19 films selected for the 2015 International Film Festival in Berlin (5-15 February) are supported by EU’s Creative Europe MEDIA sub-programme with over 2 million euro.
Nine of the films are presented in the Main Competition, including the opening film “Nobody Wants the Night” by Isabel Coixet, a co-production between Spain, France and Bulgaria.
The 19 MEDIA supported films represent a variety of stories, genres and artistic approaches from various European countries and are selected for different sections of the Berlinale programme.
The following films in the Main Competition have been developed and/or distributed by MEDIA of which many will have its World premiere in Berlin competing for Golden and Silver Bears:
- Nobody Wants the Night, by Isabel Coixet, Spain / France / Bulgaria;
- 45 Years, by Andrew Haigh, UK;
- Aferim! by Radu Jude, Romania / Bulgaria / Czech Republic;
- Eisenstein in Guanajuato by Peter Greenaway, Netherlands / Mexico / Belgium / Finland;
- El botón de nácar (The Pearl Button) – documentary by Patricio Guzmán, France / Chile / Spain;
- Journal d’une femme de chambre (Diary of a Chambermaid) by Benoit Jacquot, France / Belgium;
- Vergine giurata (Sworn Virgin) by first film director Laura Bispuri, Italy / Switzerland / Germany / Albania / Kosovo.
Two German films supported by MEDIA will be screened out of competition:
- Elser (13 Minutes) by Oliver Hirschbiegel
- Every Thing Will Be Fine, Wim Wender’s world premiere, a co-production between Germany / Canada / France / Sweden / Norway.
Other sections
Some MEDIA-supported films are selected for the other official sections of the 65thBerlinale:
- The well-known German director Margrethe von Trotta is selected for the Berlinale Special with her latest film Die Abhandene Welt (The Misplaced World).
In the Panorama section are three films developed with EU-grants:
- De ce eu? (Why me?) by Tudor Giutgiu, a co-production between Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary;
- Sangailė (The Summer of Sangailė), directed by Alantė Kavalitė, produced by Lithuania, France and Netherlands;
- documentary film Une jeunesse Allemande (A German Youth) by Jean Gabirel Périot, co-produced by France, Switzerland and Germany.
Two are presented in the Forum programme:
- Heidi Schneider steckt fest (Heidi Schneider is Stuck) by Sonja Heiss, produced in collaboration between Germany and Norway;
- Koza by Ivan Ostrochovský, co-produced between Slovakia and Czech Republic.
The section Generation for children and young people MEDIA is represented by three films from Scandinavia:
- Danish drama series Heartless by Natasha Arthy;
- Cykelmyggen og Minibilen (Mini and Mozzies) by the Grand Old Men in Danish animation Jannik Hastrup and Flemming Quist Møller, co-produced with Germany;
- Swedish-German co-production Min lilla syster (My Skinny Sister), directed by Sanna Lenken.
Culinary Cinema
For the 10th time Berlinale presents its section Culinary Cinema with 13 recent films about food and ecology, accompanied by meals prepared by famous chefs. One of the culinary film of 2015 has been developed by the aid of Creative Europe;Så meget godt i vente (Good Things Await) from Denmark, directed by Phie Ambo.
Co-Production Marked
Every year, the Berlin International Film Festival hosts a two-and-a-half day-longBerlinale Co-Production Market. Five hundred experienced international producers, film financiers and film distributors as well as representatives from funding bodies, sales agents and TV channels come together to initiate international co-productions. The co-production market is supported by the MEDIA sub-programme of Creative Europe.
European Film Forum
In the margins of the Berlinale, the first European Film Forum will take place on the 9 February. Professionals invited by Creative Europe/MEDIA will discuss around the new audiovisual business models and innovative showcases of supported projects and international co-productions. Günther H. Oettinger, EU Commissioner responsible for the Digital Economy and Society will give a keynote speech at this event.
