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SCANDINAVIAN FILMS WEBINARS GALORE!
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From March 1 through the 5 , the Scandinavian Films pavilion will support Nordic films screened
on the EFM platform. Scandinavian Films members are the Danish Film Institute, the Finnish Film
Foundation, the Icelandic Film Centre, the Norwegian Film Institute and the Swedish Film Institute.
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The center will also offer three webinars. On March 2 , at 11am, the conference is titled “Joining
Forces: Collaborating for Strong Coproductions”. It is about “how producers and funders think about
the smartest and most successful co-productions for 2021 and coming years. Experts talk about
the benefit of tapping into financial incentives as well as finding the right creative collaborators.
Producers offer practical advice from recent and upcoming high-profile co-productions including Flee,
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Triangle of Sadness and Daniel”. On March 3 , at 11am, the conference is titled “The Kids Are all Right:
the Boom is Family Films”. “Children’s and family films, both live action and animation, that have
been audience favourites for years at the box-office. Now youth films are also much in demand
on digital platforms. The experts address what kinds of kids’ films are the hottest sellers, what are
the trends in storytelling for children, and what are the secrets for how these films cut through
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the noise to reach their target audience (and their parents).” And finally, on March 4 , at 11am,
the webinar “Deal or No Deal: Demystifying International Sales” questions “what do producers need
to know about working with international sales companies? How do you find the right fit for your film
and how do you best work with your sales agent throughout the process? What kinds of projects
are selling well in 2021, and how can sellers create buzz with debut features by unknown talents?
How is the changing festival landscape of 2021 and beyond impacts sales?” ❖ V. L. L.
UNIFRANCE SODEC IS BACKING
SHOWCASES A DIVERSE
THE FRENCH SELECTION QUEBEC ARMADA
Screenings, stands for the usual exhibitors Quebec cinema is always warmly
(international sellers, institutions…), co- welcome in Berlin. And Sodec is helping
production market, conference program again a strong contingent, headed
(EFM Industry Sessions), daily podcasts are by a Berlinale regular Denis Côté.
on the program of this first part Social Hygiene, his 6 film he has
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of the festival. UniFrance is representing screened there since 2012, is selected
the French sales agents participating at the in Encounters, a section which was
EFM through a stand (reserved for those launched last year to showcase
accredited) which will highlight the French independent and original titles.
works screened at the market, as well A perfect fit for the maverick director.
as the association’s latest operations © GUY FERRANDIS He has previously played in Berlin’s
to promote French cinema (10 to Watch, main competition three times with
Success of the Year 2020, etc.). For this Xavier Beauvois’ Drift Away is one Vic + Flo Saw a Bear (2013), Boris
particular year and in agreement with of the French films in the main competition. Without Beatrice (2016), and Ghost Town
the management of Berlinale, UniFrance has Anthology (2019). Social Hygiene follows
offered press screenings in Paris of French the peregrinations of a philosopher and
films in selection at the festival. It took place delinquent bon vivant, around whom
from February 23 to 25 and was intended revolve his wife, his sister, a tenacious
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for critics and foreign correspondents based tax collector, a beautiful lover and one
in Paris in order to maximize editorial of his victims.
support during the Berlinale. Finally, The second highlight will be Beans,
UniFrance will organize, for international around an Indigenous teenager, shown
buyers and sellers, as well as for the press, at Generation Kplus. To shoot it,
a giant blind-test of French film music Mohawk filmmaker Tracey Deer drew
and online sports sessions. The French titles on her childhood memories of the Oka
in competition are: Drift Away by Xavier crisis in 1990. Quebec is also
Beauvois, Memory Box by Khalil Joreige © AVI MOGRABI coproducing with France and Lebanon
and Joana Hadjithomas, Petite maman Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige
by Céline Sciamma, Ballad of a White Cow The First 54 Years - An Abbreviated Manual for Military Occupation latest film, Memory Box. It’s the first
by Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam by Avi Mograbi will be shown in Forum. Lebanese title in competition
Moghaddam (minority co-production) at Berlinale since 1982! It tackles
and Natural Light by Dénes Nagy (minority). the subject of a Lebanese woman who
In Panorama: Theo and the Metamorphosis moved to Canada with her mother.
by Damien Odoul, Copilot by Anne Zohra One day, she receives a box filled with
Berrached (minority), The World After Us notebooks and cassette tapes that were
by Louda Ben Salah-Cazanas. In Forum: recorded during Lebanon’s civil war.
From Where they Stood by Christophe Last but not least, Best Sellers, world
Cognet, Just a Movement by Vincent premiering at EFM, is also waving
Meessen, Night Nursery by Moumouni the Quebec flag. This coproduction
Sanou, The First 54 Years - An Abbreviated with Canada and UK notably stars actor
Manual for Military Occupation by Avi Michael Caine. It is the first feature film
Mograbi. In Encounters: We by Alice Diop, by Canadian Lina Roessler, whose
Azor by Andréas Fontana (minority), previous short films won awards.
Moon, 66 Questions by Jacqueline Lentzou Michael Caine plays a retired author
(minority), Taste by Lê Bao, As I Want by who goes on a literary tour
Samaher Alqadi. In Perspektive Deutsches with an editor who tries to save
Kino: Wood and Water de Jonas Bak. © LOU SCAMBLE his father’s publishing house. Quebecois
The French short films are: The Man Who Pierre Even (C.R.A.Z.Y., Rebelle, Café
Wait by Truong Minh Quý , A Love Song Bear winner Denis Côté will compete in the festival’s Encouters de Flore) is among the producers.
in Spanish by Ana Elena Tejera, Easter Eggs strand with his latest film, Social Hygiene. Alongside these titles, Sodec will be
by Nicolas Keppens, One Thousand and One helping financially all Quebec films
Attempts to Be an Ocean by Yuyan Wang shown at EFM in order to help their
and Young Hearts by Émilie visibility and promotion. ❖
Vandenameele. ❖ V. L. L. F.-P. P.-L.
suite page 22
N° 3954 du 26 février 2021
