European Film Promotion at the 10. Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente, April 08-20, 2008

Strong presence of innovative European cinema in Buenos Aires

European Film Promotion (EFP) and the Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente (BAFICI) continue their collaboration at the 10th edition of Latin America’s premiere independent film event. 2008 marks the fifth year that EFP and BAFICI join together in creating a promotional platform which highlights the work of a diverse and exciting group of European filmmakers. EFP’s activities at the festival are supported by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union.

Over the years, BAFICl has attracted international recognition for its programme of quality, challenging films, highlighting first and second time directors as well as its programmes featuring some of the world’s great contemporary masters. Under the leadership of the newly appointed Festival Director, Sergio Wolf, BAFICI has selected almost 430 films, with more than 148 films from Europe (including 18 European co-productions). In cooperation with the Berlin International Film Festival, BAFICI will also host a Talent Campus for young filmmakers from the Latin American region.

The European programme, which features films by acclaimed directors such as Michael Haneke with FUNNY GAMES (Austria), José Luis Guerín with EN LA CIUDAD DE SYLVIA (Spain), Béla Tarr with THE MAN FROM LONDON (Hungary), and Fatih Akin with THE EDGE OF HEAVEN (Germany) along with feature and experimental films, documentaries and shorts, illustrates the vibrant cinematic landscape existing in Europe today.

Among several retrospectives presented at the festival are films by directors Romuald Karmakar, THE DEATHMAKER (Germany), Jacques Nolot, AVANT QUE J’OUBLIE and Nicolas Klotz, LA QUESTION HUMAINE (France), José Antonio Sistiaga, EN UN JARDíN IMAGINADO, (Spain) and Astrid Ofner, TELL ME ON TUESDAY (Austria). The European delegation (see list below) includes 15 filmmakers who are travelling to Buenos Aires to present their films personally to the Argentinian public, press and industry. The complete festival programme will be available soon at www.bafici.gov.ar.

As in previous years, BAFICI and EFP will once again host a Press Conference featuring the European Directors on April 14th at 12 pm in the Abasto Festival Center. In addition, a press agent will coordinate individual interview requests.


Thanks to the support of a number of cultural institutes and European embassies, the Festival is able to present the following impressive line-up of European artists at the 10th anniversary edition of BAFICI:

European Filmmakers attending BAFICI

Astrid Ofner, Retrospective – Austria
Jannik Splidsboel, TOGETHER – Denmark/Argentina Serge Bozon, LA FRANCE – France Vincent Dieutre, DESPUÉS DE LA REVOLUCIÓN – France Aurelia Georges, L’HOMME QUI MARCHE – France Jacques Nolot, Retrospective – France Nicolas Klotz, Retrospective – France Rafa Cortés, ME (YO) – Spain (in internatinal competition) Rafael Ruiz Peña, CAMPILLO, SÍ QUIERO – Spain Pere Portabella, THE SILENCE BEFORE BACH – Spain José Antonio Sistiaga, Retrospective – Spain José Luis Guerín, EN LA CIUDAD DE SYLVIA – Spain Romuald Karmakar, Retrospective – Germany Béla Tarr, THE MAN FROM LONDON – Hungary/France/Germany Mijke De Jong, TUSSENSTAND – The Netherlands