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29.09.2009

Record-breaking number of European films at Pusan

EFP showcases European film artists and their films in South Korea (October 8 – 16, 2009)

Known as one of the brightest lights in the Asian festival scene and a showcase for new Asian and internationally recognized cinema, South Korea's Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) in October is opening a big window on Europe. With a record-breaking 104 European films (complete list here) from a total of 355 in the programme (2008: 85 from 315) and the newly created Flash Forward Award focussed on non-Asian directors, PIFF demonstrates once more its interest in European cinema. Renowned directors Costa Gavras and Jean-Jacques Beineix as well as the acclaimed actress Tilda Swinton are among the festival's celebrities this year.

>> download Directory of European films

Backed by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union, EFP is supporting the European film presence in Pusan for the 12th year running and is bringing a delegation of 26 directors and actors from 15 different countries to this important festival which serves as a gateway to the Asian market for European films. The European guests will personally present their films in the various festival sections.

Given the increasing interest of the South Korean festival audience and film industry in European cinema, the festival and EFP are working in close cooperation to coordinate various presentations, film screenings and press interviews. For the fourth year in a row, EFP will be setting up an umbrella office for European sales agents at the Asian Film Market, this time hosting 23 companies from 15 European countries. The European and Asian film professionals will find networking opportunities at the traditional European Industry Cocktail.

>> download Directory of Companies

EFP will make Film Sales Support available for the first time for the marketing of European films at the Asian Film Market in Pusan. A list of the production and sales companies and the selected films being supported by FSS in Pusan 2009 will be announced on 5 October, 2009.

The newly established Flash Forward Competition offers a further spotlight to first and second- time filmmakers from non-Asian countries. The award is expected to encourage further artistic discovery and promote young talented filmmakers. Through this new award, PIFF aims to expand its role as an internationally recognized cinema platform for films by the new generation.

The following eight European films have been selected for the Flash Forward Award: Last Cowboy Standing (Finland) by Zaida Bergroth, Zero(Poland) by Pawel Borowski, Håkon Liu's Miss Kicki (Sweden), Kino Caravan by Titus Muntean (Romania), Magmaby Pierre Vinour (France), The Dust by Max Jacoby (Luxembourg), The Frost by Ferran Audí (Spain, Norway) and Cosmonautaby Susanna Nicchiarelli, (Italy).

The following 26 directors and actors will be travelling with their films to Pusan with the support of EFP:

Monica Birladeanu, actress Francesca (Romania)

Réné Bitorajac, actor Metastases (Croatia)

Jacek Borcuch, director All that I love (Poland)

Nathalie Borgers, director Winds of Sands, Women of Rock (Belgium, Austria, France)

Álvaro Brechner, director Bad Day to go Fishing (Spain, Uruguay)

Stanisław Brudny, actor The Forest (Poland)

Piotr Dumala, director The Forest (Poland)

Margret Dagmar Ericsdóttir, The Sunshine Boy (Iceland)

Mira Fornay, director Foxes (Ireland, Czech Republic, Slovakia)

Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, director The Sunshine Boy (Iceland)

Mariusz Grzegorzek, director I am Yours (Poland)

Jessica Hausner, director Lourdes (Austria, France, Germany)

Gabe Ibáñez, director Hierro (Spain)

Martin Koolhoven, director Winter in Wartime (The Netherlands, Belgium)

Mateusz Kościukiewicz, actor All that I Love (Poland)

Damjan Kozole, director Slovenian Girl (Slovenia, Germany, Serbia, Croatia)

Yorgos Lanthimos, director Dogtooth (Greece)

Bobby Paunescu, director Francesca (Romania)

Joao Salaviza, director Arena (Portugal)

Anno Saul, director The Door (Germany)

Samuel Spisak, actor Broken Promise (Slovakia, Czech Republic)

Nicolas Steil, director Draft Dodgers (Luxembourg, Switzerland)

Andreas Struck, director Sleeping Songs (Germany)

Jaroslaw Szoda, director The Miracle Seller (Poland)

Jean van de Velde, director The Silent Army (The Netherlands, France)

Robert Więckiewicz, actor Zero (Poland)

Contact

Andreas Struck, EFP Project Manager
struck@efp-online.com
Phone +49 40- 390 6252

Press Contact

Ellie Koo, Press agent/ Pusan
elliekoo@hanmail.net
Mobile: +82 10-8244-4283

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

EFP is supported by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union and by its member organisations. In addition, EFP’s promotion and PR activities are backed by the Centre National de la Cinématographie et de l'image animée (CNC) as well as private sponsors. The programme in Pusan is supported, moreover, by Filmstiftung NRW. The Hamburg-based office is financially supported by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the Cultural Department of the City of Hamburg.