EUROPEAN FILM PROMOTION BI-COASTAL SCREENINGS

European Film Promotion (EFP), the trans-European organization that represents the interests of European film promotion agencies in 30 countries, concluded a bi-coast promotion effort to bring an exciting group of new European filmmakers to the attention of US distributors, programmers and the press.

EFP began its efforts earlier this month with a special program entitled NEW FACES OF EUROPEAN CINEMA, presented in conjunction with the AFI Fest in Los Angeles. The organization brought a dozen directors, producers and actors whose films were being screened in the official section of the Festival. Events included a special Press Conference and Reception, to introduce these new talents to the Los Angeles film industry.

Concurrent with the AFI Fest, EFP returned to the American Film Market, which along with the Cannes Film Market is the largest assemblage of industry movers and shakers. EFP sponsored an umbrella office, subsidizing the participation of a dozen sales agents from Europe, who were in town to preview and sell their ambitious European film slates.

Earlier this week, on the evenings of November 14 and 15, EFP presented its first ever showcase of new European films in New York City, where many of the specialty theatrical distributors have their home base. EFP Managing Director Renata Rose presented four films over two consecutive evenings at the Tribeca Cinemas, which was recently purchased by the Tribeca Film Institute, which hosts the annual Tribeca Film Festival in April.

The EFP industry screenings are financially supported by the European Union's MEDIA Programme, Wallonie Bruxelles Images, the Icelandic Film Centre, Film Fund Luxembourg and German Films. The event is patterned after the successful screening series run by German Films, the German film promotion agency, over the past 12 months at the same theater complex.

According to Christian Dorsch, EFP Board Member and Managing Director of German Films, “Our experience with private, invitation-only screenings in New York has been extremely positive. A number of films which we have presented have been picked up for North American distribution. It is well worth the effort to attempt the same with high-quality films from throughout Europe.”

The films participating in the New York screenings included: THE ICEBERG (Belgium), directed by Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon and Bruno Romy. This is a highly individualistic story of a fast-food restaurant manager who, after being locked accidentally in a freezer, escapes to find that her presence was hardly missed by her overworked husband and disinterested children. This incident creates a desire in her to leave home and experience a real iceberg….and start her life anew. The film is being represented for world sales by French sales agent MK2.

ELEVEN MEN OUT (a co-production Iceland, the UK and Finland), is the directorial debut of Robert Douglas, about an all gay football team in the amateur football league who get a chance of a lifetime to play against a professional team. The accompanying publicity creates a very public “coming out” of team members and confrontations with their families and friends. The dramatic comedy, which had a successful international debut at the Toronto Film Festival in September, is represented for world sales by Pierre Menahem of Paris-based sales company Scalpel.

When you are the grandson of movie icon Charlie Chaplin and the great-grandson of celebrated playwright Eugene O’Neill, there is a rather daunting legacy to live up to. Actor/performer James Thiérrée does not disappoint in his feature acting debut in the Luxembourg/German/UK co-production BYE BYE BLACKBIRD. Thiérrée plays an aspiring circus performer/aerialist who fulfills his dream of performing under the big top. His obsession with the trapeze artist daughter of the circus’ owner becomes deadly and filled with emotional depth, that are matched by the film’s stunning cinematography by Christophe Beaucarne.

The film, which screened to great acclaim at film festivals in Tokyo, Taormina, Montreal and Deauville, is directed by Robinson Savary, who brings a surrealistic, highly stylized look to the lost world of traveling circuses at the beginning of the 20th century. The film was produced by Luxembourg production company Samsa Film and is represented for international sales by Mark Vennis of UK sales agency Moviehouse Entertainment, which provided financing along with various film subsidy programs.

After its win of the Silver Leopard Prize for Best First/Second Feature at the Locarno International Film Festival, the buzz has been hot for German director Florian Hoffmeister’s relationship drama THREE DEGREES COLDER. The film was presented in New York as a world premiere of a revised and shortened version that brings more dramatic tension to the story of friends whose lives are intersected in the city of Nuremburg.

The story chronicles a group of early late 20-something friends whose comfortable symbiosis is altered by the return of a mutual friend, who mysteriously disappeared from sight five years before. Emotions are a mix of relief, anger and disappointment as each character comes to a realization that life moves forward and looking backward can be a dangerous and numbing exercise. The film features strong performances from an attractive group of young actors, and a moody atmospheric look that complements the emotional turmoil.

EFP has plans to continue the New York Industry Screenings in 2006, with dates tentatively scheduled for March, June and October (in close proximity to the Berlin, Cannes and Toronto International Film Festivals).


Sandy Mandelberger
Industry Editor