European Film Promotion and The Hamptons International Film Festival Partners in Presenting Breakthrough Performers

Touring Shooting Stars Programme bringing young acting talents and their films for the first time to the US (October 16–19, 2008)

For the first time, European Film Promotion (EFP) will be partnering with The Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) in the US to present three participants from the 2008 Shooting Stars programme. Together with three young North American actors from the Rising Stars Showcase, these breakthrough performers will be on hand to help light up the screens with their newest films and adorn the red carpets at the 2008 Hamptons International Film Festival. Academy Award-winning actress, Frances McDormand (Fargo, Burn After Reading), will mentor the actors taking part in this initiative, which is supported by the MEDIA Programme of the EU.

Shooting Stars

Following their introduction at this year’s Berlinale where nine Shooting Stars were presented to the international film industry, press and public, EFP continues to showcase the talent by bringing smaller groups of the actors to other selected film festivals under the umbrella of the Touring Shooting Stars Programme. This year, the Zurich Film Festival (25.09. – 5.10.08) is the kick-off event, followed by The Hamptons International Film Festival.

Entering its 12th year, Shooting Stars showcases young actors who are well known in their native countries and on the way to international recognition. The actors are selected by a jury of industry professionals, and represent the best up-and-coming talent from the 28 member countries of EFP.

“Through the Shooting Stars initiative we have seen many talented young actors emerge and move into very successful careers in film”, says EFP managing director Renate Rose. “Our aim in this new venture is to actively include the actors in the promotion of their films, and, at the same time, to help them make the jump from national to international recognition. EFP is delighted to join The Hamptons with three European young stars.”

Karen Arikian, Executive Director of The Hamptons International Film Festival, adds: “Rising Stars in the US has grown into a dynamic program which provides a platform for extraordinary up-and-coming talent. Seven years ago, the showcase was conceived as a means of celebrating the key role actors play in the making of films. We are very pleased to officially include three Shooting Stars this year to support their way to international stardom.”

Rising Stars

In addition to screening the actors' recent films, HIFF has continued to expand this unique actors' program to include more informal, intimate gatherings in which Rising Star and Shooting Star participants can meet and share creative ideas in a personal setting with the directors, producers, writers, veteran actors, and prominent industry executives who will be at the Festival this year. This year, Casting Director Victoria Burrows will lead a private casting workshop for the actors who will also have the opportunity to take part in a public symposium, as well as an evening reception and the mentor’s brunch (past mentors have included Gena Rowlands, Joan Allen, Ellen Burstyn, Robert Altman, Miranda Richardson and Alec Baldwin).

This program is additionally supported by German Films and OK! Magazine.

Shooting Stars and Rising Stars at the 2008 Hamptons International Film Festival:

Shooting Stars

Hannah Herzsprung – Germany (Werther) made her feature film acting debut in the 2007 Hamptons International Film Festival Audience Award winner Four Minutes (Vier Minuten) directed by Chris Kraus. Herzsprung earned the 2007 Bavarian Film Award for "Best Young Actress" for her role in Four Minutes, as well as the Bunte readership's "New Faces Award".

Anamaria Marinca – Romania (Boogie) first came to public attention in 2005 when she won the “Best Actress” BAFTA for her performance in the British Channel 4 TV mini-series Sex Traffic by David Yates. Anamaria appeared in Cristian Mungiu’s Palme d'Or-winning drama 4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days, which was her feature film acting debut. Her performance earned her a “Best Actress” nomination during the 20th European Film Awards in Berlin and the “Best Actress” prize at the Stockholm International Film Festival.

Maryam Hassouni – The Netherlands (Dunya & Desie) starred in the award-winning original series Dunya & Desie. In 2005, Maryam received an Emmy Award for “Best Actress” in Sacrifices. Other works include Shouf Shouf! and Albert ter Heerdt's Kicks. Maryam reprises her role as Dunya in Dana Nechushtan's theatrical film Dunya & Desie which will have its North American premiere at the 2008 Hamptons International Film Festival and is this year's Oscar submission from Holland.

Rising Stars

Jake Abel – US (Flash of Genius) first appeared in the Disney Channel movie Go Figure. Television credits include Cold Case, CSI: Miami, and most recently, Life. Feature films include Adam Sandler’s Strange Wilderness, The Lovely Bones and Tru Loved. Jake comes to the Hamptons International Film Festival with the 2008 A.P. Sloan Award winner, Flash of Genius, which also features Greg Kinnear and Alan Alda.

Kate Mara – US (Stone of Destiny) first appeared in Sydney Pollack’s romantic drama Random Hearts at the age of 14. Mara has proved herself a first-rate actress with star turns in Shooter, We are Marshall and Brokeback Mountain. Most recently, she can be seen in Transsiberian alongside Sir Ben Kingsley, Open Road with co-stars Justin Timberlake, Jeff Bridges and Mary Steenburgen and in the 2008 Hamptons International Film Festival selection Stone of Destiny, with Charlie Cox.

Taylor Kitsch – US (Gospel Hill), best known for the critically acclaimed NBC series Friday Night Lights and his eagerly anticipated X-Men Origins: Wolverine, has also appeared in Snakes on a Plane, The Covenant and John Tucker Must Die. Kitsch comes to the Hamptons International Film Festival with Gospel Hill also starring Julia Stiles, Samuel L. Jackson and Danny Glover, directed by Giancarlo Esposito.

More information on The Hamptons International Film Festival: www.hamptonsfilmfest.org

Contact EFP:

Karin Dix (project director)
dix @ efp-online.com

Mareen Gerisch (press relations manager)
gerisch @ efp-online.com

Contact Hamptons International Film Festival:

D’Arcy Drollinger (press manager)
darcy @ springerassociatespr.com

EFP is supported by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union and by its member organisations. In addition, promotion and PR activities are backed by the Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC) as well as by private sponsors. The project „Touring Shooting Stars Programme“ moreover is supported by the Hamptons International Film Festival. The Hamburg-based office is financially supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the Department for Culture, Sports and Media of the City of Hamburg.