23 outstanding producers selected for programme in Cannes

Ten years ago saw European Film Promotion (EFP) bring ambitious up-and-coming producers together for the first time from various European countries for the PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE programme in Cannes. The goal was to support them in their networking on a European level and attract the attention of the international film industry and press. The programme, which is funded by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union, the EFP member organisations and sponsors, has since been established as a label and is successfully used by the participants at the film festival in Cannes as a platform to make new contacts.

This year, the EFP members have selected 23 up-and-coming, independent producers who have already made a mark with their outstanding productions in their home countries and at film festivals, but are still at the beginning of their international careers. A representative from Croatia is also taking part for the first time. A total of 196 PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE were selected in the ten years (including 2009).

Further background information on PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE 2009 will be published here at the end of April.

From May 16-19, the 2009 PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE will have the chance in various roundtables to discuss the themes, planning and financing of current projects as well as future works. Moreover, EFP is inviting all of the participants from the previous years to the traditional Producers Lunch. The selected producers will take home many ideas and new contacts from the diverse meetings with colleagues and thanks to the spotlights in the international festival publications in Cannes.

Like, for example, Daniele Mazzocca of the production company Verdeoro, Italian PRODUCER ON THE MOVE in 2008, who says looking back: “The event was extraordinary for networking and stimulating from a creative point of view. Being one of the participants in 2008 has increased my international value as a producer in and after Cannes.” And Laura Hastings-Smith, participant from UK in 2008, adds: “I feel I’ve benefited – or will benefit – by now having a friendly contact in each country in Europe, so when the time is right, I can act with some confidence.”

For many producers, the conversations with colleagues from all over Europe have led to concrete co-productions. For instance, Macdara Kelleher of Fastnet Films, PRODUCER ON THE MOVE 2008 from Ireland, will produce The Runway by Ian Power in July with Bernard Michaux of Lucil Film (Luxembourg) and Nothing Personal by Urszula Antoniak with Reinier Selen of Rinkel Film & TV Productions (The Netherlands).

„We are definitely expecting that this year's group will also profit from the event“, says Renate Rose, EFP Managing Director. „There are again some very interesting producers travelling with us to Cannes who have worked on a broad spectrum of films, from feature films through animation films to documentaries.” They include, for example, the young German Janine Jackowski of Komplizen Film. Her production Everyone Else (Alle Anderen, dir: Maren Ade) won the Grand Jury Prize (Silver Bear) at this year's Berlinale, and the FIPRESCI and “Best Director” at the Buenos Aires International Film Festval. Another participant will be the Croat Ankica Jurić Tilić of Kinorama, whose audience success Kino Lika (dir: Dalibor Matanić) has just won the Golden Olive Award for “Best Film” at the Festival of European Cinema in Lecce/Italy.


The following producers were selected by EFP member organisations:

Austria:
Alexander Glehr, Novotny & Novotny Filmproduktion (selected by Austrian Film Commission)
Kleine Fische by Marco Antoniazzi

Bulgaria:
Ilian Djevelekov, Miramar Film (selected by National Film Centre, Bulgaria)
Zift by Javor Gardev   

Croatia:
Ankica Jurić Tilić, Kinorama (selectec by Croatian Audiovisual Centre)
Kino Lika by Dalibor Matanić

Czech Republic:
Monika Kristl, Dawson Production (selected by Czech Film Centre)
3 Seasons in Hell by Tomás Masín

Denmark:
Christian Potalivo, M&M Productions (selected by Danish Film Institute)
The Lost Treasure of the Knight's Templar: The Mystery of the Snake Crown by Giacomo Campeotto

Estonia:
Katrin Kissa, Homeless Bob Production (selected by Baltic Films)
Autumn Ball by Veiko Ounpuu

Finland:
Matti Halonen, FS Film Oy (selected by Finnish Film Foundation)
8 Days to Permier by Perttu Leppä   

France:
Emmanuel Agneray, Bizibi (selected by Unifrance)
Jaffa by Keren Yedaya

Germany:
Janine Jackowski, Komplizen Film GmbH (selected by German Films)
Everyone Else by Maren Ade

Hungary:
Gábor Sipos, Laokoon Filmgroup (selected by Magyar Filmunió/ Hungary)
Happy New Life by Árpád Bogdán

Iceland:
Gudrún Edda Thorhannesdottir, Spellbound Productions (selected by Icelandic Film Centre)
Country Wedding by Valdís Óskarsdóttir

Ireland:
Andrew Freedman, Venom Film (selected by Irish Film Board)
His & Hers by Ken Wardrop

Italy:
Giorgia Priolo, Film Kairòs (selected by Filmitalia)
Black Sea by Federico Bondi

The Netherlands:
Carmen Cobos, Cobos Films b.v. (selected by Holland Film)
El Olvido by Heddy Honigmann

Norway:
Yngve Sæther, Motlys AS (selected by Norwegian Film Institute)
The Man Who Loved Yngve by Stian Kristiansen

Poland:
Andrzej Jakimowski, Zjednoczii Artystów i Rzemieślników (ZAiR) (selected by Polish Film Institute)
Tricks by Andrzej Jakimowski

Portugal:
Rodrigo Areias, Bando à Parte (selected by ICA I.P./Portugal)
Tebas by Rodrigo Areias

Romania:
Daniel Mitulescu, Strada Film (selected by Romanian Film Promotion)
The Way I Spent the End of the World by Catalin Mitulescu

Slovak Republic:
Peter Kerekes (selected by Slovak Film Institute)
Cooking History by Peter Kerekes

Slovenia:
Eva Rohrman, Forum Ljubljana (selected by Slovenian Film Fund)
Landscape No. 2 by Vinko Moderndörfer

Spain:
Koldo Zuazua, Alicia Produce, S.L. (selected by ICAA/ Spain)
Me Too by Antonio Naharro & Alvaro Pastor

Sweden:
Erik Hemmendorff, Plattform Produktion AB (selected by Swedish Film Institute)
Involuntary by Ruben Östlund  

United Kingdom:
Adrian Sturges, Picture Farm (selected by British Council)
The Escapist by Rupert Wyatt

Contact:
Jo Mühlberger, Project Manager
muehlberger@efp-online.com, +49 40- 390 6252

Mareen Gerisch, Press
gerisch@efp-online.com, +49 40- 390 6252

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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 for PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE 2009 by FilmFernsehFonds Bayern and Alvernia Studios (Poland). 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.