10-11-2017

FNE at Connecting Cottbus: I Hate Berlin

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    COTTBUS: Romanian director Valentin Hotea pitched his dark comedy I Hate Berlin at Connecting Cottbus, running 9 – 10 November in partnership with the Cottbus Film Festival.

    The film, produced by Ada Solomon and Diana Paroiu for Hi Film Productions, tackles the problem of a director’s midlife crisis as he tries to decide between two cities and two women while unfinished work piles up on his desk. Hotea, who co-wrote the script with Ileana Muntean, was widely acclaimed for his 2013 debut film Roxanne, which he pitched at Connecting Cottbus and which premiered in Locarno.

    Hotea was one of several presenters at Connecting Cottbus who said the script was based on his own personal story, calling the project “a bittersweet dark comedy.” Paroiu said the film will move between a realistic and a surrealistic approach. Shooting should begin in fall 2018.

    The film is budgeted at 1.55 m EUR with 644,000 EUR already in place. It has received support from Creative Europe MEDIA and Romania’s CNC, and has an MG in place for Romanian distribution from Micro Film. The producers are seeking a German coproducer and one more European coproducer, an international sales agent, distributors and TV presales.

    Contact:
    Hi Film Productions
    www.hifilm.ro

    Credits:
    Director: Valentin Hotea
    Writers: Ileana Muntean, Valentin Hotea
    Producers: Ada Solomon, Diana Paroiu