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China, Thailand , Sri Lanka, Italy, Tunisia, France, Netherlands, Germany, Czech, Slovenia , Portugal, Argentina, USA, Sweden, UK, Lebanon, Canada, Finland, Japan, Russia, Yemen, India, Greece Xiang ri kui / Sunflower
China, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 129min
Story: The death of chairman Mao in 1976 brought an end to tyranny. Painter Gengnian has spent years in a labour camp. He returns home to his beloved wife Xiuqing and his son Xiangyang, who, besides not recognizing him, is also deeply disturbed with this new presence in his life. Refusing to acknowledge his clearly burgeoning talent, Xiangyang lets a firecracker blow up in his hand – a desperate attempt to mirror shatter Gengnian's dreams for his son's artistic career. Decades go by in a whirlwind of events that produce a new China. Ironically, Xiangyang has become a renowned painter yet still has a difficult relationship with his father.
Direction: Zhang Yang
Screenplay: Zhang Yang, Cai Shangjun, Huo Xin Production: Ming Productions/ China Film Group Corporation (Peter Loehr, Han Sanping) Cinematography: Jong Lin Editor: Yang Hongyu Music: Lin Hai Cast: Sun Haiying, Joan Chen, Liu Zifeng, Zhang Fan, Gao Ge Zhang Yang: Studied at the Central Theatre Academy in Beijing and directed a production of Kiss of the Spider Woman after graduation. His first feature film was Spicy Love Soup (1998). His other films include Qutting (2001).
Huayao Bride in Shangri-La
China, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 120min
Story: Fengmei is a girl from the Hua Yao Yi minority. Her fiancé, Ah Long, is the training coach of the village girls' dragon dance team which she joins. Fengmei soon becomes the “dragon head” to lead the dance. Her interference with the direction of the dance upsets Ah Long who returns her engagement gift: an embroidered waist belt, to indicate the end of their relationship. Fengmei, shocked, runs away, while a heart-broken drunk Ah Long jumps up the roof of his house to perform the dragon dance. Director: Zhang Jiarui
Screenplay: Meng Jiazong Production: China Film Group Corporation (Yang Buting) Cinematography: Wang Min Cast: Zhang Jingchu Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421. China Flower
China, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 90min
Story: With a piece of porcelain as a clue, this film follows three different stories. Through the search for identities, delusion of love and the ills of humanity life is as transient as a fleeting cold, but the porcelain remained in the long river of time, tranquil and serene. A Master craftsman is making porcelain objects. A student returns from abroad and struggles in vain to achieve his dreams for his country and people. A hypocrite is successful with women. Direction: Sang Hua
Screenplay: Chen Dapeng Production: Shanghai Film Group Corporation, Shanghai Film Studio (Li Yunliang) Cinematography: Xie Ze Music: Liu Siiue Cast: Yang Zi, Li Ruotonf, Wu Xiaoming, Cao Jun Tel: 136 717 131 91, 021 64387100 Sang Hua: Began his career as a cameraman. Director of Ba Yi Film Studio. Shi mian mai fu / House of Flying Daggers
China, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 119min
Story: In the year 859 China suffered terrible conflicts. The formerly prosperous Tang dynasty is in decline. The corrupt government is unable to contain the uprising rebel groups, the most powerful and prestigious of which is called the House of Flying Daggers. Leo and Jin, two army officers, are given the mission of capturing the mysterious leader of the group and hatch a plan to do so. Jin, disguised as a lone fighter, earns the trust of the beautiful and blind revolutionary, Mei, and uses her to infiltrate the group. However the duo does not account for the feelings Mei will arouse in them.
Direction: Zhang Yimou Screenplay: Zhang Yimou, Li Feng, Wang Bin Production: Beijing New Pictures Film Co Ltd (William Kong, Zhang Yimou) Cinematography: Zhao Xiaoding Editing: Cheng Long Music: Shigeru Umebayashi Cast: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, Zhang Ziyi, Song Dandan Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421 Zhang Yimou: Born in China in 1950. Started his career as a director of photography in the early 1980s, collaborating with director Chen Kaige. Made his directorial debut in 1987 with Red Shorgun, immediately getting recognition as one of the most important filmmakers of the so-called “fifth generation” of Chinese cinema. His latest two films, Hero and The House of Flying Daggers, are epics that combine martial arts and ancient Chinese history. Gong Fu / Kung Fu Hustle
China, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 99min
Story: During the 1940s chaos, confusion and anarchy sweep through continental China. In Canton, petty thief Sing tries to work his way up the criminal ladder and become member of the “Axe” gang controlling the whole of Shanghai. In the overpopulated district, he vainly seeks his niche as a blackmailer. The powerful gang sits up and takes notice when he unintentionally starts off a battle between inhabitants of the district and criminals from the gang. Several legendary kung fu masters suddenly turn up. Sing senses he lacks several basic prerequisites in order to become a true criminal and killer. Instead he is initiated into the true meaning of kung fu mastery. Direction: Stephen Chow
Screenplay: Stephen Chow, Tsang Kan Cheong, Lola Huo, Chan Man Keung Production: Stephen Chow, Chui Po Chu, Jeff Lau Cinematography: Poon Hang Sang Editor: Angie Lam Music: Raymond Wong Cast: Stephen Chow, Yuen Wah, Leung Siu Lung, Dong Zhi Hua, Chiu Chi Ling Print Source / Contact: Falcon a.s. Stephen Chow: Born in 1962 Hong Kong, Chow began his career as a host of a children's TV show then gradually established himself as a popular comedian. His debut feature was Final Justice (1988), which he followed with other successful films. Yian Zhonghun / Defending Reputation China, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 103min Story: Drug dealer Wang Gui was arrested, and while detective Ma Hongqi was questioning him, his beeper suddenly rang. After Ma Hongqi obtained the approval of the head of the police station to keep Wang in custody for one more day to capture Wang's colludes, Wang escapes. Ma Hongqi and his colleagues became suspected of facilitating the escape. To recapture Wang and to prove their innocence, Ma Hongqi and his colleagues go through thick and thin, until a final sacrifice has to be made. Direction: An Zhanjun Screenplay: Zhang Ting Production: China Film Group Corporation Cinematography: Cai Shu'nan Cast: Liu Wei, Ge Zhijun, Annie Wu Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV (SARFT), P R China 2 Fuxingmenwai St, Xicheng, Beijing, China, 100866 Tel: 8610 8609 0420/22 Fax: 8610 8609 0421 Kekexili China, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 110min Story: Kekexili means “the beautiful mountain” in Mongolian. When Beijing journalist Ga Yu arrives at the mystical camp of the Kekexili Mountain Patrol, he witnesses a Tibetan funeral and a village in mourning. Ga Yu is determined to uncover the real story behind the mysterious disappearance of patrol volunteers, the killing of rare Tibetan antelopes and the rumour that the Mountain Patrol collaborates with the poachers. Ga Yu joins a patrol headed out into 40,000 square kilometres of wilderness. The illegal hunters are like phantoms in the uninhabited land, hiding in caves, tracking the patrol members like sinister shadows, waiting for the right moment to launch their deadly attack – the patrolmen have become the hunted. Despite the severe environment, the patrol led by Ri Tai risk their lives in the fight against the callous poachers. At first an observer, distanced by the lens of his camera, Ga Yu slowly becomes personally involved in the struggle. Direction: Lu Chuan Screenplay: Lu Chuan Production: Wang Zhonjun, Huayi Brothers & Taihe Film Investment Co., Ltd. Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia Cinematography: Cao Yu Editor: Teng Yun Music: Lao Zai Cast: Duo Bujie, Zhang Lei, Qi Liang, Zhao Xueying, Ma Zhanlin, Yuan Quan Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421 Production Company: Wang Zhonjun, Huayi Brothers & Taihe Film Investment Co., Ltd. Tel: 8610 6457 9338 Fax: 8610 6457 1229 Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia Admiralty Centre, Tower 11, 18 Harcourt Road, 20th Floor, Hong Kong (China) Tel: 852 2105 8888 Fax: 852 2105 4424 Lu Chuan: Born in Xinjiang, China in 1970. Studied English, then earned a master's in film studies from the Beijing Film Academy. Since 1998 he has directed the Creative Centre of the China Film Group. He was a writer on the TV series Black Hole (1999), and won several awards for his directorial debut The Missing Gun (2001). Yi ge mo sheng nu ren de lai xin / Letter from an Unknown Woman
China, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 90min Story: Based on Stefan Zweig's short story set in Vienna, first adapted in the original 1948 classic by Max Ophüls, the film spans 18 tumultuous years in Beijing from the 1930s to the late 1940s. Against a backdrop of upheaval and unrest, the complex relationship between feminine desire and Chinese modernity is explored. A dying woman sends a letter to the man she had been in love with for many years. It reveals her innocent, unrequited love for the playboy writer who was also a neighbour and who had scarcely noticed her. Xu's film takes place in a China that is evolving from a bastion of old-world values to a land changed by the war with Japan and, ultimately, to a nation torn by its march into communism. Direction: Xu Jinglei Screenplay: Xu Jinglei Production: Asian Union Film & Media (China) Cinematography: Li Pingbin Editor: Zhang Yifan Music: Kubota Osamu, Lin Hai Cast: Xu Jinglei, Jiang Wen, Lin Yuan, Sun Feihu, Su Xiaoming Xu Jinglei: Actress, scriptwriter and director. She acted in the box-office hit Spicy Love Soup (1999). Her directorial debut My Father and I (2003) received critical acclaim in several festivals. Tian di ying xiong/ Warriors of Heaven and Earth China, 2003, Colour, 35mm, 125min Story: In the Gobi desert, a renegade soldier is to be executed by a Japanese emissary; however, both warriors have to unite to protect a caravan transporting a valuable treasure and a Buddhist monk from the threat of thieves. Direction: He Ping Screenplay: He Ping Production: Xi'an Film Studio Cinematography: Zhao Fei Cast: Jiang Wen, Zhao Wei, Kicchi Nakai, Xueqi Wang, Bagen Hasi, Vicki Zhao, Tao Ho, Linian Lu Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421 He ni zai yi qi / Together China, 2003, Colour, 35mm, 131min
Story: Liu Cheng has lived for many years in a small town in Southern China working as a cook, along with his son, Liu Xiaochun. Xiaochun's extraordinary talent in violin is a source of great pleasure and pride for his father and the entire town. To give Xiaochun a promising future, Liu Cheng takes him to Beijing to learn from a professional violin teacher. In the bustling capital, the two undergo many personal experiences they cannot understand and the relationship between the father and son changes, as Xiaochun learns about his background. Liu Cheng decides to return home, but then Xiaochun gives up a chance to take part in an international competition and rushes to the train station, where he plays a song on his violin that expresses his deepest gratitude for his beloved foster father.
Direction: Chen Kaige Screenplay: Chen Kaige Production: China Film Group Corporation (Yang Buting) Cinematography: Jin Jiongqiu Cast: Tang Yun, Liu Peiqi, Chen Hong Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421 Shou ji / Cell Phone
China, 2003, Colour, 35mm, 110min
Story: A well-known talk show host has an affair and is betrayed by his cell phone. He throws the cell phone onto the ground out of rage and swears that he will never use it again.
Direction: Feng Xiaogang Screenplay: Liu Zhenyun Production: China Film Group Corporation (Feng Xiaogang) Cinematography: Zhao Fei Editor: Zhou Ying Music: Liu Zhenyun, Su Cong Cast: Ge Xiu Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421 Ying xiong / Hero China, 2002, Colour, 35mm, 96min Story: In ancient China, before the first emperor came to power, the nation was divided into seven kingdoms. The sovereign of the northern province of Qin suffers constant death threats and assassination attempts, now his political rivals have plotted to kill him and hired three elite assassins to do the job. Then one day, one of his own magistrates arrives at the palace carrying the assassins' weapons, claiming to have defeated the three enemies in combat after having studied swordsmanship for over a decade. Direction: Zhang Yimou Screenplay: Li Feng, Zhang Yimou, Wang Bin Production: William Kong, Zhang Yimou Cinematography: Christopher Doyle Editing: Zhai Ru, Angie Lam Music: Tan Dun Cast: Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Donnie Yen Print Source / Contact: Columbia Tristar, Buena Vista Films Meili de dajiao / For the Children (Pretty Big Feet) China, 2002, Colour, 35mm, 107min
Story: Zhang Meili is a common woman who lives in a remote mountain village in China. She doubts herself because of her big feet, as according to traditional Chinese thinking, small feet are a standard for female beauty. After her illiterate husband commits a crime and is executed as a result, she decides to set up a school for the education of the children of the village. Later, Xia Yu, a teacher from Beijing, volunteers to work in the school, and after some initial problems, Zhang Meili and the children come to understand and respect each other. Zhang Meili is tragically killed in a car accident, but her students and their dreams live on.
Direction: Yang Yazhou Screenplay: Li Wei Production: Xi'an Film Studio (Song Dai, Wu Dashen, Yiyun Yan) Cinematography: Wang Xiaoming Editor: Ding Ruan, Wei Dong Music: Zhao Jiping Cast: Ni Ping, Yuan Quan Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421 Judge Mama
China, 2001, Colour, 35mm, 96min
Story: Zhang Shuai is released from prison after serving a sentence of three years. Since he suspects the judge An Hui of receiving a bribe from his parents, he stays at An Hui's home trying to find any evidence against her, but what he can find only proves her fairness and her caring for him as a mother.
Direction: Mu Deyuan Screenplay: Wang Xingdong Production: Beijing Forbidden City Film Corporation Cinematography: Sun Ming Music: Guo Wenjing Cast: Xi Meijuan, Chen Sicheng Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420 Fax: 86 10 86090421 Wo hu cang long / Crouching Tiger, Hidden Tiger China, 2000, Colour, 35mm Story: Li Mu Bai strives to recover a magical sword that has suddenly disappeared. His quest will be far from easy as his love for Yu Shu Lien complicates matters, and the journey will no doubt make him prey to some highly skilled assassins. Direction: Ang Lee Screenplay: Xia Meihua Production: China Film Group Corporation (Zheng Quangang) Cinematography: Bao Dexi Music: Tan Dun Cast: Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421 Gua Sha / The Gua Sha Treatment China, 2000, Colour, 35mm, 100min
Story: After years of hard work, Xu Datong, a Chinese immigrant to the US, has finally achieved success as an outstanding video game designer. With his promising career and loving family, he feels he has become a true American. Datong's father comes over from China, and uses a traditional Chinese medical technique, called guasha, to treat Datong's son Dennis. Unexpected, an American doctor thinks the bruises on Dennis' back left by the guasha treatment are signs of child abuse; and the finger is pointed at Datong. The Treatment is a moving portrayal of the enormous gulfs between cultures and their possible repercussions.
Direction: Zheng Xiaolong Screenplay: Wang Xiaoping Production: Beijing Forbidden City Film Corporation Cinematography: Huang Yuetai Music: Ye Xiaogang Cast: Liang Jiahui, Jiang Wenli Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421 Love Story by Tea China, 2000, Colour, 35mm, 92min
Story: Ma Jianxin, a railroad worker, is a rather withdrawn and reticent person. He gets acquainted with his teacher Miss Li Weihua at a literary class and finds that they have similar purpose and interests. After the short period of study, the two are deeply in love. Unfortunately, Weihua has serious congenital heart disease, which means that if they get married, they cannot have a sexual life. Despite this they still love and support each other and are determined to go ahead.
Direction: Jin Chen Screenplay: Chen Jianbin Production: Xi'an Film Studio Cinematography: Huang Lian Music: An Wei Cast: Wu Yue, Chen Jianbin Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421 Yi sheng tan xi / A Sigh China, 2000, Colour, 35mm, 115min
Story: Writer Liang Yazhou, who has been married for over 10 years and has a lovely six-year-old daughter, leads a very stable conjugal life until he meets Li Xiaodan, his screenwriting executive assistant, an intriguing attractive young girl. They fall in love with each other.
Direction: Feng Xiaogang Screenplay: Ma Junxiang Production: China Film Group Corporation (Han Sanping) Cinematography: Li Li Music: Zhao Jiping Cast: Zhang Guoli, Xu Fan, Liu Pei Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421 China Film Group Corporation 25 Xinwai St, Beijing, China 86 10 62254488 86 10 62250652 Xi zao / Shower China, 2000, Colour, 35mm, 90min Story: Lao Liu, the owner of a bathhouse who dedicated his whole life to the business, is now an old man, accompanied only by Erming, his mentally impaired second son. Daming, his elder son, has been away from home for many years running his own business in the south. Upon receiving a mistaken message carrying the news of his father's death, Daming hurries home only to find that with his father's age and his brother's mental condition the bathhouse has become dilapidated. Although not intent on staying, but his plan to leave is ruined by a train of consequences. He starts to learn about running the bathhouse, and tries to understand his father better. Through the world of the bathhouse, he is exposed to a different view of society and life. Direction: Zhang Yang Screenplay: Cai Shangjun, Huo Xin, Diao Yinan, Liu Fendou, Zhang Yang Production: Xi'an Film Studio (Sam Duann, Peter Loeher) Cinematography: Zhang Jian Editor: Yang Hongyu Music: Ye Xiaogang Cast: Zhu Xu, Pu Cunxin Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421 Huanghe juelian / Grief Over Yellow River
China, 1999, Colour, 35mm, 100min Story: A love story set by the Yellow River. During the Second World War, the surgeon An Jie and other Chinese Eighth Route Army soldiers rescue a US pilot called Owen, who came to help the Chinese against the Japanese invaders and carries important military films. To protect him, a number of soldiers and civilians sacrifice their lives, and An Jie gives her body to the Yellow River for the love of Owen and in hope for a better future for her nation. Half a century later, Owen returns to the Yellow River and reminisces about those valiant Chinese who sacrificed their lives to save his. Direction: Feng Xiaoning Screenplay: Feng Xiaoning Cinematography: Feng Xiaoning Cast: Ning Jing, Paul Keisey Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421 Yi ge dou bun eng shao / Not One Less China, 1998, Colour, 35mm, 90min
Story: A set of events took place in a primary school of an ordinary village in northern China. Because the teacher asked for several days leave, the village head had to ask Wei Minzhi, who had not finished high school herself, to take up the classes, demanding that not a student quit study during that period. Though Wei lived together with the students and tried very hard to teach them, there was still a student absent from school. Wei looked for the student everywhere. With the help from the TV station and from several kind-hearted people, she finally found the student and gained the praise and support of her society.
Direction: Zhang Yimou Screenplay: Shi Xiangsheng Production: Guangxi Film Studio (Zhao Yu, Zhang Weiping) Cinematography: Hou Yong Editor: Zhai Ru Music: San Bao Cast: Wei Minzhi Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421 Nashan naren nagou / Postman in the Mountains China, 1998, Colour, 35mm, 90min
Story: Various kinds of sentiments grow between a postman and villagers in a mountainous countryside.
Direction: Huo Jianqi Screenplay: Si Wu Production: Xiao Xiang Film Studio (Jianmin Kang) Cinematography: Zhao Lei Music: Wang Xiaofeng Cast: Teng Rujun, Liu Ye Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421 Yi dai tian jiao Cheng Ji Si Han / Genghis Khan China, 1998, Colour, 35mm
Story: In the 12th century, Genghis Khan gradually realized that hatred and revenge must be stopped and he united all different Mongolian tribes as one, thus bringing peace and stability to the Mongolian people.
Direction: Sai Fu, Mai Lisi Screenplay: Ran Ping Production: Inner Mongolia Film Studio Cinematography: Mu Deyuan Music: Cao Daoerji Cast: Tu Men, Ai Leya Print Source / Contact: Film Bureau, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, P R China zhyahui@yahoo.com.cn Tel: 86 10 86090420
Fax: 86 10 86090421 A Bright Moon
China, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 105min
Story: Born to a rich and influential family in Tianjin, Li Shutong developed a good command of music, poetry, seal cutting, calligraphy, painting and acting besides a preoccupation with his homeland. At Shanghai Nanyang College he studied under Cai Yuanpei, then with Huang Yanpei, he contributed to the restructuring of Shanghai Institute. He initiated the periodical Music Magazine, organized the Chunliu Society then he edited the supplement of Pacific Newspaper. He wrote songs and introduced nude painting into art lessons. He married a Japanese woman, and his students included Feng Zikai and Liu Zhiping. Later, Li Shutong decided to leave behind friends, students and wife to seek Buddhist knowledge on his own.
Direction: Lu Qi
Screenplay: Yang Jie, Wu Hua, Yu Hongyang Production: Beijing Bright Moon Culture & Art Communication Centre (Zhou Shanwei) Cinematography: Wang Lianping, Liu Jiankui, Chen Ke Editor: Bo Jianli Music: Zhang Yuyi Cast: Pu Cunxi, Xu Ruoxuan, Li Jianqun , Ma Shuliang, Gu Haibing Prodcution Company: Beijing Bright Moon Culture & Art Communication Centre 703 Building No.2, Langqin Garden, Shoupakou S Street, Xuanwu District, Beijing Tel: 86 10 63438117; 86 10 63326216; 86 10 86090420; Fax: 63438117 Co-production Company: Quanzhou Broadcast & TV Centre Tel: 2111229. Fax: 2111229 World Sales Company: Beijing Huaxia Film Co. Ltd. Tel: 82043036. Fax: 82043114 Naki rak tae winyarn kwam tai / Ghost of Mae Nak The Wind
Sri Lanka, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 113min Story: The family court is hearing the divorce case that Krishanthi has filed against her husband Senarathne, a university professor whom she had met and married during her undergraduate years. Krishanthi claims her husband is having an affair with the younger Kumari, who comes from a very poor rural background, and insists on divorce even though she is pregnant in their second child. Keen on not breaking his family, Senarathne claims his wife misunderstood the situation. Each of them narrates his/her version of the truth, the perception of which is dominated by their own feelings. Direction: Bennett Rathnayake Screenplay: Bennett Rathnayake Production: Bennett Rathnayake Cinematography: Biju Vishvanath Editor: Ravindra Guruge Music: Rohana Weerasinghe Cast: Sanath Gunathilaka, Dilhani Eakanayake, Sathya Erandathi Rathnayake, Palitha Silva Print Source / Contact: Benn Film Creation House No.28, Battaramulla Road Ethul Kotte (Sri Lanka) Tel 94 112 868 077 Fax 94 112 883 377 bennfilm@sltnet.lk Bennett Rathnayake: He began his professional career as a mathematics teacher, then worked for the Sri Lankan Customs before becoming a filmmaker. He directed seven TV series, for some of which he wrote the screenplay. His debut feature film was Awesuma (The Compensation, 2001).
Miracolo a Palermo! /A Sicilian Miracle
Italy, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 90min Story: In this fairy tale from the bowels of Palermo, a court of miracles is populated by small-time hoodlums, double-dealers, operetta killers, poet-clowns, poet-thieves, bag-snatchers on wheelchairs, all rampaging on the loose in the heart of the ancient town. Among them is a beautiful young widow determined to keep her family above water, and her youngest child, the twelve-year-old Totó is eager to grow up and have his puppy-love taken seriously by young Rosa, and is trying to show he is really a man by vindicating his father. After twenty-four hours of a pulsating carousel, with the new day setting in, everybody's life will be changed forever. Direction: Beppe Cino Screenplay: Beppe Cino Production: Sorpasso Film (Marco Risi, Maurizio Tedesco) Cinematography: Adolfo Bartoli Editor: Mauro Bonanni Music: Carlo Siliotto Cast: Tony Sperandeo, Vincent Schiavelli, Luigi Burruano, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Michele Lucchese, Valentina Graziano Print Source / Contact: Intramovies srl, Via E. Manfredi 15 – 00197 Roma, Italy. Tel: +39 06 8077252, Fax: +39 06 8076156 mail@intramovies.com Beppe Cino: Born in 1947 in Caltanissetta. He worked as screenwriter and director on several feature films and documentaries including: Il cavaliere, la morte e il diavolo (The Knight, Death and the Devil, 1982), La casa del buon ritorno (House of Welcomeback, 1986), Gli anni d'oro (The Golden Years, 1989-91) for TV, and the documentary Roberto Rossellini: Il mestiere di uomo (Roberto Rossellini: The Craft of Man, 1997).
Non ti muovere / Don't Move
Italy, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 125min Story: When teenager Angela is severly wounded in a road accident and there is a risk of her losing her life, her father doctor Timoteo Rossi confronts his memories. In the past, he had an affair with the hotel chamber maid called Italia and his marriage was at risk. The affair continued thanks to his wife Elsa's feigning ignorance until she became pregnant. Timoteo then had to make a choice. Direction: Sergio Castellitto Screenplay: Sergio Castellitto, Margaret Mazzantini Production: Ricardo Tozzi, Giovanni Stabilini, Marco Chimenz Cinematography: Gianfilippo Corticelli Editor: Patrizio Marone Music: Lucio Godoy, Vasco Rossi Cast: Penelope Cruz, Sergio Castellitto, Claudia Gerini, Lina Bernardi Print Source / Contact: Capitol Films Sergio Castellitto: Born in Rome 1953. One of Italy's most established and popular actors, his first role in cinema was in Carcerato (1981). He starred in Ettore Scola's La Famiglia (1987), Jacques Rivette's Qui sa? (2001), and Marco Bellocchio's L'ora del religione (2002). His directorial debut was Libero Burro (1999). His second film, Non ti muovere (2004) was selected in the 2004 Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard section. Gli Indesiderabili / The Undesirables Italy, 2003, Colour, 35mm Story: In New York 1951, due to lack of evidence 120 Italian Americans accused of Mafia associations cannot be sentenced. Labelled as “undesirables”, they are sent back to Italy. Local newspaper Secolo XIX's reporter Giancarlo Fusco tracks them once they arrive in Genoa. He sets out across Italy in search of the men in the photograph taken there. For a small amount of money, Frank Frigenti cons Fusco selling him insignificant heaps of paper claiming they are important documents; Lily Valentino sells ice-cream in Palermo; Lu Grisafi lives in total destitution and poverty in a small Sicilian viallage; Saver Li Fonzi lives with his deaf and dumb wife in a luxury hotel; Ezio Taddei, a former high school friend of Fusco's, is an anarchist, who explains to Fusco why he got involved with those third-rate gangsters, and how he got expelled from the States for having dared to accuse judges and politicians of Mafia connections. Direction: Pasquale Scimeca Screenplay: Pasquale Scimeca, Nennella Buonaiuto Production: Rodeo Drive Ltd; Digital Film (Galliano Yuso, Marco Valsania, Marco Poccioni) Cinematography: Pasquale Mari Editor: Babak Karimi Music: Nicola Piovani Cast: Vincent Gallo, Antonio Catania, Marcello Mazzarella, Vincent Schiavelli, Peppe Lanzetta, Vincenzo Albanese Pasquale Scimeca: Born in 1956 in Alinusa, near Palermo. He studied contemporary history at the University of Florence. He founded the independent production cooperative Arbash Film in 1989. He produced and directed several documentaries for TV. His debut feature Il giorno di San Sebastiano (St. Sebastian's Day, 1993) was screened at the Venice film festival and won the Golden Globe for best debut film. His Briganti di Zabut (The Brigands of Zabut, 1996) received a special mention at the Taormina Film Festival, while his Placido Rizzotto (2001) was screened at the Venice film festival.
Prima dammi un bacio /Kiss Me First
Italy, Colour, 35mm, 92min Story: Adele and Marcello were marked by fate when born both at the same moment on the 16th of April 1927, delivered by their mothers a few inches away from each other. They grow in continual symbiosis, magically sharing sensations, emotions and experiences. As children they hold a wedding ceremony which a group of their friends witness inside an abandoned chapel. The events of the Second World War divide them, but their lives run parallel for long years, they seem very close at times, soul mates inevitably attracted by a natural reciprocal dependency, but at times the same magic that unites them seems to move them away from each other irreparably. The film, based on a true story, covers 40 years of their life. Direction: Ambrogio Lo Giudice Production: Sunflower Production srl (Valerio Morabito, Marco Belardi) Cinematography: Filippo Corticelli Editor: Paolo Manzoni Music: Lucio Dalla Cast: Luca Zingaretti, Stefania Rocca, Marco Cocci Ambrogio Lo Giudice: Co-founded with Lucio Dalla Futura Film for the production of music videos and TV programmes and partnered with the publicity films production company Filmmaster. After directing numerous music videos, TV programmes and publicity films he won several European wards and was shortlisted twice at the Cannes Film Festival for publicity films. Prima dammi un bacio is his cinematic directorial debut. La spettatrice / The Spectator
Italy, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 98min Story: In Turin, Italy, 26-years-old spontaneous translator Valeria is inhibited and solitary. With no sentimental relations, she develops a ritualistic attachment to observing the 40-something Massimo, who lives in the opposite apartment. Valeria happens to translate for Massimo at a conference and eventually something starts growing between them. When Massimo moves to Rome, Valeria's existence falls apart. Following him to Rome, Valeria discovers that Massimo has another woman – the older Flavia. Valeria causes “an accidental meeting” with her and a certain immediate sympathy between the two women develops, as well as a mutual curiosity – nonetheless, their “friendship” is based on subtle betrayals and lies. Flavia uses Valeria's fragile introversion as a catalyst for the novel she is writing about her late husband, which work she chose over pursuing her relationship with Massimo. For Valeria, on the other hand, Flavia becomes the only desperate link between her and Massimo, with whom she cannot face any real relationship. Direction: Paolo Franchi
Screenplay: Paolo Franchi Production: Emme Produzioni, Ubu Film Cinematography: Giuseppe Lanci Editor: Alessio Doglione Music: Carlo Crivelli Cast: Barbora Bobulova, Brigitte Catillon, Andrea Renzi International Distribution: Via Umberto Novaro, 18 – 00195 Roma Tel: +39 06 37498244; Fax: +39 06 37516222 info@raitrade.it La febbre / The Fever
Italy, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 122min Story: In the northern town of Cremona, Mario was earmarked at birth for paper pushing by his soldier dad and seamstress mom. Though temperamentally unsuited to be a bureaucrat, he takes a new job at city hall, hoping to earn money to fulfil his dream of opening a discotheque with his buddies. The mild-mannered civil servant nearing retirement, Faoni, gently teaches Mario to lower his expectation about job fulfilment. However, Mario's popularity with women excites the animosity of the slimy Mayor Cerqueti. Mario is forced to collect an unpopular tax door-to-door, then transferred to a dingy office at the city cemetery. Funerals take on symbolic connotations, as Mario's dreams are buried. What brings him back to life is meeting beautiful go-go disco dancer Linda, a literature student with a passion for videotaping the graves of famous poets. This leads to serious reflections about the meaning of life that extends beyond family and community expectations. Direction: Alessandro D'Alatri Screenplay: Gennaro Nunziante, Alessandro D'Alatri, Domenico Starnone Production: Rai Cinema, Rodeo Drive (Marco Poccioni, Marco Valsania) Cinematography: Italo Petriccionne Editor: Osvaldo Bargero Music: Fabio Barovero, Roy Paci, Negramaro, Simone Fabbroni Cast: Fabio Volo, Gisella Burinato, Vittorio Franceschi, Massimo Bagliani, Valeria Solarino International Distribution: Via Umberto Novaro, 18 – 00195 Roma Tel: +39 06 37498244; Fax: +39 06 37516222 info@raitrade.it Now and Forever
Italy, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 108min Story: This is a journey into the forgotten memories of successful publisher Valentino Motta. Upon the death of his beloved father, he is told about a precious trumpet that conceals the secrets of an era of wonders. In flashback, we venture into the late 1940s, when Torino football club was universally recognized as the most successful team in the world, until a fatal tragedy turned the dream of thousands into one of the most regretful episodes in Italy's recent history. Direction: Vincenzo Verdecchi
Screenplay: Massimiliano Durante Production: Veradia Film (Alessandro Verdecchi) Cinematography: Marco Onorato, Carmelo P Music: Stefano Di Battista Cast: Kasia Smutniak, Gioele Dix, Giorgio Albertazzi, Dino Abbrescia Ovunque sei / Another Life
Italy, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 86min Story: Emma and Matteo, two doctors who work in the same hospital, had been a couple for years. One night Emma gives in to the advances of the hospital's head surgeon, while Matteo, assigned to ambulance duty, finds solace in the company of Elena, a young volunteer. An accident with the ambulance only reinforces Matteo's passion for Elena, which he must live to the full before he can understand how much he really loves his wife. Direction: Michele Placido
Screenplay: Umberto Contarello, Francesco Piccolo, Michele Placido, Domenico Starnone Production: Riccardo Tozzi Cinematography: Luca Bigazzi Editor: Esmeralda Calabria Music: (Sound) Bruno Pupparo Cast: Stefano Accorsi, Barbora Bobulova, Violante Placido, Stefano Dionisi, Massimo De Francovich International Distribution: Via Umberto Novaro, 18 – 00195 Roma Tel: +39 06 37498244; Fax: +39 06 37516222 info@raitrade.it Pontormo, Un amore eretico / Pontormo, An Heretical Love Italy, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 108min Story: In the last months of the life of the famous 16th century Florentine painter Jacopo Carrucci, also known as “Pontormo” he is inspired by a young exile rendered mute when her tongue was cut out during the Flemish War. His muse accused of being a witch, Pontormo uses all his efforts and connections at the Medici court to save her from the inquisition. Direction: Giovanni Fago
Screenplay: Marilisa Calò, Massimo Felisatti, Giovanni Fago Production: Palamo Film, Star Plex (Angelo Bassi) Cinematography: Alessio Gelsini Editor: Giancarlo Cierciosimo Music: Pino Donaggio Cast: Joe Mantegna, Galatea Ranzi, Tony Bertorelli, Laurent Terzieff, Sandro Lombardi Production Company: Palamo Film, Viale delle Milizie, 2 – 00192 Roma Tel: 0039 063219554; Fax: 0039 063613641 World Sales Company: Intramovies Srl, Viale Castro Pretorio 82 – 00185 Roma Tel: 0039 068080827; Fax: 0039 068076156 Bab Aziz /The Aziz Gate
Tunisia, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 98min Story: As a blind dervish and his granddaughter journey through the desert, interlocking stories of human fates unfold in a blend f myth and reality, in a blind continuum as vast as the desert itself. Direction: Nacer Khemir Screenplay: Nacer Khemir Production: Les Films du Requin Cinematography: Mahmoud Kalari Editor: Isabelle Rathery Music: Armand Amar Cast: Parviz Shahin Khou, Maryam Hamid, Nessim Kahloul, Mohamed Grayaa Print Source / Contact: Production Company Les Films du Requin 7, rue ganneron, 75018 Paris, France Tel: +33 1 43 870007 Fax: +33 1 43 873472 Films.requin@wanadoo.fr World Sales Company
Bavaria Film International Bavariafilmplatz 8, 82031 geiselgasteig, Germany Tel: +49 89 6499 2686 Fax: +49 89 6499 3720 Bavaria.International@bavaria-film.de Mon Ange
France, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 94min Story: The life of the beautiful but lonely prostitute Colette changes unexpectedly when she receives an urgent phone call at night from a colleague in the business just released from prison. Colette has never seen this woman, but the unknown caller entrusts her with a task: to pick up her son and bring him to the station the following day. Colette doesn't yet realise that the problems facing the charge entrusted to her soon become her problems as well. Direction: Serge Frydman Screenplay: Serge Frydman Production: Claudie Ossard, Marin Karmitz Cinematography: Vilko Filac Editor: Jean-Charles Liozu Music: Colin Towns Cast: Vanessa Paradis, Vincent Rottiers, Eduardo Noriega, Eric Ruff, Claude Perron Print Source / Contact: MK2 Serge Frydman: He wrote the scripts for films by director Patrice Leconte: Grands ducs (1996), Une chance sur deux (1998), The Girl on the Bridge (1998), screened in Karlovy Vary IFF competition in 1999, Rues des Plaisirs (2002) and in 2003 he wrote the screenplay for the comedy Taits-toi! (2003) directed by Francis Veber. Caché / Hidden France, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 115min Story: Someone across the street is secretly recording intimate moments from the life of the literary journalist Georges, then sending him the video cassettes, which also contain worrying drawings that are hard to interpret. The more intimate and personal the contents of the cassettes become, the more Georges is certain that the sender had known him since a very long time, but he is desperate to know his identity. Sensing, an imminent threat to his person and his family, Georges seeks the help of the police, but they refuse providing security assistance since there is no explicit danger. Direction: Michael Haneke Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Juliette Binoche, Maurice Benichou, Walid Afkir, Nathalie Richard, Denis Podalydès Print Source / Contact: Les Films du Losange San-Antonio France, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 95min Story: With a terrorist threat menacing the heads of the world states, the commissioner San-Antonio and his partner lieutenant Bérurier are in charge of escorting the French ambassador in a British hotel. After the negligent Bérurier has a passing sex affair, the commissioner witnesses helplessly the abduction of the ambassador, which was organized by a pretty Italian woman. Upon their return to Paris, San-Antonio is discharged while Bérurier is promoted. However, when the president of the republic mysteriously disappears, the minister of the interior insists that only San-Antonio can solve the mystery. He is assigned to head a secret police squad and given 48 hours to find the president. Direction: Frédéric Auburtin Screenplay: Laurent Touil-Tartour Cast: Gérard Lanvin, Gérard Depardieu, Michel Galabru, Barbara Schulz, Eriq Ebouaney, Luis Régo Print Source / Contact: Pathé Renn Productions, Hirsch (Claude Berri) Les Choristes France, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 96min Story: In 1949, unemployed music teacher Clément Mathieu is recruited to work in boys' boarding school, whose educational system suffers from the repressive administration of director Rachin. As the latter tries to enforce his authority on the rebellious pupils, Mathieu uses the magic of music to positively transform their lives forever. Direction: Christophe Barratier Screenplay: Georges Chaperot, René Wheeler Cast: Gérard Jugnot, Francois Berléand, Kad Merad, Jean-Paul Bonnaire, Marie Bunel, Jean-Baptiste Maunier Lila dit ça / Lila Says
France, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 89min Story: Lila is a flirtatious blonde girl who just moved in an Arab ghetto in France. Nineteen-year old quiet poet Chimo (also presumably the writer of the adapted book and the narrator of the film) falls for her. He is fascinated by the way she dresses, speaks, and her non-conservative behaviour. Possibly more vulnerable than her frank sexuality suggests, her tempting and crude stories drag Chimo in a voyage through a world he never knew exited. Meanwhile, Mouloud, the loudmouthed leader of a gang, also sets his sights on Lila. Their game of sexual discovery leads to an unexpected look at tolerance, self-hatred, and machismo. Fear of difference, racism and Muslim fundamentalism catalyses the dynamics of this love story of sorts.
Direction: Ziad Doueiri
Screenplay: Ziad Doueiri Production: Huit et Demi Productions, Zeal Srl, Passion Pictures Ltd, France 2 Cinéma, Pyramide Productions Cinematography: John Daly Editor: Tina Baz Music: Nitin Sawhney Cast: Vahina Giocante, Mohammed Khouas, Karim Ben Haddou, Lotfi Chakri World Sales: Pyramide International Ziad Doueiri: Born in Lebanon. Studied filmmaking in the US, and worked as an assistant cameraman on several features directed by Quentin Tarantino. His directorial debut West Beirut (1998), shared the FIPRESCI International Critics Award at the 1998 Toronto International Film Festival. C'est pas moi, c'est l'autre / Police Thief
France, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 94min Story: This is a comedy about a thief on the run who is mistaken for a heroic cop. Assuming the cops identity, the thief soon finds he is enjoying the role, and decides to get out of his life of crime. Unfortunately, however, the real cop is about to return and the mob boss who is after him has just arrived in town. Direction: Alain Zaloum
Screenplay: Luis Furtado Production: Screen People Inc., Optima Productions Inc. (Chuck Smiley, Paul Painter, Jean Zaloum) Cinematography: Eric Moynier Editor: Richard Comeau, Jean-Pierre Cereghetti Music: Andy Bush, Dave Gale Cast: Roy Dupuis, Anémone, Lucie Laurier, Michel Muller, Luck Mervil Production Company: Screen People Inc., Optima Productions Inc. 4599 Montclair Ave., Montreal, Quebec, H4B2J8, Canada Tel: 514 397 9988; Fax: 514 954 1237 Zwarte Zwanen/ Black Swans
Netherlands, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 87min Story: Vince inhabits an old fishing boat on the southern coast of Spain. Marleen works voluntarily in a rest home. First, they don't seem to understand each other, but they experience an irresistible attraction and a passionate love affair blossoms between them. Vince becomes Marleen's centre of existence, but he feels suffocated by her passion and tries to keep his distance. When Vince doesn't return after a quarrel, Marleen fears she has lost him for good, panics and eventually ends up in hospital, where she realises that Vince and her love for him made her lose her senses, so she refuses to see him anymore. Now Vince gets desperate as he realizes he can't live without Marleen, so he tries to understand her pain and goes to the hospital. Marleen is unable to resist the intense feelings that she experiences when Vince is close to her, and together they leave the hospital quietly. Direction: Colette Bothof Screenplay: Arend Steenbergen Production: M&B Film BV (Rolf Koot) Cinematography: Richard van Oosterhout Editor: Sander Vos Music: Han Otten Cast: Carice van Houten, Dragan Bakema, Mohammed Chaara Print Source / Contact: M&B Film BV PO Box 75527 NL- 1070 AM, Amsterdam Tel: +31206737998 Fax: +31847168932 mbfilm@planet.nl World Sales Company: Proctor Film & Video
Milletstraat 53/3 1077 ZC Amsterdam Tel: +31653652567 Fax: +31206766907 Colette Bothof: Born in 1962 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Made documentaries while studying psychology and communications. Studied directing at the Dutch Film and Television Academy. Since 1994 she has been working she has been working as a screenwriter and director for film and television. Die Blaue Grenze/ A Quiet Love
Germany, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 102min Story: In a small town on the borders of north Germany and south Denmark, a set of grotesque but loveable characters live out their loneliness in sad and loosely connected adventures. A young adolescent finds himself in a difficult situation when his father dies. A police commissioner has to solve a mysterious case. Direction: Till Franzen Screenplay: Till Franzen Production: Discofilm GmbH (Arne Ludwig, Felix Blum) Cinematography: Manuel Mack Editor: Sebastian Schultz, Till Franzen Music: Enis Rotthoff Cast: Antoine Monot Jr., Beate K Bille, Hanna Schygulla, Dominique Horwitz, Joost Siedhoff Print Source / Contact: Production and World Sales Company: Discofilm GmbH Heliosstr.6a, 50825 Köln, Germany Tel: +49 (0) 221 120 8778 Fax: +49 (0) 221 120 8779 arne@discofilm.de Till Franzen: Born in 1973 in Flensburg. Studied at the European Film College in Ebeltoft, Denmark, and the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne, Germany. Directed several short films, music videos and theatrical plays. Folge der Feder! ./ Follow the Feather!
Germany, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 80min
Story: From the small town of Tunceli, in the mountainous northern Anatolia where Alewites communities live, and in fulfilment of her father's last wishes, travel the young Hêlin seeking her mother and sister who left to Germany a long time before. A white feather which she finds after her father's death guides her in her journey until she reunites with her mother and sister in Berlin. Afterwards, the feather reappears in her dreams, leading her into adulthood and a rendez-vous with a young man. Her grandmother interprets her dream, and predicts that once the snow covers Berlin, Hêlin is to encounter the man of her dreams. Direction: Nuray Sahin Screenplay: Nuray Sahin Production: Moneypenny Filmproduktion GmbH (Anne Leppin, Sigrid Hoerner) Cinematography: The Chau Ngo Editor: Philipp Stahl Music: Markus Glunz Cast: Pegah Ferydoni, Neza Selbuz, Dilek Serindag, Kirsten Block. Stefan Jürgens, Ercan Noel Özçelik Print Source / Contact: German Film and Television Academy (dffb) German Film and Television Academy (dffb) Potsdamer Strasse 2 10785 Berlin Tel/Fax: ++49 (0) 30 25 759 152/162 margoni@dffb.de Nuray Sahin: Born in Tunceli in 1974. She studied directing, screenwriting and documentary filmmaking in German Film and TV Academy (DFFB, Deutsche Film-und Fernsehakademie Berlin) from 1996 to 2002. Such mich nicht/ Don't Look for Me Germany, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 80min Story: Contract killer Anna feels no guilt but only loneliness. Her boss, Lewin, is the only person she can trust, and he is a cold professional. While setting up a hit, she meets Lino, whose kind and easy going nature fascinates her. They spend a night together, but she cannot allow herself the luxury of a relationship. Her next “mark” turns out to be a professional killer who wants to retire. She is caught off guard, is wounded and just barely manages to escape. Not sure if she can still trust Lewin, she goes to Lino's, but she refuses to confide in him. Gradually as she recovers, she opens up to him. Lewin tracks Anna down and insists she attends to her unfinished business, which she does. Expressing her desire to retire, Lewin insists on one condition: she must take out Lino. Direction: Tilman Zens Screenplay: Axel Buresch Production: Filmakademie, Baden Württemberg GmbH (Ruediges Heinze) Cinematography: Daniel Roller Editor: Vanessa Rossi Music: Stefan Sdrulzki Cast: Lea Rolnar, Udo Schenk, Stipe Erceg Print Source / Contact: Production and World Sales Company: Filmakademie, Baden Württemberg GmbH, Mathildenstrasse 20, D 71638 Ludwigsburg Tel: +49 (0) 7141 969 132; +49 (0) 7141 969 103 Fax: +49 (0) 7141 969 55 132
peter.beutel@filmakademie.de festivals@filmakademie.de.
Downfall Germany, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 150min Story: Berlin, April 1945. A nation awaits its downfall. Fighting rages in the streets of the capital. Hitler and his closest confidantes have barricaded themselves in the Fuehrer's Bunker. Among them, Traudi Junge is Hitler's private secretary. Outside the situation escalates. Although Berlin can no longer be held, the Fuehrer refuses to leave the city. While the full force of the war crashes down over his folk, he stages his final departure. Only hours before their joint suicide, he marries Eva Braun. Then their corpses are burned so that they do not fall into the hands of the Red Army. Many others also choose suicide. As the situation becomes ever more hopeless, Magda Goebbels poisons her six children before she and her husband take their own lives. Shortly thereafter Traudl Junge and several others manage to escape at the last minute. Direction: Oliver Hirschbiegel Screenplay: Bernd Eichinger Production: Constantin Film AG (Bernd Eichinger) Cinematography: Rainer Klausmann Music: Stephan Zacharias Cast: Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Corinna Harfouch, Ulrich Matthes Production Company: Constantin Film AG (Bernd Eichinger) Kaiserstr 39, D-80801 Munchen Tel: 4989 38609221 Fax: 4989 38609227 Tanja.schwoch@constantin-film.de World Sales Company
Beta Cinema Muenchenerstr 101z, D-85737 Ismaning, Germany Tel: 4989 99562719 Fax: 4989 99562703 beta@betacinema.com Oliver Hirschbiegel: Worked on German TV dramas since the mid-1980s. His debut feature The Experiment (2001) was a box-office hit and received many awards. Folgeschäden / Consequential Damage
Germany, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 90min Story: The Algerian doctor Tarik Azmy and his wife Maya, an art director at a magazine, have a cute son, Karim. The happy days of the family come to an end when two German FBI-men enter Maya's office and interrogate her about her husband. He was filmed at the wedding of one of the 9/11 hijackers, so he could be a “sleeper”, a hidden terrorist. Maya doesn't believe this accusation, but when Tarik's old friend Reza arrives suddenly from Iran, she begins to feel uncomfortable, especially as she discovers Tarik hides things from her, so as not to burden her, he claims. Matters get even more complicated when Ebola virus is discovered in his laboratory. Direction: Samir Nasr
Screenplay: Florian Hanig Production: Marin Film (Martin Bach) Cinematography: Bernhard Jasper Editor: Nana Meyer Music: Oliver Biehler Cast: Silke Bodenbender, Mehdi Nebbou, Mahmoud Alame, Jule Gartzke, Jürgen Hentsch Production Company: Marin Film, Lange Str, 7A, 76530 Baden-Baden Tel: +49 17221 30250; Fax: +49 17221 3025139 Oliver.lenmann@maran-film.de World Sales Company: SWR (Sabine Holtgreve) Haus Quettig, FS Film, 76522 Baden-Baden
Tel: +49 17221 929 4236; Fax: +49 17221 929 2047 Samir Nasr: Born in 1968 in Karlsruhe, Germany. Studied business administration at Mannheim University. Directed the documentaries Nachttanke (Night Service Station, 1999); Polizeistation (Police Station, 2000); Auf Streife Durchs Leben (Patrolling Though Life, 2000); Leben 16 (Life 16, 2003).
A miskolci boni és klájd (Who the Hell Are Bonnie and Clyde?)
Hungary, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 94min Story: Lili and Pali are “casual bank robbers” and perhaps “casual lovers”, with stolen money in their backpacks the drift along. Their lives turn into an endless series of mishaps without almost any real reason. They are on the run and are looking for a place to hide; first in the hills, then in Miskolc. They read in the newspapers that they are known as “the Hungarian Bonnie and Clyde”. The film is based on actual events. Direction: Krisztina Deák Screenplay: Krisztina Deák, Krisztina Esztergáiyos Production: Cinema-Film TV2 (Gábor Garami) Cinematography: Tibor Máthé Editor: Mano Caillag Music: Ferenc Darvas, DJ Virgács Cast: Gyorgy Gazsó, Gabriella Hámori, Máté Haumann, Gábor Karalyos Print Source / Contact: Magyar Filmunió H-1068 Budapest, Városligeti fasor 38. Tel: +36 (1) 351 77 60, 351 77 61; Fax: +36 (1) 352 67 34 filmunio@filmunio.hu Krisztina Deák: Born in 1953 in Budapest. Studied at the Hungarian Academy of Drama and Film. Her previous films include: Eszterkönyv (The Book of Esther, 1989), Köd (Mist, 1993), Családi nyár (Family Summer, 1995) and Jadviga párnája (Jadviga's Pillow, 1999). Post Coitum
Czech, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 104min Production: Jakubisko Film S.R.O. (Deana Jakubisková – Horváthová) Cast: Franco Nero, Richard Krajco, Jirí Langmajer, Mira Nosek Print Source / Contact: Jakubisko Film S.R.O. (Deana Jakubisková – Horváthová) info@jakubiskofilm.com Vodickova 36, 116 02, Prague 1, Czech Repbulic
Tel: +420296236353; Fax: +420296236383 Duše Jako Kaviár / Dirty Soul Czech, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 105min Story: Based upon true accounts, the film depicts three siblings in the swirl of life's turnarounds, exaggerations and humour. Two sisters Anna (16) and Jana (26) and their oldest step brother Vladimir (35) all seek the best partner, but their efforts go in vain, and they inevitably keep on running into each other as they repeat the same mistakes. Direction: Milan Cieslar
Screenplay: Milan Cieslar Production: Happy Celluloid Ltd Cinematography: Jiri Machane Editor: Milan Cieslar Music: Jan Cerny Cast: Tatiana Vilhelmová, Vilma Cibulková, Karolína Kaiserová, Ondrej Vetchý Production Company: Happy Celluloid Ltd, hc@bon.cz, Hellichova 20, 118 00, Prague 1, Czech Repbulic
Tel: +420257320790, Fax: +420257315087 World Sales Company: CP 2000 World Sales (Eliška Fuchsová) sales@cp2000.cz Krizeneckého Nám 322, 152 00, Prague 5-Barrandov, Czech Repbulic Tel: +420242424578, Fax: +420242424576 Tuning
Slovenia, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 71min Story: Katarina and Peter have a seemingly happy and well-functioning marriage. They have two adolescent daughters, Eva and Nina, rewarding jobs, a flat and a car. But boredom gnaws at their relationship after years of living together. They've done everything, they've seen it all before, and their days together are desperately uninspiring. They are aware of their good sides, but see only the bad. Their lovemaking, like their marital squabbles, takes on its all-too-familiar pattern. So they look carefully around them, each of them hoping for a new chance. There is even mention of divorce, and the death of Katarina's mother could represent the crossroads on their shared journey. But the couple can't live contentedly with or without each other. Direction: Igor Šterk
Screenplay:Siniša Dragin, Igor Šterk Production: Igor Šterk, Ida Weiss, Dimitrij Gracner Cinematography: Simon Tanšek Editor: Petar Markovic Music: Mitja Vrhovnik-Smrekar Cast: Peter Musevski, Nataša Burger, Polona Juh, Andraz Polic, Tomi Janezic Print Source / Contact: Slovenian Film Fund Igor Šterk: Born in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia in 1968, Šterk graduated from the Theatre, Film and Television Academy in Ljubljana. His student project, the documentary Postcards (1989) was awarded Best Screenplay and a special prize for visual portrayal at the Short Film Festival in Belgrade. His feature debut Express Express (1997) entered the competition of the Manheim IFF, and screenings at other festivals earned the film 15 festival honours, including two main prizes.Ljubljana (named for his native city) is his second feature film, screened in the Forum of Independents at the 37th Karlovy Vary IFF.
Dobro Uštimani Mrtvaci / Well Tempered Corpses
Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, France, Italy, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 96min Story: Businessman Ruzdija Kucuk seeks to privatize and operate the defunct railroad. Upon losing his job, car, apartment and boyfriend, young demobilized soldier Rijad ultimately meets his death when he falls off the roof of his building. Inventor Srecko Piplica wants to enter the Guinness Book of World Records and the history books, but only dreams to visit his daughter living in New York for 10 long years. His diesel jet crashes. Corrupt minister Envera, cruel, ruthless, selfish and cold, and underestimated doctor Braco, both lead a miserable life devoid of real communication. The corpses of the protagonists of these four stories are examined by the coroners Safet and Risto.
Direction: Benjamin Filipovic
Screenplay: Benjamin Filipovic, Fedja Isovic Production: Studio Maj (Dunja Klemenc) Cinematography: Ven Jemeršic Editor: Stanko Kostanjevec Music: Dado Dzihan Cast: Lazar Ristovski, Tanja Šolic Print Source / Contact: Production Company: Studio Maj, Mestni trg 17, 1000 Ljubljana, R Slovenia, Tel: +386 41629826, dunja.klemenc@siol.net World Sales: Claude Nouchy, Leonor Films, Avenue Niel, 93, F 75017 Paris, Tel: +0033 1/47 630033 Benjamin Filipovic: Born in Sarajevo in 1962. He studied film directing at FAMU in Prague. His graduation short film Plus, Minus – One, received several awards. His first feature was Praznik u Sarajevu (Holiday in Sarajevo, 1991). He is the president of Association of Filmmakers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, member of the European Film Academy (EFA) and Society of Film & TV directors in Germany. Filipovic teaches at the Academy of Performing Arts Sarajevo.
Um Tiro no escuro / A Shot in the Dark
Portugal, Brazil, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 117min Story: An air hostess from TAP Air Portugal takes a two-month-old baby from her mother, Veronica, at the airport of Rio de Janeiro. Two years later Veronica is living in Lisbon, still looking desperately for her daughter, spending all her time at the airport hoping to find the woman who took her baby. After being fired from her work at a strip-tease club, she gets involved with a gang of bank robbers, and soon the police is pursuing her. Amongst robbers and policemen, can she still find her daughter?
Direction: Leonel Vieira
Screenplay: Jorge Almeida Production: Mgn Films (Tino Navarro) Cinematography: Marcelo Durst Music: Elvis Veiguinha, Jose M Adonso Cast: Joaquim de Almeida, Verónica Machado, Filipe Duarte, Miguel Borges Production Company: Mgn Films Tel: 21 3887276, Fax: 21 3887281 mgnfilmes@mgnfilmes.pt World Sales Company: YGN Films
Rua de São Bento 644-4Esq 1250-223 Lisboa (Portugal) Tel: 21-3887276, Fax: 21-3887281 mgnfilmes@mgnfilmes.pt Leonel Vieira: Born in 1969 in Portugal. Studied film in Madrid. Returned to Portugal an directed his debut A Sombra dos abutres. His second feature film Zona J ranks as the fourth biggest box office hit of all time in Portugal. His other films include: A Bomba, A Selva
Garúa
Argentina, 2005, Colour, 35mm, Dolby SR, 91min Story: “Gaúra” is a Spanish word which literally means a very light kind of rain, almost a vapour, that in account of its lightness hardly seems to touch the land. In Argentina, “Gaúra” is the name of a tango dance. After Franco murders a tango singer, the guilt drives him to learn more about his victim. He finds himself in the heart of the tango world, where he encounters the last authentic bohemian artists of Buenos Aires. To redeem himself, he occupies the place of the dead man.
Direction: Gustavo Corrado
Screenplay: Gustavo Corrado Production: El Grito Producciones (Robert Ferro, Gustavo Corrado) Cinematography: Federico Juárez Editor: Mónica Gómez Music: Nacho Cabello Cast: Luciano Caceres, Jean-Pierre Reguerraz, Jorge Sesan, Dalila Real Print Source / Contact: INCAA INCAA, Lima 319 (1073) Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tel/Fax: 005411 6779 0912/22, cinemateca@incaa.gov.ar Production: El Grito Producciones, French 2328 – 6C (1125) Buenos Aires, Tel/Fax: 5411 4825 9467, gustavocorrado@yahoo.com, robertoferro@uol.com.ar Co-Production: Giuliana del Punta, Via Vespucci, 24 (00153) Rome – Italy Tel: 0039 06 575 6418, Fax: 0039 06 572 84364 Gustavo Corrado: Born in Buenos Aires in 1970, Corrado studies cinema at the University of Buenos Aires. His earlier films include his debut Rita, the Passion (1993) and The Wardrobe (1999), both award winning in various festivals.
Angel's Fall
Turkey, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 98min Story: Hotel housekeeper Zeynep is harassed by her father, and only the interest of Mustafa, who works at the same hotel, soothes her desolate nocturnal stay at the hotel. Zeynep is reluctant to encourage the younger Mustafa as she tries to solve her problem on her own. In another part of the city, sound technician Selçuk feels guilty over the recent death of his wife, whose clothes suitcase changes Zeynep's fate in an unexpected manner.
Direction: Semih Kaplanoglu
Screenplay: Semih Kaplanoglu Production: Kaplan Film Yapim (Semih Kaplanoglu, Panayiotis Payazoglou, Yorgos Lykiardopoulos, Lilette Botassi Cinematography: Eyüp Boz Editor: Ayhan Ergüsel, Semih Kaplanoglu, Suzan Hande Güneri Music: Edward Grieg Cast: Tülin Özen, Budak Akalin, Musa Karagöz, Engin Dogan, Yesin Ceren Bozoglu, Özlem Turhal, Can Kolukisa Production & World Sales Company: Kaplan Film Yapim Tesvikiye Ihlamur Yolu 41/7 34365 Topagaci, Istanbul, Turkey Tel: 00 90 212 2912995, Fax: 00 90 212 2912995 Semih Kaplanoglu: Born in Izmir in 1963. Studied at the Cinema-Television section at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dokuz Eylül University Izmir. His debut feature film Herkes Kendi Evinde (Away from Home, 2001) was screened at a number of film festivals and received several awards.
Sin City
USA, 2005, Colour-B/W, 35mm, 123min Story: Street-fighter Marv falls in love for the first time with the beautiful Goldie, but when he takes her home she is murdered in his bed. Marv roams over the city seeking revenge. Private investigator Dwight is fond of his professional women friends, who are prime suspects when a cop is killed in Old Town. Even though intent on avoiding trouble, nothing can prevent Dwight from protecting his lady friends. Sin City's last honest cop, John Hartigan, has only one hour left in his official career during which he seeks to save an 11-year-old girl from the sadistic son of a Senator. Based on the animated series by comic book writer-artist Frank Miller, Sin City has echoes from the hardboiled literature of Mickey Spillane, Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, as well as Goseki Kojima and Kazuo Koike's manga series Lone Wolf & Cub.
Direction: Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller, Quentin Tarantino
Screenplay: Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller Production: Miramax Films UK (Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller, Elizabeth Avellan) Cinematography: Robert Rodriguez Editor: Robert Rodriguez Music: Robert Rodriguez, John Debney, Graeme Revell Cast: Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Benicio Del Toro, Jessica Alba, Nick Stahl, Rosario Dawson, Elijah Wood, Jaime King, Brittany Murphy, Devon Aoki Print Source / Contact: Pan Europeenne Edition, Miramax International Miramax International
Elsley House 24 30 Great Titchfield St London W1W 8BF Royaume-Uni Tel: 44 207 535 8300 Robert Rodriguez: Born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1966. Studied film at the University of Texas at Austin. His filmography includes: El Mariachi (1992); Desperado (1995); Four Rooms (“The Misbehavers” episode, 1995); From Dusk Till Dawn (1996); The Faculty (1998); Spy Kids (2001); Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002); Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003); Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003).
Frank Miller: Born in Olney, Maryland, in 1957. One of the top comic book authors, he worked on the books Daredevil and Batman, and on Wolverine, which was spawned from X-Men. He co-authored the character RoboCop. He authors and owns the comic book series Sin City.
Before Sunset
USA, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 80min Story: French student Celine met American holiday maker Jesse during a train journey in Europe nine years ago, and they spent a single day together in Vienna. Now, in Paris for the promotion of his latest book, Jesse is reunited with Celine during the autograph session. Both realise the change they had undergone: he is married and she is disillusioned. During a walk around Paris they reminisce about their day together and comment about their current lives. This sequel of sorts to the acclaimed Linklater's Before Sunrise (1995) was selected for the official competition at the 2004 Berlin Film Festival. Direction: Richard Linklater
Screenplay: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke Production: Anne Walker-McBay Cinematography: Lee Daniel Editor: Sandra Adair Cast: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Vernon Dobtcheff, Mariane Plasteig Print Source / Contact: Warner Bros Richard Linklater: Born in Huston, Texas, in 1960. Renowned for writing and directing his own films, that usually portray American youths, Linklater began his directing career directing the short film It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books (1988), filmed in super-8. His filmography includes Dazed and Confused (1993), Before Sunrise (1995), which won the Silver Bear for best director at the 1995 Berlin Film Festival, Waking Life (2001) and, more recently, School of Rock (2003).
Melinda and Melinda
USA, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 99min Story: In Manhattan, a man dining with two famous writers relates a story and asks them whether they think it is a comedy or a tragedy. Told in split narratives, Melinda and Melinda follows that man's anecdote, which involves a woman and the various couplings and romantic entanglements among her friends. The film combines romantic comedy and drama in a contrasting way unique to Woody Allen, where the fragility of love, marital infidelity, sophisticated romance, the inability to communicate are among the theme explored. Direction: Woody Allen
Screenplay: Woody Allen Production: The Fox Searchlight Pictures (Letty Aronson) Cinematography: Wolmos Zsigmond Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Will Ferrell, Jonny Lee Miller, Radha Mitchell Production Company: The Fox Searchlight Pictures, Box 900, , Beverly Hills, CA 90213 Tel: 0013103691944 World Sales Company: Twentieth Century Fox, Box 900, Beverly Hills, CA 90213 Tel: 0013103691944 Zozo
Sweden, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 103min Story: Zozo grows up in Beirut. Despite the civil war he leads a normal life with family, friends and school. But one day tragedy strikes and Zozo is torn away from his family is forced to make his own way through life. His only hope is to get himself to Sweden, for him an unknown country.
Direction: Josef Fares
Screenplay: Josef Fares Production: Memfis Film (Anna Anthony) Cinematography: Aril Wretblad Editor: Michal Leszczylowski, Kristin Grundström Music: Adam Nordén Cast: Imad Creidi, Carmen Lebbos, Charbel Iskandar, Jad Stephan, Antoinette Turk Production Company: Memfis Film, 35 Upplandsgatan, 11328, Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46 8 335576; Fax: +46 8 309934 memfis@memfis.se Festivals: Swedish Film Institute Gunnar Almér/ Staffan Grönberg, Box 27126, S-102 52 Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46 8 6651100; Fax: +46 8 6663698 gunnar.almer@sfi.se Sales Agent: Trust Film Sales, Filmbyen 12, DK 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark Tel: +45 3686 8788; Fax: +45 3677 4448 trust@trust-film.dk Josef Fares: Born in 1977 in Lebanon. Ten years later he moved with his family to the town of Örebro in Sweden. Josef started making films we he was 15 and sent them around to amateur film festivals. About 50 shorts and many awards later Josef entered film school in 1998. His feature films Jalla! Jalla! (2000) and Kops (2003), both box-office hits in Sweden distributed in over 20 countries. Girl with a Pearl Earring
UK, 2002, Colour, 35mm, Story: Set in 17th century Holland Girl with a Pearl Earring tells the imagined and highly suspenseful story behind one of Vermeer's greatest and most enigmatic paintings. Griet, a tilemaker's daughter, is forced by tragedy to become a maid for the master painter. Fascinated by his craft, she soon shows an aptitude for helping in his studio, where she finds herself drawn to the man and his world of colour and light. As she becomes part of his work, their growing intimacy spreads disruption and jealousy within his ordered household and beyond, fuelling a scandal which threatens to ruin them all.
Direction: Peter Webber
Screenplay: Olivia Hetreed Production: Andy Paterson Cinematography: Eduardo Serra Cast: Colin Firth, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Wilkinson Production Company: Archer Street Ltd, Studio 5, 10-11 Archer Street, London W1D 7AZ, England Tel: +44 (0) 20 7439 0540; Fax: +44 (0) 20 7437 1182 Sales Agent: Pathé International, Kent House, 14-17 Market Place, London W1W 8AR, England Tel: +44 (0) 20 7462 4427; Fax: +44 (0) 20 7436 7891 Ladies in Lavender
UK, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 120min Story: Two elderly sisters – Janet, who has lost her husband in World War I, and the spinster Ursula – lead an ordinary life in a small coastal English town. Their routine existence is suddenly enlivened with their discovery of an unconscious young man lying on the beach. This charming man, called Andrea, is a native Pole who does not know any English. They bring the wounded youth inside, and it turns out that he is a skilful violin player, which attracts both the attention and the curiosity of the town. However, Andrea's charisma and the vibrant tunes from his violin rekindle suppressed jealousies, old sibling rivalries, and unfulfilled dreams of love. Why shouldn't a woman in her 60s fall in love for the first time in her life?
Direction: Charles Dance
Screenplay: Charles Dance Production: Scala Productions (Nicolas Brown, Elizabeth Karlsen, Nick Powell) Cinematography: Peter Biziou Editor: Michael Parker Music: Nigel Hess Cast: Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Daniel Brühl, Natascha McElhone, Toby Jones World Sales: Lakeshore Entertainment, 5555 Melrose Ave., Gloria Swanson Bldg, 4th Floor, Hollywood CA 90038, USA Tel: 1 323 956 4222; Fax: 1 323 862 1456 West Beirut
Lebanon, 1998, Colour, 35mm, 105min Story: Civil war divided Beirut into two halves. Adolescents sneak from one side to the other in search of adventure.
Direction: Ziad Doueiri
Screenplay: Ziad Doueiri Production: 3B Productions (Jean Brehat, Rachid Bouchareb) Cinematography: Ricardo Gale Editor: Dominique Marcombe Music: Stewart Copeland Cast: Rami Doueiri, Mohammed Chamas, Carmen Lebbos, Joseph Bou Nassar, Liliane Nemri Production Company: 3B Productions, 83 rue Bobillot, Paris, 75013 Tel: 33 1 43 13 10 60; Fax: 33 1 43 13 10 66 World Sales: Flash Pyramide, Paris France Tel: 33 1 42 96 02 20; Fax: 33 1 40 20 05 51 Promise Her Anything
Canada, 1999, Colour, 35mm, 111min Story: The small town of Putterton has managed to avoid all the troubles of modern life. But when the new taxman arrives in the form of Caroline Deville, the idyllic life style of the town is chattered. Despite the efforts of George Putter to distract her, and the gentle intervention of the town's eldest resident ghost, Putterton's startling secret is revealed.
Direction: Alain Zaloum
Screenplay: Brenda Newman, Alain Zaloum Production: Jean Zaloum, Alain Zaloum Cinematography: Serge Ladouceur Editor: Yves Chaplit Music: Leon Aronson Cast: Billy Zane, Valerie Valois, Patrick Bergin, Barry Morse Print Source / Contact: Slingshot Productions Inc 4599 Montclair Ave., Montreal, Quebec, H4B2J8, Canada Tel: 514 397 9988; Fax: 514 954 1237 Stiilipidu /Shop of Dreams
Estonia, Finland, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 110min Story: After spending a holiday in Portugal, 25-year-old costume designer Alice returns home in the Estonian capital Tallinn to find that the TV studio she worked is bankrupt. She and her two friends, the seamstress Ada and the makeup artist Yana, are out of work. With few prospects, Allice talks them into starting a new company, a place that can provide people with everything in the way of costumes and makeup. She persuades the manager of the bankrupt studio to sell her all the clothes left in its wardrobe department. She recruits friends to chip in with the labour and material, and transforms the old town into a bustling workshop. She discovers there some lessons in business and friendship to be learned before any of her shopful of dreams can come true.
Direction: Peeter Urbla
Screenplay: Peeter Urbla, Mo Blackwood Production: ExitFilm AS, Silva Mysterium OY (Anneli Ahven) Cinematography: Mait M Editor: Ani Rulkov Music: Tiit Kikas Cast: Maarja Jakobson, Anne Reemann, Karol Kuntsel, Meelis Rämmeld Production and World Sales Company: ExitFilm AS, 10313 Tallinn, Estonia Tel: +372 6611005; Fax: +372 6604121 Äideistä parhain / Mother of Mine
Finland, 2005, Colour, Super 35mm, 100min Story: When nine-year-old Eero's father is killed in the war, his mother sends him to refuge in Sweden, a neutral country whose welfare is untouched by the war. Life in a foreign country, however, doesn't get off to a good start. Eero doesn't seem to match the expectations of the Swedish family and the austere mother Singe has him working as a farmhand. Everyone around Eero speaks Swedish and he ends up living in a disconnected world of his own. One day Eero gets hold of one of the letters from his mother, which had been always addressed to Signe, where she writes that Eero should perhaps stay in Sweden for good. Shocked and feeling abandoned by his real mother, Eero becomes more and more attached to Signe. Gradually, he is integrated into the family, Signe becoming his mother. War ends and the children return to Finland. Once again Eero has to start all over again. The scars of war have to be buried in the past. On the death bed of his aged mother, Eero looks his past in the eye. After decades of silence, Eero is finally ready to talk about the war, his mother's choices and his own pain. Direction: Klaus Härö
Screenplay: Veikko Aaltonen, Jimmy Karlsson, Kirsi Wikman Production: MRP Matila Röhr Productions Oy (Ilkka Matila) Cinematography: Jarkko T Laine Editor: Darek Hodor Music: Tuomas Kantelinen Cast: Topi Majaniemi, Esko Salminen, Marjaana Maijala, Aino-Maija Tikkanen, Michael Nyqvist World Sales Company: Nordisk Film World Sales Klaus: Born in 1971, directed documentary and short films, including Kolme toivetta, (Three Wishes, 2001). His debut feature film Näkymätön Elina (Elina, 2002) garnered over 30 Finnish and international awards.
Adan
Japan, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 139min Story: The film tells the story of the heretical Japanese painter Isson Tanaka, who died in solitude and beggary despite being recognized as a genius. Direction: Sho Igarshi
Screenplay: Zenzo Matsuyama Production: Hivision Picture Co., Ltd. (Kiyoshi Mizuno) Cinematography: Makoto Kuita Editor: Ryuji Miyajima Cast: Takaaki Enoki, Yuko Kotegawa, Fumino Kimura, Takehiro Murata, Ryota Yoshimitsu Production Company: Hivision Picture Co., Ltd. (Kiyoshi Mizuno) 302 no.2 Fukutomi Bldg. 2-2-6 Shinjuku-Ku, 160-0022 Tokyo, Japan Tel: 81 353601747; Fax: 81 353601746 The Time to Pick Up the Stones
Russia, 2005, Colour, 35mm Story: In this road movie, in Russia in May 1945, a group of Russian and German officers travel trying to avoid land mines as well as unleashing their emotions. Direction: Karelin Alexei
Screenplay: Valery Freed, Uliy Dunsky Production: Genre Filmstudio Ltd. (Alexandr Litvinov, Vladimir Menshov) Cinematography: Alexander Nosovsky Editor: Olga Kolesnikova Music: Igor Scherbakov Cast: Vladimir Vdovichenkov, David C Bunners, Olga Krasko, Evdokia Germanova Production Company: Genre Filmstudio Ltd. Mosfilmovskaya ul. 1, 119992, Moscow, Russia Tel: 095 147 7042; Fax: 095 938 2084 genre@mosfilm.ru Yom Jadeed fi Sana'a Qadeem / A New Day in Old Sanaa
Yemen, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 86min Story: A groom has realized the woman he fell in love with was not the wealthy bride-to-be, but rather a low class orphan gypsy. He must now make the choice between marriage and tradition or love and the unknown. Direction: Bader Ben Hirsi
Screenplay: Bader Ben Hirsi Production: Felix Films Entertainment Ltd (Ahmed Abdali) Cinematography: Muriel Aboulrouss Editor: Andy Lloyd Music: Ahmed Abdali Cast: Nabil Saber, Dania Hammoud, Paolo Romano, Sahar Alesbahi, Najla Atef Production Company: Felix Films Entertainment Ltd, 87 Engadine Street, London, SW18 5DU, UK Tel: +44 207 870 7485 Daivanamathil / In the Name of God
India, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 105min Story: Anwar is both an educated and progressive young man, but the demolition of the Barbari Masjid or mosque in 1992 transforms him into a “jihadi”. His secularist broad-minded young wife is wholly dedicated to re-examining the struggle for India's independence with emphasis on the role played by Muslim leaders in establishing a secular nation. She patiently bears witness to the rise of extremism and endeavours through the fulfilment of her enlightening role to counter it. This film looks at terrorism from a personal and emotional angle. Direction: Jayaraj
Screenplay: Aryadan Shoukath Production: Clear Image, India (Aryadan Shoukath) Cinematography: Sunny Joseph Editor: Vinod Sukumar, Beena Paul Music: Kaithapram Viswanathan Cast: Bhavana, Prithviraj, Cochin Haneefa, Mammootty Shamiyana Print Source / Contact: Clear Image, India (Aryadan Shoukath) aryadannilambur@yahoo.com Kinsotel Building, Nilambur, India
Tel: +910 4931 223824 Jayaraj: Born in Kottayam, Kerala. Graduated in engineering at Trivandrum.
Worked with filmmaker Bharathan. His debut was Johnny Walker. His other films include: Journey to Wisdom (1996), The Play of God (1997), Pathos (1999), Tranquil (2001), 4 the People (2004), Rain Rain Come Again (2004), Makalkku (2005). Rakushka/Shell
Greece, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 107min Story: Rakushka (Shell) is a loose adaptation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Krotkaya (The Gentle Maiden or The Meek One), 1876, set in modern Athens. Vassilis, a lonely middle-aged man, a pawnbroker with a dark past, is fascinated by 18-year-old Zogia, a cellist and immigrant from Tashkent who comes to his shop to pawn objects of very little value. He pursues her and finally she accepts marriage. Very soon their relationship develops into an undeclared war that is exacerbated by social, age and cultural differences. From the beginning her protector husband becomes her jailed. His possessiveness lead to her isolation, and gradually she rebels, resorts to silence then determinedly decides. Direction: Fotini Siskopoulou
Screenplay: Fotini Siskopoulou Production: Greek Film Centre (Vlassis Stathoulias, Fotini Siskopoulou) Cinematography: Tassos Zafiropoulos Editor: Panos Voutsaras Music: Giorgos Christianakis Cast: Costas Kalokairinos, Milana Youssoupova, Irina Boiko, Vangelis Mourikis Print Source / Contact: Greek Film Centre 10 Panepistimiou Avenue, 106 71 Athens, Greece Tel: ++ 30 210 36 48 007, ++ 30 210 36 78 500 Fax: ++ 30 210 36 14 336 info@gfc.gr Fotini Siskopoulou: Born in Thessaloniki 1954. Studied English literature at the University of Athens; directing, screenwriting and method acting at L Stavrakos Film School, London International Film School, BFI and the Lee Strasberg Studio. Worked as assistant director for cinema and television. Wrote and directed Life on Sale (1995).
Al-Bayt Al-Zahr / The Pink House
Lebanon, France, Canada, 1999, Colour, 35mm, 92min Story: During reconstruction after the civil war in Lebanon, two families return, to witness a conflict dividing the neighbour, centring around an old pink house and a real estate project. Everyone is forced to confront his memories of the war to rebuild his life from the ruins. Direction: Joana Hadjithomas, Khalil Joreige
Screenplay: Joana Hadjithomas, Khalil Joreige Production: Mille et Une Productions (Eduard Mauriat, Anne-Cecile Berthomeau) Cinematography: Pierre David Editor: Tina Baz Legal Music: Robert Marcel Lepage Cast: Joseph Bou Nasar, Mireille Safa, Georges Kemdi, Issou Bou Nassar, Fadi Abi Samra Print Source / Contact: Fondation Liban Cinema, Berytech pole technologique, Mkalles, Lebanon Tel: + 961 3322638, + 961 4533040; Fax: + 961 4533070 aboulos@fondationlibancinema.org Abboul Productions (Khalil Joreige) Ashrafieh, Beirut
Tel: + 961 3788772, + 336 84754810; Fax: +9611200761 khalil@abbuolproductions.com Al-Ganna Al-Aan/ Paradise Now Maarek Hob / In the Battlefields Story: Beirut 1983. Lina, a twelve-year-old girl, doesn't care about the war. Her secret rebellious childhood centres around the 18-year-old Siham, her aunt's maid. The little girl takes it upon herself to monitor Siham. She supervises her clandestine dates and defends her interests. However, Lina seems to be invisible to the maid as she is to her family, in particular her father, a destructive, philandering gambler. In a precious wartime daily existence, where passion and frustrations overshadow everything, Lina inadvertently reaches into the adult world, unaware of the existence of good or evil. Direction: Danielle Arbid Hat mua roi bao lau / Bride of Silence Story: In a village in Vietnam 200 years ago, a young woman is put on trial for having become pregnant out of wedlock. When she refuses to talk or divulge the name of the man who made her pregnant, the village elders order that her head be shaved and her baby set adrift on the river. Just as the baby is about to be sent to its fate, a fierce thunderstorm erupts and many people are killed. In the chaos, three itinerant carpenters save the child, but the mother is jailed out of fear. Years later the boy wanders through the countryside seeking traces of his mother's existence.
Direction: Doan Minh Phuong, Doan Thanh Nghia
Screenplay: Doan Minh Phuong Production: Doan Minh Phuong, Thuy Trieu Phim, Moonfish Films Cinematography: Mak Hoi Man Editor: Doan Minh Phuong, Matt Villa Cast: Truong Ngoc Anh, Nguyen Manh Thang, Truong Huu Quy, Tran Minh Thanh Production Company: Doan Minh Phuong, Thuy Trieu Phim 10 Phan Dinh Phung – Cu Xa Kien Thiet, Q9, Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam Tel: +84 903 808 66 Doan246@yahoo.com Moonfish Films, MC vu, Eginhardstr. 33, 10318 Berlin, Germany Tel: +49 179 556 2555; Fax: +49 1212 5859 62014 moonfishfilms@yahoo.com Viva Laldjerie / Viva Algeria
Algeria, France, Belgium, 2004, Colour, 35mm, 113min Story: Winter 2003 in the heart of Algiers, the film depicts three women exiled in their own country. The three women – a mother, her daughter and a prostitute – have been living in a hotel in the centre of town amid creeping fundamentalism. The daughter has chosen a modern, emancipated life for herself by working for a photographer and spending steamy weekends in nightclubs. Her faithful friend prostitutes herself under the thumb of a local protector. The mother eats pizzas in from of the television, torn between fear and nostalgia.
Direction: Nadir Mokn che
Screenplay: Nadir Mokn che Production: Gimages, Sunday Morning Productions, Arte France Cinéma, Need Productions, BL Productions Cinematography: Jean-Claude Larrieu
Editor: Ludo Troch Music: Pierre Bastaroli Cast: Lubna Azabal, Jalil Naciri, Lounes Tazairt, Biyouna, Nadia Kaci Nadir Mokn che: Born in Paris to Algerian parents. He grew up in Algiers. He studied theatre in France and later went to the New School for Social Research in New York where he made two shorts Jardin and the award-winning Hanifa. He also studied art history in Italy.
His previous films include Hareem Madam Osman (The Harem of Madame Osmane, 2000) El-Khoubz El-Hafi / Le Pain nu
Italy, France, Morocco, 2005, Colour, 35mm, 100min Story: Late Moroccan novelist Mohamed Choukri first learnt how to write at twenty-one in a Tangiers prison. His semi-autobiographical novel For Bread Alone, set in French-colonised Morocco, depicts little Mohamed who passes his days searching for crumbs of bread to feed his hunger. His adventures with starvation and deprivation lead him all sorts of ways, from the company of prostitutes into becoming a prostitute himself. His rebellion against his oppressive omnipotent father was also one against all kinds of oppression which his father symbolized for him – among which is the power of money and colonialism.
Direction: Rachid Benhadj
Screenplay: Rachid Benhadj Production: Gabriele Andreoli, A E Media Corporation Srl. Cinematography: Pierluigi Santi Editor: Eugenio Alabiso Music: Safy Boutella Cast: Saïd Taghmaoui, Faycal Zeghadi, Bilel Lahsini, Sana Alaoui Print Source / Contact: Gabriele Andreoli, A E Media Corporation Srl. Viale Carso, 63, 00195 Rome, Italy Tel: 0645 428 060, Fax: 0645 428 066 info@aemedia.co.it Rachid Benhadj: Born in 1949 in Algiers. Graduated with a diploma in directing from the Paris Film School in 1976. His previous films include: Les Agresseurs (The Agressors, 1979), La Rose des sables (The Rose of the Sand, 1989), Cantique des femmes d'Alger (Canticle of Algerian Women, 1993), L'Arbre des destins suspendus (The Tree of Suspended Destinies, 1997), Mirka (1999).
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