Hubert Bals Fund Plus: Dutch co producers for films Celina Murga and Jazmín López

International Film Festival Rotterdam / Netherlands Film Fund

PRESS RELEASE May 12, 2011

Dutch film production companies Lemming Film and Waterland Film each receive € 50,000 in the Spring 2011 Round of Hubert Bals Fund Plus, a joint programme of the International Film Festival Rotterdam and the Netherlands Film Fund. Both companies will get involved in the co-production of Argentinean feature films.

Hubert Bals Fund  Plus was established in 2006 to promote the international involvement of Dutch producers with films already supported by the IFFR’s Hubert Bals Fund.

Hubert Bals Fund Plus Spring Selection 2011:

Amsterdam-based Lemming Film coproduces Leones, the début feature film by Jazmín López produced by Rei Cine (Argentina) and Petit Film (France). Leones pictures the trip of five teenagers following a fatal car accident. The twilight zone between life and death continues in a mysterious nature reserve that seems to have no beginning or end. Leones was developed at the Binger Filmlab in Amsterdam and was presented at CineMart 2010.

Waterland Film from Amsterdam coproduces La tercera orilla, third feature film by Celina Murga and produced by Tresmilmundos Cine (Argentina) and Peter Rommel Productions (Germany).
La tercera orilla tells about 16-year old Nicolas, the only acknowledged son of the extramarital family from his father. Now that his father wants him to follow in his footsteps, their relationship is tested and Nicolas will have to make up his mind. La tercera orilla was developed under the guidance of Martin Scorsese through the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative and was selected for CineMart 2009. Murga’s films Ana y los otros (2003) and Una semana solos (2008) were screened at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.

Since 2011 Dutch producers may apply twice a year for a grant from Hubert Bals Fund Plus. The next application deadline is 1 October 2011.

Hubert Bals Fund Plus
The Hubert Bals Fund of the International Film Festival Rotterdam supports filmmakers from developing countries with contributions in the stages of script development, post-production and distribution. Annually 20 to 40 film productions are realized with the support of the Hubert Bals Fund. In order to offer Dutch producers the possibility to get involved more often in international productions, and to support the ‘Hubert Bals Fund projects’ in the stage of actual production as well, Hubert Bals Fund Plus has been set up in 2006 by the Netherlands Film Fund and the Hubert Bals Fund of the International Film Festival Rotterdam.

European coproducers are involved in nearly half of the films realized with support of the Hubert Bals Fund. By giving access to its large international network, the IFFR gives Dutch producers the chance to participate in international and artistically high-profile film projects already supported by the Hubert Bals Fund.

Since 2006 the Netherlands Film Fund has yearly made € 200,000 available for Hubert Bals Fund Plus. Applications can be granted with a maximum of € 50,000 for a Hubert Bals Fund project, which already received script and project development support, co-produced by a Dutch producer. Successful Hubert Bals Fund Plus supported films include:

• Our Grand Despair by Seyfi Teoman (Turkey, a coproduction of Circe Films), Selection Berlinale Competition 2011
• Agua fría de mar (Cold Water of the Sea) by Paz Fábrega (Costa Rica, a coproduction of Isabella Films), Tiger Award Winner 2010
• The Light Thief by Aktan Arym Kubat (Kirgizstan, a coproduction of Volya Films), Selection Quinzaine des Réalisateurs and Locarno Piazza Grande screenings
• Los Viajes Del Viento by Ciro Guerra (Columbia, a coproduction of Volya Films), Selection Un Certain Regard 2009
• Gigante by Adrian Biniez (Uruguay, a coproduction of IDTV/Motel Films), Winner of two Silver Bears at the Berlinale 2009

(End of press release)

For more information
www.filmfestivalrotterdam.comwww.filmfonds.nl
Press information:
IFFR Press Office, Bert-Jan Zoet, [email protected], +31 10 8909090
Netherlands Film Fund, Jonathan Mees, [email protected], +31 20 5707681