A.R.O.G. breaks records in Turkey
The most anticipated movie of the year in Turkey, Cem Yilmaz's A.R.O.G broke the opening weekend box-office record with 816,304 admissions and YLT 7,114,043 (3.500.000 million euros) in box office.
The Film Fund Gyor is established
The Film Fund Gyor (www.filmfundgyor.eu), the first Hungarian regional film fund was officially opened with a ceremony on December 1.
A Kind of America 2 hits cinemas
A Kind of America 2 (www.valamiamerika2.hu), the sequel of the last decade's most successful Hungarian movie, opens in Hungary on December 18.
Polish composer lands at City Island
Jan A.P Kaczmarek, the Oscar winner who wrote the music for Finding Neverland, will be composing the score for City Island, a new movie starring Andy Garcia.
Kontroll producer lines up crime film
Hungarian producer Tamas Hutlassa is looking to line up Eastern European co-producers for a film based on a prize-winning script.
Zlin fest gets status boost
The 49th Zlin International Film Festival for Children and Youth (May 31-June 7) has been selected as an official cultural event as part of the upcoming Czech Republic's EU presidency.
A Dream That Left enters pre-production
A Dream That Left, directed by Jacek Piotr Blawut, has moved into pre-production, after preparation that began in February, 2008.
Refugee drama in pre-production
Two Fires, directed by Agnieszka Lukasiak, is preparing to go into production in February.
Hunger wins Black Nights festival in Tallin
The 12th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival announced that the English-Irish prison drama Hunger has won the Grand Prix in the EurAsia competition.
Anthony Dod Mantle wins Plus Camerimage top prize
The winners of Plus Camerimage 2008, which recognizes excellence in cinematography, were announced in Lodz.
Restored Hyppolit, the Butler
The 1931 film Hyppolit the Butler, the first Hungarian "talkie," has been digitally restored.
Polish new year kicks off with budget busting comedy
The Konecki & Saramonowicz duet is once again taking a comedy spin on the relations between the sexes.
Lithuania plans new Film Centre
The Lithuanian government has approved a plan to create a National Film Centre, which set to open in 2009.
Prague multiplex closes
Prague faced its first multiplex closure: Cinema City at Novodvorska Plaza shopping center was closed on December 3 because of low ticket sales.
Crime that shook Poland on the big screen
Don't Turn Your Eyes, directed by Michal Rogalski and based on a true story, is preparing to shoot from March through May, 2009.
New fund, new support, new films for Slovakia
The Slovak Film Institute unveiled 48 new Slovak films and co-productions at a presentation of upcoming feature, documentary and animated films held during the 10th Bratislava International Film Festival (www.iffbratislava.sk).
Season of the Witch resumes shooting in Hungary
After three weeks on location in the Austrian Alps, Season of the Witch starring Nicolas Cage has relocated to Hungary where it will continue production until February.
MEDIA doc seminars at Vilnius festival
The MEDIA Programme Division of the International Cultural Programme Centre is offering seminars and discussions for documentary filmmakers during the Vilnius Documentary Film Festival.
The Forrest gets finishing touches
The Forest, a partially animated feature film from animator and director Piotr Dumala, is in post-production, with a May 2009 projected completion date.
Chocolate's Day enters pre-production
Chocolate's Day, produced by Jacek Blawut Film Production, has entered the pre-production stage after a preparatory period that started in February 2008.
