The main prize comes with a 15,000 award that goes toward distribution of the film in the two countries.

Producer Fabian Massah of Endorphine Production (www.endorphineproduction.com) told FNE that the film made its first market appearance in Toronto and has lined up distribution in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Benelux territories. A Polish distribution deal is in discussion. The film was screened in competition at the Warsaw Film Festival (wff.pl) in October. Wide Management (www.widemanagement.com) is handling world sales.

Massah, a German-Iranian, was in Cottbus to attend the pitching forum Connecting Cottbus (www.connecting-cottbus.de), which takes place within the framework of the Cottbus film festival (filmfestival.pool-production.de), for the first time.

Men on the Bridge, set during a triffic jam on the Bosphorus bridge that connects Asian and Europe, was supported by Connecting Cottbus sponsor Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (www.medienboard.de). The 450,000 euro production was funded 60% from Germany, 30% by Turkey, and 10% by the Netherlands.

Production Information:

Director and writer: Asli Ozge

DoP: Emre Erkmen

Producers: Fabian Massah, Asli Ozge

Co-Producers: Endorphine Production

Yeni Sinemacilik

Kaliber Film

Bayerischer Fundfunk

ZDF/3SAT

Rush Hour Films

Supported by: Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg

Deutscher Filmforderfonds

Rotterdam Media Fund

T.C Kultur ve Turizm Bakanligi