16 European films receive EFP´s Film Sales Support at the Rio International Film Festival (20 September – 4 October 2007)

Starting off on 20 September and closing on 4 October, the Rio International Film Festival is one of the most important and longest events in Latin America. It has meanwhile become a busy place to discover Brazilian as well as international films and to conduct business as the festival also holds its new RioMarket which runs from 21 September to 3 October. RioMarket combines the established RioSeminars, the RioScreenings and One-to-One Meetings for international professionals. For a long time, the festival has maintained a strong section of diverse European films to cater to an interested and committed Brazilian audience. Precisely these conditions make the festival a testing ground for how European films are being received by local audiences. With Film Sales Support (FSS), an initiative backed by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union, European Film Promotion (EFP) is tapping into the niche market reserved for foreign films in Brazil to increase the visibility of films from Europe.

FSS offers attending European sales agents financial grants up to a maximum of €5,000 to cover their promotional campaigns at Rio. This year, 16 films from various European countries - a considerable increase in number to last year’s supports - are again benefiting from EFP’s help. For example, Hallam Foe by David Mackenzie (UK), Sonic Mirror by Mika Kaurismäki (Switzerland/Finland) and Don’t Touch The Axe by Jacques Rivette (France), just to name a few. From Now One by Catarina Ruívo (Portugal) is celebrating its world premiere at Rio and will be represented by Madragoa Filmes. Three documentaries and one children’s film are amongst the other supported films.

The following directors are accompanying their films to Rio with the help of FSS: Jorge Queiroga (Behind the Clouds), Armin Völkers (Leroy), Charlotte and David Lowe (One Fine Morning…) and Catarino Ruívo (From Now On). Their presence and the individual supported campaigns will certainly create a window for European films in Brazil.



FSS supported films and companies

Abril Cinema (Portugal)
BEHIND THE CLOUDS (ÁTRAS DAS NUVENS) by Jorge Queiroga, Portugal 2006

Diba Films (Spain)
ABOUT CRYING (LO BUENO DE LLORAR) by Matías Bize, Spain 2007

Dos Patrias Produktion (Germany)
TWO HOMELANDS, CUBA AND THE NIGHT (DOS PATRIAS, CUBA Y LA NOCHE) by Christian Liffers, Germany

Dreamer Joint Venture Filmproduktion (Germany) LEROY by Armin Völckers, Germany

Les Films du Losange (France)
BACK TO NORMANDY (RETOUR EN NORMANDIE) by Nicolas Philibert, France 2006 DÉLICE PALOMA (PALOMA DELIGHT) by Nadir Moknèche, France/Algeria 2007 DON’T TOUCH THE AXE (NE TOUCHEZ PAS LA HACHE) by Jacques Rivette, France/Italy 2007

Independent (UK)
HALLAM FOE by David Mackenzie, UK 2007

Lowe Films (France)
ONE FINE MORNING…(UN BEAU MATIN…) by Charlotte and David Lowe, France 2005 children’s film

Madragoa Filmes (Portugal)
FROM NOW ON (DAQUI P’RÁ FRENTE) by Catarina Ruívo, Portugal 2007

MDC International (Germany)
MAN’S JOB (MIEHEN TYÖ) by Aleksi Salmenperä, Finland 2007

Rezo Films (France)
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS – THE ENIGMA (CRISTOVAO COLUMBO – O ENIGMA) by Manoel de Oliveira, Portugal 2007 YO by Rafa Cortés, Spain 2007

Wide Management (France)
DREAMS OF DUST (REVES DE POUSSIÈRE) by Laurent Salgues, France/Canada 2006 HER NAME IS SABINE (ELLE S’APPELLE SABINE) by Sandrine Bonnaire, France 2007 SONIC MIRROR by Mika Kaurismäki, Switzerland/Finland/Germany 2007