FESTIVALS: Cyprus filmmakers stage festival
Cypriot filmmakers have organized a festival of works by both Greek and Turkish directors in the spirit of reconciliation between the historically opposing ethnic groups.
Record of Romanian debuts in 2010
Romania anticipates a record year (post-1990) for debut films in 2010, with nine first features among the 17 scheduled for release. The majority of those films are coproductions.
Slovak films attract local audiences
For the second consecutive year, Slovak films are finding success at the local box office, with a market share that could top 20% for 2009 acccording to a new report…
NonStop brings Showtime to Estonia
The Swedish niche TV company NonStop has launched the film channel Showtime in Estonia.
Radu Mihaileanu’s Concert sold in all territories
After reaching the number one spot in French distribution, Concert by Romanian born director Radu Mihaileanu has been sold to all territories.
FNE Austrians reach out to CEE neighbors
The Vienna Film Fund's director Peter Zawrel has been actively courting CEE producers, showing up at Slovenia's coproduction meeting in mid-November, and at a December 4 panel on Slovak film…
Lucerna celebrates centenary
Prague's art nouveau architectural masterpiece, the Lucerna cinema, was the centerpiece of a celebration to mark 100 years since it opened on December 3, 1909.
Estonia, Poland selected for Sundance competition
The Temptation of St. Tony from Estonia and All That I Love from Poland have been announced for the World Cinema Narrative competition at the Sundance Film Festival, January 21-31.
Slovakia looks to build on current successes
A Slovak Film Institute (www.sfu.sk) panel, sponsored by Film New Europe, on the global position of Slovak films had a practical goal: to ensure that the current crop of international…
FESTIVALS: French/Belgian film wins Bratislava International Film Festival
The International Bratislava Film Festival (www.iffbratislava.sk) under new programme director Matthieu Darras gave its grand prix to the French/Belgian film The Day God Went Away by director Philippe Van Leeuw.
FESTIVALS: Plus Camerimage awards Lebanon cinematographer
Giora Bejach won the Golden Frog for Lebanon at the 2009 Plus Camerimage (www.pluscamerimage.pl), the festival recognizing cinematographers, and Marian Prokop took the Polish competition prize for Snow White Russian…
EFA honors Wajda
The European Film Academy (EFA, www.europeanfilmacademy.org) will bestow its 2009 EFA FIPRESCI Critics award on Polish director Andrzej Wajda for his film Sweet Rush (Tatarak).
Malta markets film service industry
Malta is building on the wave of western films shot in the island nation in recent years to attract productions from farther afield.
Slovenia introduces digital TV transmission
With only one year remaining before it ends analog TV transmissions, Slovenia has begun digital transmissions as of December 1.
Vrabec replaces Jurenc at PRO PLUS
Central European Media Enterprises (CME, www.cetv-net.com ) has named Pavel Vrabec to replace outgoing general manager Marijan Jurenc at its Slovenian company PRO PLUS.
Strong CEE selection in EFP Shooting Stars
Czech, Polish, Romanian and Croatian actors are among the ten finalists selected for the prestigious Shooting Stars presentation by European Film Promotion (EFP).
Baltic Event wraps in Tallinn
After two, intensive days of one-on-one meetings and making business deals, the best projects and producers at the Baltic Event were honored at an awards ceremony on December 1, 2009…
Hungary prepares for MMKA leadership change
Five candidates are under consideration to become the new president of the Motion Picture Public Foundation of Hungary (MMKA, www.mmka.hu): Ferenc Tolvaly, producer András Muhi, scriptwriter Zoltán Kőrösi, producer Andrew…
Hungary launches new regional film fund
Hungary is reaching out to neighboring Slovakia with the launch of the North Hungarian Film Fund, which follows the establishment of similar funds in the south and the west of…
Slovenian cinemas convene on digital issue
Slovenian commercial and art house cinema owners meeting in Ljubljana have decided to unite behind the issue of converting cinema houses to digital projection.
