with the hardcover edition in the top 20 for 50 weeks in the Der Spiegel bestseller list and the paperback ...
Crisis at Internationalmedia deepens as Schuermann suspended
3-Sep-2007The crisis at IM Internationalmedia has deepened with the announcement this morning that Martin Schuermann, CEO of the Group's US subsidiary Intermedia Film Equities USA, has been suspended with immediate effect from his 'executive employment status'.
France and Italy acquire Mongol ahead of Toronto world premiere
3-Sep-2007Beta Cinema has closed deals with France's Metropolitan Filmexport and Italy's BIM Distribution for the distribution rights to Sergei Bodrov's Genghis Khan epic Mongol ahead of its world premiere as a special presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept 8.
Stopping Power forced to stop $40m shoot over financing issues
2-Sep-2007Principal photography on Jan de Bont's $40m action thriller Stopping Power has had to be suspended after the default of a key equity investor in the film made it impossible for the Internationalmedia Group to close the required financing. The investor's breach has led to the IM Internationalmedia wholly-ownd subsidiary IM Stopping Power GmbH having to file for insolvency. In a press communique, IM Internationalmedia stated ...
Match Factory adds second Wayne Wang film to sales lineup
30-Aug-2007Cologne-based sales company The Match Factory has added a second Wayne Wang film - The Princess Of Nebraska - to its sales lineup to join Wang's A Thousand Years Of Good Prayers which will have its international premiere in Toronto's Masters section and screen in competition at San Sebastian.
Austrians enter The Counterfeiters for Oscar consideration
30-Aug-2007Stefan Ruzowitzky's Second World War drama The Counterfeiters (Die Faelscher), which was first shown in competition at February's Berlinale, has been selected as the Austrian entry for the 80th Academy Awards.
Ruzowitzky drama is Austrian entry for Academy Awards
30-Aug-2007Stefan Ruzowitzky's Second World War drama The Counterfeiters (Die Faelscher), which was first shown in competition at last February's Berlinale, has been selected as the Austrian entry for the 80th Academy Awards.This is the second time that a film by Ruzowitzky has been submitted by Austria for the Best Foreign Language Film category after his historical drama Die Siebtelbauern in 1998. The Counterfeiters - which is being handled ...
Soenke Wortmann comes to the rescue of Constantin's Pope Joan
29-Aug-2007German director Soenke Wortmann has come to the rescue of Constantin Film's planned adaptation of the Donna Cross bestseller Pope Joan after the previously attached director Volker Schloendorff was fired amidst much controversy last month.Franka Potente is still expected to take the title lead role in the international project which is set to begin principal photography in the first half of 2008.This project would mark a return for Wortmann ...
Kinowelt takes on sales, distribution and co-production of animated title
29-Aug-2007Kinowelt International has picked up international rights (except for France and Italy) on Tony Loeser and Jesper Moeller's animated feature film A Case For Friends...How It All Began which has now begun production at Loeser's MotionWorks' studio in Halle.
EastWest picks up San Sebastian title The Bird Can't Fly
28-Aug-2007Vienna/London-based sales agent EastWest Filmdistribution has picked up world rights to Dutch film-maker Threes Anna's The Bird Can't Fly, which will have its world premiere in the Zabaltegi - New Directors competition section at next month's San Sebastian International Film Festival.
EVA picks up international sales on Antonio Vivaldi, Un Prince A Venise
28-Aug-2007Germany's Entertainment Value Associates (EVA) has secured international distribution rights to Jean-Louis Guillermou's biopic Antonio Vivaldi, Un Prince A Venise which will have its gala world premiere tonight in Paris ' in the presence of a VIP audience including French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Bavaria picks up Argentinian title
27-Aug-2007Bavaria Film International (BFI) has picked up international rights for Argentinian filmmaker Anahi Berneri's latest film Encarnacion which will be having its world premiere in the Visions sidebar of the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival.The co-production between Argentina's BD Cine and Spain's Wanda Filmes about an ageing actress trying to cope with her role and her life is described as 'a strong and touching statement about ...
Bavaria acquires international rights to Toronto title Encarnacion
24-Aug-2007Bavaria Film International (BFI) has picked up international rights for Argentinean filmmaker Anahi Berneri's latest film Encarnacion which will be having its world premiere in the Visions sidebar of the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival.
Bavaria picks up international rights to $20m Mann adaptation
22-Aug-2007Bavaria Film International has picked up international distribution rights for Heinrich Breloer's lavish adaptation of Thomas Mann's Nobel Prize-winning novel Buddenbrooks which is currently shooting on location in the historical Hanseatic city of Luebeck. The $20m (Euros 15m) production by Bavaria Film and Colonia Media Filmproduktion of Die Buddenbrooks - Ein Geschaeft Von Einiger Groesse is ...
Dotzert to oversee Senator's German-language projects
21-Aug-2007Senator Entertainment has appointed Dirk Dotzert tooversee the coordination of German language projects being offered tothe group's theatrical distribution and production arms.Dotzert, who had previously worked as a freelance consultant, will workclosely with Anatol Nitschke of Senator Film Verleih and ChristophMueller of Senator Film Produktion on the initial assessment andmonitoring of projects submitted to the Berlin-basedproducer-distributor.So ...
German fund managment group buys sales company Atlas
21-Aug-2007Further changes are afoot in the German world sales scene after the decision by the film financing and fund management group Entertainment Value Associates (EVA) to acquire a majority interest in the Munich-based family-run sales company Atlas International Film through its subsidiary EVA Finance.
Der Baader Meinhof Komplexawarded $3.6m from German fund
17-Aug-2007Producer-distributor Constantin Film has been allocated $3.6m(Euros 2.7m) - the fourth largest amount so far this year - from the German (Federal Film Fund (DFFF) for its production of Uli Edel's Der Baader Meinhof Komplex which began shooting in Berlin last week.
Tykwer action thriller gets $5.3m from German fund
16-Aug-2007Tom Tykwer's action thriller The International has been awarded Euros 4m by the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF).
The Match Factory picks up German tragicomedy
14-Aug-2007The Match Factory has picked up international distribution for Neele Leana Vollmar's second feature Friedliche Zeiten (literal translation: Peaceful Times) which has begun shooting in Munich and surroundings.
German Minister calls for DFFF to be extended beyond 2009
13-Aug-2007German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck has called for the term of the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) to be extended beyond its initial three-year period of 2007-2009 after seeing its effectiveness in creating employment and income.
Locarno's Maire sees attendance at main venue up 10%
12-Aug-2007Attendances at Locarno's main screening venue for the International Competition and Filmmakers of the Present Competition are up 9%-10% on last year, according to artistic director Frederic Maire in a review of his second edition heading up the festival.Speaking exclusively to ScreenDaily.com, Maire observed that the 2007 lineup for the international competition 'is stronger than last year and I think that this is a result of how the ...
The Rebirth becomes Locarno's first Japanese winner since 1970
12-Aug-2007Masahiro Kobayashi's The Rebirth (Ai No Yokan) became the first Japanese film to receive the Golden Leopard since Akio Jissoji's The Transient Life (Mujo) was an ex aequo winner at the festival in 1970.Described by artistic director Frederic Maire as 'a very strong and edgy film', The Rebirth also received special mentions ...
Eichinger's Baader-Meinhof Komplex begins shooting in Berlin
10-Aug-2007Bernd Eichinger's ambitious production of Uli Edel's Der Baader Meinhof Komplex has begun principal photography in Berlin and will continue shooting later at locations in Munich and Morocco before wrapping at the end of November.This weekend, the adaptation of Stefan Aust's standard work on the Red Army Faction (RAF) terrorism group in Germany from 1967 to 1977 will be shooting a re-enactment of the student demonstration against the ...
Open Doors awards go to projects from Syria, Israel and Egypt
8-Aug-2007Projects from Israel, Syria and Egypt received development and production awards today at the Locarno Film Festival's Open Doors co-production forum, which was dedicated to the Near and Middle Eastern cinema.
Kinowelt International picks up Venice Days film Head Under Water
7-Aug-2007Kinowelt International has taken on international sales for Andreas Kleinert's thriller Head Under Water (Freischwimmer) which has been selected for its world premiere at this year's Venice Days sidebar at the end of the month.
Waintrop named new head of Fribourg festival
6-Aug-2007Switzerland 's Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF) has found a programmer for the 2008 edition, while Austria's Diagonale - Festival of Austrian Cinema will be looking for a new director from 2009.
Ahead of Locarno premiere, Sejong takes on Nothing But Ghosts
5-Aug-2007South Korea's Sejong has picked up German director Martin Gypken's second feature Nothing But Ghosts (Nichts Als Gespenster) ahead of its world premiere screening on Locarno's Piazza Grande on Monday evening.Beta Cinema's head of sales Andreas Rothbauer confirmed to ScreenDaily.com in Locarno at the weekend that Sejong had acquired theatrical, TV and home video rights to the film adapted from the novel of the same name by Judith Herrmann ...
Locarno gets 10% funding increase from Swiss government
3-Aug-2007Switzerland's Federal Office of Culture (BAK) will increase its annual support for the Locarno Film Festival by more than 10% from the current $1m (CHF 1.2m) to $1.13m (CHF 1.35m) for the next three years (2008-2010).
Financial challenges for future of Locarno festival
31-Jul-2007On the eve of the 60th edition of the Locarno International Film Festival, the future of the event's financial standing is in the headlines.
Boll World Sales picks up English-language horror film Fear
29-Jul-2007Boll World Sales has picked up international distribution rights for Munich-based filmmaker Gerhard Hross' English-language horror film Fear which wraps principal photography in Berlin on July 30.Producer-director Uwe Boll is also serving as a co-financier for the low-budget production by Udo Bomnueter and Helmar Baum's Berlin-based Valerian Fear. Co-producers are Gruenberg Film with backing from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg. Post-production ...
Stephen Daldry's The Reader gears up for Berlin shoot
27-Jul-2007Nicole Kidman is set to be the latest of the Hollywood A-listers coming to work in Berlin later this summer, following a long line of colleagues such as ex-husband Tom Cruise, Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, Richard Roundtree shooting in the German capital, according to German press reports.It has been revealed that Kidman will be reunited with UK director Stephen Daldry after his 2002 Oscar-winning film The Hours for the female lead in ...
Media Luna and Wide pick up Locarno competition films
26-Jul-2007Cologne-based sales company Media Luna Entertainment has picked up the world sales for Lugano-born Fulvio Bernasconi's feature debut Off The Ropes (Fuori Dalle Corde), which will have its world premiere in official competition at the Locarno International Film Festival next week.The story of a young Italian boxer from Trieste with Michele Venitucci and Maya Sansa was produced by Switzerland's Ventura Film with Italy's ITC Movie and Bianca ...
Bavaria takes on Free To Leave ahead of Locarno premiere
25-Jul-2007Bavaria Film International (BFI) has picked up Austrian director Peter Payer's fourth feature Free To Leave (Freigesprochen) ahead of its world premiere in official competition at next month's Locarno International Film Festival. A co-production between Austria's Lotus-Film and Luxembourg's Iris Productions, Payer's universal tale of guilt, lies and obsession was inspired by Odon von Horvath's play Judgment ...
Martin Schuermann steps down as CEO of IM Internationalmedia
25-Jul-2007IM's CFO Sascha Konzack will now run the company on his own, Schuermann will continue as managing director of Intermedia Film Equities USA
Ulrich Muehe, star of Oscar-winning The Lives Of Others, dies aged 54
25-Jul-2007The German film industry is in mourning after the death at 54 of actor Ulrich Muehe, the star of Oscar-winning international success The Lives Of Others.
Constantin Film parts company with Schloendorff on Pope Joan
23-Jul-2007Leading German producer-distributor Constantin Film has fired the Oscar-winning director Volker Schloendorff from the adaptation of the Donna Cross bestseller Pope Joan.In a letter to Schloendorff, Martin Moszkowicz, member of the Constantin board, wrote that 'it is unfortunately no longer possible for us to make the film together. I have discussed the situation and we unfortunately see ourselves forced to end the collaboration on this ...
Senator Film to release next Wenders' Palermo Shooting
19-Jul-2007Senator Film will release Wim Wenders' next feature film The Palermo Shooting, which begins shooting in Dusseldorf from September 17 before moving to Sicily.
Tykwer eyes Babelsberg Studios for thriller The International
18-Jul-2007A day before shooting begins on the Tom Cruise World War II drama Valkyrie, local press reports have revealed that Babelsberg Studios is set to host its third Hollywood production this year with the shooting of Tom Tykwer's action thriller The International, starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts, from September.
Ascot Elite picks up five titles including Love In The Time Of Cholera
18-Jul-2007Leading Swiss independent film distributor Ascot Elite Entertainment has announced the acquisition of the rights to five new titles for its 2007/08 slate.
Yerevan gives awards to War And Peace and Import/Export
17-Jul-2007Armenian documentary filmmaker Vardan Hovhannisyan was the big winner at this year's Golden Apricot International Film Festival in Yerevan, picking up four of the prizes for his film A Story Of People In War And Peace at the awards ceremony preceding the closing film The Banishment by Russia's Andrei Zviagintsev.
Maire promises diversity and premieres at Locarno 2007
11-Jul-2007A 'diversity in the range of possibilities of filmmaking' is how Locarno Film Festival's Frederic Maire describes the line-up for his second festival as artistic director.
German Films Previews offers 17 projects to international buyers
9-Jul-2007The European representatives of such US distributors as The Weinstein Company, Paramount Vantage, and Miramax are among over 50 international film buyers attending the German Films Previews showcase which are being held for the first time in Cologne from July 12 until the weekend.
Telepool picks up Ruzowitzky's new feature Lilly The Witch
9-Jul-2007Telepool will handle the international sales for Austrian director Stefan Ruzowitzky's new feature Lilly The Witch (Hexe Lilli) which is shooting for six weeks at the Babelsberg Studios before moving on to locations in Austria.
World Cinema Fund gives largest award to Guerra's Wind Journeys
8-Jul-2007Five projects from Latin America, the Middle East and Africa have been selected by the World Cinema Fund (WCF) from a total of 81 submissions from 28 countries for funding of $313,387 (Euros 230,000).The largest single amount of funding - $81,753 (Euros 60,000) - went to Colombian director Ciro Guerra's The Wind Journeys, to be produced by Bogota-based Ciudad Lunar Produciones with Germany's Razor Films, which previously worked on
Brandenburg gives second state guarantee to Mr Nobody
6-Jul-2007Jaco van Dormael's latest feature Mr Nobody, based on his own original screenplay, is the second film after Kevin Spacey's Beyond The Sea to be awarded a state guarantee by the Land of Brandenburg.
Robert Thalheim: Auschwitz story
6-Jul-2007A young German director draws on his memories of Auschwitz for a contemporary film about life in the shadow of evil. Martin Blaney reports.
German Fund exceeds cap again for Bryan Singer's Valkyrie
5-Jul-2007The United Artists' production of Bryan Singer's WWII drama Valkyrie - which begins shooting in Berlin and Babelsberg from July 18 - is the second international film after Speed Racer to be granted support from the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) greater thaan the cap of $5.4m (Euros 4m).
Yereven to host 12 projects at first regional co-production forum
5-Jul-2007Nine features and three documentary projects from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Serbia, Russia and Turkey are to be pitched to potential co-producers and financiers at the Directors Across Borders' (DAB) first Regional Co-Production Forum (July 10-12) during next week's Golden Apricot International Film Festival in Yerevan.
Buena Vista partner on fifth outing of Wild Soccer Bunch
3-Jul-2007The German outpost of Buena Vista International will also distribute the fifth film of The Wild Soccer Bunch franchise which begins shooting today at locations in Saarland and Munich.
German sales company Cine-International to close its doors
3-Jul-2007Munich-based world sales company Cine-International Filmvertrieb has announced that it will be shutting down operations as of tomorrow (Wednesday).
The Band's Visit wins top honour at Munich
1-Jul-2007Admissions were up almost 10% to around 62,000 for the 25th anniversary of the Munich Film Festival, which closed with the world premiere of Rainer Kaufmann's Runaway Horse (Ein Fliehendes Pferd) based on the novel of the same name by Martin Walser.This year's opening film - Eran Kolirin's feature debut The Band's Visit - was the title on everyone's lips during the festival's nine days winning ...
Bavaria Film International picks up The Anarchist's Wives
29-Jun-2007Bavaria Film International has picked up international distribution rights to Marie Noelle and Peter Sehr's new feature The Anarchist's Wives which begins its German shoot at the MMC Studios in Cologne today (Friday).
International projects take the lead with new German fund
28-Jun-2007International co-productions shooting in Germany have received more than half of the $28m (Euros 20.9m) allocated by the new German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) in its first six months of operation.
Lichtmeer moves into production with Angelopoulos project
28-Jun-2007Munich-based distributor Lichtmeer Filmverleih has relaunched itself as the Cologne/Berlin production company Lichtmeer Film, which will have Theo Angelopoulos's next feature Dust Of Time as its first project.
Warner Bros Germany to distribute Breloer's Buddenbrooks
26-Jun-2007Warner Bros. Pictures Germany will distribute writer-director Heinrich Breloer's feature film debut Buddenbrooks - Ein Geschaeft Von Einiger Groesse which begins shooting from Aug 1.
MDC takes on sales for Meletzky's Shanghai winner Plan
25-Jun-2007Berlin-based sales company MDC has picked up international distribution rights for Franziska Meletzky's According To The Plan (Frei Nach Plan) which won best film honours at the Jin Jue Awards in the competition section of the Shanghai International Film Festival this weekend.
Fatih Akin: stairway to heaven
22-Jun-2007Expectations were high for German director Fatih Akin's follow-up to arthouse hit Head-On. So were they met' Martin Blaney reports.
German exhibition: uneasy riders
22-Jun-2007Germany's rocky ride continues as the 2007 box office looks set to stall, writes Martin Blaney.
Cologne's MMC Studios to launch in-house strand
20-Jun-2007MMC Independent, the production arm of Cologne's MMC Studios, will start developing feature films in-house in addition to serving as a co-producer on third-party projects.
ARRI picks up world sales for Sanders-Brahms' new feature Clara
18-Jun-2007ARRI Media Worldsales has picked up international distribution rights for Helma Sanders-Brahms' drama Clara which begins the German part of its shoot in North Rhine-Westphalia from tomorrow.
Eastern European Acquisition Pool signs deals with Barefoot, Boje Buck
17-Jun-2007Berlin-based Eastern European Acquisition Pool (EEAP) has acquired rights to new productions by Germany's Boje Buck Produktion and Barefoot Films for Central and Eastern Europe as well as for the CIS territories.All rights were secured for these territories to Detlev Buck's first children's film Hands Off Mississippi after EEAP had already handled Buck's previous film Tough Enough, which was released ...
Munich honours Kline and Friedkin
17-Jun-2007US actor Kevin Kline and veteran Hollywood film-maker William Friedkin are to receive the Munich Film Festival's CineMerit Award for services to cinema this year. Previous recipients of the CineMerit Award included such leading international film industry figures as Barry Levinson, Sir Alan Parker, Milos Forman, and Susan Sarandon. Together with director Marco Kreuzpaitner, Kline will also be presented with the sixth Bernhard Wicki Film Prize - The Bridge which ...
Bodrov's follow-up to Mongol won't be ready until 2010
14-Jun-2007Ahead of the opening of Sergei Bodrov's historical epic Mongol in Russian cinemas on Sept 21, producer Sergei Selyanov of STV has indicated that the director's second outing into the life of Genghis Khan will be ready in around three years time ('not any earlier') and stressed that both films will stand on their own independently.
Simple Things takes award as Kinotavr ramps up business
12-Jun-2007Alexei Popogrebsky's second feature film Simple Things was the big winner at this year's Kinotavr Open Russian Film Festival in Sochi, picking up the Grand Prix for Best Film as well as prizes for Best Direction and Best Actor.
German regional fund MFG makes pacts with France, Spain
11-Jun-2007Baden-Wurttemberg's regional film fund MFG has signed an agreement with the Catalan Institute of Cultural Industries (ICIC) and Rhone-Alpes Cinema to improve cross-border cooperation for film production with the French and Catalan regions.
Singer's Valkyrie set for Babelsberg shoot
10-Jun-2007Bryan Singer's Second World War drama Valkyrie is on track to becomethe second large-scale US production this year after the Wachowskibrothers' Speed Racer to shoot at Germany's Babelsberg Studios.Principal photographyon the United Artists production about the 1944 plot to assassinateHitler is expected to commence at the studios outside Berlin on July19. Tom Cruise is being lined up ...
Beta Cinema takes on world sales for three new German productions
7-Jun-2007Beta Cinema has taken on world sales for new films featuring the award-winning German actresses Hannah Herzsprung, Nina Hoss and Julia Jentsch.Herzsprung, who came to wider recognition through her performance in another Beta title Four Minutes and received a Silver Lola for her role in Alain Gsponer's Life Actually last month, is currently appearing opposite Marie Baumer, Sebastian Blomberg, Anna ...
Amour Fou partners split to form two production outfits
5-Jun-2007Six years after founding Vienna-based Amour Fou Filmproduktion, partners Gabriele Kranzelbinder and Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu have decided amicably to part and set up two separate production companies.
Telepool sells A Crude Awakening to UK's Dogwoof
4-Jun-2007Telepool has closed an all-rights deal for the UK with Dogwoof Pictures for the feature documentary A Crude Awakening by Basil Gelpke and Ray McCormack of Swiss-based Lava Productions.
Locarno juries to include Diego Lerman and Jia Zhangke
4-Jun-2007The Locarno International Film Festival will be celebrating its 60th anniversary this year by dedicating its Retrospective, entitled Back In Locarno, to those filmmakers whose careers were significantly advanced by the initial exposure at the Swiss festival.
Germany 's Odeon expands with genre production label
1-Jun-2007The publicly listed German film and TV group Odeon Film is expanding its feature film activities by setting up the Hanover-based Waterfall Productions (WFP) with producers Peter Rommel and Thomas Haberle to specialise in the production of quality genre feature films with budgets between $3.4m-$4.7m (Euros 2.5m-3.5m) for the international market.
Joel Silver keen to bring future projects to Babelsberg
31-May-2007Producer Joel Silver is already looking at ways of bringing future projects to Germany's Babelsberg Studios even before the first scenes are shot for Larry and Andy Wachowski's action film Speed Racer
Germany's Constantin Film to co-produce Faubourg 36
30-May-2007Leading German producer-distributor Constantin Film has joined forces with France's Galatee Films and Pathe Renn production to produce Faubourg 36 (working title), the next feature from The Chorus director Christophe Barratier.
EEAP kicks off Paramount Vantage deal with Marc Pease
30-May-2007Berlin-based East European Acquisition Pool (EEAP) has begun a long-term cooperation with Paramount's independent division Paramount Vantage by acquiring all Central and East European rights to the new Ben Stiller comedy The Marc Pease Experience.
German and UK producers to bring Catweazle to the big screen
30-May-2007The Red Baron producers Dan Maag and Thomas Reisser of Niama Filmproduktion are teaming up the UK's Paul Knight and Richard Carpenter of Catweazle Ltd. for a feature film based on the 1970s cult international hit TV series Catweazle.
Senator continues Weinstein relationship with four more titles
29-May-2007German producer-distributor Senator Film has consolidated its close working relationship with The Weinstein Company (TWC) by acquiring another four titles from the US independent during last week's Cannes festival.
Concorde picks up 4 Months and Band's Visit for Germany
29-May-2007Germany's Concorde Film has picked up Romanian director Cristian Mungiu's Golden Palm winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days from Wild Bunch and will release the film theatrically in German cinemas later this year.
Palme d'Or winner: Wim Wenders
17-May-2007German director Wim Wenders has had eight films in the Cannes Competition, including 1993's Faraway, So Close, which won the Grand Jury prize, and Wings Of Desire, for which he picked up best director. Wenders won the Palme d'Or in 1984 for Paris, Texas.
Palme d'Or winner: Volker Schlondorff
17-May-2007The Tin Drum was the first German film to win the top award in Cannes when it shared the Palme d'Or with Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now in 1979. The following year, The Tin Drum became the first ever from Germany to garner the Oscar for best foreign-language film.
Kinowelt International to handle sales of Bioskop Film library
14-May-2007On the eve of this year's Cannes Film Festival, Leipzig-based Kinowelt International has concluded an agreement with the Munich production house Bioskop Film to handle the marketing of its film library, including such German cinema classics as Volker Schlondorff and Margarethe von Trotta's The Lost Honour Of Katharina Blum, Reinhard Hauff's Stammheim and von Trotta's The ...
The Lives Of Others star Gedeck to play Clara Schumann
10-May-2007Martina Gedeck, the female lead in the Oscar-winning German film The Lives Of Others, has been cast as the pianist and composer Clara Schumann in Helma Sanders-Brahms long-gestating biopic Clara which will commence principal photography in Hungary at the end of May.
Constantin signs first-look deal with Little Shark
9-May-2007Germany's leading producer-distributor Constantin Film, who took six Lolas home last weekend for Tom Tykwer's Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer, has concluded a three-year first-look deal with the Cologne-based production outfit of Sonke Wortmann and Tom Spiess. The aim of the collaboration is the development, production and exploitation of co-productions between Constantin and Little Shark whose production credits have ...
Bavaria Film International picks up Certain Regard title from Uruguay
8-May-2007Bavaria Film International has picked up the international rights for the tragicomedy The Pope's Toilet (El Bano Del Papa) which will be screening in the Un Certain Regard sidebar at Cannes.
Chris Kraus's Four Minutes takes best film Lola
5-May-2007Chris Kraus's prison drama Four Minutes (Vier Minuten) was awarded the Golden Lola for Best Film at this year's German Film Awards at the weekend in Berlin.Produced by sisters Meike and Alexandra Kordes of the Berlin-based production outfit Kordes & Kordes Film, the film also picked up the Lola for Best Lead Actress for Monika Bleibtreu, who turned 63 on the day of the ceremony. Sold to 40 territories by Beta Cinema,
Wide Management picks up Quinzaine title Counterparts
4-May-2007Paris-based sales company Wide Management has picked up international rights for German filmmaker Jan Bonny's feature debut Counterparts (Gegenuber) which has been selected for this year's Directors' Fortnight sidebar in Cannes. The drama about domestic violence between a primary school teacher and her policeman husband features Viktoria Trauttmannsdorff (whose credits include Christian Petzold's Ghosts ...
Upbeat Babelsberg steps up production plans
2-May-2007Germany's Babelsberg Studios aims to intensify its involvement as a co-producer on national, European and international productions.
New German sales agent to launch in Cannes with So Long, My Heart
1-May-2007New German sales agent to launch in Cannes with So Long, My Heart!The Munich-based Avalon Entertainment Group has launched a sales arm that will be attending the Cannes Market with its first acquisition, So Long, My Heart! (Wir Werden Uns Wiederseh'n), the second feature by the directorial duo of Stefan Hillebrand and Oliver Paulus.The tragicomedy follows a love triangle between careworkers (played by Isolde Fischer, Pola Kinski ...
German regional fund backs 18 projects with $6.8m
1-May-2007The fifth outing of The Wild Soccer Bunch franchise, an adaptation of Thomas Mann's novel Buddenbrooks and a TV remake of the classic The Bridge are among 18 projects awarded a total of $6.8m (Euros 5m) by the Munich-based regional fund FFF Bayern in its latest round of funding. The largest single sum - $1.4m (Euros 980,000) - was allocated to SamFilm's ...
DFFF-backed Flame & Citron moves to Babelsberg Studios
30-Apr-2007Shooting begins today on the lot of the Babelsberg Studios for Ole Christian Madsen's thriller Flame & Citron (Flammen und Citronen), which has become the first international co-production to receive support from the newly established German Federal Film Fund (DFFF).The story about two gangsters who became the most wanted men in Denmark under Nazi occupation in 1944 stars Mads Mikkelsen, Thure Lindhardt, Stine Stengade, Christian Berkel ...
Koepp's Sons wins top prize at Nyon
27-Apr-2007Veteran German documentarist Volker Koepp was awarded the 'Visions du Reel' Grand Prix for his latest film Sons (Söhne) at the festival in Nyon. In addition, the International Jury, which included the Canadian actress Arsinee Khanjian and last year's Grand Prix winner Andres Veiel, gave the 'Prix SRG SSR idee suisse' to Claudio Pazienza's Scenes De Chasse Aux Sanglier. The Audience ...
EFP selects 21 producers for Cannes Producers on the Move
26-Apr-2007The Hamburg-based, pan-European promotional organisation European Film Promotion (EFP) has selected 21 aspiring European producers for its Producers On The Move networking initiative to take place during the Cannes Film Festival next month. Since being launched in 2000, Producers On The Move has enabled over 120 up-and-coming European producers to meet opposite numbers from all over Europe to discuss current projects and lay the foundation for future collaborations at roundtable ...
Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg puts $9.3m into 26 projects
24-Apr-2007New feature films by Jaco van Dormael, Dennis Gansel, Chris Kraus and Stefan Ruzowitzky are among 26 projects backed by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg with over $9.3m Euros 6.8m at its last sitting. The largest single amount - $1.2m (Euros 900,000) - went to Gavin Millar's biopic of Albert Schweitzer.Jaco van Dormael was allocated $0.7m (Euros 500,000) for his drama Mr Nobody, which is to star Sarah Polley and Jared Leto ...
William Baldwin joins Jentsch and Jacob for in Bob's Not Gay
20-Apr-2007William Baldwin has joined German star Julia Jentsch (Sophie Scholl) and French actress Irene Jacob to headline Jane Spencer's low budget romantic comedy Bob's Not Gay which will begin shooting in the Romanian capital of Bucharest from the second half of May.
German archives: know your rights
20-Apr-2007The positive experiences of such institutions as France's INA in providing access to their archives via the internet has prompted German film archives in turn to consider the creation of their own virtual mediatheques.
Restructured Central takes on MGM, Weinstein releases
19-Apr-2007Films from MGM and The Weinstein Company will be released in Germany by the new Senator Entertainment distribution subsidiary Central Film Verleih GmbH.
Debuts dominate Crossing Europe Linz's European Competition
12-Apr-2007Debut features dominate the lineup for the European Competition at the fourth edition of Linz's Crossing Europe Film Festival (24-29 April) which will open on April 24 with the world premiere of the music documentary Attwenger Adventure by Markus Kaiser-Muhlecker and the Austrian premieres of Marcus J. Carney's The End of the Neubacher Project and Marc Recha's August Days.
Euphoria wins best film at goEast with The Trap taking best director
3-Apr-2007Russian dramatist Ivan Vyrypaev's feature film debut Euphoria picked up the Golden Lily for Best Film at this year's goEast - Festival of Central and Eastern European Film, which closed with an awards ceremony in Wiesbaden tonight.
Marc Klocker moves to Senator Film from X Verleih
3-Apr-2007Marc Klocker has moved from X Verleih back to former employer Senator Film to take over the post of head of marketing since the beginning of this week.
Locarno to launch new sidebar for 60th anniversary
3-Apr-2007Ahead of its 60th anniversary, the Locarno International Film Festival is planning to introduce a new sidebar, 'Here and Elsewhere,' presenting a selection of documentaries and fictional features 'sharing an original vision of contemporary life, which touch on politics and history as much as they do society and the arts.'
Constantin, SamFilm and Zipfelmutzen lead German producers in 2006
30-Mar-2007German producer-distributor Constantin Film has double cause for celebration after being named the most successful German producer and distributor of 2006 by the German Federal Film Board (FFA) and posting the 'most successful fiscal year of its history' in 2006.
Germany: inward production
30-Mar-2007Germany has it all: a wide diversity of locations and the sophisticated production facilities and infrastructure found in the three major film-making hubs of Munich, Cologne and Berlin-Brandenburg. Having recently hosted the likes of The Bourne Ultimatum and Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer, Germany got more attractive with the introduction of the German Federal Film Fund.
Ascot Elite Home Entertainment partners with MFA+
29-Mar-2007Stuttgart-based independent Ascot Elite Home Entertainment has entered a long-term partnership with German theatrical distributor MFA + FilmDistribution to handle the home entertainment rental and sell-through distribution and marketing of selected MFA + titles in all German-speaking territories.
UK actor cast in male lead for next Oskar Roehler project
29-Mar-2007UK actor Ray Fearon, who appeared in the soap opera Coronation Street and Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, has been cast as the male lead for German director Oskar Roehler's next feature Lulu And Jimi, to follow his 2006 Berlinale competition film Elementary Particles (Elementarteilchen).
Warner Bros to co-produce release new Til Schweiger project
29-Mar-2007Warner Bros' German office is serving as co-producer and distributor on actor-director-producer Til Schweiger's new feature film Keinohrhasen which begins principal photography on location in Berlin today.
Odeon takes over Munich production company Hofmann & Voges
28-Mar-2007The restructured film and TV group Odeon Film has taken over Munich-based production company Hofmann & Voges Entertainment, which will continue to operate as a separate entity under the new owner's roof.
Trap, Victim and Ragtime among competitors at goEast festival
28-Mar-2007Srdan Golubovic's thriller The Trap, Kirill Serebrennikov's black comedy Playing The Victim and the world premiere of Pulat Ahmatov's Ragtime..., a depiction of everday life for two young Russian women in a small frontier town, are among 10 feature films and six documentaries selected for the main competition of the goEast Festival of Central and Eastern European Film which begins tonight in Wiesbaden.
Franco-German co-productions backed with $974,850 by FFA/CNC
27-Mar-2007New feature films by Jaco van Dormael and Martin Provost have received a total of $974,850 (Euros 730,000) backing by the German-French Funding Commission which is administered by the German Federal Film Board (FFA) and France's CNC to promote co-production between the two countries.
Von Trotta plans biopic of medieval visionary Hildegard von Bingen
27-Mar-2007Hildegard von Bingen, one of the most important women of the medieval age, will be the subject of veteran German filmmaker Margarethe von Trotta's next feature film. The project will go into production at locations in Hessen and Bavaria from late summer after many years of research and preparation.
Brazilian winner of Fribourg top prize
25-Mar-2007The last Fribourg International Film Festival(FIFF) under the tutelage of artistic director Martial Knaebel ended with the presentation of the Grand Prix toBrazilian Chico Teixeira's feature debut Alice's House The film was praised for its'intimacy, complexity, superb acting and precise point of view on auniversal story'. Teixeira's film also garnered the Youth Jury'sE-CHANGER Award.
heile welt named best Austrian film
25-Mar-2007Jakob M. Erwa's feature debut heile welt received the Diagonale Grand Prix for Best Austrian Feature Film at this year's showcase of Austrian film-making which was rounded off with an awards ceremony at Graz's Dom im Berg on Saturday evening. Produced by Novotny & Novotny Filmproduktion, heile welt follows a group of adolescents in semi-documentary style as they try to cope with their emotions and ...
Ruzowitzky, Link and Gansel projects backed by FFA with $3.2m
23-Mar-2007New feature films by Stefan Ruzowitzky, Caroline Link and Dennis Gansel are among seven projects with a total of $3.2 million (Euros 2.4m) production support by the Berlin-based German Federal Film Board (FFA).
Foreign distributors receive $80,000 for releasing Swiss films
23-Mar-2007Distributors from Germany, Brazil and ex-Yugoslavia are the first beneficiaries of Switzerland's new promotional fund to support the distribution of Swiss films abroad with $80,000 (Euros 60,000) towards the release of four feature films and one documentary.
Bruno Ganz cast in adaptation of Swiss bestseller
22-Mar-2007Veteran Swiss actor Bruno Ganz, who delighted international audiences with his performance as the grandfather in Fredi M Murer's Vitus, has been cast for the lead role in an adaptation of Thomas Huerlimann's 1998 bestselling novel Der Grosse Kater.
Talent Campus Abroad could be extended to Sarajevo and Marrakech
21-Mar-2007The Berlinale Talent Campus's Talent Campus Abroad initiative could possibly be extended to film festivals in Sarajevo and Marrakech.
EFP unveils Picture Europe! Programme
21-Mar-2007London's Curzon Cinemas has been selected as one of the venues along with Berlin's CineStar Original complex and Madrid's Princesa Cinemas for European Film Promotion's new promotional venture Picture Europe!, which will present national box-office hits from all over Europe in three week-long film programmes.
Swiss to begin talks to join MEDIA 2007
20-Mar-2007Switzerland's Federal Council has given its Office for Culture (BAK) the mandate to begin negotiations with the European Commission (EC) in Brussels on official Swiss participation in the European Union's new MEDIA 2007 programme, which was launched during last month's Berlinale.
Swiss Television launches Audience Award for national films
20-Mar-2007Swiss box-office hits Grounding - The Last Days Of Swissair, Mein Name Ist Eugen and Vitus are among 14 films nominated for a new Audience Award launched by Swiss Television SF and the internet portal Bluewin to coincide with their free-TV premieres during 2007.
Regional fund MDM backs new features with over $6.1m
19-Mar-2007New feature films by John Irvin, Michael Hoffman, Aktan Arym Kubat and Oskar Roehler are among projects backed with over $6.1 million (Euros 4.6m) by the Leipzig-based regional public fund Mitteldeutsche Medienfoerderung (MDM).
Grant scheme to strengthen Romania's audiovisual sector
16-Mar-2007Former Eurimages executive secretary Renate Roginas is heading up a $1.2 million (Euros 900,000) PHARE Grant Scheme to strengthen the Romanian audiovisual sector 'with the aim to promote European cultural diversity and to develop a viable national audiovisual industry'.
Lola nominees announced
16-Mar-2007Tom Tykwer's lavish adaptation of Patrick Suskind's Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer and Chris Kraus's prison drama Four Minutes are running neck and neck with eight nominations apiece for the German Film Awards - the Golden and Silver Lolas - which will be presented in a gala ceremony in Berlin on May 4.
Director Kwietniowski joins jury for the Central European Pitch Forum
15-Mar-2007UK writer-director Richard Kwietniowski, the Polish Film Institute's deputy director Maciej Karpinski, Italian writer-director Giovanni Robbiano and Christina Kallas, president of the Federation of Screenwriters in Europe (FSE), have been named as members of an international jury for the first Central European Pitch Forum (CEPF).
Eurimages to support digitisation of its funded films
14-Mar-2007The Council of Europe's Eurimages fund is planning to provide support for the digitisation of its funded films from the middle of this year to boost their circulation throughout Europe.
Heather Graham romantic comedy starts shooting in Belfast
13-Mar-2007Principal photography has begun in Belfast on the Heather Graham-starring romantic comedy Buy Borrow Steal, which is being directed by UK director Eric Styles (Relative Values) for Doris Kirch's Blue Angel Films Ltd.
Bavaria Film International takes on Doris Doerrie's new film
13-Mar-2007Bavaria Film International will handle international sales for Doris Doerrie's new feature film Kirschblueten (literally Cherry Blossoms) which began shooting on location in Tokyo today (March 13).
Universal Pictures Germany to distribute Egoli Tossell quartet
13-Mar-2007Universal Pictures International (UPI) Germany is to handle distribution in all German-speaking territories for another three Egoli Tossell Film projects in addition to Michael Hoffman's $17m Tolstoy drama The Last Station, starring Anthony Hopkins and Meryl Streep.
Diagonale continues strong documentary tradition
12-Mar-2007Documentaries are once again out in force at this year's Diagonale - Festival of Austrian Film which will open in Graz on March 19 with Sabine Derflinger's 42 plus.
Serbian triumph at Sofia festival
11-Mar-2007Serbian filmmaker Srdan Golubovic's family drama-thriller The Trap (Klopka) won the Grand Prix at this year's Sofia International Film Festival.
13 European projects to be pitched at 4th Sofia Meetings
7-Mar-2007New second feature films by Srdjan Koljevic and Ruxandra Zenide are among 13 European film projects being pitched at the 4th Sofia Meetings from March 8-10 during this week's Sofia International Film Festival (March 1-11).
Fribourg artistic director to step down, Arab Focus in Augsburg
7-Mar-2007Less than two weeks before this year's Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF) (March 18-25), the artistic director Martial Knaebel has announced that he will step down in June from the post he has held for the past 15 years.
New projects backed by Austrian Film Institute for $3.15m
6-Mar-2007New feature films by Michael Glawogger, Benjamin Heisenberg, Simon Aeby and Goetz Spielmann are among a raft of projects backed with over $3.15m (Euros 2.4m) by the Austrian Film Institute (OFI).
Oscar winners among those backed by Bavarian fund
5-Mar-2007New feature films by Oscar-winning filmmakers Florian Gallenberger and Caroline Link are among 29 projects awarded a total of $11 million (Euros 8.4m) by the Munich-based regional public fund FFF Bayern in its first sitting of 2007.
Ascot Elite picks up four horror titles for Germany
2-Mar-2007The Ascot Elite Entertainment Group has announced the acquisition of all rights to four horror titles for German speaking territories.
European animation - Territory Overview: Germany - It's a family affair
2-Mar-2007German animations were traditionally targeted at children, but all that changed in the early 1990s when producers hit on 'adult' animation features with successful comic-book adaptations Werner - Volles Rooaaa! (2.7 million admissions) and The Little Bastard (three million). However, animation studios now tend to focus on fare for the whole family.
Germany - Rebel Yella
2-Mar-2007Christian Petzold's feature Yella is his sixth collaboration with the Berlin-based production outfit Schramm Film Koerner + Weber, after successes including the German Film Award-winning The State I Am In (Die Innere Sicherheit), which premiered in Venice in 2000, and the Berlinale 2005 Competition film Ghosts (Gespenster).
Oscar winner Caroline Link to shoot new feature in Munich
1-Mar-2007Germany Oscar-winning director Caroline Link, who received the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2003 for Nowhere In Africa (Nirgendwo In Afrika), is to begin shooting her next feature Im Winter Ein Jahr (working title) this summer at locations in Munich and surroundings.
Beta Cinema handling world sales for Ironman
28-Feb-2007Beta Cinema is to handle world sales for Adnan G. Koese's feature debut Ironman, which is currently shooting in the North Rhine-Westphalian town of Dinslaken.
Martin Koechendoerfer to succeed Anatol Nitschke at X Verleih
27-Feb-2007Concorde Filmverleih's Martin Kochendoerfer is to succeed Anatol Nitschke as board member of the Berlin-based distributor X Verleih from April 1.
Germany breaks 100m barrier for DVD sales
27-Feb-2007Annual DVD unit sales in Germanypassed the 100 million mark for the first time last year, according to statistics prepared by the GfK market research institute for the home entertainment industry body BVV.
The Match Factoryannounces deals on Berlin competitor Yella
26-Feb-2007Christian Petzold's Berlin Competition film Yella, which won a Silver Bear for lead actress Nina Hoss, has been sold by The Match Factory to six territories, with further deals in the offing with distributors in the US and Scandinavia, among others.Sales on the Schramm Film production were completed in Berlin with Artificial Eye (UK), Independenta Film (Romania), cinemax (Greece), Frenetic Films (Switzerland), Stadtkino (Austria) and Atalanta Filmes (Portugal). ...
42 Plus to open Austrian Diagonale festival
24-Feb-2007Sabine Derflinger's latest feature 42 Plus will be the opening film atthis year's Austrian national film festival Diagonale (March 19-25)which is being held in the Styrian capital for the tenth time this year.The DOR Film production, starring Claudia Michelsen, Ulrich Tukur,and Tobias Moretti, centres on a 42-year-old woman whose eye is caughtby a young hitchhiker as she arrives with her husband and teenagedaughter at their summer home. ...
Austria/Germany - Seeing double
23-Feb-2007Austrian director Stefan Ruzowitzky must have been the right man for The Counterfeiters, a drama about a Nazi-organised forgery scam in a German concentration camp - he was independently approached by two production companies for the same project within the space of three weeks.
ProSiebenSat.1 Group signs free-TV rights deal with Warner
22-Feb-2007Germany's ProSiebenSat.1 Media has signed a long-running agreement with Warner Bros International Television Distribution (WBITD) for future productions from the Warner Bros studio.
World premiere of The Princess Of The Sun at Babelsberg Cartoon Movie market
20-Feb-2007This year's Cartoon Movie co-production forum for European animation feature films will be open in Potsdam on March 7 with the world premiere of Philippe Leclerc's The Princess Of The Sun (La Reine Soleil).
Sofia festival plans focus on German cinema
20-Feb-2007Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's Oscar-nominated The Lives Of Others and the 2006 Berlinale competition films The Free Will by Matthias Glasner and Requiem by Hans-Christian Schmid are part of focus of German cinema at this year's Sofia International Film Festival (March 1-11).
Locarno's communications and press officers exit festival
19-Feb-2007Less than six months before its 60th anniversary, the Locarno International Film Festival has seen two of its communications department staff exit due to 'differences of opinion' with the festival's artistic director Frederic Maire.
'Berlinale of the actors' breaks attendance records
18-Feb-2007Now in his sixth year as festival director, Dieter Kosslick has pronounced the 2007 'a Berlinale of the actors: we had never had so many actors' films, big stars and cinema legends in the Berlinale's history as was the case this year'. Speaking to ScreenDaily.com, Kosslick said that 'technically speaking, it was the biggest Berlinale of all time, everything has gotten bigger, including the size of the festival audience.'
Chinese film takes Golden Bear
17-Feb-2007Chinese director Wang Quan'an had an ideal start for the Chinese New Year by winning this year's Golden Bear for his third feature Tuya's Marriage (Tu ya de hun shi) on the eve of the Year of the Pig.The tale of a practical woman searching for a reliable man in a remote part of China was described by Screen's David D'Arcy as 'funny, tender and vividly shot, this delightful comedy is more satisfying ...
Berlinale to show Lost In Beijing in uncensored version
16-Feb-2007China's Li Yu's Lost In Beijing will have its world premiere tonight (Friday) in the Berlinale's official competition at the Berlinale Palast in the uncensored version after all.
Bavaria seals deals on Competition films and market titles
16-Feb-2007Bavaria Film International has closed a slew of deals on Jiri Menzel's I Served The King Of England ahead of its international premiere in the Berlinale competition this afternoon.
German-Indian film agreement signed in Berlin
16-Feb-2007Germany's Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, India's Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, and Germany's Minister of State for Culture and the Media Bernd Nuemann signed a German-Indian film agreement in Berlin on Friday afternoon providing a legal framework for cooperation between producers from Germany and India.
World Cinema Fund casts its net wider
16-Feb-2007As of this summer, the Berlinale's World Cinema Fund (WCF) will be open to projects by film-makers from South East Asia and the Caucasus in addition to the existing focus regions of Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Central Asia. 'After the positive development of the WCF in the last two years, the new focus regions are an important step for the future success of the initiative,' commented Hortensia Voelckers, artisitic director of the German Federal Cultural Foundation ...
European stars: Germany
16-Feb-2007Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick highlights the increasing global appeal of Germany's talent base when he points out that more than 10 German actors and actresses had roles in international productions at this year's festival. These range from Julia Jentsch in Jiri Menzel's I Served The King Of England through Moritz Bleibtreu's appearances in Paul Schrader's The Walker and the Taviani brothers' The Lark Farm to Peter Ketnath's lead role in Brazilian film-maker ...
Lives Of Others wins four German Film Critics Awards
14-Feb-2007FlorianHenckel von Donnersmarck's Oscar-nominated The Lives Of Others hasadded to its impressive list of distinctions by picking up four of thisyear's German Film Critics Awards: for Best Feature Film Debut, BestActor (Ulrich Muehe), Best Editing (Patricia Rommel) and BestCinematography (Hagen Bogdanski).Lastyear's Berlinale Competition ...
Locarno opens doors to Middle East
13-Feb-2007The Middle East will be the regional focus for the Open Doors platform at this year's Locarno International Film Festival (August 1-11).Filmmakers will be invited from Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Israel, Iraq and Jordan to present projects to potential co-producers.Meanwhile, an innovation at the festival's 60th anniversary edition will be the introduction of a new international competition for fiction films by young directors who have not yet made ...
Mannheim-Heidelberg moves to October
13-Feb-2007The International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg is being brought forward from November to new dates in October - 9th to 21st - for the 2007 edition, which will bring it up against other international festivals with industry components.
Senator boards Falorni's Heart
13-Feb-2007Germany 's Senator Film has boarded Luigi Falorni's fiction feature debut Heart Of Fire as co-producer and acquired German distribution rights.
Lilly The Witch prepares to fly with Ruzowitzky
12-Feb-2007Austrian director Stefan Ruzowitzky, whose latest feature The Counterfeiter had its world premiere in the Berlinale's Competition this weekend, is changing genres again with his next project, the children's film Lilly The Witch (Hexe Lilli).The $11.7m (Euros 9m) co-production between Munich-based blue eyes fiction, animation and VFX specialist Trixter, Studio Babelsberg and Austria's DOR-Film, ...
The Match Factory to handle new Hamer feature
12-Feb-2007Michael Weber's The Match Factory has picked up worldwide rights, excluding Scandinavia and German-speaking territories, to Bent Hamer's latest project O'Horten which began shooting in Norway on January 29. The film, which follows locomotive driver Odd Horten on a fatefully absurd odyssey on his first days of retirement, has actor Bard Owe, internationally known from Lars von Trier's Europa (1991) ...
B2B Belgrade Industry Meetings names 12 pitch projects
11-Feb-2007New feature films from Eastern Europe and Central Asia are among 12 projects to be pitched at this year's B2B Belgrade Industry Meetings from March 2-4.They include Branko Schmidt's Metastases (Croatia), Kirill Serebrennikov's Diva(Russia) and Rusudan Chkonia's Keep Smiling! (Georgia).In addition to the public pitchings and one-to-one meetings ...
Friend and Barr cast for Russian gangster movie
11-Feb-2007UK actor Rupert Friend (Pride & Prejudice) and Jean-Marc Barr (Dancer In The Dark) are attached as cast for US writer-director Tony Pemberton's $ 4.5m gangster movie Buddha's Little Finger based on the novel of the same name by Victor Pelewin.The film's Berlin-based producer Rohfilm has brought Mikhail Kalatozov's Kalatozov Fund onboard as Russian partner ...
ETF lines up Holland and Nettelback projects
10-Feb-2007Germany's Egoli Tossell Films (ETF) is moving forward fast with new films from Agnieszka Holland and Sandra Nettelback in addition toMichael Hoffman's $20m Tolstoy drama The Last Station to star AnthonyHopkins and Meryl Streep.Holland is directing Peter & Catherine which ETF will co-produce withChris Curling's Zephyr Film. Chloe Sevigny is attached to play thePolish battlefield whore who falls in love ...
Germany's Culture Minister bangs local drum at Berlinale opening
9-Feb-2007Germany's State Minister for Culture Bernd Neumann was in a bullish mood at the gala opening ceremony for this year's Berlinale, which opened with La Vie En Rose on Thursday evening.
Germany - Majestic bow for a former Senator
9-Feb-2007When former Senator executive Benjamin Herrmann decided to join forces with film financing expert David Groenewold to launch a new producer-distributor Majestic Film into the German marketplace, he was not worried about an overcrowded landscape.
Constantin extends pay TV rights deal with Premiere
8-Feb-2007Constantin Film has extended its output deal with German pay TV channel Premiere for rights to its in-house and co-productions by another two years from January 1, 2007 to the end of 2008.
Mdc int adds Iszka's Journey, La Antena to Berlinale line-up
8-Feb-2007Berlin-based sales company Mdc int has made two last-minute additions to its line-up for this year's market in Berlin.
Nitschke returns to Senator Film
8-Feb-2007Anatol Nitschke, head of distribution at Berlin's X Verleih since 2000, is returning to Senator Film on April 1 to serve as co-managing director of Senator Film Verleih and Senator Home Entertainment along with Peter Heinzemann.Nitschke, who headed Senator Film Verleih between 1999 and 2000, will be responsible for marketing, PR and strategy for the two companies.
Warner Bros to release The Red Baron in Germany
6-Feb-2007The German arm of US major Warner Bros has picked up Niki Muellerschoen's $23.3m (Euros 18m) English-language production The Red Baron for release in Germany this autumn.
Berlin to host first conference of Mediterranean Euromed Programme
5-Feb-2007Producers, directors and institutions from the Mediterranean countries will be meeting with representatives from Eurimages, CNC, the World Cinema Fund and Europa Cinemas, among others, at the first regional conference of the Euromed Audiovisual II Programme being staged during the Berlinale from Feb 10-11.
Walter Salles and John Waters lined up for Berlinale Talent Campus
2-Feb-2007Last year's Golden Bear winner Jasmila Zbanic, directors Walter Salles and John Waters, producer Kees Kasander, and actors Sarah Polley and Gael Garcia Bernal are among 120 international experts speaking at the Berlinale Talent Campus which celebrates its fifth anniversary between Feb 10-15.
Filmstiftung NRW backs international co-productions with $14.6m
1-Feb-2007International co-productions by Israel's Amos Gitai, New Zealand's Armagan Ballantyne and Germany's Max Faerberboeck are among 25 projects supported with a total of $14.6m (Euros 11.2m) by Filmstiftung NRW this week.
Medienboard backs 11 projects for over $5m
31-Jan-2007The next feature film by actor-producer-director Til Schweiger and a German version of the Emmy-winning BBC film The Girl In The Cafe are among eleven projects awarded over $5m (Euros 4.6m) production funding by the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg at its first sitting for 2007.
Berlinale Cameras to be awarded to Mina, Meszaros and KINO publishers
30-Jan-2007The Berlinale Camera awards will be presented at this year's festival as part of the Berlinale Special section to Hungary's Marta Meszaros, the Italian documentary filmmaker Gianni Mina, and Dorothea Moritz and Ron Holloway, publishers of KINO German Film.
Bavaria Film International to handle Israel's Beaufort
30-Jan-2007Bavaria Film International has taken on international sales for Israeli filmmaker Joseph Cedar's powerful anti-war statement Beaufort which will have its world premiere in the forthcoming Berlinale's Competition.
Berlinale boasts 10% more German titles in programme
29-Jan-2007This year's Berlinale will again serve as platform for films 'made in Germany', with the number of German films (including German majority co-productions) screening in the festival's various sections increasing by 10% over 2005 to 60 films.
Swiss launch fund to boost film exports
28-Jan-2007Switzerland's Federal Office of Culture (BAK) has launched a $200,000 (Swiss Francs 250,000) fund to boost the distribution of Swiss films abroad. Speaking at the Solothurn Film Days at the weekend, BAK director Jean-Frederic Jauslin and his film division chief Nicolas Bideau announced that foreign distributors of Swiss films would be able to receive distribution aid of up to Euros 25,000 per film towards the release costs from the new fund.The Swiss ...
Berlin completes Panorama line-up of 50 titles
26-Jan-2007The Berlinale's Panorama section has now finalised its line-up, with more than half of its 50 titles being world premieres. Seven are debut features.
Bruce McDonald, Jiri Menzel, Paulo Caldas films picked up pre-Berlin
25-Jan-2007International distribution rights to films by Bruce McDonald, Jiri Menzel and Paulo Caldas are among the latest titles picked up by German sales agents ahead of this year's Berlinale and European Film Market (EFM).
Five world premieres confirmed forBerlinale Special section
25-Jan-2007New films by the Taviani brothers, Doris Doerrie, Fernando Perez and Timur Bekmambetov are among nine titles now confirmed for the Berlinale Special section of the festival's official programme.
Vitus takes Best Film at 10th Swiss Film Awards
25-Jan-2007Vitus was named Best Film at this year's Swiss Film Awards which were presented for the tenth time on Wednesday evening in a gala ceremony at the Solothurn Film Days.
Berlinale's new short film programme names 16 competitors
24-Jan-2007The Berlinale's new Short Film Competition has selected 16 films from 12 countries for this year's line-up. The new shorts programme intends to focus more attention on the short format following the merging of the Competition and Panorama short film programmes.
Bruce McDonald's new film opens Berlinale's Panorama main programme
23-Jan-2007Bruce McDonald's The Tracey Fragments, which explores a 15-year-old girl's fragmented emotional world, will be the opening film of the Berlinale Panorama's main programme, while the Panorama Special sub-section will open with Japanese master director Yoji Yamada's Love And Honor, the third and final instalment of his samurai trilogy.
Berlinale completes Competition with additions including Ozon's Angel
22-Jan-2007The line-up for the Berlinale's Competition has now been finalised with a total of 26 titles, including 19 world premieres, six international premieres and one European Premiere.
Grave Decisions and Four Minutes top Bavarian awards
21-Jan-2007Marcus H. Rosenmueller's Bavariancomedy Grave Decisions and Chris Kraus' prison drama Four Minutes werethe big winners at the weekend's Bavarian Film Awards in Munich.
Berlinale Forum announces complete programme
17-Jan-2007New films by veteran documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, Germany's Maria Speth and Angela Schanelec, Croatia's Ognen Svilicic, and the UK's Kevin Aduaka are among 25 world premieres being shown in the now finalised Berlinale Forum programme.
Telepool boosts sales lineup ahead of Berlinale
17-Jan-2007Munich-based world sales company Telepool has added four new titles to its sales catalogue ahead of Berlin's European Film Market (EFM), including Swiss director Mike Eschmann's youth drama Breakout which is being released by Buena Vista International in Switzerland on January 18.
Berlin's market boasts record number of companies and buyers
17-Jan-2007Beki Probst looks set to be able to celebrate her 20th year in the post of market director of the Berlinale's European Film Market (EFM) by breaking last year's records when the festival launched its new market venue in the Martin Gropius Bau (MGB).
Lives Of Others leads German critics award nominations
16-Jan-2007Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's European Film Award-winning The Lives Of Others has picked up nominations in seven of the nine categories for the 2006 German Film Critics' Award.
Berlinale unveils more world premieres in Competition section
15-Jan-2007Berlinale programmers have now confirmed another eight titles in the official Competition section, including new works by International Jury President Paul Schrader, Clint Eastwood, Gregory Nava and Stefan Ruzowitzky.
Berlin announces International Forum films
13-Jan-2007New features by Serbian filmmaker Srdan Golubovic, Malaysia's Amir Muhammad and Germany's Ann-Kristin Reyels will have their world premieres at this year's International Forum of Young Cinema in Berlin. Golubovic's thriller The Trap, his second feature after the outstanding 2001 debut Absolute Hundred, was produced by Belgrade-based Bas Celik with Germany's Mediopolis Film and Hungary's New Budapest ...
Berlinale's Generation Kplus to open with The Last Mimzy
12-Jan-2007Generation, the Berlinale's programme for children and young people's films, has set its line-up of 25 feature films, including three world premieres and 10 international premieres, from 22 countries.
Groenewold to launch new media fund in Germany
12-Jan-2007German fund specialist David Groenewold is set to launch the first media fund in Germany since the end of 2005 when changes to the Income Tax Law put an end to the old-style private film funds.
Paul Schrader to serve as jury president for Berlinale Competition
11-Jan-2007US writer-director Paul Schrader (American Gigolo, Mishima) will head up the seven-person International Jury deciding on the Golden Bear and Silver Bears at next month's Berlinale (Feb 8-18).
First Berlinale Panorama titles unveiled
11-Jan-2007New films by Hal Hartley (Fay Grim), Eytan Fox (The Bubble), Korea's Hong Sangsoo (Woman On The Beach), actress Julie Delpy (Two Days in Paris) and actor Antonio Banderas (Summer Rain) are among the titles so far confirmed for more than half of the programme for this year's Panorama at the Berlinale next month.
37 projects selected for Berlinale Co-Production Market
10-Jan-2007New feature film projects by Joe Dante, Reza Bagher, Wang Chao, Srdjan Koljevic, Sarah Polley and Luigi Falorni are among a total of 37 projects selected from 25 countries to be presented at the Berlinale Co-Production Market (Feb 11-13) which is now in its fourth year.
Piaf biopic La Vie En Rose to open Berlinale
10-Jan-2007The world premiere of Olivier Dahan's Edith Piaf biopic La Vie En Rose will open this year's Berlinale on Feb 8 as part of the Competition section of films vying for the Golden Bear and Silver Bears.
Beta Cinema picks up controversial Hitler comedy
10-Jan-2007Beta Cinema has picked up the international sales rights to Dani Levy's hotly debated new comedy Mein Fuehrer - The Truly Truest Truth About Adolf Hitler which X Verleih is opening with 250 prints in German cinemas on Jan 11.
Big-spending Dubai and Rome festivals under fire from Berlinale
10-Jan-2007New kids on the film festival block such as those in Rome and Dubai have been criticised by Berlinale festival director Dieter Kosslick for 'buying stars with big money' and 'running through Hollywood with a cheque book.'
German box-office revived in 2006, led by Fox
9-Jan-2007Germany's box-office fortunes were revived in 2006 after a devastating 2005 with a year-on-year increase in takings of 9.6% and admissions rising by 7.9%, according to figures from Nielsen EDI.
Slovenian producers face government funding problems
29-Dec-2006Slovenian producers arefacing a bleak future at home following radical changes in the film supportpolicies at the country's Ministry of Culture.
Berlinale selects first six titles for Perspektive Deutsches Kino
29-Dec-2006New films by BastianGuenther, Ben von Grafenstein, and Julia von Heinz are among six titlesconfirmed so far for the Berlinale's Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar whichshowcases young and up-and-coming German filmmakers with fresh ideas,approaches and talent.
German tax credit approved by Europe
28-Dec-2006Germany'sState Minister for Culture Bernd Neumann has received the green light from theEuropean Commission in Brussels for the new film production incentive scheme tocome into effect as planned on January 1, 2007.Commentingon the Commission's swift processing of the German proposal, Neumann said:'This is a great negotiated success. The path is thereby also prepared nowin Germany for internationally competitive production conditions which arecomparable ...
German home entertainment company takes over media fund
28-Dec-2006One of Germany's leading home entertainment companies VCL Film + Medien has taken over the Munich-based media fund Equity Pictures Medienfonds.Throughthe acquisition by its recently established subsidiary, Allied Film Management,VCL will be expanding its activities from the core operations ...
Rise in Competition entries gives Berlinale welcome problem
21-Dec-2006The Berlinale's selectors are spoilt for choice for the line-up of the 2007 Competition thanks to the festival's increasing popularity with film-makers from around the globe.
Berlin World Cinema Fund receives extra funding
19-Dec-2006The German Federal Culture Foundation has agreed to extend funding for the Berlin-based World Cinema Fund (WCF) for another two years.
Senator acquires Weinstein films for Germany
19-Dec-2006German producer-distributor Senator Entertainment has acquired a package of six films from The Weinstein Company, including the latest films by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez.
Austria close to double-digit box office bounce back
17-Dec-2006Austriancinemas are set to post an increase of 10-11% in admissions and gross boxoffice this year, according to Kurt Kaufmann of the exhibitors association FLA.
German box office heading for 5-10% box-office recovery
17-Dec-2006Germandistributors trade association Verband der Filmverleiher (VdF) is forecastingan increase of between 5-10% for admissions and gross box office in Germancinemas for 2006.
Arthur Penn to receive Berlin lifetime honour
15-Dec-2006Veteran American director Arthur Penn will receive a Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement at the forthcoming Berlinale (February 8-18, 2007) as part of a 10-film homage being held in his honour during the festival.
German funds back new films by Khrzhanovsky, Madsen
Vitus, Grounding and Fraulein up for Swiss awards
German film fund invests $9.3m in co-productions
11-Dec-2006New feature films by Michael Glawogger, Ludi Boeken, Benoit Jacquot, Samuel Maoz and Tom Schreiber are among a raft of international co-productions supported in the latest round of funding by the German regional public fund Filmstiftung NRW, which distributed over $9.3m (Euros 7m) to 29 projects.
Estonian films boost local market share
Swiss films local market share hits record 10%
4-Dec-20062006 isset to be the most successful year ever for Swiss cinema with local films'market share of the box office reaching an all-time high of 10%. This isalmost double last year's figure of 5.85% which had largely been the result ofonly one release - Michael Steiner's family adventure ...
Austrian board backs biopic of popstar Falco
Baltic Event to host 12 pitches in Estonia
29-Nov-2006Filmmakers from the Baltic states, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Russia are to pitch 12 new film projects to potentialpartners at the Baltic Event's second co-production market which will be heldin Tallinn, Estonia, next week (Dec 4-5) during the Black Nights Film Festival.
The One And Only takes Mannheim Grand Prix
Sony strikes North American deal for Vitus
German films set new market share record
23-Nov-2006German films have been sosuccessful with domestic cinemagoers this year that the 2006 market share forlocal production has already broken the record 24.5% posted two years ago. According to figurescollated by Nielsen EDI from Jan 2 to Nov 19, German films now have a marketshare ...
Apple comes on with Hob for Lukasiak feature
Hitler farce among new projects backed by Germany
German-French funders back projects including new Denis film
Transilvania festival will expand to two cities in 2007
17-Nov-2006Nextyear's Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF) will be held in twoRomanian cities - Cluj Napoca and Sibiu - in recognition of the latter's statusas a European Capital of Culture in 2007 along with Luxembourg.Speakingexclusively with ScreenDaily during the Connecting Cottbus market ...
Five films share World Cinema Fund awards
16-Nov-2006The Berlin-based World Cinema Fund (WCF) has awarded a total of $288,000 (Euros 225,000) to five film projects from Peru, Chile and Jordan, chosen from 82 projects submitted from 27 countries.
Russian feature backed by German regional fund
16-Nov-2006Russian director Ilya Khrzhanovsky's second feature Dau, which was pitched at last year's Connecting Cottbus market forum, is one of the new feature films to be backed by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg in its latest round of funding.
Majestic Filmverleih adds two new films to release slate
14-Nov-2006Benjamin Herrmann and David Groenewold's new distribution company Majestic Filmverleih has added Doris Doerrie's Hanami and Alexander Adolph's documentary debut Con Man Confidential (Die Hochstapler) to its release line-up.
Croatian film-makers funding set for big boost
14-Nov-2006Financial support for the film industry in Croatia could almost treble from the current amount with the planned creation of a Croatian Centre for Audiovisual Services next year.
Cottbus forum to consider 13 film pitches
13-Nov-2006Thirteen projects will be pitched to potential production partners during this week's two-day Connecting Cottbus industry forum (November 16-17) at the FilmFestival Cottbus.
Constantin and ProSieben Sat 1 continue output deal
8-Nov-2006Leading German independentdistributor Constantin Film Verleihhas extended its output deal with the ProSiebenSat.1 Group for a further twoyears.
Senator ends dispute over X-Filme
8-Nov-2006Producer-distributor Senator Entertainment is to retain its 56.1% interest in the Berlin production house X-Filme Creative Pool after an out-of-court settlement.
Odeon gets rights to Fitzek's Die Therapie
Honor De Cavalleria takes Viennale Fipresci prize
EFP plans new film showcase in three cities
Kinowelt acquires producer/distributor Pegasos
Wenders and Tykwer to celebrate 40th Hof Film Days
24-Oct-2006WimWenders, Tom Tykwer and Aki Kaurismaki will be among the film-makerscelebrating the 40th anniversary of the Hof Film Days, which opens today with MarcusH. Rosenmueller's comedy Schwere Jungs.WhileWenders and Tykwer will be coming to Hof for screenings of their films Paris, ...
Germany's FFA backs next Glawogger film
Berlinale gets cooking with new culinary cinema sidebar
23-Oct-2006Berlinale festivaldirector Dieter Kosslick is introducing a new film programme of features,documentaries and shorts entitled Look & Cook - Culinary Cinema at the 2007festival. Held at the Wintergartenvariete theatre ten minutes away from Potsdamer Platz, the programme will includescreenings ...
New fees and passes planned for Berlin market
20-Oct-2006The organisers of nextyear's European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin (Feb 8-18, 2007) will now be offering film professionals three waysof attending the market.
Novkovic wins hat-trick of awards at Cottbus festival
19-Oct-2006Serbiandirector Oleg Novkovic scored a hat-trick at this year's FilmFestival Cottbus(Nov 14-18) when his latest feature Tomorrow Morning (Sutra Ujutru) won the Main Prize for Best Film, the FIPRESCI Prize and thenewly-created From Cottbus to Cinema Distribution Support Prize.
Polish Insitute backs new films from Loach and Zelenka
16-Oct-2006Newfeature projects by Ken Loach, Petr Zelenka and Oliver Parker are among sixinternational co-productions supported with a total of $4.1m (Zlotys 12.8m) bythe Polish Film Institute in its latest round of funding. Loach's These Times, which hasproducer-distributor SPIInternational as its Polish ...
Warsaw jury goes euphoric for Vyrypaev's debut
15-Oct-2006Russian dramatist Ivan Vyrypaev's feature film debut Euphoria was the winner of the Grand Prix inthe New Films, New Directors competition at this year's Warsaw InternationalFilmFest. Announcing the winner at the awards ceremony on Saturdayevening, jury president ...
Wortmann's football doc sets new record in Germany
13-Oct-2006SoenkeWortmann's "fly on the wall" football documentary Deutschland. Ein Sommermaerchen hasbroken Germany's record for the most successful documentary release, which hadbeen held previously by another Kinowelt title, The March Of The Penguins, which hadposted 1.45m admissions. Accordingto ...
Wajda starts shoot for Katyn massacre film
13-Oct-2006Veteran Polish director Andrzej Wajda has begunshooting of his long-cherished project PostMortem about the Katyn massacre of 1940 at locations near Krakow.The $5.2m (Zloty 16m) Polish-French co-production byAkson Studio with Margaret Menegoz's Les Films du Losange as minority partnerhas received $1.9m (Zloty ...
Margaret von Schiller departs Berlinale Panorama
10-Oct-2006TheBerlinale's Panorama section has announced personnel changes as part of the restructuringof the past few months that has seen the Panorama Short Film programme mergedwith that of the Official Competition.In apersonal communique, Panorama's director Wieland Speck revealed that Margaretvon Schiller, who had become his ...
Yacoubian Building wins best debut in Zurich
Yacoubian Building takes Golden Eye at Zurich
8-Oct-2006Egyptian filmmaker Marwan Hamed's The Yacoubian Building (Omaret Yacoubian) won the Golden Eye Award in the best debut category at this year's Zurich Film Festival.
Pecs unveils Central European Pitch Forum
6-Oct-2006Screenwriters from Centraland Eastern Europe could have better
First sales for Golden Shell winner Half Moon
5-Oct-2006The Match Factory hasconcluded its first deals for Bahman Ghobadi's Golden Shell winner Half Moon, with sales to GolemDistribution (Spain), Providence Filmes (Brazil) and Cinemien (Netherlands,Belgium), while negotiations are underway for the UK, Scandinavian and LatinAmerican territories.In addition to winning theGolden Shell ex ...
Franka Potente to play Pope Joan
5-Oct-2006Germany's FrankaPotente is to play the lead in Volker Schloendorff's long-gestating adaptationof Donna Cross' novel Pope Joan.Cross'bestseller tells the story of Johanna von Ingelheim, who succeeded in enteringthe highest ranks of the Roman clergy ...
Macedonia set to become Film City
3-Oct-2006Macedonia is to be established as a"one-stop shop" for the digital entertainment industry, according toplans by Collaborative Media Group (CMG) to create the Film City Macedonia with support from theMayor of Skopje, the Government of the Republic ...
Bavaria takes on rights to Miguel & William
29-Sep-2006BavariaFilm International has picked up world sales rights outside ofSpain for Spanish director Ines Paris' Miguel & William, about a fictitiousencounter between Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare and their rivalryin love of a beautiful woman.
Macedonia submits Kontakt for Oscar race
Switzerland selects Murer's Vitus as Oscar pick
22-Sep-2006Switzerland has chosen its foreign-language Oscar candidate,Fredi M. Murer's Vitus.
Filmstiftung NRW backs Loach and Spottiswoode
21-Sep-2006International co-productionslead the line-up of new feature film projects backed in the latest $3.8m (Euros3m) funding round from Duesseldorf-based Filmstiftung NRW International.
Austria submits You Bet Your Life for Oscar consideration
21-Sep-2006Antonin Svoboda'sdirectorial debut You Bet Your Life(Spiele Leben) has been submittedas Austria's submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 2007Oscars.Starring Georg Friedrichand Brigitte Minichmayr, You Bet Your Life is the story of a gambler ...
Tykwer's Perfume scores more than 1m admissions in Germany
Lives Of Others chosen as German Oscar entry
18-Sep-2006Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's Stasi thriller TheLives Of Others (Das Leben DerAnderen) has selected by Germany as itssubmission for the Foreign Language Film Oscar next year.Commenting on its decision, the independent expert jurywho made the selection said that von Donnersmarck's ...
Berlinale plans shorts, childrens changes in 2007
11-Sep-2006The Berlinale has announced two structural innovations for itsnext edition which will be held from Feb 8-18, 2007.Thefestival's Kinderfilmfest/14plus section will held in future under the name ofGeneration, with the two competitions renamed as Generation Kplusand Generation ...
Strand shines on Lights
8-Sep-2006US distributor Strand Releasing has acquired Aki Kaurismaki's latest feature Lights In The Dusk, which premiered at Cannes and screens in Toronto as part of the festival's Masters section.
Beta takes on sales for German hit Hui Buh
6-Sep-2006BetaCinema has taken on the international sales for Sebastian Niemann'sfamily entertainment film Hui Buh, which has been seen by 1.8m cinema-goers since Constantin Film released it in Germany in earlyJuly.The story about the lovable, bumbling ...
Berlin to launch $3.8m fund for regional films
Berlin to launch $3.8m fund for regional films
German box office up 8.9% over first half of 2005
Bosnia puts forward Grbavica for foreign-language Oscar
Match Factory takes on Half Moon and Takva
Germany's Schlingensief starts feature about Princess Di
29-Aug-2006German"enfant terrible" Christoph Schlingensief has grabbed the headlinesonce again, this time with the announcement that he plans to make a featurefilm about the last hour in the life of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Promising Romanian director killed in road crash
28-Aug-2006The Romanian film industry was in shock this weekend on hearing the news that director Cristian Nemescu, one of its most promising young filmmakers, had been killed in a traffic accident in Bucharest early on Friday morning.
Tanovic lines up first feature set in his Bosnian homeland
Tanovic lines up first feature shot in his Bosnian homeland
25-Aug-2006Oscar-winning Bosnian director Danis Tanovic (No Man's Land) is planning his firstBosnian-shot film.
Onoma takes on sales for Ferenc Torok's Overnight
24-Aug-2006French sales company Onoma International has taken on the world sales forHungarian filmmaker Ferenc Torok'snew film Overnight.The project has been shooting in Budapest since July 14 and will be moving to Germany on Aug 30 before a final stage of shooting in Bombay.
Beta Cinema on board for Quinn's 32A
24-Aug-2006Germany's BetaCinema has taken on world sales for Marian Quinn's bittersweet comedy 32A which is now in principalphotography in Ireland. The film, about 13-year-old girls in 1979 Dublin, starsthe director's brother Aidan Quinn along with Ailish McCarthy, Orla Brady,Jared Harris, Sophie Jo Wasson, Orla Long and Riona Smith.The$1.9m ...
Constantin sales up 25% in first half of 2006
Intertainment settles legal battle with Samaha, Franchise
22-Aug-2006Germanlicence trader Intertainment has settled its longstanding legal battle withElie Samaha, former chief executive of Franchise Pictures, and productioncompany Sidonian Holdings (formerly Glickson Investments International).
Match Factory takes on Venice competitor Euphoria
21-Aug-2006Cologne-basedThe Match Factory has picked up world sales rights for the Venice competitiontitle Euphoria by Russian writer-directorIvan Vyrypaev.
Deckert gets Swiss documentary Zeit Des Abschieds
17-Aug-2006Deckert Distribution has picked up world rights for Mehdi Sahebi's documentary Zeit Des Abschieds, which had its world premiere in Locarno's Critics Week sidebar last week and won the SRG SSR idee suisse Prize.
Locarno gives Golden Leopard to Das Fraeulein
13-Aug-2006AndreaStaka's fiction feature debut Das Fraeulein has become the first Swiss film to win Locarno'sGolden Leopard in more than 20 years, since the top honour went to Fredi M.Murer's Hoehenfeuer in 1985.
Frederic Maire already looking forward to 60th Locarno
11-Aug-2006With his firstedition as artistic director coming to a close on Saturday (Aug 12), Locarno's Frederic Maire isalready looking ahead to the festival's 60th anniversary in 2007.
La Consultation lands French and Swiss deals at Locarno
Albert drops out of Locarno jury over Fraeulein involvement
10-Aug-2006Austrian filmmaker-producerBarbara Albert has stepped down from Locarno FilmFestival's International Jury "to prevent any discussion about theindependence of the jury" after a local newspaper suspected a cover-up bythe festival about Albert's involvement in the screenplay for Andrea Staka's Das Fraeulein, the only Swiss film in this year's OfficialCompetition.
Swiss grants go to projects from Indonesia and Malaysia
Swiss cinema market share grows to 18%
8-Aug-2006A current wave of local box-office successes provided a welcome stimulantfor Locarno Film Festival's first Day of SwissCinema, which is being held today. Accompanied by Jean-Frederic Jauslin,the head of the Federal Office for Culture (BAK), and the Film Section chiefNicolas Bideau,Switzerland's Interior ...
European partners start new initiative for minority film-makers
7-Aug-2006The Locarno Film Festival has joined France's CNC, theUK's British Council, bfm International Film Festival, Screen East andGermany's Goethe Institut among the initial partners for a new European film developmentinitiative, Babylon. Fiona Howe and Gareth Jones of the UK production houseScenario Films and Thierry Lenouvel of France's Cine-Sud Promotion unveiled theinitative in Locarno this weekend. ...
Carla's List has buying buzz ahead of Locarno premiere
7-Aug-2006Swissdirector Marcel Schuepbach's documentary Carla's List about the work of Carla Del Ponte, the prosecutor ofthe International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), wascreating a buzz among international buyers ahead of its world premiere at theweekend ...
Locarno pays tribute to late Daniel Schmid
7-Aug-2006TheSwiss filmmaking community is in mourning after the news at the weekend of thedeath of one of its internationally best-known filmmakers Daniel Schmid at theage of 64 from cancer.
Mike Eschmann stars shooting $4.9m Tell
7-Aug-2006Swissdirector Mike Eschmann, whose last comedy Achtung, Fertig, Charlie! is the most successfullocal film of the past 25 years, begins shooting his next feature Tell, a parody of the Swissnational hero Wilhelm Tell, in the Bernese Alps from today (Aug 7).
Bavaria boards new films by Randau and Thalheim
4-Aug-2006Secondfeature films by award-winning filmmakers Felix Randauand Robert Thalheim have been picked up at productionstage for world sales by Bavaria Film International.
Swiss study finds more funding but lack of box-office success
Schloendorff plans Kazakhstan shoot for Ulzhan
X Filme launches unit for international co-productions
1-Aug-2006Berlinproduction powerhouse X Filme creative pool, whoserecent international production credits include Maria Schrader's Love Life and BilleAugust's Goodbye Bafana,has launched a subsidiary company X FilmeInternational to concentrate on the production of one to two internationalco-productions per year for the global market.
Locarno president talks of 'budgetary worries'
30-Jul-2006On the eve of this year'sLocarno International Film Festival, which will open on Wednesday (August 2)with Michael Mann's Miami Vice,the festival's president Marco Solari has spoken out about the financialchallenges facing Locarno for this year and for the future.
Lionsgate takes US and UK rights to Blood Trails
27-Jul-2006Lionsgate Films has picked up the German horror film Blood Trails by Robert Krause for distribution in the US and UK in the first quarter of 2007.
Sarajevo's CineLink partners with The Netherlands
25-Jul-2006TheNetherlands will be the countrypartner of Sarajevo's CineLink(August 23-27) after the co-production market's previous collaborations with Austria in 2004 and Germany in 2005.
Locarno drops Israeli sponsor in bombings protest
23-Jul-2006As aresponse to Israel's bombing of Lebanon, the Locarno International Film Festivalhas decided to drop the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs as one of thesponsors of this year's Leopards of Tomorrow sidebar.
Gravehopping takes best film at European Film Festival
21-Jul-2006Slovenian director JanCvitkovic's Gravehopping (Odgrobadogroba) took home the Golden TowerAward for best film in the main programme of the 13th European Film Festival inPalic (July 15-21).
Locarno buyers grow to 150 from 28 countries
20-Jul-2006Distributors from the UK, US, Russia, Spain and Romania are among theincreased numbers of internationalbuyers attending this year's Locarno Film Festival (August 2-12).
Hermann and Groenewold launch new producer-distributor
Locarno plans collaboration with Buenos Aires Lab
18-Jul-2006Next month's Locarno International Film Festival hasforged a new collaboration with the Buenos Aires Lab (BAL), theLatin American co-production market for independent cinema within the frameworkof the Buenos Aires Independent Film Festival and TyPA (Teoria y Practica delas Artes), to allow selected filmmakers and producers from Latin America ...
Heimat Fragments expected to premiere in Venice
17-Jul-2006Veteran Germandirector Edgar Reitz's fourth Heimat film, Heimat Fragments (Heimat Fragmente), isexpected to have its world premiere at this year's Venice Film Festival.This willcontinue a tradition which saw Reitz's ground-breaking first Heimat premierein Venice in 1984, ...
German co-producer required for tax scheme, says fund chief
17-Jul-2006Non-German producers are likely to need a local partner if they want to benefit from the tax rebate to be introduced in Germany next year.
German co-producer required for tax scheme, says fund chief
17-Jul-2006Non-German producers are likely to need a local partner if they want to benefit from the tax rebate to be introduced in Germany next year.
German co-producer required for tax scheme, says fund chief
16-Jul-2006Non-German producers are likely to need a local partner if they want to benefit from the tax rebate to be introduced in Germany next year.
Ascot Elite acquires six new films
German funds back new initiatives for Eastern Europe
Germany's Senator to diversify business
7-Jul-2006Therevamped German producer-distributor Senator Entertainment will be developedinto integrated media company, new CEO Helge Sasse said.
Five shorts up for Europe's Cartoon d'Or
7-Jul-2006UK animator Joanna Quinn's short Dreams & Desires - Family Ties,which won prizes at the Annecy and Zagreb animation festivalslast month, is among five European shorts nominated for the Cartoon d'Or. The awards recognise the work of new talents in theEuropean animation industry.
German regional funds back new films from Ben Hopkins and Marc Rothemund
German government agrees tax break
5-Jul-2006The German government has agreed a tax rebate model for the film industry following on the lines of the new UK scheme to come into effect from January 1, 2007.
Grosch leaves beleaguered German fund VIP
30-Jun-2006The beleaguered German private media fund VIP Medienfondshas been dealt another blow with the news of the sudden exit of managingdirector Andy Grosch. VIP's operations will now be managed solely by Dirk Spechtwho had been brought in this March to take over responsibility ...
Munich Previews to draw 50 international buyers
Mueller tapped to head production at Senator
Justus von Dohnanyi makes directorial debut with Hartz 4.2
German-French funders back films by Jacquot and de Chalonge
27-Jun-2006Newfeature films by Benoit Jacquot and Christian de Chalonge are among four projects backed with a total of $1.4m(Euros 1.1m) by the German-French Funding Commission which is administered bythe German Federal Film Board (FFA) and France's CNC to promoteco-production between the two countries.
Germany's Splendid Film revives theatrical business
Berlin's World Cinema Fund backs five new projects
Private investors fund new $22.6m The Red Baron
26-Jun-2006Germany's most expensive new production in 2006, Niki Muellerschoen's $22.6m (Euros 18m) English-language production The Red Baron (Der Rote Baron), begins principal photography on July 3 in Prague as a 100% privately financed project.
Locarno to show Veronica Chen's Aguas Argentinas
26-Jun-2006Withless than six weeks to go before the launch of his first Locarno as artistic director onAugust 2, Frederic Maire has spoken toScreenDaily.com about the preparations for the 59th edition of the festival ashis programme shapes up.
Uwe Boll's Boll AG starts trading on Frankfurt Exchange
Locarno opens doors to 11 projects from Southeast Asia
German federal states support new tax rebate model
Egoli Tossell gears up for bigger English-language films
Steinbichler's Winter Journey to open Munich Filmfest
EFP adds four more European films to New York screenings
19-Jun-2006Another four new European films will be shown to select US buyers, festival scouts and important cinema programmers in European Film Promotion's (EFP) third Industry Screenings in New York.
Turkish distributor embarks on Winter Journey
19-Jun-2006Turkish producer-distributor Limon Program Yapim Tanitim has picked up Hans Steinbichler's second feature film (Winter Journey (Winterreise) which will have its world premiere in the International Competition of the forthcoming Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
Belgrade plans three regional pitching prizes
15-Jun-2006TheBelgrade International Film Festival (also known as FEST) will award threeprizes for the best pitches made at the second "B2B" IndustryMeetings to be held from March 2-4 next year.
Locarno taps jury for Filmmakers of the Present
Kinotavr honours Serebrennikov's Playing The Victim
Christmas comes early for mdc
9-Jun-2006mdc Internationalhas taken on the international distribution for the Bulgarian-Germanco-production Christmas Tree Upside Down,which will have its world premiere in official competition at the forthcoming Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
Inaugural St Petersburg Film Festival cancelled
8-Jun-2006The St Petersburg International Film Festival -- which was due to beheld for the first time from July 18-31 in the historical Russian city -- willnot now go ahead after all.
Kinowelt books strong sales at Cannes
Beta does brisk sales for The Lives Of Others
EEAP's Cannes buys include Saw III and My Blueberry Nights
30-May-2006Berlin-based EasternEuropean Acquisition Pool (EEAP) went on a shopping spree at last week's CannesFilm Market, picking up titles from Lionsgate, 2929Entertainment, Studio Canaland Darclight for East European territories.
Cannes selections top BFI festival sales
29-May-2006BavariaFilm International (BFI) finished this year's Cannes by announcing numeroussales for Stefan Krohmer's Directors' Fortnight film Summer '04and Norwegian Jens Lien's International Critics' Week title The BothersomeMan.
Maria Koepf to leave X-Filme to set up own company
Germany's FFA awards $4m to new projects
16-May-2006Sequels of this year's local box-office hits Wild Soccer Bunch 3 and WildChicks are among eight projects backed with more than $3.97m (Euros 3.1m)production funding by the German Federal Film Board (FFA) at its latestsitting.
Alonso and Musaluppi recruited for Locarno juries
15-May-2006Leadingfigures from the New Argentine Cinema have been invited to serve on new jurieswhich are being established at this year's LocarnoFilm Festival under the new artistic director Frederic Maire.
Stasi thriller takes seven Lolas at German Film Awards
14-May-2006FlorianHenckel von Donnersmarck's The Lives Of Others (Das Leben Der Anderen)was the big winner at this year's German Film Awards in Berlin.The ...
Germany's Beta and Telepool add to Cannes lineups
11-May-2006Germansales companies are busy adding new titles to their sales lineupsa week before the beginning of this year's Cannes Market.
German director Uwe Boll plans to take Boll AG public
9-May-2006Onthe eve of this year's Cannes Film Market, German film director/media fundmanager Uwe Boll has unveiled plans for his group ofcompanies under the mantle of Boll AG to be listed in the Frankfurt StockExchange's Entry Standard before the summer.
Sokurov to receive Locarno's Leopard of Honour
8-May-2006Locarno Film Festival's Leopard of Honour will be awarded inthe first edition under the new artistic director Frederic Maireto the Russian master Alexander Sokurov.
Munich to honour Makhmalbafs, Figgis and Levinson
5-May-2006Thisyear's Munich Film Festival will be dedicating its retrospective to the Makhmalbaf family and a tribute to UK filmmaker Mike Figgis, while the 2006 CineMeritAward for his services to cinema will be presented to veteran US director BarryLevinson.
Bavaria takes on sales for Norwegian Critics' Week feature The Bothersome Man
German cinema admisions up 18% over last year
4-May-2006Germanexhibitors are on the rebound as cinemas reported a 17.89% year-on-yearincrease in admissions and 18.08% rise in box-office takings for the first fourmonths of 2006.
Ascot Elite picks up German-language rights to thriller Unknown
Beta Cinema to handle sales on Falorni feature debut
3-May-2006Beta Cinema hastaken on international sales on Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Luigi Falorni's fiction feature debut Heart Of Fire based on SenaitMehari's international bestseller of the same name.
Klooss joins Constantin Film's production team
2-May-2006Reinhard Klooss has joined Constantin Film's production team with a brief to developprojects in the area of family entertainment with a focus on CGI animated feature films.
Germans dominate at Austrian and Swiss festivals
1-May-2006Germanfilms were the major winners at the Crossing Europe Film Festival, and the Visionsdu Reel Documentary Film Festival at the weekend.IsabelleStever's ...
Media Luna adds six new films to Cannes sales slate
28-Apr-2006TheCritics' Week title pingpong,director Matthias Luthardt's feature film debut, isone of six new titles acquired by Cologne-based Media Luna Entertainment forits Cannes sales line-up this year.
Bavaria sells Into Great Silence to four more territories
German media funds lobby for access to private capital
27-Apr-2006The German mediafund lobby group Bundesverband PrivatkapitalFilm & Medien (BPFM) has entered the debate onthe future of film financing in Germany as the Angela Merkel administrationprepares to unveil a new financial instrument by July 1.
Innsbruck festival honours Tunisian director
26-Apr-2006TheInnsbruck International Film Festival (May 23-28) will be celebrating its 15thyear with a retrospective and exhibition dedicated to the Tunisian directorNacer Khemir, whose latest film Bab' Azizwill open the festival on May 23.
MD Herrmann leaves Senator in management shake-up
26-Apr-2006BenjaminHerrmann, managing director of Senator Entertainment's production anddistribution divisions, is leaving the company "by mutual agreement"on April 30 as part of the group's ongoing management restructuring.
Swiss hand out $3.6m reward for local film successes
25-Apr-2006Zurich-basedproduction house Dschoint Ventschr and distributor Frenetic Films were theleading beneficiaries when Switzerland's Federal Office for Culture (BAK) paidout $3.6m (4.6m Swiss Francs) "reference" funding to producers,distributors and exhibitors of successful Swiss films in 2005.
SquareOne adds five genre films to theatrical slate
23-Apr-2006German independent distributor SquareOne Entertainment hasacquired five new high-profile films to boost its theatrical slate:
Ten new directors to compete at Crossing Europe festival
20-Apr-2006GoEast'smain prize-winner Tbilisi Tbilisi by Georgian filmmaker Levan Zakareishvili isamong 10 debuts or second films by promising new directors selected for thisyear's European Competition at the Crossing Europe Film Festival in Austria'sLinz (April 25-30).
German media fund acquires Odeon Film
17-Apr-2006German private media fund GFP Medienfonds has taken a majority stake in the Munich-based TV/film producer Odeon Film.Aninvestment division of the GFP II and GFP III funds acquired the 53.66%shareholding held in Odeon Film until now by the Bavaria Film Group "afterseveral months and long negotiations", ...
Karlovy Vary creates CenEast Film Event
13-Apr-2006The latest films fromCentral and Eastern Europe are set to have a new promotional platform at thisyear's Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (June 30 - July 8) with thecreation of the CenEast Film Event.
Germany gets first download-to-own service
12-Apr-2006Warner Bros Entertainment and arvatomobile have joined forces to launch in2movies, the first German-languagedownload-to-own platform, for TV series and feature films, simultaneously withtheir release on DVD.The user canchoose from such blockbusters as Harry Potter ...
Tbilisi-Tbilisi takes top prize at GoEast Festival
11-Apr-2006Georgian filmmaker Levan Zakareishvili's Tbilisi-Tbilisi, a portrait of harsheveryday life in his nation's capital, was the surprise winner of the GoldenLily award for best film at this year's goEastFestival of Central and East European Cinema, which came to a close on Tuesdayevening in Wiesbaden.The ...
Bosnia plans more support for regional films
11-Apr-2006Bosnia and Herzegovina'snational Fund for Cinematography has reserved $242,250 (Euros 200,000) of its $908,437(Euros 750,000) annual budget to support regional co-productions.Speaking to ScreenDaily.com at this week's goEastFestival, Sarajevo Film Festival director Mirsad Purivatra described ...
Board shifts at Germany's Senator Entertainment
Vanessa Redgrave to head Sarajevo's new documentary jury
MDM backs projects from Kirghizia and Georgia
10-Apr-2006Newfeature films from Georgia and Kirghizia are among 16 projectsbacked with a total of more than $3.15m (Euros 2.6m) by the Leipzig-basedregional film fund MDM in its latest round offunding.
Fox Germany signs five-film deal with Claussen & Woebke
6-Apr-2006TwentiethCentury Fox of Germany has signed a multi-picture deal with Munich-basedproduction house Claussen & Woebke Filmproduktion covering all film rightsfor five feature films in the next three years as well as further projects thatare yet to be developed.
Hamburg Film Fund gives $3.1m to seven new projects
6-Apr-2006The Hamburg Film Fund has awarded$3.1m (Euros 2.5m) in production support to seven projects including newfeature films by Fatih Akin, Peter Timm, Detlev Buck and Nicolette Krebitz.
Nyon documentary festival adds pitching forum
5-Apr-2006The Visions du Reel International Documentary Festival (April 24-29) inNyon, Switzerland, has joined forces with theEuropean Documentary Network to stage its first pitching forum aimed atcreative documentaries focusing on an artistic visual approach.
Filmstiftung NRW puts $3.64m into six new films
4-Apr-2006New projects by Rolf Schuebel, Fatih Akin, Ulla Wagner, and Tony Loeser are among six feature films awarded more than $3.64m (Euros 3m) by North Rhine-Westphalia's regional film fund Filmstiftung NRW at its latest funding session.
Fewer sections and films planned for Locarno 2006
4-Apr-2006This year's edition of the Locarno International Film Festival (August 2-12, 2006) will jettison two sections and show fewer films, the festival's annual meeting was told in Locarno on Monday evening.
Senator upbeat after end of insolvency crisis
3-Apr-2006SenatorEntertainment's CEO Christopher Borgmann has struck an upbeat note on the Berlin-based producer-distributor's future afterthe company was officially withdrawn from insolvency proceedings.
Theatrical drives big leap in Kinowelt profits
3-Apr-2006Theresurrected Kinowelt Group trebled its year-on-year annual profits to $4.3m (Euros3.6m) on revenues of $95.1m (Euros 78.5m), up 41%TheLeipzig-based ...
Constantin receives $4.2m from German Federal Film Board
31-Mar-2006Constantin Film has been named the most successful Germanproducer and distributor of 2005 after picking up a total of $4.2m (Euros 3.5m)retroactive "reference funding" from the German Federal Film Board (FFA) to invest in new filmprojects and distribution campaigns.
Constantin Film sets itself a sales target of $302m for 2006
30-Mar-2006Germanproducer-distributor Constantin Film has set itself asales target of $302m (Euros 250m) for 2006, which would top the $298m (Euros 246.9m)posted in the record yearof 2004 when Constantin released Dreamship Surprise - Period 1 and Downfall.
VIP investors file for damages estimated at $30m
30-Mar-2006More than 200investors in the beleaguered VIP 3 and 4 private media funds have become the first to file fordamages.
Russian and Polish films are the focus of goEast festival
29-Mar-2006Filmmakingfrom Russia and Poland will be the focus of this year's goEast- Festival of Central and East European Cinema in Wiesbaden (April 5-11).
First Danish-Austrian co-productions unveiled
28-Mar-2006ZentropaEntertainments and DOR-Film are to be partners on the first ever Danish-Austrianco-production with Jacob Thuesen's Erik Nietzsche - The Early Years. Thisalso marks the first collaboration between national public funds the DanishFilm Institute (DFI) and the Austrian Film Institute who are backing theproject that previously had Lone Scherfig attached asdirector.
German Federal Film Board backs 11 projects with over $5.7m
28-Mar-2006Newfeature films by Marco Kreuzpaintner, Fatih Akin, Peter Timm and Ben Verbong are among 11 projects backed with over $5.7m (Euros4.8m) by the German Federal Film Board in its latest funding session.
Haneke adds Austrian prize to list of honours
27-Mar-2006Michael Haneke's drama Hidden(Cache) took the Diagonale GrandPrix for best Austrian feature film 2005/2006at this year's annual celebration of Austrian cinema in Graz.
Crossing Europe Film Festival launches Austrian Screenings
24-Mar-2006This year's CrossingEurope Film Festival in Linz (April 25 - 30) is launching the AustrianScreenings to give international film festival programmers and buyers theopportunity to view new Austrian films.The Screenings programme,which has been compiled in collaboration with the Austrian Film Commission, ...
Nominations announced for German Film Awards
23-Mar-2006Florian Henckelvon Donnersmarck's feature debut Das Leben Der Anderenand Hans-Christian Schmid's Berlinalecompetition film Requiem dominatedthe nominations for this year's"Lola" German Film Awards which will be presented in Berlinon May 12.
Haneke slams Austrian producer's body funding plans
23-Mar-2006Austria's leadinginternational filmmaker Michael Haneke (Hidden)has spoken out against proposals by the Austrian Producers Association toconcentrate public film funding on the makers of commercially successful films.Speaking at the first offour roundtables on the state of Austrian film production ...
German producers look to the Balkans for success
22-Mar-2006Champagnecorks may have popped in Sarajevo after Jasmila Zbanic's debut feature Grbavicawon the Golden Bear at last month's Berlinale - but celebrationswere not confined to Bosnia and Herzegovina.Therewas also cause for jubilation in Germany: Didi Danquart's Karlsruhe-based noirfilm was one of the co-producers, along with Austria'scoop99, Zbanic's own company Deblokadaand Croatia's Jadran ...
Garpastum picks up best film at Sofia Film Festival
20-Mar-2006AlekseiGerman Jr.'s story of four friends on the eve of theFirst World War Garpastumwon the Stella Artois Grand Prix for Best Film at theSofia International Film Festival 10th anniversary edition which ended on March18.
Strong documentary presence at Diagonale
19-Mar-2006The documentary genre willbe particularly strong at this year's Diagonale - Festival of Austrian Cinemawhich is being opened in Graz on March 21 with FlorianFlicker's No Name City about a WildWest town theme park south of Vienna.Among the 22 newdocumentaries selected to screen are Elisabeth ...
Sofia Meetings co-production forum unveils line-up
14-Mar-2006Tensecond feature film projects have been selected for this year's third editionof the Sofia Meetings co-production forum (March 17-18).
Aardman's double triumph at European animation awards
13-Mar-2006TheUK's Aardman Animations scored a double triumph by taking home two of theCartoon Movie Tributes voted on by representatives of the European animationindustry attending this year's co-production forum at the Babelsberg Studiosfrom March 9-11.
Eurimages puts more than $4.2m into nine projects
13-Mar-2006Strasbourg-based pan-European co-production fund Eurimages has backed nineprojects with more than $4.2m (Euros 3.6m).
Vienna Film Fund puts $1.6m into 10 projects
10-Mar-2006New featurefilms by Antonin Svoboda, Michael Glawogger,and Rupert Henning are among 10 projects awarded over $1.6m (Euros 1.4m) bythe Vienna Film Fund.
Brisk sales continue for Golden Bear winner Grbavica
8-Mar-2006Michael Weber's salesoutfit The Match Factory has closed a raft of deals for Jasmila Zbanic's GoldenBear winning Bosnian drama Grbavica in addition to previous sales to Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
Dardenne brothers' The Child to open Sofia Film Festival
8-Mar-2006The Dardenne brothers' Golden Palm winner The Child will open the 10th anniversary edition of the SofiaInternational Film Festival (SIFF) on March 9.
Intertainment founder resigns from supervisory board
7-Mar-2006Ruediger "Barry" Baeres,the founder of beleaguered German licence trader/producer Intertainment,has stepped down from his position as chairman of the company's supervisoryboard "for personal reasons" "with immediate effect."
Constantin subsidiary acquires rights to children's book
3-Mar-2006Just aweek after acquiring the film rights to Michael Ende'sJim Button children's classic for anEnglish language screen adaptation German producer Christian Becker has nowbought the rights to the late Max von der Gruen's 1976 children's book, The Suburban Crocodiles (Die Vorstadtkrokodile).
Senator Films looks set to pull cannibal film
3-Mar-2006German distributor Senator Film looks set to pull its March 9 release of Butterfly -A Grimm Love Story (Rohtenburg), after a court in Kassel granted Armin Meiwes a temporary injunction on Friday preventing the film being shown on German screens.
Stefan Ruzowitzky's new feature to shoot at Babelsberg
3-Mar-2006Another film about eventsfrom the Second World War will use sound stages at Studio Babelsbergonly three months after shooting wrapped on Paul Verhoevens Black Book just before Christmas.
Bavarian fund backs family entertainment and Wixxer sequel
28-Feb-2006Three familyfilms and a sequel to the 2004 box office hit Der Wixxer are among seven feature projects awarded over $4.8m (Euros4.1m) by Bavaria's regional film fund FFF Bayernat its latest sitting.
Aardman director duo nominated for Cartoon Movie Tributes
27-Feb-2006Directorialduo Nick Park and Steve Box, the UK's Aardmananimation studios behind their Wallace& Gromit: The Curse Of TheWere-Rabbit, and Italian distributor Mikado Film are among the nominees forthis year's Cartoon Movie Tributes which will be announced at the eighthedition of the Cartoon Movie co-production market at the BabelsbergStudios in Potsdam from March 9-11.
Rat Pack plans English-language family film based on bestseller
23-Feb-2006ConstantinFilm subsidiary Rat Pack Filmproduktion has secured the film rights to thefamily bestseller Jim Button And Luke TheEngine Driver for an English language adaptation aimed at the internationalmarket.
Golden Bear winner finds more buyers
22-Feb-2006Jasmila Zbanic's Golden Bear winner Grbavica has been picked up byVentura Film for theatrical release in Germany later this year, while Switzerland's Trigon-Filmplans to release the mother-daughter drama in the aftermath of the Bosnian warthis autumn.
Germans join forces for $47.7m English-language slate
21-Feb-2006Production outfit Schmidtz KatzeFilmkollektiv and the Berlin-based developmentcompany mediacontentfactory (mcf)have joined forces to initiate a $47.7m (Euros 40m) slate of English-languagegenre films for the international market.
Kosslick delight at record-breaking Berlinale
20-Feb-2006"Spectacularlyunspectacular" is Dieter Kosslick's personal verdict on the fifthBerlinale under his direction which came to end this weekend with the awardingof the Golden Bear to Bosnian film-maker Jasmila Zbanic for Grbavica.
Mockert steps down as head of German media fund MBP
20-Feb-2006Rainer Mockert has stepped down from the German private media fund MBP which he founded in 1999 and has handed over management of the MBP KG I and MBP KG II funds to financing expert Kai Grueneke.
Bosnian war drama takes Golden Bear at Berlin
18-Feb-2006Sarajevofilmmaker Jasmila Zbanic's won year's Golden Bear for her moving feature debut Grbavicaabout the traumas of war as a mother and daughter try to come to terms with thelegacy of the Bosnian conflict.
Bosnian war drama takes Golden Bear at Berlin
18-Feb-2006Sarajevofilmmaker Jasmila Zbanic's won year's Golden Bear for her moving feature debut Grbavicaabout the traumas of war as a mother and daughter try to come to terms with thelegacy of the Bosnian conflict.
Berlinale 2006 prize-winners
18-Feb-2006BERLINALE2006 PRIZE-WINNERS
Auret and Thoke launch Roughdiamond
15-Feb-2006Former Sithengi Film & TVMarket CEO Michael Auret and German producer Christoph Thoke have launched Roughdiamond films as a South African-based internationalfinancing and production outfit.
Jansen's Recipe wins Talent Highlight Pitch Award
15-Feb-2006The Netherlands'Rinkel Film & TV will be joining forces withHamburg-based Neue Impulsto produce writer-director Melinda Jansen's ARecipe For Hendrik Hadders, which won the Talent Highlight Pitch Award2006 at Berlinale's Talent Project Market.
Polaris Production & Finance to produce two Delpy films
15-Feb-2006Julie Delpy's production companyStar 69 has joined forces with the new Paris-based outfit Polaris Production& Finance to produce two feature projects this year.
Producer Alan Greenspan forms alliance with SHIP
14-Feb-2006In an attempt to kick-start its English-language ambitions,Studio Hamburg International Production (SHIP) has entered an alliance withLA-based producer Alan Greenspan.
Roginas to head St Petersburg Film Festival
14-Feb-2006Ex-Eurimages executive secretary RenateRoginas has been named Artistic Director for the first St. Petersburg InternationalFilm Festival in July.
VCL and 3Rosen on a Promise with Warner Bros
12-Feb-2006ChenKaige's The Promise, which screened at the Berlinale last week, will be one of the firsttitles to be released theatrically in Germany as part of a new venture betweenDatty Ruth's VCL Film + Medien and the 3Rosen Filmverleih.
Germany's ProSieben signs US cable carrying deal with Comcast
11-Feb-2006The international German-language pay channel ProSiebenSat.1 Welt hassigned a deal with the Comcast Corporation's International Networks to bedistributed to subscribers via cable and DSL in the US.The channel, whose schedules include the programming highlights from thenetworks ...
Kinowelt resurrects Arthaus theatrical distribution label
9-Feb-2006Germany's KinoweltFilmverleih has resurrected its Arthaus label for the theatrical release of arthousetitles.
Constantin announces five pick-ups on eve of Berlin
8-Feb-2006Mel Gibson's new historical epic Apocalypto and the thirdpart in the Asterix franchise, Asterix At The Olympic Games, are among fivepotential blockbusters acquired by German distributor Constantin Film on theeve of this year's Berlinale.Constantin, which previously handled Gibson's The ...
Peckinpah's Pat Garrett to close Berlin
30-Jan-2006Thedirector's cut of Sam Peckinpah's Pat Garrett & Billy TheKid willclose this year's Berlinale on February 18.
Berlinale announces final sidebar entries
25-Jan-2006Newfilms by Lukas Moodysson, Christian Vincent, AnnetteK. Olesen, and Romuald Karmakar are among the final titles to be confirmed for theline-up of the Berlinale's Panorama whose mainprogramme will be opened by Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe'sBrothers Of TheHead about young Siamese twins who appeared on the punk rock scene in the1970s.
Luxembourg and Austria sign co-production treaty
24-Jan-2006Collaborationbetween the Austrian and Luxembourg film and televisionindustries has been given amajor boost with the signing of aco-production treaty between the two countries.
Berlinale Forum list is finalised
Berlinale Forum list is finalised
20-Jan-2006Originalityand innovative strength are the keywords at this year's edition of the Berlinale's Forum programme which will focus on directorialdebuts by young filmmakers.
Bavaria Film International adds to sales slate
20-Jan-2006Bavaria Film International has added five new Germanlanguage titles to its sales slate, all of which will be having their worldpremieres at the Berlin filmfestival next month.
Eugen wins Best Film at Swiss Film Awards
19-Jan-2006Last year's local blockbuster, Michael Steiner's My Name Is Eugen(Mein Name IstEugen) was named Best Film at the 2006 Swiss FilmAwards ceremony in Solothurn on Wednesday evening.
Berlin's Co-Production Market line-up confirmed
16-Jan-2006This year's Berlinale Co-ProductionMarket will feature 44 projects from 24 countries, including three projects from the forthcoming CineMart in Rotterdam.
Debut director is feted at the Bavarian Film Awards
13-Jan-2006Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's feature debut Das Leben Der Anderen was the big winner at the weekend's BavarianFilm Awards taking home prizes in four categories.
German box office takings fall by 18.1%
9-Jan-2006Germancinemas saw takings fall year-on-year by 18.1% and admissions by 20.4% in 2005,according to figures collated by Nielsen EDI for January 3 2005 to January 1 2006.Box-officerevenues amounted to ...
Berlinale Co-Production Market entries leap 25%
2-Jan-2006Thenumber of entries for this year's Berlinale Co-Production Market (BCM) is up 25%on 2005.Morethan ...
Cattaneo film will open Berlinale Kinderfilmfest
1-Jan-2006The Berlinale's Kinderfilmfest will be opened with the international premiere of Peter Cattaneo's new film Opal Dream about a girl whose lively imaginary friends become a real threat to her family in the Australian outback.
Intermedia signs video deal with Warner Home Video
29-Dec-2005Internationalmedia's subsidiary Intermedia Film Distribution has signed a 10-year exclusive distribution deal with Warner Home Video (WHV) for titles from its film library.
Berlin reveals first Competition titles
20-Dec-2005New films by Terrence Malick, Chen Kaige and Oskar Roehler are among the first nine titles confirmed for the Berlin Film Festival next February.
European Film Market to open second 'spillover' site
20-Dec-2005The European Film Market's move to a new venue - The Martin-Gropius-Bau - in February has been over-subscribed, resulting in a market 50 percent bigger than 2005 and prompting EFM organisers to open a 'spillover' venue for 40 companies.
EFM 2006 will be 50% larger than 2005
20-Dec-2005EFM director Beki Probst revealed that due to the large demand from
Film bodies fear EU budget plans could damage MEDIA Programme
20-Dec-2005Film industry bodies claim the European Union MEDIA Programme's work could be damaged by reductions in spending on culture after 2006.
Solothurn Film Days to show Maximilian Schell retrospective
19-Dec-2005Stina Werenfels' feature debut Nachbeben willopen the Solothurn Film Days (January 16-22, 2006), the Swiss film community's annualget-together to showcase production by its filmmakers working at home andabroad.
3 Degrees Colder producer launches distribution arm
19-Dec-2005blue eyes Fiction, the producer of FlorianHoffmeister's 3Degrees Colder (3 Grad Kaelter), has launched anin-house theatrical arm blue eyes Pictures to release the Silver Leopard-winnerin German cinemas on March 16.
New head of European MEDIA Programme appointed
16-Dec-2005Aviva Silver was today appointed as the successor to Domenico Raneri as the head of the European Commission's MEDIA Programme.
New projects by Miller and Golubovic backed by Eurimages
9-Dec-2005Newfeature films by Claude Miller, Alain Resnais, Lone Scherfig, and Srdan Golubovic are among 14 projects awarded over $5.2m (Euros4.4m) by the Council of Europe's pan-European co-production fund Eurimages.
Bavaria Film International Picks Up Schmid's Portovero
8-Dec-2005Bavaria FilmInternational (BFI) has picked up international distribution rights to Swissdirector Daniel Schmid's latest feature Portoverowhich has just begun shooting on location in Switzerland.
Kinowelt Forecasts 30% Increase in Group Turnover
8-Dec-2005Kinowelt is forecasting a 30% year-on-year increase inturnover to over $82.4m (Euros 70m) by the end of 2005. This financial forecastwill see the company return to its position as one of the key German players.
Lemming Director Chosen As Jury President
8-Dec-2005TheGerman-French director Dominik Moll has been named asthe jury president for the Dialogue en perspective Prize at next year's BerlinInternational Film Festival.
Midsummer Madness to begin shooting in March 2006
8-Dec-2005Vienna/London-basedsales agent EastWest Filmdistributionhas picked up world sales rights on Riga-born Alexander Hahn's comedy Midsummer Madness which was presented atlast week's Baltic Event Co-Production Market in Estonia's Tallinn and set to beginshooting next March.
Germans may hear new finance ideas by Christmas
5-Dec-2005German Chancellor Angela Merkel's new administration may give an indication of their plans to attract private capital to the local film industry before the Christmasbreak.
Yves Marmion named chairman of the European Film Academy
Marmion elected chair of European Film Academy
4-Dec-2005Frenchproducer Yves Marmion was elected as the new Chairman of the European FilmAcademy (EFA) on the eve of the weekend's European Film Awards ceremony.
Baltic Event launches its first co-production market
30-Nov-2005New filmsby Latvia's Alexander Hahn, Lithuania's Algimantas Puipa, Norway's MariusHolst, and Romania's Cristian Mungiu are among 12 projects being presented atthe first Baltic Event Co-Production Market to be held in Tallinn from December1-2.
Charlotte Rampling to be jury president at Berlinale 2006
30-Nov-2005Britishactress Charlotte Rampling will head up the main juryat next year's Berlinale (February 9-19, 2006).
Lago weighs in on Lynch's Surveillance
30-Nov-2005Jennifer Lynch's long-gestating project Surveillance will go into production with Germany's Lago Film backing the $10m production.
New Locarno director announces changes
30-Nov-2005Locarno's new artistic directorFrederic Maire has announced a series oforganisational and programme changes two months after taking up his post onOctober 1.
Nicaragua ready for first production in 16 years
29-Nov-2005Germany's Shotgun Pictures will co-produce producer-directorFlorence Jaugey's feature debut La Yuma whichwill be the first feature film to be produced in Nicaragua for 16 years. French-born Jaugey, who took upresidence in Nicaragua set up her production ...
German-French co-production finds favour with Filmstiftung NRW
29-Nov-2005TwoGerman-French co-productions attracted the bulk of the $7m (6m Euros)production support allocated by Filmstiftung NRW atits last funding session.
Tele Muenchen AFM Pickups
28-Nov-2005New films by Roberto Benigni and Woody Allen are among a collection of new titles acquired by Germany's Tele Muenchen Group (TMG) at the recent American Film Market (AFM).
Sterk's Turning hits the right notes in Mannheim
28-Nov-2005The mainaward of this year's Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival went to Tuningby Slovenia's Igor Sterk.Theinternational ...
New German culture minister offers first-day handouts
25-Nov-2005New films by Christian Petzold, Stanislaw Mucha, AndreasKleinert and Thomas Grube are among 17 projects and screenplays backed to thetune of $1.9m (Euros 1.64m) byGermany's new State Minister for Culture Bernd Neumann on his first day inoffice.
Germans confirm media funds demise
24-Nov-2005The old-style media funds have at last come to the end of the road after the first cabinet under Germany's new Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Kinowelt snaps up Epsilon from insolvency
24-Nov-2005DistributorKinowelt has taken over the Munich-based film financier and licence traderEpsilon Motion Pictures GmbH and its Zurich subsidiary Epsilon Motion PicturesAG from Kirch Media's insolvency administrator Michael Jaffe.
Macedonia plans to establish national film fund
24-Nov-2005Macedonia is to set up a national film fund by the end of next year to support film-making from screenplay development through production to distribution and promotion.Speakingexclusively to Screendaily.com in Mannheim, Branko Petrovski, head of the Filmand Theatre Department at Macedonia's ...
Production milestone for Nigerian film industry
24-Nov-2005Productionis being planned next year for the first Nigerian film to be shot on 35mm for20 years with an adaptation of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa's novel Lemona's Tale.Johannesburg-basedCapitol International Productions' project Lemona, to be directed by Kinshasha-born Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda, ...
New German culture minister raises hopes for film finance
23-Nov-2005Hopesfor a swift resolution of the German film funding crisis following thescrapping of media funds have been raised with the appointment of Germany's newState Minister For Culture, Bernd Neumann.The63-year-old has taken a strong interest in film finance issues. Earlier thisyear argued that ...
Franco-German call for extension to film fund
22-Nov-2005Frenchand German producers and distributors want the $3.5m (Euros 3m)"mini-traite" co-production fund to be extended to include thesupport of the theatrical distribution in the two countries.
Schloendorff under fire from Solidarity heroine
22-Nov-2005Oscar-winning director Volker Schloendorff has comeunder fire from the mother of Poland's Solidarity movement Anna Walentynowiczfor his latest film Die Vergessene Heldin which began shooting atoriginal locations in the Baltic port of Gdansk at the end of October.
Darwin's Nightmare proves to be an Austrian dream
22-Nov-2005When the InternationalDocumentary Film Festival Amsterdam opens in the Dutch capital on Thursday (Nov24) it will feature two documentaries from the same country on the same topic.The overlap is not due tosome error by the selection committee: the films in question - each Austrianand dealing with food politics - are very different. Erwin ...
Constantin raises sales forecast but theatrical still down
18-Nov-2005German producer-distributor ConstantinFilm has raised its forecast for the current financial year to a sales targetof around $235m (Euros 200m) for 2005.
Record numbers apply for Berlinale Talent Campus
18-Nov-2005The Berlinale Talent Campus (BTC) has received a record3,516 applications from 121 countries for its fourth edition to be held fromFebruary 11-16.
Vandierendonck set to take leading role at Eurimages
18-Nov-2005Belgium'sJan Vandierendonck is set to take over from Renate Roginas as ExecutiveSecretary for the Council of Europe's pan-European co-production fund Eurimagesfrom the beginning of January.
Fifteen films compete for Swiss Film Prize
17-Nov-2005Michael Steiner's comedy Mein Name Ist Eugen, which with 500,000 admissions has become the third most successful Swiss film in the last 30 years, is among the nominated films for the 2006 Swiss Film Prize.
Film-makers to pitch 55 projects at Mannheim Meetings
17-Nov-2005New feature projects by Ireland's Johnny Gogan, Georgia's Nana Djordjadze, Poland's Robert Glinski and Nigeria's Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda are among 55 films from Europe, Canada, Latin America and Africa with a total production volume of Euros 84m being pitched at this year's Mannheim Meetings co-production market.
European industry event hopes to build East-West links
16-Nov-2005The Belgrade International Film Festival FEST is to launch a forum to boost links between film professionals from Western and Eastern Europe and neighbouring countries with a strong European influence and heritage.
Final hopes for German media funds are dashed
15-Nov-2005German media funds are now all but dead, with the incoming government announcing it will backdate reforms to last week.
German-Polish alliance creates pioneering film fund
14-Nov-2005Thenewly-created Polish Film Institute and the two German regional funds haveestablished a Polish-German Co-Development Fund.The ...
BFI crosses more bridges with Akin music doc
14-Nov-2005Afterconcluding an all-rights US deal with Strand Releasing for FatihAkin's music documentary Crossing The Bridge - The Sound Of Istanbul at the recent AFMmarket, Bavaria Film International (BFI) has now also sold the film to Brazil'sImovision, Bulgaria's Art Fest Ltd, and Japan's Alcine Terran.
Gravehopping on top at record-breaking Cottbus
13-Nov-2005JanCvitkovic's Gravehopping was named best film at this year's Cottbus Festival of East European Cinema.
Screen heroines focus for Berlinale anniversary
12-Nov-2005The30th anniversary edition of the Berlinale Retrospective next February will bededicated to the screen heroines of the 1950s.EntitledDream ...
Media fund reprieve is just stay of execution
11-Nov-2005German media funds in their current form have little chance of survival, despite a change of government and yet another late reprieve.
Lucky thirteen pitch to producers at Cottbus
8-Nov-2005Thirteenprojects will be pitched to potential production partners during this year'stwo-day Connecting Cottbus co-development forum between November 10-11.
European quartet head for New York Industry Screenings
8-Nov-2005A re-edited version of Florian Hoffmeister's Silver Leopard winner Three Degrees Colder is one of four European films being presented at European Film Promotion's (EFP) first New York Industry Screenings programme at the Tribeca Cinemas from November 14 - 15.
German Media Funds under imminent threat, say reports
8-Nov-2005German Federal Finance Minister Hans Eichel is reported to be submitting a motion forcabinet approval which would spell the end of the media funds by the end ofthis week.Accordingto German press reports, the Federal Cabinet will be asked to vote on changesto the Income Tax Code by Thursday ...
Four films picked for WCF funding
3-Nov-2005Inits third round of funding, the Berlin-based World Cinema Fund (WCF) hasselected four projects for production support and one project to back forGerman theatrical distribution.
Celluloid Dreams handles international sales on Atomised
2-Nov-2005CelluloidDreams is to handle international sales for Oskar Roehler's adaptation ofcontroversial French author Michel Houellebecq's best-selling novel Atomised(Elementarteilchen) which is currently in post-productionand may premiere at next year's Berlinale.Theco-production between ...
Media Luna adds dance doc to AFM slate
1-Nov-2005Onthe eve of the AFM, Cologne-based sales company Media Luna has added ArneBirkenstock's documentary 12 Tangos -Adios Buenos Aires to its market line-up.
Hof hits new heights
31-Oct-2005TheInternational Hof Film Days posted record attendancewith 28,000 admissions in five days.
Hof hits new heights
31-Oct-2005This year's International Hof Film Days attracted a record 28,000 admissions in five days.
Bavaria adds Heaven, Offside to AFM slate
28-Oct-2005Bavaria Film International has added two new titles - Ed Herzog's Almost Heaven and BuketAlakus' Offside(Eine Andere Liga) - to its market slate for the upcoming AFM nextmonth.
Ex-Egoli Tossell exec Damian unveils 27 Films' debut slate
Austrian film-makers sign up for Mozart project
Haneke's Hidden rejected as Oscar entry
Question mark hangs over German media funds
25-Oct-2005Germany's mediafunds have been thrown into disarray by speculation that the new governmentunder Chancellor Angela Merkel is intending to revive the previousadministration's tax reform plans in mid-November to put an end to theold-style media funds.
Berlin boosts film funding coffers
20-Oct-2005The BerlinSenate has increased its backing for Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (MBB) this year by Euros 1.5m to bringthe regional fund's overall budget for film funding and location marketing toEuros 17.9m.
Kinowelt takes German rights to Hood's Tsotsi
20-Oct-2005Kinowelthas acquired all German rights for Gavin Hood's gangster drama Tsotsi which wonthe People's Choice Award at last month's Toronto International Film festivaland the Michael Powell Award and the Audience Award in Edinburgh in August.
Balkan films emerge as big winners at Warsaw festival
German-US investors take over Senator Entertainment
13-Oct-2005A German-US group of investors, headed byCologne-based media lawyer Helge Sasseand German-born, Los Angeles-based independent producer Marco Weber (Igby Goes Down, The 13th Floor), has acquired amajority 50.1% interest in insolvent distributor-producer Senator Entertainment.
Hof Film Days unveils festival programme
13-Oct-2005German documentariesare particularly strong at this year's International HofFilm Days (October 26-30) including world premieres of new films about musicianJohn Cale, a 'behind the scenes' look atthe casting couch in Hollywood, and thelegendary 1940s screenwriter 'Buzz' Bezzerides.Joerg ...
German box office woes continue in third quarter
11-Oct-2005Cinemaadmissions in Germany were down 27% and box office takings 25.5% less in thethird quarter between July and September compared to the same period last year,according to figures collated by Nielsen EDI.Thestatisticians noted that releases like Madagascar(Euros ...
Schloendorff, Kaurismaki projects win German funding
6-Oct-2005New films by Volker Schloendorff, Mika Kaurismaki,Angelina Maccarone, Ute Wieland and Djamshed Usmonov are among projectsreceiving production support from Filmstiftung NRW and MedienboardBerlin-Brandenburg (MBB) at their latest funding sessions.
Polish Film Centre chief named
5-Oct-2005Poland's Deputy Culture Minister AgnieszkaOdorowicz has been appointed by Culture Minister Waldemar Dabrowski as thedirector of the new Polish Film Centre (PISF).The new body, whichwill bring the activities of the Film Production Agency, Script Support Agencyand Polish Film Promotion together under one roof with an annual budget ofEuros 25m, is due to start operations from January ...
VIP Medienfonds chief arrested as part of tax probe
5-Oct-2005The troubles of the privateGerman media fund VIP Medienfonds took a dramatic turn on Wednesday (October 5)with news that its CEO Andreas Schmid has been arrested.
Film, publishing industries to link up at Frankfurt Book Fair
30-Sep-2005Relationsbetween the publishing and film industries are to be intensified with a yetcloser collaboration between the Berlin International Film Festival and theFrankfurt Book Fair with the staging of joint industry events during thisyear's event between October 19-23.
Austria, Poland, Sweden, Norway name Oscar films
29-Sep-2005Austria, Poland and Swedenhave announced their contenders for the foreign language Oscar category.
Germany's TV-Loonland launches distribution arm
29-Sep-2005Family programmingspecialist TV-Loonland has launched its own theatrical and home entertainmentdistribution arm Loonland Pictures to market in-house and third partyproductions in Germany.
Raneri takes over as interim head of Media Programme
29-Sep-2005Domenico Raneri, until now responsible foroverseeing the development action line of the European Union's MEDIA Programme,has taken over from Costas Daskalakis as the interim head of the MEDIA unit inBrussels.Although there hasn'tbeen an official unit head for MEDIA since Delmoly's exit last year, this postis now expected to be filled in the coming months.
Top German fund VIP hit by tax evasion probe
29-Sep-2005BeleagueredGerman private film financier VIP Media Group has withdrawn its current fundsVIP 5 and 6 from the market after theoffice of Munich's public prosecutor began investigations this week intoalleged professional fraud and tax evasion.The authoritiesraided the Munich office and ...
UK animator wins Cartoon D'or with Jo Jo
25-Sep-2005UK animator MarcCraste has won this year's Cartoon D'or for his dark 12-minute short Jo JoIn The Stars at theCartoon Forum co-production market held in Denmark's Kolding from September21-24.
Swiss select Hiver as Oscar candidate
23-Sep-2005Greg Zglinski's featuredebut Tout Un Hiver Sans Feu hasbeen selected as Switzerland's entry for the race for the Foreign LanguageOscar.
Germany names Sophie Scholl as Oscar choice
21-Sep-2005Marc Rothemund's Silver Bear winner Sophie Scholl - TheFinal Days has been selected as Germany's entry to enter the race for theForeign Language Film Oscar.
White Masai takes top spot at German box office
20-Sep-2005The White Masai,directed by Hermine Huntgeburth, has become the second local film this yearafter Til Schweiger's Barefoot to take the number one spot at the Germanbox-office.The love storybetween cultures between a Swiss businesswoman and a black Masai warrior hadbeen primarily targeted by distributor Constantin at female audiences, althoughthe Euros 7m production has ...
Falk's Collector gathers Polish Film Fest prizes
19-Sep-2005Veteran filmmaker FeliksFalk was the big winner at this year's 30th Polish Film Festival (Sept 12-17)in the Baltic port of Gdynia with his first film for 10 years, The Collector(Komornik), which picked up five prizes at the weekend's closing galaceremony.
UK animated shorts make Cartoon d'Or final
Warsaw festival launches CentEast film market
31-Aug-2005The Warsaw International Film Festival (WFF)(Oct 7-16) is launching the CentEast regional film market for films fromCentral and Eastern Europe for the first time this year over four days fromOctober 12-15.
Funny Balloons swoops for Mueller's Face Addict
29-Aug-2005Paris-basedFunny Balloons has taken on international sales for Edo Bertoglio's documentaryFace Addict whichwas produced by Venice Film Festival director Marco Mueller's Downtown Picturesand Switzerland's Amka Films in association with Swiss Television and the USA'sMako Productions.
MDC to mastermind Trzaskalski's San Sebastian entry
24-Aug-2005MDCInternational is to handle world sales for Polish director Piotr Trzaskalski's TheMaster (Mistrz) which will have its world premiere in San Sebastian'sZabaltegi section next month.
Russell shows off Hot Pants at Oldenburg
23-Aug-2005VeteranUK director Ken Russell is to be feted with a retrospective including theworld premiere of his latest film Hot Pants at this year's OldenburgInternational Film Festival (Sept 7-11).
Bavaria adds three from Li, Armendariz, Svoboda
23-Aug-2005BavariaFilm International (BFI) has added three new titles to its sales lineup fromChinese filmmaker Li Yu, Spain's Montxo Armendariz and Austria's AntoninSvoboda
Workingman's Death starts life with PTD
22-Aug-2005Luxembourg-basedPaul Thiltges Distributions (PTD) will handle international sales on Austrian filmmakerMichael Glawogger's documentary Workingman's Death.
Warhol set for major Vienna retrospective
22-Aug-2005Andy Warhol is to be givenone of the most comprehensive presentations of his cinematic ouevre to date atthis year's Vienna International Film Festival, the Viennale (October 14-26).
Weber quits Bavaria to launch own sales outfit
17-Aug-2005Michael Weber, managingdirector of Bavaria Media and Bavaria Film International (BFI), is leaving thecompany to set up his own as-yet-unnamed world sales outfit.
Austrian box office plunges in first half of 2005
16-Aug-2005Mirroring the general internationaltrend, Austrian exhibitors have reported year-on-year falls in box-officerevenues and admissions for the first half of 2005, but are bullish aboutprospects for the next six months.According to figures collated by theAustrian exhibitors' association FLA, 7.35m tickets ...
New Locarno chief outlines festival strategy
16-Aug-2005Locarno Film Festival's incoming artisticdirector Frederic Maire has set himself of the goal of making the event"the festival of the future."
Pair of film channels to launch in Germany
16-Aug-2005Germany's free-TV channels Tele 5 and NBC Giga are beingrelaunched as film channels from this autumn.
Garcia's Nine Lives takes top Locarno prize
14-Aug-2005RodrigoGarcia's Nine Lives has becomethe first US film to win Locarno's top award, the Golden Leopard for Best Film,for 14 years.
Nine Lives takes top Locarno prize
Bignardi plans life after Locarno
12-Aug-2005Locarno's outgoing artistic director Irene Bignardi says she hopes hersuccessor will build on the work of the last five years to give the festivalits own unique place in the international festival landscape.Speaking exclusively to ScreenDaily.com, she diplomatically skirtedthe issue of confirming ...
Switzerland to rejoin Media Programme
11-Aug-2005Swiss filmmakers will be able to participate fully in the EuropeanUnion's MEDIA Programme from January 1, 2006 after being excluded for the lastthirteen years. Swiss media professionals had been barred from MEDIA after the Swisspopulation voted in December 1992 against membership of the European EconomicArea ...
Maire to replace Bignardi as Locarno artistic director
11-Aug-2005Frederic Maire is to succeed Irene Bignardi as artistic director for the Locarno FilmFestival from the 2006 edition.Originally, the festival hadintended to announce the successful candidate on August 14, a day after thisyear's event wraps. But an apparent leak has led to news of the appointmentbeing widely reported on Swiss television and press. Thefestival is refusing to confirm ...
North African countries launch Maghreb promotional body
10-Aug-2005Filmmakers from Tunisia, Algeria and Moroccohave joined forces to launch Maghreb Cinemas, an international promotional bodyfor the three countries' film industries.
Higuchi named head of licensing at Constantin
9-Aug-2005Yoko Higuchi has been promoted to the post ofhead of licensing at Munich-based Constantin Film.
Shortlist narrows in search for new Locarno director
9-Aug-2005With less than a week to go beforeLocarno's board makes a decision on the successor to Irene Bignardi as thefestival's artistic director, the news on the festival grapevine is that thechoice will be between two names: Jean Perret, director of the Nyon DocumentaryFilm Festival "Visions du Reel", and Frederic Maire, organiser of thecinema education initiative Laterna Magica.
Swiss film chief calls for end to 'watering can' funding
8-Aug-2005Nicolas Bideau,the incoming head of the film section at Switzerland's Federal Office ofCulture (BAK) from October 1, has called for concentration of funds into fewerprojects and an improvement of Swiss cinema's image at home and abroad.
AUTLOOK Filmsales racks up Crash Test Dummies sales
Axel Springer takes over ProSiebenSat.1 Media
7-Aug-2005Germanpublishing empire Axel Springer has acquired a majority stake in theProSiebenSat.1 Media to create the only listed media group in Germany withactivities both in the print media and television sectors.
Intramovies takes on Locarno competitor Keller
Kinowelt offers new rental terms to exhibitors
2-Aug-2005Distributor Kinowelt has entered the debate on the lengthof theatrical "windows" by offering exhibitors a new arrangement forthe calculation of rental charges.
Locarno hit by hotel room shortage
2-Aug-2005As the Locarno Film Festival begins its 58thedition this week, the event's organisers are having to address the deepeningcrisis in the Swiss lakeside town's hotels.
Locarno lands BAK support for the next three years
1-Aug-2005Switzerland's Federal Office of Culture (BAK) hasannounced that it will extend its annual $935,000 (CHF 1.2m) support to the Locarno International Film Festival for another threeyears.
Green light for Germany's $110m venture capital fund
1-Aug-2005German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has greenlit a $110m(Euros 90m) venture capital fund for the German film industry and will reservethe necessary financing in his planned national budget for 2006.
German politicians eye UK sale and leaseback model
29-Jul-2005The UK sale and leasebackmodel has been identified as an incentive to emulate by Germany's FreeDemocrats (FDP) who could become the junior partner in a new administrationunder the CDU/CSU's Angela Merkel after September's general election.
MDC falls in love with Max Hansen Story
29-Jul-2005MDC International has picked upinternational distribution rights for Douglas Wolfsperger'shistorical documentary The Max HansenStory - Did You Ever Fall In Love With Me' (War'n Sie SchonMal In Mich Verliebt')which will have its world premiere in the Critics Week sidebar at next week's Locarno International Film Festival (August 3-13, 2005).
Locarno adds two features to official competition
27-Jul-2005Irene Bignardiis pulling out all stops for her last outing as Locarno's artistic director byselecting another two films for the official competition and bestowing aLocarno Excellence Award on the US actress Susan Sarandon.
Media Luna takes on sales for Three Degrees
26-Jul-2005Media Luna Entertainment has picked up international distributionrights for Florian Hoffmeister's Three Degrees Colder (3° Kaelter) whichwill have its world premiere in the forthcoming International Competition atthe Locarno Film Festival.
Emmerich, VIP project wins FFF Bayern backing
25-Jul-2005MarcoKreuzpaintner's first English language feature Welcome To America is one of 34 projects to receive atotal of Euros 5m in the latest round of funding by the Bavarian Film &Television Fund (FFF Bayern).
Kinowelt picks up Palme d'Or winning Child
20-Jul-2005This year's CannesGolden Palm winner, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne's The Child, has beenpicked up by Kinowelt for theatrical release in Germany.
Locarno boasts 12 premieres in competition line-up
13-Jul-2005LocarnoInternational Film Festival's Irene Bignardiis promising a journey into "uncharted territories"forher final year as artistic director with 12 world premieres in its 15-titlecompetition line-up of films.
Locarno boasts premieres from 'uncharted territories
Locarno boasts 12 world premieres in main competition
13-Jul-2005Locarno International FilmFestival's Irene Bignardi is promising a journey into "unchartedterritories"for her final year as artistic director with 12 worldpremieres in its 15-title competition line-up of films.
Online piracy is widespread and threatens all films, says study
12-Jul-2005Online piracyis more widespread and damaging to a wider range of films than generallybelieved, according to an independent study undertaken by the University ofAachen with the Partners 4 Management consultancy.
Online piracy is widespread and threatens all films, says study
12-Jul-2005Online piracyis more widespread and damaging to a wider range of films than generallybelieved, according to an independent study undertaken by the University ofAachen with the Partners 4 Management consultancy.
Online piracy is widespread and threatens all films, says study
12-Jul-2005Online piracyis more widespread and damaging to a wider range of films than generallybelieved, according to an independent study undertaken by the University ofAachen with the Partners 4 Management consultancy.
Tykwer and Chabrol among commission fund winners
12-Jul-2005Newfeature films by Tom Tykwer and Claude Chabrol are among five projects backedwith a total of $1.35m (Euros 1.1m) by the German-French Funding Commission.
German opposition pledges film support but no hope for Media Funds
12-Jul-2005Germany'smedia funds in their present form will no longer be possible after the end of2005, according to election manifesto of the CDU/CSU opposition parties, widelytipped to form the next government.
Online piracy is rife and hits all films, says study
12-Jul-2005Online piracyis more widespread and damaging to a wider range of films than generallybelieved, according to an independent study undertaken by the University ofAachen with the Partners 4 Management consultancy.
German opposition boosts hopes of tax breaks for film
11-Jul-2005Callsfor new tax incentives to benefit the German film industry received a welcomeboost from the CDU opposition party which is widely predicted to win powerfollowing September's general election.
Perfume scents success as shooting begins
11-Jul-2005TomTykwer's Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer has begun shooting at theBavaria Film studios near Munich.
Jewish comedy sweeps German Film Awards
9-Jul-2005Dani Levy's Jewish comedy Go For Zucker! (Alles AufZucker) was the big winner at this year'sGerman Film Awards in Berlin's Philharmonie, held on Friday night (July 8) infront of 2,200 guests.
Cineworx launches production arm with Madonnas
8-Jul-2005Swiss distribution outfit cineworx has launcheda production arm cineworx filmproduktion and has boarded Maria Speth's secondfeature Madonnas (Madonnen) as its first project.
German funding agency wins cash injection
8-Jul-2005Local public broadcaster RundfunkBerlin-Brandenburg (RBB) is to provide German funding agency MedienboardBerlin-Brandenburg (MBB) with an annual Euros 1m for the backing of cinema andTV co-productions.Decisions on theallocation of the Euros 1m will be taken jointly by RBB and MBB and benefitproductions that have a special connection to the capital and Brandenburg. Thefocus will be ...
German industry intensifies call for 'local spend'
6-Jul-2005Leadingfigures in the German film industry have called for the introduction of a"German spend" as a key element in any future legislation regulating taxincentives. The move, they say, will put Germany on a equal footing with itscompetitors in such countries as Hungary, Ireland and Luxembourg.At lastweek's media funds conference held by ...
Media Luna picks up Brother To Brother, Dead Long Enough
5-Jul-2005Cologne-based internationalsales company Media Luna Entertainment has picked up Rodney Evans' BrotherTo Brother and Tom Collins' Dead Long Enough.Produced by Evans' owncompany Miasma Films with Intrinsic Value Films and C-Hundred Films, BrotherTo Brother is the story of gay African-American lives that won severalawards ...
European Film Academy launches new prize categories
5-Jul-2005Achievements in film editingand production design will be recognised at the next European Film Awards to beheld in Berlin on December 3, 2005.The European Film Academy(EFA) has introduced two new prize categories for European Editor 2005 andEuropean Production Designer 2005 to add to the existing 15 award categories. The two new categories willeach have three nominations chosen by the Academy members from a shortlist ofaround 40 films.
German fund told to boost local production
4-Jul-2005Leading German film fund Filmstiftung NRW in North Rhine-Westphalia must be used to bolster local productionrather than attract "funding tourism," according to the state's new primeminister Juergen Ruettgers.Speaking at the opening ofthis year's Medienforum NRW, Ruettgers praised the economic contribution ofFilmstiftung NRW.
Regional film body must reject 'funding tourism.' says PM
4-Jul-2005Germany's media funds areback in business - at least, for the time being.
European Film Promotion makes a date with New York
4-Jul-2005The pan-European promotionnetwork European Film Promotion (EFP) is to launch a new sales initiative"European Days" in New York commencing this November.
Yellow Dog snaps up Munich audience prize
4-Jul-2005Afterbeing named Best Director at this year's German Film Promotion Awards (ScreenDaily, July 1 2005), Byambasuren Davaa has now seen her latest feature TheCave Of The Yellow Dog chosen by festival goers at the Munich Film Festivalfor the Bayern 3 Audience Award.AlthoughMunich is not a competitive festival, the nine-day event provided ...
Tom Tykwer leads Eurimages Euros 3.9m grant share out
1-Jul-2005New feature films by TomTykwer (Perfume), Roy Andersson (Du Levande) and Alain Berliner (GeneAstaire) are among 12 projects awarded a total of Euros 3.9m by the Councilof Europe's pan-European co-production fund Eurimages.
Picturehouse boards Genghis Khan epic
30-Jun-2005Munich-based sales agent Beta Cinema has announced that Picturehouse - HBO and New Line Cinema's newly-formeddistribution venture - has picked up the North American rights for Sergei Bodrov's forthcomingfeature film Mongol - TheEarly Years Of Genghis Khan. This follows sales to the Benelux, Brazil and Australia & New Zealand.
Latin American productions boosted by Berlinale fund
Lighthouse shines on Zwick, Joffe projects
28-Jun-2005New feature projects by MyBig Fat Greek Wedding director Joel Zwick and veteran UK film-maker RolandJoffe are set to be backed by the new Lighthouse Films media fund, which hasbeen launched by the Munich-based Lighthouse Structured Finance GmbH.
Munich Previews notch sales to Spain, Australia
28-Jun-2005The Munich Previews, amarket taster for the Munich Film Festival, have seen some early business, with Beta Cinema, and Kinowelt International allconcluding deals.
Bavaria takes aim with African football doc
28-Jun-2005Bavaria Film Internationalhas taken international sales for Africa United, ahead of its worldpremiere in Karlovy Vary's Documentary Competition on July 6.
German box office takes another tumble
27-Jun-2005The German cinema industry learned that box-office takings forthe second quarter of 2005 were even worse than in the first three months(Screen Daily, April 2005).
German media funds win reprieve
24-Jun-2005Germany'smedia funds areback in business - at least, for the time being.
Kosslick extends Berlinale contract by another five years
24-Jun-2005Dieter Kosslick willcontinue to serve as festival director at the Berlin International FilmFestival for at least another five years.
Wenders and Kiarostami to be honoured at Locarno
Wenders and Kiarostami to be honoured at Locarno
22-Jun-2005Inan "exceptional step" this year the Locarno Film Festival (August3-13) has decided to award two Leopards of Honour to filmmakers Wim Wenders andAbbas Kiarostami.
Intermedia pushes into TV and lower-budget genre film
21-Jun-2005Terminator 3 and Alexander producer Intermedia Films hasconcluded three separate international production deals as part of the group's streamlining of itsdevelopment and production activities and its expansion into televisionproduction.
Distributors flock to German Films' previews
20-Jun-2005Morethan 40 international film distributors and TV film buyers will attend German Films' Munich Previews starting on Wednesday.
Distributors flock to German Films' preview event
20-Jun-2005Morethan 40 international film distributors and TV film buyers will attend the German Films' Munich Previews starting on Wednesday.
Bignardi to step down as Locarno artistic director
17-Jun-2005This year's edition of the Locarno International FilmFestival (August 3-13) will be the last one under the mantle of artisticdirector Irene Bignardi.
Kinowelt snares Drum, Prokino gets Hidden
17-Jun-2005Kinowelt has acquired all rights for German speakingterritories (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) to Zola Maseko's SouthAfrica-set drama Drum which will be theopening film at this year's Munich Film Festival on June 24.
Eichinger extends contract at Constantin
Top Russian festival digs Lungin's Roots
13-Jun-2005PavelLungin's latest feature film Roots swept the board at the"Kinotavr" Open Russian Film Festival in the Black Sea resort ofSochi, winning four awards and one special mention.Thetragicomedy, which was produced as a Russian-French co-production, received theKrasnodar Territory Government's Prize, the Jury's Grand Prix and the BestScreenplay ...
Hoffman confirmed to star in Tykwer's Perfume
1-Jun-2005Ending weeks of speculation, Germany'sConstantin Film Produktion has now officially confirmed that US star DustinHoffman will play one of the leads in Tom Tykwer's forthcoming adaptation ofPatrick Sueskind's international bestseller Perfume.
Buena Vista Germany picks up Three Investigators
30-May-2005Buena Vista International Germany (BVIG) has picked up thechildren's adventure film The Three Investigators: The Mystery Of SkeletonIsland which will begin shooting in SouthAfrica this August.
Constantin readies slate of international projects
30-May-2005While thesteady flow of German private equity into Stateside projects may now be a thingof the past, the German film industry's growing presence as a serious player onthe international stage will nevertheless be given a boost this summer byConstantin Film's busy production schedule.
German DVD market soars to new record
30-May-2005Turnover from sell-through and rental videos and DVDsreached a new record high in the first three months of this year, according tofigures compiled by GfK Panel Services Consumer Research for the video tradeassociation BVV.
Beta Cinema unveils raft of Cannes deals
25-May-2005Beta Cinema has announced a raft of dealsconcluded at last week's market in Cannes and expects the first sale for SergeiBodrov's Mongol to be finalised this week.
Ray of hope for German media funds
24-May-2005Germany's beleagueredmedia fund managers were afforded a slight ray of hope that they could soon beback in business after the Social Democrats' (SPD) regional election debacle inNorth Rhine-Westphalia at the hands of the Christian Democrats at the weekend.
Bavaria scores sales on Fatih Akin's Crossing The Bridge
19-May-2005Fatih Akin'smusic documentary Crossing The Bridge has beensold to A-Film in Benelux, Golem's Spain,Discovery Film in the former Yugoslavia and Israel's Orlando with "stronginterest" coming from Italy and the USA, according to Bavaria FilmInternational.
German producers welcome launch of Euros 90m fund
15-May-2005German film producers havewelcomed the Gerhard Schroeder administration's financing of a Euros 90mventure capital fund as a useful bargaining chip for negotiations oninternational co-production projects at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
German gov't to launch Euros 90m film fund
11-May-2005The German government is tocreate a venture capital fund with a total volume of Euros 90m to support theGerman film industry over the next three years.
X goes for Zucker punch
11-May-2005X World Sales has landeddistribution deals for North America and Central and Eastern Europe for DaniLevy's Go For Zucker! - An Unorthodox Comedy (Alles Auf Zucker!) which received 10German Film Award nominations this week.
Downfall snubbed in German Film Awards
10-May-2005Oscar-nominated German hit Downfall has been controversiallyomitted from best film shortlist for this year's German Film Awards.The Bernd Eichinger produced box office smash only mustered three actingnominations for this year's awards including best actor for Bruno Ganz as AdolfHitler. Dani Levy's Jewish family comedy Go For Zucker! - An Unorthodox Comedy has emerged as theawards front-runner, with ten nominations followed by Volker Schloendorff'sWorld War II drama ...
Bavaria strikes US and UK deals ahead of Cannes
10-May-2005Munich-based sales agentBavaria Film has concluded a number of US and UK deals ahead of this year'sCannes market.First ...
Last Train delayed after director injured on set
9-May-2005Filming on the Holocaust drama The Last Train (Der LetzteZug) has been stopped in Prague after onlyone day of shooting following an accident on set involving the director JosephVilsmaier (Comedian Harmonists, Stalingrad).
Diagonale directors step down from Austrian festival
6-May-2005Changes are afootagain at Graz's Diagonale - Festival of Austrian Cinema little more than sixweeks after the successful 2005 edition in March.
Cannes launch for European production initiative
4-May-2005A new Europeaninitiative - Capital Regions for Cinema (CRC) - is to be launched at nextweek's Cannes Film Festival to promote and support closer cooperation andco-production between European producers.
Eurimages doles out Euros 3.8m in funding
4-May-2005New feature projects by Otar Iosseliani (Jardins enAutomne) and Gianni Amelio (La Stella Che Non C'e) are among 12European co-productions supported with Euros 3.8m by the Council of Europe'sEurimages at its latest funding session.
German media funds reel as cabinet agrees tax overhaul
4-May-2005German Minister of FinanceHans Eichel held out an olive branch to the German film industry on Wednesday(May 4) after the Federal Cabinet agreed on proposed tax legislation which willclose the door to the old-style German media funds (ScreenDaily.com, May 2).
Death knell tolls for German media funds
2-May-2005German media funds look set to be put out of business thisweek because of a proposed tightening up of tax fund legislation by FinanceMinister Hans Eichel.
Studio Babelsberg shares start trading
3L Filmverleih drafts in senior management team
MDC takes on sales for Puipa's Forest Of The Gods
European 'Producers on the Move' named
26-Apr-2005Nineteen Europeanproducers have been selected to be presented at the forthcoming Cannes FilmFestival as "Producers on the Move" by the member organisations ofthe pan-European promotional body European Film Promotion (EFP).
Pipeline wins top prize at Nyon documentary fest
25-Apr-2005Nino Kirtadze's The Pipeline Next Doorwas the winner of this year's Grand Prix Visions du Reel at this year'sinternational documentary festival in Switzerland's Nyon (April 18-24).Kirtadze's drama of asmall Georgian village facing the dragon of globalisation in a BP oil pipelinepassing over the villagers' land also received the John Templeton FoundationAward and has been picked ...
German DVD distributor e-m-s launches production arm
Swiss launch film fund to support world cinema
24-Apr-2005Films from Asia, Africa,Latin America and Eastern Europe are set to receive support for theirproduction and international promotion through the creation of the newSwiss-based Visions Sud Est (VSE) fund.The ...
German funder doles out Euros 4.5m to int'l projects
15-Apr-2005New feature films by Lone Scherfig, Hans Weingartner andOskar Roehler are among 21 projects backed by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburgwith over Euros 4.5m in its latest funding session.
Russian, Polish directors take top Wiesbaden prizes
13-Apr-2005Women filmmakers were the main winners at this year'sgoEast Festival of Central and East European Film in Wiesbaden when the awardswere presented on Tuesday evening (April 12).
Hot newcomers, veterans share Filmstiftung NRW cash
8-Apr-2005Award winning Britishshort film director Steve Hudson has received Euros 850,000 in funding for hisdebut feature Dragnet from Dusseldorf-based subsidy body FilmstiftungNRW.
German box office plunges in first quarter of 2005
5-Apr-2005German box office and admissions plunged by 11% in thefirst three months of 2005 compared to the same period last year.
Germany's FFA doles out Euros 25m of funding
4-Apr-2005The German Federal Film Board (FFA) has paid out a total ofEuros 24.9m in retroactive "reference" funding to local producersand distributors.
Studio Babelsberg plans initial stock market float
De Palma's Black Dahlia starts Bulgarian shoot
1-Apr-2005Brian de Palma's long gestating adaptation of James Ellroy'snovel The Black Dahlia, starring JoshHartnett and Scarlet Johannsen, has begun shooting at studios in Sofia for AviLerner's Millenium Film with the German media fund Equity Pictures KG III.
Hotel checks out with Diagonale top prize
21-Mar-2005Jessica Hausner's psychological thriller Hotelwas the big winner at this year's Diagonale - Festival of Austrian Cinemapicking up the Euros 25,000 Diagonale Grand Prix and the Euros 11,000 ThomasPluch Screenplay Prize.
German distributor Solo files for insolvency
18-Mar-2005Munichbased distributor Solo-Film has become the latest casualty in the Germandistribution scene's seemingly never ending round of insolvencies.
GERMANY 16 March
16-Mar-2005Sony Pictures' release of the Will Smith comedy Hitch held on topole position for its second week with a total gross of $ 17.5m and admissionsnow topping the 2 million mark.Further down the chart, there was considerable movement with no lessthan six new entries to the Top ...
GERMANY 9 March
9-Mar-2005Sony Pictures Releasing's (SPR) Hitchentered the charts at the top of the pile with an impressive $11,145 screenaverage from its 796 screens and became the first release so far this year tohave attracted more than 1m cinema-goers in its first weekend. SPR also proudlyreported that the Will Smith comedy garnered a market share of 45% of all theattendances during that four-day period.
Eurimages injects Euros3.4m into Euro co-prods
7-Mar-2005New features by Portugal's Teresa Villaverde (Transe),Germany's Maria Speth (Madonnen) and Bulgaria's Georgi Stoev-Djaky (FlyBy Rossinant) are among ten projects which have been awarded a total ofEuros 3.4m by the Council of Europe's Eurimages co-production fund in itslatest funding session.
Kinowelt acquires KirchMedia's 5,500-title library
4-Mar-2005Germany's Kinowelt has become the operator of the one ofEurope's largest film libraries with its acquisition of all of the theatricaland DVD rights to KirchMedia's 5,500-title back catalogue for the period untiland including 2012.
Media Luna announces EFM sales
3-Mar-2005Cologne-based Media Luna Entertainment has announced anotherraft of deals signed at the recent European Film Market in Berlin.
German public funds back Cinelink co-production market
2-Mar-2005German public regional funds Mitteldeutsche Medienfoerderung(MDM) and Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg are to serve as partners at thisyear's CineLink co-production market during the Sarajevo Film Festival (August19-27).
GERMANY 2 March
German media funds still tilt heavily to Hollywood
1-Mar-2005German media funds raised Euros 1.5bn from private investorslast year, 15% less than 2003's total of Euros 1.76bn, according to a marketanalysis by fund specialist Stefan Loipfinger's Fondstelegramm.
International network of casting directors launched
1-Mar-2005Fifteen feature film casting directors from seven countrieshave founded the International Network of Casting Directors (INCD).
Perfume, Klimt awarded German funds
1-Mar-2005New features by Tom Tykwer, Raoul Ruiz and Tomy Wigand areamong five projects awarded over Euros 4.6m by Bavaria's Film & TelevisionFund FFF Bayern in its latest round of funding.
Berlinale trio seal German distribution deals
25-Feb-2005HerbertKloiber's theatrical arm Concorde Filmverleih has acquired the French film TheBeat That My Heart Skipped, which screened in Official Competition at last week's Berlinale.
German-Turkish culture clash comedy makes Connection
25-Feb-2005Hamburg-basedproduction house Wueste Film has signed the first deals with distributors fromAustria, Switzerland, Scandinavia and Turkey for Anno Saul's KebabConnection
German home entertainment market doubles over five years
23-Feb-2005Turnover in the German home entertainment market has more than doubled since 1999, when DVDs firstregistered significant business in Germany, according to figures compiled byGfK Panel Services Consumer Research for the video trade association BVV.
Eastern European Acquisition Pool adds Slovenian partner.
22-Feb-2005Berlin-based Eastern European Acquisition Pool (EEAP) has expandedits influence in the Central and East European market with the Slovenian mediacompany Cinemania Group coming onboard as a new shareholder with a 26% stake.
Germany, Brazil sign co-production treaty
22-Feb-2005Germany and Brazil have signed a treaty to formalise theco-production of films between the two countries.
GERMANY 22 February
Berlinale Golden Bear winner takes everyone but the jury by surprise
21-Feb-2005Mark Dornford-May's U-Carmen eKhayelitsha has become the first African film in the history of the Berlinale to be awarded the top honours of the Golden Bear by the International Jury led by German director Roland Emmerich.
Bavaria Film closes deals on Sophie Scholl
Germany's Priamos kicks off with Zanzibar project
18-Feb-2005WithBerlin awash with projects involving football, the island of Zanzibar hasjoined the team: Berlin-based production company Priamos Film is to launch withThe Dream Of Zanzibar set on the African island.
Reelmachine sets slate with Emmerich
18-Feb-2005Germany'spowerful VIP media fund and Berlin Jury president Roland Emmerich have set thefirst four films to go in to production from their newly-formed Reelmachineoutfit.
Germany moves forward with sale and leaseback plans
17-Feb-2005Germany's adoption of a UK-style sale and leaseback (S&L) fundingmodel has come one big step closer after a meeting between German filmproducers and Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder yesterday morning. According to one of the producers attending, a working group will becreated to draft a concept for a sale and leaseback structure by April 2005. This could come into the statute books before the Bundestag's summerrecess.
Locarno to honour Jeremy Thomas
16-Feb-2005Britishproducer Jeremy Thomas will be presented with the Raimondo Rezzonico Prize forindependent producers at this year's Locarno International Film Festival (August 3-13).
Meirelles to produce Brazilian football documentary
15-Feb-2005City Of God director Fernando Meirelles is producinga feature length documentary called Ginga, about the relationshipbetween Brazilians and football.
X-Filme, Promedia toon up with Robbers
15-Feb-2005Berlin-based X-Filmecreative pool and private media fund manager Promedia have launched a newanimation company, Animation-X, with a full-length traditional animation calledThe Three Robbers (Die Drei Rauber), to go into production in July ofthis year.
Instant replay for German version of Finnish football film
Kinowelt acquires Warner titles from Epsilon
X-Filme launches in-house world sales division
11-Feb-2005Berlinproduction house X-Filme creative pool has set up an in-house world salesdivision to handle the international distribution of Dani Levy's box office hitGo For Zucker - An Unorthodox Comedy (Alles auf Zucker!).
Eichinger voted 'most important player' in German film
7-Feb-2005Producer-distributor Bernd Eichinger has been voted as themost important player in the German film business in an industry surveypublished on Sunday.
Franka Potente readies directorial debut
7-Feb-2005Run Lola Run starFranka Potente, who is a member of the International Jury at this year'sBerlinale, is to make her directorial debut this spring with a 25-30-minuteshort film.
Studio Babelsberg prepares for flotation
7-Feb-2005Studio Babelsberg is planning to go public in the first halfof this year, according to managing director and co-owner Carl Woebcken.
GERMANY 2 February
Demand heats up for Berlin market
1-Feb-2005The number of films submitted to Berlin's European Film Market (EFM) hasrisen by a third, underlining its growing importance as the first market of theyear following the AFM's move to autumn dates.
Tout Un Hiver Sans Feu wins top Swiss Film Prize
27-Jan-2005Greg Zglinski's Tout UnHiver Sans Feu picked up the $51,000 (CHF 60,000) Swiss Film Prize 2005 forBest Feature Film at this week's Solothurn Film Days.
Zglinski's Hiver wins Swiss Film Prize
GERMANY 26 January
Diagonale names Dummies as festival opener
20-Jan-2005Joerg Kalt's Crash TestDummies will be the opening film at the first Diagonale - Festival ofAustrian Cinema (March 14-20) under new director Birgit Flos.
GERMANY 18 January
Africa, sexuality to be dominant themes during Berlinale 2005.
17-Jan-2005Bill Condon's Kinsey was selected as the closing film for the 55th Berlinale - to screen on Saturday February 19 after the awards ceremony .
German film critics applaud Edukators
17-Jan-2005Hans Weingartner's Cannes2003 competition entry The Edukators (Die Fetten Jahre Sind Vorbei) isthe big winner at this year's German Film Critics Awards, winning in thecategories of Best Feature Film and Best Actress.
Hayat, Innocent Voices to launch Berlinale youth sidebars.
17-Jan-2005The Iranian film Hayatby Gholamreza Ramezani will open this year's Berlinale Kinderfilmfest onFebruary 11, with the 14plus youth film competition launched a day later by InnocentVoices (Voces Inocentes) by Mexico's Luis Mandoki.
Berlinale Co-Production Market shortlists 30 projects
17-Jan-2005New feature films by David Mackenzie and SergeiBodrov are among 30 projects chosen from 230 entries to be presented at theBerlinale's second Co-Production Market over two days from February 13-14.
Snowland world premiere opens Max Ophuels festival
Downfall dominates Bavarian Film Awards
14-Jan-2005Oliver Hirschbiegel's Hitlerdrama Downfall was the big winner at the weekend's Bavarian Film Awardstaking home prizes in three categories.
ProSiebenSat.1 signs Spyglass output deal
13-Jan-2005Germany's ProSiebenSat.1Group has signed a license agreement with US production outfit SpyglassEntertainment covering all German-language free-TV rights for titles going intoproduction from this year