Latest news with #EuropeanFilmPromotion
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Twenty Rising European Producers Chosen for Producers on the Move Program in Cannes
European Film Promotion has selected 20 rising European producers for the 26th edition of its Producers on the Move networking program, which runs during the Cannes Film Festival. Variety is the program's main media partner. The following producers are taking part: Blerina Hankollari (Albania), Andi G. Hess (Austria), Géraldine Sprimont (Belgium), Magdelena Ilieva (Bulgaria), Tamara Babun Zovko (Croatia), Daniel Mühlendorph (Denmark), Lionel Massol (France), Fred Burle (Germany), Claudia Sümeghy (Hungary), Deirdre Levins (Ireland), Francesca Andreoli (Italy), Kristele Pudane (Latvia), Klementina Remeikaitė (Lithuania), Vincent Quénault (Luxembourg), Bojana Radulović (Montenegro), Janne Hjeltnes (Norway), Agnieszka Wasiak (Poland), Carla Fotea (Romania), Eliza Jones (Sweden) and Thomas Reichlin (Switzerland). More from Variety Nicole Kidman to Receive Kering's Milestone 10th Woman in Motion Award at Cannes Film Festival Cannes Assembles Powerhouse Jury for 78th Edition, Including Jeremy Strong, Halle Berry and Payal Kapadia Kino Lorber Buys French Arthouse Hit 'Souleymane's Story,' Winner of Cannes' Un Certain Regard, for North America (EXCLUSIVE) They will take part in sessions designed to foster international co-productions, boost the exchange of experiences and help create new professional networks. Pre-festival kick-off online gatherings, which already started yesterday and are going to run until April 30, offer one-to-one speed meetings, roundtables and pitching sessions. All participants will then meet in person during the festival in Cannes from May 16 to 20 and take part in an on-site program, incorporating case studies, social events and a promotional campaign. With their respective companies, the 20 producers are putting forward a wide range of narrative forms and genres, from drama and comedy to documentaries, series and animated films, from horror, fantasy and action to science fiction, coming-of-age and thrillers. Three of the selected producers will be presenting their films that have been selected for this year's Cannes festival: Fred Burle of One Two Films is the German co-producer of Kléber Mendonça Filho's 'The Secret Agent,' which runs in competition (as an entry from Brazil), Géraldine Sprimont of Need Productions from Belgium is involved in Déni Oumar Pitsaev's documentary 'Imago,' part of the competition section of Critics' Week, and French producer Lionel Massol of Films Grand Huits is the associate producer of the short film 'Loynes' by Dorian Jesper selected for Directors' Fortnight. Six of this year's group of producers were involved in the production of their respective Academy Awards entries for the International Feature Film category. Kristele Pudane of Sunday Rebel Films from Latvia produced Latvia's 2022 entry for the Academy Awards, 'The Pit' by Dace Pūce. Blerina Hankollari of Artalb Film Production from Albania produced Gentian Koçi's 'A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On' (2023), and Francesca Andreoli of Cinedora the Italian entry 'Vermiligo' by Maura Delpero (2025). Agnieszka Wasiak of Lava Films is the Polish co-producer of this year's shortlisted Academy Award entry for Denmark, 'The Girl with the Needle' by Magnus von Horn, and Klementina Remeikaitė from Lithuania of Afterschool Production was the producer of the Lithuanian entries 'Pilgrims' (2022) and 'Drowning Dry' (2024), both directed by Laurynas Bareiša. Thomas Reichlin from Switzerland of Alva Film was one of the producers of 2024 Swiss Oscar entry 'Reinas' by Klaudia Reynicke and shortlisted with 'Hive' as the Swiss co-producer for the Kosovo entry in 2022. Further producers have attracted attention with highly acclaimed and award-winning films, such as Eliza Jones (Grand Slam Film) from Sweden with 'Pleasure' by Ninja Thyberg as well as Tamara Babun Zovko from Croatia (Wolfgang&Dolly) who produced the IDFA award winner for best feature length documentary, 'The Other Side of Everything' by Mila Turajlić whilst Vincent Quénault from Luxembourg (Red Lion) entered the Berlinale competition twice in a row with his co-productions, 'Black Tea' by Abderrahmane Sissako (2024) and 'The Safe House' by Lionel Baier (2025). Claudia Sümeghy from Hungary (JUNO11) and Carla Fotea from Romania (microFILM) are also putting their focus on the production of films for younger audiences: Sümeghy produced Nóra Lakos' 'I Accidentally Wrote a Book' and Fotea was involved in Ana-Maria Comănescu's debut feature film, 'Horia.' Concentrating on debuts, Daniel Mühlendorph from Denmark (Hyæne Film) takes credit for the production of Lisa Jespersen's comedy-drama 'Persona Non Grata' (2021) while other producers of the group follow their trusted talent such as Andi G. Hess from Austria (Schubert) who worked on Sandra Wollner's documentary 'The Impossible Picture' (2016) as well as on her fiction film 'The Trouble With Being Born' (2021). Likewise, Norwegian Janne Hjeltnes (Empathitude Pictures) continues working with director Halkawt Mustafa (Hene Films) 'Hiding Saddam Hussein' (2023). With 'Eternity Package' (2024) Magdelena Ilieva from Bulgaria (Little Wing Productions) also produces her own films as a director, while other female producers with their respective companies and films are focusing on stories told from a female perspective and realized by female or LGBTQ+ filmmakers: Irish Deirdre Levins (Fantastic Films) for example, was involved in the film You Are Not My Mother, and BojanaRadulović (Code Blue Production) will produce Eleonora Veninova's next project, 'Fires.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in May 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in May 2025
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jessica Hausner and Annemarie Jacir Films Among Projects Pitched by Up-and-Coming European Producers in Cannes (EXCLUSIVE)
European Film Promotion is playing host at the Cannes Film Festival to 20 up-and-coming European producers, selected for its Producers on the Move program. Variety invited the producers to share details of their upcoming projects, which we list below, including films to be directed by Jessica Hausner and Annemarie Jacir. Blerina Hankollari, AlbaniaProject: 'Beyond the Blue Mountains Is the Sea'Director: Eneos Çarka'Beyond the Blue Mountains Is the Sea' is a meditative docufiction about a diver, suspended in oxygen therapy, who slips into a reverie that connects him with his mysterious double travelling Europe's last wild river in southern Albania, where water dissolves the boundaries between memory, nature, and identity. More from Variety Damson Idris, Anamaria Vartolomei to Star as Miles Davis and Juliette Greco in Mick Jagger-Produced 'Miles & Juliette' Women Direct Only 11% of Top-Grossing Films Globally, According to New Study From Annenberg Inclusion Initiative 'Monte Cristo' Actor Pierre Niney on Starring as a Toxic Superstar Coach in 'Guru,' Studiocanal's Thriller Directed by Yann Gozlan (EXCLUSIVE) Andi G. Hess, AustriaProject: 'Toxic'Director: Jessica HausnerAcross four chapters, 'Toxic' examines different aspects of the modern working world. Through contemporary parables, it follows employees and employers within a capitalist system on the verge of outpacing itself. At times, the tone is more realistic, at others more absurd, but what ties it all together is the human element that acts as the sand in the gears of a profit-driven world. Geraldine Sprimont, BelgiumProject: 'The Judges'Director: César DiazThe portrait of the precariousness of Guatemala City's suburbs, caused by the abandonment of social, political and police institutions. Here, the 'law of the strongest' has been reinstated. Through two female characters, the film tells the story of a community of neighbors who decide to kill a rapist as an act of self-proclaimed justice. Magdelena Ilieva, BulgariaProject: 'Voices'Directors: Magdelena Ilieva, Yana MarinovaA crisis PR expert in Bulgaria's make-believe democracy saves her daughter from prison by fronting a women's rights campaign that masks the very abuses her daughter exposed. The fakeness that erodes society slowly rots their relationship in this twisted, darkly funny tale. Tamara Babun Zovko, CroatiaProject: 'First Week of August'Director: Filip MojzešAn idyllic island vacation takes a tumultuous turn when a mother's sudden physical outburst towards her 10-year-old son exposes hidden tensions and lingering conflicts within the family. A picturesque Mediterranean setting becomes a backdrop for the family to confront long-standing personal issues. Daniel Mühlenthorp, DenmarkProject: 'Medicated'Director: Las Dyhrcrone'Medicated' follows Ivan, 17, a ruthless young opioid-addict known as the Crocodile, who must confront his humanity when a stranger challenges his position on The Seagull Farm ruled by 87-year-old Angel Girl seeking her successor among her disciples. Lionel Massol, FranceProject: 'Sousan'Director: Marie Le Floc'hThis is the story of a man who fights to find a woman who may never come back. This is the story of a woman who has never given up and who may have already paid too much to give up. This is the story of their impossible love. Fred Burle, GermanyProject: 'The Oblivion Theory'Director: Annemarie JacirIn Gaza in 1987 a reclusive New Yorker hides in a rooftop apartment amid an uprising. Isolated yet watchful, she unexpectedly becomes a quiet force of change – for herself and those around her. 'The Oblivion Theory' is a new feature by renowned director Annemarie Jacir. Claudia Sümeghy, HungaryProject: 'DVNA'Director: Tamas Yvan Topolánszky'DVNA' is a haunting eco-thriller where a tech mogul's quest to expose a Danube pollution scandal ripples across time — entwining with a mother's search for her missing child in a deserted Budapest, and forcing us to face the consequences of our environmental choices. Deirdre Levins, IrelandProject: 'Meat'Director: Rioghnach Ní GhrioghairPresented at Cinemart and the Berlinale Co-Production Market in 2025, 'Meat,' a cannibal folk horror by Rioghnach Ní Ghrioghair, follows a young girl in 1800s famine-stricken Ireland who finds refuge with a sisterhood, only to discover their survival depends on more than nature's bounty. Francesca Andreoli, ItalyProject: 'Me, If You Want'Director: Leonardo Guerra SeràgnoliAn unexpected email draws a lonely Italian man into the life of a young London DJ — and into a fragile dance between truth, forgiveness, and the family we choose. Co-written by Leonardo Guerra Seràgnoli and Blaise Peters, this cross-cultural drama blends emotional depth with a fresh, contemporary edge — set between southern Italy and London's vibrant music scene. Kristele Pudane, LatviaProject: 'Dancing Void'Director: Madara DišlereA poetic and intimate documentary following a young medical clown on a transformative journey — revealing how profound healing can emerge even in the darkest places through reflection, empathy, and freedom, using a wordless art form that connects people across cultures and boundaries. Klementina Remeikaitė, LithuaniaProject: 'Liberations'Director: Laurynas Bareiša'Liberations' is the third feature film by Laurynas Bareiša, an award-winning director recognized at both the Venice and Locarno film festivals. The film tells the story of a family fleeing an unseen war, only to confront the profound psychological aftermath of a conflict that leaves no physical traces, yet shatters everything they once knew. Bojana Radulović, MontenegroProject: 'Fires'Director: Bojana RadulovićBojana Radulović's 'Fires' is a female-led Balkan psychodrama where patriarchy, wildfires, and adolescent desire collide. With Cannes alumna Eleonora Veninova directing and newcomer Anja Vujković starring, it's a bold, festival-ready vision for global arthouse and platform audiences. Vincent Quénault, LuxembourgProject: 'The Cupboard'Director: Laura SchroederDirector Laura Schroeder ('Barrage,' 2017) is developing her fourth feature, 'The Cupboard.' This social drama, based on a true story from Luxembourg, follows a woman who appears to be the prime suspect in a tragic accident at a children's day-care center. Janne Hjeltnes, NorwayProject: 'First Aid for Killers'Director: Bobbie Peers'First Aid for Killers' is an off-beat dark comedy by Palme d'Or winner Bobbie Peers ('Sniffer,' 2006) where a lost man's search for escape leads to mistaken identity, a heist, and quiet chaos beneath the surface of a tourist paradise. Agnieszka Wasiak, PolandProject: 'Black Water'Director: Aga WoszczyńskaSet against eerie Nordic landscapes, 'Black Water' is a suspenseful slow-burner about two women who form an unexpected bond after their partners mysteriously vanish amid an ecological disaster. Their connection guides them through loss toward embracing uncertainty and healing in a world falling apart. Carla Fotea, RomaniaProject: 'Expelled'Director: Tudor Platon'Expelled' is the third documentary from Tudor Platon (DOP of 'The New Year That Never Came' by Bogdan Mureșanu). The project was pitched at IDFA Forum last year and is currently in financing. It's a gripping exploration of the Romanian educational system, triggered by the scandal surrounding Tudor's expulsion from high school in the middle of the political crisis of 2010/2011. Eliza Jones, SwedenProject: 'My Best Friend's Baby'Director: Sophie Vukovic'My Best Friend's Baby' is a film about the greatest love of all – friendship. After Damir donates his sperm for Sara's solo parenting journey, the two best friends travel from Sweden to his family's wedding in Croatia, where the strain on their secret arrangement challenges their friendship and forces them to reassess their own notions on family. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
