01-10-2015

FNE at Golden Rose FF 2015: Face Down

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    Melvil Poupaud in Face Down by Kamen Kalev Melvil Poupaud in Face Down by Kamen Kalev

    VARNA: Kamen Kalev’s third feature Face Down will have its world premiere in the main competition of the 33rd Golden Rose NFF (6-11October 2015). The theatrical release of this French/Belgian/Bulgarian coproduction is planned for 16 October 2015.

    The film tells the story of a Frenchman called Sam, accused of smuggling counterfeit money from Bulgaria to France. In order to avoid severe punishment, he agrees to become an undercover agent in a Bulgarian underground human trafficking network. As Sam gradually falls in love with a young Romany prostitute called Elka they will decide to flee together.

    Face Down is a thriller and a drama pointing at human trafficking, but also at social problems like crime, corruption and poverty in my country,” Kalev told the Bulgarian media. The script is based on a true story he learned about in 2012. He wrote the script together with the César-nominated French writer Emmanuel Courcol at the same time conducting the casting interviews.

    The film stars Melvil Poupaud. A 16 year-old Bulgarian actress Seher Nebieva was chosen from among over 1,200 girls to play Elka. Ninety percent of the actors are non-professionals. The eight-week shooting took place in the winter of 2014 and was split between Marseille and Sofia.

    The film is a coproduction between France’s Le Pacte, Belgium’s Left Field Ventures and Bulgaria’s Waterfront Film. The project was supported by the Bulgarian National Film Center, French CNC, Belgian FWB and Eurimages. Le Pacte is also handling the sales.

    Production Information:

    Face Down by Kamen KalevWaterfront Film
    39, Bacho Kiro
    Sofia - 1202 Bulgaria
    Tel:+359 2 985 23 00
    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    www.waterfrontfilm.net

    Credits:
    Director: Kamen Kalev
    Screenwriters: Kamen Kalev, Emmanuel Courcol
    DoP: Yulian Atanasov
    Music:Raf Keunen, Kaloyan Dimitrov
    Cast: Melvil Poupaud, Seher Nebieva