Karlovy Vary 2004 – The atmosphere this year around the Hotel Thermal was electric, something like Time Square on a busy evening, (and the comparison is not that excessive!) especially outside the main entrance to the Velky Sal. Live music was continuously played on stage where crowds of youngsters gathered to drink, cheer, and indulge in what is surely one of the highlights of the Czech social calendar attended by international showbiz figures such as Elijah Wood, Harvey Keitel, John Cleese o...

Focus on Europe, organized by MEDIA Salles within Cinema Expo International 2004, at Amsterdam, concluded with the presentation of the “European Producer of the Year” award, given to Peter Aalbæk Jensen of Zentropa Entertainments.During the final Gala of CEI 2004, in fact, Domenico Dinoia, President of MEDIA Salles, presented Aalbæk Jensen with the recognition “for his determining role in the valorisation of Danish cinema on a worldwide level”. Together with the director Lars Von Trier...

II EMERGING EUROPEAN FILMMAKERS 71st MIFED (Oct. 12 – 16, 2004)On the occasion of 71st MIFED, the Mercato Internazionale del Cinema e del Multimediale [International Cinema and Multimedia Market], which will take place in Milan from the 12th to the 16th October 2004, the Ministero per I Beni e le Attività Culturali [Ministry of Cultural Property], the Fondazione Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia [National Film School] and Audiovisual Industry Promotion-MIFED are promoting the second edit...

“WHICH MARKET FOR EUROPEAN FILMS?”The aim of this research by MEDIA Salles is to provide a detailed description of the distribution of European films in Europe and to make a quantitative analysis of the phenomena lying behind the difficulties that have always been experienced by European films in crossing the threshold of their country of origin.Although the results of the research are rather complex and difficult to classify, some main trends do emerge:1. The considerable variation in admis...

MEDIA Salles was hosting a reception yesterday evening at the ‘Pavilion of the European Union – Int’l Village’ for the traditional rendezvous marking the publication of the MEDIA Salles’ Newsletter “European Cinema Journal” no. 3/2004,which includes the figures on cinema-going in 2003.MEDIA Salles’ coming initiatives were presented:The “Focus on Europe” events:- Kidflix Special at the 44th Zlín International Children’s Film Festival, Prague and Zlín, Czech Republi...

MAY 17th 2004, 0930-1600 Panel presented by peacefulfish,Amongst the speakers:Angelo Acerbi,Torino Piemonte Film Commission, ItalySilvio Borri, ELSACOM, ItalyBernard Brochand, Mayor of the City of Cannes, Member of Parliament,Constantin Daskalakis, Head of Media Program, BrusselsBruce Eisen, CinemaNow, USAMaximilien Jazani, SALANS, FranceAndré Logie, Lawyer, BelgiumStefan Lütje, Linklaters Oppenhoff & Rädler, BerlinRoland Perez, Media Pole, City of CannesJoel Phiri, IMG Productions, South Afr...

PROGRAMME FOR THE 39TH KARLOVY VARY IFF 2004The Karlovy Vary IFF is the most important international film festival in Central and Eastern Europe and the only A-grade festival in the Czech Republic. Its A-grade status (a “non-specialised festival with a feature film competition”) ranks the Karlovy Vary IFF among a group of prestigious festivals which e.g. also includes Cannes, Berlin, Venice and Tokyo. The conception of the festival, screening over 200 new films from all over the world for t...

"DigiTraining Plus: New Technologies for European Cinemas" Kuurne, Belgium31 March - 4 April 2004Dear friends, the Barco headquarters in Kuurne, Belgium, just saw the closure of the specialized course for cinema exhibitors: "DigiTraining Plus: New Technologies for European Cinemas", organized by MEDIA Salles, that was specifically dedicated to digital cinema. A highly positive evaluation of the course emerged from the more than 40 participants and experts, arriving from 13 European countries, fr...

Jens Rykaer - President of MEDIA SallesAs of 1 May 2004, the European Union will consist of 25 countries with 450 million inhabitants. Whilst welcoming these new members - and in particular all those who work in the world of the cinema - I should like us to remember that the strength of this new and increasingly far-flung Europe,lies in its diversity, as the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, has emphasised on several occasions. Diverse peoples and diverse cultures that must fin...

For the 17th time, one of the greatest European multimedia events will be taking place in Osnabrueck, from 21 to 25 April: over a period of five days, the EUROPEAN MEDIA ART FESTIVAL (EMAF) will present current trends and the latest developments in international media art.As an international forum for experimental films and videos, performances, multimedia installations, CD-ROM, DVD and Internet projects, the EMAF will introduce both creative newcomers and renowned artists.In its exhibition (bei...

"Technological innovation is a crucial factor for economic development and it is even more so regarding digital technology applied to the cinema sector, an activity that involves both economic and cultural values”. These were the words of Gianni Profita, Director General for the Cinema of the Italian Ministry for Cultural Affairs, commenting on the course on digital cinema promoted by MEDIA Salles, on which he affirmed: “It’s very significant for Europeans working in the cinema sector to r...

The 37th Annual WorldFest programApril 16-25, 2004More than 500 theatrical feature films were reviewed for the 2004 WorldFest. Program and Artistic Director Kathleen Haney announced the film selections: 60 titles, "A Good Story, Well Told" is the festival theme. -- "12" - USA - Comedic Epic - DVD digital -- 17 Times - Cecile Cassard - Drama - Panorama de France -35mm -- A Piece of Heaven - Drama - Panorama de France - 35mm -- The Affair - Drama - Suspense - USA - DVD digital -- Afghan Massacre ...

Reed MIDEM will honour Robert Halmi, Sr., Chairman of Hallmark Entertainment, with a Lifetime Achievement Award, at this year’s MIPTV international television market (Cannes, March 29 – April 2). The veteran television producer, who has been described as “the last of the great network television impresarios,” has over 200 made-for-television movies, series and miniseries to his credit. Robert Halmi, Sr. will receive his award March 30.“It’s a real pleasure to welcome Robert Halmi, Sr...

Mar del Plate live:The section official Competition opened up with the projection of “Touching the Void", by Kevin Mac Donald. The film, by way of documental reconstruction, narrates the true story, of two mountaineers that survive a dangerous adventure in the mountains. Followed by “Good bye dear Moon", by Fernando Spiner from Argentina, a combination of science fiction and comedy. The movie didn't appeal too much to the attending film critics. The next day, on the other hand, " Dealer "...

MAR DEL PLATA FEST ANNOUNCES FULL COMPETITION LINE UP JURY ANNOUNCED Mar del Plata President Miguel Pereira has revealed the full list of films set to compete at this year's event (March 11/20), as well as confirming the Jury, and those films screening out of competition.Official Competition (14 titles): Adiós Querida Luna - Argentina/Fernando Spiner Buena Vida Delivery - Argentina/Leonardo Di Césare The Blue Light - Japan/Yukio Ninagawa El Lápiz del Carpintero/The Carpenter's Pencil - Spain/...

Forty-seven film projects have been selected for the 21st CineMart, the first and largest co-production market worldwide, to be held January 25 - 29, 2004 as part of the 33rd edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam.CineMart director Ido Abram: "With this promising line up of film projects by established film-makers as well as projects by new talents from all continents, we are looking forward to a very strong 21st CineMart. We feel that this selection connects extremely well with th...

SUTHERLAND TROPHY SHORTLIST ANNOUNCEDA shortlist of three titles in competition for the British Film Institute (bfi) Sutherland Trophy was announced today (4 November), selected by a jury representing the film and entertainment worlds.The shortlist, chosen from twelve nominated titles, comprises No Rest for the Brave, a dreamlike coming-of-age odyssey from French director Alain Guiraudie; Osama, the first feature from post-Taliban Afghanistan directed by Siddiq Barmak; and Reconstruction, an exp...