The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, principal financier of the Hubert Bals Fund, wants the Rotterdam film festival’s fund to continue its activities. Initially the Ministry rejected the fund’s subsidy application for 2009-2012, causing a direct threat to the fund’s existence.
Maintaining its strong presence in Cannes, the Rotterdam film festival has seven films linked to the Hubert Bals Fund and CineMart in Cannes festival sections. >From the Official Competition, 4 months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days by Cristian Mungiu received support of the Hubert Bals Fund while Kim Ki-Duk’s Breath and Catherine Breillat’s An Old Mistress were presented as CineMart Projects.
Next May 14, the Hubert Bals Fund will announce the results of its Spring Selection Round.
Answering questions of Dutch MP Boris van der Ham about the position of the Hubert Bals Fund, Mr. Bert Koenders, the Minister of Development Cooperation recognises the Hubert Bals Fund as a key component of the International Film Festival Rotterdam: “The fund offers audiences the opportunity to see high quality films from southern countries and filmmakers a platform leading to worldwide recognition of their works.” The Minister now asks the Hubert Bals Fund to continue its activities. Hubert Bals Fund Manager Bianca Taal comments: “This is a very positive decision, although the actual amount of subsidy and specific conditions have yet to be determined. The future of the Hubert Bals Fund however is secure now.”
Cannes competitor Catherine Breillat was discovered internationally through her Rotterdam Filmmaker in Focus tribute in 1999. In 2004, she presented the world premiere of her Anatomy de l’Enfer in Rotterdam. Mungiu’s feature début Occident (2002) was also supported by the Hubert Bals Fund.
With their latest works selected for the Un Certain Regard and Directors’ Fortnight sections, Jaime Rosales, Diao Yinan and Semih Kaplanoglu have presented their previous films in Rotterdam. Diao Yinan’s Uniform, supported by the Hubert Bals Fund, was selected for Rotterdam’s 2004 Tiger Awards Competition.
Also competing for Rotterdam’s Tiger Awards last January and winning the Rotterdam FIPRESCI Award 2007, Rafa Cortés’ feature début Yo (Me) now screens as ‘FIPRESCI Revelation of the Year’ within the Semaine de la Critique.
Two film projects already presented at CineMart 2007 have been chosen to take part in the 2007 Atelier organised by the Cinéfondation: Salamandra by Pablo Agüero (Argentina) and Serviam by Ruth Mader (Austria).
The 37th International Film Festival Rotterdam takes places January 23 – February 3, 2008; the 25th CineMart takes places January 27 - 31, 2008. IFFR’s Hubert Bals Fund provides grants for script development, digital production, post production or distribution to independent film makers in developing countries. CineMart is the world’s first and largest co-production market for low and medium budget film projects.
For more information see www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com.
Cannes Official Competition 2007 includes:
4 luni, 3 saptamini si 2 zile (4 months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days) by Cristian Mungiu (Romania)
Supported by the Hubert Bals Fund
Breath by Kim Ki-Duk (South Korea)
Selected for CineMart 2007
Une vieille maîtresse (An Old Mistress) by Catherine Breillat (France)
Selected for CineMart 2004
Un Certain Regard 2007 includes:
La soledad (Fragments of Loneliness) by Jaime Rosales (Spain)
Selected for CineMart 2005
Night Train by Diao Yinan (China)
Selected for CineMart 2004
Directors’ Fortnight 2007 / Quinzaine des Réalisateurs 2007 includes:
Mutum by Sandra Kogut (Brazil), Closing Film
Supported by the Hubert Bals Fund
Yumurta by Semih Kaplanoglu
Selected for CineMart 2006
Special Screenings Critics’ Week 2007 / Semaine de la Critique 2007
Yo (Me) by Rafa Cortés
IFFR Tiger Awards Competition 2007 and winner FIPRESCI Award Rotterdam 2007
Atelier 2007 / L’Atelier du Festival 2007 includes:
Salamandra by Pablo Agüero (Argentina)
Selected for CineMart 2007
Serviam by Ruth Mader (Austria)
Selected for CineMart 2007
Cannes 
