Coureur won the events best project pitch, while Cloduboy triumphed in the Works In Progress strand.
Organisers of the inaugural NeXT event in Ghent, hosted by Flanders Image, intend to re-stage the event in 2017 following positive feedback from industry at this year’s programme.
NeXT welcomed international industry guests – including festival programmers, distributors and sales executives – to meet with Belgian producers and distributors, view finished Flemish films, and listen to pitches of projects in development or presentations of works in progress.
There were eight projects in development pitched, with an international jury selecting Coureur as best pitch. In the Works In Progress, the jury picked Cloudboy as the winner of the 13 films in post-production.
Finished films screening included Fien Troch’s Home, Peter Monsaert’s Le Ciel Flamand, Bavo Defurne’s Souvenir, Christophe Van Rompaey’s Vincent And The End of the World, and Nic Balthazar’s Everybody Happy.
Peter Bouckaert [pictured] of leading Belgian producer Eyeworks pitched...
Organisers of the inaugural NeXT event in Ghent, hosted by Flanders Image, intend to re-stage the event in 2017 following positive feedback from industry at this year’s programme.
NeXT welcomed international industry guests – including festival programmers, distributors and sales executives – to meet with Belgian producers and distributors, view finished Flemish films, and listen to pitches of projects in development or presentations of works in progress.
There were eight projects in development pitched, with an international jury selecting Coureur as best pitch. In the Works In Progress, the jury picked Cloudboy as the winner of the 13 films in post-production.
Finished films screening included Fien Troch’s Home, Peter Monsaert’s Le Ciel Flamand, Bavo Defurne’s Souvenir, Christophe Van Rompaey’s Vincent And The End of the World, and Nic Balthazar’s Everybody Happy.
Peter Bouckaert [pictured] of leading Belgian producer Eyeworks pitched...
- 10/14/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Coureur won the events best project pitch, while Cloduboy triumphed in the Works In Progress strand.
The inaugural NeXT event in Ghent, hosted by Flanders Image, has revealed its best pitch and works in progress winners.
NeXT welcomed international industry guests – including festival programmers, distributors and sales executives – to meet with Belgian producers and distributors, view finished Flemish films, and listen to pitches of projects in development or presentations of works in progress.
There were eight projects in development pitched, with an international jury selecting Coureur as best pitch. In the Works In Progress, the jury picked Cloudboy as the winner of the 13 films in post-production.
Finished films screening included Fien Troch’s Home, Peter Monsaert’s Le Ciel Flamand, Bavo Defurne’s Souvenir, Christophe Van Rompaey’s Vincent And The End of the World, and Nic Balthazar’s Everybody Happy.
Peter Bouckaert [pictured] of leading Belgian producer Eyeworks pitched Stijn Coninx’s Don’t Shoot and presented...
The inaugural NeXT event in Ghent, hosted by Flanders Image, has revealed its best pitch and works in progress winners.
NeXT welcomed international industry guests – including festival programmers, distributors and sales executives – to meet with Belgian producers and distributors, view finished Flemish films, and listen to pitches of projects in development or presentations of works in progress.
There were eight projects in development pitched, with an international jury selecting Coureur as best pitch. In the Works In Progress, the jury picked Cloudboy as the winner of the 13 films in post-production.
Finished films screening included Fien Troch’s Home, Peter Monsaert’s Le Ciel Flamand, Bavo Defurne’s Souvenir, Christophe Van Rompaey’s Vincent And The End of the World, and Nic Balthazar’s Everybody Happy.
Peter Bouckaert [pictured] of leading Belgian producer Eyeworks pitched Stijn Coninx’s Don’t Shoot and presented...
- 10/14/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Roskam’s third feature The Racer And The Jailbird starring Matthias Schoenaerts will be among the line-up.
Flanders Image – a division of the Flanders Audiovisual Fund — is hosting the first NeXT event from Oct 9-12 in Ghent, Belgium.
The event will include a showcase of new films and pitches of future projects, alongside works in progress presentations from both established names and new talents of Belgian cinema made in Flanders. There will also be a day of talks, workshops and panel discussions that bring together local filmmakers and international experts.
Among the high profile Flemish films to be discussed will be Michael R Roskam’s third feature The Racer And The Jailbird, described as a dark romantic drama and starring his Bullhead star Matthias Schoenaerts alongside Adèle Exarchopoulos; and Loft director Erik Van Looy’s new thriller The Prime Minister, which is being sold by The Works. Those are both part of short works in progress presentations...
Flanders Image – a division of the Flanders Audiovisual Fund — is hosting the first NeXT event from Oct 9-12 in Ghent, Belgium.
The event will include a showcase of new films and pitches of future projects, alongside works in progress presentations from both established names and new talents of Belgian cinema made in Flanders. There will also be a day of talks, workshops and panel discussions that bring together local filmmakers and international experts.
Among the high profile Flemish films to be discussed will be Michael R Roskam’s third feature The Racer And The Jailbird, described as a dark romantic drama and starring his Bullhead star Matthias Schoenaerts alongside Adèle Exarchopoulos; and Loft director Erik Van Looy’s new thriller The Prime Minister, which is being sold by The Works. Those are both part of short works in progress presentations...
- 9/30/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
A number of years ago author turned director Nic Balthazar made his debut behind the camera with an adaptation of his novel "Nothing Was All He Said" which was based on the true story of an autistic boy who committed suicide because of bullying. The novel was a huge hit, spawning all sorts of adaptations including musicals and Ben X (trailer) followed suit, garnering a number of awards and being selected as Belgium's Oscar entry. It looks like the book still has legs as now director Erik Leijonborg is taking a stab at the material.
Irl stars Valter Skarsgard, the youngest of the Skarsgard clan to make the jump into film, as Elias the bullied kid who finds escape from his real life trouble [Continued ...]...
Irl stars Valter Skarsgard, the youngest of the Skarsgard clan to make the jump into film, as Elias the bullied kid who finds escape from his real life trouble [Continued ...]...
- 8/22/2013
- QuietEarth.us
DVD Release Date: March 19, 2013
Price: DVD $24.99
Studio: Strand Releasing
The 2012 Belgian drama (with a bit of comedy), Time Of My Life is written and directed by Nic Balthazar (Ben X).
Based on the true story of Mario Verstraete, the film revolves around a vigorous campaign to legalize euthanasia in Belgium. Just when Mario’s (Koen De Graeve) political career is about to get under stream he is diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis. Told through the eyes of his doctor friend, Thomas (Geert Van Rampelberg), the movie focuses on how Mario and his friends deal with the crisis and come to terms with both the philosophical and profoundly human sides of the issue.
Released in theaters in Belgium, Turkey and The Netherlands in early 2012, Time Of My Life is premiering in the U.S. on DVD. Theatrical reviews of the film in Europe were generally favorable.
The...
Price: DVD $24.99
Studio: Strand Releasing
The 2012 Belgian drama (with a bit of comedy), Time Of My Life is written and directed by Nic Balthazar (Ben X).
Based on the true story of Mario Verstraete, the film revolves around a vigorous campaign to legalize euthanasia in Belgium. Just when Mario’s (Koen De Graeve) political career is about to get under stream he is diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis. Told through the eyes of his doctor friend, Thomas (Geert Van Rampelberg), the movie focuses on how Mario and his friends deal with the crisis and come to terms with both the philosophical and profoundly human sides of the issue.
Released in theaters in Belgium, Turkey and The Netherlands in early 2012, Time Of My Life is premiering in the U.S. on DVD. Theatrical reviews of the film in Europe were generally favorable.
The...
- 2/27/2013
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
This year the Paris based sales agent only has a pair of films in Cannes – Gilles Jacob’s own doc about the day of the 60th anniversary festivities called A Special Day, and in the Critics’ Week section they’re repping Sandrine Bonnaire’s Maddened by His Absence (pic above).
Armed Hands (Mains ARMÉES) by Pierre Jolivet
Maddened By His Absence (J’Enrage De Son Absence) by Sandrine Bonnaire
Yossi by Eytan Fox
30 Beats by Alexis Lloyd
38 Witnesses (38 TÉMOINS) by Lucas Belvaux
A Special Day (Une JOURNÉE PARTICULIÈRE) by Gilles Jacob
Captive by Brillante Mendoza
Citadel by Ciaran Foy
Duch, Master Of The Forges Of Hell by Rithy Panh
Paris Under Watch
The Cherry On The Cake (La Cerise Sur Le Gateau) by Laura Morante
Time Of My Life (Tot Altijd) by Nic Balthazar
War Witch (Rebelle) by Kim Nguyen...
Armed Hands (Mains ARMÉES) by Pierre Jolivet
Maddened By His Absence (J’Enrage De Son Absence) by Sandrine Bonnaire
Yossi by Eytan Fox
30 Beats by Alexis Lloyd
38 Witnesses (38 TÉMOINS) by Lucas Belvaux
A Special Day (Une JOURNÉE PARTICULIÈRE) by Gilles Jacob
Captive by Brillante Mendoza
Citadel by Ciaran Foy
Duch, Master Of The Forges Of Hell by Rithy Panh
Paris Under Watch
The Cherry On The Cake (La Cerise Sur Le Gateau) by Laura Morante
Time Of My Life (Tot Altijd) by Nic Balthazar
War Witch (Rebelle) by Kim Nguyen...
- 5/17/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
- Hollywood latest lassoed import might be Spanish director Nacho Vigalondo, Variety reports that the director behind Timecrimes (the fantasy thriller that was a popular title on the fantasy film fest circuit and was released by Magnet late last year), will take on the action comedy format for Mandate Pictures and Steve Zaillian via their Film Rites co-venture. Usually foreign filmmakers take on "other people's projects", but this isn't the case for Vigalondo, he is bringing his own idea for a film to the table and will have Pat Healy (the co-lead in Great World of Sound) write the script. Did these two meet in Sundance? Gangland revolves around a team of video-game developers who get in over their heads after they promise to deliver the most realistic game of all time, titled “Gangland,” and soon find themselves having to survive by their own wits in a real-life criminal underworld.
- 7/31/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
Chicago – The final week of the 12th Annual EU Film Festival at the Siskel Film Center perfectly illustrates the main strength of this festival - amazing diversity. From what we had time to see of the final stretch of films, the four highlights couldn’t be more diverse, featuring movies from four different countries with four completely different tones and styles.
The highlights of the first three weeks of EU included a coming-of-age drama from Ireland (“Kisses”), a sexy romantic comedy from France (“The Girl From Monaco”), an amazing Danish drama (“Worlds Apart”), and a very interesting horror film from Belgium (“Left Bank”). Read more here, here, and here)
The final week takes us back to two of those countries - Belgium and France - and also features a fascinating Finnish shocker before closing with a gentle and sweet film from Sweden. Overall, it’s been a fantastic festival for...
The highlights of the first three weeks of EU included a coming-of-age drama from Ireland (“Kisses”), a sexy romantic comedy from France (“The Girl From Monaco”), an amazing Danish drama (“Worlds Apart”), and a very interesting horror film from Belgium (“Left Bank”). Read more here, here, and here)
The final week takes us back to two of those countries - Belgium and France - and also features a fascinating Finnish shocker before closing with a gentle and sweet film from Sweden. Overall, it’s been a fantastic festival for...
- 3/25/2009
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
BRUSSELS -- 2007 was a vintage year for Flemish cinema, with a record 1.2 million people seeing Flemish movies, according to figures from the Flemish Audiovisual Fund.
Flemish films also were selected 600 times for festivals and won prizes or were nominated 115 times.
The surge was led by movies such as Dominique Deruddere's "Firmin" and Nic Balthazar's "Ben X", which helped audience figures leap past the previous record in 2003 and more than double the 2004 number.
Flemish films also were selected 600 times for festivals and won prizes or were nominated 115 times.
The surge was led by movies such as Dominique Deruddere's "Firmin" and Nic Balthazar's "Ben X", which helped audience figures leap past the previous record in 2003 and more than double the 2004 number.
- 4/24/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
BRUSSELS -- Flemish cinema enjoyed a record year in 2007 thanks to such local movies as Dominique Deruddere's "Firmin" and Nic Balthazar's "Ben X".
Audience figures for Flemish films surged past the record set in 2003, were 25% higher than last year and more than double the 2004 number, according to figures from the Flemish Audiovisual Fund (VAF).
Even before the year is out, the VAF said that the 1.1 million admissions to Flemish movies in Belgium had beaten the 2003 milestone, set when "The Alzheimer Case" (The Memory of a Killer), "Team Spirit 2" and "Any Way the Wind Blows" were showing.
Five Flemish Belgian films attracted more than 100,000 cinemagoers this year. Two films already have exceeded the 200,000 mark: "Firmin" (219,721) and "Ben X" (253,473). "Ben X", Belgium's entry for the foreign-language film Oscar, also is set for a remake for the U.S. market.
They were followed by the police drama "Missing" (Vermist), directed by Jan Verheyen, which set a record for a local film at the Belgian boxoffice, grossing €341,000 its opening five days (its admissions total is 175,696).
Audience figures for Flemish films surged past the record set in 2003, were 25% higher than last year and more than double the 2004 number, according to figures from the Flemish Audiovisual Fund (VAF).
Even before the year is out, the VAF said that the 1.1 million admissions to Flemish movies in Belgium had beaten the 2003 milestone, set when "The Alzheimer Case" (The Memory of a Killer), "Team Spirit 2" and "Any Way the Wind Blows" were showing.
Five Flemish Belgian films attracted more than 100,000 cinemagoers this year. Two films already have exceeded the 200,000 mark: "Firmin" (219,721) and "Ben X" (253,473). "Ben X", Belgium's entry for the foreign-language film Oscar, also is set for a remake for the U.S. market.
They were followed by the police drama "Missing" (Vermist), directed by Jan Verheyen, which set a record for a local film at the Belgian boxoffice, grossing €341,000 its opening five days (its admissions total is 175,696).
- 12/18/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
MMG/EFP New York Industry Screenings
NEW YORK -- Ben X is a strong-minded debut from Belgian director Nic Balthazar, who ambitiously takes on three difficult themes -- schoolroom bullying, autism and the influence of computer games on those who play them.
Balthazar does a fine job at weaving these together to make a salient point about how online gamers can find confidence and self-belief through their hobby. Ben X is only let down by a feel-good ending that seems superfluous. More festival exposure is a strong possibility, and its courageous take on social issues should lead to TV sales.
The story, which is based on fact, centers on Ben (Greg Timmerman), an autistic teenager who is bullied at school. His condition makes forging social ties difficult, so he immerses himself in an online game called Archlord. In this virtual reality, he acts heroically. When the bullying reaches an unbearable level, Ben tries to use the lessons he has learned about courage online in the real world.
Ben X works very well as a character study that concentrates on social and psychological issues. Timmerman puts in a convincing performance as the introverted youth and is helped by the director's decision to avoid sentimentality. There's a rawness to the story that makes it engrossing. But the ending damages the movie's credibility. Balthazar's determination to draw a positive message from a negative situation doesn't quite fit.
The way the computer game Archlord -- a real online game -- is integrated into the visuals is impressive. The film never jars when Ben morphs into his online character.
NEW YORK -- Ben X is a strong-minded debut from Belgian director Nic Balthazar, who ambitiously takes on three difficult themes -- schoolroom bullying, autism and the influence of computer games on those who play them.
Balthazar does a fine job at weaving these together to make a salient point about how online gamers can find confidence and self-belief through their hobby. Ben X is only let down by a feel-good ending that seems superfluous. More festival exposure is a strong possibility, and its courageous take on social issues should lead to TV sales.
The story, which is based on fact, centers on Ben (Greg Timmerman), an autistic teenager who is bullied at school. His condition makes forging social ties difficult, so he immerses himself in an online game called Archlord. In this virtual reality, he acts heroically. When the bullying reaches an unbearable level, Ben tries to use the lessons he has learned about courage online in the real world.
Ben X works very well as a character study that concentrates on social and psychological issues. Timmerman puts in a convincing performance as the introverted youth and is helped by the director's decision to avoid sentimentality. There's a rawness to the story that makes it engrossing. But the ending damages the movie's credibility. Balthazar's determination to draw a positive message from a negative situation doesn't quite fit.
The way the computer game Archlord -- a real online game -- is integrated into the visuals is impressive. The film never jars when Ben morphs into his online character.
- 12/5/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
BRUSSELS -- Belgian writer-director Nic Balthazar has announced plans to remake his local boxoffice smash Ben X for the U.S. market.
Balthazar was approached by Wamerica -- the Los Angeles-based production house of French comic Alain Chabat -- to rewrite and direct the film. "I'm very surprised by the concrete interest," Balthazar told Flemish-language daily Het Laaste Nieuws.
The $2 million Flemish-language drama -- Belgium's entry in next year's foreign-language Oscar race -- centers on autistic teenager Ben (Greg Timmermans), who retreats into violent online role-playing games to escape from bullying at school. It has been seen by 250,000 people in Flanders in just eight weeks, making it the most successful Flemish film of the past four years.
Ben X won three prizes at the Montreal Film Festival in September: the Grand Prix of the Americas, the Audience Award and the Ecumenical Prize. It also won the Black Pearl, the top prize at this year's inaugural edition of the Middle East International Film Festival in Abu Dhabi.
Balthazar was approached by Wamerica -- the Los Angeles-based production house of French comic Alain Chabat -- to rewrite and direct the film. "I'm very surprised by the concrete interest," Balthazar told Flemish-language daily Het Laaste Nieuws.
The $2 million Flemish-language drama -- Belgium's entry in next year's foreign-language Oscar race -- centers on autistic teenager Ben (Greg Timmermans), who retreats into violent online role-playing games to escape from bullying at school. It has been seen by 250,000 people in Flanders in just eight weeks, making it the most successful Flemish film of the past four years.
Ben X won three prizes at the Montreal Film Festival in September: the Grand Prix of the Americas, the Audience Award and the Ecumenical Prize. It also won the Black Pearl, the top prize at this year's inaugural edition of the Middle East International Film Festival in Abu Dhabi.
- 12/5/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Related story: MEIFF acknowledges local talent
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Paul Haggis' "In the Valley of Elah" closed the inaugural Middle East International Film Festival here Friday, while Nic Balthazar's "Ben X" took home the Black Pearl Grand Jury Prize for best feature at a glittering gala award ceremony held at the Emirates Palace.
Also honored Friday were Michael James Rowland's "Lucky Miles", which took the award for best new director (feature film); Nadine Labaki's "Caramel", which garnered its female cast a joint best actress award; and Karl Markovics "The Counteirfeiters", which received the Black Pearl for best actor. Paul Taylor's "We Are Together" earned the documentary nod.
The Black Pearl Award carries a cash prize of AED300,000 ($81,710).
"I think they gave the grand jury prize to 'Ben X' because the production value was so strong and solid as much as the vision, and on every level they succeeded," festival director Jon Fitzgerald told The Hollywood Reporter. "And 'Lucky Miles' ... this guy had a lot of different actors that he brought together in remote locations, not an easy film to pull off, a good choice for new filmmaker."
Producer Gundny Hummelvoll and director Hisham Zaman of "Bawke" received the Black Pearl for top short film.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Paul Haggis' "In the Valley of Elah" closed the inaugural Middle East International Film Festival here Friday, while Nic Balthazar's "Ben X" took home the Black Pearl Grand Jury Prize for best feature at a glittering gala award ceremony held at the Emirates Palace.
Also honored Friday were Michael James Rowland's "Lucky Miles", which took the award for best new director (feature film); Nadine Labaki's "Caramel", which garnered its female cast a joint best actress award; and Karl Markovics "The Counteirfeiters", which received the Black Pearl for best actor. Paul Taylor's "We Are Together" earned the documentary nod.
The Black Pearl Award carries a cash prize of AED300,000 ($81,710).
"I think they gave the grand jury prize to 'Ben X' because the production value was so strong and solid as much as the vision, and on every level they succeeded," festival director Jon Fitzgerald told The Hollywood Reporter. "And 'Lucky Miles' ... this guy had a lot of different actors that he brought together in remote locations, not an easy film to pull off, a good choice for new filmmaker."
Producer Gundny Hummelvoll and director Hisham Zaman of "Bawke" received the Black Pearl for top short film.
- 10/20/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- With Eran Kolirin's The Band's Visit out of the foreign Oscar picture, Ioncinema.com predicts a four-way race between audience faves Persepolis, The Counterfeiters, 4 months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days and Caramel. Spain's The Orphanage has the best chance at completing the 5 pack. That said everything else is just a formality. The final five picks will be announced on Jan. 22. The Oscar ceremony takes place Feb. 24. 2008 Foreign Oscar Long ListArgentina: Xxy (Lucia Puenzo)Australia: The Home Song Stories (Tony Ayres) Austria: The Counterfeiters (Stefan Ruzowitzky)Azerbaijan: Caucasia (Farid Gumbatov)Bangladesh: On The Wings Of Dreams (Golam Rabbany Biblob)Belgium: Ben X (Nic Balthazar) Bosnia and Herzegovina: It's Hard To Be Nice (Srdjan Vuletic)Brazil: The Year My Parents Went on Vacation (Cao Hamburger)Bulgaria: Warden of the Dead (Ilian Simeonov)Canada: The Days of Darkness (Denys Arcand)Chile: Padre nuestro (Our Father) - (Rodrigo Sepulveda)China: The Knot (Yun shui
- 10/18/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
The animated film "Persepolis", from France, Denys Arcand's "Days of Darkness" from Canada, Johnnie To's "Exiled" from Hong Kong and Cristian Mungiu's Palm d'Or winner "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" are among the 63 films that have qualified for Oscar consideration in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' foreign language film category.
The record number of 63 entries include first-time submissions from Azerbaijan (Farid Gumbatov's "Caucasia") and Ireland (Tom Collins' "Kings").
Nominations for the 80th Academy Awards will be announced Jan. 22, and the Oscars will be handed out Feb. 24.
The complete list follows:
Argentina, "XXY", Lucia Puenzo, director; Australia, "The Home Song Stories", Tony Ayres; Austria, "The Counterfeiters", Stefan Ruzowitzky; Azerbaijan, "Caucasia", Farid Gumbatov; Bangladesh, "On the Wings of Dreams", Golam Rabbany, Biplob; Belgium, "Ben X", Nic Balthazar; Bosnia and Herzegovina, "It's Hard to Be Nice", Srdan Vuletic; Brazil, "The Year My Parents Went on Vacation," Cao Hamburger; and Bulgaria, "Warden of the Dead", Ilian Simeonov.
Canada, "Days of Darkness", Denys Arcand; Chile, "Padre Nuestro", Rodrigo Sepulveda; China, "The Knot", Yin Li; Colombia, "Satanas", Andi Baiz; Croatia, "Armin", Ognjen Svilicic; Cuba, "The Silly Age", Pavel Giroud; Czech Republic, "I Served the King of England", Jiri Menzel, director; Denmark, "The Art of Crying", Peter Schonau Fog; Egypt, "In the Heliopolis Flat", Mohamed Khan; and Estonia, "The Class", Ilmar Raag.
The record number of 63 entries include first-time submissions from Azerbaijan (Farid Gumbatov's "Caucasia") and Ireland (Tom Collins' "Kings").
Nominations for the 80th Academy Awards will be announced Jan. 22, and the Oscars will be handed out Feb. 24.
The complete list follows:
Argentina, "XXY", Lucia Puenzo, director; Australia, "The Home Song Stories", Tony Ayres; Austria, "The Counterfeiters", Stefan Ruzowitzky; Azerbaijan, "Caucasia", Farid Gumbatov; Bangladesh, "On the Wings of Dreams", Golam Rabbany, Biplob; Belgium, "Ben X", Nic Balthazar; Bosnia and Herzegovina, "It's Hard to Be Nice", Srdan Vuletic; Brazil, "The Year My Parents Went on Vacation," Cao Hamburger; and Bulgaria, "Warden of the Dead", Ilian Simeonov.
Canada, "Days of Darkness", Denys Arcand; Chile, "Padre Nuestro", Rodrigo Sepulveda; China, "The Knot", Yin Li; Colombia, "Satanas", Andi Baiz; Croatia, "Armin", Ognjen Svilicic; Cuba, "The Silly Age", Pavel Giroud; Czech Republic, "I Served the King of England", Jiri Menzel, director; Denmark, "The Art of Crying", Peter Schonau Fog; Egypt, "In the Heliopolis Flat", Mohamed Khan; and Estonia, "The Class", Ilmar Raag.
- 10/18/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- The inaugural Middle East International Film Festival unfurls Sunday having shipped in a coterie of big industry names that likely will guarantee the event international attention in the coming week. The screening program is a mixture of big-name projects and debuts from emerging talent.
Brian De Palma's "Redacted" and Gavin Hood's "Rendition" are among the films making their debut in the Middle East.
Joe Wright's "Atonement", starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, will open the UAE capital's first film fest, which runs through Oct. 19.
The festival's official competition section features 12 fiction films, including Nadine Labaki's "Caramel", Nic Balthazar's "Ben X" and Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud's animated "Persepolis". The six shortlisted documentaries in the nonfiction group include Joshua Asen and Jennifer Needleman's "I Love Hip Hop in Morocco" and Socheata Poeuv's "New Year Baby".
More than 102 screenings covering films from the five sections will take place during the week, with tickets to general screenings available free of charge by registering with the Web site, MEIFF.com.
Within the festival, a central program taking place Monday through Wednesday is the Film Financing Circle, one of several initiatives created to maximize networking opportunities between local talent and international executives and filmmakers.
Brian De Palma's "Redacted" and Gavin Hood's "Rendition" are among the films making their debut in the Middle East.
Joe Wright's "Atonement", starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, will open the UAE capital's first film fest, which runs through Oct. 19.
The festival's official competition section features 12 fiction films, including Nadine Labaki's "Caramel", Nic Balthazar's "Ben X" and Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud's animated "Persepolis". The six shortlisted documentaries in the nonfiction group include Joshua Asen and Jennifer Needleman's "I Love Hip Hop in Morocco" and Socheata Poeuv's "New Year Baby".
More than 102 screenings covering films from the five sections will take place during the week, with tickets to general screenings available free of charge by registering with the Web site, MEIFF.com.
Within the festival, a central program taking place Monday through Wednesday is the Film Financing Circle, one of several initiatives created to maximize networking opportunities between local talent and international executives and filmmakers.
- 10/12/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Nadine Labaki's "Caramel", Nic Balthazar's "Ben X" and Jake Paltrow's "The Good Night" are among the films that will compete for the Black Pearl at the inaugural Middle East International Film Festival.
"We are thrilled with the lineup of films we have in competition," festival director Jon Fitzgerald said Friday. "They represent world-class talent, a terrific combination of critically acclaimed films, award winners and crowd-pleasers."
The lineup for the Oct. 14-19 festival includes a number of UAE premieres and is primarily focused on emerging filmmakers.
"The production support awarded with the Black Pearl is truly one of a kind," executive director Nashwa Al-Ruwaini said. "We are confident that it will help propel its recipient into the next level of filmmaking."
Chosen from more than 700 entries, the competition titles will compete across three categories: fiction, documentary and short films.
The fiction section features 12 films. These include Labaki's "Caramel", a drama-comedy looking at the lives of a group of women in a Lebanese beauty salon.
"We are thrilled with the lineup of films we have in competition," festival director Jon Fitzgerald said Friday. "They represent world-class talent, a terrific combination of critically acclaimed films, award winners and crowd-pleasers."
The lineup for the Oct. 14-19 festival includes a number of UAE premieres and is primarily focused on emerging filmmakers.
"The production support awarded with the Black Pearl is truly one of a kind," executive director Nashwa Al-Ruwaini said. "We are confident that it will help propel its recipient into the next level of filmmaking."
Chosen from more than 700 entries, the competition titles will compete across three categories: fiction, documentary and short films.
The fiction section features 12 films. These include Labaki's "Caramel", a drama-comedy looking at the lives of a group of women in a Lebanese beauty salon.
- 9/29/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
PARIS -- The French are hoping to animate the 2008 Oscars with Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud's "Persepolis", national film organization the CNC announced after deliberations Monday night.
The adaptation of Satrapi's popular autobiographical comic book about a precocious and outspoken young Iranian girl during the Islamic Revolution will represent France in the race for Oscar glory.
Belgium, meanwhile, unveiled plans to offer Nic Balthazar's "Ben X", winner of three awards at the Montreal Film Festival.
Produced by 2.4.7 films and featuring the voices of Simon Abkarian, Catherine Deneuve and Chiara Mastroianni, the black-and-white animated "Persepolis" already has been tapped for a U.S. remake from Sony Pictures Classics starring Gena Rowlands, Sean Penn, Iggy Pop and Deneuve.
Despite enraging the Iranian government, the film was a huge boxoffice success in France, selling 1.12 million tickets when it was released in the territory in July. The film tied with Carlos Reygadas' "Silent Light" for the jury prize at this year's Cannes film festival.
The adaptation of Satrapi's popular autobiographical comic book about a precocious and outspoken young Iranian girl during the Islamic Revolution will represent France in the race for Oscar glory.
Belgium, meanwhile, unveiled plans to offer Nic Balthazar's "Ben X", winner of three awards at the Montreal Film Festival.
Produced by 2.4.7 films and featuring the voices of Simon Abkarian, Catherine Deneuve and Chiara Mastroianni, the black-and-white animated "Persepolis" already has been tapped for a U.S. remake from Sony Pictures Classics starring Gena Rowlands, Sean Penn, Iggy Pop and Deneuve.
Despite enraging the Iranian government, the film was a huge boxoffice success in France, selling 1.12 million tickets when it was released in the territory in July. The film tied with Carlos Reygadas' "Silent Light" for the jury prize at this year's Cannes film festival.
- 9/18/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- It won plenty of awards at the Montreal Film Festival and now Nic Balthazar's directorial debut Ben X has been named as Belgium's entry for the foreign language Oscar. Variety points out that the Flemish-language drama was unanimously selected by a jury of Belgian film professionalsBen is different. His life is a universe to itself, where he plays his favourite online computer game Archlord avidly, trying hard to train himself for the real world he lives in. The harsh world of a technical school is for him a daily kind of hell. As the horror of being a daily subject to bullying grows, Ben devises a plan. Then Scarlite comes into his life, the girl he has met in his on-line game. That wasn’t part of the plan... ...
- 9/13/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
MONTREAL -- "Ben X", Belgian director Nic Balthazar's portrait of a mildly autistic boy bullied at school, took top honors at the 31st annual Montreal World Film Festival, which wrapped Monday.
Balthazar's directorial debut earned the audience award and shared the juried Grand Prix of Americas prize as the top festival film with French director Claude Miller's "A Secret", the tale of Jewish family during and after World War II.
"Ben X", which had Canadian and U.S. distributors swirling with buying interest Monday, also grabbed the festival's Ecumenical Prize for combining artistic merit with the exploration of ethical, social and spiritual values, according to jury members.
Other winners at the competitive Montreal festival included the jury's Special Grand Prize to Isreali director Ayelet Menahemi's "Noodle", a film about a lonely Tel Aviv flight attendant, while Swiss director Jacob Berger was awarded the best director prize for "1 Day", a film capturing a day in the life of a family.
Spanish director Ray Loriga's "Teresa" received the jury's award for best artistic contribution.
Balthazar's directorial debut earned the audience award and shared the juried Grand Prix of Americas prize as the top festival film with French director Claude Miller's "A Secret", the tale of Jewish family during and after World War II.
"Ben X", which had Canadian and U.S. distributors swirling with buying interest Monday, also grabbed the festival's Ecumenical Prize for combining artistic merit with the exploration of ethical, social and spiritual values, according to jury members.
Other winners at the competitive Montreal festival included the jury's Special Grand Prize to Isreali director Ayelet Menahemi's "Noodle", a film about a lonely Tel Aviv flight attendant, while Swiss director Jacob Berger was awarded the best director prize for "1 Day", a film capturing a day in the life of a family.
Spanish director Ray Loriga's "Teresa" received the jury's award for best artistic contribution.
TORONTO -- Two U.S. films will be among the 20 titles contending for top honors at the Montreal World Film Festival, organizers said Tuesday.
Mark Brokaw's "Spinning Into Butter", produced by and starring Sarah Jessica Parker, will join Christopher Cain's "September Dawn" in competing for the Grand Prize of the Americas. "Butter" revolves around a New England college dean caught up in an investigation into a racially motivated crime, while "Dawn", which stars Jon Voight, examines the Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857.
Also making the cut is Abel Ferrara's "Go Go Tales", an Italian-French co-production starring Willem Dafoe, Bob Hoskins, Matthew Modine, Asia Argento and Lou Doillon.
Canada will be represented by Francois Delisle's "Toi" and Emile Gaudreault's "Surviving My Mother".
The lone German entry is Volker Einrauch's family drama "Der Andere Junge", while Italy will be represented by Stefano Incerti's "L'uomo di vetro" and Nic Balthazar will bring his Belgian-Dutch co-production "Ben X" to Montreal.
French offerings include Claude Miller's "A Secret" and several co-productions, among them, Jacob Berger's Swiss-French co-production "1 Day" and Ivan Solovov's French-Russian co-production "Otets".
Latin entries include Ray Loriga's "Teresa", starring Paz Vega and Geraldine Chaplin; Luis Felipe Rocha's "A Outra Margem", a Brazilian-Portuguese co-production; and the Mexican offering "Used Parts" by Aaron Fernandez Lesur.
Rounding out the competition lineup are Menahemi Ayelet's "Noodle", (Israel), Abdallah Oguz's "Bliss" (Turkey-Greece), Latif Lahlou's "Les jardins de Samira" (Morocco), Issa Serge Coelo's "DP75-Tartina City" (Chad-France) and two Japanese films: "Black Belt" from Shunichi Nagasaki and Toru Hayashi's "Women of the Interior Palace".
For the third year running, Montreal will host a First Films World Competition. Among the 23 titles in the sidebar are U.S. entries "The Fall of Night", Derrick Warfel's portrait of a struggling rock musician, and Scott Flynn's "The Gray Man".
Screening out of competition in the Hors Concours sidebar are a host of movies that bowed elsewhere, including Pascale Ferran's "Lady Chatterley" and Claude Lelouch's "Roman de gare", both from France, and Czech director Jiri Menzel's "I Served the King of England".
Documentaries unspooling in Montreal include Dan Cox's "Running With Arnold" and Sut Jhally's "War Made Easy", both from the U.S.
Mark Brokaw's "Spinning Into Butter", produced by and starring Sarah Jessica Parker, will join Christopher Cain's "September Dawn" in competing for the Grand Prize of the Americas. "Butter" revolves around a New England college dean caught up in an investigation into a racially motivated crime, while "Dawn", which stars Jon Voight, examines the Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857.
Also making the cut is Abel Ferrara's "Go Go Tales", an Italian-French co-production starring Willem Dafoe, Bob Hoskins, Matthew Modine, Asia Argento and Lou Doillon.
Canada will be represented by Francois Delisle's "Toi" and Emile Gaudreault's "Surviving My Mother".
The lone German entry is Volker Einrauch's family drama "Der Andere Junge", while Italy will be represented by Stefano Incerti's "L'uomo di vetro" and Nic Balthazar will bring his Belgian-Dutch co-production "Ben X" to Montreal.
French offerings include Claude Miller's "A Secret" and several co-productions, among them, Jacob Berger's Swiss-French co-production "1 Day" and Ivan Solovov's French-Russian co-production "Otets".
Latin entries include Ray Loriga's "Teresa", starring Paz Vega and Geraldine Chaplin; Luis Felipe Rocha's "A Outra Margem", a Brazilian-Portuguese co-production; and the Mexican offering "Used Parts" by Aaron Fernandez Lesur.
Rounding out the competition lineup are Menahemi Ayelet's "Noodle", (Israel), Abdallah Oguz's "Bliss" (Turkey-Greece), Latif Lahlou's "Les jardins de Samira" (Morocco), Issa Serge Coelo's "DP75-Tartina City" (Chad-France) and two Japanese films: "Black Belt" from Shunichi Nagasaki and Toru Hayashi's "Women of the Interior Palace".
For the third year running, Montreal will host a First Films World Competition. Among the 23 titles in the sidebar are U.S. entries "The Fall of Night", Derrick Warfel's portrait of a struggling rock musician, and Scott Flynn's "The Gray Man".
Screening out of competition in the Hors Concours sidebar are a host of movies that bowed elsewhere, including Pascale Ferran's "Lady Chatterley" and Claude Lelouch's "Roman de gare", both from France, and Czech director Jiri Menzel's "I Served the King of England".
Documentaries unspooling in Montreal include Dan Cox's "Running With Arnold" and Sut Jhally's "War Made Easy", both from the U.S.
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