Exclusive: Ireland-Finland-Germany drama set to shoot later this year.
Berlin-based sales outfit Pluto Film has boarded international sales rights to Ireland-Finland-Germany co-production Black Sun from Finnish writer-director Maria Ruotsala (Apeiron).
The English-language drama, currently in pre-production, is aiming to shoot in Ireland, Latvia and Finland during late 2017 and early 2018.
Set shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union in a former satellite state, the film follows a small band of idealists who seek to establish an artists’ retreat.
Producers are Finnish company Greenlit Productions (War/Peace), Irish film and TV outfit Abú Media Film Productions (TV series An Klondike) and German partners Cornelsen Films (Berlin Dance Battle 3D), marking the first co-production between the three countries.
Attached cast includes Chloé Farnworth (Soy Nero), Nicolas Fagerberg (Imperial Blue) and Johan Hwatz.
Around 65% of the €1.3m budget is in place with funders including the Finnish Film Fund and Finnish national broadcaster Yle. The production...
Berlin-based sales outfit Pluto Film has boarded international sales rights to Ireland-Finland-Germany co-production Black Sun from Finnish writer-director Maria Ruotsala (Apeiron).
The English-language drama, currently in pre-production, is aiming to shoot in Ireland, Latvia and Finland during late 2017 and early 2018.
Set shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union in a former satellite state, the film follows a small band of idealists who seek to establish an artists’ retreat.
Producers are Finnish company Greenlit Productions (War/Peace), Irish film and TV outfit Abú Media Film Productions (TV series An Klondike) and German partners Cornelsen Films (Berlin Dance Battle 3D), marking the first co-production between the three countries.
Attached cast includes Chloé Farnworth (Soy Nero), Nicolas Fagerberg (Imperial Blue) and Johan Hwatz.
Around 65% of the €1.3m budget is in place with funders including the Finnish Film Fund and Finnish national broadcaster Yle. The production...
- 7/21/2017
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Seven films selected for scheme, which awards projects a $24,000 development fund.
Nordisk Film & TV Fond has confirmed the seven genre film projects selected for its popular Nordic Genre Boost scheme.
Scroll down for a full list of projects
Selections include the second feature from When Animals Dream (pictured) director Jonas Arnby of Denmark; the third feature from Finnish director Ulrika Bengts (The Disciple) and the directorial debut feature of Swedish producer Olivier Guerpillon, whose producing credits include Sound of Noise.
A total of 61 projects applied for the third and final round of Nordic Genre Boost development support.
Each project receives a $24,000 (NOK200,00) development grant, and access to two residential workshops: one held in collaboration with Night Visions International Festival in Helsinki (April 5-9), and a second during New Nordic Films’ Co-Production and Finance Market in Haugesund (Aug 22-25).
Guest tutors at the workshops include Jinga Films’ Julian Richards, Xyz Films’ Todd Brown, Lindsay Peters...
Nordisk Film & TV Fond has confirmed the seven genre film projects selected for its popular Nordic Genre Boost scheme.
Scroll down for a full list of projects
Selections include the second feature from When Animals Dream (pictured) director Jonas Arnby of Denmark; the third feature from Finnish director Ulrika Bengts (The Disciple) and the directorial debut feature of Swedish producer Olivier Guerpillon, whose producing credits include Sound of Noise.
A total of 61 projects applied for the third and final round of Nordic Genre Boost development support.
Each project receives a $24,000 (NOK200,00) development grant, and access to two residential workshops: one held in collaboration with Night Visions International Festival in Helsinki (April 5-9), and a second during New Nordic Films’ Co-Production and Finance Market in Haugesund (Aug 22-25).
Guest tutors at the workshops include Jinga Films’ Julian Richards, Xyz Films’ Todd Brown, Lindsay Peters...
- 2/17/2017
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Debut competition titles at cinematography festival unveiled.
Camerimage, the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography (Nov 15-22), has revealed the line-up of films screening in three of the festival’s competition sections including Cinematographers’ Debut, Directors’ Debut and Student Etudes.
The entries are:
Cinematographers’ Debut Competition
Duane Hopkins’ Bypass;
UK, 2014; Cinematographer: David Procter
Sidney Lexy Plaut’s Dark Samurai;
Denmark, 2014; Cinematographer: Sidney Lexy Plaut
Zeresenay Berhane Mehari’s Difret;
Ethiopia, USA, 2014; Cinematographer: Monika Lenczewska
Krzysztof Skonieczny’s Hardkor Disko;
Poland, 2014; Cinematographer: Kacper Fertacz
Arild Østin Ommundsen’s It’s Only Make Believe;
Norway, 2013; Cinematographer: Arild Østin Ommundsen
Michael Cody and Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s Ruin;
Australia, 2013; Cinematographer: Ari Wegner
Ester Martin Bergsmark’s Something Must Break;
Sweden, 2014; Cinematographers: Lisabi Fridell and Minka Jakerson
David Pablos’ The Life After;
Mexico, 2013; Cinematographer: José De- La-Torre
Saar Klein’s Things People Do;
USA, 2014; Cinematographer: Matthias Koenigswieser
Jonas Alexander Arnby’s When Animals Dream;
Denmark, 2013; Cinematographer: [link=nm...
Camerimage, the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography (Nov 15-22), has revealed the line-up of films screening in three of the festival’s competition sections including Cinematographers’ Debut, Directors’ Debut and Student Etudes.
The entries are:
Cinematographers’ Debut Competition
Duane Hopkins’ Bypass;
UK, 2014; Cinematographer: David Procter
Sidney Lexy Plaut’s Dark Samurai;
Denmark, 2014; Cinematographer: Sidney Lexy Plaut
Zeresenay Berhane Mehari’s Difret;
Ethiopia, USA, 2014; Cinematographer: Monika Lenczewska
Krzysztof Skonieczny’s Hardkor Disko;
Poland, 2014; Cinematographer: Kacper Fertacz
Arild Østin Ommundsen’s It’s Only Make Believe;
Norway, 2013; Cinematographer: Arild Østin Ommundsen
Michael Cody and Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s Ruin;
Australia, 2013; Cinematographer: Ari Wegner
Ester Martin Bergsmark’s Something Must Break;
Sweden, 2014; Cinematographers: Lisabi Fridell and Minka Jakerson
David Pablos’ The Life After;
Mexico, 2013; Cinematographer: José De- La-Torre
Saar Klein’s Things People Do;
USA, 2014; Cinematographer: Matthias Koenigswieser
Jonas Alexander Arnby’s When Animals Dream;
Denmark, 2013; Cinematographer: [link=nm...
- 10/16/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Hisham Zaman has become the first director to be a two-time winner of Gothenburg’s Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film.
This year, Zaman’s Letter to The King won the top prize (and its lucrative €113,000 award), following on last year’s win for Before Snowfall.
Letter To The King is about a group of refugees, all with their own agendas, on an excursion to Oslo.
The jury said: “Letter to the King is a film that takes us to a subculture that is not very well-known. It tells us about people stuck in some kind of no man’s land. It is a film that is compassionate and honest in its presentation of human existence.
“To tell a story with multiple characters is a difficult task, and we appreciate the way all the pieces are put together.”
The jury comprised Chad director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Icelandic producer Agnes Johansen, Norwegian producer Kalle Løchen, Swedish director...
This year, Zaman’s Letter to The King won the top prize (and its lucrative €113,000 award), following on last year’s win for Before Snowfall.
Letter To The King is about a group of refugees, all with their own agendas, on an excursion to Oslo.
The jury said: “Letter to the King is a film that takes us to a subculture that is not very well-known. It tells us about people stuck in some kind of no man’s land. It is a film that is compassionate and honest in its presentation of human existence.
“To tell a story with multiple characters is a difficult task, and we appreciate the way all the pieces are put together.”
The jury comprised Chad director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Icelandic producer Agnes Johansen, Norwegian producer Kalle Løchen, Swedish director...
- 2/2/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
As this year's Academy Awards nominations approach, and after the shocking selection of films conforming the Academy's shortlist for the Best Foreign Language Film Award, audiences will get the opportunity to see some of the films that were dismissed but which are absolutely deserving of attention. Rather than including all of the 76 Submissions the Palm Spring Film Festival decided to shorten their program to 45 of what they considered the best representation of the extensive amount of films.
Included in the program are all of the 9 shortlisted films, all the other major omissions, and many more obscure titles that showcase some of the most interesting voices in World Cinema today. Most of these films have been awarded prizes and received praise at major festivals from Sundance to Cannes and Toronto, and will give the viewer a broader view of the category beyond the assumed frontrunners.
Below is a list with more information on each of the films that will be screening at Palm Springs with reviews and interviews with the filmmakers for the majority of them. Read more about the complete list of 76 Foreign Language Oscar Submissions visit Here
For more information on the Palm Springs International Film Festival visit Here
Argentina
The German Doctor (Wakolda)
Dir: Lucia Puenzo
Language: Spanish, German, Hebrew
U.S Release: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Isa: Pyramide
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Case Study by Sydney Levine
Australia
The Rocket
Dir: Kim Mordaunt
Language: Lao
U.S Release: Kino Lorber
Isa: Level K
Festivals: Berlin 2013: Best First Feature Film ,Tribeca 2013: World Narrative Competition
Trailer
Austria
The Wall
Dir: Julian Polsler
Language: German
U.S Release: Music Box Films - May 31, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Sitges Ff 2012 Official Fantastic, Mumbai Ff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Belgium
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Dir: Felix van Groeningen
Language: Flemish
U.S Release: Tribeca Film - November 1, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Panorama
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Bosnia And Herzegovina
An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker
Dir: Danis Tanović
Language: Bosnian, Romani
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Berlinale Competition,Efm Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Cambodia
The Missing Picture
Dir: Rithy Panh
Language: French
U.S Release: Acquired by Strand Releasing for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 - Un Certain Regard Prix, San Sebastian 2013 Pearls
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Canada
Gabrielle
Dir: Louise Archambault
Language: French
U.S Release: eOne
Isa: eOne
Festivals: Toronto- Tiff 2013, Locarno International Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Chile
Gloria
Dir: Sebastian Lelio
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Roadside Attractions
Isa: Funny Balloons
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Sydney Levine
China
Back to 1942
Dir: Feng Xiaogang
Language: Mandarin, English
U.S Release: Well Go USA - May 14, 2013
Isa: Huayi Brothers
Festivals: Rome Film Festival 2012, Dubai International Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Croatia
Halima's Path
Dir: Arsen Anton Ostojić
Language: Bosnian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Tallinn Black Nights Iff 2012 - EurAsia (Special Jury Prize)
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Denmark
The Hunt
Dir: Thomas Vinterberg
Language: Danish
U.S Release: Magnolia Pictures - July 12, 2013
Isa: TrustNordisk
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012, AFI Fest 2012
Trailer
Egypt
Winter of Discontent
Dir: Ibrahim el-Batout
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice International Film Festival, Cairo International Film Festival, Dubai Film Festival
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Finland
Disciple
Dir: Ulrika Bengts
Language: Finnish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Helsinki Ff 2012, Montréal World Ff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
France
Renoir
Dir: Gilles Bourdos
Language: French
U.S Release: Samuel Goldwyn Films - March 29, 2013
Isa: Wild Bunch
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Georgia
In Bloom
Dir: Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß
Language: Georgian
U.S Release: Big World Pictures
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Cicae award Berlinale Forum 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Germany
Two Lives
Dir: Georg Maas
Language: German
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Beta Cinema
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Hong Kong
The Grandmaster
Dir: Wong Kar-wai
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
U.S Release: The Weinstein Company - August 23, 2013
Isa: Fortissimo
Festivals: Berlinale -Efm 2013
Trailer
Hungary
The Notebook
Dir: Janosz Szasz
Language: Hungarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Iceland
Of Horses and Men
Dir: Benedikt Erlingsson
Language: Icelandic
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Icelandic Film Centre
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Sundance 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
India
The Good Road
Dir: Gyan Correa
Language: Gujarati
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: National Film Board of India
Festivals: London Indian Film Festival in 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Iran
The Past
Dir: Asghar Farhadi
Language: French, Persian
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics - December 20, 2013
Isa: Memento
Festivals:Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Actress, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Israel
Bethlehem
Dir: Yuval Adler
Language: Hebrew
U.S Release: Adopt
Isa: Westend
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery, Telluride Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival
Trailer
Italy
The Great Beauty
Dir: Paolo Sorrentino
Language: Italian
U.S Release: AJanus Films
Isa: Pathe
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Berlin Efm 2013,
Trailer
Interview by Sydney Levine
Japan
The Great Passage
Dir: Yuya Ishii
Language: Japanese
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Shochiku
Festivals: Fantasia Ff 2013 Official Selection
Trailer
Kazakhstan
Shal (The Old Man)
Dir: Yermek Tursunov
Language: Russian, Kazakh
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Latvia
Mother, I Love You
Dir: Janis Nords
Language: Latvian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Festivals: Los Angeles Film Festival 2013, Berlinale Generation KPlus (Grand Prix of the International Jury for the best feature film)
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Mexico
Heli
Dir: Amat Escalante
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Ndm
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition-Winner Best Director, San Sebastian 2013 Horizontes Latinos,
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Morocco
Horses of God
Dir: Nabil Ayouch
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Bif London Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
The Netherlands
Borgman
Dir: Alex van Warmerdam
Language: Dutch
U.S Release: Drafthouse Films
Isa: Fortissimo
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Busan 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
New Zealand
White Lies
Dir: Dana Rotberg
Language: Maori
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Film Sales Company
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Norway
I Am Yours
Dir: Iram Haq
Language: Norwegian, Urdu
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Palestine
Omar
Dir: Hany Abu-Assad
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Adopt FilmsIsa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Philippines
Transit
Dir: Hannah Espia
Language: Filipino, Tagalog, Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cinemalaya Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Poland
Walesa
Dir: Andrzej Wajda
Language: Polish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Films Boutique
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013, Venice- Biennale 2013
Trailer
Romania
Child's Pose
Dir: Calin Peter Netzer
Language: Romanian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Beta Cinema
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Competition (Golden Bear for the Best Film), Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Articles by Sydney Levine, Berlin Diary #2
Russia
Stalingrad
Dir: Fedor Bondarchuk
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Saudi Arabia
Wadjda
Dir: Haifaa al-Mansour
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics - September 13, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Venice International Film Festival 2012, Los Angeles Film Festival, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Serbia
Circles
Dir: Srdan Golubovic
Language: Serbian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlinale - Efm 2013 Forum
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Sydney Levine
Singapore
Ilo Ilo
Dir: Anthony Chen
Language: Mandarin, Hokkien, English, Tagalog
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Directors Fortnight, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Slovenia
Class Enemy
Dir: Rok Biček
Language: Slovene
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
South Korea
Juvenile Offender
Dir: Kang Yi-kwan
Language: Korean
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Finecut
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Contemporary World Cinema,
Trailer
Spain
15 Years and One Day
Dir: Gracia Querejeta
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Latido
Festivals: San Sebastian 2013 Made in Spain, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Switzerland
More Than Honey
Dir: Markus Imhoof
Language: German, Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Films Boutique
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Tiff Docs, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Turkey
The Butterfly's Dream
Dir: Yılmaz Erdoğan
Language: Turkish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Istanbul Film Festival, Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
United Kingdom
Metro Manila
Dir: Sean Elllis
Language: Filipino, Tagalog
U.S Release: Paladin/108 Media
Isa:
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlin Efm 2012, Cannes 2012, Afm 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Uruguay
Anina
Dir: Alfredo Soderguit
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin International Film Festival, Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar...
Included in the program are all of the 9 shortlisted films, all the other major omissions, and many more obscure titles that showcase some of the most interesting voices in World Cinema today. Most of these films have been awarded prizes and received praise at major festivals from Sundance to Cannes and Toronto, and will give the viewer a broader view of the category beyond the assumed frontrunners.
Below is a list with more information on each of the films that will be screening at Palm Springs with reviews and interviews with the filmmakers for the majority of them. Read more about the complete list of 76 Foreign Language Oscar Submissions visit Here
For more information on the Palm Springs International Film Festival visit Here
Argentina
The German Doctor (Wakolda)
Dir: Lucia Puenzo
Language: Spanish, German, Hebrew
U.S Release: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Isa: Pyramide
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Case Study by Sydney Levine
Australia
The Rocket
Dir: Kim Mordaunt
Language: Lao
U.S Release: Kino Lorber
Isa: Level K
Festivals: Berlin 2013: Best First Feature Film ,Tribeca 2013: World Narrative Competition
Trailer
Austria
The Wall
Dir: Julian Polsler
Language: German
U.S Release: Music Box Films - May 31, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Sitges Ff 2012 Official Fantastic, Mumbai Ff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Belgium
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Dir: Felix van Groeningen
Language: Flemish
U.S Release: Tribeca Film - November 1, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Panorama
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Bosnia And Herzegovina
An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker
Dir: Danis Tanović
Language: Bosnian, Romani
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Berlinale Competition,Efm Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Cambodia
The Missing Picture
Dir: Rithy Panh
Language: French
U.S Release: Acquired by Strand Releasing for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 - Un Certain Regard Prix, San Sebastian 2013 Pearls
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Canada
Gabrielle
Dir: Louise Archambault
Language: French
U.S Release: eOne
Isa: eOne
Festivals: Toronto- Tiff 2013, Locarno International Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Chile
Gloria
Dir: Sebastian Lelio
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Roadside Attractions
Isa: Funny Balloons
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Sydney Levine
China
Back to 1942
Dir: Feng Xiaogang
Language: Mandarin, English
U.S Release: Well Go USA - May 14, 2013
Isa: Huayi Brothers
Festivals: Rome Film Festival 2012, Dubai International Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Croatia
Halima's Path
Dir: Arsen Anton Ostojić
Language: Bosnian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Tallinn Black Nights Iff 2012 - EurAsia (Special Jury Prize)
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Denmark
The Hunt
Dir: Thomas Vinterberg
Language: Danish
U.S Release: Magnolia Pictures - July 12, 2013
Isa: TrustNordisk
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012, AFI Fest 2012
Trailer
Egypt
Winter of Discontent
Dir: Ibrahim el-Batout
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice International Film Festival, Cairo International Film Festival, Dubai Film Festival
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Finland
Disciple
Dir: Ulrika Bengts
Language: Finnish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Helsinki Ff 2012, Montréal World Ff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
France
Renoir
Dir: Gilles Bourdos
Language: French
U.S Release: Samuel Goldwyn Films - March 29, 2013
Isa: Wild Bunch
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Georgia
In Bloom
Dir: Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß
Language: Georgian
U.S Release: Big World Pictures
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Cicae award Berlinale Forum 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Germany
Two Lives
Dir: Georg Maas
Language: German
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Beta Cinema
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Hong Kong
The Grandmaster
Dir: Wong Kar-wai
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
U.S Release: The Weinstein Company - August 23, 2013
Isa: Fortissimo
Festivals: Berlinale -Efm 2013
Trailer
Hungary
The Notebook
Dir: Janosz Szasz
Language: Hungarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Iceland
Of Horses and Men
Dir: Benedikt Erlingsson
Language: Icelandic
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Icelandic Film Centre
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Sundance 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
India
The Good Road
Dir: Gyan Correa
Language: Gujarati
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: National Film Board of India
Festivals: London Indian Film Festival in 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Iran
The Past
Dir: Asghar Farhadi
Language: French, Persian
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics - December 20, 2013
Isa: Memento
Festivals:Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Actress, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Israel
Bethlehem
Dir: Yuval Adler
Language: Hebrew
U.S Release: Adopt
Isa: Westend
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery, Telluride Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival
Trailer
Italy
The Great Beauty
Dir: Paolo Sorrentino
Language: Italian
U.S Release: AJanus Films
Isa: Pathe
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Berlin Efm 2013,
Trailer
Interview by Sydney Levine
Japan
The Great Passage
Dir: Yuya Ishii
Language: Japanese
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Shochiku
Festivals: Fantasia Ff 2013 Official Selection
Trailer
Kazakhstan
Shal (The Old Man)
Dir: Yermek Tursunov
Language: Russian, Kazakh
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Latvia
Mother, I Love You
Dir: Janis Nords
Language: Latvian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Festivals: Los Angeles Film Festival 2013, Berlinale Generation KPlus (Grand Prix of the International Jury for the best feature film)
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Mexico
Heli
Dir: Amat Escalante
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Ndm
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition-Winner Best Director, San Sebastian 2013 Horizontes Latinos,
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Morocco
Horses of God
Dir: Nabil Ayouch
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Bif London Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
The Netherlands
Borgman
Dir: Alex van Warmerdam
Language: Dutch
U.S Release: Drafthouse Films
Isa: Fortissimo
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Busan 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
New Zealand
White Lies
Dir: Dana Rotberg
Language: Maori
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Film Sales Company
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Norway
I Am Yours
Dir: Iram Haq
Language: Norwegian, Urdu
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Palestine
Omar
Dir: Hany Abu-Assad
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Adopt FilmsIsa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Philippines
Transit
Dir: Hannah Espia
Language: Filipino, Tagalog, Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cinemalaya Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Poland
Walesa
Dir: Andrzej Wajda
Language: Polish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Films Boutique
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013, Venice- Biennale 2013
Trailer
Romania
Child's Pose
Dir: Calin Peter Netzer
Language: Romanian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Beta Cinema
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Competition (Golden Bear for the Best Film), Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Articles by Sydney Levine, Berlin Diary #2
Russia
Stalingrad
Dir: Fedor Bondarchuk
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Saudi Arabia
Wadjda
Dir: Haifaa al-Mansour
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics - September 13, 2013
Isa: The Match Factory
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Venice International Film Festival 2012, Los Angeles Film Festival, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Serbia
Circles
Dir: Srdan Golubovic
Language: Serbian
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlinale - Efm 2013 Forum
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Sydney Levine
Singapore
Ilo Ilo
Dir: Anthony Chen
Language: Mandarin, Hokkien, English, Tagalog
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Memento
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Directors Fortnight, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Slovenia
Class Enemy
Dir: Rok Biček
Language: Slovene
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
South Korea
Juvenile Offender
Dir: Kang Yi-kwan
Language: Korean
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Finecut
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Contemporary World Cinema,
Trailer
Spain
15 Years and One Day
Dir: Gracia Querejeta
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Latido
Festivals: San Sebastian 2013 Made in Spain, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
Interview by Carlos Aguilar
Switzerland
More Than Honey
Dir: Markus Imhoof
Language: German, Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Isa: Films Boutique
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Tiff Docs, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Turkey
The Butterfly's Dream
Dir: Yılmaz Erdoğan
Language: Turkish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Istanbul Film Festival, Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar
United Kingdom
Metro Manila
Dir: Sean Elllis
Language: Filipino, Tagalog
U.S Release: Paladin/108 Media
Isa:
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlin Efm 2012, Cannes 2012, Afm 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Uruguay
Anina
Dir: Alfredo Soderguit
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin International Film Festival, Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
Trailer
Review by Carlos Aguilar...
- 1/9/2014
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Best Foreign Language Film Oscar 2014 submissions (photo: Ziyi Zhang in ‘The Grandmaster’) (See previous post: Best Foreign Language Film Oscar: ‘The Past,’ ‘Wadjda,’ Andrzej Wajda Among Omissions) In case you missed it, here’s the full list of submissions (in alphabetical order, per country) for the 2014 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award. The list of contenders was originally announced on October 7, 2013. Of note: Saudi Arabia and Moldova were first-timers; Montenegro was a first-timer as an independent country. Afghanistan, Wajma — An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram, director; Albania, Agon, Robert Budina, director; Argentina, The German Doctor, Lucía Puenzo, director; Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt, director; Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler, director; Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev, director; Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, director; Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen, director; Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanovic, director; Brazil, Neighboring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho,...
- 12/25/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Top brass at the 25th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) have announced a new programme on Canadian Cinema as well as the traditionally strong roster of foreign-language films eligible for the Fipresci Award in the Awards Buzz section, and Modern Masters.
The festival will screen 45 of the 76 official foreign-language Oscar submissions under the umbrella of Awards Buzz.
“We’ve selected Canadian films for a special focus at this year’s festival for many reasons, not the least of which is the wealth of talent emerging from its relatively small, indigenous film industry, and the depth and richness of story and character portrayal its films exemplify,” said festival director Darryl Macdonald.
“Whether it’s established auteurs like Denis Coté, Denis Villenueve and Atom Egoyan, gifted actor-directors like Don McKellar and Sarah Polley or newly emerging talents like Chloé Robichaud, Craig Goodwill and Sébastien Pilote, Canadian creative ingenuity is on abundant display in its films. All of this...
The festival will screen 45 of the 76 official foreign-language Oscar submissions under the umbrella of Awards Buzz.
“We’ve selected Canadian films for a special focus at this year’s festival for many reasons, not the least of which is the wealth of talent emerging from its relatively small, indigenous film industry, and the depth and richness of story and character portrayal its films exemplify,” said festival director Darryl Macdonald.
“Whether it’s established auteurs like Denis Coté, Denis Villenueve and Atom Egoyan, gifted actor-directors like Don McKellar and Sarah Polley or newly emerging talents like Chloé Robichaud, Craig Goodwill and Sébastien Pilote, Canadian creative ingenuity is on abundant display in its films. All of this...
- 12/12/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Disciple, Finland's Submission for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. U.S. : None Yet. Producer: Långfilm Productions Finland Oy
With The Disciple , her third narrative feature, Finnish director Ulrika Bengts returns to tell another coming-of-age story set in a remote island, but this time with darker undertones. Intriguing and strikingly beautiful the film follows Karl, an orphan who wants to learn the ropes and help in the island's lighthouse. However, the man in charge, Hasselbon, is not fond of the idea. His extreme standards make his own son Gustaf's life miserable, as he doesn't think he has what it takes to become the captain of a ship. Although simple in its conception, the great performances and the atmosphere created by the outstanding soundtrack make for a suspenseful experience. Bengts talked to us about how difficult it was to shoot on the island, her own take on working with actors, and the process to create the film's score.
Read the Review for The Disciple Here
Carlos Aguilar: The music is extremely expressive and evocative in this film; can you talk about the process of finding or composing this music?
Ulrika Bengts: The composer is my husband, Peter Hägerstrand, so we have been working together for about twenty years making other movies together. But this time it was a real challenge because I told him I didn’t want to have any melodies in the music, I wanted it to be disharmonic. Peter made music that didn’t sound melodious at all but it didn’t fit the picture, it was totally wrong. I was obsessed with this idea that it should be industrial in a way. But then one day when we met he said “Ok, in the end I recorded something else that is not for this movie” and then I listened to it and it was going to be the friendship theme between the two guys, and then I went ”Yes, here it is, it should be really a really melodious score based on piano, violin, cello.” So that’s how we made it. And of course the piano scene when Dorrit, the mother plays, was part of the story, and we composed that piece before we started shooting.
Aguilar: How did you work with cast in order to achieve such emotional, yet subdued performances?
Bengts: I was so lucky that we had a week of rehearsals together, just me and the actors. Because the actors didn’t know each other before, they were completely new to each other. We talked a lot about the characters, about their back story, their background, what happened to them before the film starts, and what we thought happens after the film ends. I handled it by talking a lot.
Aguilar: Specifically talking about the young cast, how did you handle the violent sequences with them?
Bengts: I’ve mad a lot of films with young actors and with children, so it is not unfamiliar to me. I think I handle young actors exactly the same way I handle grown up actors, by asking the same questions. Because when we are on the set, they are not children or teenagers, they are actors, and they are working. Basically, when we had that week of rehearsal I wanted to give them some terminology, like the words we use when we are filming.Erik Lönngren, he plays Karl, I had worked with him before on my first feature Iris, which was two years before The Disciple, and he is a very skilled amateur actor. He has been in a lot of amateur stage plays. But Patrik Kumpulainen, the guy playing Gustaf, this was his very first experience, not only in film but also as an actor, he had never acted before. When we were rehearsing he really made me nervous because he used to ask me “Ulrika, what kid of face to you want me to put on in this scene” and I said “Patrick my dear boy, acting is not about putting on faces, you have to understand your character and feel his feelings” and he understood it. It was really cheerful to see the way he developed during this five weeks that we were shooting on the island.
Aguilar: The film seems to be about fathers and sons and about achieving certain expectations. Hasselbond, the patriarch, wants to be in control. Would you agree these are the messages the film tries to convey?
Bengts: I think The Disciple is mainly about control. The father is trying to control everyone, both the living and the dead on the island, he trusts no one, and he is prepared to be betrayed at every moment. I was interested in exploring what happens to people that have to live under such circumstances, where someone else is setting the rules and you have to obey in every situation. To me Karl is the main character because he wants to stay in the island due to his own background of course. For him this is a new opportunity in life and he really wants to be good in Hasselbond’s eyes, even though he understands he is not a good person and that the rules in this island are not sane. This is a very sick kind of micro-society, but he still tries to obey the rules and he goes through moral choices in almost every scene.
Aguilar: Do you think the story worked better by not showing Elof’s story, Gustaf’s older brother who died mysteriously?
Bengts: Yes, I wanted to make it so that the audience could make up their own pictures of how Elof’s life was and what happened t him.
Aguilar: Do you see Hasselbond , the father, as the villain or a product of his isolated environment?
Bengts : Of course I think he is evil because no one has the right to behave the way he behaves, but It think Niklas Groundstroem who played Hasselbond, has some kind of sensitivity and honorability that makes you feel that he is a poor wounded person. I didn’t want to show what happened to him, or why he has become the way he is. Personally, I think that because he has bonded so much with Karl, he had the same experiences as Karl had.
Aguilar: Could you talk about your experience shooting on location on this isolated island?
Bengts: It was quite hard for all of us. We stayed at the lighthouse island, which is really in the middle of the sea, for five week. It was hard work, as I told you there are only this lighthouse and the house on this island so there were no places to stay for the crew. We had a small crew, about 30 people. Most of us stayed at the sailing ship you see in the movie, the ship of Gustaf’s dream, but everyone couldn’t fit it, so part of the crew stayed on set. The photographer, and his crew, they lived in tents for five weeks. It was really kind of a special shooting; I have never been through something like that before, and probably won’t again either. Of course since we were in an isolated island there were only snakes and sea birds, and you have only one location that is marvelous, so the story comes even closer to you. It allowed us to get deep into the emotions. We could focus on the story and the development of the characters. We worked in a quite simple way because we had no time to do a storyboard, so when we were shooting a scene, I rehearsed with the actors and we decided how they should move, the photographer was also present, and we discussed together what we were shooting in that scene. It was kind of an unusual way of working but the actors had a lot of freedom. I think you can see that this helped them.
Aguilar: Your film is representing Finland at the Academy Awards this year, is there any pressure on you because of this?
Bengts: To me is only joy. I’m very proud of our movie, and I’m proud that Finland made the decision that this movie should represent the country. I’m hopeful. I don’t feel the pressure at all, if we are shortlisted or get a nomination, is just a bonus. Representing Finland has helped the movie a lot already. When it was official we got quite a lot of invitations from international film festivals. After it was announced that it was the selection, the number of invitations rose 400%.
With The Disciple , her third narrative feature, Finnish director Ulrika Bengts returns to tell another coming-of-age story set in a remote island, but this time with darker undertones. Intriguing and strikingly beautiful the film follows Karl, an orphan who wants to learn the ropes and help in the island's lighthouse. However, the man in charge, Hasselbon, is not fond of the idea. His extreme standards make his own son Gustaf's life miserable, as he doesn't think he has what it takes to become the captain of a ship. Although simple in its conception, the great performances and the atmosphere created by the outstanding soundtrack make for a suspenseful experience. Bengts talked to us about how difficult it was to shoot on the island, her own take on working with actors, and the process to create the film's score.
Read the Review for The Disciple Here
Carlos Aguilar: The music is extremely expressive and evocative in this film; can you talk about the process of finding or composing this music?
Ulrika Bengts: The composer is my husband, Peter Hägerstrand, so we have been working together for about twenty years making other movies together. But this time it was a real challenge because I told him I didn’t want to have any melodies in the music, I wanted it to be disharmonic. Peter made music that didn’t sound melodious at all but it didn’t fit the picture, it was totally wrong. I was obsessed with this idea that it should be industrial in a way. But then one day when we met he said “Ok, in the end I recorded something else that is not for this movie” and then I listened to it and it was going to be the friendship theme between the two guys, and then I went ”Yes, here it is, it should be really a really melodious score based on piano, violin, cello.” So that’s how we made it. And of course the piano scene when Dorrit, the mother plays, was part of the story, and we composed that piece before we started shooting.
Aguilar: How did you work with cast in order to achieve such emotional, yet subdued performances?
Bengts: I was so lucky that we had a week of rehearsals together, just me and the actors. Because the actors didn’t know each other before, they were completely new to each other. We talked a lot about the characters, about their back story, their background, what happened to them before the film starts, and what we thought happens after the film ends. I handled it by talking a lot.
Aguilar: Specifically talking about the young cast, how did you handle the violent sequences with them?
Bengts: I’ve mad a lot of films with young actors and with children, so it is not unfamiliar to me. I think I handle young actors exactly the same way I handle grown up actors, by asking the same questions. Because when we are on the set, they are not children or teenagers, they are actors, and they are working. Basically, when we had that week of rehearsal I wanted to give them some terminology, like the words we use when we are filming.Erik Lönngren, he plays Karl, I had worked with him before on my first feature Iris, which was two years before The Disciple, and he is a very skilled amateur actor. He has been in a lot of amateur stage plays. But Patrik Kumpulainen, the guy playing Gustaf, this was his very first experience, not only in film but also as an actor, he had never acted before. When we were rehearsing he really made me nervous because he used to ask me “Ulrika, what kid of face to you want me to put on in this scene” and I said “Patrick my dear boy, acting is not about putting on faces, you have to understand your character and feel his feelings” and he understood it. It was really cheerful to see the way he developed during this five weeks that we were shooting on the island.
Aguilar: The film seems to be about fathers and sons and about achieving certain expectations. Hasselbond, the patriarch, wants to be in control. Would you agree these are the messages the film tries to convey?
Bengts: I think The Disciple is mainly about control. The father is trying to control everyone, both the living and the dead on the island, he trusts no one, and he is prepared to be betrayed at every moment. I was interested in exploring what happens to people that have to live under such circumstances, where someone else is setting the rules and you have to obey in every situation. To me Karl is the main character because he wants to stay in the island due to his own background of course. For him this is a new opportunity in life and he really wants to be good in Hasselbond’s eyes, even though he understands he is not a good person and that the rules in this island are not sane. This is a very sick kind of micro-society, but he still tries to obey the rules and he goes through moral choices in almost every scene.
Aguilar: Do you think the story worked better by not showing Elof’s story, Gustaf’s older brother who died mysteriously?
Bengts: Yes, I wanted to make it so that the audience could make up their own pictures of how Elof’s life was and what happened t him.
Aguilar: Do you see Hasselbond , the father, as the villain or a product of his isolated environment?
Bengts : Of course I think he is evil because no one has the right to behave the way he behaves, but It think Niklas Groundstroem who played Hasselbond, has some kind of sensitivity and honorability that makes you feel that he is a poor wounded person. I didn’t want to show what happened to him, or why he has become the way he is. Personally, I think that because he has bonded so much with Karl, he had the same experiences as Karl had.
Aguilar: Could you talk about your experience shooting on location on this isolated island?
Bengts: It was quite hard for all of us. We stayed at the lighthouse island, which is really in the middle of the sea, for five week. It was hard work, as I told you there are only this lighthouse and the house on this island so there were no places to stay for the crew. We had a small crew, about 30 people. Most of us stayed at the sailing ship you see in the movie, the ship of Gustaf’s dream, but everyone couldn’t fit it, so part of the crew stayed on set. The photographer, and his crew, they lived in tents for five weeks. It was really kind of a special shooting; I have never been through something like that before, and probably won’t again either. Of course since we were in an isolated island there were only snakes and sea birds, and you have only one location that is marvelous, so the story comes even closer to you. It allowed us to get deep into the emotions. We could focus on the story and the development of the characters. We worked in a quite simple way because we had no time to do a storyboard, so when we were shooting a scene, I rehearsed with the actors and we decided how they should move, the photographer was also present, and we discussed together what we were shooting in that scene. It was kind of an unusual way of working but the actors had a lot of freedom. I think you can see that this helped them.
Aguilar: Your film is representing Finland at the Academy Awards this year, is there any pressure on you because of this?
Bengts: To me is only joy. I’m very proud of our movie, and I’m proud that Finland made the decision that this movie should represent the country. I’m hopeful. I don’t feel the pressure at all, if we are shortlisted or get a nomination, is just a bonus. Representing Finland has helped the movie a lot already. When it was official we got quite a lot of invitations from international film festivals. After it was announced that it was the selection, the number of invitations rose 400%.
- 11/26/2013
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
The Disciple, Finland's Submission for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. U.S. : None Yet. Producer: Långfilm Productions Finland Oy
Human lives are in constant transition, always adapting to ever-changing, unpredictable circumstances. Part of that process often includes replacing things that are no longer useful or no longer exist. Separations, moving to a different city or a different school, and more definitively, death, force individuals to replace the people in their lives in order to fill a void or seeking a second change. That's what Ulrika Bengts' suspenseful drama The Disciple (Lärjungen) explores in an almost-deserted island that serves as a microcosm for her characters to fully expose their need to be in control.
Set in the late 1930s and shot with the simple beauty of a classic painting, from the first frames Bengts wastes no time in showing the quietly dangerous realm the island represents. Hardworking Karl (Erik Lönngren), a thirteen year old boy, has arrived as the only available person to assist the lighthouse keeper with the arduous labor. Displeased by Karl’s age and fragile appearance, Master Hasselbond (Niklas Groundstroem), the veteran lighthouse keeper and defacto ruler, wants to send him back, arguing that whatever he can do, his own teenage boy already does. His son and most faithful follower, Gustaf (Patrik Kumpulainen), is a noble kid who wants nothing else than to please his terribly strict father even if he ridicules him and constantly reminds him that he will never amount to much. Based on the fact that the foreign boy is willing to help him with his mathematic assignments, Gustaf develops a brotherly friendship with Karl, who is diligent and proves himself useful by working around the island. Soon Hasselbond notices Karl’s talents and plans to make him his protégé.
Unafraid to use violence to assert his power and retain control over his family, Hasselbond has banned his wife Dorrit (Amanda Ooms) from playing music and has forbidden the entire family, including his young daughter Emma (Ping Mon H. Wallén), from speaking about the death of their older brother Elof. The oppressor finds in Karl a vessel for his unfulfilled aspirations and strict moral parameters. He wants him to become what neither of his two sons could be in his eyes, which turns Gustaf’s amiable relationship with Karl into hatred. The screenplay by Roland Fauser and Jimmy Karlsson efficiently conveys the story of this man with a pathological obsession with power, and it does so without the need of a religious fanaticism subplot.
The two boys and the maniacal patriarch form a trio in which the roles of teacher and student are symbiotic. Gustaf realizes his father won’t recognize his achievements, while slowly, Karl settles into his role of the devoted son who is willing to follow Hasselbond’s orders blindly. Early in the film, the father struggles to teach Gustaf geometrical concepts related to squares and equilateral triangles, shapes that must have equal sides to be complete. He wants to raise the boys in his image, poisoning them with false righteousness and by that, replacing his late firstborn with Karl to complete his vision of a family, his personal perfect triangle. All three actors in the main roles superbly tackle the emotions of their characters, and play off of each other to make this unsettling family drama stunningly frightening.
Working with a seemingly simple premise, Bengts creates an alluring piece whose haunting musical score by Peter Hägerstrand truly becomes an invisible player in the story. Added to this, the misleading peaceful atmosphere of the isolated location conceals the menacing secrets hidden inside the lighthouse. Here, Bengts' characters form a cult-like community in which their evil leader is only preoccupied with living vicariously through another individual with the purpose of denying his responsibility in the family’s tragic past. Tense and strikingly beautiful The Disciple is a film about legacy, about parents' expectations of their children and the alienating lack of individuality those expectations can impose on them.
Read more about all the 76 Best Foreign Language Film Submission for the 2014 Academy Awards...
Human lives are in constant transition, always adapting to ever-changing, unpredictable circumstances. Part of that process often includes replacing things that are no longer useful or no longer exist. Separations, moving to a different city or a different school, and more definitively, death, force individuals to replace the people in their lives in order to fill a void or seeking a second change. That's what Ulrika Bengts' suspenseful drama The Disciple (Lärjungen) explores in an almost-deserted island that serves as a microcosm for her characters to fully expose their need to be in control.
Set in the late 1930s and shot with the simple beauty of a classic painting, from the first frames Bengts wastes no time in showing the quietly dangerous realm the island represents. Hardworking Karl (Erik Lönngren), a thirteen year old boy, has arrived as the only available person to assist the lighthouse keeper with the arduous labor. Displeased by Karl’s age and fragile appearance, Master Hasselbond (Niklas Groundstroem), the veteran lighthouse keeper and defacto ruler, wants to send him back, arguing that whatever he can do, his own teenage boy already does. His son and most faithful follower, Gustaf (Patrik Kumpulainen), is a noble kid who wants nothing else than to please his terribly strict father even if he ridicules him and constantly reminds him that he will never amount to much. Based on the fact that the foreign boy is willing to help him with his mathematic assignments, Gustaf develops a brotherly friendship with Karl, who is diligent and proves himself useful by working around the island. Soon Hasselbond notices Karl’s talents and plans to make him his protégé.
Unafraid to use violence to assert his power and retain control over his family, Hasselbond has banned his wife Dorrit (Amanda Ooms) from playing music and has forbidden the entire family, including his young daughter Emma (Ping Mon H. Wallén), from speaking about the death of their older brother Elof. The oppressor finds in Karl a vessel for his unfulfilled aspirations and strict moral parameters. He wants him to become what neither of his two sons could be in his eyes, which turns Gustaf’s amiable relationship with Karl into hatred. The screenplay by Roland Fauser and Jimmy Karlsson efficiently conveys the story of this man with a pathological obsession with power, and it does so without the need of a religious fanaticism subplot.
The two boys and the maniacal patriarch form a trio in which the roles of teacher and student are symbiotic. Gustaf realizes his father won’t recognize his achievements, while slowly, Karl settles into his role of the devoted son who is willing to follow Hasselbond’s orders blindly. Early in the film, the father struggles to teach Gustaf geometrical concepts related to squares and equilateral triangles, shapes that must have equal sides to be complete. He wants to raise the boys in his image, poisoning them with false righteousness and by that, replacing his late firstborn with Karl to complete his vision of a family, his personal perfect triangle. All three actors in the main roles superbly tackle the emotions of their characters, and play off of each other to make this unsettling family drama stunningly frightening.
Working with a seemingly simple premise, Bengts creates an alluring piece whose haunting musical score by Peter Hägerstrand truly becomes an invisible player in the story. Added to this, the misleading peaceful atmosphere of the isolated location conceals the menacing secrets hidden inside the lighthouse. Here, Bengts' characters form a cult-like community in which their evil leader is only preoccupied with living vicariously through another individual with the purpose of denying his responsibility in the family’s tragic past. Tense and strikingly beautiful The Disciple is a film about legacy, about parents' expectations of their children and the alienating lack of individuality those expectations can impose on them.
Read more about all the 76 Best Foreign Language Film Submission for the 2014 Academy Awards...
- 11/14/2013
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its shortlist for the 2014 Foreign Language Film Oscar — totaling a not-so-short 76 submitted films.
The number, up from 71 films last year, sets a new record for the category and includes frontrunners such as Asghar Farhadi’s The Past from Iran, Thomas Vinterberg’s The Hunt from Denmark, and Wong Kar-Wai’s The Grandmaster from Hong Kong. Abdellatif Kechiche’s festival favorite lesbian drama Blue Is the Warmest Color from France, however, failed to make the cut-off date for eligibility, while India controversially submitted Gyan Correa’s The Good Road over Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox.
The number, up from 71 films last year, sets a new record for the category and includes frontrunners such as Asghar Farhadi’s The Past from Iran, Thomas Vinterberg’s The Hunt from Denmark, and Wong Kar-Wai’s The Grandmaster from Hong Kong. Abdellatif Kechiche’s festival favorite lesbian drama Blue Is the Warmest Color from France, however, failed to make the cut-off date for eligibility, while India controversially submitted Gyan Correa’s The Good Road over Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox.
- 10/8/2013
- by Shirley Li
- EW - Inside Movies
The Academy officially announced today that a record 76 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 2014 Oscars. Among those submitting, Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants and this is the first time Montenegro has submitted a film as an independent country. Based solely on name recognition alone I'd say Thomas Vinterberg's The Hunt (Denmark) and Asghar Farhadi's The Past (Iran) will be looked at as front-runners. However, I haven't only seen a few of the titles on this list, another of which is Mexico's entry, Heli from Amat Escalante. I have heard good things about Borgman (Netherlands) and it will be interesting to see how Haifaa al-Mansour's Wadjda is treated as it is a story unto itself, not to mention it seems to be receiving high marks from those that have seen it. I'm personally hoping to catch it soon...
- 10/7/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
A record 76 countries have submitted films for consideration in the foreign language film category for the 86th Academy Awards.
Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants while Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.
Earlier this year the Academy changed its rule allowing all voting members to vote on the shortlist.
The nominations will be announced on January 16 2014 and the Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 2 2014 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The 2013 submissions are:
Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram
Albania, Agon, Robert Budina
Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Cambodia...
Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants while Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.
Earlier this year the Academy changed its rule allowing all voting members to vote on the shortlist.
The nominations will be announced on January 16 2014 and the Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 2 2014 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The 2013 submissions are:
Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram
Albania, Agon, Robert Budina
Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Cambodia...
- 10/7/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has released the list of the 76 countries and their submissions officially competing for the 2014 Foreign Language Film Oscar.
Amongst the high profile entries this year are Australia's "The Rocket," Denmark's "The Hunt," France's "Renoir," Wong Kar-wai's "The Grandmaster," Iran's "The Past," and Saudi Arabia's "Wadjda".
The nominations will be announced on January 16th 2014 ahead of the ceremony on March 2nd. Here is the complete list:
Afghanistan, "Wajma – An Afghan Love Story," Barmak Akram
Albania, "Agon," Robert Budina
Argentina, "The German Doctor," Lucía Puenzo
Australia, "The Rocket," Kim Mordaunt
Austria, "The Wall," Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, "Steppe Man," Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, "Television," Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, "The Broken Circle Breakdown," Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, "An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker," Danis Tanovic
Brazil, "Neighboring Sounds," Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, "The Color of the Chameleon," Emil Hristov
Cambodia, "The Missing Picture,...
Amongst the high profile entries this year are Australia's "The Rocket," Denmark's "The Hunt," France's "Renoir," Wong Kar-wai's "The Grandmaster," Iran's "The Past," and Saudi Arabia's "Wadjda".
The nominations will be announced on January 16th 2014 ahead of the ceremony on March 2nd. Here is the complete list:
Afghanistan, "Wajma – An Afghan Love Story," Barmak Akram
Albania, "Agon," Robert Budina
Argentina, "The German Doctor," Lucía Puenzo
Australia, "The Rocket," Kim Mordaunt
Austria, "The Wall," Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, "Steppe Man," Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, "Television," Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, "The Broken Circle Breakdown," Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, "An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker," Danis Tanovic
Brazil, "Neighboring Sounds," Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, "The Color of the Chameleon," Emil Hristov
Cambodia, "The Missing Picture,...
- 10/7/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
A record 76 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 86th Academy Awards®.
Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants; Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.
The 2013 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “Wajma – An Afghan Love Story,” Barmak Akram, director;
Albania, “Agon,” Robert Budina, director;
Argentina, “The German Doctor,” Lucía Puenzo, director;
Australia, “The Rocket,” Kim Mordaunt, director;
Austria, “The Wall,” Julian Pölsler, director;
Azerbaijan, “Steppe Man,” Shamil Aliyev, director;
Bangladesh, “Television,” Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, director;
Belgium, “The Broken Circle Breakdown,” Felix van Groeningen, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker,” Danis Tanovic, director;
Brazil, “Neighboring Sounds,” Kleber Mendonça Filho, director;
Bulgaria, “The Color of the Chameleon,” Emil Hristov, director;
Cambodia, “The Missing Picture,” Rithy Panh, director;
Canada, “Gabrielle,” Louise Archambault, director;
Chad, “GriGris,” Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, director;
Chile, “Gloria,” Sebastián Lelio, director;
China, “Back to 1942,” Feng Xiaogang,...
Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants; Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.
The 2013 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “Wajma – An Afghan Love Story,” Barmak Akram, director;
Albania, “Agon,” Robert Budina, director;
Argentina, “The German Doctor,” Lucía Puenzo, director;
Australia, “The Rocket,” Kim Mordaunt, director;
Austria, “The Wall,” Julian Pölsler, director;
Azerbaijan, “Steppe Man,” Shamil Aliyev, director;
Bangladesh, “Television,” Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, director;
Belgium, “The Broken Circle Breakdown,” Felix van Groeningen, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker,” Danis Tanovic, director;
Brazil, “Neighboring Sounds,” Kleber Mendonça Filho, director;
Bulgaria, “The Color of the Chameleon,” Emil Hristov, director;
Cambodia, “The Missing Picture,” Rithy Panh, director;
Canada, “Gabrielle,” Louise Archambault, director;
Chad, “GriGris,” Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, director;
Chile, “Gloria,” Sebastián Lelio, director;
China, “Back to 1942,” Feng Xiaogang,...
- 10/7/2013
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
All entries for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the Academy Awards 2014.
Submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards are coming in and will continue until October, when the full list of eligible submissions will be revealed.
Last year, a record 71 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Austrian entry Amour, directed by Michael Haneke.
An initial nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 16, 2014.
Submissions
Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram
Albania, Agon, Robert Budina
Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Cambodia...
Submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards are coming in and will continue until October, when the full list of eligible submissions will be revealed.
Last year, a record 71 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Austrian entry Amour, directed by Michael Haneke.
An initial nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 16, 2014.
Submissions
Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram
Albania, Agon, Robert Budina
Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Cambodia...
- 10/7/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
In line with SydneysBuzz’s focus on the international film business we have put together the most complete list on the 67 national submissions to compete for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. This list showcases films that have been the centerpieces of the most renowned festivals and that represent the best in the cinematic landscape from across the globe. Last year, at this point in the race the clear favorite was Palm d'Or winner Amour, which went on to win the award with no significant competition and scoring 4 other nominations including Best Picture, an outstanding feat for a foreign film about love at the end of life, by Michael Haneke.
This time around the story could have repeated almost identically with the most recent winner of Cannes’ biggest prize Blue is the Warmest Color. However, the film became one more victim of the Academy's rules, which rendered it unqualified to compete because of the late release date in France. With Blue out of the race the award is fair game for virtually anyone on the list, although there are certainly some favorites.
Saudi Arabia's first ever submission, the charming Wadjda might turn into beginners luck and score the Kingdom, in which movie theaters are banned, a nomination or even a win. Iran's audacious decision to submit the French-language The Past caused uproar among conservatives, but might certainly score the nation another nomination after their win in 2012 with the masterful A Separation. Other strong contenders are Denmark's The Hunt starring Mads Mikkelsen, and which would continue the countries streak of 3 consecutive nominations winning in 2011 with In A Better World, as well as Canada's Gabrielle about the romantic relationship of a handicapped couple, and Hong Kong’s The Grandmaster by famous director Wong Kar-wai.
Italy’s The Great Beauty, Australia’s The Rocket, Romania’s Child’s Pose, and Chile’s Gloria are among other titles that might score a nomination given their success and prominence during their festivals rounds. Some countries decided to take a chance and send audacious choices as their representation to the Academy, so is the case Mexico, a country that chose the more violent and artistically daring Cannes winner Heli, over the hit comedy Instructions Not Included, or Greece’s Boy Eating The Bird’s Food, which includes grotesque imagery that might not sit well with academy members.
The African continent is minimally represented with only 3 entries, South Africa’s Four Corners, and the Arabic-language works God’s Horses from Morocco, and Winter of Discontent from Egypt. Algeria, which has submitted regularly and even scored several nominations, is absent in this occasion. Another big omission is China who did not submit an entry but whose language is represented by Taiwan and the above-mentioned Hong Kong; equally strange is France’s decision to enter Renoir over tons of other films that could have substituted Abdellatif Kechiche.
Less surprising is Russia’s decision to submit a blockbuster-style production with a very nationalistic message in lieu of a more intimate film. On the other hand, Cambodia, Lithuania, and Switzerland decided to go with a documentary, a choice that has never been very fruitful in this category. Lastly, Israel and Palestine both entered strong candidate with Bethlehem and Omar respectively, adding with that to the great year the region has seen in the cinematic realm.
The rest of the films are a mixture of obscure titles with not much exposure outside their homelands, and a others with great premise but equally unknown quality. Thankfully for SydneysBuzz readers, the list below compiles all 67 Foreign Submissions and includes links to more information and a link to the trailer of every single one of them. For the most part the clips are subtitled; the ones that are not will at least give the reader a sense of what the film is about. As the Awards Season develops, we will have updates on predicted nominees and other developments in the race for the Best Foreign Language Film.
Argentina
The German Doctor (Wakolda)
Dir: Lucia Puenzo
Language: Spanish, German, Hebrew
U.S Release: Acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Australia
The Rocket
Dir: Kim Mordaunt
Language: Lao
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin 2013: Best First Feature Film ,Tribeca 2013: World Narrative Competition
Trailer
Austria
The Wall
Dir: Julian Polsler
Language: German
U.S Release: Released by Music Box Films on May 31st, 2013
Festivals: Sitges Ff 2012 Oficial Fantastic, Mumbai Ff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Bangladesh
Television
Dir: Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Language: Bengali
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Dubai Diff 2012 (Muhr AsiaAfrica Feature Special Mention)
Trailer
Belgium
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Dir: Felix van Groeningen
Language: Flemish
U.S Release: Tribeca Film Will Release the Film on November 1st, 2013
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Panorama
Trailer
Bosnia And Herzegovina
An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker
Dir: Danis Tanović
Language: Bosnian, Romani
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 Competition, Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Brazil
Neighboring Sounds
Dir: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Language: Portuguese, Mandarin
U.S Release: Released by Cinema Guild, Now Available on Netflix streaming
Festivals:Mar Del Plata Ff 2012 Competencia Int'l, Bafici (Buenos Aires) 2013 Panorama
Trailer
Bulgaria
The Color of the Chameleon
Dir: Emil Hristov
Language: Bulgarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Discovery, Thessaloniki Iff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Cambodia
The Missing Picture
Dir: Rithy Panh
Language: French
U.S Release: Acquired by Strand Releasing for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 - Un Certain Regard Prix, San Sebastian 2013 Pearls
Trailer
Canada
Gabrielle
Dir: Louise Archambault
Language: French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto- Tiff 2013, Locarno International Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Chile
Gloria
Dir: Sebastian Lelio
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Acquired by Roadside Attractions for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Colombia
La Playa DC
Dir: Juan Andrés Arango
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Released by Artmattan Productions on July 19th, 2013
Festivals:Official Selection Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard, Chicago Iff 2012 New Directors Competition
Trailer
Croatia
Halima's Path
Dir: Arsen Anton Ostojić
Language: Bosnian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Tallinn Black Nights Iff 2012 - EurAsia (Special Jury Prize)
Trailer
Czech Republic
Burning Bush
Dir: Agnieszka Holland
Language: Czech
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Denmark
The Hunt
Dir: Thomas Vinterberg
Language: Danish
U.S Release: Released by Magnolia Pictures on July 12th
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012, AFI Fest
Trailer
Dominican Republic
Who's the Boss?
Dir: Ronni Castillo
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Egypt
Winter of Discontent
Dir: Ibrahim el-Batout
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013
Trailer
Estonia
Free Range
Dir: Veiko Õunpuu
Language: Estonian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2012
Trailer
Finland
The Disciple
Dir: Ulrika Bengts
Language: Finnish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals:Helsinki International Film Festival, Montréal World Film Festival
Trailer
France
Renoir
Dir: Gilles Bourdos
Language: French
U.S Release: Released by Samuel Goldwyn Films on March 29th, 2013
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Georgia
In Bloom
Dir: Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß
Language: Georgian
U.S Release: Acquired by Big World Pictures for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Cicae award Berlinale Forum 2013
Trailer
Germany
Two Lives
Dir: Georg Maas
Language: German
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Greece
Boy Eating The Bird's Food
Dir: Ektoras Lygizos
Language: Greek
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Discovery
Trailer
Hong Kong
The Grandmaster
Dir: Wong Kar-wai
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
U.S Release: Released by The Weinstein Company on August 23rd, 2013
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Hungary
The Notebook
Dir: Janosz Szasz
Language: Hungarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Iceland
Of Horses and Men
Dir: Benedikt Erlingsson
Language: Icelandic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Sundance 2013
Trailer
India
The Good Road
Dir: Gyan Correa
Language: Gujarati
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: London Indian Film Festival in 2013
Trailer
Iran
The Past
Dir: Asghar Farhadi
Language: French, Persian
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics will release the film on December 20th, 2013
Festivals:Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Actress, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Israel
Bethlehem
Dir: Yuval Adler
Language: Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery, Cannes 2013 , Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Italy
The Great Beauty
Dir: Paolo Sorrentino
Language: Italian
U.S Release: Acquired by Janus Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Berlin Efm 2013,
Trailer
Japan
The Great Passage
Dir: Yuya Ishii
Language: Japanese
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Fantasia Ff 2013 Official Selection, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Kazakhstan
The Old Man
Dir: Ermek Tursunov
Language: Russian, Kazakh
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Latvia
Mother, I Love You
Dir: Janis Nords
Language: Latvian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Los Angeles Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Lebanon
Ghadi
Dir: Amin Dora
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Lithuania
Conversations on Serious Topics
Dir: Giedrė Beinoriūtė
Language: Lithuanian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Luxembourg
Blind Spot
Dir: Christophe Wagner
Language: Luxembourgish, French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012
Trailer
Mexico
Heli
Dir: Amat Escalante
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Director, San Sebastian 2013 Horizontes Latinos,
Trailer
Montenegro
Bad Destiny
Dir: Draško Đurović
Language: Serbo-Croatian
U.S Release: Acquired by Princ Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Toronto- Tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Morocco
God's Horses
Dir: Nabil Ayouch
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Bif London Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Nepal
Soongava: Dance of the Orchids
Dir: Subarna Thapa
Language: Nepalese
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
The Netherlands
Borgman
Dir: Alex van Warmerdam
Language: Dutch
U.S Release: Acquired by Drafthouse Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Busan 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
New Zealand
White Lies
Dir: Dana Rotberg
Language: Maori
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Norway
I Am Yours
Dir: Iram Haq
Language: Norwegian, Urdu
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Pakistan
Zinda Bhaag
Dir: Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi
Language: Udu, Punjabi
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Palestine
Omar
Dir: Hany Abu-Assad
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Peru
The Cleaner
Dir: Adrian Saba
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Palm Springs Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival
Trailer
Philippines
Transit
Dir: Hannah Espia
Language: Filipino, Tagalog, Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cinemalaya Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Poland
Walesa
Dir: Andrzej Wajda
Language: Polish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013, Venice- Biennale 2013
Trailer
Portugal
Lines of Wellington
Dir: Valeria Sarmiento
Language: Portuguese, English, French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice - Biennale 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012
Trailer
Romania
Child's Pose
Dir: Calin Peter Netzer
Language: Romanian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Competition (Golden Bear for the Best Film), Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Russia
Stalingrad
Dir: Fedor Bondarchuk
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Saudi Arabia
Wadjda
Dir: Haifaa al-Mansour
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Released by Sony Pictures Classics on September 13th, 2013
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Venice International Film Festival 2012, Los Angeles Film Festival, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Serbia
Circles
Dir: Srdan Golubovic
Language: Serbian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlinale - Efm 2013 Forum, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Singapore
Ilo Ilo
Dir: Anthony Chen
Language: Mandarin, Hokkien, English, Tagalog
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Directors Fortnight, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery
Trailer
Slovakia
My Dog Killer
Dir: Mira Fornay
Language: Slovak
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Slovenia
Class Enemy
Dir: Rok Biček
Language: Slovene
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Spain
15 Years and One Day
Dir: Gracia Querejeta
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: San Sebastian 2013 Made in Spain, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
South Africa
Four Corners
Dir: Ian Gabriel
Language: Afrikaans, Tsotsitaal
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals:N/A
Trailer
South Korea
Juvenile Offender
Dir: Kang Yi-kwan
Language: Korean
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Contemporary World Cinema,
Trailer
Sweden
Eat Sleep Die
Dir: Gabriela Pichler
Language: Swedish, Croatian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice International Film Festival 2012, Toronto - Tiff 2012
Trailer
Switzerland
More Than Honey
Dir: Markus Imhoof
Language: German, Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Tiff Docs, Cannes 2013, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Taiwan
Soul
Dir: Mong-Hong Chung
Language: Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Vanguard
Trailer
Thailand
Countdown
Dir: Nattawut Poonpiriya
Language: Thai
U.S Release: Acquired by Birch Tree Entertainment for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Far East Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Turkey
The Butterfly's Dream
Dir: Yılmaz Erdoğan
Language: Turkish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Istanbul Film Festival, Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival
Trailer
Ukraine
Paradjanov
Dir: Serge Avedikian and Olena Fetisova
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto 2013
Trailer
United Kingdom
Metro Manila
Dir: Sean Elllis
Language: Filipino, Tagalog
U.S Release: Acquired by Paladin/108 Media for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlin Efm 2012, Cannes 2012, Afm 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Venezuela
Breach in the Silence
Dir: Luis and Andrés Rodríguez
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Ventana Sur 2012, Festival de Mar del Plata "Panorama Latinomaericano"
Trailer...
This time around the story could have repeated almost identically with the most recent winner of Cannes’ biggest prize Blue is the Warmest Color. However, the film became one more victim of the Academy's rules, which rendered it unqualified to compete because of the late release date in France. With Blue out of the race the award is fair game for virtually anyone on the list, although there are certainly some favorites.
Saudi Arabia's first ever submission, the charming Wadjda might turn into beginners luck and score the Kingdom, in which movie theaters are banned, a nomination or even a win. Iran's audacious decision to submit the French-language The Past caused uproar among conservatives, but might certainly score the nation another nomination after their win in 2012 with the masterful A Separation. Other strong contenders are Denmark's The Hunt starring Mads Mikkelsen, and which would continue the countries streak of 3 consecutive nominations winning in 2011 with In A Better World, as well as Canada's Gabrielle about the romantic relationship of a handicapped couple, and Hong Kong’s The Grandmaster by famous director Wong Kar-wai.
Italy’s The Great Beauty, Australia’s The Rocket, Romania’s Child’s Pose, and Chile’s Gloria are among other titles that might score a nomination given their success and prominence during their festivals rounds. Some countries decided to take a chance and send audacious choices as their representation to the Academy, so is the case Mexico, a country that chose the more violent and artistically daring Cannes winner Heli, over the hit comedy Instructions Not Included, or Greece’s Boy Eating The Bird’s Food, which includes grotesque imagery that might not sit well with academy members.
The African continent is minimally represented with only 3 entries, South Africa’s Four Corners, and the Arabic-language works God’s Horses from Morocco, and Winter of Discontent from Egypt. Algeria, which has submitted regularly and even scored several nominations, is absent in this occasion. Another big omission is China who did not submit an entry but whose language is represented by Taiwan and the above-mentioned Hong Kong; equally strange is France’s decision to enter Renoir over tons of other films that could have substituted Abdellatif Kechiche.
Less surprising is Russia’s decision to submit a blockbuster-style production with a very nationalistic message in lieu of a more intimate film. On the other hand, Cambodia, Lithuania, and Switzerland decided to go with a documentary, a choice that has never been very fruitful in this category. Lastly, Israel and Palestine both entered strong candidate with Bethlehem and Omar respectively, adding with that to the great year the region has seen in the cinematic realm.
The rest of the films are a mixture of obscure titles with not much exposure outside their homelands, and a others with great premise but equally unknown quality. Thankfully for SydneysBuzz readers, the list below compiles all 67 Foreign Submissions and includes links to more information and a link to the trailer of every single one of them. For the most part the clips are subtitled; the ones that are not will at least give the reader a sense of what the film is about. As the Awards Season develops, we will have updates on predicted nominees and other developments in the race for the Best Foreign Language Film.
Argentina
The German Doctor (Wakolda)
Dir: Lucia Puenzo
Language: Spanish, German, Hebrew
U.S Release: Acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Australia
The Rocket
Dir: Kim Mordaunt
Language: Lao
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin 2013: Best First Feature Film ,Tribeca 2013: World Narrative Competition
Trailer
Austria
The Wall
Dir: Julian Polsler
Language: German
U.S Release: Released by Music Box Films on May 31st, 2013
Festivals: Sitges Ff 2012 Oficial Fantastic, Mumbai Ff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Bangladesh
Television
Dir: Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Language: Bengali
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Dubai Diff 2012 (Muhr AsiaAfrica Feature Special Mention)
Trailer
Belgium
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Dir: Felix van Groeningen
Language: Flemish
U.S Release: Tribeca Film Will Release the Film on November 1st, 2013
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Panorama
Trailer
Bosnia And Herzegovina
An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker
Dir: Danis Tanović
Language: Bosnian, Romani
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 Competition, Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Brazil
Neighboring Sounds
Dir: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Language: Portuguese, Mandarin
U.S Release: Released by Cinema Guild, Now Available on Netflix streaming
Festivals:Mar Del Plata Ff 2012 Competencia Int'l, Bafici (Buenos Aires) 2013 Panorama
Trailer
Bulgaria
The Color of the Chameleon
Dir: Emil Hristov
Language: Bulgarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Discovery, Thessaloniki Iff 2012 Int'l Competition
Trailer
Cambodia
The Missing Picture
Dir: Rithy Panh
Language: French
U.S Release: Acquired by Strand Releasing for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 - Un Certain Regard Prix, San Sebastian 2013 Pearls
Trailer
Canada
Gabrielle
Dir: Louise Archambault
Language: French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto- Tiff 2013, Locarno International Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Chile
Gloria
Dir: Sebastian Lelio
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Acquired by Roadside Attractions for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Colombia
La Playa DC
Dir: Juan Andrés Arango
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Released by Artmattan Productions on July 19th, 2013
Festivals:Official Selection Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard, Chicago Iff 2012 New Directors Competition
Trailer
Croatia
Halima's Path
Dir: Arsen Anton Ostojić
Language: Bosnian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Tallinn Black Nights Iff 2012 - EurAsia (Special Jury Prize)
Trailer
Czech Republic
Burning Bush
Dir: Agnieszka Holland
Language: Czech
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Denmark
The Hunt
Dir: Thomas Vinterberg
Language: Danish
U.S Release: Released by Magnolia Pictures on July 12th
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012, AFI Fest
Trailer
Dominican Republic
Who's the Boss?
Dir: Ronni Castillo
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Egypt
Winter of Discontent
Dir: Ibrahim el-Batout
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013
Trailer
Estonia
Free Range
Dir: Veiko Õunpuu
Language: Estonian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2012
Trailer
Finland
The Disciple
Dir: Ulrika Bengts
Language: Finnish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals:Helsinki International Film Festival, Montréal World Film Festival
Trailer
France
Renoir
Dir: Gilles Bourdos
Language: French
U.S Release: Released by Samuel Goldwyn Films on March 29th, 2013
Festivals: Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard
Trailer
Georgia
In Bloom
Dir: Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß
Language: Georgian
U.S Release: Acquired by Big World Pictures for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Cicae award Berlinale Forum 2013
Trailer
Germany
Two Lives
Dir: Georg Maas
Language: German
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Greece
Boy Eating The Bird's Food
Dir: Ektoras Lygizos
Language: Greek
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Discovery
Trailer
Hong Kong
The Grandmaster
Dir: Wong Kar-wai
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
U.S Release: Released by The Weinstein Company on August 23rd, 2013
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Hungary
The Notebook
Dir: Janosz Szasz
Language: Hungarian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Iceland
Of Horses and Men
Dir: Benedikt Erlingsson
Language: Icelandic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Sundance 2013
Trailer
India
The Good Road
Dir: Gyan Correa
Language: Gujarati
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: London Indian Film Festival in 2013
Trailer
Iran
The Past
Dir: Asghar Farhadi
Language: French, Persian
U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics will release the film on December 20th, 2013
Festivals:Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Actress, Toronto - Tiff 2013
Trailer
Israel
Bethlehem
Dir: Yuval Adler
Language: Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery, Cannes 2013 , Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Italy
The Great Beauty
Dir: Paolo Sorrentino
Language: Italian
U.S Release: Acquired by Janus Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Berlin Efm 2013,
Trailer
Japan
The Great Passage
Dir: Yuya Ishii
Language: Japanese
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Fantasia Ff 2013 Official Selection, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Kazakhstan
The Old Man
Dir: Ermek Tursunov
Language: Russian, Kazakh
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Latvia
Mother, I Love You
Dir: Janis Nords
Language: Latvian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Los Angeles Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Lebanon
Ghadi
Dir: Amin Dora
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Lithuania
Conversations on Serious Topics
Dir: Giedrė Beinoriūtė
Language: Lithuanian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Luxembourg
Blind Spot
Dir: Christophe Wagner
Language: Luxembourgish, French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012
Trailer
Mexico
Heli
Dir: Amat Escalante
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Director, San Sebastian 2013 Horizontes Latinos,
Trailer
Montenegro
Bad Destiny
Dir: Draško Đurović
Language: Serbo-Croatian
U.S Release: Acquired by Princ Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Toronto- Tiff 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Morocco
God's Horses
Dir: Nabil Ayouch
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Bif London Film Festival 2012
Trailer
Nepal
Soongava: Dance of the Orchids
Dir: Subarna Thapa
Language: Nepalese
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
The Netherlands
Borgman
Dir: Alex van Warmerdam
Language: Dutch
U.S Release: Acquired by Drafthouse Films for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Busan 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
New Zealand
White Lies
Dir: Dana Rotberg
Language: Maori
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Norway
I Am Yours
Dir: Iram Haq
Language: Norwegian, Urdu
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Pakistan
Zinda Bhaag
Dir: Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi
Language: Udu, Punjabi
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Palestine
Omar
Dir: Hany Abu-Assad
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Peru
The Cleaner
Dir: Adrian Saba
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Palm Springs Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival
Trailer
Philippines
Transit
Dir: Hannah Espia
Language: Filipino, Tagalog, Hebrew
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cinemalaya Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Poland
Walesa
Dir: Andrzej Wajda
Language: Polish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013, Venice- Biennale 2013
Trailer
Portugal
Lines of Wellington
Dir: Valeria Sarmiento
Language: Portuguese, English, French
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice - Biennale 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012
Trailer
Romania
Child's Pose
Dir: Calin Peter Netzer
Language: Romanian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Competition (Golden Bear for the Best Film), Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema
Trailer
Russia
Stalingrad
Dir: Fedor Bondarchuk
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: N/A
Trailer
Saudi Arabia
Wadjda
Dir: Haifaa al-Mansour
Language: Arabic
U.S Release: Released by Sony Pictures Classics on September 13th, 2013
Festivals: Cannes 2012, Venice International Film Festival 2012, Los Angeles Film Festival, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Serbia
Circles
Dir: Srdan Golubovic
Language: Serbian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlinale - Efm 2013 Forum, Cannes 2013
Trailer
Singapore
Ilo Ilo
Dir: Anthony Chen
Language: Mandarin, Hokkien, English, Tagalog
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013 Directors Fortnight, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery
Trailer
Slovakia
My Dog Killer
Dir: Mira Fornay
Language: Slovak
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Busan 2013
Trailer
Slovenia
Class Enemy
Dir: Rok Biček
Language: Slovene
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013
Trailer
Spain
15 Years and One Day
Dir: Gracia Querejeta
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: San Sebastian 2013 Made in Spain, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
South Africa
Four Corners
Dir: Ian Gabriel
Language: Afrikaans, Tsotsitaal
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals:N/A
Trailer
South Korea
Juvenile Offender
Dir: Kang Yi-kwan
Language: Korean
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Contemporary World Cinema,
Trailer
Sweden
Eat Sleep Die
Dir: Gabriela Pichler
Language: Swedish, Croatian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Venice International Film Festival 2012, Toronto - Tiff 2012
Trailer
Switzerland
More Than Honey
Dir: Markus Imhoof
Language: German, Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Tiff Docs, Cannes 2013, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Taiwan
Soul
Dir: Mong-Hong Chung
Language: Mandarin
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Vanguard
Trailer
Thailand
Countdown
Dir: Nattawut Poonpiriya
Language: Thai
U.S Release: Acquired by Birch Tree Entertainment for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Cannes 2013, Far East Film Festival 2013
Trailer
Turkey
The Butterfly's Dream
Dir: Yılmaz Erdoğan
Language: Turkish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Istanbul Film Festival, Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival
Trailer
Ukraine
Paradjanov
Dir: Serge Avedikian and Olena Fetisova
Language: Russian
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Toronto 2013
Trailer
United Kingdom
Metro Manila
Dir: Sean Elllis
Language: Filipino, Tagalog
U.S Release: Acquired by Paladin/108 Media for U.S Distribution
Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlin Efm 2012, Cannes 2012, Afm 2012, Berlin Efm 2013
Trailer
Venezuela
Breach in the Silence
Dir: Luis and Andrés Rodríguez
Language: Spanish
U.S Release: Tba
Festivals: Ventana Sur 2012, Festival de Mar del Plata "Panorama Latinomaericano"
Trailer...
- 10/3/2013
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Producer Riina Hyytiä named producer of the year at Finnish Film Week.
At the closing gala of the Finnish Film Week (Sept 20-26), producer Riina Hyytiä was named Producer of the Year for Johanna Vuoksenmaa’s divorce comedy 21 Ways to Ruin a Marriage (21 tapaa pilata avioliitto).
The comedy is the first Finnish feature by a female director to exceed 400,000 admissions, which only four films have achieved in the last 25 years.
Organised for the fourth time as part of the Helsinki International Film Festival-Love & Anarchy included 24 domestic productions introduced by the filmmakers.
It included previews of Ulrika Bengts’ Lärjungen (The Disciple - Finland’s submission for the Oscars), Rax Rinnekangas’ Luciferin viimeinen elämä (The Last Life of Lucifer), Pekka Lehto’s Luciferin viimeinen elämä (The Surrealist and His Naughty Hand), Dome Karukoski’s Leijonasydän (Heart of a Lion) and Pirjo Honkasalo’s Betoniyö (Concrete Night).
More awards for industry professionals went to:
Director of the Year Simo Halinen for Kerron...
At the closing gala of the Finnish Film Week (Sept 20-26), producer Riina Hyytiä was named Producer of the Year for Johanna Vuoksenmaa’s divorce comedy 21 Ways to Ruin a Marriage (21 tapaa pilata avioliitto).
The comedy is the first Finnish feature by a female director to exceed 400,000 admissions, which only four films have achieved in the last 25 years.
Organised for the fourth time as part of the Helsinki International Film Festival-Love & Anarchy included 24 domestic productions introduced by the filmmakers.
It included previews of Ulrika Bengts’ Lärjungen (The Disciple - Finland’s submission for the Oscars), Rax Rinnekangas’ Luciferin viimeinen elämä (The Last Life of Lucifer), Pekka Lehto’s Luciferin viimeinen elämä (The Surrealist and His Naughty Hand), Dome Karukoski’s Leijonasydän (Heart of a Lion) and Pirjo Honkasalo’s Betoniyö (Concrete Night).
More awards for industry professionals went to:
Director of the Year Simo Halinen for Kerron...
- 9/27/2013
- by jornrossing@aol.com (Jorn Rossing Jensen)
- ScreenDaily
New entries from Argentina, Denmark, Lebanon, Lithuania and Peru.
Submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards are coming in and will continue until October, when the full list of eligible submissions will be revealed.
Last year, a record 71 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Austrian entry Amour, directed by Michael Haneke.
An initial nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 16, 2014.
Submissions
* = new additions
* Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Canada, Gabrielle, Louise Archambault
Chile, Gloria, Sebastián Lelio
Colombia, La Playa DC, Juan Andrés Arango
Croatia, Halima’s Path...
Submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards are coming in and will continue until October, when the full list of eligible submissions will be revealed.
Last year, a record 71 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Austrian entry Amour, directed by Michael Haneke.
An initial nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 16, 2014.
Submissions
* = new additions
* Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo
Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt
Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler
Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki
Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen
Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović
Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov
Canada, Gabrielle, Louise Archambault
Chile, Gloria, Sebastián Lelio
Colombia, La Playa DC, Juan Andrés Arango
Croatia, Halima’s Path...
- 9/27/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Finnish Film Affair event illustrating diversity of the current crop of features from the country.
The Finnish Film Affair, the industry strand of the 26th Helsinki International Film Festival, has returned for a second year and is highlighting the diversity of features emerging from the country.
“In the past Finnish directors would tell local stories to local audiences; now they try to find their place in international cinema,” said Sara Norberg, executive director of Hiff and Ffa.
“The Finnish Film Affair will illustrate this ‘movement’ and the current diversity of Finnish films.”
The three-day event, which wraps tomorrow, includes 250 film professionals, comprising sales agents, buyers, festival programmers and press. This figure includes 60 international representatives – up from 35 at last year’s inaugural event.
The programme includes 30 Finnish films, both recent and upcoming releases. It also features the presentation of 16 works-in-progress, of which eight will be pitched by the filmmakers, at the Finnish Film Foundation’s Kino K-13.
Attending...
The Finnish Film Affair, the industry strand of the 26th Helsinki International Film Festival, has returned for a second year and is highlighting the diversity of features emerging from the country.
“In the past Finnish directors would tell local stories to local audiences; now they try to find their place in international cinema,” said Sara Norberg, executive director of Hiff and Ffa.
“The Finnish Film Affair will illustrate this ‘movement’ and the current diversity of Finnish films.”
The three-day event, which wraps tomorrow, includes 250 film professionals, comprising sales agents, buyers, festival programmers and press. This figure includes 60 international representatives – up from 35 at last year’s inaugural event.
The programme includes 30 Finnish films, both recent and upcoming releases. It also features the presentation of 16 works-in-progress, of which eight will be pitched by the filmmakers, at the Finnish Film Foundation’s Kino K-13.
Attending...
- 9/25/2013
- by jornrossing@aol.com (Jorn Rossing Jensen)
- ScreenDaily
Oscars: Finland Is First Scandinavian Country to Announce Best Foreign Submission for 'The Disciple'
London -- Finland became the first Scandinavian country to announce its Oscar nomination Monday when it tapped Ulrika Bengts' period drama The Disciple for contention. Set on an island in the Baltic Sea in the summer of 1939, the story focuses on the relationship between 13-year-old Karl and Hasselbond, a lighthouse master the boy is sent to work for as an assistant. A wily and adaptable orphan, Karl overcomes initial prejudice to win the lighthouse master's favor. That sets him on a collision course with the man's son as dark family secrets emerge. The second feature for Bengts -- whose
read more...
read more...
- 9/2/2013
- by Nick Holdsworth
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The second edition of the Finnish Film Affair, scheduled for Sept 24-26 in Helsinki, will again showcase hot local titles and works in progress.
This year’s event boasts an expanded guest list of sales agents, buyers and festival programmers, including representatives from Zdf/Arte, Celluloid Dreams, Wild Bunch, Hanway, Tribeca, Palm Springs, Rotterdam and Locarno. About 200 industry experts will attend.
“The first edition introduced the Finnish Film Affair to international decision makers,” said Sara Norberg, executive director of the Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy, which launched the event. “We’re very proud that the success of last year’s works-in-progress and the positive buzz around the event has attracted even more interest from the international industry.”
The new films to be screened include Toronto-bound titles Concrete Night by Pirjo Honkasalo and Heart of Lion by Dome Karukoski, in addition to other festival selections such as Finnish Blood, Swedish Heart by Mika Ronkainen and Alcan Highway by Aleksi...
This year’s event boasts an expanded guest list of sales agents, buyers and festival programmers, including representatives from Zdf/Arte, Celluloid Dreams, Wild Bunch, Hanway, Tribeca, Palm Springs, Rotterdam and Locarno. About 200 industry experts will attend.
“The first edition introduced the Finnish Film Affair to international decision makers,” said Sara Norberg, executive director of the Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy, which launched the event. “We’re very proud that the success of last year’s works-in-progress and the positive buzz around the event has attracted even more interest from the international industry.”
The new films to be screened include Toronto-bound titles Concrete Night by Pirjo Honkasalo and Heart of Lion by Dome Karukoski, in addition to other festival selections such as Finnish Blood, Swedish Heart by Mika Ronkainen and Alcan Highway by Aleksi...
- 8/21/2013
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
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