PRO TV delays new channel launch
PRO TV, the Romanian flagship station of Central European Media Enterprises (www.cetv-net.com), announced it will delay the launch of Acasă Clasic TV until 2010.
Katalin Varga win European Discovery Award
Katalin Varga, a Hungarian/Romanian/UK co-production, won the European Film Academy's award as European Discovery 2009 on December 12.
Fremantle appoints new CEE executive
FremantleMedia has named Daniela Matei as CEO of it operations in Central Europe.
FNE Copenhagen Initiative: Think Green ! Think FNE !
FNE, the "paperless" newspaper, will launch two initiatives in 2010 to reduce the consumption of paper at international film festivals and events. FNE already contributes to the environment by delivering…
FESTIVALS: PÖFF concludes with six films awarded
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival that ended on December 6 screened over 260 films from 75 different countries in nine Estonian cities. For the first time films were also shown…
PISF introduces new financing system
The Polish Film Institute is restructuring its operations to decrease the number of programmes for financing national film production.
David Lynch to open film studio in Łódź
David Lynch confirmed his intention to create a film studio in Łódź at this year's Caimerimage Festival, with full details being presented the week ending December 11.
FESTIVALS: Cyprus filmmakers stage festival
Cypriot filmmakers have organized a festival of works by both Greek and Turkish directors in the spirit of reconciliation between the historically opposing ethnic groups.
Record of Romanian debuts in 2010
Romania anticipates a record year (post-1990) for debut films in 2010, with nine first features among the 17 scheduled for release. The majority of those films are coproductions.
Slovak films attract local audiences
For the second consecutive year, Slovak films are finding success at the local box office, with a market share that could top 20% for 2009 acccording to a new report…
NonStop brings Showtime to Estonia
The Swedish niche TV company NonStop has launched the film channel Showtime in Estonia.
Radu Mihaileanu’s Concert sold in all territories
After reaching the number one spot in French distribution, Concert by Romanian born director Radu Mihaileanu has been sold to all territories.
FNE Austrians reach out to CEE neighbors
The Vienna Film Fund's director Peter Zawrel has been actively courting CEE producers, showing up at Slovenia's coproduction meeting in mid-November, and at a December 4 panel on Slovak film…
Lucerna celebrates centenary
Prague's art nouveau architectural masterpiece, the Lucerna cinema, was the centerpiece of a celebration to mark 100 years since it opened on December 3, 1909.
Estonia, Poland selected for Sundance competition
The Temptation of St. Tony from Estonia and All That I Love from Poland have been announced for the World Cinema Narrative competition at the Sundance Film Festival, January 21-31.
Slovakia looks to build on current successes
A Slovak Film Institute (www.sfu.sk) panel, sponsored by Film New Europe, on the global position of Slovak films had a practical goal: to ensure that the current crop of international…
FESTIVALS: French/Belgian film wins Bratislava International Film Festival
The International Bratislava Film Festival (www.iffbratislava.sk) under new programme director Matthieu Darras gave its grand prix to the French/Belgian film The Day God Went Away by director Philippe Van Leeuw.
FESTIVALS: Plus Camerimage awards Lebanon cinematographer
Giora Bejach won the Golden Frog for Lebanon at the 2009 Plus Camerimage (www.pluscamerimage.pl), the festival recognizing cinematographers, and Marian Prokop took the Polish competition prize for Snow White Russian…
EFA honors Wajda
The European Film Academy (EFA, www.europeanfilmacademy.org) will bestow its 2009 EFA FIPRESCI Critics award on Polish director Andrzej Wajda for his film Sweet Rush (Tatarak).
Malta markets film service industry
Malta is building on the wave of western films shot in the island nation in recent years to attract productions from farther afield.
