Wednesday, November 29----The Sundance Institute and NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) announced today the 12 finalists for the 2007 Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Awards. These annual awards recognize emerging artists in international cinema and are presented to film directors from four global regions (Europe, Latin America, the United States and Japan) to support them in realizing their next projects. The four winners, selected by members of an international jury, will be announced during the 2007 Sundance Film Festival at the Festival Awards Ceremony on Saturday, January 27.

The winning director from each region will receive a $10,000 award and a guarantee from NHK to purchase the Japanese television broadcast rights upon completion of their project. In addition, Sundance Institute will work closely with the award recipients throughout the year, providing ongoing resources and support in seeking out opportunities to finance and distribute their projects.

2007 SUNDANCE/NHK INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKERS AWARDS FINALISTS

EUROPE

Jens Jonsson (THE PING-PONG KING, Sweden)

Dagur Kári (THE GOOD HEART, Iceland )

Ursula Meier (HOME, Switzerland)

LATIN AMERICA

Lucía Cedrón / AGNUS DEI ( Argentina )

Jorge Gaggero / DOG SECURITY ( Argentina )

Josué Méndez / DIOSES ( Peru )

JAPAN

Isamu Hirabayashi (THE CARE AND FEEDING OF INSECTS)

Tomoko Kana (TWO BY THE RIVER)

Yoshinori Saitou (CHICKEN CHOICE)

UNITED STATES

Caran Hartsfield (BURY ME STANDING)

Jake Mahaffy (FREE IN DEED)

Kazuo Ohno (MR. CRUMPACKER AND THE MAN FROM THE LETTER)

“We’re thrilled by the quality and diversity of the projects being developed by this year’s finalists. These awards are part of Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program which provides year-round support for U.S. and international filmmakers. The Sundance/NHK Awards act as a unique catalyst by providing these projects with the leverage to receive other funding that is critical for their completion,” said Michelle Satter , Director, Sundance Institute Feature Film Program.

Past recipients of the award include: Andrucha Waddington, THE HOUSE OF SAND (Brazil); Miranda July, ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW (USA); Lucrecia Martel, LA CIENAGA (Argentina); Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll, WHISKY (Uruguay); Walter Salles, CENTRAL STATION (Brazil); Chris Eyre, SMOKE SIGNALS (USA); György Pálfi, TAXIDERMIA (Hungary) and Catalin Mitulescu, THE WAY I SPENT THE END OF THE WORLD (Romania).

Sandy Mandelberger
Awards Watch Editor