A jury of important industry personalities have this year selected the following actors:
Cyron Melville (Denmark), Samuli Vauramo (Finland), Hafsia Herzi (France), David Kross (Germany), Orsi Tóth (Hungary), Sarah Bolger (Ireland), Alba Caterina Rohrwacher (Italy), Verónica Echegui (Spain), Celine Bolomey (Switzerland) and Carey Mulligan (United Kingdom).
For further information on each of these actors please see below or go to: www.shooting-stars.eu
This year's jury consists of: Marion Hänsel (Belgium - director), Antonio Saura (Spain- producer), Peter Cowie (UK - film historian), Patrícia Vasconcelos (Portugal - casting director) and Labina Mitevska (Macedonia - actress). Each of the actors has been chosen for their outstanding work in feature films and, with their participation in SHOOTING STARS, they will be able to showcase their talents to a wide range of industry professionals. The SHOOTING STARS will be encouraged to see themselves as the new ambassadors for European cinema and filmed entertainment, following in the footsteps of previous participants: Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Franka Potente, Daniel Brühl, Ludivine Sagnier, Cécile de France and Jérémie Renier, while their presence on cinema screens worldwide will demonstrate their creative and artistic talents to international audiences.
In 2009 the 12th edition of the SHOOTING STARS event will take place from Saturday 7 to Monday 9 February at the Berlinale, where the ten chosen actors will be presented to leading filmmakers and industry personnel as well as attend high profile events at the Festival. During their time at the Festival they will be invited to attend master-classes and workshops to bring them into contact with industry professionals and decision makers.
SHOOTING STARS is a unique pan-European initiative which helps to put emerging new acting talent at the forefront for the busy film and entertainment agenda which unfolds each year at the Berlinale, one of the world's pre-eminent showcases for international and, more specifically, European film culture. In 2009, the SHOOTING STARS events will encompass hosted receptions and dinners, photography and portraiture of the selected actors by a leading media partner, as well as meetings and introductions to casting directors and agents. The highlight of next year's event will be when Festival Director Dieter Kosslick introduces the SHOOTING STARS to the Berlinale-Palast audience on Monday 9 February and gives out the Shooting Stars Award - sponsored by Studio Babelsberg handed out to the young actors.
The SHOOTING STARS project is supported by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union, the EFP member organisations and commercial partners. The aims of EFP and the SHOOTING STARS project are not only to raise the profile of European film internationally, but also to furnish the SHOOTING STARS with as many tools as possible to further their careers. The process of jury selection means greater benefits for the SHOOTING STARS ever before, as well as showcasing the growing base of talent from across many and diverse European countries.
For further information please go to: www.shooting-stars.eu
Contact Premier PR:
Ginger Corbett This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +44 20 7292 8330
Philip Rose This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +44 20 7292 8330
Contact EFP:
Project Management: Karin Dix, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +49 40 390 6252
Press: Mareen Gerisch, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +49 40 390 6252
Main Sponsor of SHOOTING STARS 2009 is Studio Babelsberg. The event moreover is supported by Volkswagen, arvato digital services, Filmstiftung NRW GmbH and Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg. EFP is supported by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union and by its member organisations. In addition, promotion and PR activities are backed by the Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC), the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the Department for Culture, Sport and Media of the City of Hamburg.
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Denmark: Cyron Melville
Nominated by: The Danish Film Institute
Jury's comment: "With his photogenic looks and imposing physical presence, he has a candid look that engages an audience immediately, and his evident versatility will ensure his stature as an actor in the years ahead."
At 24 Cyron Melville, who is half Danish and half Scottish, has been featured in films and television productions since he was 10 when he was cast in The Beast Within (Carsten Rudolf). His starring roles include Kick'n Rush (Aage Rais-Nordentoft, 2004), Life Hits (Christian E. Christiansen, 2005), Triple Dare (Christina Rosendahl, 2006), Fighter (Natasha Arthy, 2008) and most recently the title role in Daniel (working title) by Morten Giese (premiere 2009).
Finland: Samuli Vauramo
Nominated by: The Finnish Film Foundation
Jury's comment: "An athletic, sensitive, and versatile actor whose commanding charisma should ensure him a great future beyond his native Finland."
Born in 1981 in Helsinki, Samuli Vauramo studied at the Theatre Academy of Finland and won his first film role the month before graduating starring in Beauty and the Bastard (Tyttö Sinä Olet Tähti by Dome Karukoski, 2005) for which he was nominated for Best Actor at the Finnish Film Awards. His latest film role is the lead in Tears of April (Aku Louhimies, 2008) and he has just completed work on Bunraku (Guy Moshe, 2009) in the United States.
France: Hafsia Herzi
Nominated by: Unifrance
Jury's comment: "Her astonishing performance in La Graine et le Mulet is rich in detail and human understanding, marking her out as a future star of European cinema."
The French actress Hafsia Herzi got her first major role in the film, La Graine et Le Mulet by Abdellatif Kechiche. She has won the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actress at The Venice Film Festival 2007, the César for the most promising actress 2008 and awards from various other industry bodies. Other films include, L'aube Du Monde (Abbas Fahdel, 2007), Francaise (Souad El Bouhati, 2007) and Un Homme et son Chien (Francis Huster, 2008). She has completed Le Roi de l'Évasion by Alain Guiraudie and just finished shooting Anonymes by Raja Amari.
Germany: David Kross
Nominated by: German Films
Jury's comment: "A rapidly maturing talent who can express the full range of emotions, from aggression to vulnerability, while always allowing the audience to empathise with his situation on screen."
Born in 1990 near Hamburg, German actor David Kross has already shown formidable talent since his first role at the age of 12 in the TV movie Help, I'm a Boy! (Hilfe Ich Bin Ein Junge) by Oliver Dommenget. He was cast in the multi-award winning 2006 film Tough Enough (Knallhart) by Detlev Buck and discovered by a larger audience. Since then he has gone on to star in Krabat (Marco Kreuzpaintner, 2008) and, most recently, the critically acclaimed The Reader (Stephen Daldry, 2008). Currently he is shooting in Cambodia on Detlev Buck's new movie Same same but different.
Hungary: Orsi Tóth
Nominated by: Magyar Filmunió
Jury's comment:" In Delta Orsi Tóth radiates a profound intensity that impressed the jury. She brings her unique gifts as an actress to each new role and endows her characters with a special intensity."
Born in 1982 in Budapest, actress Orsi Tóth graduated from the Hungarian Academy of Drama and Film in 2004, during her time there she stared in Pleasant Days (Kornél Mundruczó, 2001) which won her several awards and has lead to her roles in Mundruczó's other films Joan of Arc on the Night Bus, Johanna, Short Lasting Silence and most recently Summer 1953 (Shirin Neshat, 2008), the FIPRESCI award winning Delta (Kornél Mundruczó, 2008) and Lourdes (Jessica Hausner, 2008).
Ireland: Sarah Bolger
Nominated by: Irish Film Board
Jury's comment: "The jury recalled how impressive she was in her teenage years, in Jim Sheridan's In America in 2003. Her charisma continues to light up each new film, and clearly she has the world at her feet."
Born in 1991 in Dublin, Sarah Bolger studied at the Young People's Theatre Company from the age of five and is a member of the Dublin Youth Theatre. Her first major role was in the 2001 film In America (Jim Sheridan) for which she received nominations for major international awards. Recent films include Tara Road (Gillies MacKinnon, 2005) and Stormbreaker (Geoffrey Sax, 2006) and The Spiderwick Chronicles (Mark Waters, 2009). She has just completed the television drama The Tudors as Princess Mary.
Italy: Alba Caterina Rohrwacher
Nominated by: Filmitalia
Jury's comment: "She possesses an utterly natural skill, and each of her performances is always profound and complex. Her spirited playing and striking physique distinguish her from so many of her contemporaries."
Born in Firenze in 1978, Alba Rohrwacher studied drama and received her diploma from Scuola Nazionale di Cinema, her career has subsequently spanned film, theatre, television and radio. Her major film roles include: L'amore Ritrovato (C. Mazzacurati, 2004), Mio Fratello È Figlio Unico (D. Luchetti, 2006), Giorni E Nuvole (S. Soldini, 2007), for which she won a David Donatello for best supporting actress, Caos Calmo (A. Grimaldi 2007), Riprendimi (A. Negri, 2008) and Il Papà Di Giovanna (P. Avati 2008) for which her performance won many awards. Her most recent films are Io Sono L'amore (L. Guadagnino, 2008), Due Partite (working title, by E. Monteleone, 2008) and L'Uomo Che Verra (G. Diritti, 2008).
Spain: Verónica Echegui
Nominated by: Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales, ICAA
Jury's comment: "Although she was an impressive presence in her very first film, she has adapted her talent to illuminate each of her subsequent appearances. Her charm and energy make her a natural, irresistible star."
Born in 1983 in Madrid, Verónica Echegui was accepted into the Royal Dramatic Arts School (RESAD) in 2001 and whilst still a student she was cast in several television dramas. Yo Soy La Juani (Bigas Luna, 2005) was her first major film role for which she won awards and nominations, this was followed by El Menor de Los Males (Antonio Hernández, 2006), Tocar El Cielo (Marcos Carnevale, 2007), 8 Citas (Peris Romano & Rodrigo Sorogoyen, 2007) and in 2008 La Casa De Mi Padre (Gorka Merchán), El Patio De Mi Cárcel (Belén Macías) and Bunny & The Bull (Paul King).
Switzerland: Celine Bolomey
Nominated by: Swiss Films
Jury's comment: "She is already a confirmed talent, but the jury felt that she will soon have a role that will enable her talent to blossom on screen. She has an enviable capacity to blend into the environment of each film."
Born in 1975, Swiss actress Celine Bolomey studied drama at INSAS in Brussels and has appeared in the theatre productions throughout Europe (amongst others with directors Galin Stoev and Omar Porras). Her film roles include: Le voyage de Noémie (Michel Rodde, 1986) which was her first leading role, On dirait le Sud (Vincent Pluss, 2002), AM-PM (Francesco Cesalli, 2001), iXième - Journal d'un prisonnier (Pierre Yves Borgeaud & Stéphane Blok, 2003), Du bruit dans la tête (Vincent Pluss, 2007), L'autre moitié (Rolando Colla, 2008). She also played in some short films and on British TV: The Hidden City (Richard Johnson, 2001, TV serie). Currently, she is participating in a workshop with Nicolas Klotz.
United Kingdom: Carey Mulligan
Nominated by: British Council
Jury's comment: "This outstanding young British actress has already worked with an impressive roster of directors, and her versatility and zest for life underline her multifaceted talent."
Born in 1985, English actress Carey Mulligan has appeared on stage on both sides of the Atlantic. On television her roles include such dramas as Bleak House, Doctor Who: Blink, Northanger Abbey and My Boy Jack. Her film roles include: Pride & Prejudice (Joe Wright, 2005), And When Did You Last See Your Father? (Anand Tucker, 2007), and the forthcoming Brothers (Jim Sheridan, 2009), Public Enemies (Michael Mann, 2009,) The Greatest (Shana Feste, 2009) and An Education (Lone Scherfig 2009).
For further information please go to: www.shooting-stars.eu
