EFP Delegation at Pusan Film Festival

Friday, October 20----European Film Promotion, the pan-European promotion organization that represents the national film promotion agencies of over 30 European countries, is returning to New York for the third time with industry screenings of four excellent new European films. The goal of the program is to present new European films to New York-based film distributors, festival programmers and film critics. The four films will be presented on October 23rd and 24th at the Tribeca Screening Room in lower Manhattan, with their sales agents in tow. The event is coordinated by EFP's Josef Wutz.

Josef Wutz

The members of European Film Promotion consider North America as the second most important market for their product, following Europe. In particular, the U.S. market is important because it offers the best route for a film to achieve greater visibility throughout the rest of the world.

Financially supported by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union and EFP member organisations Magyar Filmunió, Wallonie Bruxelles Images, Polish Film Institute, and German Films this initiative aims to introduce new and commercially strong European films to the North American market.

The screening series begins on Monday, October 23, 6:00pm with the premiere of the Hungarian film JUST SEX AND NOTHING ELSE, directed by Krisztina Goda. The romantic comedy has been the number one box office hit in its native Hungary, winning for its lead actress Judith Schell the Best Actress award from the Hungarian Film Critics Association. The film is represented by sales agent Hungarofilm.

JUST SEX AND NOTHING ELSE

Immediately following on Monday evening at 8:00pm is the Belgian/French co-production THE RIGHT OF THE WEAKEST. The film, directed by actor-turned-director Lucas Belvaux, had its world premiere in the competition section of the Cannes Film Festival. In Liège, a group of men gathers every day in a café situated near the steel factory which once reigned supreme. They play cards in a warm atmosphere but that hardly masks their quiet desperation. All unemployed, either because they can't find work or because they have been made redundant, they try to forget their lot in the warm atmosphere of the place. One day, Marc, a newcomer, joins them, and their thoughts turn to crime. The film is represented by French sales agent Films Distribution.

Lucas Belvaux

Tuesday evening is a showcase for two films from emerging film talents. RETRIEVAL by Polish director Slawomir Fabicki screens at 6:00pm. The film had its international premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Ecumenical Jury Prize. The film has also been selected as the Official Entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film has also been nominated for this year's European Discovery Award. Sales agent Opus Film will be in New York to handle sales interest.

RETRIEVAL

The series ends with the screening of German director Christian Wagner's acclaimed drama WARCHILD. The stirring drama tells the poignant story of a resolute Bosnian mother who grows determined to find the daughter taken from her and given to German foster parents a decade earlier. The film recently won a Bavarian Film Award , as well as a Best Screenplay prize for Edin Hadzimahovic at the Montreal World Film Festival. The film is represented by Christian Wagner Filmproduktion.

WARCHILD

EFP, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, represents the interests of its members at major film festivals and markets around the world.

Sandy Mandelberger
Festivals & Industry Editor