SPI International Partners with Samsung
CANNES: Central European-based TV and distribution company SPI International (www.spiint.com) has signed a pan-European agreement with Samsung that includes the launch of SPI's Filmbox channel on Samsung Smart TV.
FESTIVALS: Febiofest Grand Prix 2012 goes to The Good Son
{mosimage}PRAGUE: The winner of the festival's Grand Prix is The Good Son (Hyvä poika) by the Finnish director, Zaida Bergroth. The thrilling family drama has won against 11 other films…
OTV Licence Curtailed
BUCHAREST: The Audiovisual Council of Romania (www.cna.ro) decided that the licence of the Romanian OTV channel (www.otv.com.ro) should expire on September 2012, six months before the regular deadline.
FESTIVALS: Polish Courage Wins Vilnius Main Prize
{mosimage}VILNIUS: The Polish film Courage (www.opusfilm.com) directed by Greg Zglinski won the New Europe-New Names competition of the Vilnius IFF (15-29 March 2012, www.kinopavasaris.lt).
FESTIVALS: Sofia Grand Prix for Stories Only Exist When Remembered
{mosimage}SOFIA: Stories Only Exist When Remembered, a coproduction from Brazil, Argentina, and France directed by Julia Murat, took the Grand Prix in the International Competition of the Sofia IFF (18-29…
FNE - IDF DocBloc: My Six Million Dollar Father
New Latvian doc project My Six Million Dollar Father - a self-made banker achieves success during the first years after the collapse of the USSR, but is then forced to…
Kvedaravicius Takes Top Lithuanian Cinematographers Award
{mosimage}VILNIUS: Lithuanian director and cinematographer Mantas Kvedaravicius received the annual Lithuanian Cinematographers award "The Oak"(www.azuolai.lt) for the documentary film Barzakh.
Finns Fund Czech Films
Two Czech-themed films have received funding from the Finnish Film Foundation (www.ses.fi).
Film Spring Open-Air Accepting Applications
KRAKOW: The 2012 Film Spring Open-Air (www.filmspringopen.eu), taking place 27 April - 6 May 2012 in Krakow, is open for registration through 31 March.
Bulgaria to sign coproduction agreements with Israel and Turkey
SOFIA: Bulgaria has approved a draft film coproduction agreement with Israel.
FESTIVALS: Cottbus and Locarno Partner with New Horizons Studio
WROCLAW: The third New Horizons Studio, a training session taking place 23-26 July as part of the T-Mobile New Horizons IFF (www.nowehoryzonty.pl), will add the Cottbus (www.filmfestivalcottbus.de) and Locarno film…
Wajda Studio and School Sponsor Film Think Tank
WARSAW: Wajda Studio and Wajda School (www.wajdaschool.pl) are co-organizers of the Into the Future 2012 Think Tank which will concentrate on the collaboration between Professional Training Providers and European Funders,…
Eurimages Supports CEE Films
Half of Eurimages' first round of 2012 grants, totaling 4.89 million euros, will go to films from Central and Eastern Europe.
Pro TV Launches Second Telenovela Channel
BUCHAREST: Central European Media Enterprises (CME, www.cetv-net.com) will launch Acasa Gold, a telenovela channel, in Romania in April.
FESTIVALS: Marley to Open Krakow Festival
{mosimage}KRAKOW: The Polish premiere of Kevin Macdonald's documentary Marley will open the 52nd Krakow Film Festival (www.kff.com.pl) on 28 May 2012 with the director in attendance.
PRODUCTION: Bodo Kox Wraps Girl from the Closet
{mosimage}WARSAW: Polish filmmaker and actor Bodo Cox has finished shooting his feature debut Girl from the Closet produced by WFDiF in co-operation with CANAL+.
Borgia Films Season Two in Prague
The ZDF/ORF (www.orf.at) production Borgia began filming on its second season in Prague on 25 March 2012.
Lithuanian Film Released Online
VILNIUS: Porno Melodrama, the first gay-themed Lithuanian film, has been release via free online distribution.
Aurora Takes Top Gopo Awards
{mosimage}BUCHAREST: Aurora won three Gopo Awards including Best Romanian film in 2011, best director for Cristi Puiu and best script, despite the fact that the producer Anca Puiu from production…
Malta Builds Ties with Britain
The head of the Malta Film Commission (www.mfc.com.mt) and the Malta High Commissioner met with UK production companies during a three-day promotional tour to London held in late March 2012.
