05-03-2009

German funds go to Czech, Hungarian, Bulgarian films

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    Germany's Leipzig-based Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM), one of the country's most active film funds investing in Central European production, announced support for some of the region's hottest projects.

    Bulgarian director Stephan Komandarev's multi-awarded The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner received €35,000 in distribution support. Another €20,000 in distribution support went to Cottbus winner The Country Teacher by rising Czech director Bohdan Sláma.

    The Czech carried off one of the larger awards, €250,000, for the high-concept film Alois Nebel from debut director Tomáš Lunák. Czech film production company Negativ and long-standing German partner Pallas, along with Slovak co-producing firm Tobogang, received production and post-production support.

    Hungarian director of the moment Kornél Mundruczó sees production funding of €145,000 for The Frankenstein Project, a co-production with Germany's Essential Filmproduktion.

    MDM announced the awards on March 4 in Leipzig.