02.12.2009
Europe's best young actors selected as SHOOTING STARS 2010
for presentation at the forthcoming Berlin International Film Festival from 13 to 15 February 2010
Jury announce their decision
 SHOOTING STARS Awards donated by Studio Babelsberg |
The following actors have been selected:
Zrinka Cvitešić (CROATIA), Kryštof Hádek (CZECH REPUBLIC), Pihla Viitala (FINLAND), Lotte Verbeek (THE NETHERLANDS), Robert Sheehan (IRELAND), Michele Riondino (ITALY), Anders Baasmo Christiansen (NORWAY), Agata Buzek (POLAND), Dragoş Bucur (ROMANIA), Edward Hogg (UNITED KINGDOM)
>> please find more information on the actors below or on www.shooting-stars.eu
This year's jury consists of: Karl Baumgartner (Germany – Producer), Leo Davis (UK – Casting Director), Steven Gaydos (USA – Publishing Editor), Ana Geislerová (Czech Republic – Actress) and Giuseppe Piccioni (Italy – Director). Each of the nominated actors has been chosen for their outstanding work in feature films.
Jury's comment:
“As we worked individually and then met as a group, it was clear to all of us on the jury that this was an unusually rich year for European acting talent. Choosing ten actors was both difficult and exciting. When we had completed our task we discovered that this was a strong year especially for talent from Central and Eastern Europe. We also learned that the telling of challenging stories and new, dynamic filmmaking styles were assisted immeasurably by the contributions of these brave performers.”
SHOOTING STARS 2010:
 ©Šime Eškinja |
Nominated by: Croatian Audiovisual Centre
Jury’s comment: “In On The Path, she portrays a woman fiercely fighting against the odds to retain her dignity and pride. In her performance, she leads us through hope to desperation and from sadness to joy in a way which is never obvious nor predictable.”
Croatian actress, Zrinka Cvitešić, was born in Karlovac in 1979. She graduated from the Academy of Dramatic Art (ADU) in 2002 and joined the Croatian National Theatre (HNK). Her television screen debut was in The Big Cleaning (Veliko spremanje, 2000), followed by her first leading role in the film, Horseman (Konjanik, Branko Ivanda, 2004), which garnered many accolades as did her role as Tatjana in What Is A Man Without A Moustache? (Što je muškarac bez brkova?, Hrvoje Hribar, 2005). Her most recent role was as Luna in On The Path (Na Putu - working title, Jasmila Žbanić, 2009).
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Nominated by: Czech Film Center
Jury’s comment: “Even as a teenager, Hadek possessed a sense of gravitas unusual for his youth. His choices in film roles have exhibited a similarly mature approach to establishing a serious film career, as he has deftly embraced challenging film roles that have become opportunities to showcase the range of his craft.”
Born in 1982, Czech actor Kryštof Hádek was raised in a film and theatre family. While studying at the Prague National Conservatory, he was cast in Dark Blue World (Tmavomodrý svět, Jan Svěrák, 2001) which led to a postgraduate course at the London Academy (LAMDA). In 2003, he returned to the stage, with roles in plays at a number of Prague theatres. Since then, he has appeared in many European and American films including the Czech production, Bobule (Tomáš Bařina, 2008) the Spanish production, Cosmos (Diego Fandos, 2007) and the Swedish production, Flickan (Fredrik Edfeldt, 2009). Most recently, Kryštof can be seen in the US film A Son's War (Steven Edell, 2008) and Three Seasons In Hell (3 sezóny v pekle, Tomáš Mašín, 2009).
 © Marko Rantanen |
Nominated by: Finnish Film Foundation
Jury’s comment: “Her presence on the screen is a wonderful mixture of classic beauty and unconventional emotional power. With subtle grace, she exhibits a strong dramatic presence of both elegance and unpredictability.”
Born in Helsinki in 1982, multi-talented and multi-lingual actress Pihla Viitala began her film career with Ganes (JP Siili, 2007). She has subsequently appeared in several films including Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre (R.W.W.M., Julius Kemp, 2009), Hellsinki (Rööperi, Aleksi Mäkelä, 2009), Tears of April (Käsky, Aku Louhimies, 2007) and the soon to be released Aki Kaurismaki production, Bad Family (Paha perhe, Aleksi Salmenperä, 2010). Pihla recently wrote and directed her first short film.
 © Hendrik Velmans |
Nominated by: Holland Film
Jury’s comment: “This is an actress with a strong presence of mystery. She's capable of communicating some hidden truth, as she effortlessly takes command of what could be simply unlikeable characters and shows you their common humanity and inner strengths.”
Lotte Verbeek, born 1982, was trained at the Theatre Academy in her home town of Amsterdam, graduating in 2008. While at the Academy, she played the lead in the television drama series, Moes. Her first leading role in a film was in Left (Links, Froukje Tan, 2007), followed by Nothing Personal (Urszula Antoniak, 2009) for which she received the Best Actress Award at Locarno International Film Festival in 2009.
 © Erik Asla |
Nominated by: Irish Film Board
Jury’s comment: “Robert Sheehan is a classic young Celtic charmer whose personal appeal is driven by his youthful energy and self-confidence. In a single scene he can convince you of his boyish innocence, then convincingly demonstrate that he's left his childhood a long time ago.”
Born in Portlaoise in 1988, Robert Sheehan made his screen debut in Song for A Raggy Boy (Aisling Walsh, 2003). Since then he has carved out a formidable career on television including all three films in the Red Riding trilogy. His film roles include Cherrybomb (Lisa Barros D’Sa/Glenn Leyburn, 2009) which was selected for the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival and most recently, Season Of The Witch (Dominic Sena, 2010).
 © Fabio Lovino |
Nominated by: Cinecittŕ Luce-Filmitalia
Jury’s comment: “There's a great sense of discipline in this performance as he consistently and successfully fights against the cliche around each corner. His playfulness turns to darkness in a split second, making his command of the role absolutely riveting.”
Born in Taranto in Southern Italy 1979, Michele Riondino graduated from drama school in 2000 and has worked successfully - winning many accolades - in both theatre and television. His film career started with The Past is a Foreign Land (Il Passato e una Terra Straniera, Daniele Vicari, 2008), which won him the L.A.R.A. Award at the 2008 Rome International Film Festival and a Best Actor Award at the 2009 Miami International Film Festival. This success was followed by Fortapasc (Marco Risi, 2009), Ten Winters (Dieci Inverni, Valerio Mieli, 2009), Henry (Alessandro Piva, 2010), and Noi Creevamo (Mario Martone, 2010). Most recently, Michele can be seen on the big screen in Marpiccolo (Alessandro Di Robilant) which was selected for the 2009 Rome International Film Festival.
 © Ola Rře |
Nominated by: Norwegian Film Institute
Jury’s comment: “This gifted young Norwegian actor has physical presence that is at once powerful and capable of great delicacy. It's truly exciting to see him move from a dashing action hero in one film to a sensitive interpretation of the famed author Henrik Ibsen in another.”
Born in Hamar in 1976, Anders Baasmo Christiansen graduated from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts in 2000 and quickly established himself as one of Norway’s most promising actors. He is the only Norwegian actor who has received all three best-actor-awards for his feature film debut in the box office hit Buddy (Morten Tyldum, 2003) for his TV appearance in A Man Immortal - Young Henrik Ibsen and for his performance on stage in Hamlet. He played the main part in the acclaimed feature film North (Nord, Rune Denstad Langlo, 2009) which was screened at festivals around the world. Anders Baasmo Christiansen can also be seen in and can also be seen in Vegas (Gunnar Vikene, 2009) and Hans Petter Moland’s En ganske snill mann, which will be released in 2010.
Poland: Agata Buzek
© Bartlomiej Zaranek
Nominated by: Polish Film Institute
Jury’s comment: ”In Reverse Agata Buzek lights up a stylized and eccentric role that could have proved restricting to a lesser actress. But her charisma is boundless and though you never see the work, she cleverly establishes a connection to this strange woman is perfectly natural and organic.”
Polish actress Agata Buzek, born in Gliwice in 1976, combines ecological and social interests with her performances in film, television and theatre. Since her debut, she has worked in many international productions such as: La Ballata Dei Lavavetri (Peter del Monte, 1998), Libre Circulation (Jean-Marc Moutout, 2002), Valerie (Birgit Moller, 2007) as well as with several renowned directors in films such as The Hidden Treasure (Skarby Ukryte, Krzysztof Zanussi, 2000), The Revenge (Zemsta, Andrzej Wajda, 2002), Nightwatching (Peter Greenaway, 2007), Within the Whirlwind (Marleen Gorris, 2008). Agata received Best Actress Award at the 34th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia for the role she played in Reverse (Rewers, Borys Lankosz, 2009).
Romania: Dragoş Bucur
© Cos Aelenei
Nominated by: Romanian Film Promotion
Jury’s comment: “This is an actor who reminds one of the Pied Piper; he devotes such intensity to his performance that the audience has no choice but to follow. With great precision, he portrays the inner conflicts of his characters and the effect is mesmerizing.”
Dragoş Bucur was born in Romania in 1977 and appeared on stage prior to his graduating from the National University. He now combines his work as an actor with teaching the subject. His first feature film role was in Stuff & Dough (Marfa şi banii, Cristi Puiu, 2001) and among his other films are Boogie (Radu Muntean, 2008), Police, adjective (Politist, adjectiv, Corneliu Porumboiu, 2009) and, most recently, The Way Back (Peter Weir, 2009).
United Kingdom: Edward Hogg
©Arno
Nominated by: British Council
Jury’s comment: “Edward Hogg has progressed in only a few years from an accomplished actor on the English stage, to a first-rate comedic talent in British films and now a dramatic film star of great promise with his magnetic portrayal of a rural American criminal and folk hero in "White Lightning.”
Born in Yorkshire in 1979, British actor Edward Hogg studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 2002. He is an accomplished theatre actor, having performed on numerous international stages including the National Theatre and off-Broadway. In addition to various television credits, his film roles include Alfie (Charles Shyer, 2004); Song of Songs (Josh Appignanesi, 2005); the award winning White Lightnin’ (Dominic Murphy, 2009) for which he won Best Actor awards at the Monterrey and Mumbai Film Festivals in 2009 and received a British Independent Film Award nomination for ‘Most Promising Newcomer’; Bunny & The Bull (Paul King, 2009) and Ollie Kepler’s Expanding Purple World (Viv Fongenie, 2010).
In 2010 the 13th edition of the SHOOTING STARS event will take place from Saturday 13 to Monday 15 February at the Berlinale, where the ten chosen actors will be presented to leading filmmakers and industry personnel as well as attend high profile events at the Festival. The highlight of the event will be when Festival Director Dieter Kosslick introduces the SHOOTING STARS to the Berlinale-Palast audience on Monday 15th February and gives out the SHOOTING STARS AWARDS – sponsored by Studio Babelsberg.
SHOOTING STARS is a unique pan-European initiative which helps to put emerging new acting talent at the forefront for the busy film and entertainment agenda which unfolds each year at the Berlinale.
The ten SHOOTING STARS of 2009 have, between them, worked on 28 films plus television dramas both in their native countries and abroad, for example Alba Rohrwacher (Italy) has six titles to her credit including the Venice and Toronto Festival nominated Io Sono l’amore, Carey Mulligan (UK) has also appeared in a similar number of films and is currently shooting Brighton Rock, Verónica Echegui (Spain) is garnering a lot of attention for her role in the UK film Bunny & The Bull, Orsi Tóth (Hungary) featured in two Venice titles, and Samuli Vauramo (Finland) had his US break in Bunraku.
During the year they have been introduced at international festivals and attended various workshops around the world, acting as the new ambassadors for European cinema and demonstrating their creative and artistic talents to international audiences.
The SHOOTING STARS project is supported by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union and the participating EFP member organisations. Main Sponsor is Studio Babelsberg. Co-Sponsor is TESiRO. In addition, promotion and PR activities are backed by the Centre National de la Cinématographie et de l'image animée (CNCIA). The Hamburg-based office is supported by the German Federal Government's Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) and the Department for Culture, Sports and Media of the City of Hamburg. Financial Partner is Commerzbank.
>> more information on www.shooting-stars.eu
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