BUDAPEST: The four state-owned film production companies that produced the majority of the Hungarian films before 1989 are about to merge. János Rózsa (head of Objektiv, http://www.objektivfilm.hu), Pál Sándor (head of Hunnia Filmstudio, http://www.hunniafilm.hu) and Tamás Tolmár (head of Dialog) were unexpectedly removed by the government on 31 January. From 1 February György Such is managing the three studios and he will also be the CEO of Budapest Filmstudio from 15 February. Budapest Filmstudio is run temporarily by Balázs Gulyás, head of the distribution company MOKÉP (www.mokep.hu).

BERLIN: The House directed by Slovak director Zuzana Liova which screens in the Forum is the first Slovak feature film to screen in one of the main programmes of the Berlinale for 20 years. It's all part of the renaissance Slovak film is enjoying at the moment which many attribute at least in part to the new Slovak Audiovisual Fund (www.avf.sk) which launched last year.

BERLIN: The 4th edition of Cinema Total running at the Berlinale promises to be a hot ticket for journalists and film industry professionals as the new team restructuring the Hungarian film industry will make their first appearance at Sunday's Political Round Table. Film funding chiefs from Hungary including Andy Vajna will be joined by colleagues from Austria, Croatia, Denmark and Ireland.

5th ScripTeast at Berlinale!

The second stationary session of the 5th ScripTeast edition will take place during this year Berlinale.

FINAL CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR

TRANSILVANIA IFF 2011!

The call for entry for first or second time directors' feature films, produced after January 1st, 2009 and eligible for the Transilvania IFF Official Competition and for horror and fantasy shorts no longer than 20 minutes and produced after January 1st, 2009, eligible for the Shadows Shorts competition, is open online until February 15th (mail date).


Awards are offered for Best Film (Transilvania Trophy), Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Actor. The Jury also hands out a Special Jury Award, and the most popular film in the comeptition gets the Audience Award. The best horror & fantasy short gets the Best Shadows Short Award.

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Dear Filmmakers,

You can register online until 01 MAY 2011 to the 10th International Scientific Film Festival, which will be held in Szolnok from 21-25 September 2011. Unlike to the previous years you have to fill in an application form online, that you can find here http://festival.tiszamozi.hu. There is no entry fee; one filmmaker can enter two of his/her works.

We expect films to the festival in the following subjects: documentaries and portraits about science, short and long features, experimentals that has a scientific topic, documentaries dealing with protection of nature and environment, and films dealing with the relationship of science and fake science. You can read the related documents: the call for entries and the entry regulations here: http://festival.tiszamozi.hu/000_Fesztivalok/2011/Default.aspx.

Let’s meet in Szolnok, Hungary at the International Scientific Film Festival!

Éva Demeter

festival manager

Contact:

TISZA MOZI KFT.

5000, Szolnok, Templom út 4.

Hungary

Tel: +36 56 424 910

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

Dear all,

Estonia is proud to announce a busy start of the year as we are presenting four full-length films with market premieres at EFM.

Enclosed you will find all the basic information about the films with the screening times.

Additional info can always be found from our stand G2 in Martin-Gropius-Bau.

Estonian Film Foundation will be represented by:

Tristan Priimägi / Head of International Relations / +372 53 402010 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Eda Koppel / Information Manager / +372 52 03306 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Marge Liiske / Managing Director / +372 51 48134 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Karlo Funk / Head of Production and Development / +372 56 485966 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Hope to see you in Berlin!

Estonian Film Foundation

LETTERS TO ANGEL

“Letters to Angel” is a film about Jeremia Juunas Kirotaja, a man who was sent to fight in Afghanistan years ago, where he converted to Islam. He now returns home only to find himself facing another kind of war.

The front line in the decrepit Estonian town runs between Eastern and Western culture, men and women, common sense and madness. Somewhere amidst these battles is his daughter, Angel, who Kirotaja has decided to find after all the years of absence. His only leads are the sound of his daughter crying, heard once on the telephone, and a dog-eared notebook full of letters addressed to her. But the town has other plans for him and the women running it seem to take him for their savior from the nagging feeling of emptiness that has enveloped them.

GRAVEYARD KEEPER'S DAUGHTER

Lucia is leading a jolly and naughty Pippi-Longstocking-style life in a small town in Estonia. Her father Kaido, a graveyard keeper, can hardly provide for the family, her mother Maria is a drunk.Then the family receives an unexpected invitation to spend a week in Finland, in the house of the female pastor Sirpa.

This week will change everybody’s life in unexpected ways…

THE MAN WHO LIVED IN 3-D TIME

This is the story of the president of Estonia. He was a writer, a filmmaker, a traveler and a diplomat, who took revenge for his father's lost generation.

RAT-TRAP

Rat-trap movie is society critical action drama, based on real life events, where seemingly successful and self-confident politician begins to execute his own blind justice. Lives of four modern people a cross and everybody will be chocked about the events following, the end is a new beginning for all of them. Rat-trap is a thrilling story about betrayal & retribution. Director Andres Puustusmaa describes it as follows: “The catharsis for the viewer is similar to the experience of a Native American Peyote ceremony – the inner disgust is only visible to one’s self.”

A FRIEND OF MINE

Mati is a passionate bibliophile who works for his hobby - he´s got a job at the library. The little rest of his time he shares with his sweet wife. Then one sudden day brings the death to his spouse. A whole life of stability crashes. Nor his adolescent daughter or dear books are of any help. Loneliness and indifference overrun his life and Mati plots a suicide.

A strange wayfarer Sass, who travels with a backpack of books and frequents public libraries to read the newspapers, brings forth a change. Bit by bit he starts to provide Mati with the interest for life again.