VARNA: Bulgarian filmmakers have become the latest victims of the austerity measures sweeping Europe in the wake of the European governments bail out of banks following the global financial crisis.

The Estonian Film Foundation supported the following features, documentaries and animation projects in 2010. Last round for feature development was March 8, 2010, feature script support April 5, 2010. For documentaries last round was April 26 2010 (development), and January 18 (development and production). For animation the last round was May 17, 2010 (short animation).

"A Heart-Broken Circus" by Marek Tomasz Pawłowski has been awarded with the Slovak TV Prize at the 16^th EtnoFilm Cadca in Slovak Republic. Jury appreciated the film's "perfect sense of a film esthetics in a reflection on a sad end of the circus world."

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 Euroepan 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."

"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 of Visegrad Fund

"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."

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For information about:

Film New Europe www.filmneweurope.com

International Visegrad Fund www.visegradfund.org/

CinePecs International Film Festival www.cinepecs.hu

International Bratislava Film Festival www.iffbratislava.sk

Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival www.dokument-festival.cz

Era New Horizons International Film Festival www.enh.pl

Film Europe www.kinocz.cz

One of the largest film festivals in Northern Europe is now accepting press accreditation for its 14th edition which runs 19th November - 5th December 2010.

Beta Films announced the start of shooting of the 12-part mini-series Borgia in Prague on 4 October 2010. With a budget of 25 million Euros, the production will be the most expensive European mini-series to date.

Kaunas International Film Festival, in cooperation with the quality film TV channel "Silver", announced the audience award competition. The authors of the winning film will receive the "Silver Audience Award" Cup and substantial marketing of the film on all Non Stop Television channels including the "Silver" channel.

Krakow, 30th September 2010 - Call for entries for 51st edition of Krakow Film Festival, which will take place between 23rd and 29th May 2011, is now open. The Festival presents films in the three competition and in the special cycles. Only the films completed after 1st January 2010 are eligible for competitions.

TALLINN: Estonian film experienced a small renaissance over the past decade with Estonian directors winning prizes and kudos at festivals around the world. In 2007 at the height of the boom Estonia produced 11 feature films including Veiko Ounpuu's Autumn Ball and Ilmar Raag's The Class. At home the share of Estonian films at the domestic box office grew nearly fivefold from 47,000 tickets sold in 2004 to 223,000 tickets sold in 2007.