PRAGUE: Eva Zaoralová has passed away at the age of 89. She was one of the giants of European film as well as a personal friend, and many across the European film industry will be mourning this loss. She was frequently and deservedly honoured for her work as both a critic and as the artistic director of Karlovy Vary Film Festival, but most of all she was loved. She was also an honourary founding member of Film New Europe endorsing the project from the time of its start-up.

BERLIN: Spanish Alcarràs by Carla Simón was awarded the Golden Bear for Best Film by the International Jury at the 72nd Berlinale on 16 February 2022. The Romanian minority coproduction Alis by Clare Weiskopf and Nicolas van Hemelryck received the Crystal Bear for Best Film from the Youth Jury Generation 14plus.

VALLETTA: The Malta Film Commission (MFC) put on a world class show on 29 January 2022 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta to showcase Maltese talent and the determination to build a world class local film industry in Malta.

BERLIN: A strong representation of feature, short, animated and documentary films, as well as TV series from FNE partner countries have been selected for various sections of the 72nd edition of the Berlin International Film Festival. This year the festival will start on 10 February and the winners will be announced on 16 February, with the last four days (17-20 February) with re-runs for the public.

CANNES: Todd McCarthy’s Stillwater starring Cannes favourite Matt Damon screens Out of Competition this year in Cannes. Damon is a frequent visitor to Cannes as the star of films in the official programme and this year will be his fifth time on the Cannes red carpet.

CANNES: Writer and director Sean Baker scores a slot in the main Cannes competition lineup with a film described as raw and funny.  His earlier successful films The Florida Project and Tangerine, a transgender movie, have made Red Rocket a much anticipated followup.

CANNES: Sean Penn arrives in Cannes with Flag Day, a film that he both directs and acts in. Truly a family affair the film also stars his daughter Dylan Penn, who also plays his daughter in the film.

CANNES: Fans of cult director and writer Wes Anderson have been waiting for The French Dispatch, which screens in the main competition in Cannes this year. This is Anderson’s love letter to highbrow literary magazines like The New Yorker and the cast of writers, humourists and illustrators that such magazines who nurture these talented eccentrics produced.

TALLINN: Industry@Tallinn and Baltic Event announced the prizes at awards ceremony held at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds on 26 November. The presenter of the awards was Marge Liiske head of Industry@Tallinn and Baltic Event. Film New Europe was one of the partners and sponsors of the awards ceremony with FNE director Anna Franklin congratulating awards winners and informing guests about how www.filmneweurope.com can help them achieve their goals.