One week prior to the opening, Berlinale has announced that Jiří Menzel, renowned Czech film director and actor, will receive Berlinale Camera 2018 alongside Beki Probst and Katriel Schory. Jiří Menzel, whose artistic curriculum includes more than 20 feature films, is considered a legend of Czech cinema. Menzel’sworld-celebrated film Larks on the String, had its premiere in 1990 at Berlinale, 21 years after it had been released and shortly after banned in communist Czechoslovakia.

Jiří Menzel will receive the award at the occasion of the world premiere of The Interpreter, a Slovak-Czech-Austrian co-production directed by Martin Šulík, where the Czech actor plays the main part together with his Austrian counterpart Peter Simonischek famous for Toni Erdman. Menzel will receive the award on February 23, on the day of his 80th birthday.

The Interpreter is one of the three films representing Czech cinema at the 68th Berlinale IFF. The Slovak-Czech-Austrian co-production is the work of prominent Slovak director Martin Šulík and the equally noted screenwriter Marek Leščák, who already have several successful films to their names, including The Garden (1995) and Orbis Pictus (1997).

A road-movie is a story of two men who have been brought together by an accidential mention on the WW2 events.  80-year-old Ali Ungár (Menzel) comes across a book by a former SS officer, describing his wartime activities in Slovakia. Ali realizes that one of the passages recounts the execution of his parents, and sets out to visit the former SS man, who now lives in Vienna. Instead of his parents’ murderer, though, Ali finds only his 70-year-old son. Georg Peis (Simonischek) is a former teacher who has distanced himself from his father’s past and is now struggling with alcoholism. The interpreter’s visit stirs his curiosity, so he decides to find out who exactly his father was before he dies. So it is that the two old men, the ascetic Ali and the bon vivant Georg, embark on a journey together to find the surviving witnesses of the wartime tragedy.

The Interpreter was filmed at various locations around Slovakia and in Vienna. In addition to Marek Leščák, the director brought in another long-time collaborator of his, cinematographer Martin Štrba.  Alongside the lead duo, Zuzana Mauréry, Eva Kramerová, and Attila Mokos play supporting roles. The film was produced by the companies Titanic (Martin Šulík, Slovakia), IN Film Praha (Rudolf Biermann, Czech Republic), and COOP99 (Bruno Wagner, Austria). The coproducers are RTVS: Radio and Television of Slovakia and Czech Television. The project was supported by the Czech Film Fund and the Slovak Audiovisual Fund.

The trailer to the film is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmdVZ-PiqhM

More information here: https://www.berlinale.de/en/das_festival/preise_und_juries/08_berlinalekamera/Berlinale_Kamera.html

 

 

Magiclab is pleased to be attending this year's Berlinale with Hendi & Hormoz directed by Abbas Amini, which will have its world premiere at the Berlinale Generation 14plus. Magiclab is proud to be co-producer and to have completed post-production on the film. Interpreter directed by Martin Sulik, another feature film completed at Magiclab, will have its world premiere at the Berlinale Special.

Magiclab is delighted to have been involved in the films below and for the success of co-produced films, which have garnered awards and have been very successful on the film festival circuit. 

We are looking forward to the EFM and Berlinale Co-Production Market and will be present from the 17 – 21 February, actively looking for new producers to partner with for post-production, VFX and for our 2018 co-production slate. 

 

 

This year EFP (European Film Promotion) in collaboration with Hot Docs – Canadian International Documentary Festival (April 26 – May 6, 2018) will launch a special programme entitled THE CHANGING FACE OF EUROPE, a pan-European showcase of 10 new documentaries that illustrate and examine the current cultural, geographic, economic and political factors affecting Europe today. This new initiative is possible thanks to the support of the Creative Europe – MEDIA Programme of the European Union and the participating EFP member organisations.

"We are delighted to strike up this new partnership with Hot Docs for European documentary films," says Sonja Heinen, Managing Director of EFP. "The programme reflects on the 'new Europe' with its current political and social changes, and shines a light on the rich and vivid diversity of European documentaries. The EFP member organisations have nominated an excellent array of films and we are excited to see the final selection curated by the programmers at Hot Docs. We are honored to be part of this prestigious and important festival and look forward to presenting the European filmmakers to industry and audience alike."

With this new partnership EFP continues its commitment to present outstanding creative documentaries from Europe to North American audiences. Filmmakers selected to take part in this program will participate in an array of Festival industry events including workshops, pitches and meetings with potential buyers, expanding their professional development on an international scale, and increasing their film's access to North American and international markets. 

 

 

Exclusive to Screen International for Publication Monday 05 February 2018

How to Sell a War - the fiction feature film debut of leading international documentary director Rudolph Herzog has announced start of shoot dates.  The film was developed by Creative England, Film and Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd, Finnish financing house IPR.VC and is being produced by Samantha Taylor and Mike Downey via their Dublin-based Film and Music Entertainment (IRE) in co-production with Georgia’s 20 Steps.with key financing from the UK’s Quickfire and Helsinki-based IPR.VC.  Shooting will begin on March 16 in Georgia.

London 2018 – In a few days time, the Piece Of Peace global charity concert is due to take place led by the vein and arrogant Irish rock star, Harry Hope and his over-confident PR consultant, Kate. When Russian war monger, Boris the Butcher, decides to call a cease-fire four days before the big event, Kate knows that she absolutely has to make this event happen or her career will be over. She embarks on a mission to Georgia to create a fake news story letting the world know that the war is back on. Assisted by her naïve new intern, Peggy, the two quickly discover that they have taken on more than they can handle and as events spiral out of their control, all hell quickly breaks loose.

How To Sell a War has been picked up for worldwide sales by UK sales outfit Bankside Films, and the production stars BAFTA winning Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd, The Boat That Rocked) in the leading role of Kate and co-stars up-and-coming Lily Newmark as naïve intern/niece Peggy whose five star performance in Pin Cushion scored her a BIFA nomination this year.

“This is our sixth collaboration with 20 Steps in Georgia and is the sixth project that has been produced through our Dublin-based outfit since setting it up two years ago,” says Film and Music Entertainment CEO and EFA Deputy Chair Mike Downey, “and we are delighted with the results. Talent driven world cinema at its best.  How To Sell a War is a movie that is rooted very much in our contemporary world.  Rudolf and Tim have a killer sense of humour, and the chemistry between Katherine and Lily packs an explosive punch.  It’s a Piece of Peace!”

Rudolph Herzog (director) is an award-winning director, producer and writer. RTS Award-nominated The Paedophile Next Door for Channel 4, is BBC/ARD documentary on humour in Hitler's Third Reich sold widely internationally and his book Dead Funny on the same subject was named a book of the year by THE ATLANTIC. He directed The Heist for channel Four and in 2014, a documentary based on his book A Short History of Nuclear Folly was broadcast in Europe. He helmed a National Geographic special on the mysterious death of polar explorer Roald Amundsen and The Agent on the double agent Werner Stiller who escaped East Germany and became a millionaire at Goldman Sachs. His latest best seller, Teruggestalten, has been picked up by Philipp Kreuzer’s Maze Pictures (The Happy Prince) for production.

Written by Tim Price (Dr. Who; Secret Diary of a Call Girl) whose National Theatre sell-out production Occupy starred Rhys Ifans and whose The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning won the prestigious James Tait Black prize for drama) he has brought to life an idea by Raid Sabbah which is co-produced in association with Georgia’s 20 Steps Productions, and co-funded by Georgian National Film Centre and the tax credit scheme of Enterprise Georgia.

“It's really exciting to be producing How to Sell a War at the present time.” says Fame’s Samantha Taylor, “Katherine and Lily, our extremely talented lead actors, play two very funny women who stick it to the bully man, news-fakers, and to celebrity bullshit in general. With Rudolph directing a blazing script from Tim Price this is going to be a brilliant comedy trip. No one is safe. To paraphrase, humour isn’t about appeasing the patriarchy but rolling over it in an armoured car. We’re also very happy to be working for the fourth time with 20 Steps in Georgia and with Windmill Lane for the first. With this, and the support of IPR.VC, Quickfire, Bankside, GNFC, we are unstoppable.”

Fame is in an advanced stage of negotiations to confirm Sister Bliss to compose the score for the film.  As the musical force behind Faithless, world-renowned DJ and record producer Sister Bliss needs no introduction. Together with iconic front man Maxi Jazz and producer Rollo Armstrong (brother of Dido), she formed Faithless: one of the most successful electronic acts to date.  In their career spanning nearly 20 years, the group released 7 albums (two at number 1), six top 10 singles and sold in excess of 15 million records worldwide.

Sam Taylor and Mike Downey founded the UK-based independent production house Film and Music Entertainment as part of an IPO on the Frankfurt DAX. Film & Music Entertainment films have been screened at Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Venice, San Sebastian and Toronto Film festivals.  The first 18 years of F&ME’s existence saw it entering into production on 60-odd co-productions with a total budget of $ 200 million involving 132 production companies from all over Europe, Latin America and Asia. It now has a catalogue of rights in over 60 features including Academy Award Nominee and Venice Golden Lion winner Before the Rain, Academy Award Nominee Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s Venice opener The President, box office horror hit Deathwatch, Sundance South African hit Son of Man, Jason Biggs starrer Guy X and Dinard winner White Lightnin' as well as 2012 Berlinale Audience Award Winner Parada by Srdjan Dragojevic.

How To Sell a War is a Downey/Taylor production for Film and Music Entertainment (IRE) in co-production with 20 Steps Production and in association with Quickfire Films, Bankside Films, IPR.VC fund and the Georgian National Film Centre.  Developed in association with Creative England, Film and Music Entertainment (UK), and Kinomedia.  The film is produced by Sam Taylor and Mike Downey, co-producers are Vladimer Katcharava and Radek Drabik and executive producers are James Atherton, Jan Pace, James Bierman and Aleksi Bardy.

 “We are thrilled to be bringing this whip-smart comedy to worldwide buyers.” Says Bankside Films Director Stephen Kelliher, “It is an incredibly timely piece which speaks to the world we live in today.  We feel sure that its laugh-out-loud satire will resonate with international audiences and that the creative team will excel in bringing the ultimate story of fake news to the screen.”

Quickfire’s Jan Pace added: 

“We're delighted to be working with such an accomplished creative team looking to deliver this smart, contemporary comedy. We've been following this project from an early draft, which gripped us with its irreverence and sharp instinct in highlighting our great collective political ineptitude to brilliant comedic effect. We cannot wait to see this rich cast of characters brought to life by the talented cast and the excellent Rudoph Herzog in his first comedy, and welcome working with producers as experienced and passionate as Mike and Sam on this project.”

The film will be shot by legendary German lenser Peter Zeitlinger whose work with Herzog senior has included, Grizzly Man, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, Rescue Dawn and Cave of Forgotten Dreams as well as Nicole Kidman starrer Queen of the Desert.  The film will be edited by Anne Sopel whose most recent work includes Whisky Galore as well as Mr Selfridge and The White Princess.

Paul Ashton, Head of Film for Creative England whose Ashton’s executive producer credits at Creative England include Rachel Tunnard’s BIFA-winning feature debut Adult Life Skills, Justin Edgar’s upcoming feature The Marker and Jack Lowden-Martin McCann thriller Calibre remarked:

“It has been an absolute delight developing this project with FAME. I’ve been a fan of Tim Price’s work for a long time, and his collaboration with Rudolph Herzog has given life to an outrageously contemporary and deeply discomforting satire about war, politics, power, idealism and ‘fake news’. I cannot wait to see the finished film.”

Timo Argillander Managing Partner and Co-Founder of the IPR.VC fund added:  “How to Sell a War is a perfect case for our content investment fund: a top-notch team tackles a theme so actual and important, and in a way that will reach big audiences all over the world.”

Filmed on location in in Georgia and Dublin, casting is handled in the UK by Wildman Hall. Production services in Georgia have been supplied by Caucasian Film Service, post production services and investment will come from Dublin-based Windmill Lane, where the complete edit and all post will take place.  Local accounting services supplied by Grant Thornton and legal services on behalf of the producers by Mathesons.

Contact

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

                                                           +447788265088

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

 

On 30 January 2018 the Lithuanian Film Centre announced production grants for 11 projects dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Lithuanian state, five minority coproductions and 10 national films (feature films, documentaries, animated films).

Storytek_ the first accelerator that brings together content creatives with world class technology competence in a specialized program in Tallinn, Estonia;  and the B3 Biennal B3 Biennial of the Moving Image, Frankfurt, Germany, launch digital art showcase.Storytek_ the first accelerator that brings together content creatives with world class technology competence in a specialized program in Tallinn, Estonia;  and the B3 Biennal B3 Biennial of the Moving Image, Frankfurt, Germany, launch digital art showcase.
Until 11 February, the Storytek x B3 Salon will turn Storytek's Creative hub into a popup gallery showcasing a selection of works of media artists of international stardom curated from the B3 Biennal's program.
 The program will feature three works from globally exhibited artists Federico Solmi (Italy, US),  Ann Oren (Israel, Germany) and Carlos Aires (Spain) exploring through digital arts the contemporary politics in the US, police, and surveillance of society, and idols and fandom in present-day Japan. The pop up gallery is open daily at Storytek's Creative Hub, Parda 6, 4th floor, Tallinn. 

On February 8th, Storytek will host a dedicated discussion and networking  Salon with B3’s Festival Director and renown German media arts curator, prof. Berndt Kracke, the managing director, Anna Katherina Gerson, and the B3 BEN 2017 Award winner, media artist Ann Oren.  Participants will be able to hear from the wide curatorial experience of B3 Biennal as well as get an in-depth look into the current themes and developments in the field of digital art, content, technology and new platforms.
“I am extremely delighted to bring and introduce the best of the last year's selection of B3 Estonian audiences. Both B3 and Storytek are committed to the idea and action of strengthening the dialogue between all industries of the moving image and the Salon in Tallinn will be the first step in developing future collaborations and events between in Frankfurt and Tallinn”, says Anna Katherina Gerson, managing director of the B3 Biennal.
Federico Solmi's The Great Farce (2017, VR experience) imagines reality has become an eternal amusement theme park.  It has become a place where the world's leaders can rewrite, fabricate, or travel to any event of the past, present, or future. They entertain, distract, and misdirect the world's population through spectacle. The virtual reality experience is a snapshot from Solmi's multiscreen installation presented at the  Schauspiel Frankfurt at B3 Biennal 2017.

Ann Oren’s “The World Is Ours” (2017, multiscreen video) is a 5 channel video installation mixing sampled animation with live documentary scenes shot in Tokyo. It revolves around Hatsune Miku, the feminine manga personification of a synthesizer software created for promotional purposes and to enhance user engagement.  The project explores the merger of fantasy into everyday reality by a cosplay enactment of the figure, performed by the artist herself along hardcore Miku fans in Japan and excerpts from an abundance of fan-made music and animation.

Carlos Aires’ “Sweet Dreams are made of this” (2016, video) shows two policemen dancing a tango version of the famous song performed by The Eurhythmics. In its origins, tango was mainly a dance between two men. They danced in harbor brothels. It was the result of the cultural mix of locals with immigrants. It was originally forbidden by the church and rejected by high society, which resulted in its development in poor suburbs and working-class slums.

The Storytek x B3 Biennal Salon is kindly supported by the Goethe Institut Tallinn.
 Artist and artwork photos and logos available at:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/sx6nyf2ll1y1w42/AACBbm_ZHQ0JPpJ5Fvfm0_kda?dl=0

PRESS CONTACT
Sten Saluveer
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+3725165242

 ***
ABOUT B3 BIENNAL
Since 2013 the B3 Biennial of the Moving Image in Frankfurt, Germany has shaped the genre- and cross-nation debate, has addressed new trends and developments in the field of the moving image. Since then within the context of the large national and international film and media festivals, art biennials, technology congresses and fairs it has acquired a special position as it has very successfully initiated a broadly-based dialog crossing sectors and genres.
With its modules Festival, Parcours and Campus/Market, the B3 Biennial of the Moving Image offers a comprehensive range of events, which propels the debate and networking of experts and young talents from film, TV, virtual and augmented reality, art, technology, and science.
The University of Art and Design Offenbach (HfG) is the organizer of the B3 Biennial of the Moving Image. B3 is supported by the Hessen Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts (HMWK), Hessische Landesanstalt für privaten Rundfunk und neue Medien (LPR Hessen) and the City of Frankfurt/Main.
www.b3biennal.org
ABOUT STORYTEK
Storytek_ brings together deep audiovisual sector knowledge, technology and funding with a selection of hand-picked tech entrepreneurs and content creators in Tallinn, Estonia. The purpose of Storytek_ is to help creatives, producers, and early-stage companies to develop business, fast-track their content, products and services to the global markets and access finances. Besides its dedicated accelerator program, Storytek organizes the annual #futureofcontent conference Storytek Forum, monthly digital content and technology meetups and workshops, as well as showcases, exhibitions and special events. 
The strategic partners of Storytek are Elisa Estonia, the Black Nights Film Festival, and Price Waterhouse Coopers Baltics.
www.storytek.eu
**CARLOS AIRES**
Born in Ronda, Spain in 1974, Aires earned a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the University of Granada. He completed his studies at Fontys Academy Tilburg, HISK Antwerp and Ohio State University. His work can be found in public collections. Noteworthy examples include ARTIUM, Spain; MACBA, Spain; Fondation Francès, France; ARTER, Turkey; Maison Particulière, Belgium; Museum Biedermann, Germany; 21c Museum USA; MAK, Austria; Frans Masereel Centrum, Belgium.
**ANN OREN**
Ann Oren, born in Tel-Aviv, is a visual artist and filmmaker. She studied Film (BA) and Fine Arts (MA) at The School of Visual Arts, NY. Her works were screened at the Anthology Film Archives, Apexart, The Hammer Museum, the Moscow Biennial for Young Art, Tel Aviv Museum, Videoformes, WRO Media Art Biennial, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, DokLeipzig, New Horizons Film Festival, and Ann Arbor Film Festival.
**FEDERICO SOLMI**
Socio-political satire seethes in the edgy works of Federico Solmi (b. 1973, Italy. Based in Brooklyn). Exhibited throughout the world‎, and this spring in a solo museum presentation at MACZUL in Venezuela, the expressionist is also a B3 award-winner and accompanied the B3 team to Beijing and Shanghai. Fame and power, legacy and status, hypocrisy and injustice are among the issues the notorious animator will bring to bear on his B3 commission, a multi-channel work, to be projected on to the façade of the Frankfurt Opera house.
**End**
The project “Storytek Creative Hub”, a Tallinn, Estonia based content and media tech incubator executed by Storytek Ltd on July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2019, is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The total grant is up to 222 063,90 Euros.