Latvia's National Hit: Defenders of Riga
Defenders of Riga, dedicated to Latvia's fight for independence in 1919, has become a national hit and is being screened far outside of Latvia's borders.
Ladies conquers the Polish box office 2008
2008 has been especially successful for the national productions: for the first time in two years a local title is on top of the box office charts.
Romanian National Box Office Champ: The Survivor
Romania's top grossing local film in 2008 was Sergiu Nicolaescu's The Survivor, with a total of 26,772 tickets sold over 17 weeks of screening, to a total of about €86,600.
Slovakia's Box Office National Hit: Bathory
Bathory is not only the box office national hit in Slovakia for 2008; it is the most successful movie in Slovak history, smashing the competition with over 1,465,226 euros (43…
Slovenian Box Office National Hit – Rooster's Breakfast
The first full-length feature film by Marko Nabersnik, Rooster's Breakfast, was a big surprise for the Slovenian film industry.
Recep Ivedik: Turkish box office success
As the year ends Turkish cinema goers laughing out loud, and local box office hit Recep Ivedik is leading the pack, but another new comedy is on its heels to…
Edmunds Jansons soars with Little Bird's Diary
A 23 minute documentary animation film, Little Bird's Diary, is winning recognition for Latvian animator and documentary director Edmunds Jansons.
Markiza to launch new channel
Slovak commercial television station TV Markiza (www.markiza.sk) announced it will launch a new channel, TV Doma.
Bulgarian director Stephan Komandarev
Stefan Komandarev (1966), whose film The World is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner is making an extraordinary tour of international film festivals, didn't intend to become a filmmaker.
Helena Trestikova: an admired Czech director accepts a European crown
On December 6, Czech documentarist Helena Trestikova received the "European Oscar" in Copenhagen, the European Film Academy's Prix Arte.
Estonian breakout director: Rene Vilbre
2008 was the breakout year for the Estonian director Rene Vilbre whose second feature I Was Here screened at this year's Karlovy Vary East of the West section and climbed…
Hungarian Director Attila Gigor
Following stints as a bit actor, film journalist, assistant director and creator of two short films, several music videos and commercials, the 30-year-old Hungarian filmmaker Attlia Gigor, neé Attila Galambos,…
Lithuanian Break-out director of 2008: Kristina Buozyte
Kristina Buozyte introduced herself both in Lithuania and on the international circuit with her film school graduation directing debut, The Collectress (www.collectress.lt).
Poland's Directing Discovery: Malgorzata Szumowska
Malgorzata Szumowska, director of 33 Scenes from Life turns out to be the directing discovery of 2008 in Poland.
Romanian actor turns director: Horatiu Malaele
Seasoned Romanian actor Horatiu Malaele had his feature film directorial debut in late November, with Silent Wedding opening to the general praise from local media.
Break-out director of 2008 – Juraj Lehotsky
Young Slovak director Juraj Lehotsky (age 33) drew international attention with his 77-minute debut Blind Loves, a documentary with fictional elements about love among the blind, whcih premiered on March…
Slovenian break-out director of 2008 - Vinko Moderndorfer
Vinko Moderndorfer fulfilled the promise of his debut film Suburts with his 2008 sophomore effort Landscape No. 2.
A new voice from Turkey: Ozcan Alper
Ozcan Alper's debut feature Autumn tells the intense and melancholic story of the last days of a young political prisoner who is released on health grounds after ten years and…
Slovenian Actor in the Spotlight 2008 - Marko Mandic
Marco Mandic's performance in the Venice festival film Landscape No.2 is just the latest in a growing string of impressive performances in Slovenian films.
Bulgarian actress of the year: Ernestina Shinova
Known as the beautiful muse of her extravagant film director husband Andrei Slabakov, Ernestina Shinova visibly advanced her career with portrayals of two characters in his long-awaited Hindemith.
