EFP spotlights outstanding European documentaries with the launch of a new showcase in New York City

LAST MEN IN ALEPPO by Feras Fayyad

For the first time, EFP (European Film Promotion) spotlights outstanding European documentaries with True Stories: New Non-Fiction from Europe in New York City. For the launch of the programme, running from May 3 – 7, 2017 EFP has teamed up with the New York based cinema Metrograph, home to a prolific and finely curated world of cinema. The majority of EFP's 38 member organisations enthusiastically suggested films that push the visual and narrative boundaries of traditional non-fiction filmmaking. The final selection – curated by Metrograph – presents nine productions including four US premieres and three NY premieres.

To provide access to a broader audience, EFP is also cooperating with VoD platform Kanopy on the non-theatrical distribution of the films. This new EFP initiative is financially supported by Creative Europe – Media Programme of the European Union and the participating EFP member organisations.
The Opening Night film on May 3 is the NY premiere of Last Men in Aleppo (Denmark/Syria), winner of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. U.S. premieres include Come Back Free (Estonia), Funeral (On the Art of Dying) (Belgium/France/Canada), Spira Mirabillis (Italy/Switzerland), and Tinselwood (France), while Mister Universo (Austria/Italy) and Stranger in Paradise (Netherlands) will receive NY premieres. Completing the list is Ama San (Portugal/Japan).
With a special invitation from Metrograph, the Closing Night will be dedicated to the award-winning work of late filmmaker Michael Glawogger with a screening of Untitled (Austria/Germany).

"We are thrilled to collaborate with Metrograph in presenting EFP's first showcase of European documentary films in New York" said Martin Schweighofer, EFP President. "Metrograph's Jacob Perlin and Aliza Ma have curated an uncompromising lineup of films. The selection challenges the boundaries of traditional documentary filmmaking with visually arresting images and thought-provoking content, representing the latest trends in European non-fiction filmmaking".

Jacob Perlin, Artistic Director and Director of Programming at Metrograph, said "We've wanted to partner with EFP before the construction of Metrograph was even finished. For True Stories: New Non-Fiction from Europe, with EFP, we're bringing some of the strongest and most vital non-fiction films to New York, in a time where our horizons needs to be broadened, and our bonds to film strengthened."

The following EFP members are supporting True Stories: New Non-Fiction from Europe: Austrian Films, Danish Film Institute, Estonian Film Institute, Eye International, ICA – Instituto do Cinema e do Audiovisual, I.P. (Portugal), Istituto Luce Cinecittà (Italy), UniFrance, Wallonie Bruxelles Images.

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