Riverdale In the Fog Trailer — The CW‘s Riverdale: Season 6, Episode 12: In the Fog TV show trailer has been released. Cast and crew Riverdale stars K.J. Apa, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse, Marisol Nichols, Madelaine Petsch, Mark Consuelos, Casey Cott, Skeet Ulrich, Charles Melton, Vanessa Morgan, and Madchen Amick. Based on [...]
Continue reading: Riverdale: Season 6, Episode 12: In the Fog TV Show Trailer [The CW]...
Continue reading: Riverdale: Season 6, Episode 12: In the Fog TV Show Trailer [The CW]...
- 4/26/2022
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
The director of Donbass and In the Fog resigned from the European academy and got booted off his country’s awards body. He explains why we must listen to other voices in Russia and Ukraine as the third world war has already started
On 27 February, three days after Russian tanks rolled into his homeland, the Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa resigned from the European Film Academy. Loznitsa, an ebulliently professorial figure who moved with his family to Berlin in 2001, was furious that the Efa had issued a statement of solidarity with Ukraine that he saw as too “neutral, toothless and conformist in relation to Russian aggression”.
Then, on 19 March, Loznitsa announced he had been expelled from the Ukrainian Film Academy (UFA) for being a “cosmopolite”. He immediately understood the resonance of its slur. In an open letter published in Screen Daily, he wrote: “In the era of late Stalinism, this word...
On 27 February, three days after Russian tanks rolled into his homeland, the Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa resigned from the European Film Academy. Loznitsa, an ebulliently professorial figure who moved with his family to Berlin in 2001, was furious that the Efa had issued a statement of solidarity with Ukraine that he saw as too “neutral, toothless and conformist in relation to Russian aggression”.
Then, on 19 March, Loznitsa announced he had been expelled from the Ukrainian Film Academy (UFA) for being a “cosmopolite”. He immediately understood the resonance of its slur. In an open letter published in Screen Daily, he wrote: “In the era of late Stalinism, this word...
- 3/24/2022
- by Graham Fuller
- The Guardian - Film News
Ukraine filmmaker and Cannes winner Sergei Loznitsa made headlines recently for writing an open letter condemning the European Film Academy’s initially lax response to the Ukraine war, and promptly dropped out of the organization. Later, the Academy announced it would exclude Russian films from consideration for its 2022 awards. He was later expelled from the Ukrainian Film Academy, with its leadership citing that “we have tirelessly called on the global film community to boycott Russian cinema. But Sergei Loznitsa publicly opposes this, thus denying the Russians’ collective responsibility for the war their country unleashed in Ukraine.”
Now, even as he stands in support of dissident Russian filmmakers, the director of films including 2012 Palme d’Or nominee “In the Fog” is getting a reconsideration in the West. His pitch-black 2018 satire “Donbass” won the Best Director in the Un Certain Regard category that year in Cannes, but hasn’t seen a U.
Now, even as he stands in support of dissident Russian filmmakers, the director of films including 2012 Palme d’Or nominee “In the Fog” is getting a reconsideration in the West. His pitch-black 2018 satire “Donbass” won the Best Director in the Un Certain Regard category that year in Cannes, but hasn’t seen a U.
- 3/23/2022
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
The veteran documentarian continues to explore the current socio-political situation after the murder of a journalist and looks into gross corruption in the justice system. Seasoned Slovakian documentary maker Zuzana Piussi, who is currently readying her first fiction feature, Unbalanced (see the news), is truly at peak performance at the moment. After releasing three feature-length docs last year, The State Capture (see the news) plus two projects that she co-directed with Vít Janeček (The Siege and University and Freedom), she is finishing yet another documentary, In the Fog (which bears the subtitle Slovakian Roads to Justice). The project, about the current state of the Slovakian criminal justice system, is a continuation of her previous film Disease of the Third Power – for which Piussi faced a two-year jail sentence (see the news) – and The State Capture, in which she mapped out the mercurial media landscape and the struggle undertaken...
Danish director Lars von Trier is returning to the Cannes fold with his serial-killer drama “The House That Jack Built” after seven years of banishment from the festival, while Terry Gilliam’s long-gestating, problem-plagued “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” is set to close the event, organizers announced Thursday. Both films will screen out of competition.
Cannes also added two sophomore outings to the competition lineup – Yann Gonzalez’s “Knife + Heart” and Sergei Dvortsevoy’s “The Little One” – plus Palme d’Or winning filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s “The Wild Pear Tree.” “Whitney,” Kevin Macdonald’s documentary on singer Whitney Houston, has been set as a Midnight Screening, as has HBO’s new adaptation of “Fahrenheit 451,” directed by Ramin Bahrani and starring Michael B. Jordan and Michael Shannon – the latest television project to screen at Cannes.
Artistic director Thierry Fremaux had hinted that von Trier would return to the...
Cannes also added two sophomore outings to the competition lineup – Yann Gonzalez’s “Knife + Heart” and Sergei Dvortsevoy’s “The Little One” – plus Palme d’Or winning filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s “The Wild Pear Tree.” “Whitney,” Kevin Macdonald’s documentary on singer Whitney Houston, has been set as a Midnight Screening, as has HBO’s new adaptation of “Fahrenheit 451,” directed by Ramin Bahrani and starring Michael B. Jordan and Michael Shannon – the latest television project to screen at Cannes.
Artistic director Thierry Fremaux had hinted that von Trier would return to the...
- 4/19/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
In the peak American film noir years from 1940 to 1960, an astonishing number of these movies took place in the scenic west coast city of San Francisco. Fandor’s new video, “Shadows In The Fog: Classic San Francisco Film Noir” points out that as many as 70 of these films were set in the city by the bay, including classics like John Huston’s version of the The Maltese Falcon, which kicked off the genre in 1941. Orson Welles followed in 1947 with The Lady From Shanghai, which featured scenes in the city’s famous aquarium and a suspenseful footrace through Chinatown.
That same year saw Humphrey Bogart’s return to San Fran to hide out after an escape from San Quentin in Dark Passage, highlighted by director Delmer Daves’ native knowledge of the city, as well as Robert Mitchum’s noir classic Out Of The Past. All of ...
That same year saw Humphrey Bogart’s return to San Fran to hide out after an escape from San Quentin in Dark Passage, highlighted by director Delmer Daves’ native knowledge of the city, as well as Robert Mitchum’s noir classic Out Of The Past. All of ...
- 7/5/2017
- by Gwen Ihnat
- avclub.com
Screen’s chief critic and reviews editor Fionnuala Halligan dissects this year’s Competition films.
Welcome to the “huge party” of Cannes 70. If the Official Selection this year is a “lab”, the formula isn’t quite complete - Thierry Fremaux announced 18 films which will compete for the Palme D’Or today, implying that three have yet to arrive (he also hinted that a glaring absence, that of a film from China for the second consecutive year, may yet be rectified; nothing was said however about the absence of a major Hollywood studio thus far).
Read more:
Cannes 2017: Official Selection in full
A total of 1,930 films viewed, the selection process running through to 3am: Cannes 70 will be a “meeting, a vision of the world, and a promise of a better life together”. No small ambition, but the line-up has been warmly greeted by cineastes. Clearly, it isn’t a same-old-names Cannes habitues Competition, although [link=nm...
Welcome to the “huge party” of Cannes 70. If the Official Selection this year is a “lab”, the formula isn’t quite complete - Thierry Fremaux announced 18 films which will compete for the Palme D’Or today, implying that three have yet to arrive (he also hinted that a glaring absence, that of a film from China for the second consecutive year, may yet be rectified; nothing was said however about the absence of a major Hollywood studio thus far).
Read more:
Cannes 2017: Official Selection in full
A total of 1,930 films viewed, the selection process running through to 3am: Cannes 70 will be a “meeting, a vision of the world, and a promise of a better life together”. No small ambition, but the line-up has been warmly greeted by cineastes. Clearly, it isn’t a same-old-names Cannes habitues Competition, although [link=nm...
- 4/13/2017
- by [email protected] (Fionnuala Halligan)
- ScreenDaily
Mubi's retrospective Film Is a Theorem: The Documentaries of Sergei Loznitsa is showing January 16 - March 15, 2017 in the United Kingdom and many other countries around the world.Landscape“Film is a theorem that has to arrive at a final point.”—Sergei Loznitsa It’s something of a critical cliché to say that a film or filmmaker is fixated on the notion of time; but there aren’t many contemporary filmmakers who fulfill that description as well as Belarus-born director Sergei Loznitsa. Although best known for his recent work—a trio of documentaries, Maidan (2014), The Event (2015) and Austerlitz (2016)—and a brief foray into fiction—My Joy (2010) and In the Fog (2012)—Loznitsa first started out with a string of documentary features and shorts, five of which are part of Mubi’s ongoing retrospective: “Film is a Theorem: The Documentaries of Sergei Loznitsa.” With a methodical, almost scientific rigor (indicative of Loznitsa’s...
- 2/26/2017
- MUBI
A Gentle Creature
Director: Sergei Loznitsa
Writer: Sergei Loznitsa
Having completed three documentaries, plus several documentary shorts since his 2012 sophomore narrative feature In the Fog, Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa has at last commenced with a third fiction project, A Gentle Creature, adapted from a short story by Fyodor Dostoevsky, the same story which previously inspired notable films by Robert Bresson (A Gentle Woman, 1969), Aleksandr Borisov (Krotkaya, 1960).
Continue reading...
Director: Sergei Loznitsa
Writer: Sergei Loznitsa
Having completed three documentaries, plus several documentary shorts since his 2012 sophomore narrative feature In the Fog, Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa has at last commenced with a third fiction project, A Gentle Creature, adapted from a short story by Fyodor Dostoevsky, the same story which previously inspired notable films by Robert Bresson (A Gentle Woman, 1969), Aleksandr Borisov (Krotkaya, 1960).
Continue reading...
- 1/9/2017
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Exclusive: Deals in Germany, Latin American, more for Austerlitz director’s next film; producers secure France deal.
Wild Bunch has concluded a string of pre-sales on Sergei Loznitsa’s new drama A Gentle Creature, which recently wrapped shoot in Eastern Europe and is set for a 2017 release.
The feature — loosely inspired by a Fyodor Dostoyevsky 1876 short story (which has already prompted films by Alexander Borisov, Robert Bresson, Mani Kaul and Raphael Nadjari) - charts the story of a woman who travels from the outskirts of Russia to a mysterious prison in order to find out what has happened to her incarcerated husband.
Grand Film, which previously bought the director’s documentaries Maidan and The Event, will release in Germany, Palmera International will distribute in Latin and Central America, Fabula in Turkey, Against Gravity in Poland, Seven in Greece, Alambique in Portugal, McF in former Yugoslavia, Vertigo in Hungary, Film Europe in Czech Republic and Encore for Airlines...
Wild Bunch has concluded a string of pre-sales on Sergei Loznitsa’s new drama A Gentle Creature, which recently wrapped shoot in Eastern Europe and is set for a 2017 release.
The feature — loosely inspired by a Fyodor Dostoyevsky 1876 short story (which has already prompted films by Alexander Borisov, Robert Bresson, Mani Kaul and Raphael Nadjari) - charts the story of a woman who travels from the outskirts of Russia to a mysterious prison in order to find out what has happened to her incarcerated husband.
Grand Film, which previously bought the director’s documentaries Maidan and The Event, will release in Germany, Palmera International will distribute in Latin and Central America, Fabula in Turkey, Against Gravity in Poland, Seven in Greece, Alambique in Portugal, McF in former Yugoslavia, Vertigo in Hungary, Film Europe in Czech Republic and Encore for Airlines...
- 9/12/2016
- by [email protected] (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
"Follow me this way..." If you've followed the Cannes Film Festival in the last decade, you know the name Sergei Loznitsa - a Ukrainian filmmaker who has premiered numerous films at the festival in the past few years. His latest work is a documentary called Austerlitz, which examines the baffling yet common idea of visiting the grounds of former Nazi concentration camps. "One of the biggest mysteries of such places is the motive that induces thousands of people to spend their summer weekends in former concentration camps looking at ovens in a crematorium. To try to come to grips with this, I made this film," Loznitsa explains. This trailer is a very bleak introduction that instantly asks: why are these places so popular with tourists? Here's the festival trailer for Sergei Loznitsa's doc Austerlitz, direct from Tiff's YouTube: The new film from Sergei Loznitsa (Maidan, The Event, In the Fog...
- 8/22/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Film loosely inspired by Dostoyevsky story to shoot in and around Latvian city of Daugavpils.
Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa will begin shooting his Fyodor Dostoyevsky-inspired feature A Gentle Creature in the Latvian city of Daugavpils this week, Paris-based producer Slot Machine announced on Monday.
The five-week shoot, which kicks-off on Tuesday (July 19), will take place mainly in and around Daugavpils, Latvia’s second largest city which lies in the southeast of the country on the border with Lithuania and Belarus. Some scenes will also be shot in Lithuania.
The feature — loosely inspired by Russian writer Dostoyevsky’s 1876 short story A Gentle Creature – revolves around a woman who travels to a prison in a remote region to find out what has happened to her incarcerated husband after a parcel she sent is returned without explanation.
“It’s a completely invented story: I invented it from start to finish. I was inspired by Dostoyevsky’s novella, which he himself...
Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa will begin shooting his Fyodor Dostoyevsky-inspired feature A Gentle Creature in the Latvian city of Daugavpils this week, Paris-based producer Slot Machine announced on Monday.
The five-week shoot, which kicks-off on Tuesday (July 19), will take place mainly in and around Daugavpils, Latvia’s second largest city which lies in the southeast of the country on the border with Lithuania and Belarus. Some scenes will also be shot in Lithuania.
The feature — loosely inspired by Russian writer Dostoyevsky’s 1876 short story A Gentle Creature – revolves around a woman who travels to a prison in a remote region to find out what has happened to her incarcerated husband after a parcel she sent is returned without explanation.
“It’s a completely invented story: I invented it from start to finish. I was inspired by Dostoyevsky’s novella, which he himself...
- 7/18/2016
- ScreenDaily
A total of 16 features will receive funding from the country’s national film centre.Scroll down for full list of projects
Latvia is celebrating the country’s centennial in 2018 by funding a slate of 16 feature-length films.
With a total budget of $8.5m (€7.5m) from the National Film Centre of Latvia, an independent jury selected projects out of 31 submissions in a bid to highlight a wide range of filmmaking talent and genres from the country.
The selected projects - six features, two animation films, eight documentaries - go into production this year and will premiere in 2018.
National Film Centre director Dita Rietuma said: “Our aim was to select artistically high-quality films of diverse genres and significant for society by examining Latvia’s national identity and history.
“We are especially happy to note that the selection includes as many as nine female directors from various generations such as one of our leading directors Inara Kolmane (Billie), but also newcomers...
Latvia is celebrating the country’s centennial in 2018 by funding a slate of 16 feature-length films.
With a total budget of $8.5m (€7.5m) from the National Film Centre of Latvia, an independent jury selected projects out of 31 submissions in a bid to highlight a wide range of filmmaking talent and genres from the country.
The selected projects - six features, two animation films, eight documentaries - go into production this year and will premiere in 2018.
National Film Centre director Dita Rietuma said: “Our aim was to select artistically high-quality films of diverse genres and significant for society by examining Latvia’s national identity and history.
“We are especially happy to note that the selection includes as many as nine female directors from various generations such as one of our leading directors Inara Kolmane (Billie), but also newcomers...
- 5/19/2016
- by [email protected] (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
As Cannes approaches, Screen casts its eye back at the winners and losers of 2012 according to our jury of critics.
Screen International’s jury of international critics has long been a strong indicator as to what will take the top prizes at the Cannes Film Festival – and 2012 was no different.
Sharing the Jury Grid’s top spot in 2012 were Cristian Mungiu’s Romanian drama Beyond the Hills and Michael Haneke’s heart-breaking Amour.
Both films scored 3.3 out of 4 and Amour went away with the festival’s coveted Palme d’Or.
Amour was Haneke’s second film to win the Cannes top prize, after 2009’s chilling pre-war drama The White Ribbon.
Beyond the Hills also performed strongly, winning awards for best screenplay and best actress for its two leading ladies Cristina Flutur and Cosmina Stratan. Director Mungiu has another shot at the Palme d’Or this year with Graduation (Bacalaureat).
Tie-breaker
It was a year for ties, with...
Screen International’s jury of international critics has long been a strong indicator as to what will take the top prizes at the Cannes Film Festival – and 2012 was no different.
Sharing the Jury Grid’s top spot in 2012 were Cristian Mungiu’s Romanian drama Beyond the Hills and Michael Haneke’s heart-breaking Amour.
Both films scored 3.3 out of 4 and Amour went away with the festival’s coveted Palme d’Or.
Amour was Haneke’s second film to win the Cannes top prize, after 2009’s chilling pre-war drama The White Ribbon.
Beyond the Hills also performed strongly, winning awards for best screenplay and best actress for its two leading ladies Cristina Flutur and Cosmina Stratan. Director Mungiu has another shot at the Palme d’Or this year with Graduation (Bacalaureat).
Tie-breaker
It was a year for ties, with...
- 5/5/2016
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: New Europe Film Sales also secures deals for Italy and Brazil.
Polish drama United States Of Love (Zjednoczone stany miłości) has been snapped up by four major territories following its world premiere in Competition at the Berlin Film Festival, where it won director/writer Tomasz Wasilewski the Silver Bear for best script.
Jan Naszewski’s Warsaw-based sales outlet New Europe Film Sales has sold the film to the UK (Matchbox), France (Sophie Dulac Distribution), Italy (Cinema Slr) and Brazil (Imovision).
This adds to previous deals secured for Spain (Golem), Greece (Strada), Ex-Yugoslava (McS), Benelux (Contact), Sweden (Triart), Portugal (Films4You), South Korea (Brandon Young Ent.), Turkey (Bir), Switzerland (Xenix), Bulgaria (Bulgaria Film Vision) and Taiwan (Flash Forward).
Set in Poland in 1990 – the country’s first year of freedom following the fall of communism - the film tells a story of four women of different ages, who decide it is time to change their lives.
It marks the...
Polish drama United States Of Love (Zjednoczone stany miłości) has been snapped up by four major territories following its world premiere in Competition at the Berlin Film Festival, where it won director/writer Tomasz Wasilewski the Silver Bear for best script.
Jan Naszewski’s Warsaw-based sales outlet New Europe Film Sales has sold the film to the UK (Matchbox), France (Sophie Dulac Distribution), Italy (Cinema Slr) and Brazil (Imovision).
This adds to previous deals secured for Spain (Golem), Greece (Strada), Ex-Yugoslava (McS), Benelux (Contact), Sweden (Triart), Portugal (Films4You), South Korea (Brandon Young Ent.), Turkey (Bir), Switzerland (Xenix), Bulgaria (Bulgaria Film Vision) and Taiwan (Flash Forward).
Set in Poland in 1990 – the country’s first year of freedom following the fall of communism - the film tells a story of four women of different ages, who decide it is time to change their lives.
It marks the...
- 2/24/2016
- by [email protected] (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: New Europe Film Sales secures hat-trick of deals for Polish Competition title.
Polish drama United States Of Love has secured a hat-trick of deals ahead of its world premiere in Competition at the Berlin Film Festival on Friday (Feb 18).
Jan Naszewski’s Warsaw-based sales outlet New Europe Film Sales has sold the film to Greece (Strada), Spain (Golem) and ex-Yugoslavia (McF).
Naszewski confirmed there were further offers on the table from UK, France, Switzerland, Benelux.
Set in Poland in 1990 – the country’s first year of freedom following the fall of communism - the film tells a story of four women of different ages, who decide it is time to change their lives.
It marks the third feature of director Tomasz Wasilewski after In A Bedroom (2012) and Floating Skyscrapers (2013). The latter received its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival and won the East of the West debut competition at Karlovy Vary.
The director...
Polish drama United States Of Love has secured a hat-trick of deals ahead of its world premiere in Competition at the Berlin Film Festival on Friday (Feb 18).
Jan Naszewski’s Warsaw-based sales outlet New Europe Film Sales has sold the film to Greece (Strada), Spain (Golem) and ex-Yugoslavia (McF).
Naszewski confirmed there were further offers on the table from UK, France, Switzerland, Benelux.
Set in Poland in 1990 – the country’s first year of freedom following the fall of communism - the film tells a story of four women of different ages, who decide it is time to change their lives.
It marks the third feature of director Tomasz Wasilewski after In A Bedroom (2012) and Floating Skyscrapers (2013). The latter received its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival and won the East of the West debut competition at Karlovy Vary.
The director...
- 2/15/2016
- by [email protected] (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa, at International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr), has revealed details of his new projects.
Loznitsa is at work on Austerlitz, a new feature doc looking at museums in former concentration camps. The film is partly inspired by the Wg Sebald book of the same name. Loznitsa has been shooting in several former camps.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian director’s new dramatic feature, to shoot in Latvia, is A Gentle Creature. Dostoevsky-Inspired, this is the story of a woman desperately trying to discover news of her imprisoned husband.
It has previously been reported that Arte, Slot Machine, Looks Film & TV are all aboard the project. To make the film, Loznitsa has filmed in Dachau, Bergen-Belsen, Ravensbrück, Sachsenhausen, and Mittelbau-Dora
Loznitsa also has another Second World War-themed feature in development, following on from his 2012 feature In The Fog, which screened in competition at Cannes.
The new feature will look back at the horrendous events in Kiev during...
Loznitsa is at work on Austerlitz, a new feature doc looking at museums in former concentration camps. The film is partly inspired by the Wg Sebald book of the same name. Loznitsa has been shooting in several former camps.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian director’s new dramatic feature, to shoot in Latvia, is A Gentle Creature. Dostoevsky-Inspired, this is the story of a woman desperately trying to discover news of her imprisoned husband.
It has previously been reported that Arte, Slot Machine, Looks Film & TV are all aboard the project. To make the film, Loznitsa has filmed in Dachau, Bergen-Belsen, Ravensbrück, Sachsenhausen, and Mittelbau-Dora
Loznitsa also has another Second World War-themed feature in development, following on from his 2012 feature In The Fog, which screened in competition at Cannes.
The new feature will look back at the horrendous events in Kiev during...
- 2/3/2016
- by [email protected] (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Polish drama directed by Floating Skyscapers filmmaker Tomasz Wasilewski.
United States of Love, a Polish drama that has been selected to play in Competition at the Berlinale (Feb 11-21), has been acquired by Jan Naszewski’s Warsaw-based sales outlet New Europe Film Sales
Set in Poland in 1990 – the country’s first year of freedom following the fall of communism - the film tells a story of four women of different ages, who decide it is time to change their lives.
It marks the third feature of director Tomasz Wasilewski after In The Bedroom (2012) and Floating Skyscrapers (2013). The latter received its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival and won the East of the West debut competition at Karlovy Vary.
The director of photography is is Oleg Mutu, known for his work on In the Fog, In Bloom and 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days.
United States of Love is a Polish-Swedish co-production of Manana, Commonground Pictures...
United States of Love, a Polish drama that has been selected to play in Competition at the Berlinale (Feb 11-21), has been acquired by Jan Naszewski’s Warsaw-based sales outlet New Europe Film Sales
Set in Poland in 1990 – the country’s first year of freedom following the fall of communism - the film tells a story of four women of different ages, who decide it is time to change their lives.
It marks the third feature of director Tomasz Wasilewski after In The Bedroom (2012) and Floating Skyscrapers (2013). The latter received its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival and won the East of the West debut competition at Karlovy Vary.
The director of photography is is Oleg Mutu, known for his work on In the Fog, In Bloom and 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days.
United States of Love is a Polish-Swedish co-production of Manana, Commonground Pictures...
- 1/12/2016
- by [email protected] (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Around 300 titles avaialble at launch; Mark Kermode to offer weekly pick.
The British Film Institute (BFI) has unveiled a subscription video-on-demand service titled BFI Player+, which has launched today.
From launch, BFI Player+ will cost £4.99 a month have around 300 titles available to stream, with titles ranging from Sergei M. Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin (1925) to David Cronenberg’s Dead Ringers (1988) and Sergei Loznitsa’s In The Fog (2012).
Films are grouped around genres, directors and collections such as British Classics, Horror, Indie, Documentaries, Family, Award-Winning, Unavailable on DVD and Experimenta.
In addition, critic Mark Kermode will select a key title from the BFI Player+ collections every week, beginning with an introduction to Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lodger, which features a specially-created score composed Nitin Sawhney in 2012.
Edward Humphrey, digital director at the BFI said: “We bring a unique approach to subscription services: expertly curated cinema that takes audiences on a journey through the very best of film, from its early...
The British Film Institute (BFI) has unveiled a subscription video-on-demand service titled BFI Player+, which has launched today.
From launch, BFI Player+ will cost £4.99 a month have around 300 titles available to stream, with titles ranging from Sergei M. Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin (1925) to David Cronenberg’s Dead Ringers (1988) and Sergei Loznitsa’s In The Fog (2012).
Films are grouped around genres, directors and collections such as British Classics, Horror, Indie, Documentaries, Family, Award-Winning, Unavailable on DVD and Experimenta.
In addition, critic Mark Kermode will select a key title from the BFI Player+ collections every week, beginning with an introduction to Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lodger, which features a specially-created score composed Nitin Sawhney in 2012.
Edward Humphrey, digital director at the BFI said: “We bring a unique approach to subscription services: expertly curated cinema that takes audiences on a journey through the very best of film, from its early...
- 10/28/2015
- by [email protected] (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Arthouse heads and world cinema buffs likely know the name Sergei Loznitsa for films like "My Joy" and "In The Fog," but even they are likely having trouble keeping up with the director's prolific output. Last year he delivered the documentary "Maidan," and this year he's back with another, albeit one with a bit of a twist. Read More: Watch: Trailer For Sergei Loznitsa's Cannes Documentary About Ukrainian Protests 'Maidan' "The Event" finds Loznitsa using archival material to put together a found footage documentary about an attempted coup d'etat in Russia in August 1991. The trailer looks like a stirring assemblage of video, and a fascinating snapshot of a historical moment. Here's the full synopsis: In August 1991, a failed coup d'état in Moscow by a group of communist reactionaries expedited the demise of the ailing Soviet Union. As the hammer and sickle that flew over the Kremlin was...
- 8/28/2015
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
In Reverse Shot, Michael Pattison writes about the 18 films Sergei Loznitsa has made since 1996: "In his three best-known films"—My Joy (2010), In the Fog (2012) and Maidan (2014)—"he shows himself to be—all at once—an artist, a documentarian, an ethnographer, a historian, and a storyteller." Also in today's roundup: David Bordwell on Jean-Luc Godard, Burt Lancaster and Bill Forsyth; Howard Hampton on Stephen Frears's My Beautiful Laundrette; Jonathan Rosenbaum on Carl Dreyer’s Gertrud; James Slaymaker on Robert Greene; Patrick Z. McGavin's interview with Christian Petzold and Nina Hoss; plus Jacques Rivette's interview with Jean Renoir and more. » - David Hudson...
- 8/4/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
In Reverse Shot, Michael Pattison writes about the 18 films Sergei Loznitsa has made since 1996: "In his three best-known films"—My Joy (2010), In the Fog (2012) and Maidan (2014)—"he shows himself to be—all at once—an artist, a documentarian, an ethnographer, a historian, and a storyteller." Also in today's roundup: David Bordwell on Jean-Luc Godard, Burt Lancaster and Bill Forsyth; Howard Hampton on Stephen Frears's My Beautiful Laundrette; Jonathan Rosenbaum on Carl Dreyer’s Gertrud; James Slaymaker on Robert Greene; Patrick Z. McGavin's interview with Christian Petzold and Nina Hoss; plus Jacques Rivette's interview with Jean Renoir and more. » - David Hudson...
- 8/4/2015
- Keyframe
Six selected directors include Michaël R. Roskam [pictured], Kim Ki-duk and Sion Sono.
Six international directors who share a history with the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (July 3-11) are to present one of their favourite films at the 50th edition of the festival in the Czech spa town.
The special section, titled Six Close Encounters, will include contributions from directors Mark Cousins, Kim Ki-duk, Sergei Loznitsa, Luis Miñarro, Michael R. Roskam and Sion Sono.
Each will select and personally present a favourite film that played a fundamental role in defining their own styles on filmmaking.
“It is extremely important to us that we maintain long-term relationships with filmmakers whose work we follow continuously, often from the beginning of their careers, which in many cases were launched at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival,” says Kviff artistic director Karel Och.
Mark Cousins: A Moment of Innocence (Nun va Goldoon, 1996), Mohsen Makhmalbaf. Kim Ki-duk:...
Six international directors who share a history with the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (July 3-11) are to present one of their favourite films at the 50th edition of the festival in the Czech spa town.
The special section, titled Six Close Encounters, will include contributions from directors Mark Cousins, Kim Ki-duk, Sergei Loznitsa, Luis Miñarro, Michael R. Roskam and Sion Sono.
Each will select and personally present a favourite film that played a fundamental role in defining their own styles on filmmaking.
“It is extremely important to us that we maintain long-term relationships with filmmakers whose work we follow continuously, often from the beginning of their careers, which in many cases were launched at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival,” says Kviff artistic director Karel Och.
Mark Cousins: A Moment of Innocence (Nun va Goldoon, 1996), Mohsen Makhmalbaf. Kim Ki-duk:...
- 6/17/2015
- by [email protected] (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Babi Yar
Director: Sergei Loznitsa // Writer: Sergei Loznitsa
Ukrainian documentarian Sergei Loznitsa made waves with his 2010 feature debut My Joy, followed by 2012’s In the Fog, both which played in the competition at Cannes. He returned last year out of competition with documentary Maidan, as well as a segment in the anthology film The Bridges of Sarajevo. An arrestingly bleak filmmaker, his films elude wider appeal with their immersive and unrelenting deliberations of abusive powers and war torn wastelands. Announced back in 2013, we’re hoping to see Loznitsa unveil his third feature, Babi Yar, which documents the eponymously referenced massacre from 1941 of 33,000+ Jews shot and killed over two days in September and thrown into a ravine. Recent interviews with Loznitsa have seen the director describe the project as depicting how “slowly and gradually, people plunge into hell.”
Cast: Not available.
Production Co.: Arp, Gp Film and Pronto
U.S.
Director: Sergei Loznitsa // Writer: Sergei Loznitsa
Ukrainian documentarian Sergei Loznitsa made waves with his 2010 feature debut My Joy, followed by 2012’s In the Fog, both which played in the competition at Cannes. He returned last year out of competition with documentary Maidan, as well as a segment in the anthology film The Bridges of Sarajevo. An arrestingly bleak filmmaker, his films elude wider appeal with their immersive and unrelenting deliberations of abusive powers and war torn wastelands. Announced back in 2013, we’re hoping to see Loznitsa unveil his third feature, Babi Yar, which documents the eponymously referenced massacre from 1941 of 33,000+ Jews shot and killed over two days in September and thrown into a ravine. Recent interviews with Loznitsa have seen the director describe the project as depicting how “slowly and gradually, people plunge into hell.”
Cast: Not available.
Production Co.: Arp, Gp Film and Pronto
U.S.
- 1/8/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
New Riga Meetings platform welcomes projects including two projects by Finnish film-maker Aku Louhimies.
Janis Nords’ second feature Mother I Love You and Juris Kursietis’ debut Modris were the big winners at the ¨Great Christopher¨ (¨Lielais Kristaps¨) National Film Competition held during the first edition of the Riga International Film Festival (December 2-12).
Nords, who graduated in film directing from the UK’s Nfts, received the top honour of best film as well as the trophy for best feature film director and best actress (for Vita Varpina’s performance as the single mother trying to make ends meet).
On presenting the direction prize to Nords, the competition jury’s chairman, veteran film director Janis Streics, said that he saw “a bright future ahead for Latvian cinema” on the strength of the line-up for this edition of the national film awards.
Mother I Love You, which is handled internationally by New Europe Film Sales, premiered at the...
Janis Nords’ second feature Mother I Love You and Juris Kursietis’ debut Modris were the big winners at the ¨Great Christopher¨ (¨Lielais Kristaps¨) National Film Competition held during the first edition of the Riga International Film Festival (December 2-12).
Nords, who graduated in film directing from the UK’s Nfts, received the top honour of best film as well as the trophy for best feature film director and best actress (for Vita Varpina’s performance as the single mother trying to make ends meet).
On presenting the direction prize to Nords, the competition jury’s chairman, veteran film director Janis Streics, said that he saw “a bright future ahead for Latvian cinema” on the strength of the line-up for this edition of the national film awards.
Mother I Love You, which is handled internationally by New Europe Film Sales, premiered at the...
- 12/12/2014
- by [email protected] (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
This is a reprint of our review from the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Sergei Loznitsa is no stranger to Cannes, both of his previous features competing for the Palme d’Or with 2012’s “In The Fog” winning the critics’ Fipresci prize. So when news went around that he’s making a documentary on the Ukrainian protests, there was only one place for it to premiere. “Maidan” is a study of a people under stress, a spirit hindered by totalitarianism, and the grasping of patriotic straws with the last God-given strength a nation has. The trouble with the picture is that it’s barren of cinematic context; the camera doesn’t so much as tilt or pan, remaining irrevocably fixed and observing straight ahead. Because of this, our patience was tested more than it has been with any other picture at this year’s festival (and it’s worth pointing out, we...
- 12/12/2014
- by Nikola Grozdanovic
- The Playlist
Easily the most rigorous, vital, and powerful movie of 2014, Sergei Loznitsa's Maidan may be a perfect Bazinian cinema-machine — reality is captured, crystallized, honored for its organic complexity, and delivered unpoisoned by exposition or emphasis. Every dissatisfaction you could be nursing about the obvious and overdetermined tenor of contemporary film — and particularly modern documentaries — is met here with thrown bricks.
It helps that the "reality" in question is also heart-quickening. Before making the two best and most dismaying post-Soviet-region films of the last five years — My Joy (2010) and In the Fog (2012) — the Ukrainian-bred Loznitsa was a documentarian, and here he returns to his original strategy, with...
It helps that the "reality" in question is also heart-quickening. Before making the two best and most dismaying post-Soviet-region films of the last five years — My Joy (2010) and In the Fog (2012) — the Ukrainian-bred Loznitsa was a documentarian, and here he returns to his original strategy, with...
- 12/10/2014
- Village Voice
Early predictions have emerged for most Academy Award categories. As the studios reveal their hopeful offers to be released in the final months of the year, the speculation increases. But despite all the information available on the centerpiece awards, other more obscure races remain a complete mystery at this point. Among these, the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar is almost certainly the most complex to prognosticate. The lengthy process that precedes the announcement of the final nominees makes for a competition that begins months in advance in nations around the globe.Having the opportunity to submit only one film, each country must carry out its own selection process. Once these decisions have been made, their chosen works will compete to make it to the nine-film shortlist, and eventually into the final five slots. Although this procedure allows for a certain degree of democracy, it also excludes all those other films that were left behind in their homelands. This, in turn, gives us a narrow view of what is being produced abroad.
Therefore, after lots of research and arduous educated guessing to put it together, the list below offers a more insightful look at this race before the actual individual selections are announced. For the sake of time, the amount of films is limited to five per country, but in some cases the choices are scarcer and less films are listed. While trying to speculate is always an uncertain endeavor, the factors taken into account to determine which are some of this year’s most important films in each country and their prospects of being chosen as their representative at the Academy Awards, were varied. Festival exposure, release date, the country’s previous submissions, and even the thematic elements of a few of them were considered to create this piece.
Clearly nothing is definitive at this point, but at the very least, this compilation will provide a sense of what the film industries in these territories are putting out and sharing with the world.
Read More: Oscars 2015 : Best Foreign Language Film Contenders - The Americas
Here is the first part of the list on Europe (Albania -Lithuania)
Albania
Last year the Balkan state had one of its strongest contenders in recent history, Robert Budina’s “Agon,” a powerful drama dealing with the ethnic identity of the region. This time around, there are three films that qualify to be selected. The front-runner is “ Amsterdam Express, ” which has the highest international profile of the three being a co-production between Albania, U.K The Netherlands and Germany. The film explores the sociopolitical situation of the country through the eyes of an Albanian man who immigrates to Dutch territory illegally. Following along are two other dramas, “The Last Wish” (Amaneti) and “Ada.” Having three clearly viable options, it is almost certain that Albania will compete once again this year.
1. "Amsterdam Express" PC: F&Me
2. "The Last Wish" (Amaneti) PC: Media Vision
3. "Ada" PC: Concordia Pictures
Armenia
Having submitted only four times as an independent nation, it is difficult to predict whether Armenia will decide to participate this year. However, they do have a few films that could represent them at the Academy Awards. Even though the country’s film industry is still precarious and struggling, they have their own annual awards and consistently complete feature length works. Since many of them don’t fulfill the quality standards of major festivals, few of their offers ever get passed their border. The most feasible candidate this year is “Tevanik,” a film about the Karabakh war that screened at the Cannes film market and that has also screened theatrically in its home country. Another possible selection is dark comedy “The Romanticists,” which won the Best Screenplay award at the Hayak National Cinema Awards and had some international exposure. Drama “From Two Worlds as a Keepsake, ” could also be a good candidate as it premiered last year at the World Film Festival in Montreal. Less likely are comedy “The Heart in the House ,” a Russian co-production, and Hayak Best Film nominee “Caucho,” which might be a bit too avant-garde to be chosen.
1. "Tevanik" PC: Fish Eye Art
2. "The Romanticists" (Rromantiknery) PC: Aysor-Plus Film Productions
3. "From Two Worlds as a Keepsake" (Yerku ashkharhic i hishatak) PC: National Film Centr of Armenia
4. "The Heart in the House" (Domik v serdtse) PC: Berg Sound
5. "Caucho"
Austria
Since Austrian productions are heavily influenced by the German film industry and often intertwined with it, it is no surprise that the major winner at the German Film Awards was the co-production “The Dark Valley.” But given that the director Andreas Prochaska is Austrian, as well as most of the creative control and resources, the Germans couldn’t claim it as their own. This, and the fact that Sam Riley is in it, make it an ideal, high profile candidate to be Austria’s Oscar submission. Nominated for five awards in the past Austrian Film Awards, “October November” is also a descent candidate. A close third followed is “The Last Dance” the latest film by Houchang Allahyari, whose film “I Love Vienna” represented the country a couple decades ago. Then we have “ Soldier Jane,” which also nominated for Best Film at the National Awards. Lastly, “The Silent Mountain, “ an epic period piece about World War I is not entirely far fetched. Other films that have had positive receptions at festivals such as “Macondo,” or “Amour Fou” will be released closer to the end of the year.
1. "The Dark Valley" (Das Fisntere Tal) Isa: Films Distribution
2. "October November" (Oktober November) Isa: The Match Factory
3. "The Last Dance" (Der letzte Tanz) PC: Allahyari Filmproduktion
4. "Soldier Jane" (Soldate Jeannette) Isa: Premium Films
5. "The Silent Mountain" ( Der Stille Berg) Isa: Premiere Entertainment Group
Azerbaijan
It's always great to see a country like Azerbaijan submitting a film and making an attempt at getting exposure for their filmmakers and industry. Their films rarely make it to the world stage of glamorous festivals, thus they remain mostly obscure and inaccessible outside their homeland. Nevertheless, this year an Azerbaijani film, “Nabat,” could change that as it will screen at the Venice Film festival. This war film has already screened in the country at least at a special event, it is difficult to know if it will qualify this time around. If it does, it is their best bet. Should they decide to save it for next year, the country has another option of mild prestige. “Chameleon,” a small drama set in a remote village, screened last year at Locarno and that alone could help its chances. Lastly, there is “Down by the River,” which was part of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival selection. It will almost certainly be released until past the deadline, but might be a strong contender in the future. Two other dramas, one of epic proportions and a biopic could get in the mix but there is hardly any information available besides the fact that they have been screened in the capital city of Baku.
1. "Nabat" Isa: Dreamlab Films
2. "Chameleon" (Buqälämun) PC: Arizona Productions
3. "Down the River" (Axinla ashagi) PC: Azerbaijanfilm
Belarus
The small ex-Soviet state has been mostly producing documentaries for local viewing. Their output of material that can be successful abroad is minimal, and even when they have been presented with a great opportunity to participate at the Academy Awards, they simply don’t. This was the case of Sergey Loznitsa's “In the Fog” a couple years back, which could have represented them but was not entered. In fact, they have only participated on two occasions, the last one being in 1996. Although it is unlikely they will show interest, the country has a couple of promising choices. Belarus’ best bet would be the international coproduction “ The Role,” a solemn period piece that was nominated for five Nika Awards (the Russian Oscars) and actually won for Best Screenplay. Highly improbable, but given their small number of contenders, the country could also choose to send “BaBu,” an Azerbaijani coproduction about the kidnapping of a businessman’s daughter.
1. "The Role" (Rol) Isa: Reflexion Films
2. "BaBu"
Belgium
With the return to Cannes of the country’s most iconic filmmakers, the Dardenne Brothers, Belgium has an easy decision to make. Starring Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard, “Two Days, One Night” looks like the obvious favorite. Nevertheless, the Dardennes have been overlooked before, as it was the case two years ago when the Belgians decided to send “Bullhead” over the duo’s “The Kid with a Bike.” The only real threat could be “Marina” by Stijn Coninx, who was nominated for an Oscar in this category back in 1992 with “Daens.“ His latest work is a period piece about Rocco Granata’s life, an Italian singer who lived in Belgium in his youth. A more audacious decision, but not entirely impossible, would be to select the beautifully nightmarish “The Strange Color of Your Body’s Tears,” which has had noticeable international presence. Two other titles, “ The Verdict” and “The Treatment” have been well received at home but since they are facing works by revered filmmakers, their chances are slight.
1. "Two Days, One Night" (Deux jours, une nuit) Isa: Wild Bunch
2. "Marina" Isa: Media Luna New Films
3. "The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears" (L'étrange couleur des larmes de ton corps) Isa: Bac Films International
4. "The Verdict" (Het Vonnis) Isa: Media Luna New Films
5. "The Treatment" (De Behandeling) Isa: Be for Films
Bosnia & Herzegovina
The last film by the poster child for Bosnian cinema, Danis Tanovic, managed to make it to the 9-film shortlist last December. This year, the country doesn’t have such a prominent candidate. Based on release date, festival exposure, and language, their safest selection would be the family drama “ With Mom.” Another title that could qualify is “Krivina,” which is technically a 2012 film, but did not premier in Bosnia until late last year. If eligible, it would definitively be a great runner-up. In third place is the incredibly small local film “ Krajina: Life or Death,” and it’s in that position simply because it meets all the minimum requirements to qualify - language included. The last two films mentioned here are longer shots not due to lack of quality, but because of their production details. One, “Bridges of Sarajevo,” is an anthology film created by over a dozen filmmakers from around the world. Even though one of the filmmakers is Bosnian and all sections are in a language other than English, it will be hard to consider it an actual Bosnian film. The other, “For Those Who Can Tell No Tales,” is a Bosnian production directed by Jasmila Zbanic, but the dialogue seems to be mostly in English, which would make it ineligible.
1. "With Mom" (Sa Mamom) PC: Scca/Pro.BA
2. "Krivina" Isa: Princ Films
3. "Krajina: Life and Death" (Ja sam iz Krajine, zemlje kestena) PC: Depo Production
4. "Bridges of Sarajevo" (Les Ponts de Sarajevo) Isa: Indie Sales
5."For Those Who Can Tell No Tales" (Za one koji ne mogu da govore) PC: Mpm
Bulgaria
In recent years the country has decided to send films that have won or have been nominated for their local film awards. This year the winner of the top award for Best Film was “Alienation,” seemingly making it the favorite to be submitted. This might actually not be the case. Premiering at Sundance earlier this year, “Viktoria,” an epic drama about a peculiar mother-daughter relationship, might actually be the frontrunner. The film has been rightfully hailed as the most important Bulgarian film of 2014 as it has been praised at several international festivals. The only concern was its release date, but that has been put to rest since the filmmakers have announced a one-week theatrical run of the film in Sofia this September. This might imply they are seriously considering the possibility of being chosen. Other less likely options are “Roseville,” another Best Film nominee at the local film awards, “Rat Poison,” which won Best Screenplay at those same awards, and the comedy “ Living Legends.” “The Judgement,” another important Bulgarian film that opened the Sofia International Film Festival in March, won’t opened theatrically until after the deadline.
1. "Viktoria" PC: Viktoria Films
2. "Alienation" PC: Red Carpet/ Bnt
3."Roseville" Isa: Wide
4. "Rat Poison" PC: Bulfilm Nfc
5. "Living Legends" PC: Euro Dialogue Productions
Croatia
Dominating last year’s Pula Film Festival with seven Golden Arena awards and presented at other international festivals, the drama “ A Stranger” is by far the most qualified choice. Bobo Jelcic’s film follows a man who returns to his hometown only to attend a funeral, but is forced to deal with several other issues from his past while there. Closely following is complex family drama “Hush…,” which also won several awards at the same festival. Other films that could come into play include “Vis-à-Vis,” a story about a film director and on his actor trying to write a screenplay, crime thriller “Not All About the Money, ”and the comedy “Handymen” by Dalibor Matanic, whose film “Fine Dead Girls” represented Croatia in 2002. It is important to note that three other relevant Croatian films, “The Bridge at the of the World,” "Number 55” and “The Reaper,” will probably be released in the next few months and will be in the running next year.
1. "A Stranger"(Obrana i zastita) Isa: Rendez-vous Pictures
2. "Hush..." (Šuti) PC: Kinorama
3. "Vis-a-Vis" PC: Copycat Production House
4. "Not All About the Money" (Nije sve u lovi) PC: Interfilm
5. "Handymen" (Majstori) PC: Hrvatska Radiotelevizija
Cyprus
As one of the few countries in Europe that has never submitted a film, it is likely they will continue on that path once again. Yet, if they decide otherwise, there is a film that could represent them. Crime drama “Stratos” directed by Cyprus-born Yannis Economides and produced with support from the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture could actually be the island nation’s lucky charm. Another Cypriot production, the romantic comedy “ Committed,” would be listed here as a possibility if it wasn’t for the fact that it is entirely in English.
1. "Stratos" (To Mikro Psari) Isa: The Match Factory
Czech Republic
Last year was rough for the Czechs. The ambitious historical courtroom drama “Burning Bush” by acclaimed filmmaker Agnieszka Holland, was disqualified as their submission because it was originally conceived as a TV miniseries. They were forced to select another film “The Don Juans,” which that didn’t do much them. This time around things are looking up with a wide array of films to choose from. Playing at Karlovy Vary recently and opening theatrically just in time to qualify is “Fair Play,” a sports drama about a sprinter attempting to make it to the Olympic Games in 1980. Then there is “Clownwise, ” a quirky dramedy that was nominated for Best Film and won Best Supporting actor at the local Czech Lion Awards. In the third spot is “Hany,” a film conformed of a single continuous shot depicting the madness occurring during a night out in the city. “The Way Out, ” a drama that screened in the Acid sidebar at Cannes, could also be picked based on that notable international exposure. Lastly, “Delight,” another Czech Lion Best Film nominee, could be the surprise selection, but it will probably prove to be a tad too abstract for voters.
1. "Fair Play" Isa: Intramovies
2. "Clownwise" (Klauni) Isa: Latido
3. "Hany" PC: Barletta
4. "The Way Out" (Cesta Ven) Isa: Premium Films
5. "Delight" (Rozkos) PC: Cineart TV Prague
Denmark
These days Denmark is a powerhouse in this category. After almost tasting glory once again with Vinterberg’s “The Hunt, ” the Danish will return to seek their third consecutive nomination. In order to continue their great streak, they need to choose wisely. “Someone in Love,” about a musician in crisis, has garnered praise from critics internationally, and will seem like the obvious choice. On the other hand, there is the mystery flick “ The Keeper of Lost Causes,” which opened in Denmark late last yearand was nominated for 4 Bodil Awards. Then there is “Sorrow and Joy” another powerful drama from Nils Malmros, whose film “Barbara” represented Denmark in 1992. Unique coming-of-age tale ”Speed Walking” could also be a contender. On the final slot there is the romantic drama “The Miracle,” a film that did well at the Montreal World Film Festival, unlikely but not impossible. Whichever it is, it will certainly be something to watch out for throughout the race.
1. "Someone You Love" (En du elsker) Isa: TrustNordisk
2. "The Keeper of Lost Causes" (Kvinden i buret) Isa: TrustNordisk
3. "Sorrow and Joy" (Sorg og glæde) PC: Nordisk Film Production
4. "Speed Walking" (Kapgang) PC: Nordisk Film Production
5. "The Miracle" (Miraklet) PC: Film i Vast
Estonia
This Baltic country’s film industry has increasingly become more consistent at delivering interesting films. Winning awards across festivals, their absolute frontrunner is “Tangerines, ” a Georgian coproduction about a Estonian man caught up in the middle of a war. Its biggest competition is the black and white historical film “In the Crosswind,” “which is a viable choice given that it deals with a painful episode in the region's history: the mass deportation of Baltic people to Siberia by Russia. Though it looks beautifully done, its particular visual aesthetic might seem to unconventional to some voters. It is still really possible they decide to send it regardless. Finally there is “ Kertu” a romantic drama about an unlikely relationship.
1. "Tangerines" (Mandariinid) Isa: Cinemavault
2. "In the Crosswind" (Risttuules) PC: Allfilm
3. "Kertu, Love is Blind" (Kertu) Isa: Paul Thiltges Distribution Sarl
Finland
Despite the countries long filmmaking tradition, the Finnish have only been nominated once for Aki Kaurismäki's “The Man Without a Past” in 2002. Fortunately for them, they have several great eligible films that will make for a difficult decision. Black and white philosophical drama “ Concrete Night” from Pirjo Honkasalo earned 6 Jussi Awards, given by Finland’s film professionals. Such overwhelming recognition will make it hard to ignore despite the serious competition. The film also had a great festival run. Right behind it are two films by prolific Dome Karukoski, who has represented his country at the Oscar previously. The first one is “The Grump,” a comedy based on the character created by Tuomas Kyro. It will screen at Tiff and will open locally just in time to qualify. Karukoski’s other film “Heart of a Lion,” tells a more serious story about a Neo-Nazi who reconsiders his views after falling in love. Either one of them could be picked as a way to honor the consistently great work this filmmaker puts out. Yet another interesting possibility is “Korso,” about a young man with big basketball dreams. The film was partially produced by the same company that created last year’s Oscar nominated short “Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?” There are several other plausible films, but from all those, the one that seems to have the best prospects is the historical comedy “August Fools.”
1. "Concrete Night" (Betoniyö) Isa: Film Republic
2. "The Grump" (Mielensäpahoittaja) Isa: The Yellow Affair
3. "Heart of a Lion" (Leijonasydän) Isa: The Yellow Affair
4. "Korso" PC: Bufo/Tuffi Films
5. "August Fools" (Mieletön elokuu) Isa: Insomnia World Sales
France
Narrowing down France’s possible selection to five titles is by far one of the must uncertain and difficult tasks. The French film industry releases a vast number of films every year in a variety of genres and sizes. This gives them endless possibilities. Yet, there are some indicators that provide insight to what they might end up choosing. First off, the Cesar Awards. This year’s big winner was Guillaume Gallienne's “Me, Myself and Mum, ” which is a delightfully funny film that shines with originality. It was released last November and could definitely be their selected entry. On the other hand, they could choose to honor legendary filmmaker Alain Resnais- who past away earlier this year - by submitting his last film “Life of Riley.” The film received mixed reactions, but won the Fipresci Prize and the Alfred Bauer Award in Berlin. If they want to go with some fresh young talent, there is Cannes Directors' Fortnight Winner “Love at First Sight, ” the debut feature by Thomas Cailley. Another award winner that qualifies is Katell Quillévéré’s “Suzanne” about a woman that loses it all for the love a deviant man. Last but not least, Mathieu Amalric’s latest directorial effort “The Blue Room” could be a surprise player given the actor’s prestige and talent both in front and behind the camera. It is still up in the air.
1. "Me, Myself and Mum" (Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table!) Isa: Gaumont
2. "Life of Riley" (Aimer, boire et chanter) PC: F Comme Film
3. "Love at First Sight" (Les Conbattants) PC: Nord-Ouest Productions
4. "Suzanne" Isa: Films Distribution
5. "The Blue Room" (La Chambre Bleue) Isa: Alfama Films
Georgia
Impressively on the rise, the Georgian film industry keeps on delivering great works that often make waves across international festivals. Last year’s submission “In Bloom,” was a great success and managed to get U.S. distribution for a small theatrical release. On this occasion, they have three films that have done well internationally. Out of the batch, the most successful has been Levan Koguashvili’s “Blind Dates, ” a charming story of a unique quest for love. A second strong competitor is “Brides,” a drama that screened both at the Berlinale and Tribeca this year. Then, just fresh from winning at Karlovy Vary, there is “Corn Island,” a poetic vision of life from the perspective of rural Georgia. It appears like all three titles will release at home in time to qualify. If that’s the case, Georgia has a tough decision to make
1. "Blind Dates" (Shemtkhveviti paemnebi) Isa: Films Boutique
2. "Brides" (Patardzlebi) Isa: Rezo
3. "Corn Island" (Simindis kundzuli) PC: Arizona Productions
Germany
After releasing a 15-film shortlist, Germany’s prospects look clearer. There are several titles on the list that won’t merit a nomination, but the prominent film that remain will make for a competitive final selection. Winning two prizes in Berlin, “Stations of the Cross,” a look at fundamentalist Catholicism, sounds like a front-runner. However, its subject matter might play against it. Feo Aladag’s latest film “Inbetween Worlds,” about a German soldier in Afghanistan, seems to be a powerful drama on the vein of Susanne Bier’s “In a Better World.” On the third slot is “West,” a moving film about a woman and her son escaping socialist East Germany to discover the other side also has its darkness. Then there is “Beloved Sisters,” a costume drama that seems like a safer choice. It might be too familiar to be selected, but not at all improbable. Lastly, “Home from Home,” which won several national awards. It'ss possible, but its narrative style and extensive running time (225 min.) might make it a much more harder sell.
1. "Stations of the Cross" (Kreuzweg) Isa: Beta Cinema
2. "Inbetween Worlds" (Zwischen Welten) Isa: The Match Factory
3. "West" (Westen) Isa: Picture Tree International
4. "Beloved Sisters" (Die geliebten Schwestern) PC: Bavaria Film
5. "Home from Home - Chronicle of a Vision" (Die andere Heimat - Chronik einer Sehnsucht) Isa: Arri Worldsales
Greece
Even though it not an absolute rule, the Greeks tend to select the Hellenic Awards Best Film winner as their submission. Taking that into account, the clear favorite and almost certain choice is “Little England,” a period piece that won big locally. It’s biggest flaw; however, is the lack of international exposure. If for some reason they wanted to make a bold move and reward an impressive festival run, then Alexandros Avranas’s marvelously perverse “Miss Violence” would be ideal. Another great festival darling is Elina Psikou‘s feature debut “The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas,” a sardonic exploration on fame and identity. On the fourth spot, there is “ The Enemy Within,” a tense crime drama about a family in the aftermath of a home invasion. The film was also honored at the Hellenic Awards. Finally, “Standing Aside, Watching,” about corruption, sexism, and intimidation in a small village, could also be a great entry. Un Certain Regard film “Xenia” by Panos H. Koutras, won’t open in Greece until October, but will be a possible option next year.
1. "Little England" (Mikra Anglia) PC: Black Orange
2."Miss Violence" Isa: Elle Driver
3."The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas" (I Aionia Epistrofi tou Antoni Paraskeva) Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
4."The Enemy Within" (O Ehthros Mou) Isa: Patra Spanou
5. "Standing Aside, Watching" (Na kathesai kai na koitas) Isa: Patra Spanou
Hungary
Hungary’s last submission “The Notebook” managed to make it into the highly competitive 9-film shortlist. This year they have even brighter hopes with a slate of titles that have done very well around the world. Un Certain Regard winner “White God” is undoubtedly the one to beat. It is a rare occasion for the country to win such a high profile prize, thus making it almost impossible to ignore. Nevertheless, if that is not enough to convince the selection committee, “Free Fall” the latest film György Pálfi - whose films “ Hukkie” and “Taxidermia” have represented Hungary in the past - would be the next best choice. It also won several awards recently at Karlovy Vary, which could be of help. Less likely is Virág Zomborácz‘s “Afterlife” another drama that screened at the renowned Czech festival. Other possible titles include Lgbt romantic drama “Land of Storms, “ which screened in Berlin, and dark “ “Heavenly Shift,” which descent international presence.
1. "White God" (Fehér isten) Isa: The Match Factory
2. "Free Fall" (Szabadesés) PC: Jiff Project
3. "Afterlife" (Utóélet) Isa: Hungarian National Film Fund
4. "Land of Storms" (Viharsarok) Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
5. "Heavenly Shift" (Isteni müszak) Isa: Hungarian National Film Fund
Iceland
This small Scandinavian nation seems to have a very easy decision to make. The film “Life in a Fishbowl” has been dubbed by local critics as “the best Icelandic” film ever made” and it has also been an absolute box-office hit in its homeland. The multi-narrative film is by far the most likely to be submitted. However, its closest competitor is Ragnar Bragason‘s “ Metalhead,” a drama about a girl coping with her brother’s death. It was released late last year and won several Edda Awards. With far less possibilities given the two frontrunners is the dramedy “Paris of the North, ” which screened at Karlovy Vary, and comedy “ The Grandad,” which lacks exposure and buzz.
1. "Life in a Fishbowl" (Vonarstræti) Isa: Films Boutique
2. "Metalhead" (Málmhaus) Isa: Picture Tree International
3. "Paris of the North" (París Norðursins) PC: Arizona Productions
4. "The Grandad" (Afinn) PC: Thorsson Productions
Ireland
Since most of country’s releases are in English rather than in the Irish language, most years the country doesn’t have any candidates for this category. Ireland has only submitted to films for consideration as foreign language films. It is unlikely they’ll enter the race this year, but if it manages to be released in time, Irish director Johnny O'Reilly‘s Russian-language film “Moscow Never Sleeps” could be their selected candidate. The film was produced with the help of the Irish Film Funs, a fact that could help claim it as an Irish production. Another film in the Irish language, “An Bronntanas” (The Gift), would be a great choice, but it seems to be originally envisioned for TV as a five part miniseries. It’s hard to know if it will manage to qualify.
1. "Moscow Never Sleeps" (Москва никогда не спит) PC: Snapshot Films
Italy
Returning as current champion, Italy - which is the most successful nation ever in this category – has two main contenders and a couple other minor players. At the top of the list is “Human Capital,” which beat out “The Great Beauty” at the local David di Donatello Awards. Added to that, the film has won almost every award at home and several others abroad. It would be shocking to see the film be ignored. The biggest threat to its flawless run is Cannes Competition film “The Wonders.” It received mixed reviews but the Cannes pedigree could play a big role. Local success “The Mafia Only Kills in Summer” is less likely to have a chance. However, it also received tons of praise at home, so it shouldn’t be entirely disqualified. “Misunderstood,” by Asia Argento, played in the Un Certain Regard section but faces tough competition. Rounding up these five possibilities is “Those Happy Years, ” a personal film by Daniele Luchetti, which received very positive reviews internationally.
1. "Human Capital" (Il capitale umano) PC: Indiana Production Company
2. "The Wonders" (Le meraviglie) Isa: The Match Factory
3. "The Mafia Only Kills in Summer" (La mafia uccide solo d'estate) Isa: Rai Com
4. "Misunderstood" (Incompresa) Isa: Other Angle Pictures
5. "Those Happy Years" (Anni felici) Isa: Celluloid Dreams/Nightmares
Kosovo
The surprise submission could come from the recently independent, war-torn Balkan state. They have a promising feature film by Isa Qosja's “Three Windows and a Hanging,” which has been called “the best film from Kosovo to date.” Dealing with the forced silence and shame rape victims experience in a small village ruled by patriarchal norms, the film seems to be a perfect candidate to be their first submission. It recently premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival, so its biggest challenge would be qualifying based on its unknown release date at home.
1. "Three Windows and a Hanging"
Latvia
Unfortunately for Latvia, their possibilities are extremely limited this year. There are only two films that seem as possible candidates. One is the slasher horror film “The Man in the Orange Jacket.” It sports a great production value and might be an interesting offer, but it is hard to see it get far in the race. Nonetheless, it is still their best chance. The other film "Escaping Riga" is a documentary on historical figures Sergei Eisenstein and Sir Isaiah Berlin. Given its subject matter it wouldn’t be surprising if they chose to with this. Hopefully next year their output gives them more to pick from.
1. "The Man in the Orange Jacket" (M.O.Zh.) Isa: Wide
2. "Escaping Riga" PC: Mistrus Media
Lithuania
Opposite to its Baltic neighbor mentioned above, Lithuania has several notable films that could represent them. After winning the top prizes at the Lithuanian Silver Crane’ awards, “The Gambler” became the clear favorite. However, it is important to mention that despite having narrative features to choose from, Lithuania decided to send a small documentary to represent them last year. This curious fact could play in favor of “ Cenotaphs,” a doc focusing on the search for the remains of dead soldiers from World War II. The film won Best Documentary and was nominated in other categories at the local awards. Then there are three other Silver Crane nominated films. Coming-of-age flick “ Non-Present Time,” family drama “Santa,” and crime thriller “Name in the Dark.” The winner of several of these awards, “The Excursionist” was released too early last year to be considered this time around. Local financial success “Redirected” is mostly in English, thus ineligible.
1. "The Gambler" (Losejas) Isa: Wide
2. "Cenotaph" (Kenotafas) PC: Studio Uljana Kim
3. "Non-Present Time" (Nesamasis laikas) PC: Just a Moment
4. "Santa" PC: Artbox
5. "Name in the Dark" (Vardas tamsoje) PC: Fralita Films...
Therefore, after lots of research and arduous educated guessing to put it together, the list below offers a more insightful look at this race before the actual individual selections are announced. For the sake of time, the amount of films is limited to five per country, but in some cases the choices are scarcer and less films are listed. While trying to speculate is always an uncertain endeavor, the factors taken into account to determine which are some of this year’s most important films in each country and their prospects of being chosen as their representative at the Academy Awards, were varied. Festival exposure, release date, the country’s previous submissions, and even the thematic elements of a few of them were considered to create this piece.
Clearly nothing is definitive at this point, but at the very least, this compilation will provide a sense of what the film industries in these territories are putting out and sharing with the world.
Read More: Oscars 2015 : Best Foreign Language Film Contenders - The Americas
Here is the first part of the list on Europe (Albania -Lithuania)
Albania
Last year the Balkan state had one of its strongest contenders in recent history, Robert Budina’s “Agon,” a powerful drama dealing with the ethnic identity of the region. This time around, there are three films that qualify to be selected. The front-runner is “ Amsterdam Express, ” which has the highest international profile of the three being a co-production between Albania, U.K The Netherlands and Germany. The film explores the sociopolitical situation of the country through the eyes of an Albanian man who immigrates to Dutch territory illegally. Following along are two other dramas, “The Last Wish” (Amaneti) and “Ada.” Having three clearly viable options, it is almost certain that Albania will compete once again this year.
1. "Amsterdam Express" PC: F&Me
2. "The Last Wish" (Amaneti) PC: Media Vision
3. "Ada" PC: Concordia Pictures
Armenia
Having submitted only four times as an independent nation, it is difficult to predict whether Armenia will decide to participate this year. However, they do have a few films that could represent them at the Academy Awards. Even though the country’s film industry is still precarious and struggling, they have their own annual awards and consistently complete feature length works. Since many of them don’t fulfill the quality standards of major festivals, few of their offers ever get passed their border. The most feasible candidate this year is “Tevanik,” a film about the Karabakh war that screened at the Cannes film market and that has also screened theatrically in its home country. Another possible selection is dark comedy “The Romanticists,” which won the Best Screenplay award at the Hayak National Cinema Awards and had some international exposure. Drama “From Two Worlds as a Keepsake, ” could also be a good candidate as it premiered last year at the World Film Festival in Montreal. Less likely are comedy “The Heart in the House ,” a Russian co-production, and Hayak Best Film nominee “Caucho,” which might be a bit too avant-garde to be chosen.
1. "Tevanik" PC: Fish Eye Art
2. "The Romanticists" (Rromantiknery) PC: Aysor-Plus Film Productions
3. "From Two Worlds as a Keepsake" (Yerku ashkharhic i hishatak) PC: National Film Centr of Armenia
4. "The Heart in the House" (Domik v serdtse) PC: Berg Sound
5. "Caucho"
Austria
Since Austrian productions are heavily influenced by the German film industry and often intertwined with it, it is no surprise that the major winner at the German Film Awards was the co-production “The Dark Valley.” But given that the director Andreas Prochaska is Austrian, as well as most of the creative control and resources, the Germans couldn’t claim it as their own. This, and the fact that Sam Riley is in it, make it an ideal, high profile candidate to be Austria’s Oscar submission. Nominated for five awards in the past Austrian Film Awards, “October November” is also a descent candidate. A close third followed is “The Last Dance” the latest film by Houchang Allahyari, whose film “I Love Vienna” represented the country a couple decades ago. Then we have “ Soldier Jane,” which also nominated for Best Film at the National Awards. Lastly, “The Silent Mountain, “ an epic period piece about World War I is not entirely far fetched. Other films that have had positive receptions at festivals such as “Macondo,” or “Amour Fou” will be released closer to the end of the year.
1. "The Dark Valley" (Das Fisntere Tal) Isa: Films Distribution
2. "October November" (Oktober November) Isa: The Match Factory
3. "The Last Dance" (Der letzte Tanz) PC: Allahyari Filmproduktion
4. "Soldier Jane" (Soldate Jeannette) Isa: Premium Films
5. "The Silent Mountain" ( Der Stille Berg) Isa: Premiere Entertainment Group
Azerbaijan
It's always great to see a country like Azerbaijan submitting a film and making an attempt at getting exposure for their filmmakers and industry. Their films rarely make it to the world stage of glamorous festivals, thus they remain mostly obscure and inaccessible outside their homeland. Nevertheless, this year an Azerbaijani film, “Nabat,” could change that as it will screen at the Venice Film festival. This war film has already screened in the country at least at a special event, it is difficult to know if it will qualify this time around. If it does, it is their best bet. Should they decide to save it for next year, the country has another option of mild prestige. “Chameleon,” a small drama set in a remote village, screened last year at Locarno and that alone could help its chances. Lastly, there is “Down by the River,” which was part of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival selection. It will almost certainly be released until past the deadline, but might be a strong contender in the future. Two other dramas, one of epic proportions and a biopic could get in the mix but there is hardly any information available besides the fact that they have been screened in the capital city of Baku.
1. "Nabat" Isa: Dreamlab Films
2. "Chameleon" (Buqälämun) PC: Arizona Productions
3. "Down the River" (Axinla ashagi) PC: Azerbaijanfilm
Belarus
The small ex-Soviet state has been mostly producing documentaries for local viewing. Their output of material that can be successful abroad is minimal, and even when they have been presented with a great opportunity to participate at the Academy Awards, they simply don’t. This was the case of Sergey Loznitsa's “In the Fog” a couple years back, which could have represented them but was not entered. In fact, they have only participated on two occasions, the last one being in 1996. Although it is unlikely they will show interest, the country has a couple of promising choices. Belarus’ best bet would be the international coproduction “ The Role,” a solemn period piece that was nominated for five Nika Awards (the Russian Oscars) and actually won for Best Screenplay. Highly improbable, but given their small number of contenders, the country could also choose to send “BaBu,” an Azerbaijani coproduction about the kidnapping of a businessman’s daughter.
1. "The Role" (Rol) Isa: Reflexion Films
2. "BaBu"
Belgium
With the return to Cannes of the country’s most iconic filmmakers, the Dardenne Brothers, Belgium has an easy decision to make. Starring Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard, “Two Days, One Night” looks like the obvious favorite. Nevertheless, the Dardennes have been overlooked before, as it was the case two years ago when the Belgians decided to send “Bullhead” over the duo’s “The Kid with a Bike.” The only real threat could be “Marina” by Stijn Coninx, who was nominated for an Oscar in this category back in 1992 with “Daens.“ His latest work is a period piece about Rocco Granata’s life, an Italian singer who lived in Belgium in his youth. A more audacious decision, but not entirely impossible, would be to select the beautifully nightmarish “The Strange Color of Your Body’s Tears,” which has had noticeable international presence. Two other titles, “ The Verdict” and “The Treatment” have been well received at home but since they are facing works by revered filmmakers, their chances are slight.
1. "Two Days, One Night" (Deux jours, une nuit) Isa: Wild Bunch
2. "Marina" Isa: Media Luna New Films
3. "The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears" (L'étrange couleur des larmes de ton corps) Isa: Bac Films International
4. "The Verdict" (Het Vonnis) Isa: Media Luna New Films
5. "The Treatment" (De Behandeling) Isa: Be for Films
Bosnia & Herzegovina
The last film by the poster child for Bosnian cinema, Danis Tanovic, managed to make it to the 9-film shortlist last December. This year, the country doesn’t have such a prominent candidate. Based on release date, festival exposure, and language, their safest selection would be the family drama “ With Mom.” Another title that could qualify is “Krivina,” which is technically a 2012 film, but did not premier in Bosnia until late last year. If eligible, it would definitively be a great runner-up. In third place is the incredibly small local film “ Krajina: Life or Death,” and it’s in that position simply because it meets all the minimum requirements to qualify - language included. The last two films mentioned here are longer shots not due to lack of quality, but because of their production details. One, “Bridges of Sarajevo,” is an anthology film created by over a dozen filmmakers from around the world. Even though one of the filmmakers is Bosnian and all sections are in a language other than English, it will be hard to consider it an actual Bosnian film. The other, “For Those Who Can Tell No Tales,” is a Bosnian production directed by Jasmila Zbanic, but the dialogue seems to be mostly in English, which would make it ineligible.
1. "With Mom" (Sa Mamom) PC: Scca/Pro.BA
2. "Krivina" Isa: Princ Films
3. "Krajina: Life and Death" (Ja sam iz Krajine, zemlje kestena) PC: Depo Production
4. "Bridges of Sarajevo" (Les Ponts de Sarajevo) Isa: Indie Sales
5."For Those Who Can Tell No Tales" (Za one koji ne mogu da govore) PC: Mpm
Bulgaria
In recent years the country has decided to send films that have won or have been nominated for their local film awards. This year the winner of the top award for Best Film was “Alienation,” seemingly making it the favorite to be submitted. This might actually not be the case. Premiering at Sundance earlier this year, “Viktoria,” an epic drama about a peculiar mother-daughter relationship, might actually be the frontrunner. The film has been rightfully hailed as the most important Bulgarian film of 2014 as it has been praised at several international festivals. The only concern was its release date, but that has been put to rest since the filmmakers have announced a one-week theatrical run of the film in Sofia this September. This might imply they are seriously considering the possibility of being chosen. Other less likely options are “Roseville,” another Best Film nominee at the local film awards, “Rat Poison,” which won Best Screenplay at those same awards, and the comedy “ Living Legends.” “The Judgement,” another important Bulgarian film that opened the Sofia International Film Festival in March, won’t opened theatrically until after the deadline.
1. "Viktoria" PC: Viktoria Films
2. "Alienation" PC: Red Carpet/ Bnt
3."Roseville" Isa: Wide
4. "Rat Poison" PC: Bulfilm Nfc
5. "Living Legends" PC: Euro Dialogue Productions
Croatia
Dominating last year’s Pula Film Festival with seven Golden Arena awards and presented at other international festivals, the drama “ A Stranger” is by far the most qualified choice. Bobo Jelcic’s film follows a man who returns to his hometown only to attend a funeral, but is forced to deal with several other issues from his past while there. Closely following is complex family drama “Hush…,” which also won several awards at the same festival. Other films that could come into play include “Vis-à-Vis,” a story about a film director and on his actor trying to write a screenplay, crime thriller “Not All About the Money, ”and the comedy “Handymen” by Dalibor Matanic, whose film “Fine Dead Girls” represented Croatia in 2002. It is important to note that three other relevant Croatian films, “The Bridge at the of the World,” "Number 55” and “The Reaper,” will probably be released in the next few months and will be in the running next year.
1. "A Stranger"(Obrana i zastita) Isa: Rendez-vous Pictures
2. "Hush..." (Šuti) PC: Kinorama
3. "Vis-a-Vis" PC: Copycat Production House
4. "Not All About the Money" (Nije sve u lovi) PC: Interfilm
5. "Handymen" (Majstori) PC: Hrvatska Radiotelevizija
Cyprus
As one of the few countries in Europe that has never submitted a film, it is likely they will continue on that path once again. Yet, if they decide otherwise, there is a film that could represent them. Crime drama “Stratos” directed by Cyprus-born Yannis Economides and produced with support from the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture could actually be the island nation’s lucky charm. Another Cypriot production, the romantic comedy “ Committed,” would be listed here as a possibility if it wasn’t for the fact that it is entirely in English.
1. "Stratos" (To Mikro Psari) Isa: The Match Factory
Czech Republic
Last year was rough for the Czechs. The ambitious historical courtroom drama “Burning Bush” by acclaimed filmmaker Agnieszka Holland, was disqualified as their submission because it was originally conceived as a TV miniseries. They were forced to select another film “The Don Juans,” which that didn’t do much them. This time around things are looking up with a wide array of films to choose from. Playing at Karlovy Vary recently and opening theatrically just in time to qualify is “Fair Play,” a sports drama about a sprinter attempting to make it to the Olympic Games in 1980. Then there is “Clownwise, ” a quirky dramedy that was nominated for Best Film and won Best Supporting actor at the local Czech Lion Awards. In the third spot is “Hany,” a film conformed of a single continuous shot depicting the madness occurring during a night out in the city. “The Way Out, ” a drama that screened in the Acid sidebar at Cannes, could also be picked based on that notable international exposure. Lastly, “Delight,” another Czech Lion Best Film nominee, could be the surprise selection, but it will probably prove to be a tad too abstract for voters.
1. "Fair Play" Isa: Intramovies
2. "Clownwise" (Klauni) Isa: Latido
3. "Hany" PC: Barletta
4. "The Way Out" (Cesta Ven) Isa: Premium Films
5. "Delight" (Rozkos) PC: Cineart TV Prague
Denmark
These days Denmark is a powerhouse in this category. After almost tasting glory once again with Vinterberg’s “The Hunt, ” the Danish will return to seek their third consecutive nomination. In order to continue their great streak, they need to choose wisely. “Someone in Love,” about a musician in crisis, has garnered praise from critics internationally, and will seem like the obvious choice. On the other hand, there is the mystery flick “ The Keeper of Lost Causes,” which opened in Denmark late last yearand was nominated for 4 Bodil Awards. Then there is “Sorrow and Joy” another powerful drama from Nils Malmros, whose film “Barbara” represented Denmark in 1992. Unique coming-of-age tale ”Speed Walking” could also be a contender. On the final slot there is the romantic drama “The Miracle,” a film that did well at the Montreal World Film Festival, unlikely but not impossible. Whichever it is, it will certainly be something to watch out for throughout the race.
1. "Someone You Love" (En du elsker) Isa: TrustNordisk
2. "The Keeper of Lost Causes" (Kvinden i buret) Isa: TrustNordisk
3. "Sorrow and Joy" (Sorg og glæde) PC: Nordisk Film Production
4. "Speed Walking" (Kapgang) PC: Nordisk Film Production
5. "The Miracle" (Miraklet) PC: Film i Vast
Estonia
This Baltic country’s film industry has increasingly become more consistent at delivering interesting films. Winning awards across festivals, their absolute frontrunner is “Tangerines, ” a Georgian coproduction about a Estonian man caught up in the middle of a war. Its biggest competition is the black and white historical film “In the Crosswind,” “which is a viable choice given that it deals with a painful episode in the region's history: the mass deportation of Baltic people to Siberia by Russia. Though it looks beautifully done, its particular visual aesthetic might seem to unconventional to some voters. It is still really possible they decide to send it regardless. Finally there is “ Kertu” a romantic drama about an unlikely relationship.
1. "Tangerines" (Mandariinid) Isa: Cinemavault
2. "In the Crosswind" (Risttuules) PC: Allfilm
3. "Kertu, Love is Blind" (Kertu) Isa: Paul Thiltges Distribution Sarl
Finland
Despite the countries long filmmaking tradition, the Finnish have only been nominated once for Aki Kaurismäki's “The Man Without a Past” in 2002. Fortunately for them, they have several great eligible films that will make for a difficult decision. Black and white philosophical drama “ Concrete Night” from Pirjo Honkasalo earned 6 Jussi Awards, given by Finland’s film professionals. Such overwhelming recognition will make it hard to ignore despite the serious competition. The film also had a great festival run. Right behind it are two films by prolific Dome Karukoski, who has represented his country at the Oscar previously. The first one is “The Grump,” a comedy based on the character created by Tuomas Kyro. It will screen at Tiff and will open locally just in time to qualify. Karukoski’s other film “Heart of a Lion,” tells a more serious story about a Neo-Nazi who reconsiders his views after falling in love. Either one of them could be picked as a way to honor the consistently great work this filmmaker puts out. Yet another interesting possibility is “Korso,” about a young man with big basketball dreams. The film was partially produced by the same company that created last year’s Oscar nominated short “Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?” There are several other plausible films, but from all those, the one that seems to have the best prospects is the historical comedy “August Fools.”
1. "Concrete Night" (Betoniyö) Isa: Film Republic
2. "The Grump" (Mielensäpahoittaja) Isa: The Yellow Affair
3. "Heart of a Lion" (Leijonasydän) Isa: The Yellow Affair
4. "Korso" PC: Bufo/Tuffi Films
5. "August Fools" (Mieletön elokuu) Isa: Insomnia World Sales
France
Narrowing down France’s possible selection to five titles is by far one of the must uncertain and difficult tasks. The French film industry releases a vast number of films every year in a variety of genres and sizes. This gives them endless possibilities. Yet, there are some indicators that provide insight to what they might end up choosing. First off, the Cesar Awards. This year’s big winner was Guillaume Gallienne's “Me, Myself and Mum, ” which is a delightfully funny film that shines with originality. It was released last November and could definitely be their selected entry. On the other hand, they could choose to honor legendary filmmaker Alain Resnais- who past away earlier this year - by submitting his last film “Life of Riley.” The film received mixed reactions, but won the Fipresci Prize and the Alfred Bauer Award in Berlin. If they want to go with some fresh young talent, there is Cannes Directors' Fortnight Winner “Love at First Sight, ” the debut feature by Thomas Cailley. Another award winner that qualifies is Katell Quillévéré’s “Suzanne” about a woman that loses it all for the love a deviant man. Last but not least, Mathieu Amalric’s latest directorial effort “The Blue Room” could be a surprise player given the actor’s prestige and talent both in front and behind the camera. It is still up in the air.
1. "Me, Myself and Mum" (Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table!) Isa: Gaumont
2. "Life of Riley" (Aimer, boire et chanter) PC: F Comme Film
3. "Love at First Sight" (Les Conbattants) PC: Nord-Ouest Productions
4. "Suzanne" Isa: Films Distribution
5. "The Blue Room" (La Chambre Bleue) Isa: Alfama Films
Georgia
Impressively on the rise, the Georgian film industry keeps on delivering great works that often make waves across international festivals. Last year’s submission “In Bloom,” was a great success and managed to get U.S. distribution for a small theatrical release. On this occasion, they have three films that have done well internationally. Out of the batch, the most successful has been Levan Koguashvili’s “Blind Dates, ” a charming story of a unique quest for love. A second strong competitor is “Brides,” a drama that screened both at the Berlinale and Tribeca this year. Then, just fresh from winning at Karlovy Vary, there is “Corn Island,” a poetic vision of life from the perspective of rural Georgia. It appears like all three titles will release at home in time to qualify. If that’s the case, Georgia has a tough decision to make
1. "Blind Dates" (Shemtkhveviti paemnebi) Isa: Films Boutique
2. "Brides" (Patardzlebi) Isa: Rezo
3. "Corn Island" (Simindis kundzuli) PC: Arizona Productions
Germany
After releasing a 15-film shortlist, Germany’s prospects look clearer. There are several titles on the list that won’t merit a nomination, but the prominent film that remain will make for a competitive final selection. Winning two prizes in Berlin, “Stations of the Cross,” a look at fundamentalist Catholicism, sounds like a front-runner. However, its subject matter might play against it. Feo Aladag’s latest film “Inbetween Worlds,” about a German soldier in Afghanistan, seems to be a powerful drama on the vein of Susanne Bier’s “In a Better World.” On the third slot is “West,” a moving film about a woman and her son escaping socialist East Germany to discover the other side also has its darkness. Then there is “Beloved Sisters,” a costume drama that seems like a safer choice. It might be too familiar to be selected, but not at all improbable. Lastly, “Home from Home,” which won several national awards. It'ss possible, but its narrative style and extensive running time (225 min.) might make it a much more harder sell.
1. "Stations of the Cross" (Kreuzweg) Isa: Beta Cinema
2. "Inbetween Worlds" (Zwischen Welten) Isa: The Match Factory
3. "West" (Westen) Isa: Picture Tree International
4. "Beloved Sisters" (Die geliebten Schwestern) PC: Bavaria Film
5. "Home from Home - Chronicle of a Vision" (Die andere Heimat - Chronik einer Sehnsucht) Isa: Arri Worldsales
Greece
Even though it not an absolute rule, the Greeks tend to select the Hellenic Awards Best Film winner as their submission. Taking that into account, the clear favorite and almost certain choice is “Little England,” a period piece that won big locally. It’s biggest flaw; however, is the lack of international exposure. If for some reason they wanted to make a bold move and reward an impressive festival run, then Alexandros Avranas’s marvelously perverse “Miss Violence” would be ideal. Another great festival darling is Elina Psikou‘s feature debut “The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas,” a sardonic exploration on fame and identity. On the fourth spot, there is “ The Enemy Within,” a tense crime drama about a family in the aftermath of a home invasion. The film was also honored at the Hellenic Awards. Finally, “Standing Aside, Watching,” about corruption, sexism, and intimidation in a small village, could also be a great entry. Un Certain Regard film “Xenia” by Panos H. Koutras, won’t open in Greece until October, but will be a possible option next year.
1. "Little England" (Mikra Anglia) PC: Black Orange
2."Miss Violence" Isa: Elle Driver
3."The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas" (I Aionia Epistrofi tou Antoni Paraskeva) Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
4."The Enemy Within" (O Ehthros Mou) Isa: Patra Spanou
5. "Standing Aside, Watching" (Na kathesai kai na koitas) Isa: Patra Spanou
Hungary
Hungary’s last submission “The Notebook” managed to make it into the highly competitive 9-film shortlist. This year they have even brighter hopes with a slate of titles that have done very well around the world. Un Certain Regard winner “White God” is undoubtedly the one to beat. It is a rare occasion for the country to win such a high profile prize, thus making it almost impossible to ignore. Nevertheless, if that is not enough to convince the selection committee, “Free Fall” the latest film György Pálfi - whose films “ Hukkie” and “Taxidermia” have represented Hungary in the past - would be the next best choice. It also won several awards recently at Karlovy Vary, which could be of help. Less likely is Virág Zomborácz‘s “Afterlife” another drama that screened at the renowned Czech festival. Other possible titles include Lgbt romantic drama “Land of Storms, “ which screened in Berlin, and dark “ “Heavenly Shift,” which descent international presence.
1. "White God" (Fehér isten) Isa: The Match Factory
2. "Free Fall" (Szabadesés) PC: Jiff Project
3. "Afterlife" (Utóélet) Isa: Hungarian National Film Fund
4. "Land of Storms" (Viharsarok) Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
5. "Heavenly Shift" (Isteni müszak) Isa: Hungarian National Film Fund
Iceland
This small Scandinavian nation seems to have a very easy decision to make. The film “Life in a Fishbowl” has been dubbed by local critics as “the best Icelandic” film ever made” and it has also been an absolute box-office hit in its homeland. The multi-narrative film is by far the most likely to be submitted. However, its closest competitor is Ragnar Bragason‘s “ Metalhead,” a drama about a girl coping with her brother’s death. It was released late last year and won several Edda Awards. With far less possibilities given the two frontrunners is the dramedy “Paris of the North, ” which screened at Karlovy Vary, and comedy “ The Grandad,” which lacks exposure and buzz.
1. "Life in a Fishbowl" (Vonarstræti) Isa: Films Boutique
2. "Metalhead" (Málmhaus) Isa: Picture Tree International
3. "Paris of the North" (París Norðursins) PC: Arizona Productions
4. "The Grandad" (Afinn) PC: Thorsson Productions
Ireland
Since most of country’s releases are in English rather than in the Irish language, most years the country doesn’t have any candidates for this category. Ireland has only submitted to films for consideration as foreign language films. It is unlikely they’ll enter the race this year, but if it manages to be released in time, Irish director Johnny O'Reilly‘s Russian-language film “Moscow Never Sleeps” could be their selected candidate. The film was produced with the help of the Irish Film Funs, a fact that could help claim it as an Irish production. Another film in the Irish language, “An Bronntanas” (The Gift), would be a great choice, but it seems to be originally envisioned for TV as a five part miniseries. It’s hard to know if it will manage to qualify.
1. "Moscow Never Sleeps" (Москва никогда не спит) PC: Snapshot Films
Italy
Returning as current champion, Italy - which is the most successful nation ever in this category – has two main contenders and a couple other minor players. At the top of the list is “Human Capital,” which beat out “The Great Beauty” at the local David di Donatello Awards. Added to that, the film has won almost every award at home and several others abroad. It would be shocking to see the film be ignored. The biggest threat to its flawless run is Cannes Competition film “The Wonders.” It received mixed reviews but the Cannes pedigree could play a big role. Local success “The Mafia Only Kills in Summer” is less likely to have a chance. However, it also received tons of praise at home, so it shouldn’t be entirely disqualified. “Misunderstood,” by Asia Argento, played in the Un Certain Regard section but faces tough competition. Rounding up these five possibilities is “Those Happy Years, ” a personal film by Daniele Luchetti, which received very positive reviews internationally.
1. "Human Capital" (Il capitale umano) PC: Indiana Production Company
2. "The Wonders" (Le meraviglie) Isa: The Match Factory
3. "The Mafia Only Kills in Summer" (La mafia uccide solo d'estate) Isa: Rai Com
4. "Misunderstood" (Incompresa) Isa: Other Angle Pictures
5. "Those Happy Years" (Anni felici) Isa: Celluloid Dreams/Nightmares
Kosovo
The surprise submission could come from the recently independent, war-torn Balkan state. They have a promising feature film by Isa Qosja's “Three Windows and a Hanging,” which has been called “the best film from Kosovo to date.” Dealing with the forced silence and shame rape victims experience in a small village ruled by patriarchal norms, the film seems to be a perfect candidate to be their first submission. It recently premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival, so its biggest challenge would be qualifying based on its unknown release date at home.
1. "Three Windows and a Hanging"
Latvia
Unfortunately for Latvia, their possibilities are extremely limited this year. There are only two films that seem as possible candidates. One is the slasher horror film “The Man in the Orange Jacket.” It sports a great production value and might be an interesting offer, but it is hard to see it get far in the race. Nonetheless, it is still their best chance. The other film "Escaping Riga" is a documentary on historical figures Sergei Eisenstein and Sir Isaiah Berlin. Given its subject matter it wouldn’t be surprising if they chose to with this. Hopefully next year their output gives them more to pick from.
1. "The Man in the Orange Jacket" (M.O.Zh.) Isa: Wide
2. "Escaping Riga" PC: Mistrus Media
Lithuania
Opposite to its Baltic neighbor mentioned above, Lithuania has several notable films that could represent them. After winning the top prizes at the Lithuanian Silver Crane’ awards, “The Gambler” became the clear favorite. However, it is important to mention that despite having narrative features to choose from, Lithuania decided to send a small documentary to represent them last year. This curious fact could play in favor of “ Cenotaphs,” a doc focusing on the search for the remains of dead soldiers from World War II. The film won Best Documentary and was nominated in other categories at the local awards. Then there are three other Silver Crane nominated films. Coming-of-age flick “ Non-Present Time,” family drama “Santa,” and crime thriller “Name in the Dark.” The winner of several of these awards, “The Excursionist” was released too early last year to be considered this time around. Local financial success “Redirected” is mostly in English, thus ineligible.
1. "The Gambler" (Losejas) Isa: Wide
2. "Cenotaph" (Kenotafas) PC: Studio Uljana Kim
3. "Non-Present Time" (Nesamasis laikas) PC: Just a Moment
4. "Santa" PC: Artbox
5. "Name in the Dark" (Vardas tamsoje) PC: Fralita Films...
- 8/31/2014
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
The Transilvania International Film Festival’s (Tiff) main prize went this year to Spanish film-maker Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s Stockholm as the week-long festival came to a close on June 8.
The second feature also picked up the Best Performance Award for leads Javier Pereira and Aura Garrido at the gala awards ceremony on Saturday evening (7).
Almost lost for words as he accepted the prize on the stage of Cluj’s National Theatre, an elated Sorogoyen (pictured) said that these were the film’s first international awards.
Stockholm previously earned best actress and new screenwriter honours in Malaga last year and a Goya this year for Pereira.
Tiff’s international jury including Chicago Film Festival director Michael Kutza, Nfts director Nik Powell and Hungarian film-maker Janos Szasz, presented their Best Directing Award to Poland’s Tomasz Wasilewski for his second feature Floating Skyscrapers and the Special Jury Award to Bulgaria’s Maya Vitkova for her debut Viktoria, which had its...
The second feature also picked up the Best Performance Award for leads Javier Pereira and Aura Garrido at the gala awards ceremony on Saturday evening (7).
Almost lost for words as he accepted the prize on the stage of Cluj’s National Theatre, an elated Sorogoyen (pictured) said that these were the film’s first international awards.
Stockholm previously earned best actress and new screenwriter honours in Malaga last year and a Goya this year for Pereira.
Tiff’s international jury including Chicago Film Festival director Michael Kutza, Nfts director Nik Powell and Hungarian film-maker Janos Szasz, presented their Best Directing Award to Poland’s Tomasz Wasilewski for his second feature Floating Skyscrapers and the Special Jury Award to Bulgaria’s Maya Vitkova for her debut Viktoria, which had its...
- 6/8/2014
- by [email protected] (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Sergei Loznitsa is no stranger to Cannes, both of his previous features competing for the Palme d’Or with 2012’s “In The Fog” winning the critics’ Fipresci prize. So when news went around that he’s making a documentary on the Ukrainian protests, there was only one place for it to premiere. “Maidan” is a study of a people under stress, a spirit hindered by totalitarianism, and the grasping of patriotic straws with the last God-given strength a nation has. The trouble with the picture is that it’s barren of cinematic context; the camera doesn’t so much as tilt or pan, remaining irrevocably fixed and observing straight ahead. Because of this, our patience was tested more than it has been with any other picture at this year’s festival (and it’s worth pointing out, we’ve never seen as many walkouts as we did at this screening...
- 5/26/2014
- by Nikola Grozdanovic
- The Playlist
The Upfront Week started unusually hot (and bothered) this year before the typical cool and dreary weather settled in. In the fog that’s descended over New York as we wrap this year’s marathon, several trends have emerged: Related: Upfronts 2014: What Pilots Are Still Alive, What Projects Are Being Shopped - Comedy continues to go through hard times. In one week, we saw both NBC’s legacy two-hour Must See Thursday comedy block and CBS’ 28-year-old Monday night two-hour comedy block scaled back to one hour. While all broadcast networks showcased new dramas that had people talking, there were few new comedies that made an impression. “Comedy is hard,” network executives have lamented. Fox even opted not to pick up any of its comedy pilots to series. Of the ordered new comedy series, rom-coms are making a very strong showing with such entries as NBC’s Marry Me...
- 5/15/2014
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Exclusive: Sergei Loznitsa’s documentary world premieres as a special screening in Official Selection.
France’s Arp Seléction is the first distributor to pick up Sergei Loznitsa’s documentary Maidan which is having its world premiere as a special screening in Cannes’ Official Selection.
Speaking exclusively with ScreenDaily, Maria Choustova-Baker of the film’s production company Atoms & Void said the Arp had acquired rights to French-speaking territories worldwide, and the film has also been sold to Against Gravity (Poland), Cinema Delicatessen (The Netherlands) and Arthouse Traffic (Ukraine).
She added that Arp Seléction will release the film theatrically in France on May 23.
Shot as events unfolded in Kiev from mid-November 2013, Maidan is one of the first projects from the Dutch-based production outfit Atoms & Void which Loznitsa set up with Choustova-Baker last year.
The company, which is also handling world sales on Maidan, first produced the 20-minute short documentary Letter which won the Golden Dragon and Prix Efa at...
France’s Arp Seléction is the first distributor to pick up Sergei Loznitsa’s documentary Maidan which is having its world premiere as a special screening in Cannes’ Official Selection.
Speaking exclusively with ScreenDaily, Maria Choustova-Baker of the film’s production company Atoms & Void said the Arp had acquired rights to French-speaking territories worldwide, and the film has also been sold to Against Gravity (Poland), Cinema Delicatessen (The Netherlands) and Arthouse Traffic (Ukraine).
She added that Arp Seléction will release the film theatrically in France on May 23.
Shot as events unfolded in Kiev from mid-November 2013, Maidan is one of the first projects from the Dutch-based production outfit Atoms & Void which Loznitsa set up with Choustova-Baker last year.
The company, which is also handling world sales on Maidan, first produced the 20-minute short documentary Letter which won the Golden Dragon and Prix Efa at...
- 5/15/2014
- by [email protected] (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
You might not know his name, but Ukrainian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa is no stranger to the Cannes Film Festival. In 2010 he appeared in competition with "My Joy," and returned to the category in 2012 with "In The Fog," picking up the Fipresci Prize for his efforts. And now he's back with a project that documents one of the most dramatic moments in recent history. Set to play as a Special Selection, "Maidan" finds Loznitsa in documentary mode, exploring the protests in Kiev, Ukraine against the government from the ground level. The first trailer for the film is here and it's potent stuff. Here's the official synopsis (edited for clarity): Maidan, is the central square of Kiev, capital of Ukraine. Starting in November 2013, citizens of all ages and all faiths gathered to protest against the regime of President Yanukovych, who was forced to resign in late March. From November to March,...
- 4/17/2014
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Babi Yar
Director: Sergei Loznitsa
Writer: Sergei Loznitsa
Producers: Rick McCallum, Arte France Cinema
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available
Cast: Cast of hundreds, thousands.
Documentarian filmmakers Sergei Loznitsa made a fascinating entrance into narrative filmmaking back in 2010 with My Joy, followed by In the Fog in 2012. Now, he’s preparing his most ambitious narrative film yet with this dire tale, which was just announced as being backed by Arte France Cinema. While little is known beyond the subject matter, Loznitsa’s treatment is bound to be as visually poetic as it will be profoundly disturbing and with the current climate in Ukraine, we imagine a timely one.
Gist: Concerns the Babi Yar massacre of September 1941 when 30,000 Jews were killed by Nazi troops over a three-day period.
Release Date: If this begins filming in 2014, we’re hoping to see this at Cannes 2015. Next: Our number 9 pick…
More Top 200 Most Anticipated Films...
Director: Sergei Loznitsa
Writer: Sergei Loznitsa
Producers: Rick McCallum, Arte France Cinema
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available
Cast: Cast of hundreds, thousands.
Documentarian filmmakers Sergei Loznitsa made a fascinating entrance into narrative filmmaking back in 2010 with My Joy, followed by In the Fog in 2012. Now, he’s preparing his most ambitious narrative film yet with this dire tale, which was just announced as being backed by Arte France Cinema. While little is known beyond the subject matter, Loznitsa’s treatment is bound to be as visually poetic as it will be profoundly disturbing and with the current climate in Ukraine, we imagine a timely one.
Gist: Concerns the Babi Yar massacre of September 1941 when 30,000 Jews were killed by Nazi troops over a three-day period.
Release Date: If this begins filming in 2014, we’re hoping to see this at Cannes 2015. Next: Our number 9 pick…
More Top 200 Most Anticipated Films...
- 3/25/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
‘The Lunchbox’ movie review: ‘Exceptional film’ that would have deserved an Oscar nomination (photo: Nimrat Kaur in ‘The Lunchbox’) The Lunchbox / Dabba was not the Film Federation of India’s submission to the 2014 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award. This was reported as controversial at the time, particularly in the Indian film community. The Film Federation chose instead Gyan Correa’s The Good Road, which failed to be shortlisted by the Academy. We have not seen The Good Road, but it’d better be really good; otherwise, the harsh criticism of India’s Film Federation will be justified: The Lunchbox, writer-director Ritesh Batra’s debut feature, is an exceptional film, crafted to present an India that is profoundly traditional in many ways, yet emotionally modern, with characters engaged in deep reflection on the past and the deepest consideration of the future. In fact, The Lunchbox is a wonderful movie that...
- 3/6/2014
- by Tim Cogshell
- Alt Film Guide
As the Toronto Film Festival acquisitions market gets cracking, I find it helpful to see how some of last year’s titles fared at the box office. It’s an instructive way to keep things in perspective. Titles below reflect theatrical grosses, but remember, multi-platform business is not reflected and in some cases has turned films into profitable winners. Related: Toronto 2013: Will Deals Take Back Seat? Toronto Film Festival 2012 Acquisitions at the Domestic B.O. Title (distributor) Domestic B.O. (in millions except where noted) The Place Beyond the Pines (Focus Features) $21.4 Spring Breakers (A24) $14.1 Much Ado About Nothing (Roadside Attractions) $4.27 Frances Ha (IFC) $4.05 Emperor (Roadside Attractions) $3.35 Stories We Tell (Roadside Attractions) $1.59 Girl Most Likely (Roadside Attractions) $1.38 The Lords of Salem (Anchor Bay) $1.17 What Maisie Knew (Millennium Ent.) $1.07 Still Mine (Samuel Goldwyn) $587K The Reluctant Fundamentalist (IFC) $529K Arthur Newman (Cinedigm) $208K No Place on Earth (Magnolia) $200K John Dies at the End...
- 9/6/2013
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
Sergei Loznitsa is fixated on time, thematically and formally. While his follow-up to My Joy lacks the earlier film's tricky structure, which suggested a present condemned to continually echo the trauma of the past, it foregrounds the subject in other, subtler ways.
A spartan not-quite-war movie, In the Fog is set—or, perhaps more accurately, located—in Nazi-occupied Belarus. Long takes—camera carefully dollying backwards through endless forest—are the movie's stock in trade. Loznitsa uses match cuts sparingly, and because of this, each shot registers as an individualized formal / narrative structure—a chunk of real time. Edits register as gaps rather than links. The titular fog—which rolls in during the final scene—is the fog of history; for Loznitsa, the past is first and foremost a once-present.
In the Fog opens with a three-or-so minute handheld shot of a village marketplace, where disinterested Belarusians and Germans half-observe an off-screen group execution.
A spartan not-quite-war movie, In the Fog is set—or, perhaps more accurately, located—in Nazi-occupied Belarus. Long takes—camera carefully dollying backwards through endless forest—are the movie's stock in trade. Loznitsa uses match cuts sparingly, and because of this, each shot registers as an individualized formal / narrative structure—a chunk of real time. Edits register as gaps rather than links. The titular fog—which rolls in during the final scene—is the fog of history; for Loznitsa, the past is first and foremost a once-present.
In the Fog opens with a three-or-so minute handheld shot of a village marketplace, where disinterested Belarusians and Germans half-observe an off-screen group execution.
- 6/20/2013
- by Ignatiy Vishnevetsky
- MUBI
Constructed with the same patient sorcery and elliptical menace as director Sergei Loznitsa's previous art-ordeal, My Joy, the WWII saga In the Fog opens with a tracking shot through the 1942 equivalent of a Bosch painting. For almost four minutes, Loznitsa's camera prowls after three Nazi-arrested locals as they're led to the gallows through an occupied Belorussian village, past children and weeping babushkas and relaxing Germans. It's a whole film in one bite, because Loznitsa shifts perspectives continuously, as he did in My Joy, shuffling points of view and catching details, eventually settling his sight on a cart stacked high with picked-over cow rib cages. The hanging sets the film's dominoes tumbling, and we don't even see it in the tumult.
In t...
In t...
- 6/12/2013
- Village Voice
"Does a war really transform us to that extent?" Today's indie/foreign trailer to feature is for a film called In The Fog, directed by Sergei Loznitsa (of My Joy), an "eerie, dreamlike World War II drama" that played in Cannes and Tiff last year. A number of my colleagues ranked this highly as one of the best films of 2012, though it's just now getting a theatrical release. Vladimir Svirskiy stars as a partisan suspected of being a traitor who is apprehended by his comrades and taken out into the woods to be executed — but as the night fog closes in, the difference between darkness and light (or innocence and guilt) becomes ever more murky. Here's the official Us trailer for Sergei Loznitsa's In The Fog, available in high def on Apple: It is 1942 and the western edge of the Ussr is under German occupation. In the region, local...
- 6/2/2013
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Strand Releasing has acquired all North American rights to Alain Guiraudie’s "Stranger By the Lake," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard. Written and directed by Guiraudie, this sexy, and explicit drama has been one of the festival's buzz titles. Set against the backdrop of a beach where men cruise for sex, young Franck (Pierre Deladonchamps) finds himself attracted to Michel (Christophe Paou), who may be a killer. Jon Gerrans from Strand negotitated the deal with Films du Losange’s head of sales, Agathe Valentin.“We’re thrilled to be able to work with Mr. Guiraudie’s acclaimed film, which has garnered a lot of positive reaction with audiences at the official screenings," said Gerrans. "It’s a true and original hyrbrid.” Strand Releasing is currently releasing the Ulrich Seidl "Paradise" Trilogy as well as last year’s Cannes entries, Sergei Loznitsa’s "In the Fog,...
- 5/22/2013
- by Dana Harris
- Indiewire
Our correspondents on the Croisette might have their heads immersed in this year's festival, but some of the 2012 line-up is still finding their way to these shores. Among them: "In The Fog," the Russian wartime drama from Sergei Loznitsa, the director of "My Joy." The film premiered in Competition at last year's Cannes (picking up the Fipresci Award), and is coming to the U.S. from June 14th, and we're pleased to say that we've got the exclusive reveal of the film's U.S. poster below. Set in Belarus in 1942, the film follows a railway laborer who's suspected of being a Nazi collaborator, and while we haven't yet had the chance to catch it for ourselves, it's won rave reviews for many -- Robbie Collin in the Daily Telegraph called it "a masterpiece of serious cinema; long, slow and grave as the grave." The film will open on June 14th...
- 5/20/2013
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
More like an Avengers Assemble sequel than a tired third instalment, the reinvigorated action hero powers in at No 1
The winner
As Disney prepared Iron Man 3 for release, the question was always: would it perform like the first two instalments in the Tony Stark series, or could it fly close to the astonishing success of The Avengers last summer? Iron Man opened in May 2008 with £5.47m including £667,000 in previews. Iron Man 2 followed two years later with £7.66m including previews of £877,000, an increase of 40%. Then April 2012 saw The Avengers soar away with £15.78m, including £2.55m in previews – more than double the Iron Man 2 debut.
With £13.71m including £2.32m in previews, Iron Man 3 is 79% up on the opening of Iron Man 2 and just 13% down on the equivalent number for Avengers. In other words, the film has performed more like a sequel to Avengers than to the Iron Man movies.
The winner
As Disney prepared Iron Man 3 for release, the question was always: would it perform like the first two instalments in the Tony Stark series, or could it fly close to the astonishing success of The Avengers last summer? Iron Man opened in May 2008 with £5.47m including £667,000 in previews. Iron Man 2 followed two years later with £7.66m including previews of £877,000, an increase of 40%. Then April 2012 saw The Avengers soar away with £15.78m, including £2.55m in previews – more than double the Iron Man 2 debut.
With £13.71m including £2.32m in previews, Iron Man 3 is 79% up on the opening of Iron Man 2 and just 13% down on the equivalent number for Avengers. In other words, the film has performed more like a sequel to Avengers than to the Iron Man movies.
- 5/2/2013
- by Charles Gant
- The Guardian - Film News
Tell us about the movies you've been watching – and find out what our critics made of them
Whether you visited your local movie theater or chose to cozy up on the sofa, we would like to hear about the films you've been watching over the past few days.
Take a look at what our critics had to say about this weeks releases:
Iron Man 3
Peter Bradshaw said: It is quality Friday night entertainment: the innocent pleasure of the week. Robert Downey Jr is back, smashing walls and cracking wise as the billionaire industrialist Tony Stark, now out of the closet as Iron Man, living the dream in his future-tech clifftop pad … This is luxury superhero entertainment. Read more
The Look of Love
Peter Bradshaw said: This is a shallow but watchable movie, and it nicely conveys the world of semi-respectable Soho porn, sadder and tattier than its sleazier end,...
Whether you visited your local movie theater or chose to cozy up on the sofa, we would like to hear about the films you've been watching over the past few days.
Take a look at what our critics had to say about this weeks releases:
Iron Man 3
Peter Bradshaw said: It is quality Friday night entertainment: the innocent pleasure of the week. Robert Downey Jr is back, smashing walls and cracking wise as the billionaire industrialist Tony Stark, now out of the closet as Iron Man, living the dream in his future-tech clifftop pad … This is luxury superhero entertainment. Read more
The Look of Love
Peter Bradshaw said: This is a shallow but watchable movie, and it nicely conveys the world of semi-respectable Soho porn, sadder and tattier than its sleazier end,...
- 4/29/2013
- The Guardian - Film News
Sergei Loznitsa's stark parable about Soviet collaboration with the Nazis has echoes of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky
Sergei Loznitsa's My Joy, a fable about the increasingly nightmarish journey of a lorry driver lost in a violent post-communist Russia, was well received at Cannes three years ago but is yet to be released in this country. His second film, In the Fog, based on a highly regarded novel by Vasili Bykov, also received a warm welcome in Cannes and is one of the best Russian films to open in Britain over the past decade. It's set in Loznitsa's native Belarus in 1942, and the fog of the title is both literal and metaphorical, the fog of war that swirls around its three principal characters, Russians involved in the struggle against the German invaders.
In the Fog unfolds at a stately pace, beginning with a striking opening sequence shot in what appears...
Sergei Loznitsa's My Joy, a fable about the increasingly nightmarish journey of a lorry driver lost in a violent post-communist Russia, was well received at Cannes three years ago but is yet to be released in this country. His second film, In the Fog, based on a highly regarded novel by Vasili Bykov, also received a warm welcome in Cannes and is one of the best Russian films to open in Britain over the past decade. It's set in Loznitsa's native Belarus in 1942, and the fog of the title is both literal and metaphorical, the fog of war that swirls around its three principal characters, Russians involved in the struggle against the German invaders.
In the Fog unfolds at a stately pace, beginning with a striking opening sequence shot in what appears...
- 4/29/2013
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
Iron Man 3 | The Look Of Love | Bernie | Scarecrow | In The Fog | The Lords Of Salem | The ABCs Of Death | White Elephant | I Love New Year
Iron Man 3 (12A)
(Shane Black, 2013, Us) Robert Downey Jr, Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Rebecca Hall. 130 mins
Fears of post-Avengers superhero blowout fatigue are briskly swept away by Marvel's latest epic, whose snappy, poppy script packs in twists and quips between the bludgeoning (but technically seamless) action. It's Kingsley's Bin Laden-esque Mandarin and Pearce's creepy scientist who are out to de-swagger Tony Stark this time round, but there are surprises in store for everyone.
The Look Of Love (18)
(Michael Winterbottom, 2013, UK) Steve Coogan, Anna Friel, Imogen Poots, Tamsin Egerton. 101 mins
Despite the Soho excess, the retro kitsch, the racy subject matter and the great cast, this biopic of Britain's pornographer-in-chief Paul Raymond somehow never feels like it's telling the full story.
Iron Man 3 (12A)
(Shane Black, 2013, Us) Robert Downey Jr, Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Rebecca Hall. 130 mins
Fears of post-Avengers superhero blowout fatigue are briskly swept away by Marvel's latest epic, whose snappy, poppy script packs in twists and quips between the bludgeoning (but technically seamless) action. It's Kingsley's Bin Laden-esque Mandarin and Pearce's creepy scientist who are out to de-swagger Tony Stark this time round, but there are surprises in store for everyone.
The Look Of Love (18)
(Michael Winterbottom, 2013, UK) Steve Coogan, Anna Friel, Imogen Poots, Tamsin Egerton. 101 mins
Despite the Soho excess, the retro kitsch, the racy subject matter and the great cast, this biopic of Britain's pornographer-in-chief Paul Raymond somehow never feels like it's telling the full story.
- 4/27/2013
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
Xan Brooks presents our weekly round-up of the big cinema releases. On the show this week, Steve Coogan plays adult entertainment entrepreneur Paul Raymond in The Look of Love, Michael Winterbottom's biopic; the world needs a saving a third time in the Marvel action film Iron Man 3; Jack Black kills Shirley MacLaine with kindness (and then a gun) in Bernie; and the dark days immediately after the second world war are illuminated by Sergei Loznitsa's drama In the Fog. With Catherine Shoard and Henry Barnes.
• This is the audio-only version of The Guardian Film Show
Xan BrooksHenry BarnesCatherine ShoardThibaut Remy...
• This is the audio-only version of The Guardian Film Show
Xan BrooksHenry BarnesCatherine ShoardThibaut Remy...
- 4/26/2013
- by Xan Brooks, Henry Barnes, Catherine Shoard, Thibaut Remy
- The Guardian - Film News
When a Nazi collaborator is led into the Belarusian forest to be executed, why doesn't he protest? Sergei Loznitsa's chilling drama explores the agonies of war and puts European history on trial
The fog of the title is the fog of war, the fog of fear and the abysmal fog of European history: it is a kind of residual pall of smoke across the field of battle – maybe it also means the obliteration brought by death itself. This is the chilling and mysterious historical parable from film-maker Sergei Loznitsa, based on the 1989 novel by the Belarusian author Vasili Bykov, resembling Elem Klimov's Come and See. (Bykov also wrote the 1970 novel The Ordeal, filmed by Larisa Shepitko as The Ascent.)
Its subject is the Nazis' invasion of the Soviet Union, and in particular the poisonous shame of collaboration that they disseminated in every part of the Reich. An important...
The fog of the title is the fog of war, the fog of fear and the abysmal fog of European history: it is a kind of residual pall of smoke across the field of battle – maybe it also means the obliteration brought by death itself. This is the chilling and mysterious historical parable from film-maker Sergei Loznitsa, based on the 1989 novel by the Belarusian author Vasili Bykov, resembling Elem Klimov's Come and See. (Bykov also wrote the 1970 novel The Ordeal, filmed by Larisa Shepitko as The Ascent.)
Its subject is the Nazis' invasion of the Soviet Union, and in particular the poisonous shame of collaboration that they disseminated in every part of the Reich. An important...
- 4/26/2013
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Xan Brooks presents our weekly round-up of the big cinema releases. On the show this week, Steve Coogan plays adult entertainment entrepreneur Paul Raymond in The Look of Love, Michael Winterbottom's biopic; the world needs a saving a third time in the Marvel action film Iron Man 3; Jack Black kills Shirley MacLaine with kindness (and then a gun) in Bernie; and the dark days immediately after the second world war are illuminated by Sergei Loznitsa's drama In The Fog. With Catherine Shoard and Henry Barnes
Got no love for video? Listen to the audio version of this week's show Continue reading...
Got no love for video? Listen to the audio version of this week's show Continue reading...
- 4/26/2013
- by Xan Brooks, Catherine Shoard, Henry Barnes, Elliot Smith, Richard Sprenger and Thibaut Remy
- The Guardian - Film News
Although cinephiles across the globe are currently preparing themselves for the glitz and glamour of the forthcoming Cannes Film Festival, we still haven’t worked our way through the features ‘In Competition’ from last years’ event yet, one of which is the emotionally charged World War Two drama In the Fog, as Belarusian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa’s follow up to My Joy finally earns its British cinematic release.
We begin by following the harrowingly pensive walk of three partisan rebels, approaching the stage where they will soon be hanged by the Nazis currently occupying Belarus. Although the execution is a penalty for those involved in the sabotage of a train, the one man to have avoided any punishment is Sushenya (Vladimir Svirskiy). This let-off leads to accusations of him being a Nazi collaborator, and he seems to be meeting a fateful end of his own when rebels Burov (Vladislav Abashin...
We begin by following the harrowingly pensive walk of three partisan rebels, approaching the stage where they will soon be hanged by the Nazis currently occupying Belarus. Although the execution is a penalty for those involved in the sabotage of a train, the one man to have avoided any punishment is Sushenya (Vladimir Svirskiy). This let-off leads to accusations of him being a Nazi collaborator, and he seems to be meeting a fateful end of his own when rebels Burov (Vladislav Abashin...
- 4/25/2013
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
★★★★☆ An incredibly atmospheric Second World War three-hander exploring the notion that the fight against oppression may not necessarily equate to the fight for freedom, Belarusian director Sergei Loznitsa's In the Fog (V tumane, 2012) won rave reviews upon its Cannes debut in competition last year - and rightly so. Only his second narrative feature (following 2010's My Joy), Loznitsa once again proves himself to be an adept storyteller, weaving together three interconnected narratives - adapted from a short story by Vasil Bykaŭ - into a complex, weighty parable that feels like it could only ever have been told on the big screen.
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- 4/24/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
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