28-09-2010

Launch of Film New Europe Visegrad Prix for Best Co-Production

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    WARSAW: Film New Europe together with the International Visegrad Fund has announced a new prize to for best feature and best documentary co-production from a Visegrad country. The prize is being awarded to recognize the artistic achievements of filmmakers in the Visegrad countries and to encourage cultural co-operation between partners within Visegrad countries and partners in other European countries of the European Union. The competitive prize is organized together with the support of CinePecs International Film Festival (www.cinepecs.hu) in Hungary, International Bratislava Film Festival (www.iffbratislava.sk) in Slovakia, Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival (www.dokument-festival.cz) in the Czech Republic and Era New Horizons International Film Festival (www.enh.pl) in Poland and Film Europe (www.kinocz.cz).

     The FNE Visegrad Prix will be awarded annually to the best feature and documentary co-productions in the programme of two of the four participating festivals. The position of awarding festivals will rotate on an annual basis. The film must be a co-production and at least one of the partners must be a Visegrad country. A cash prize of 1000 Euros will be awarded to the winning feature film and to the winning documentary film. The winning film will also be promoted on FNE and at the other participating film festivals. Film Europe will also support and promote the winning film through its network of television stations.

    The award will be launched at the CinePecs International Film Festival (4-10 October 2010) where the main jury will select the winning feature film from among the films participating in the CinePecs programme. The award will be presented at the closing ceremony of the festival.
    The best co-production in the category of documentary film will be awarded by the main jury of the International Bratislava Film Festival (5-11 November 2010).

    Anna Franklin, General Director of Film New Europe said: "The FNE Visegrad Prix will recognize the achievements and focus international attention on films and filmmakers in Visegrad countries. The prix should promote cultural diversity and encourage co-operation between neighbouring countries."

    "As János Keresnyei, director of CinePécs International Film Festival sees it: FNE Visegrad Prix represents the togetherness of the four countries. In today's Europe every people, who have been bound together by history, keep their former connections alive, stay loyal to their friends and hold on to European unity. We know, what our films are about, we understand each other's problems and live through each other's emotions. FNE Visegrad Prix is the prize of understanding."

    Documentary film has a long tradition in the Visegrad region. Given the growing number of produced films and the increasing number of their audiences at various festivals throughout the region, I hope it has bright future, as well. I am glad that the International Visegrad Fund has the chance to extend grant funding to some of the key documentary events in the region. I hope that the launching of the Film New Europe Visegrad Prix is a clear sign of the fact there are already enough quality films to compete. I wish the Visegrad Prize is something worth documenting in the long run."
    Petr Vágner, the Executive Director

    For more information about the FNE Visegrad Prix including Prix Regulations: www.filmneweurope.com

    Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    For information about:

    Film New Europe www.filmneweurope.comInternational

    Visegrad Fund http://visegradfund.org

    Film Europe www.kinocs.cz