10-03-2010

PRODUCTION: Kenyeres in preproduction with Yesterday

By Dániel Deák

    Hungarian director, Bálint Kenyeres, European Film Award (www.europeanfilmacademy.org) short film winner, has finished the script for his feature debut Yesterday based on Agota Kristof's novel, and the project is now in preproduction.

    The estimated budget of Yesterday is 1.6 billion forint (6 million euro). Producer Attila Csáky from Cameofilm (www.cameofilm.hu) said the film will be released as a French-Hungarian coproduction in partnership with French production company Bizbi, which took part in Kenyeres' short film, The History of Aviation. The film might bring on a German partner as well.

    The majority of the budget comes from Hungarian public funds. Csáky plans to apply for Eurimage (www.coe.int/eurimages) funds also.

    Yesterday is an existentialist thriller taking place in North Africa, with Morocco as a possible location. The story is about a man who returns to Africa after 20 years and has to face his suppressed traumas. Kenyeres has started talks with European actors for the main characters. The shooting is planned to start next summer.