The first-ever edition of AfroBerlin put Africa in the spotlight at the Berlin Film Festival and in one key session asked how festivals, streamers, and the wider industry can — and should — support films and filmmakers from the continent.
AfroBerlin took over the conference center next to the European Film Market with standing room only for some sessions at the event, which was organized by Prudence Kolong’s consultancy biz Yanibes and the EFM.
Jacqueline Nsiah, a member of the Festival’s Selection Committee, spoke in a slot about empowering local filmmakers. She started her work for the Festival last summer and has bolstered its connections with the African film community. African films including Abderrahmane Sissako’s Black Tea, Mati Diop’s Dahomey, and Nelson Carlos De Los Santos Aria’s Pepe are in competition, and Mamadou Dia’s Demba is in the Encounters strand. “I think it’s not bad,...
AfroBerlin took over the conference center next to the European Film Market with standing room only for some sessions at the event, which was organized by Prudence Kolong’s consultancy biz Yanibes and the EFM.
Jacqueline Nsiah, a member of the Festival’s Selection Committee, spoke in a slot about empowering local filmmakers. She started her work for the Festival last summer and has bolstered its connections with the African film community. African films including Abderrahmane Sissako’s Black Tea, Mati Diop’s Dahomey, and Nelson Carlos De Los Santos Aria’s Pepe are in competition, and Mamadou Dia’s Demba is in the Encounters strand. “I think it’s not bad,...
- 2/18/2024
- by Stewart Clarke
- Deadline Film + TV
Paris-based company The Party Film Sales has boarded international rights to “Aicha,” Mehdi M. Barsaoui’s follow-up to the Venice-premiering “A Son,” and “Transmazonia” by Pia Marais (“Layla Fourie”).
WME Independent is repping North America and multi-territory deals on “Transmazonia.” Both films are in post-production and will be teased by The Party Film Sales at the European Film Market where the company will unveil promo-reels.
Set in contemporary Tunisia, “Aicha” is inspired by true events and tells the story of Aya, a woman in her late 20s who lives with her parents, feeling trapped in a life without prospects. One day, she’s involved in a bus crash while commuting to work. As the sole survivor of the accident, she realizes it could be her chance to start a new life. She flees to Tunis under a new identity, but everything is soon compromised after she witnesses a police blunder.
WME Independent is repping North America and multi-territory deals on “Transmazonia.” Both films are in post-production and will be teased by The Party Film Sales at the European Film Market where the company will unveil promo-reels.
Set in contemporary Tunisia, “Aicha” is inspired by true events and tells the story of Aya, a woman in her late 20s who lives with her parents, feeling trapped in a life without prospects. One day, she’s involved in a bus crash while commuting to work. As the sole survivor of the accident, she realizes it could be her chance to start a new life. She flees to Tunis under a new identity, but everything is soon compromised after she witnesses a police blunder.
- 2/7/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
France’s The Party Film Sales has acquired worldwide sales rights on Mamadou Dia’s Demba, ahead of the film’s world premiere in Encounters at the Berlinale.
It is the second feature from Senegalese filmmaker Dia, after 2019’s Nafi’s Father.
Demba follows a 55-year-old man near retirement - whose mental health is deteriorating after the death of his wife two years previously - who reconnects with his estranged son.
The film shot in winter 2023 in Senegal, produced by Maba Ba for Senegal’s Joyedidi in co-production with Nikole Gerhards for Germany’s NiKo Film. It received backing from...
It is the second feature from Senegalese filmmaker Dia, after 2019’s Nafi’s Father.
Demba follows a 55-year-old man near retirement - whose mental health is deteriorating after the death of his wife two years previously - who reconnects with his estranged son.
The film shot in winter 2023 in Senegal, produced by Maba Ba for Senegal’s Joyedidi in co-production with Nikole Gerhards for Germany’s NiKo Film. It received backing from...
- 2/1/2024
- ScreenDaily
A Different Man.The Berlinale have begun to announce the first few titles selected for the 74th edition of their festival, set to take place from February 15 through 21, 2024. This page will be updated as further sections are announced.COMPETITIONAnother End (Piero Messina)Architecton (Victor Kossakovsky)Black Tea (Abderrahmane Sissako)La Cocina (Alonso Ruiz Palacios) Dahomey (Mati Diop)A Different Man (Aaron Schimberg)The Empire (Bruno Dumont)Gloria! (Margherita Vicario)Suspended Time (Olivier Assayas)From Hilde, With Love (Andreas Dresen)My Favourite CakeLangue Etrangère (Claire Berger)Small Things Like These (Tim Mielants)Who Do I Belong To (Meryam Joobeur)Pepe (Nelson Carlos De Los Santos Arias)Shambhala (Min Bahadur Bham)Sterben (Matthias Glasner)Small Things Like These (Tim Mielants)A Traveler’s Needs (Hong Sang-soo)Sleep With Your Eyes Open. ENCOUNTERSArcadia (Yorgos Zois)Cidade; Campo (Juliana Rojas)Demba (Mamadou Dia)Direct ActionSleep With Your Eyes Open (Nele Wohlatz)The Fable (Raam Reddy...
- 1/23/2024
- MUBI
Berlinale co-directors Carlo Chatrian and Mariette Rissenbeek are going out with a bang in their final year, with a lineup unveiled today featuring the latest works by Olivier Assayas, Bruno Dumont, Mati Diop, Hong Sang-soo, Abderrahmane Sissako, Jane Schoenbrun, Alonso Ruizpalacios, Matias Pineiro, Travis Wilkerson, Kazik Radwanski, Annie Baker, and more.
When the co-directors were asked by Screen Daily about their departure, Chatrian said, “It’s quite simple. Mariette and I had a mandate of five years. It is true that at the beginning I said that I was willing to go on because there was a shared will with the [German] Ministry [of Culture] to go on. But then the people who have the responsibility to see the future of the Berlinale thought this structure of two leaders was not the right one and I don’t consider myself able to run the festival alone. And that was the decision of the Ministry.
When the co-directors were asked by Screen Daily about their departure, Chatrian said, “It’s quite simple. Mariette and I had a mandate of five years. It is true that at the beginning I said that I was willing to go on because there was a shared will with the [German] Ministry [of Culture] to go on. But then the people who have the responsibility to see the future of the Berlinale thought this structure of two leaders was not the right one and I don’t consider myself able to run the festival alone. And that was the decision of the Ministry.
- 1/22/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The Competition line-up for the 74th Berlin International Film Festival will be announced today at a press conference at 11am Cet (10am GMT).
Scroll down for line-up
Co-directors Carlo Chatrian and Mariette Rissenbeek will reveal the titles for the Competition and Encounters sections at the House of World Cultures in Berlin.
The announcement will also be live-streamed on the festival’s homepage and social channels. Watch it live above.
Screen will update this page with the Competition titles as they are announced. Refresh the page for latest updates.
As previously announced, the festival will open with the world premiere of...
Scroll down for line-up
Co-directors Carlo Chatrian and Mariette Rissenbeek will reveal the titles for the Competition and Encounters sections at the House of World Cultures in Berlin.
The announcement will also be live-streamed on the festival’s homepage and social channels. Watch it live above.
Screen will update this page with the Competition titles as they are announced. Refresh the page for latest updates.
As previously announced, the festival will open with the world premiere of...
- 1/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
Fund to invest a total of €360,000 in latest funding of financing
The Berlinale’s World Cinema Fund (Wcf) is to provide a total of €360,000 in funding for 14 international projects.
In its latest funding round, the Wcf has recommended production funding for 11 projects and distribution grants for three films.
The 14 independent projects hail from Argentina, Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Mozambique, Nigeria, the Republic of Belarus, Rwanda, Senegal and Thailand.
The production funding recipients include Demba by Senegalese writer-director Mamadou Dia, whose feature debut Nafi’s Father won the best first feature prize Locarno in...
The Berlinale’s World Cinema Fund (Wcf) is to provide a total of €360,000 in funding for 14 international projects.
In its latest funding round, the Wcf has recommended production funding for 11 projects and distribution grants for three films.
The 14 independent projects hail from Argentina, Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Mozambique, Nigeria, the Republic of Belarus, Rwanda, Senegal and Thailand.
The production funding recipients include Demba by Senegalese writer-director Mamadou Dia, whose feature debut Nafi’s Father won the best first feature prize Locarno in...
- 11/24/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Projects come from 11 different countries across the Arab world and African continent.
The Atlas Workshops, the industry platform of the Marrakech International Film Festival, has unveiled 25 projects for its sixth edition, which runs from November 27-30.
Atlas Workshops has lined up 16 projects in development and nine films in production or post-production from 11 countries across the Arab world and African continent.
The line-up includes projects from Tunisian directors Youssef Chebbi and Erige Sehiri. Chebbi’s feature Ashkal played in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes last year, as did Sehiri’s Under The Fig Trees.
Also coming to The Atlas Workshops is Somalia...
The Atlas Workshops, the industry platform of the Marrakech International Film Festival, has unveiled 25 projects for its sixth edition, which runs from November 27-30.
Atlas Workshops has lined up 16 projects in development and nine films in production or post-production from 11 countries across the Arab world and African continent.
The line-up includes projects from Tunisian directors Youssef Chebbi and Erige Sehiri. Chebbi’s feature Ashkal played in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes last year, as did Sehiri’s Under The Fig Trees.
Also coming to The Atlas Workshops is Somalia...
- 11/3/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Director Emad Aleebrahim Dehkordi dedicates award to ‘women of Iran and younger generation.’
Iranian director Emad Aleebrahim Dehkordi’s directorial debut drama A Tale of Shemroon won the Marrakech International’s Film Festival’s Etoile d’Or grand prize as the nine-day festival wrapped its 19th in-person edition over the weekend.
The Farsi and French-language film takes place north of Tehran and follows a boy and his younger brother who, following the death of their mother, attempt to launch a quick money-making business to help their family, but end up getting caught up in an illegal drug trade and Tehran’s wealthy world of corruption.
Iranian director Emad Aleebrahim Dehkordi’s directorial debut drama A Tale of Shemroon won the Marrakech International’s Film Festival’s Etoile d’Or grand prize as the nine-day festival wrapped its 19th in-person edition over the weekend.
The Farsi and French-language film takes place north of Tehran and follows a boy and his younger brother who, following the death of their mother, attempt to launch a quick money-making business to help their family, but end up getting caught up in an illegal drug trade and Tehran’s wealthy world of corruption.
- 11/20/2022
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Amjad Al Rasheed’s “Inshallah A Boy,” Luck Razanajaona’s “Disco Afrika,” and Boubacar Sangaré’s “A Golden Life” claimed a trio of post-production prizes at this year’s Atlas Workshops, which ran from Nov. 14–17 as part of the Marrakech Film Festival.
The Moroccan festival’s industry platform, this 5th edition of the Atlas Workshops saw a return to in-person events after two years online, and with it, a welcome reception from the 250 professional delegates who turned out to support the 23 selected projects – in development, production and post-production – with mentorship sessions, targeted consulting and, finally, 109,000 in prize money split between the eight winning titles.
Directed by Amjad Al Rasheed, produced by Rula Nasser of The Imaginarium Films, and winner of this year’s top prize at Venice Final Cut, the Jordanian drama “Inshallah A Boy” can now add a 25,000 Atlas Workshops post-production grant to an already hefty list honors (that...
The Moroccan festival’s industry platform, this 5th edition of the Atlas Workshops saw a return to in-person events after two years online, and with it, a welcome reception from the 250 professional delegates who turned out to support the 23 selected projects – in development, production and post-production – with mentorship sessions, targeted consulting and, finally, 109,000 in prize money split between the eight winning titles.
Directed by Amjad Al Rasheed, produced by Rula Nasser of The Imaginarium Films, and winner of this year’s top prize at Venice Final Cut, the Jordanian drama “Inshallah A Boy” can now add a 25,000 Atlas Workshops post-production grant to an already hefty list honors (that...
- 11/18/2022
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
Marrakech – It wasn’t that long ago that filmmakers Maba Ba and Mamadou Dia were touring Senegal with an inflatable screen so that locals could see Dia’s award-winning feature debut, “Nafi’s Father.”
Exploring fundamentalism through this story about a fight between an Imam, and his brother over their children’s marriage, the drama won best first feature in Locarno in 2019, and went on to become Senegal’s Oscar entry.
Dia’s second feature “Demba” has brought the NYU Tisch School of the Arts’ graduates and production partners at the U.S.-Senegal production company, JoyeDidi, to Marrakech for this week’s Atlas Workshops industry and mentoring program, which wraps Nov. 17.
Showing their can-do attitude, “Demba,” which is part of the program’s projects in development section with the aim of raising the remaining Euro 900,000 needed to shoot the project in a month – will begin filming either way. “Yes,...
Exploring fundamentalism through this story about a fight between an Imam, and his brother over their children’s marriage, the drama won best first feature in Locarno in 2019, and went on to become Senegal’s Oscar entry.
Dia’s second feature “Demba” has brought the NYU Tisch School of the Arts’ graduates and production partners at the U.S.-Senegal production company, JoyeDidi, to Marrakech for this week’s Atlas Workshops industry and mentoring program, which wraps Nov. 17.
Showing their can-do attitude, “Demba,” which is part of the program’s projects in development section with the aim of raising the remaining Euro 900,000 needed to shoot the project in a month – will begin filming either way. “Yes,...
- 11/17/2022
- by Liza Foreman
- Variety Film + TV
Marrakech — Running Nov. 14-17, the 5th Atlas Workshops, the industry-and-talent development program for Moroccan, Arab and African projects at the Marrakech Film Festival, is celebrating its return to an in-person event this time round.
With an increase in submissions, awards, and an ever-larger audience of industry execs checking out projects, the three-day confab showcases some of the brightest, next-gen talent.
“It’s the fifth edition, and we are super happy to be back in Morocco,” said Thibaut Bracq, head of Atlas Workshops.
This time round, the atelier will present 16 projects in development, five from Morocco, as well as six films in post-production from 11 countries, chosen from 240 applications received.
“One of the ideas with the new artistic direction at the festival was to create a space for African and Arab filmmakers to meet and present projects,” says Bracq. “The idea was for Marrakech to be a place to bring together those filmmakers.
With an increase in submissions, awards, and an ever-larger audience of industry execs checking out projects, the three-day confab showcases some of the brightest, next-gen talent.
“It’s the fifth edition, and we are super happy to be back in Morocco,” said Thibaut Bracq, head of Atlas Workshops.
This time round, the atelier will present 16 projects in development, five from Morocco, as well as six films in post-production from 11 countries, chosen from 240 applications received.
“One of the ideas with the new artistic direction at the festival was to create a space for African and Arab filmmakers to meet and present projects,” says Bracq. “The idea was for Marrakech to be a place to bring together those filmmakers.
- 11/11/2022
- by Liza Foreman
- Variety Film + TV
The festival runs November 11-19
The Marrakech International Film Festival (November 11-19) has mapped out its 2022 Atlas Workshops programme with 23 projects and films selected for its 5th edition.
The Moroccan festival’s industry platform will feature 16 projects in development and six films in post-production from 11 countries. The project incubator and industry platform was launched in 2018 and was held online in 2020 and 2021. This will be its return to an in-person event set for Nov 14-17. The program aims to support the next generation of Moroccan, Arab and African filmmakers by giving their projects exposure on the international stage during the global,...
The Marrakech International Film Festival (November 11-19) has mapped out its 2022 Atlas Workshops programme with 23 projects and films selected for its 5th edition.
The Moroccan festival’s industry platform will feature 16 projects in development and six films in post-production from 11 countries. The project incubator and industry platform was launched in 2018 and was held online in 2020 and 2021. This will be its return to an in-person event set for Nov 14-17. The program aims to support the next generation of Moroccan, Arab and African filmmakers by giving their projects exposure on the international stage during the global,...
- 10/19/2022
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Africa’s biggest film festival unfolded in Burkina Faso from October 16 to 23.
Finnish-Somali filmmaker Khadar Ayderus Ahmed’s The Gravedigger’s Wife scooped the top prize at the 27th edition of the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco) in Burkina Faso over the weekend.
The largest film festival in Africa, the biannual event normally takes place end-February, start-March but was pushed to October 16-23 this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Its top prize is the $36,000 Golden Stallion of Yennenga (Étalon de Yennenga) award. The prizes are named after legendary warrior princess Yennenga, who is considered the mother...
Finnish-Somali filmmaker Khadar Ayderus Ahmed’s The Gravedigger’s Wife scooped the top prize at the 27th edition of the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco) in Burkina Faso over the weekend.
The largest film festival in Africa, the biannual event normally takes place end-February, start-March but was pushed to October 16-23 this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Its top prize is the $36,000 Golden Stallion of Yennenga (Étalon de Yennenga) award. The prizes are named after legendary warrior princess Yennenga, who is considered the mother...
- 10/25/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
International sales, distribution and production company Axxon Media have closed a pair of deals with WarnerMedia for Latin America and the Caribbean, one for a finished feature and the other a project, both announced at this year’s Cannes Marché du Film.
WarnerMedia has picked up Mireia Gabilando’s Spanish comedy “The Hive” and will bring the film to its HBO Max Latam channel in 39 territories in Latin America and the Caribbean. In “The Hive,” long buried secrets are unearthed and plague a group of childhood friends who reunite in a country house to celebrate a bachelorette party. Acrónica and Tentazioa produced the feature.
Gabilondo’s sophomore effort, the film, adapted from Kepa Arresti’s play “Enjambre,” tracks the events of an evening which transforms from a carefree get-together into an anxious evening of accusations and airing of dirty laundry.
Miguel García De La Calera’s “The Caribbean ‘All Inclusive...
WarnerMedia has picked up Mireia Gabilando’s Spanish comedy “The Hive” and will bring the film to its HBO Max Latam channel in 39 territories in Latin America and the Caribbean. In “The Hive,” long buried secrets are unearthed and plague a group of childhood friends who reunite in a country house to celebrate a bachelorette party. Acrónica and Tentazioa produced the feature.
Gabilondo’s sophomore effort, the film, adapted from Kepa Arresti’s play “Enjambre,” tracks the events of an evening which transforms from a carefree get-together into an anxious evening of accusations and airing of dirty laundry.
Miguel García De La Calera’s “The Caribbean ‘All Inclusive...
- 7/11/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
This number will increase as Cannes, Venice and other summer festival titles are added to the mix alongside studio releases.
French cinemas reopen this Wednesday (May 19) after lying dark for six months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the country’s 100-plus distributors rushing to set theatrical dates for an estimated backlog of 400 stalled films.
As a result, French cinemagoers will have access to the richest and most diverse offering of films in the world over the coming months, spanning festival titles, local mainstream comedies and dramas, world cinema and studio blockbuster fare, as the summer advances.
As of May...
French cinemas reopen this Wednesday (May 19) after lying dark for six months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the country’s 100-plus distributors rushing to set theatrical dates for an estimated backlog of 400 stalled films.
As a result, French cinemagoers will have access to the richest and most diverse offering of films in the world over the coming months, spanning festival titles, local mainstream comedies and dramas, world cinema and studio blockbuster fare, as the summer advances.
As of May...
- 5/17/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
“Nafi’s Father” director Mamadou Dia and producer Maba Ba found the inspiration to make their film — which is Senegal’s entry in the Oscars International Film category — out of the desire to show how the roots of extremism start small but can cause long-term damage.
The film, set in a small Senegalese town and filmed where Dia grew up, follows the fight between an Imam and his powerful brother over their children’s marriage. The story becomes a metaphor for the insidious nature of extremism that invades the village and shows extremism — be it political, religious or cultural — is a global problem that must be addressed before a crisis happens, not after.
A panel discussion of “Nafi’s Father” was truly an international event, with Dia connecting virtually from Dakar in Senegal, Ba weighing in from Brooklyn, New York, and TheWrap’s editor in chief Sharon Waxman moderating in Los Angeles.
The film, set in a small Senegalese town and filmed where Dia grew up, follows the fight between an Imam and his powerful brother over their children’s marriage. The story becomes a metaphor for the insidious nature of extremism that invades the village and shows extremism — be it political, religious or cultural — is a global problem that must be addressed before a crisis happens, not after.
A panel discussion of “Nafi’s Father” was truly an international event, with Dia connecting virtually from Dakar in Senegal, Ba weighing in from Brooklyn, New York, and TheWrap’s editor in chief Sharon Waxman moderating in Los Angeles.
- 1/31/2021
- by Diane Haithman
- The Wrap
India’s Oscar entry is screening from Jan 27, 3pm UK time.
Screen International has partnered with film market platform Archipel Market on an exclusive series of screenings focused on the international feature awards race.
This initiative is designed to enable each country to organise an event around their submission.
The upcoming screenings are listed below, with more titles set to be added during this year’s awards season.
The screenings are open to awards voters and industry professionals and will be available for 24 hours after the start time.
Click here to RSVP or fill out the form below
For more...
Screen International has partnered with film market platform Archipel Market on an exclusive series of screenings focused on the international feature awards race.
This initiative is designed to enable each country to organise an event around their submission.
The upcoming screenings are listed below, with more titles set to be added during this year’s awards season.
The screenings are open to awards voters and industry professionals and will be available for 24 hours after the start time.
Click here to RSVP or fill out the form below
For more...
- 1/25/2021
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
India’s Oscar entry is screening from Jan 27, 3pm UK time.
Screen International has partnered with film market platform Archipel Market on an exclusive series of screenings focused on the international feature awards race.
This initiative is designed to enable each country to organise an event around their submission.
The upcoming screenings are listed below, with more titles set to be added during this year’s awards season.
The screenings are open to awards voters and industry professionals and will be available for 24 hours after the start time.
Click here to RSVP or fill out the form below
For more...
Screen International has partnered with film market platform Archipel Market on an exclusive series of screenings focused on the international feature awards race.
This initiative is designed to enable each country to organise an event around their submission.
The upcoming screenings are listed below, with more titles set to be added during this year’s awards season.
The screenings are open to awards voters and industry professionals and will be available for 24 hours after the start time.
Click here to RSVP or fill out the form below
For more...
- 1/24/2021
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
Senegal has named Mamadou Dia’s Nafi’s Father as its entry for the best international feature Oscar category, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The submission had not previously been reported.
The film, a drama about a family conflict, had its world premiere at the 2019 Locarno Film Festival and is still seeking U.S. distribution.
It becomes only the third film ever entered into the competition by the West African nation following 2017’s Felicite and 2019’s Atlantics, both of which made the shortlist but were not ultimately nominated.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is expected to announce the ...
The submission had not previously been reported.
The film, a drama about a family conflict, had its world premiere at the 2019 Locarno Film Festival and is still seeking U.S. distribution.
It becomes only the third film ever entered into the competition by the West African nation following 2017’s Felicite and 2019’s Atlantics, both of which made the shortlist but were not ultimately nominated.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is expected to announce the ...
Senegal has named Mamadou Dia’s Nafi’s Father as its entry for the best international feature Oscar category, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The submission had not previously been reported.
The film, a drama about a family conflict, had its world premiere at the 2019 Locarno Film Festival and is still seeking U.S. distribution.
It becomes only the third film ever entered into the competition by the West African nation following 2017’s Felicite and 2019’s Atlantics, both of which made the shortlist but were not ultimately nominated.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is expected to announce the ...
The submission had not previously been reported.
The film, a drama about a family conflict, had its world premiere at the 2019 Locarno Film Festival and is still seeking U.S. distribution.
It becomes only the third film ever entered into the competition by the West African nation following 2017’s Felicite and 2019’s Atlantics, both of which made the shortlist but were not ultimately nominated.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is expected to announce the ...
“What human beings can’t explain, they invent.” Catarina Vasconcelos constructs a magnificent, shimmering dreamscape around her ancestors and their enchanted existence in and with nature. This is a universe where oranges are the extension of families. The storytelling is mesmerising, both visually, shot on 16mm film by Paulo Menezes, and in regards to the poetry of the spoken language used to express all that yearning and insight. We see stamps from Senegal and those with the profile of the Queen, and mirrors in the landscape and what a great ear ornament a seahorse makes, especially next to a pearl earring.
In The Metamorphosis of Birds, dreams of the dead haunt little ghosts in sheets. When the dead return in...
In The Metamorphosis of Birds, dreams of the dead haunt little ghosts in sheets. When the dead return in...
- 12/16/2020
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Film at Lincoln Center and The Museum of Modern Art Thursday announced a virtual return of the 49th annual New Directors/New Films festival rescheduled from last March to December 9-20.
The 50-year old fest’s 2020 lineup of 24 features and 10 shorts will be available to audiences nationwide for the first time, screening exclusively in the Flc Virtual Cinema.
The lineup, drawing heavily from the international film festival circuit with award-winners from Sundance, Venice, Rotterdam and Locarno, was initially announced in February before Covid-19 hit. Amanda McBain and Jesse Moss’ Boys State (Sundance U.S. Grand Jury Prize for documentary), Maite Alberdi’s The Mole Agent, and Collective by Romanian filmmaker Alexander Nanau will have opened before the festival’s new dates and be presented as special screenings with details to be announced. Babyteeth, Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, and Surge were part of the original Nd/Nf lineup but are...
The 50-year old fest’s 2020 lineup of 24 features and 10 shorts will be available to audiences nationwide for the first time, screening exclusively in the Flc Virtual Cinema.
The lineup, drawing heavily from the international film festival circuit with award-winners from Sundance, Venice, Rotterdam and Locarno, was initially announced in February before Covid-19 hit. Amanda McBain and Jesse Moss’ Boys State (Sundance U.S. Grand Jury Prize for documentary), Maite Alberdi’s The Mole Agent, and Collective by Romanian filmmaker Alexander Nanau will have opened before the festival’s new dates and be presented as special screenings with details to be announced. Babyteeth, Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, and Surge were part of the original Nd/Nf lineup but are...
- 11/12/2020
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
After a number of attempts to delay this year’s Jerusalem Film Festival, organizers have now scrapped plans for a summer edition following a recent spike in Covid-19 cases in Israel, which has resulted in new restrictions from the Ministry of Health on gatherings of large groups, expected to last several months.
Instead, a winter edition is now in the works for Dec. 10-20. The new event will include several films selected for the original summer festival as well as new titles ready to launch this winter. Jff is also developing a series of online programs intended to showcase festival selected titles on the Jerusalem Cinematheque-Israel Film Archive’s streaming platform.
“This is a difficult and painful decision as we have been working on the 37th edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival over the course of the past year,” said Noa Regev, director of the Jerusalem Cinematheque and Jerusalem Film Festival,...
Instead, a winter edition is now in the works for Dec. 10-20. The new event will include several films selected for the original summer festival as well as new titles ready to launch this winter. Jff is also developing a series of online programs intended to showcase festival selected titles on the Jerusalem Cinematheque-Israel Film Archive’s streaming platform.
“This is a difficult and painful decision as we have been working on the 37th edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival over the course of the past year,” said Noa Regev, director of the Jerusalem Cinematheque and Jerusalem Film Festival,...
- 7/13/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Portuguese event could be one of the first film festivals to take place physically in Europe as lockdowns ease.
Portuguese film festival IndieLisboa, which had to abandon its original April 30 to May 10 dates, is pushing on with plans to hold its 17th edition at the end of August, if an easing of the global Covid-19 health crisis allows.
The event took the usual step of unveiling most of its 2020 selection on April 30 to mark what would have been the opening day.
“We wanted to do something symbolic,” festival director Miguel Valverde told Screen. “In a normal year, we tie up...
Portuguese film festival IndieLisboa, which had to abandon its original April 30 to May 10 dates, is pushing on with plans to hold its 17th edition at the end of August, if an easing of the global Covid-19 health crisis allows.
The event took the usual step of unveiling most of its 2020 selection on April 30 to mark what would have been the opening day.
“We wanted to do something symbolic,” festival director Miguel Valverde told Screen. “In a normal year, we tie up...
- 5/5/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
BIFFESCrowds lined up hours before the screening, yet many had to be turned away due to lack of seating. Alithea Stephanie MounikaFacebook/ParasiteThe second day of the Bangalore International Film Festival (Biffes) on Friday saw sparse attendance overall, yet many crowded in to watch the Oscar-winning South Korean film Parasite. The film was being screened for the first time at the festival at Bengaluru’s Orion Mall in Rajajinagar. The festival also screened some lesser-known films, including director Mamadou Dia’s Nafi’s Father, a movie from Senegal, West Africa in the Contemporary World Cinema category. The film’s story centres around a wedding that keeps getting postponed due to financial issues and disagreements, and a rural community’s fight against extremism. However, the 393-seat auditorium saw as few as 50 people. Organisers say higher footfall is expected over the weekend, based on experience from previous year’s festivals. On the other hand,...
- 2/28/2020
- by Haripriya
- The News Minute
Film at Lincoln Center and The Museum of Modern Art announced the complete lineup for the 49th annual New Directors/New Films running March 25 – April 5 and opening with Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss’s Boys State, winner of the U.S. Grand Jury Prize for documentary at Sundance.
The closing film is Maite Alberdi’s The Mole Agent. Both are New York premieres.
In between, the iconic series will screen 27 features and 10 short films from 35 countries, with 13 North American premieres and 4 U.S. premieres, 15 films directed or co-directed by women and 15 works by first-time feature filmmakers
In Boys State, Texas high school students participate in an elaborate mock election to build their own state government, encapsulating “precisely the state of politics in the United States today. The idealistic, pragmatic, witty, and combative teenage subjects are uncanny reflections of their adult counterparts,” said La Frances Hui, Associate Curator of Film, The...
The closing film is Maite Alberdi’s The Mole Agent. Both are New York premieres.
In between, the iconic series will screen 27 features and 10 short films from 35 countries, with 13 North American premieres and 4 U.S. premieres, 15 films directed or co-directed by women and 15 works by first-time feature filmmakers
In Boys State, Texas high school students participate in an elaborate mock election to build their own state government, encapsulating “precisely the state of politics in the United States today. The idealistic, pragmatic, witty, and combative teenage subjects are uncanny reflections of their adult counterparts,” said La Frances Hui, Associate Curator of Film, The...
- 2/20/2020
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Second edition of project platform will showcase 28 feature projects.
Upcoming feature films by Egyptian director Tamer el Said and Moroccan Bafta nominee Ismaël Ferroukhi are among the 28 projects to be showcased at the second edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival’s Atlas Workshops, running December 3 to 6.
“We got off to a good start in the first edition,” says Remi Bonhomme, who has spearheaded the meeting.
He notes the winner of the last year’s main post-production prize– Hassen Ferhani’s documentary 143 Sahara Street – went on to enjoy a successful festival career, clinching the best emerging director prize in...
Upcoming feature films by Egyptian director Tamer el Said and Moroccan Bafta nominee Ismaël Ferroukhi are among the 28 projects to be showcased at the second edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival’s Atlas Workshops, running December 3 to 6.
“We got off to a good start in the first edition,” says Remi Bonhomme, who has spearheaded the meeting.
He notes the winner of the last year’s main post-production prize– Hassen Ferhani’s documentary 143 Sahara Street – went on to enjoy a successful festival career, clinching the best emerging director prize in...
- 11/29/2019
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Films from Africa and the Middle East have enjoyed significant festival presence this year – such as Mati Diop’s French-Senegalese pic “Atlantics,” which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. “In 2019 we saw a new generation of filmmakers emerging on the scene,” says Rémi Bonhomme program manager of Critics’ Week in Cannes and the coordinator of the Atlas Workshops, which run Dec. 3-6 at the Marrakech Film Festival.
At Cannes, in addition to Diop’s prize, Palestinian filmmaker Elia Suleiman won a Jury Special Mention award for his satire “It Must Be Heaven,” and seven African and Arab films screened in the different competitive sections. At Locarno, Senegalese writer-director Mamadou Dia’s won best first feature for “Nafi’s Father” and Algerian helmer Hassen Ferhani won best emerging director award for his documentary “143 Rue du Désert,” which won a postproduction prize at the 2018 Atlas Workshops. At Venice,...
At Cannes, in addition to Diop’s prize, Palestinian filmmaker Elia Suleiman won a Jury Special Mention award for his satire “It Must Be Heaven,” and seven African and Arab films screened in the different competitive sections. At Locarno, Senegalese writer-director Mamadou Dia’s won best first feature for “Nafi’s Father” and Algerian helmer Hassen Ferhani won best emerging director award for his documentary “143 Rue du Désert,” which won a postproduction prize at the 2018 Atlas Workshops. At Venice,...
- 11/25/2019
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
‘Knives Out’ to open 18th edition of the festival.
The 18th Marrakech International Film Festival (Nov 29-Dec 7) has revealed its 2019 line-up.
The competition line-up features 14 films from first or second-time directors. Five of the films competing for the Marrakech Etoile d’Or (Gold Star) are directed by women. Among the line-up is Shannon Murphy’s Babyteeth, starring Ben Mendelsohn, and Fyzal Boulifa’s Lynn + Lucy.
The festival opens with a gala screening of Rian Johnson’s all-star whodunnit Knives Out. The other gala screenings include Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story, Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman and Elia Suleiman’s It Must Be Heaven by.
The 18th Marrakech International Film Festival (Nov 29-Dec 7) has revealed its 2019 line-up.
The competition line-up features 14 films from first or second-time directors. Five of the films competing for the Marrakech Etoile d’Or (Gold Star) are directed by women. Among the line-up is Shannon Murphy’s Babyteeth, starring Ben Mendelsohn, and Fyzal Boulifa’s Lynn + Lucy.
The festival opens with a gala screening of Rian Johnson’s all-star whodunnit Knives Out. The other gala screenings include Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story, Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman and Elia Suleiman’s It Must Be Heaven by.
- 11/7/2019
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
Power dynamics wrapped in religious intolerance drives a wedge between two brothers in Mamadou Dia’s engrossing feature debut, “Nafi’s Father.” While presenting two competing visions of Islam, the film plainly shows fundamentalism as an aberrant strain foreign to Senegal, wielded as a means of control rather than a genuine belief system; even though the Islamist topic is hardly under the radar of late, Dia grants his characters warmth and humor in their struggles and makes the story feel fresh without compromising on drama. Not enough sub-Saharan films make it to festivals let alone art-house cinemas, but the strength of “Nafi’s Father,” plus two Locarno wins, including the Golden Leopard in the Cinema of the Present section, should boost its chances considerably.
In a small town in the northeast of Senegal, the local Tierno, a religious leader qualified to be an Imam, practices a centuries-old homegrown version of...
In a small town in the northeast of Senegal, the local Tierno, a religious leader qualified to be an Imam, practices a centuries-old homegrown version of...
- 9/11/2019
- by Jay Weissberg
- Variety Film + TV
The Golden Leopard goes to Portugal for Pedro Costa’s Vitalina Varela.
Portuguese filmmaker Pedro Costa received Locarno Film Festival’s top honour, the Golden Leopard, for his latest feature Vitalina Varela which had its world premiere in the Swiss festival’s international competition.
Scroll down for full list of winners
The international jury headed by French filmmaker and novelist Catherine Breillat also presented the Leopard for best actress to the 55-year-old Cape Verde islander Vitalina Varela for her performance in the film named after herself.
This is the second time Costa had taken home one of the main awards...
Portuguese filmmaker Pedro Costa received Locarno Film Festival’s top honour, the Golden Leopard, for his latest feature Vitalina Varela which had its world premiere in the Swiss festival’s international competition.
Scroll down for full list of winners
The international jury headed by French filmmaker and novelist Catherine Breillat also presented the Leopard for best actress to the 55-year-old Cape Verde islander Vitalina Varela for her performance in the film named after herself.
This is the second time Costa had taken home one of the main awards...
- 8/17/2019
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
The 72nd Locarno Film Festival drew to a close Saturday with Portuguese auteur Pedro Costa’s dark and detached film “Vitalina Varela” coming away with several awards together with superlatives from segments of the hardcore cinephile crowd, including jury president Catherine Breillat.
In announcing the Golden Leopard prize for the film, as well as best actress to its eponymous star, Breillat was emphatic in saying that Costa’s achievement goes beyond mere awards, insisting on its place in the cinema pantheon.
Costa was the most prominent name in the International Competition selection this year, which marked Lili Hinstin’s first edition as festival director. Other awards in the main section went to Park Jung-bum’s “Height of the Wave” (Special Jury Prize) and Damien Manivel as best director for “Isadora’s Children,” with the top actor going to Regis Myrupu in Maya Da-Rin’s “The Fever.” All the prizes reflected...
In announcing the Golden Leopard prize for the film, as well as best actress to its eponymous star, Breillat was emphatic in saying that Costa’s achievement goes beyond mere awards, insisting on its place in the cinema pantheon.
Costa was the most prominent name in the International Competition selection this year, which marked Lili Hinstin’s first edition as festival director. Other awards in the main section went to Park Jung-bum’s “Height of the Wave” (Special Jury Prize) and Damien Manivel as best director for “Isadora’s Children,” with the top actor going to Regis Myrupu in Maya Da-Rin’s “The Fever.” All the prizes reflected...
- 8/17/2019
- by Jay Weissberg
- Variety Film + TV
Celebrating its 72nd edition this year, the Locarno Film Festival has been the birthplace for the finest in international arthouse cinema and this year’s lineup looks to continue the tradition. Ahead of the festival, running August 7-17, the full slate has been announced.
Top highlights include the world premieres of Pedro Costa’s Vitalina Varela (pictured above), Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s To the Ends of the Earth, Ben Rivers & Anocha Suwichakornpong’s Krabi, 2562, Ben Russell’s Color-blind, Denis Côté’s Wilcox, Fabrice Du Welz’s Adoration, as well as a new 12-minute short film from Yorgos Lanthimos titled Nimic and starring Matt Dillon. Other titles that have caught out eye are Echo, from Sparrows director Rúnar Rúnarsson, and A Girl Missing, from Harmonium director Koji Fukada.
The festival will also kick off with some star power as Patrick Vollrath’s 7500, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, will premiere. Check out the lineup below,...
Top highlights include the world premieres of Pedro Costa’s Vitalina Varela (pictured above), Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s To the Ends of the Earth, Ben Rivers & Anocha Suwichakornpong’s Krabi, 2562, Ben Russell’s Color-blind, Denis Côté’s Wilcox, Fabrice Du Welz’s Adoration, as well as a new 12-minute short film from Yorgos Lanthimos titled Nimic and starring Matt Dillon. Other titles that have caught out eye are Echo, from Sparrows director Rúnar Rúnarsson, and A Girl Missing, from Harmonium director Koji Fukada.
The festival will also kick off with some star power as Patrick Vollrath’s 7500, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, will premiere. Check out the lineup below,...
- 7/17/2019
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Eleven development grants worth €10,000
and two co-production grants worth €50,000
This spring, International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr)’s Hubert Bals Fund(Hbf) selected 11 projects by both upcoming talents and established filmmakers to receive €10,000 each for Script and Project Development. Additionally, two co-productions have been selected for the Nff+Hbf Co-Production Scheme and receive €50,000 each from the Netherlands Film Fund. The Dutch producers working on these two projects are Keplerfilm and Rinkel Film.
Marit van den Elshout, head of Iffr Pro: “This year feels extra special to us, because 2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the Hubert Bals Fund — a good moment to reflect on what we have accomplished in supporting quality independent cinema since 1988. This year, we received a remarkably high number of applicants with project proposals of exceptional quality. We’ll just take it as an indicator of our success that our shortlist was not short at all. I’m happy...
and two co-production grants worth €50,000
This spring, International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr)’s Hubert Bals Fund(Hbf) selected 11 projects by both upcoming talents and established filmmakers to receive €10,000 each for Script and Project Development. Additionally, two co-productions have been selected for the Nff+Hbf Co-Production Scheme and receive €50,000 each from the Netherlands Film Fund. The Dutch producers working on these two projects are Keplerfilm and Rinkel Film.
Marit van den Elshout, head of Iffr Pro: “This year feels extra special to us, because 2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the Hubert Bals Fund — a good moment to reflect on what we have accomplished in supporting quality independent cinema since 1988. This year, we received a remarkably high number of applicants with project proposals of exceptional quality. We’ll just take it as an indicator of our success that our shortlist was not short at all. I’m happy...
- 7/22/2018
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The selection consists of 11 development grants and two co-production grants.
International Rotterdam Film Festival (Iffr)’s Hubert Bals Fund (Hbf) has announced the recipients of 11 development grants and two co-production grants for its spring 2018 selection, the 30th anniversary of the Fund.
The Fund, which provides financial support to filmmakers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe, has awarded script and project development grants of €10,000 and co-production grants of €50,000.
Scroll down for the full list of titles
The former are separated into two categories: ‘Bright Future’, for films by first- and second-time filmmakers, and ‘Voices’ for more advanced creators.
International Rotterdam Film Festival (Iffr)’s Hubert Bals Fund (Hbf) has announced the recipients of 11 development grants and two co-production grants for its spring 2018 selection, the 30th anniversary of the Fund.
The Fund, which provides financial support to filmmakers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe, has awarded script and project development grants of €10,000 and co-production grants of €50,000.
Scroll down for the full list of titles
The former are separated into two categories: ‘Bright Future’, for films by first- and second-time filmmakers, and ‘Voices’ for more advanced creators.
- 5/15/2018
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
The Nassau Film Festival 2017 screened 42 films this year from countries in each of the six continents. The highlights this year were: Michael Wong (China) The Story of 90 Coins, Branko Tomovic (Serbia) Red; The Inuring, Wendy Keeling (USA), The Unconventional Gourmet, Fabrice Bracq (France), A Whole World for a Little World, Joao Inacio (Brazil) Shala, Mohammed Mohammadian (Iran), The Endless River, Danny Malin (Canada), I Promised, Mamadou Dia (Senegal), Samedi Cinema, Jenae Hall (Australia), The Moon Is Essentially Gray, Hannah Roman (USA). Lewis Goldstein, the festival's organizer, says the first year focused largely on local films, while last year saw an increase in international submissions. This year's festival will have a truly international flavor, with films from Australia, South Africa, Bangledesh, Senegal, the Czech Republic, Iran, China, the U.K., and Brazil. "It was an explosion this year of submissions because the film...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 5/22/2017
- Screen Anarchy
The Nassau Film Festival will be running this year on Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21, at the Princeton Garden Theatre. The festival is expanding this year to two days given the requests from festival goers to be able to show more films. 42 films this year will be screened from countries in each of the six continents. The highlights this year are: Michael Wong (China) The Story of 90 Coins, Branko Tomovic (Serbia) Red; The Inuring, Wendy Keeling (USA), The Unconventional Gourmet, Fabrice Bracq (France), A Whole World for a Little World, Joao Inacio (Brazil) Shala, Mohammed Mohammadian (Iran), The Endless River, Danny Malin (Canada), I Promised, Mamadou Dia (Senegal), Samedi Cinema, Jenae Hall (Australia), The Moon Is Essentially Gray, Hannah Roman (USA). Lewis Goldstein, the festival's organizer, says the first year focused largely...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 5/13/2017
- Screen Anarchy
The third cascade of world premieres in 15 days flowed from the headquarters of the Toronto International Film Festival on Tuesday as programmers revealed their Midnight Madness, Tiff Docs, Vanguard, Tiff Cinematheque and Short Cuts selections.
This week’s offering includes Ben Wheatley’s all-star gangster thriller Free Fire, which opens Midnight Madness one year after the premiere of the British auteur’s High-Rise; fast-rising Chadwick Boseman in revenge thriller Message From The King in Vanguard and a Tiff Docs strand that features climate change documentary The Turning Point, featuring and produced by Oscar-winner Leonardo DiCaprio.
The 41st Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 8 to 18.
Wp = world premiere, IP = international premiere, Nap = North American premiere, Cp = Canadian premiere, Tp = Toronto premiere.
Midnight Madness
Ben Wheatley’s all-star gunfight Free Fire starring Brie Larson, Armie Hammer and Cillian Murphy will open the section, which includes Morgan Spurlock’s documentary Rats, Adam Wingard’s Blair Witch, André Øvredal’s [link...
This week’s offering includes Ben Wheatley’s all-star gangster thriller Free Fire, which opens Midnight Madness one year after the premiere of the British auteur’s High-Rise; fast-rising Chadwick Boseman in revenge thriller Message From The King in Vanguard and a Tiff Docs strand that features climate change documentary The Turning Point, featuring and produced by Oscar-winner Leonardo DiCaprio.
The 41st Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 8 to 18.
Wp = world premiere, IP = international premiere, Nap = North American premiere, Cp = Canadian premiere, Tp = Toronto premiere.
Midnight Madness
Ben Wheatley’s all-star gunfight Free Fire starring Brie Larson, Armie Hammer and Cillian Murphy will open the section, which includes Morgan Spurlock’s documentary Rats, Adam Wingard’s Blair Witch, André Øvredal’s [link...
- 8/9/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
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