European Shooting Stars 2014 Magazine

CREATIVE EUROPE

THE NEXT WAVE

PROGR AMME OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS 2014 The more personal, the more universal. These are words which could easily apply to the work of any of the young actors selected as this year’s European Shooting Stars. Their work in many distinguished films proves the breadth of their talent, and the power of emotions.

As president of the EFP Board, and on behalf of my colleagues in the association, it gives me great pleasure to welcome our 2014 European Shooting Stars. This extraordinary group of ten up-and-coming actors has been selected by an international jury and as you come to know them through the pages of this brochure and throughout their stay in Berlin, you will see why they rose to the top.

While in Berlin, this year’s European Shooting Stars will find themselves at the center of a busy and productive three days of events including a formal presentation to the press, one - on- one interviews with international casting directors, various presentations to the world’s film industry and photo-shoots. To top it all off, they will also be presented by the festival with the European Shooting Stars Award on the main stage of the prestigious Berlinale Palast.

Although there are many people responsible for making European Shooting Stars possible, European Film Promotion would like to especially thank Festival Director, Dieter Kosslick, for his dedicated commitment to supporting Europe’s up-and-comers during the Berlinale.

European Shooting Stars has been supported by the MEDIA 2007 – 2013 Programme of the European Union and as well by the ten participating EFP members and TESIRO . Additional support is provided by : AUDI AG , the German Minister of State for Culture and the Media, Film- und Medien Stiftung NRW and Medienboard BerlinBrandenburg.

Our warmest congratulation to this year’s European Shooting Stars.

CHRISTIAN JUHL LEMCHE

President, European Film Promotion

C U LT U R A L A N D C R E ATIV E S EC TO RS 2 014 – 2 0 2 0 W W W. EC . E U RO PA . E U / C U LT U R E /C R E ATIV E - E U RO PE

© MARKUS NASS

C R E ATIV E E U RO P E : S U PP O RT P RO G R A M M E FO R E U RO PE ’ S

CREATIVE EUROPE

THE NEXT WAVE

PROGR AMME OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS 2014 The more personal, the more universal. These are words which could easily apply to the work of any of the young actors selected as this year’s European Shooting Stars. Their work in many distinguished films proves the breadth of their talent, and the power of emotions.

As president of the EFP Board, and on behalf of my colleagues in the association, it gives me great pleasure to welcome our 2014 European Shooting Stars. This extraordinary group of ten up-and-coming actors has been selected by an international jury and as you come to know them through the pages of this brochure and throughout their stay in Berlin, you will see why they rose to the top.

While in Berlin, this year’s European Shooting Stars will find themselves at the center of a busy and productive three days of events including a formal presentation to the press, one - on- one interviews with international casting directors, various presentations to the world’s film industry and photo-shoots. To top it all off, they will also be presented by the festival with the European Shooting Stars Award on the main stage of the prestigious Berlinale Palast.

Although there are many people responsible for making European Shooting Stars possible, European Film Promotion would like to especially thank Festival Director, Dieter Kosslick, for his dedicated commitment to supporting Europe’s up-and-comers during the Berlinale.

European Shooting Stars has been supported by the MEDIA 2007 – 2013 Programme of the European Union and as well by the ten participating EFP members and TESIRO . Additional support is provided by : AUDI AG , the German Minister of State for Culture and the Media, Film- und Medien Stiftung NRW and Medienboard BerlinBrandenburg.

Our warmest congratulation to this year’s European Shooting Stars.

CHRISTIAN JUHL LEMCHE

President, European Film Promotion

C U LT U R A L A N D C R E ATIV E S EC TO RS 2 014 – 2 0 2 0 W W W. EC . E U RO PA . E U / C U LT U R E /C R E ATIV E - E U RO PE

© MARKUS NASS

C R E ATIV E E U RO P E : S U PP O RT P RO G R A M M E FO R E U RO PE ’ S

INDEX 03

WELCOME

06

FOCUS ON

10

ABOUT EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS

D EN M A RK DA N I C A C U R C I C

G ERM A N Y M A R I A D R AG U S

12

JURY 2014

14

INTERNATIONAL CA STING DIRECTORS NET WORK

16

EUROPE AN SHOOTING STARS 16 DENMARK DA N I C A CU RCI C 20 GERMANY M A R I A D R AG U S 24 ITALY M I R I A M K A R L K V I S T

ITA LY MIRIAM K ARLKVIST

28 THE NETHERL ANDS M A RWA N K ENZ A R I

TH E N E TH ERL A N DS M A RWA N K E N Z A R I

32 NORWAY J A KO B O F T EB RO 36 P OL AND M AT EU SZ KO CI U K I E W I C Z 4 0 ROMANIA COS M I N A S T R ATA N 4 4 SERBIA N I KO L A R A KO CE V I C 4 8 SWEDEN ED DA M AG N A S O N 52 UNITED KINGDOM G EO RG E M ACK AY

N O RWAY J A KO B O F T EB R O

PO L A N D M AT EU S Z KO C I U K I E W I C Z

56

59

IMPRINT Publisher: European Film Promotion Idea & Concept: Karin Dix Editors: Karin Dix, Sabine Rolinski, Claire Jenik Texts and Interviews: Karen Arikian Design: Carolin Rauen Print: Merkur Druck, Norderstedt

SHOOTING STARS 2014

ABOUT EUROPEAN FILM PROMOTION

RO M A N IA CO S M I N A S T R ATA N

SERB IA N I KO L A R A KO C E V I C

SW ED EN ED DA M AG N A S O N

U N ITED KI N G D O M G E O R G E M AC K AY

Cover: Sylvia Hoeks, Dutch Shooting Star 2011 © Eric Vernazobres Credits page 3: Isak Hoffmeyer ( Danica Curcic ) , Stefan Klueter ( Maria Dragus) , Debora Vrizzi ( Miriam Karlkvist) , Janey van Ierland ( Marwan Kenzari) , Anders Heinrichsen ( Jakob Oftebro) , Magda Wunsche / ELLE Magazine ( Mateusz Kosciukiewicz ) , Vlad Bardu (Cosmina Stratan) , Petar Popovic ( Nikola Rakocevic ) , Caroline Tibell ( Edda Magnason) , Daniel Pick (George MacKay) .

EU RO PE A N

EUROPE AN SHOOTING STARS WOULD LIKE TO THANK

INDEX 03

WELCOME

06

FOCUS ON

10

ABOUT EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS

D EN M A RK DA N I C A C U R C I C

G ERM A N Y M A R I A D R AG U S

12

JURY 2014

14

INTERNATIONAL CA STING DIRECTORS NET WORK

16

EUROPE AN SHOOTING STARS 16 DENMARK DA N I C A CU RCI C 20 GERMANY M A R I A D R AG U S 24 ITALY M I R I A M K A R L K V I S T

ITA LY MIRIAM K ARLKVIST

28 THE NETHERL ANDS M A RWA N K ENZ A R I

TH E N E TH ERL A N DS M A RWA N K E N Z A R I

32 NORWAY J A KO B O F T EB RO 36 P OL AND M AT EU SZ KO CI U K I E W I C Z 4 0 ROMANIA COS M I N A S T R ATA N 4 4 SERBIA N I KO L A R A KO CE V I C 4 8 SWEDEN ED DA M AG N A S O N 52 UNITED KINGDOM G EO RG E M ACK AY

N O RWAY J A KO B O F T EB R O

PO L A N D M AT EU S Z KO C I U K I E W I C Z

56

59

IMPRINT Publisher: European Film Promotion Idea & Concept: Karin Dix Editors: Karin Dix, Sabine Rolinski, Claire Jenik Texts and Interviews: Karen Arikian Design: Carolin Rauen Print: Merkur Druck, Norderstedt

SHOOTING STARS 2014

ABOUT EUROPEAN FILM PROMOTION

RO M A N IA CO S M I N A S T R ATA N

SERB IA N I KO L A R A KO C E V I C

SW ED EN ED DA M AG N A S O N

U N ITED KI N G D O M G E O R G E M AC K AY

Cover: Sylvia Hoeks, Dutch Shooting Star 2011 © Eric Vernazobres Credits page 3: Isak Hoffmeyer ( Danica Curcic ) , Stefan Klueter ( Maria Dragus) , Debora Vrizzi ( Miriam Karlkvist) , Janey van Ierland ( Marwan Kenzari) , Anders Heinrichsen ( Jakob Oftebro) , Magda Wunsche / ELLE Magazine ( Mateusz Kosciukiewicz ) , Vlad Bardu (Cosmina Stratan) , Petar Popovic ( Nikola Rakocevic ) , Caroline Tibell ( Edda Magnason) , Daniel Pick (George MacKay) .

EU RO PE A N

EUROPE AN SHOOTING STARS WOULD LIKE TO THANK

FOCUS ON

© LEVELK

© ERIC VERNA ZOBRES

FO CUS ON

© RALF UHLER

W E LIKE TO KEEP U P W ITH OU R SH O OTI NG STARS OV ER TH E YEARS, TO TR ACK TH EIR SU CCESSES AND SEE W H ERE TH EY ARE I N TH EI R C AREERS. TH E RESU LTS ARE CONSISTENT YEAR TO YEAR: APPROXI MATELY 80% OF THE SELECTED ACTORS WERE SUBSEQUENTLY CAST IN INTERNATIONAL PRODU C TIONS. H ERE’S A GLI M PSE AT TH E CU RRENT C AREER M OV ES OF SOM E OF OU R SH O OTI NG STAR ALU M NI.

07

© MARKUS NASS

06

© MARKUS NASS

PILOU A SBÆK IN SEX, DRU GS & TA X ATI ON

Looking back on a breakthrough 2013 and forward to new roles in his life: Pilou Asbæk.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

Best known as a spin doctor in the cult series “Borgen”, former Danish Shooting Star ( 2011) Pilou Asbæk had a breakthrough year in 2013. The movie “Sex, Drugs & Taxation” by Christoffer Boe was presented at the Toronto International Film Festival®. He was cast alongside 2014 Danish Shooting Star Danica Curcic in both “Silent Heart” by Bille August and “The Absent One” by Mikkel Norgaard, as well as in the TV series “1864” with 2014 Norwegian Shooting Star Jakob Oftebro. But Pilou’s most important role is parenthood: he is the proud father of a lovely little girl. ® Toronto International Film Festival is a registered trademark of the Toronto International Film Festival Inc.

TESIRO : A PART NER TO COU NT ON The Chinese jewellery company is championing the European film industry by its committed sponsorship of the Berlin International Film Festival and by supporting the young faces of European cinema: EFP ’s European Shooting Stars. TESIRO , one of the world’s leading luxury brands, has been a sponsor of the EFP initiative since 2009, becoming the main sponsor of the event in 2012. TESIRO designs and donates the European Shooting Stars awards which are presented each year to the young actors on the main stage of the Berlinale Palast by a well known actor ( previously John Hurt, Ralph Fiennes, Dame Judi Dench, Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Zhang Ziyi ). www.tesiro.com

The inspiration for the award statue comes from f lying wings which represent the success of the actors and actresses have after all their previous efforts. When the European Shooting Stars receive their trophies, it will be a joyous moment. Similar to the exclusive gift donated to the selected actors, the winged trophy shows the unique blue colouring in the diamond.

FOCUS ON

© LEVELK

© ERIC VERNA ZOBRES

FO CUS ON

© RALF UHLER

W E LIKE TO KEEP U P W ITH OU R SH O OTI NG STARS OV ER TH E YEARS, TO TR ACK TH EIR SU CCESSES AND SEE W H ERE TH EY ARE I N TH EI R C AREERS. TH E RESU LTS ARE CONSISTENT YEAR TO YEAR: APPROXI MATELY 80% OF THE SELECTED ACTORS WERE SUBSEQUENTLY CAST IN INTERNATIONAL PRODU C TIONS. H ERE’S A GLI M PSE AT TH E CU RRENT C AREER M OV ES OF SOM E OF OU R SH O OTI NG STAR ALU M NI.

07

© MARKUS NASS

06

© MARKUS NASS

PILOU A SBÆK IN SEX, DRU GS & TA X ATI ON

Looking back on a breakthrough 2013 and forward to new roles in his life: Pilou Asbæk.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

Best known as a spin doctor in the cult series “Borgen”, former Danish Shooting Star ( 2011) Pilou Asbæk had a breakthrough year in 2013. The movie “Sex, Drugs & Taxation” by Christoffer Boe was presented at the Toronto International Film Festival®. He was cast alongside 2014 Danish Shooting Star Danica Curcic in both “Silent Heart” by Bille August and “The Absent One” by Mikkel Norgaard, as well as in the TV series “1864” with 2014 Norwegian Shooting Star Jakob Oftebro. But Pilou’s most important role is parenthood: he is the proud father of a lovely little girl. ® Toronto International Film Festival is a registered trademark of the Toronto International Film Festival Inc.

TESIRO : A PART NER TO COU NT ON The Chinese jewellery company is championing the European film industry by its committed sponsorship of the Berlin International Film Festival and by supporting the young faces of European cinema: EFP ’s European Shooting Stars. TESIRO , one of the world’s leading luxury brands, has been a sponsor of the EFP initiative since 2009, becoming the main sponsor of the event in 2012. TESIRO designs and donates the European Shooting Stars awards which are presented each year to the young actors on the main stage of the Berlinale Palast by a well known actor ( previously John Hurt, Ralph Fiennes, Dame Judi Dench, Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Zhang Ziyi ). www.tesiro.com

The inspiration for the award statue comes from f lying wings which represent the success of the actors and actresses have after all their previous efforts. When the European Shooting Stars receive their trophies, it will be a joyous moment. Similar to the exclusive gift donated to the selected actors, the winged trophy shows the unique blue colouring in the diamond.

Congratulations to Maria Dragus and all European Shooting Stars 2014!

Scherbenpark Regie: Bettina Blümner Eyeworks Film Gemini

Film- und Medienstiftung NRW GmbH Kaistrasse 14, 40221 Düsseldorf, Germany www.filmstiftung.de www.filmstiftung.de/berlinale

Meet us at the Berlinale:

FOCUS Germany c/o European Film Market Martin-Gropius-Bau, booth 16

© TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX OF GERMANY GMBH

© J A E H Y U K L E E / C J E N T E R T A I N M E N T

Tómas Lemarquis, Icelandic Shooting Star 2004, is thrilled to be in the new science-fiction drama, “Snowpiercer”,

by Korean director Joon - ho Bong starring Tilda Swinton, Chris Evans and Ed Harris, which will be shown at the Berlinale this year. After that, he can be seen in “Three Days to Kill” starring Kevin Costner and Hailee Steinfeld, written and produced by Luc Besson and directed by McG.

JINA JAY 2013 was a good year for former Shooting Stars Jury member Jina Jay. She cast three films which will be featured in Competition at the 2014 Berlinale: “The Monuments Men” by George Clooney, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” by Wes Anderson and “’71” by Yann Demange, and has one in Panorama as a European premiere, “Calvary” by John Michael McDonagh.

© D N A F I L M S / F O X / A L E X B A I L E Y

NRW

TÓMA S LEMARQ U IS

© BASILE DELL

Film und Medien

09

HAFSIA H ER ZI 2009 French Shooting Star Hafsia Herzi is directing her debut film, “Bonne mère”, produced by Abdellatif Kechiche, Palme d’Or winner 2013, ( who discovered her in “La graine et le mulet” ). In her latest film, “La marche” by Nabil Ben Yadir, Hafsia stars opposite another former French Shooting Star ( 2001), Malik Zidi.

MAT TH IA S SCH OENAERTS & C ARE Y MU LLI GAN In September, two former Shooting Stars – Carey Mulligan ( 2009 UK ) and Matthias Schoenaerts ( 2003 Belgium ) – began production on “Far From The Madding Crowd”, directed by Thomas Vinterberg and based on the famous novel written by Thomas Hardy.

Schoenaerts has been lauded for his emotionally charged role in “Rust and Bone”, which earned him the César Award for Most Promising Actor in 2012.

Since her breakthrough with “An Education” in 2009, Mulligan has won numerous awards for her dynamic and diverse work, including a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role ( An Education ) as well as an Oscar nomination for the same role.

Congratulations to Maria Dragus and all European Shooting Stars 2014!

Scherbenpark Regie: Bettina Blümner Eyeworks Film Gemini

Film- und Medienstiftung NRW GmbH Kaistrasse 14, 40221 Düsseldorf, Germany www.filmstiftung.de www.filmstiftung.de/berlinale

Meet us at the Berlinale:

FOCUS Germany c/o European Film Market Martin-Gropius-Bau, booth 16

© TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX OF GERMANY GMBH

© J A E H Y U K L E E / C J E N T E R T A I N M E N T

Tómas Lemarquis, Icelandic Shooting Star 2004, is thrilled to be in the new science-fiction drama, “Snowpiercer”,

by Korean director Joon - ho Bong starring Tilda Swinton, Chris Evans and Ed Harris, which will be shown at the Berlinale this year. After that, he can be seen in “Three Days to Kill” starring Kevin Costner and Hailee Steinfeld, written and produced by Luc Besson and directed by McG.

JINA JAY 2013 was a good year for former Shooting Stars Jury member Jina Jay. She cast three films which will be featured in Competition at the 2014 Berlinale: “The Monuments Men” by George Clooney, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” by Wes Anderson and “’71” by Yann Demange, and has one in Panorama as a European premiere, “Calvary” by John Michael McDonagh.

© D N A F I L M S / F O X / A L E X B A I L E Y

NRW

TÓMA S LEMARQ U IS

© BASILE DELL

Film und Medien

09

HAFSIA H ER ZI 2009 French Shooting Star Hafsia Herzi is directing her debut film, “Bonne mère”, produced by Abdellatif Kechiche, Palme d’Or winner 2013, ( who discovered her in “La graine et le mulet” ). In her latest film, “La marche” by Nabil Ben Yadir, Hafsia stars opposite another former French Shooting Star ( 2001), Malik Zidi.

MAT TH IA S SCH OENAERTS & C ARE Y MU LLI GAN In September, two former Shooting Stars – Carey Mulligan ( 2009 UK ) and Matthias Schoenaerts ( 2003 Belgium ) – began production on “Far From The Madding Crowd”, directed by Thomas Vinterberg and based on the famous novel written by Thomas Hardy.

Schoenaerts has been lauded for his emotionally charged role in “Rust and Bone”, which earned him the César Award for Most Promising Actor in 2012.

Since her breakthrough with “An Education” in 2009, Mulligan has won numerous awards for her dynamic and diverse work, including a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role ( An Education ) as well as an Oscar nomination for the same role.

T ESI RO , one of the world’s leading

luxury brands, has been a sponsor of Shooting Stars since 2009, becoming the main sponsor in 2012. The company has also expanded its role as Co -Partner of the Berlinale to Main Partner as of 2014, and will be official host of the festival’s TESIRO Golden Bear Lounge in the Hyatt Hotel. The actors will be celebrated at this exclusive event in the TESIRO Golden Bear Lounge and presented with a special welcome gift.

AWARD CEREM ONY The highlight of the weekend is the public presentation of the European Shooting Stars to the public on the main stage of the Berlinale Palast. In recognition of the actors’ artistic achievement, the Berlin International Film Festival presents the European Shooting Stars Award, which is sponsored

by TESIRO . This gathering of the best of Europe’s young actors is broadcast by various international TV stations. | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10 T H AT 18 .45 BERLINALE PAL AST

C A STING BREAKFA ST At this invitation only event, the European Shooting Stars meet with leading international casting directors, as well as other industry professionals. The setting allows for establishing important contacts within the industry, and provides the actors with a strong start-up network as they continue along their path to international careers.

TH E ART, CR AFT AND BUSINESS OF C A STING EU ROPEAN SH OOTING STAR S FEBRUARY 0 8 T H – 10 T H AT TH E BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

We will screen the film “Casting By”, which offers an indispensable look at the role of the casting director, whose keen eye, exquisite taste and gut instincts can sometimes mean the difference between a mediocre film and a masterpiece. Topics essential to young actors will be examined and discussed, including the role of the casting director, the synergy between agents, managers and casting directors, how casting directors identify upcoming talent, how the industry acknowledges the craft, etc. By invitation only.

European Shooting Stars is a unique pan-European initiative which annually spotlights Europe’s most accomplished up - and- coming young actors. The three day event is a whirlwind of meetings and greetings, and places the young talent at the forefront of the international industry, press and public at the Berlin International Film Festival. © ERIC VERNA ZOBRES

PRESS PRESENTATI ON

Andrea Riseborough in the limelight as UK Shooting Star 2011.

© MARKUS NASS

2014 marks the 17 th edition of European Shooting Stars. Ten prominent young actors from across Europe are chosen by an international jury of experts from a broad range of candidates nominated by the member organisations of European Film Promotion ( EFP ).

John Hurt congratulates Polish Shooting Star Jakub Gierszał at the 2012 award ceremony.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

© MARKUS NASS

Arta Dobroshi from Republic of Kosovo* presented to the press 2013.

During the first weekend of the festival, the actors are guided through various high profile events.

European Shooting Stars Award Ceremony at the Berlinale Palast 2013.

This year’s European Shooting Stars are formally presented to the media including international print journalists and TV broadcasters as well as invited industry guests. Following this formal presentation, there will be the opportunity for individual interviews with the actors. | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 T H AT 13. 30 HOTEL DE ROME, OPER A COURT © MARKUS NASS

ABOUT E U R O P E A N S H O OT I N G S TA R S

SPOTLIGHTING EU ROPE’S M OST ACCOM PLISH ED YOU NG AC TORS DU RI NG A W H I RLW IND TH REE DAYS AT TH E BERLI N I NTERNATIONAL FI LM FESTIVAL, TOPPED OFF BY TH E EU ROPEAN SH O OTI NG STARS AWARD CEREM ONY AT TH E BERLI NALE PAL A ST.

TESIRO W ELCOM E COCK TAIL

© RALF UHLER

ABOUT EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS

10

* This designation is without prejudice to position on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the IC J Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

The group of European acting talent in 2013.

11

T ESI RO , one of the world’s leading

luxury brands, has been a sponsor of Shooting Stars since 2009, becoming the main sponsor in 2012. The company has also expanded its role as Co -Partner of the Berlinale to Main Partner as of 2014, and will be official host of the festival’s TESIRO Golden Bear Lounge in the Hyatt Hotel. The actors will be celebrated at this exclusive event in the TESIRO Golden Bear Lounge and presented with a special welcome gift.

AWARD CEREM ONY The highlight of the weekend is the public presentation of the European Shooting Stars to the public on the main stage of the Berlinale Palast. In recognition of the actors’ artistic achievement, the Berlin International Film Festival presents the European Shooting Stars Award, which is sponsored

by TESIRO . This gathering of the best of Europe’s young actors is broadcast by various international TV stations. | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10 T H AT 18 .45 BERLINALE PAL AST

C A STING BREAKFA ST At this invitation only event, the European Shooting Stars meet with leading international casting directors, as well as other industry professionals. The setting allows for establishing important contacts within the industry, and provides the actors with a strong start-up network as they continue along their path to international careers.

TH E ART, CR AFT AND BUSINESS OF C A STING EU ROPEAN SH OOTING STAR S FEBRUARY 0 8 T H – 10 T H AT TH E BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

We will screen the film “Casting By”, which offers an indispensable look at the role of the casting director, whose keen eye, exquisite taste and gut instincts can sometimes mean the difference between a mediocre film and a masterpiece. Topics essential to young actors will be examined and discussed, including the role of the casting director, the synergy between agents, managers and casting directors, how casting directors identify upcoming talent, how the industry acknowledges the craft, etc. By invitation only.

European Shooting Stars is a unique pan-European initiative which annually spotlights Europe’s most accomplished up - and- coming young actors. The three day event is a whirlwind of meetings and greetings, and places the young talent at the forefront of the international industry, press and public at the Berlin International Film Festival. © ERIC VERNA ZOBRES

PRESS PRESENTATI ON

Andrea Riseborough in the limelight as UK Shooting Star 2011.

© MARKUS NASS

2014 marks the 17 th edition of European Shooting Stars. Ten prominent young actors from across Europe are chosen by an international jury of experts from a broad range of candidates nominated by the member organisations of European Film Promotion ( EFP ).

John Hurt congratulates Polish Shooting Star Jakub Gierszał at the 2012 award ceremony.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

© MARKUS NASS

Arta Dobroshi from Republic of Kosovo* presented to the press 2013.

During the first weekend of the festival, the actors are guided through various high profile events.

European Shooting Stars Award Ceremony at the Berlinale Palast 2013.

This year’s European Shooting Stars are formally presented to the media including international print journalists and TV broadcasters as well as invited industry guests. Following this formal presentation, there will be the opportunity for individual interviews with the actors. | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 T H AT 13. 30 HOTEL DE ROME, OPER A COURT © MARKUS NASS

ABOUT E U R O P E A N S H O OT I N G S TA R S

SPOTLIGHTING EU ROPE’S M OST ACCOM PLISH ED YOU NG AC TORS DU RI NG A W H I RLW IND TH REE DAYS AT TH E BERLI N I NTERNATIONAL FI LM FESTIVAL, TOPPED OFF BY TH E EU ROPEAN SH O OTI NG STARS AWARD CEREM ONY AT TH E BERLI NALE PAL A ST.

TESIRO W ELCOM E COCK TAIL

© RALF UHLER

ABOUT EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS

10

* This designation is without prejudice to position on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the IC J Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

The group of European acting talent in 2013.

11

JURY 2014

12

ANDERS BA ASMO CHRISTIANSEN

(Actor and Norwegian Shooting Star 2010 ) is one of Norway’s most in- demand actors. Recently, Anders could be seen as one of the leading characters in J. Rønning and E. Sandberg’s acclaimed Oscar-nominated feature, “Kon-Tiki”. In 2014 moviegoers can look forward to seeing him in Hans Petter Moland’s “Kraftidioten” alongside Stellan Skarsgård and Bruno Ganz, as well as in the action comedy “Børning”, directed by Hallvard Bræin. Presently, Anders is shooting “Captain Sabertooth And The Lama Rama Treasure”. Further credits include “North” by Rune Denstad Langlo ( 2009 ) and Hans Petter Moland’s “A Somewhat Gentle Man” ( 2010 ).

TH E 2014 EU ROPEAN SH OOTI NG STARS JU RY IS COM POSED OF FIV E W ELL KNOW N PERSONALITIES FROM TH E FILM WORLD. TH EIR MANDATE WA S TO SELECT THE TEN MOST NOTABLE UP- AND - COMING ACTORS FROM EUROPE AS TH IS YEAR'S EU ROPEAN SH OOTI NG STARS. TH ERE W ERE 24 NOM I NATIONS FROM EFP M EM BERS.

CHARLES GANT

( Journalist – United Kingdom ) is Film Editor of Heat magazine, the popular UK entertainment weekly. His freelance activities include writing two monthly columns on the film industry for Sight & Sound, and a weekly UK box- office commentary for Guardian . co . uk. In addition to weekly film criticism for Heat and Heat Radio, Charles also reviews for trade publication Variety. He appears regularly on Radio 4’s The Film Programme, presented by Francine Stock, and other recent broadcast appearances include BBC2’s Newsnight. Charles has served on juries for BAFTA, nominates for the British Independent Film Awards and is a member of the UK’s Film Critics’ Circle.

HERMINE HUNTGEBURTH

J U RY 2 014

( Director, Screenwriter, Producer – Germany) is one of the most renowned German directors working today. Hermine started her feature film career with “Im Kreis der Lieben” ( 1991). She garnered international recognition with “The White Massai”, Germany’s box office hit of 2005.

Her adaption of Theodor Fontane’s novel “Effi Briest” gained highly positive notices from both audiences and critics. With “Bibi Blocksberg” ( 2002 ), Hermine Huntgeburth successfully directed her first family movie. She later returned to this genre in 2011 and 2012 with “Tom Sawyer And Huck Finn”. Besides her accolades for films, Hermine has received critical praise for her TV movies and series, especially for “Neue Vahr Süd”.

ORIANA KUN I

(Casting Director – Croatia ) works as a casting director mainly for Croatian and BosniaHerzegovinan but also for other European productions. She studied history of theatre in Venice and at the Academy of Performing Arts at Sarajevo. She has worked as an assistant director and casting director on a number feature films, many of which have gone on to win awards at international festivals, including: “On The Path” ( 2010 ) and the 2006 Golden Bear Winner “Grbavica” directed by Jasmila Žbani ; “Snow” by Aida Begi ( 2008 ), “Miss” ( 2006 )

by Andrea Štaka, “Storm” by Hans- Christian Schmid ( 2009 ) and “A Stranger” ( 2012 ), directed

by Bobo Jel i . Besides her work as a casting director, Oriana is also active as an actress in the Croatian National Theather ( HNK ) in Šibenik.

Charles, Oriana, Anders, Hermine and Jan – a jury with tough choices to make, but still having fun!

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

ALL PICTURES ON THIS SPREAD © ASMUS HENKEL

JANI THILTGES

( Producer – Luxembourg ) has co -produced up to 60 films, including “Before The Winter Chill”

by Philippe Claudel, “Our Children” by Joaquim Lafosse and “Irina Palm” by Sam Garbarski.

Beginning his career in 1986 with Samsa Film in Luxembourg, he has since co -founded production companies in various European countries. Since 1991 Jani has been a co -founder and partner of Artemis Productions ( Belgium ) and Fado Filmes ( Portugal ), and since 2003, Liaison Cinematographique in Paris. Jani Thiltges is Head of Studies at EAVE and a Board Member of the European Film Academy. In 2010 he was awarded the Prix Eurimages.

13

JURY 2014

12

ANDERS BA ASMO CHRISTIANSEN

(Actor and Norwegian Shooting Star 2010 ) is one of Norway’s most in- demand actors. Recently, Anders could be seen as one of the leading characters in J. Rønning and E. Sandberg’s acclaimed Oscar-nominated feature, “Kon-Tiki”. In 2014 moviegoers can look forward to seeing him in Hans Petter Moland’s “Kraftidioten” alongside Stellan Skarsgård and Bruno Ganz, as well as in the action comedy “Børning”, directed by Hallvard Bræin. Presently, Anders is shooting “Captain Sabertooth And The Lama Rama Treasure”. Further credits include “North” by Rune Denstad Langlo ( 2009 ) and Hans Petter Moland’s “A Somewhat Gentle Man” ( 2010 ).

TH E 2014 EU ROPEAN SH OOTI NG STARS JU RY IS COM POSED OF FIV E W ELL KNOW N PERSONALITIES FROM TH E FILM WORLD. TH EIR MANDATE WA S TO SELECT THE TEN MOST NOTABLE UP- AND - COMING ACTORS FROM EUROPE AS TH IS YEAR'S EU ROPEAN SH OOTI NG STARS. TH ERE W ERE 24 NOM I NATIONS FROM EFP M EM BERS.

CHARLES GANT

( Journalist – United Kingdom ) is Film Editor of Heat magazine, the popular UK entertainment weekly. His freelance activities include writing two monthly columns on the film industry for Sight & Sound, and a weekly UK box- office commentary for Guardian . co . uk. In addition to weekly film criticism for Heat and Heat Radio, Charles also reviews for trade publication Variety. He appears regularly on Radio 4’s The Film Programme, presented by Francine Stock, and other recent broadcast appearances include BBC2’s Newsnight. Charles has served on juries for BAFTA, nominates for the British Independent Film Awards and is a member of the UK’s Film Critics’ Circle.

HERMINE HUNTGEBURTH

J U RY 2 014

( Director, Screenwriter, Producer – Germany) is one of the most renowned German directors working today. Hermine started her feature film career with “Im Kreis der Lieben” ( 1991). She garnered international recognition with “The White Massai”, Germany’s box office hit of 2005.

Her adaption of Theodor Fontane’s novel “Effi Briest” gained highly positive notices from both audiences and critics. With “Bibi Blocksberg” ( 2002 ), Hermine Huntgeburth successfully directed her first family movie. She later returned to this genre in 2011 and 2012 with “Tom Sawyer And Huck Finn”. Besides her accolades for films, Hermine has received critical praise for her TV movies and series, especially for “Neue Vahr Süd”.

ORIANA KUN I

(Casting Director – Croatia ) works as a casting director mainly for Croatian and BosniaHerzegovinan but also for other European productions. She studied history of theatre in Venice and at the Academy of Performing Arts at Sarajevo. She has worked as an assistant director and casting director on a number feature films, many of which have gone on to win awards at international festivals, including: “On The Path” ( 2010 ) and the 2006 Golden Bear Winner “Grbavica” directed by Jasmila Žbani ; “Snow” by Aida Begi ( 2008 ), “Miss” ( 2006 )

by Andrea Štaka, “Storm” by Hans- Christian Schmid ( 2009 ) and “A Stranger” ( 2012 ), directed

by Bobo Jel i . Besides her work as a casting director, Oriana is also active as an actress in the Croatian National Theather ( HNK ) in Šibenik.

Charles, Oriana, Anders, Hermine and Jan – a jury with tough choices to make, but still having fun!

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

ALL PICTURES ON THIS SPREAD © ASMUS HENKEL

JANI THILTGES

( Producer – Luxembourg ) has co -produced up to 60 films, including “Before The Winter Chill”

by Philippe Claudel, “Our Children” by Joaquim Lafosse and “Irina Palm” by Sam Garbarski.

Beginning his career in 1986 with Samsa Film in Luxembourg, he has since co -founded production companies in various European countries. Since 1991 Jani has been a co -founder and partner of Artemis Productions ( Belgium ) and Fado Filmes ( Portugal ), and since 2003, Liaison Cinematographique in Paris. Jani Thiltges is Head of Studies at EAVE and a Board Member of the European Film Academy. In 2010 he was awarded the Prix Eurimages.

13

INTERNATIONAL CASTING DIRECTORS NET WORK

14

15

© PER ARNESEN

CELEBR ATING ITS TENTH ANNIV ERSARY, TH IS POW ERFU L NET WORK OF C A STING PROFESSIONAL S HA S GROW N FROM 15 M EM BERS FROM 7 CO U N T R I ES I N 20 0 5 TO 47 M EM B ER S FR O M 21 CO U N T R I ES I N 2014.

On February 13, 2005, during the Berlin International Film Festival, 15 casting directors from seven countries founded the International Casting Directors Network ( ICDN ).

Today, the network has 47 members from 21 different countries. It is the first network of its kind and is aimed exclusively at casting directors who cast feature films.

Prior to the founding of ICDN , casting directors were organised in national associations.

ICDN OBJECTIVES

The ICDN offers casting directors the opportunity to exchange ideas on an international level, to take advantage of synergies with international co-productions, to attract greater attention to the work of casting a film, and to publicize, inform and enhance the profession of the casting director across borders.

“BEI NG A PART OF TH IS V ERY SPECIAL ORGANIZ ATION, TH E I NTERNATIONAL C A STING DI REC TORS NET WORK, HA S BEEN SO H ELPFU L. REFERENCI NG TH E ICDN IS NOW PART OF MY ‘PRO CESS’ W H EN I AM TH I NKI NG ABOUT C A STI NG A NE W PROJEC T.” AV Y K AU FM A N , US C A STI N G DI REC TO R

THE GOALS OF THE ICDN INCLU DE:

© ERIC V ER N A ZO B R ES

— Establishing a recognized standard of professionalism in the industry — Enhancing the stature of the profession of casting director — Taking on responsibility to help shape film policy and processes — Honouring achievements of members — Providing members with professional support and resources

ICDN member Anja Dihrberg and Hilmar Gudjonsson, European Shooting Star 2012, Iceland.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

For more information please contact: European Film Promotion Karin Dix, dix @ efp- online.com

RIE H EDEGA ARD, DANISH C A STING DIREC TOR INTERVIEW

Why do you attend the European Shooting Stars event in Berlin ? Because it is a great opportunity to honour young European talent and I am thrilled to meet the young people face to face. I love talking to them about their previous work, their plans and dreams for the future.

How do you find new talent, and what enables a casting director to go from looking at a CV to deciding that an actor is the embodiment of a character? I have been a casting director for 32 years now and in the same way a writer feels the urge to portray reality in a written narrative, my business habit is to constantly survey human beings in all their contexts. The people I encounter do not always turn out to be actors, but can also just be people who stand out in some situation with irresistible authenticity.

Denmark is a small country (5.000.000 inhabitants) yet you still have international stars. Do you think this will continue in the future ? I must answer yes. At the same time, the world has become a smaller place and for me it is irrelevant where, for instance, Mads Mikkelsen lives, as long as I still see him as Danish. Talent is abundant. Just open your eyes and look in the right direction.

“ONE OF TH E TH I NGS I ADM I RE AND APPRECIATE TH E M OST ABOUT RI E, IS H ER ENTHUSIASM AND BURNING U RGE TO DO TH E BEST WORK POSSIBLE. A MEETING WITH R I E C A N C A S T A N E W LI G H T ON TH E ENTIRE FI LM.” O LE CH RISTI A N M A DSEN

© ROBIN SKJOLDBORG

I N T ERN ATI O N A L C A S T I N G D I R E C TO R S N E T W O R K

Rie Hedegaard (middle) with actors Marie Tourell Soderberg and Joachim Fjelstrup at the set of “Itsi Bitsi”, directed by Ole Christian Madsen.

Ole Christian Madsen, Director, Denmark and European Shooting Stars jury member in 2011.

INTERNATIONAL CASTING DIRECTORS NET WORK

14

15

© PER ARNESEN

CELEBR ATING ITS TENTH ANNIV ERSARY, TH IS POW ERFU L NET WORK OF C A STING PROFESSIONAL S HA S GROW N FROM 15 M EM BERS FROM 7 CO U N T R I ES I N 20 0 5 TO 47 M EM B ER S FR O M 21 CO U N T R I ES I N 2014.

On February 13, 2005, during the Berlin International Film Festival, 15 casting directors from seven countries founded the International Casting Directors Network ( ICDN ).

Today, the network has 47 members from 21 different countries. It is the first network of its kind and is aimed exclusively at casting directors who cast feature films.

Prior to the founding of ICDN , casting directors were organised in national associations.

ICDN OBJECTIVES

The ICDN offers casting directors the opportunity to exchange ideas on an international level, to take advantage of synergies with international co-productions, to attract greater attention to the work of casting a film, and to publicize, inform and enhance the profession of the casting director across borders.

“BEI NG A PART OF TH IS V ERY SPECIAL ORGANIZ ATION, TH E I NTERNATIONAL C A STING DI REC TORS NET WORK, HA S BEEN SO H ELPFU L. REFERENCI NG TH E ICDN IS NOW PART OF MY ‘PRO CESS’ W H EN I AM TH I NKI NG ABOUT C A STI NG A NE W PROJEC T.” AV Y K AU FM A N , US C A STI N G DI REC TO R

THE GOALS OF THE ICDN INCLU DE:

© ERIC V ER N A ZO B R ES

— Establishing a recognized standard of professionalism in the industry — Enhancing the stature of the profession of casting director — Taking on responsibility to help shape film policy and processes — Honouring achievements of members — Providing members with professional support and resources

ICDN member Anja Dihrberg and Hilmar Gudjonsson, European Shooting Star 2012, Iceland.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

For more information please contact: European Film Promotion Karin Dix, dix @ efp- online.com

RIE H EDEGA ARD, DANISH C A STING DIREC TOR INTERVIEW

Why do you attend the European Shooting Stars event in Berlin ? Because it is a great opportunity to honour young European talent and I am thrilled to meet the young people face to face. I love talking to them about their previous work, their plans and dreams for the future.

How do you find new talent, and what enables a casting director to go from looking at a CV to deciding that an actor is the embodiment of a character? I have been a casting director for 32 years now and in the same way a writer feels the urge to portray reality in a written narrative, my business habit is to constantly survey human beings in all their contexts. The people I encounter do not always turn out to be actors, but can also just be people who stand out in some situation with irresistible authenticity.

Denmark is a small country (5.000.000 inhabitants) yet you still have international stars. Do you think this will continue in the future ? I must answer yes. At the same time, the world has become a smaller place and for me it is irrelevant where, for instance, Mads Mikkelsen lives, as long as I still see him as Danish. Talent is abundant. Just open your eyes and look in the right direction.

“ONE OF TH E TH I NGS I ADM I RE AND APPRECIATE TH E M OST ABOUT RI E, IS H ER ENTHUSIASM AND BURNING U RGE TO DO TH E BEST WORK POSSIBLE. A MEETING WITH R I E C A N C A S T A N E W LI G H T ON TH E ENTIRE FI LM.” O LE CH RISTI A N M A DSEN

© ROBIN SKJOLDBORG

I N T ERN ATI O N A L C A S T I N G D I R E C TO R S N E T W O R K

Rie Hedegaard (middle) with actors Marie Tourell Soderberg and Joachim Fjelstrup at the set of “Itsi Bitsi”, directed by Ole Christian Madsen.

Ole Christian Madsen, Director, Denmark and European Shooting Stars jury member in 2011.

DENMARK DANICA CURCIC

16

INTERVIEW

to investigate the dark and destructive sides of a human being. I was very close with my director, and we worked on things together. I did not have a lot of time between being cast and shooting the film, but I did a lot of research on my own. I met with a psychiatrist to go more into depth about people who suffer from a mental disease, and used music to inform my choices as well.

Tell me a bit about how you became an actor? It’s hard to say exactly when I decided to become an actor. I grew up in a story-telling home. My family is of Serbian heritage, and it was a part of the culture to tell stories. Everyone was very expressive. When I was younger, I always acted in school productions, – I was very musical, and played classical piano and accordion. I grew up performing.

But before I started studying to be an actor, I studied documentary filmmaking. In some way, it made me realize that I had more to do. Through documentaries and through music I’d been trying to tell stories, but I felt that I was missing something. I wanted a more direct connection with the audience, to tell stories through my own body. I then found my way to the Dell ’Arte International School of Physical Theater in northern California. When I returned to Denmark, I auditioned at the Danish National School of Performing Arts. I made it in, even though I broke my nose during the audition!

You just worked with Bille August on “Silent Heart”.

What is that like for you to be working with a director of his stature? He’s very warm and giving. We were shooting in the countryside and it is a chamber piece – everything takes place in one location. So it’s all about the relationships. We were eight actors and the story deals with grief. We stayed together during the shoot which made us all very close.

Also, Bille August’s style of shooting was intense. We only rehearsed a little, and at most, he did three takes of a scene.

Everything feels very real and immediate.

How do you bring a character to life? Well, it varies, of course, with each film. Working on “The Absent One”, I had a very emotionally intense role to play – an extreme character on the streets, which gave me the opportunity

The Danish film industry is quite strong. Why do you think that is so? They’re just very good at telling very small stories, very honestly and with truth. I am very proud to be a part of it.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

© ISAK HOFFMEYER

D EN M A RK DA N I C A C U RC I C

“ DA N I S H FI L M S A R E V ERY G O O D I N T EL L I N G V ERY S M A L L S TO R I ES, V ERY H ONESTLY AND W ITH TRUTH. I AM V ERY PROU D TO BE I NVOLV ED.”

Danica Curcic, European Shooting Star, Denmark.

DENMARK DANICA CURCIC

16

INTERVIEW

to investigate the dark and destructive sides of a human being. I was very close with my director, and we worked on things together. I did not have a lot of time between being cast and shooting the film, but I did a lot of research on my own. I met with a psychiatrist to go more into depth about people who suffer from a mental disease, and used music to inform my choices as well.

Tell me a bit about how you became an actor? It’s hard to say exactly when I decided to become an actor. I grew up in a story-telling home. My family is of Serbian heritage, and it was a part of the culture to tell stories. Everyone was very expressive. When I was younger, I always acted in school productions, – I was very musical, and played classical piano and accordion. I grew up performing.

But before I started studying to be an actor, I studied documentary filmmaking. In some way, it made me realize that I had more to do. Through documentaries and through music I’d been trying to tell stories, but I felt that I was missing something. I wanted a more direct connection with the audience, to tell stories through my own body. I then found my way to the Dell ’Arte International School of Physical Theater in northern California. When I returned to Denmark, I auditioned at the Danish National School of Performing Arts. I made it in, even though I broke my nose during the audition!

You just worked with Bille August on “Silent Heart”.

What is that like for you to be working with a director of his stature? He’s very warm and giving. We were shooting in the countryside and it is a chamber piece – everything takes place in one location. So it’s all about the relationships. We were eight actors and the story deals with grief. We stayed together during the shoot which made us all very close.

Also, Bille August’s style of shooting was intense. We only rehearsed a little, and at most, he did three takes of a scene.

Everything feels very real and immediate.

How do you bring a character to life? Well, it varies, of course, with each film. Working on “The Absent One”, I had a very emotionally intense role to play – an extreme character on the streets, which gave me the opportunity

The Danish film industry is quite strong. Why do you think that is so? They’re just very good at telling very small stories, very honestly and with truth. I am very proud to be a part of it.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

© ISAK HOFFMEYER

D EN M A RK DA N I C A C U RC I C

“ DA N I S H FI L M S A R E V ERY G O O D I N T EL L I N G V ERY S M A L L S TO R I ES, V ERY H ONESTLY AND W ITH TRUTH. I AM V ERY PROU D TO BE I NVOLV ED.”

Danica Curcic, European Shooting Star, Denmark.

18

CONTACT L I N D B ERG M A N AG EM EN T

Anne Lindberg Copenhagen, Denmark phone +45 33 11 15 57 al @ lindbergmanagement.com www.lindbergmanagement.com

Lev stærkt

Danish, Serbian, English ( American ), knowledge of Spanish, French, Russian

Nikolaj and Martin get their adrenalin rush driving fast cars in illegal street races. One night turns out fatal as they race at top speed, hitting a young girl, and causing her death. Panicking, they decide to lie about their street racing in court and deny that the accident happened because of their reckless behavior. Martin is convicted while Nikolaj walks free. Feeling guilty about what happened to his best friend, Nikolaj will do anything to make amends, but when Martin’s girlfriend reaches out for his help everything spins out of control. Soon Nikolaj is forced to face the consequences of his own lies.

FILMOGR APHY

Director Christian E. Christiansen Production Company Zentropa Entertainments World Sales TrustNordisk

NOMINATED BY DA N I SH FI L M I N S T I T U T E

www.dfi.dk L ANGUAG ES © HENRIK PETIT

SPOTLIGHT FILM ON TH E EDGE

S I L EN T H E A RT

Stille hjerte

by Bille August Denmark 2014 ( in production ) T H E A BS EN T O N E

M A LTA – A L L I N CLU S I V E

© RO LF KO N OW

by Hella Joof Denmark 2014 O N T H E ED G E

© RO LF KO N OW

SHOOTING STARS 2014

“I N ON TH E EDGE – A FI LM THAT I NITIALLY SEEMS TO O CCU PY A V ERY MALED OM I NATED WORLD – DANIC A Q U I ETLY EM ERGES A S TH E STORY’S BEATI NG H EART AND M OR AL COM PA SS. H ER EFFORTLESS CHARM LIGHTS U P TH E SCREEN.” JANI THILTGES

© HENRIK PETIT

Lev Stærkt

by Christian E. Christiansen Denmark 2014

1. Danica Curcic with her European Shooting Stars colleague Jakob Oftebro in “On The Edge”.

2. & 3. Danica Curcic in “Malta – All Inclusive”.

EU RO PE A N

© CHRISTIAN GEISNÆS

D EN M A RK DA N I C A C U RC I C

by Mikkel Nørgaard Denmark, Norway, Sweden 2014

Danica Curcic in “On The Edge” with Cyron Melville, who participated in Shooting Stars in 2009.

18

CONTACT L I N D B ERG M A N AG EM EN T

Anne Lindberg Copenhagen, Denmark phone +45 33 11 15 57 al @ lindbergmanagement.com www.lindbergmanagement.com

Lev stærkt

Danish, Serbian, English ( American ), knowledge of Spanish, French, Russian

Nikolaj and Martin get their adrenalin rush driving fast cars in illegal street races. One night turns out fatal as they race at top speed, hitting a young girl, and causing her death. Panicking, they decide to lie about their street racing in court and deny that the accident happened because of their reckless behavior. Martin is convicted while Nikolaj walks free. Feeling guilty about what happened to his best friend, Nikolaj will do anything to make amends, but when Martin’s girlfriend reaches out for his help everything spins out of control. Soon Nikolaj is forced to face the consequences of his own lies.

FILMOGR APHY

Director Christian E. Christiansen Production Company Zentropa Entertainments World Sales TrustNordisk

NOMINATED BY DA N I SH FI L M I N S T I T U T E

www.dfi.dk L ANGUAG ES © HENRIK PETIT

SPOTLIGHT FILM ON TH E EDGE

S I L EN T H E A RT

Stille hjerte

by Bille August Denmark 2014 ( in production ) T H E A BS EN T O N E

M A LTA – A L L I N CLU S I V E

© RO LF KO N OW

by Hella Joof Denmark 2014 O N T H E ED G E

© RO LF KO N OW

SHOOTING STARS 2014

“I N ON TH E EDGE – A FI LM THAT I NITIALLY SEEMS TO O CCU PY A V ERY MALED OM I NATED WORLD – DANIC A Q U I ETLY EM ERGES A S TH E STORY’S BEATI NG H EART AND M OR AL COM PA SS. H ER EFFORTLESS CHARM LIGHTS U P TH E SCREEN.” JANI THILTGES

© HENRIK PETIT

Lev Stærkt

by Christian E. Christiansen Denmark 2014

1. Danica Curcic with her European Shooting Stars colleague Jakob Oftebro in “On The Edge”.

2. & 3. Danica Curcic in “Malta – All Inclusive”.

EU RO PE A N

© CHRISTIAN GEISNÆS

D EN M A RK DA N I C A C U RC I C

by Mikkel Nørgaard Denmark, Norway, Sweden 2014

Danica Curcic in “On The Edge” with Cyron Melville, who participated in Shooting Stars in 2009.

GERMANY MARIA DR AGUS

20

INTERVIEW

How did you become an actor? I come from an artistic family – my father is a cellist, and mother a dancer.

I grew up singing opera in the children’s choir, and doing plays on stage. But I studied dancing first – I was eleven when I started at ballet school in Dresden. Acting really started because of a friend of mine from Berlin told me she was shooting a movie. I thought “I want to do that, too!”.

So I bugged my mom to write to a casting office. I went to Berlin to audition for an agency and I was accepted. I grew up in a little town near Dresden, so going to Berlin was terribly exciting for me.

My first role was in a TV movie, “Die Frau vom Checkpoint Charlie”. I had one line, and the film was set in East Germany in the 80s.

From one line in 2007 to Best Supporting Actress at the German Film Awards two years later. Tell me about your experience with Michael Haneke’s in “The White Ribbon”. I was the first child to read for the part. I was called back seven times to audition, the fifth time with the director. I was very nervous, not sure how to behave in front of an icon.

I was 13 years old, and I was scared. But he was wonderful and put me at ease. Three weeks before the shoot began – eight months after my first audition, I got the part. I realized on that set, what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given so far? Not to be pretentious. Susanne Lothar said that to me, and she is someone I really look up to. If you want to truly transmit emotion, you have to let all your walls down. Just show your soul and put it right on the table.

You’ve been at the Berlinale three years ago with “If Not Us, Who…” I was 15 at that time, and I didn’t really realize what a big event it would be. It was my third time on the red carpet. I was so happy to be there with Susanne Lothar. The film was controversial… so people talked about it a lot.

Your last four films were with made with female directors. Is that a coincidence? Totally a coincidence, but I am very happy about that. It’s a little different working with women – I let them come closer to me, I think.

In addition to your acting, what are you particularly proud of having accomplished? My knowledge of different languages: I am fluent in Romanian, German and English, and have basic French and Spanish … I really cherish knowing other languages.

© ST EFA N KLU E T ER

G ERM A N Y MARIA DRAGUS

“I COM E FROM AN ARTISTIC FAM I LY – MY FATH ER IS A CELLIST, AND M OTH ER A DANCER. I GRE W U P SI NGI NG OPER A I N TH E CH ILDREN’S CH OI R, AND D OI NG PL AYS ON STAGE.”

Maria Dragus, European Shooting Star, Germany.

GERMANY MARIA DR AGUS

20

INTERVIEW

How did you become an actor? I come from an artistic family – my father is a cellist, and mother a dancer.

I grew up singing opera in the children’s choir, and doing plays on stage. But I studied dancing first – I was eleven when I started at ballet school in Dresden. Acting really started because of a friend of mine from Berlin told me she was shooting a movie. I thought “I want to do that, too!”.

So I bugged my mom to write to a casting office. I went to Berlin to audition for an agency and I was accepted. I grew up in a little town near Dresden, so going to Berlin was terribly exciting for me.

My first role was in a TV movie, “Die Frau vom Checkpoint Charlie”. I had one line, and the film was set in East Germany in the 80s.

From one line in 2007 to Best Supporting Actress at the German Film Awards two years later. Tell me about your experience with Michael Haneke’s in “The White Ribbon”. I was the first child to read for the part. I was called back seven times to audition, the fifth time with the director. I was very nervous, not sure how to behave in front of an icon.

I was 13 years old, and I was scared. But he was wonderful and put me at ease. Three weeks before the shoot began – eight months after my first audition, I got the part. I realized on that set, what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given so far? Not to be pretentious. Susanne Lothar said that to me, and she is someone I really look up to. If you want to truly transmit emotion, you have to let all your walls down. Just show your soul and put it right on the table.

You’ve been at the Berlinale three years ago with “If Not Us, Who…” I was 15 at that time, and I didn’t really realize what a big event it would be. It was my third time on the red carpet. I was so happy to be there with Susanne Lothar. The film was controversial… so people talked about it a lot.

Your last four films were with made with female directors. Is that a coincidence? Totally a coincidence, but I am very happy about that. It’s a little different working with women – I let them come closer to me, I think.

In addition to your acting, what are you particularly proud of having accomplished? My knowledge of different languages: I am fluent in Romanian, German and English, and have basic French and Spanish … I really cherish knowing other languages.

© ST EFA N KLU E T ER

G ERM A N Y MARIA DRAGUS

“I COM E FROM AN ARTISTIC FAM I LY – MY FATH ER IS A CELLIST, AND M OTH ER A DANCER. I GRE W U P SI NGI NG OPER A I N TH E CH ILDREN’S CH OI R, AND D OI NG PL AYS ON STAGE.”

Maria Dragus, European Shooting Star, Germany.

CONTACT PL AY ER S

Berlin, Germany phone +49 30 285 16 80 doren @ players.de www.players.de NOMINATED BY G ER M A N FI L M S

www.german-films.de

“MARIA’S PERSONALIT Y I NFUSES H ER WORK W ITH A Q U IET STRENGTH THAT DEMANDS OU R AT TENTION. N OT Y E T 20, S H E B R I N G S A N I NTRIGU I NG I NTERIOR ESSENCE THAT SU GGESTS AN AC TOR OF GREAT MATU RIT Y AND ACCOM PLISH M ENT.” CHARLES GANT

L ANGUAGES

German, Romanian ( bilingual ), English, basic French and Spanish

SPOTLIGHT FILM SU M M ER OUTSIDE Draußen ist Sommer Fourteen-year-old Wanda moves to Switzerland with her family. Everything should get better there. The big house, the overgrown garden, and the idyllic and pretty city: All this seems so promising. But the new beginning is difficult for everyone. Despite the desire to be a “normal” family and the desperate effort to get it right this time, old wounds are opened again. “Summer Outside” is an emotional family drama, a tribute to “being a child”.

© T E H K L A E H L I N G / N I K O F I L M

22

Director Friederike Jehn Production Company Zum Goldenen Lamm Filmproduktion

FILMOG R APHY S W EE T 16 © NEUE VISIONEN FILMVERLEIH

by Sven Bohse Germany 2013 CO U CH M OV I E

© X- FI L M E C R E AT I V E P O O L / L E S FI L M S D U LO S A N G E / WEGA FILM

G ERM A N Y MARIA DRAGUS

by Isabel Braaks Germany 2013 B RO K EN G L A SS PA R K

Scherbenpark

by Bettina Blümner Germany 2011 SU M M ER O U TSI D E

Draußen ist Sommer

by Friederike Jehn Germany, Switzerland 2011

1. Maria Dragus in the dark drama, “Kill Me”.

2. Maria Dragus in “Broken Glass Park”.

3. Maria Dragus as Klara in Michael Haneke’s “ The White Ribbon”.

KILL ME

Töte mich

by Emily Atef Germany, France, Switzerland 2010 THE WHITE RIBBON

© ZUM GOLDENEN LAMM

Das weiße Band

by Michael Haneke Austria, France, Germany 2009

Maria Dragus as Wanda in “Summer Outside”.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

CONTACT PL AY ER S

Berlin, Germany phone +49 30 285 16 80 doren @ players.de www.players.de NOMINATED BY G ER M A N FI L M S

www.german-films.de

“MARIA’S PERSONALIT Y I NFUSES H ER WORK W ITH A Q U IET STRENGTH THAT DEMANDS OU R AT TENTION. N OT Y E T 20, S H E B R I N G S A N I NTRIGU I NG I NTERIOR ESSENCE THAT SU GGESTS AN AC TOR OF GREAT MATU RIT Y AND ACCOM PLISH M ENT.” CHARLES GANT

L ANGUAGES

German, Romanian ( bilingual ), English, basic French and Spanish

SPOTLIGHT FILM SU M M ER OUTSIDE Draußen ist Sommer Fourteen-year-old Wanda moves to Switzerland with her family. Everything should get better there. The big house, the overgrown garden, and the idyllic and pretty city: All this seems so promising. But the new beginning is difficult for everyone. Despite the desire to be a “normal” family and the desperate effort to get it right this time, old wounds are opened again. “Summer Outside” is an emotional family drama, a tribute to “being a child”.

© T E H K L A E H L I N G / N I K O F I L M

22

Director Friederike Jehn Production Company Zum Goldenen Lamm Filmproduktion

FILMOG R APHY S W EE T 16 © NEUE VISIONEN FILMVERLEIH

by Sven Bohse Germany 2013 CO U CH M OV I E

© X- FI L M E C R E AT I V E P O O L / L E S FI L M S D U LO S A N G E / WEGA FILM

G ERM A N Y MARIA DRAGUS

by Isabel Braaks Germany 2013 B RO K EN G L A SS PA R K

Scherbenpark

by Bettina Blümner Germany 2011 SU M M ER O U TSI D E

Draußen ist Sommer

by Friederike Jehn Germany, Switzerland 2011

1. Maria Dragus in the dark drama, “Kill Me”.

2. Maria Dragus in “Broken Glass Park”.

3. Maria Dragus as Klara in Michael Haneke’s “ The White Ribbon”.

KILL ME

Töte mich

by Emily Atef Germany, France, Switzerland 2010 THE WHITE RIBBON

© ZUM GOLDENEN LAMM

Das weiße Band

by Michael Haneke Austria, France, Germany 2009

Maria Dragus as Wanda in “Summer Outside”.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

ITALY MIRIAM K ARLKVIST

24

ITA LY MIRIAM KARLKVIST

“BEI NG C A ST I N SOUTH IS NOTH ING WA S ONE OF TH E BEST EXPERI ENCES OF MY LI FE. IT CHANGED MY LI FE, BEC AUSE I HAD A NE W CHALLENGE.”

INTERVIEW

© V I T T O R I O Z U N I N O C E L O T T O / G E T T Y I M A G E S

It was only a year ago, that Miriam was unsure what direction her life would take. She had started her studies in chemistry, but did not feel it was the right path for her. “I felt a bit isolated, and didn’t have a view to the future”. That all changed when she got her first job as an actor in “South Is Nothing”, which will have its European premiere in the Generation 14plus section of the Berlinale.

Miriam Karlkvist, European Shooting Star, Italy.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

that I was not alone on the production, and if things did not go as planned, it was not my fault. That was an important lesson to learn as a newcomer.

Can you tell me who you look to for inspiration in your acting? I never studied before, so I don’t really know actors or actresses that I can name as inspiration. I really take the best inspiration through real life. It’s there that every story starts.

Tell me a bit about how you became an actor? It all started out as a joke. When I went to my first audition, at the time I didn’t think I wanted to be an actor. But things changed for me when I was cast in “South Is Nothing”. The film was one of the best experiences of my life. It changed my life, because I had a new challenge. I discovered through this experience, a fantastic world of work.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given so far ? I got a lot of advice, every day, on my first film. I needed it. But most important for me, was the advice I got from the director the day before shooting started. He said, “Let go and have fun!”. I wasn’t thinking of having fun, so it was great advice.

What’s the most difficult challenge you’ve faced as an actor in this film ? Everything was a challenge and it was wonderful! But we had a limited budget, and always had to fight against time and weather. I felt sometimes like I was letting people down. But the director helped me a lot, explaining that making film is complicated and collaborative. It’s not all on my shoulders. I realized then

What happens now? In June last year, I moved to Rome and I started film school. I want to learn how to use this fortune I now have, this gift of acting. It is all very exciting. The first year, we study a general course, and the second year, we focus on our specialties. I don’t know if I can work and study at the same time, but if an opportunity comes my way…

ITALY MIRIAM K ARLKVIST

24

ITA LY MIRIAM KARLKVIST

“BEI NG C A ST I N SOUTH IS NOTH ING WA S ONE OF TH E BEST EXPERI ENCES OF MY LI FE. IT CHANGED MY LI FE, BEC AUSE I HAD A NE W CHALLENGE.”

INTERVIEW

© V I T T O R I O Z U N I N O C E L O T T O / G E T T Y I M A G E S

It was only a year ago, that Miriam was unsure what direction her life would take. She had started her studies in chemistry, but did not feel it was the right path for her. “I felt a bit isolated, and didn’t have a view to the future”. That all changed when she got her first job as an actor in “South Is Nothing”, which will have its European premiere in the Generation 14plus section of the Berlinale.

Miriam Karlkvist, European Shooting Star, Italy.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

that I was not alone on the production, and if things did not go as planned, it was not my fault. That was an important lesson to learn as a newcomer.

Can you tell me who you look to for inspiration in your acting? I never studied before, so I don’t really know actors or actresses that I can name as inspiration. I really take the best inspiration through real life. It’s there that every story starts.

Tell me a bit about how you became an actor? It all started out as a joke. When I went to my first audition, at the time I didn’t think I wanted to be an actor. But things changed for me when I was cast in “South Is Nothing”. The film was one of the best experiences of my life. It changed my life, because I had a new challenge. I discovered through this experience, a fantastic world of work.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given so far ? I got a lot of advice, every day, on my first film. I needed it. But most important for me, was the advice I got from the director the day before shooting started. He said, “Let go and have fun!”. I wasn’t thinking of having fun, so it was great advice.

What’s the most difficult challenge you’ve faced as an actor in this film ? Everything was a challenge and it was wonderful! But we had a limited budget, and always had to fight against time and weather. I felt sometimes like I was letting people down. But the director helped me a lot, explaining that making film is complicated and collaborative. It’s not all on my shoulders. I realized then

What happens now? In June last year, I moved to Rome and I started film school. I want to learn how to use this fortune I now have, this gift of acting. It is all very exciting. The first year, we study a general course, and the second year, we focus on our specialties. I don’t know if I can work and study at the same time, but if an opportunity comes my way…

26

CONTACT O FFI CI N E A RT I S T I CH E

Daniele Orazi Rome, Italy phone +39 06 58 34 46 89 daniele @ officineartistiche.com www.officineartistiche.com NOMINATED BY I S T I T U TO LU CE CI N ECI T TÀ

www.filmitalia.org L ANGUAGES

© DEBORA VRIZZI

Italian, English

FILMOG R APHY S O U T H I S N OT H I N G

© DEBORA VRIZZI

© DEBORA VRIZZI

ITA LY MIRIAM KARLKVIST

Il sud é niente

by Fabio Mollo Italy 2012

Miriam Karlkvist in “South Is Nothing”.

“W E W ERE IM PRESSED BY A STRI KI NG DEBUT FROM M I RIAM: A SIGNIFIC ANT LEADI NG R O L E T H AT R EM A I N S CO M M I T T ED TO T H E COM PLEXIT Y OF TH E CHAR AC TER. TH E DEPTHS THAT ARE RE V EALED OFFER AN ENTICING GLIM PSE OF H ER FUTU RE POTENTIAL.” HERMINE HU NTG EBU RTH EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

SPOTLIGHT FILM SOUTH IS NOTH ING Il sud è niente Grazia is 17 and lives in Reggio Calabria, a small town in the South of Italy. Her brother Pietro disappeared years ago; she was told he was dead and her father never wanted to talk about it again. One night, after a big fight with her father, Grazia jumps into the sea and sees a human figure, in which she recognises her brother’s face. That night she decides to search for him, breaking the rule of silence which her father has always demanded. Garzia begins to see and feel Pietro’s presence in her life, especially as she enters a tulmultous relationship with a local boy, who, she is sure, has some information about the whereabouts of her brother.

Director Fabio Mollo Production Company B24 Film World Sales Doc & Film International

26

CONTACT O FFI CI N E A RT I S T I CH E

Daniele Orazi Rome, Italy phone +39 06 58 34 46 89 daniele @ officineartistiche.com www.officineartistiche.com NOMINATED BY I S T I T U TO LU CE CI N ECI T TÀ

www.filmitalia.org L ANGUAGES

© DEBORA VRIZZI

Italian, English

FILMOG R APHY S O U T H I S N OT H I N G

© DEBORA VRIZZI

© DEBORA VRIZZI

ITA LY MIRIAM KARLKVIST

Il sud é niente

by Fabio Mollo Italy 2012

Miriam Karlkvist in “South Is Nothing”.

“W E W ERE IM PRESSED BY A STRI KI NG DEBUT FROM M I RIAM: A SIGNIFIC ANT LEADI NG R O L E T H AT R EM A I N S CO M M I T T ED TO T H E COM PLEXIT Y OF TH E CHAR AC TER. TH E DEPTHS THAT ARE RE V EALED OFFER AN ENTICING GLIM PSE OF H ER FUTU RE POTENTIAL.” HERMINE HU NTG EBU RTH EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

SPOTLIGHT FILM SOUTH IS NOTH ING Il sud è niente Grazia is 17 and lives in Reggio Calabria, a small town in the South of Italy. Her brother Pietro disappeared years ago; she was told he was dead and her father never wanted to talk about it again. One night, after a big fight with her father, Grazia jumps into the sea and sees a human figure, in which she recognises her brother’s face. That night she decides to search for him, breaking the rule of silence which her father has always demanded. Garzia begins to see and feel Pietro’s presence in her life, especially as she enters a tulmultous relationship with a local boy, who, she is sure, has some information about the whereabouts of her brother.

Director Fabio Mollo Production Company B24 Film World Sales Doc & Film International

PERHAPS TH E STRONGEST INFLU ENCE AND I NSPI R ATION I N H IS LIFE TO TH IS POINT HA S BEEN H IS COLL ABOR ATION W ITH DI REC TOR JIM TAIHATTU. MARWAN MET HIM IN A CLUB IN 2006 AND THEY QUICKLY FOUND COM M ON GROU ND AND BEGAN TO WORK ON FI LMS TO GETH ER.

Marwan made a decision to spend some time in Los Angeles at the beginning of 2014. He’s got great backing, with both his Dutch agent advising him as well as his agent in Los Angeles, where he is represented by ICM .

But when he started out, in 2003, he probably wouldn’t have dreamed that he would be hopping between LA and Europe as his career developed. It was not due to any burning desire to act, but because a friend signed him up for an audition, that he started on this path. From that moment on, however, his career choice was very clear. He attended pre - drama school, and then was accepted at the prestigious Theatre Academy Maastricht. When his training ended at the Academy, he immediately won a position with the Theater Group Amsterdam.

While still studying, Marwan was cast in a film by one of The Netherlands most noted directors, Alex Van Warmerdam. He says of Van Warmerdam, “Alex is a man who wants to make art, and is totally independent in everything he does. From the buttons on your jacket to the way a scene is ready – he is the choreographer.

T H E N E T H ERL A N DS M A R WA N K E N Z A R I

“We have to make films together until we are very old men.”

Perhaps the strongest influence and inspiration in his life, has been his collaboration with director Jim Taihattu, Marwan met him in a club in 2006, where Jim was working as a DJ. They found common ground immediately, and started working together on a video and a short film. Since then, they have done two films together, and are working on a third. The first film, “Rabat”, received a number of awards and their second collaboration, “Wolf”, won Marwan a Golden Calf as Best Actor. “We put aside the fact that we are really good friends, when we work together. Intense friendship makes it intense between actor and director. He is radical and he doesn’t care about anything except telling the story. Something works between us. I know what he is capable of, and not capable of. And he knows the same about me. We have to make films together until we are very old men”.

© A ARON VAN VALEN

Next up for a busy Marwan are three features: “Streets Of Hearts” ( directed by Sanne Vogel ), “Reckless” ( directed by Joram Lürsen ) and “Lucia De B” ( directed by Paula van der Oest ).

Marwan Kenzari in his award-winning role as Majid in “ Wolf”.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

© JAN E Y VAN IERL AN D

THE NETHERLANDS MARWAN KENZARI

28

Marwan Kenzari, European Shooting Star, The Netherlands.

PERHAPS TH E STRONGEST INFLU ENCE AND I NSPI R ATION I N H IS LIFE TO TH IS POINT HA S BEEN H IS COLL ABOR ATION W ITH DI REC TOR JIM TAIHATTU. MARWAN MET HIM IN A CLUB IN 2006 AND THEY QUICKLY FOUND COM M ON GROU ND AND BEGAN TO WORK ON FI LMS TO GETH ER.

Marwan made a decision to spend some time in Los Angeles at the beginning of 2014. He’s got great backing, with both his Dutch agent advising him as well as his agent in Los Angeles, where he is represented by ICM .

But when he started out, in 2003, he probably wouldn’t have dreamed that he would be hopping between LA and Europe as his career developed. It was not due to any burning desire to act, but because a friend signed him up for an audition, that he started on this path. From that moment on, however, his career choice was very clear. He attended pre - drama school, and then was accepted at the prestigious Theatre Academy Maastricht. When his training ended at the Academy, he immediately won a position with the Theater Group Amsterdam.

While still studying, Marwan was cast in a film by one of The Netherlands most noted directors, Alex Van Warmerdam. He says of Van Warmerdam, “Alex is a man who wants to make art, and is totally independent in everything he does. From the buttons on your jacket to the way a scene is ready – he is the choreographer.

T H E N E T H ERL A N DS M A R WA N K E N Z A R I

“We have to make films together until we are very old men.”

Perhaps the strongest influence and inspiration in his life, has been his collaboration with director Jim Taihattu, Marwan met him in a club in 2006, where Jim was working as a DJ. They found common ground immediately, and started working together on a video and a short film. Since then, they have done two films together, and are working on a third. The first film, “Rabat”, received a number of awards and their second collaboration, “Wolf”, won Marwan a Golden Calf as Best Actor. “We put aside the fact that we are really good friends, when we work together. Intense friendship makes it intense between actor and director. He is radical and he doesn’t care about anything except telling the story. Something works between us. I know what he is capable of, and not capable of. And he knows the same about me. We have to make films together until we are very old men”.

© A ARON VAN VALEN

Next up for a busy Marwan are three features: “Streets Of Hearts” ( directed by Sanne Vogel ), “Reckless” ( directed by Joram Lürsen ) and “Lucia De B” ( directed by Paula van der Oest ).

Marwan Kenzari in his award-winning role as Majid in “ Wolf”.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

© JAN E Y VAN IERL AN D

THE NETHERLANDS MARWAN KENZARI

28

Marwan Kenzari, European Shooting Star, The Netherlands.

30

SPOTLIGHT FILM WOLF “Wolf ” tells the gripping story of Majid, a young man who decides to capitalize on his mixed martial arts skills shortly after being released from prison. As his fighting prowess allows him a legitimate path to get his life back on track, it also brings him increasing notoriety inside and outside the ring. The worlds of kick boxing and organized crime quickly begin to blur as Majid is pulled into a savage, violent and lawless underworld.

Director Jim Taihattu Production Company Habbekrats

CONTACT N U M M ER19 M A N AG EM EN T

Janey van Ierland Culemborg, The Netherlands phone +31 6 23 62 02 37 janey @ nummer19.nl www.nummer19.nl NOMINATED BY E Y E I N T ER N AT I O N A L

international.eyefilm.nl L ANGUAGES

Dutch, English, French, Arabic

FILMOGR APHY R ECK L ESS

© H A B B E K R AT S

Bloedlink

by Joram Lürsen The Netherlands 2014 S T R EE T O F H E A RTS

Facing the camera, Marwan Kenzari in “Rabat”.

T H E N E T H ERL A N DS M A R WA N K E N Z A R I

© A N O U C K W O L F / T O P K A P I F I L M S

Hartenstraat

by Sanne Vogel The Netherlands 2014 LU CI A D E B.

by Paula van der Oest The Netherlands 2014 Marwan Kenzari in “Reckless”.

WO L F

by Jim Taihuttu The Netherlands 2013 R A BAT

ANDERS BA ASMO CHRISTIANSEN

LO F T

by Antoinette Beumer The Netherlands 2010

© A ARON VAN VALEN

“MARWAN HA S A V ERY STRONG, MA SCU LINE, MAGNETIC SCREEN PRESENCE. I N WOLF, H E EARNS OU R EM PATHY W H ILE NE V ER WAV ERI NG FROM EM BR ACING TH E CHAR AC TER’S FL AWS, DELIV ERI NG A H IGH LY CONV INCING PERFORMANCE.”

by Jim Taihuttu and Victor Ponten The Netherlands 2011

In a scene of “ Wolf” with Marwan Kenzari, center.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

30

SPOTLIGHT FILM WOLF “Wolf ” tells the gripping story of Majid, a young man who decides to capitalize on his mixed martial arts skills shortly after being released from prison. As his fighting prowess allows him a legitimate path to get his life back on track, it also brings him increasing notoriety inside and outside the ring. The worlds of kick boxing and organized crime quickly begin to blur as Majid is pulled into a savage, violent and lawless underworld.

Director Jim Taihattu Production Company Habbekrats

CONTACT N U M M ER19 M A N AG EM EN T

Janey van Ierland Culemborg, The Netherlands phone +31 6 23 62 02 37 janey @ nummer19.nl www.nummer19.nl NOMINATED BY E Y E I N T ER N AT I O N A L

international.eyefilm.nl L ANGUAGES

Dutch, English, French, Arabic

FILMOGR APHY R ECK L ESS

© H A B B E K R AT S

Bloedlink

by Joram Lürsen The Netherlands 2014 S T R EE T O F H E A RTS

Facing the camera, Marwan Kenzari in “Rabat”.

T H E N E T H ERL A N DS M A R WA N K E N Z A R I

© A N O U C K W O L F / T O P K A P I F I L M S

Hartenstraat

by Sanne Vogel The Netherlands 2014 LU CI A D E B.

by Paula van der Oest The Netherlands 2014 Marwan Kenzari in “Reckless”.

WO L F

by Jim Taihuttu The Netherlands 2013 R A BAT

ANDERS BA ASMO CHRISTIANSEN

LO F T

by Antoinette Beumer The Netherlands 2010

© A ARON VAN VALEN

“MARWAN HA S A V ERY STRONG, MA SCU LINE, MAGNETIC SCREEN PRESENCE. I N WOLF, H E EARNS OU R EM PATHY W H ILE NE V ER WAV ERI NG FROM EM BR ACING TH E CHAR AC TER’S FL AWS, DELIV ERI NG A H IGH LY CONV INCING PERFORMANCE.”

by Jim Taihuttu and Victor Ponten The Netherlands 2011

In a scene of “ Wolf” with Marwan Kenzari, center.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

NORWAY JAKOB OFTEBRO

32

N O RWAY J A KO B O F T E B R O

“E V ERY TH I NG REALLY STARTED W H EN I WA S C A ST I N MA X MANUS. IT WA S A SMALL PART BUT I LOV ED IT. I WORKED AGAI N W ITH TH E SAM E DI REC TOR W H EN I WA S C A ST I N A MAI N ROLE FOR KON -TIKI.”

INTERVIEW

© ANDERS HEINRICHSEN

© P E R A R N E S E N / M I S O F I L M

What’s the best piece Tell me a bit about how of advice you’ve been given so far? you became an actor? You come Never give up. Stay positive. from an acting family… When Aksel Hennie ( who played the I was younger I was very shy, role of “Max Manus” in the and I didn’t want to be on stage, film ) said that to me. And, of but then there was this school course, my father has given play and I volunteered to be in Jakob Oftebro in period dress for “1864”. me a lot of advice. Originally, it. My parents were shocked I he advised against going into did it. I don’t think I was that acting as a career. He said it was so tough. But he also said, good, but it was fun. I conquered some personal fears, and if you want to do it, you have to apply yourself to it fully. kept on going. I began my studies in acting at the National Theater School in Oslo. But I always wanted to live in You’ve worked on some quality T V programs, like another country, so I moved to Copenhagen and did a final “The Bridge”. Why do you think the TV shows that are coming out year at the theater school there. of Scandinavia are so strong? I guess one thing is dark, cold When I was eleven or twelve years old, I started Scandinavia. It’s the right setting for good noir mysteries. auditioning for TV and movies. I got smaller parts. But There’s also a very special system here. Producers allow for me everything really started when I was cast in “Max the directors to do their thing. They allow them space Manus”. It was a small part but I loved it. I worked again for their ideas to develop. That can create a really good with the same director when I was cast in a main role working atmosphere for artists. Another thing is that we for “Kon-Tiki”. I was very lucky to be able to work with have strong female characters in the shows. Not just men so many good and established Norwegian actors on this drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes and killing other men! film.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

Jakob Oftebro, European Shooting Star, Norway.

NORWAY JAKOB OFTEBRO

32

N O RWAY J A KO B O F T E B R O

“E V ERY TH I NG REALLY STARTED W H EN I WA S C A ST I N MA X MANUS. IT WA S A SMALL PART BUT I LOV ED IT. I WORKED AGAI N W ITH TH E SAM E DI REC TOR W H EN I WA S C A ST I N A MAI N ROLE FOR KON -TIKI.”

INTERVIEW

© ANDERS HEINRICHSEN

© P E R A R N E S E N / M I S O F I L M

What’s the best piece Tell me a bit about how of advice you’ve been given so far? you became an actor? You come Never give up. Stay positive. from an acting family… When Aksel Hennie ( who played the I was younger I was very shy, role of “Max Manus” in the and I didn’t want to be on stage, film ) said that to me. And, of but then there was this school course, my father has given play and I volunteered to be in Jakob Oftebro in period dress for “1864”. me a lot of advice. Originally, it. My parents were shocked I he advised against going into did it. I don’t think I was that acting as a career. He said it was so tough. But he also said, good, but it was fun. I conquered some personal fears, and if you want to do it, you have to apply yourself to it fully. kept on going. I began my studies in acting at the National Theater School in Oslo. But I always wanted to live in You’ve worked on some quality T V programs, like another country, so I moved to Copenhagen and did a final “The Bridge”. Why do you think the TV shows that are coming out year at the theater school there. of Scandinavia are so strong? I guess one thing is dark, cold When I was eleven or twelve years old, I started Scandinavia. It’s the right setting for good noir mysteries. auditioning for TV and movies. I got smaller parts. But There’s also a very special system here. Producers allow for me everything really started when I was cast in “Max the directors to do their thing. They allow them space Manus”. It was a small part but I loved it. I worked again for their ideas to develop. That can create a really good with the same director when I was cast in a main role working atmosphere for artists. Another thing is that we for “Kon-Tiki”. I was very lucky to be able to work with have strong female characters in the shows. Not just men so many good and established Norwegian actors on this drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes and killing other men! film.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

Jakob Oftebro, European Shooting Star, Norway.

34

CONTACT L I N D B ERG M A N AG EM EN T

Anne Lindberg Copenhagen, Denmark phone +45 33 11 15 57 al @ lindbergmanagement.com www.lindbergmanagement.com NOMINATED BY N O RW EG I A N FI L M I N S T I T U T E

www.nfi.no L ANGUAGES

Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, English and knowledge of German and Spanish

© M I S O F I L M / D R 1

FILMOG R APHY 18 6 4

by Ole Bornedal Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany 2014

Jakob Oftebro as Laust in the T V series “1864” by Ole Bornedal.

SPOTLIGHT FILM IN ORDER OF DISAPPEAR ANCE

Lev Stærkt

by Christian E. Christiansen Denmark 2014 I N O R D ER O F D I SA PPE A R A N CE

Jakob Oftebro as Johannes in “ Victoria”.

T H E H I D D EN CH I L D

Tyskungen

by Per Hanefjord Sweden, Norway, Germany 2013

Director Hans Petter Moland Production Company Paradox Rettigheter AS World Sales TrustNordisk

V I C TO R I A

by Torun Lian Norway 2013 KO N -T I K I

by Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany 2012

“JAKOB IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY CHARISMATIC YOU NG AC TOR. H E IS DELIGHTFU L A S TH E ROMANTIC MALE LEAD I N KNUT HAMSU N ADAPTATION V I C TORIA, W H I LE DEM ONSTR ATI NG REAL BREADTH I N TH E OTH ER WORK W E V I E W ED.” ORIANA KUN I

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

© NORDISK FILM DISTRIBUTION

World premiere in Competition at the Berlinale.

© CHRISTIAN GEISNÆS

Kraftidioten

by Hans Petter Moland Norway 2014

Nils drives a snow blower and lives a carefree life in the winter paradise, Beitostølen. His son’s sudden death puts him in the middle of a drug war between Norwegian mafia and the Serbians. In this world he is a beginner – armed with heavy machinery and beginners luck.

© P H I L I P Ø G A A R D / P A R A D O X

Kraftidioten © FI L M K A M E R AT E N E A S

N O RWAY J A KO B O F T E B R O

O N T H E ED G E

1. Jakob Oftebro in “In Order Of Disappearance”. 2. Jakob Oftebro in “Kon-Tiki”. 3. Jakob Oftebro in “On The Edge”, with Danish Shooting Star 2009, Cyron Melville.

34

CONTACT L I N D B ERG M A N AG EM EN T

Anne Lindberg Copenhagen, Denmark phone +45 33 11 15 57 al @ lindbergmanagement.com www.lindbergmanagement.com NOMINATED BY N O RW EG I A N FI L M I N S T I T U T E

www.nfi.no L ANGUAGES

Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, English and knowledge of German and Spanish

© M I S O F I L M / D R 1

FILMOG R APHY 18 6 4

by Ole Bornedal Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany 2014

Jakob Oftebro as Laust in the T V series “1864” by Ole Bornedal.

SPOTLIGHT FILM IN ORDER OF DISAPPEAR ANCE

Lev Stærkt

by Christian E. Christiansen Denmark 2014 I N O R D ER O F D I SA PPE A R A N CE

Jakob Oftebro as Johannes in “ Victoria”.

T H E H I D D EN CH I L D

Tyskungen

by Per Hanefjord Sweden, Norway, Germany 2013

Director Hans Petter Moland Production Company Paradox Rettigheter AS World Sales TrustNordisk

V I C TO R I A

by Torun Lian Norway 2013 KO N -T I K I

by Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany 2012

“JAKOB IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY CHARISMATIC YOU NG AC TOR. H E IS DELIGHTFU L A S TH E ROMANTIC MALE LEAD I N KNUT HAMSU N ADAPTATION V I C TORIA, W H I LE DEM ONSTR ATI NG REAL BREADTH I N TH E OTH ER WORK W E V I E W ED.” ORIANA KUN I

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

© NORDISK FILM DISTRIBUTION

World premiere in Competition at the Berlinale.

© CHRISTIAN GEISNÆS

Kraftidioten

by Hans Petter Moland Norway 2014

Nils drives a snow blower and lives a carefree life in the winter paradise, Beitostølen. His son’s sudden death puts him in the middle of a drug war between Norwegian mafia and the Serbians. In this world he is a beginner – armed with heavy machinery and beginners luck.

© P H I L I P Ø G A A R D / P A R A D O X

Kraftidioten © FI L M K A M E R AT E N E A S

N O RWAY J A KO B O F T E B R O

O N T H E ED G E

1. Jakob Oftebro in “In Order Of Disappearance”. 2. Jakob Oftebro in “Kon-Tiki”. 3. Jakob Oftebro in “On The Edge”, with Danish Shooting Star 2009, Cyron Melville.

“A S AN AC TOR, I WANT TO USE DI FFERENT M ETH ODS, DI FFERENT KI NDS OF EM OTIONS. I WANT TO PL AY STRONG CHAR AC TERS I NSI DE – BUT NOT FROM TH E OUTSIDE. MY ST YLE OF AC TI NG HA S BECOM E M ORE SU BTLE.”

INTERVIEW

Tell me why you became an actor? For me it was kind of an accident. I am from a small city in Poland and it was an opportunity to leave this place, and start life doing something bigger. I went to puppet school for a year, but then left. I never finished my training. I was kicked out of school three times. School was more of a place for me to hide…

What changed for you? When I was younger, when I started acting, I was rebelling against everything, I was lonely, I was angry. And my acting was more a reflection of who I was. But I eventually became bored just being myself all the time. I wanted to use different methods, different kinds of emotions. I still want to play strong characters inside – but not from the outside. My style of acting became more subtle.

© MAGDA WUNSCHE/ELLE MAGAZINE

POLAND MATEUSZ KOSCIUKIEWICZ

36

Mateusz Kosciukiewicz, European Shooting Star, Poland.

POLAND M AT E U S Z KO C I U K I E W I C Z

And who or what inspired that? First of all – real life. How things look, how they feel. The small dark things that happen in life. Books also inspire me. I read a lot of books – each book opens a new world and I find characters in the book that inspire the characters I play. And of course, the directors I work with. Part of my character is also a part of the director. The director creates the movie, and the character. So I try to find that inspiration in the director.

Also the technical side of film is very important thing for me in acting. The camera, the lights, the costumes. These all help me define the character I am playing. Without these elements it wouldn’t be possible.

What about other actors? I’m afraid other actors don’t inspire me that much. Maybe I haven’t met the ones who will inspire me. I expect maximum focus and professionalism from my acting peers. But inspiration for me is more likely to come from non-professional actors, those that are cast from the street. What they do, that inspires me.

© M A G D A W U N S C H E / E L L E M A G A Z I N E

What else has had an impact on your acting and your career? A very positive thing for me and the development of my career, has been the growth of the Polish Film Institute.

I would never have had a chance to make this kind of a career without the institute. They financially support Polish movies, and a lot of moves are getting made, which means more opportunity for me to work. This kind of national support for our films is really important, and it’s helping me have one of the busiest years of my life since I became an actor.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

“MATEUSZ HA S AN I NTENSE SCREEN PRESENCE. W ITH IN TH E NAM E O F, W E S EE H I M J O U R N E Y FR O M ENIGMATIC M ISFIT TO W I LDLY U NPREDIC TABLE TICKI NG BOM B, C A PT I VAT I N G U S W I T H A G O O F Y ENERGY AND FI NALLY A BEGUILING TENDERNESS.” CHARLES GANT

Mateusz Kosciukiewicz, European Shooting Star, Poland.

“A S AN AC TOR, I WANT TO USE DI FFERENT M ETH ODS, DI FFERENT KI NDS OF EM OTIONS. I WANT TO PL AY STRONG CHAR AC TERS I NSI DE – BUT NOT FROM TH E OUTSIDE. MY ST YLE OF AC TI NG HA S BECOM E M ORE SU BTLE.”

INTERVIEW

Tell me why you became an actor? For me it was kind of an accident. I am from a small city in Poland and it was an opportunity to leave this place, and start life doing something bigger. I went to puppet school for a year, but then left. I never finished my training. I was kicked out of school three times. School was more of a place for me to hide…

What changed for you? When I was younger, when I started acting, I was rebelling against everything, I was lonely, I was angry. And my acting was more a reflection of who I was. But I eventually became bored just being myself all the time. I wanted to use different methods, different kinds of emotions. I still want to play strong characters inside – but not from the outside. My style of acting became more subtle.

© MAGDA WUNSCHE/ELLE MAGAZINE

POLAND MATEUSZ KOSCIUKIEWICZ

36

Mateusz Kosciukiewicz, European Shooting Star, Poland.

POLAND M AT E U S Z KO C I U K I E W I C Z

And who or what inspired that? First of all – real life. How things look, how they feel. The small dark things that happen in life. Books also inspire me. I read a lot of books – each book opens a new world and I find characters in the book that inspire the characters I play. And of course, the directors I work with. Part of my character is also a part of the director. The director creates the movie, and the character. So I try to find that inspiration in the director.

Also the technical side of film is very important thing for me in acting. The camera, the lights, the costumes. These all help me define the character I am playing. Without these elements it wouldn’t be possible.

What about other actors? I’m afraid other actors don’t inspire me that much. Maybe I haven’t met the ones who will inspire me. I expect maximum focus and professionalism from my acting peers. But inspiration for me is more likely to come from non-professional actors, those that are cast from the street. What they do, that inspires me.

© M A G D A W U N S C H E / E L L E M A G A Z I N E

What else has had an impact on your acting and your career? A very positive thing for me and the development of my career, has been the growth of the Polish Film Institute.

I would never have had a chance to make this kind of a career without the institute. They financially support Polish movies, and a lot of moves are getting made, which means more opportunity for me to work. This kind of national support for our films is really important, and it’s helping me have one of the busiest years of my life since I became an actor.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

“MATEUSZ HA S AN I NTENSE SCREEN PRESENCE. W ITH IN TH E NAM E O F, W E S EE H I M J O U R N E Y FR O M ENIGMATIC M ISFIT TO W I LDLY U NPREDIC TABLE TICKI NG BOM B, C A PT I VAT I N G U S W I T H A G O O F Y ENERGY AND FI NALLY A BEGUILING TENDERNESS.” CHARLES GANT

Mateusz Kosciukiewicz, European Shooting Star, Poland.

© A N N A G L U S Z K O , M A G D A L E N A S Y M O N O W I C Z / P R A S A & F I L M

38

1. Mateusz Kosciukiewicz with co - star in “All That I Love”.

2. Mateusz Kosciukiewicz in “Baczynski”.

SPOTLIGHT FILM IN TH E NAM E OF

CONTACT N OW H ER E FI L M

W imi …

Father Adam takes over a small parish in the middle of nowhere. He organizes a community centre for boys with a troubled past. His energy is appreciated, the locals accept him as one of their own. Everybody wants to be close to him, feeding off of his vitality and power, but no one knows he harbors his own secret. After meeting an eccentric and silent young man, a local pariah, Father Adams is forced to confront a long forgotten burden and passion. As the villagers’ worst suspicions are validated, Father Adam becomes an obvious enemy.

Director Małgo ka Szumowska Production Company MD 4 Sp. Zo.o World Sales Memento Films International

Joanna Nuckowska Warsaw, Poland phone +48 519 34 48 13 joanna @ nowherefilm.pl NOMINATED BY P O L I S H FI L M I N S T I T U T E

www.pisf.pl L ANGUAGES

Polish, English

FILMOGR APHY I N T H E N A M E O F...

© A R T R A M A / A R T E F A K T F I L M

W imi …

by Małgo ka Szumowska Poland 2013 WA L ESA . M A N O F H O PE

POLAND M AT E U S Z KO C I U K I E W I C Z

Walesa. Czlowiek z nadziei

by Andrzej Wajda Poland 2013 BAC Z Y N S K I

by Kordian Piwowarski Poland 2013 BA BY B LU ES

by Kasia Roslaniec Poland 2012 M OT H ER T ER ESA O F C ATS

Matka Teresa od kotów

by Paweł Sala Poland 2010 A L L T H AT I LOV E

© M I C H A L E N G L E R T / M D 4

Wszystko co kocham

by Jacek Borcuch Poland 2009

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

Mateusz Kosciukiewicz as Lukasz in “In The Name Of ”.

© A N N A G L U S Z K O , M A G D A L E N A S Y M O N O W I C Z / P R A S A & F I L M

38

1. Mateusz Kosciukiewicz with co - star in “All That I Love”.

2. Mateusz Kosciukiewicz in “Baczynski”.

SPOTLIGHT FILM IN TH E NAM E OF

CONTACT N OW H ER E FI L M

W imi …

Father Adam takes over a small parish in the middle of nowhere. He organizes a community centre for boys with a troubled past. His energy is appreciated, the locals accept him as one of their own. Everybody wants to be close to him, feeding off of his vitality and power, but no one knows he harbors his own secret. After meeting an eccentric and silent young man, a local pariah, Father Adams is forced to confront a long forgotten burden and passion. As the villagers’ worst suspicions are validated, Father Adam becomes an obvious enemy.

Director Małgo ka Szumowska Production Company MD 4 Sp. Zo.o World Sales Memento Films International

Joanna Nuckowska Warsaw, Poland phone +48 519 34 48 13 joanna @ nowherefilm.pl NOMINATED BY P O L I S H FI L M I N S T I T U T E

www.pisf.pl L ANGUAGES

Polish, English

FILMOGR APHY I N T H E N A M E O F...

© A R T R A M A / A R T E F A K T F I L M

W imi …

by Małgo ka Szumowska Poland 2013 WA L ESA . M A N O F H O PE

POLAND M AT E U S Z KO C I U K I E W I C Z

Walesa. Czlowiek z nadziei

by Andrzej Wajda Poland 2013 BAC Z Y N S K I

by Kordian Piwowarski Poland 2013 BA BY B LU ES

by Kasia Roslaniec Poland 2012 M OT H ER T ER ESA O F C ATS

Matka Teresa od kotów

by Paweł Sala Poland 2010 A L L T H AT I LOV E

© M I C H A L E N G L E R T / M D 4

Wszystko co kocham

by Jacek Borcuch Poland 2009

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

Mateusz Kosciukiewicz as Lukasz in “In The Name Of ”.

ROMANIA COSMINA STR ATAN

40

INTERVIEW

With just the one film credit to your name, you won one of the most coveted of all awards – Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012. How did you decide to become an actor?

I started out studying journalism, and worked for five years as a journalist, and then one year producing for television.

One day, as I sat in a meeting with my boss, he said to the group, “This is the best job you could ever have”. I realized at that moment, that it was not the best job for me. I need to take a chance and go for something important to me.

So during my boss’ speech, I decided to become an actor.

I went to the theater a lot, and eventually I decided to study acting. I finished my studies last year.

How were you cast in your debut film, “Beyond The Hills” ? I received a call from a casting director to ask me to come in. At first, I didn’t know it was a film directed

by Cristian Mungiu. ( I had interviewed him when he made “4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days” ). There were a lot of callbacks, and I later found out that he was actually rehearsing during the auditions – mixing and matching the two leads to find the right chemistry.

What’s the most difficult challenge you’ve faced as an actor? Every part is a challenge. “Beyond The Hills” was a bit different as it was my first part after school. I felt responsible for the story, for the whole movie. I had a lot of pressure. After I read the script, I felt I had a very difficult task. I realized the complexity and power of these girls. I thought Alina was the most challenging character, as she had the guts to fight for her values. But Voichita ( my role ) is the type of girl who couldn’t make her own decisions…

I couldn’t figure out her way of “not expressing” things. She kept everything inside. I had to find a way to have all these emotions inside of me, to conceal them, but still have the character seem real.

Which directors would like to work with in the future?

I admire many directors and follow their work. I am a bit superstitious about names. What I can say, is that it is important for me to have a special relationship with the director. Someone, who can help me and inspire me on set.

Not everyone can work with everyone… I was very lucky on “Beyond The Hills”.

© A D I M A R I N E C I / H B O

RO M A N I A C O S M I N A S T R ATA N

“IT IS IM PORTANT FOR M E TO HAV E A SPECIAL REL ATIONSH I P W ITH TH E DIREC TOR. SOM EONE, W H O C AN H ELP M E AND I NSPI RE M E ON SET.”

Cosmina Stratan in “Shall We Kiss”.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

ROMANIA COSMINA STR ATAN

40

INTERVIEW

With just the one film credit to your name, you won one of the most coveted of all awards – Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012. How did you decide to become an actor?

I started out studying journalism, and worked for five years as a journalist, and then one year producing for television.

One day, as I sat in a meeting with my boss, he said to the group, “This is the best job you could ever have”. I realized at that moment, that it was not the best job for me. I need to take a chance and go for something important to me.

So during my boss’ speech, I decided to become an actor.

I went to the theater a lot, and eventually I decided to study acting. I finished my studies last year.

How were you cast in your debut film, “Beyond The Hills” ? I received a call from a casting director to ask me to come in. At first, I didn’t know it was a film directed

by Cristian Mungiu. ( I had interviewed him when he made “4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days” ). There were a lot of callbacks, and I later found out that he was actually rehearsing during the auditions – mixing and matching the two leads to find the right chemistry.

What’s the most difficult challenge you’ve faced as an actor? Every part is a challenge. “Beyond The Hills” was a bit different as it was my first part after school. I felt responsible for the story, for the whole movie. I had a lot of pressure. After I read the script, I felt I had a very difficult task. I realized the complexity and power of these girls. I thought Alina was the most challenging character, as she had the guts to fight for her values. But Voichita ( my role ) is the type of girl who couldn’t make her own decisions…

I couldn’t figure out her way of “not expressing” things. She kept everything inside. I had to find a way to have all these emotions inside of me, to conceal them, but still have the character seem real.

Which directors would like to work with in the future?

I admire many directors and follow their work. I am a bit superstitious about names. What I can say, is that it is important for me to have a special relationship with the director. Someone, who can help me and inspire me on set.

Not everyone can work with everyone… I was very lucky on “Beyond The Hills”.

© A D I M A R I N E C I / H B O

RO M A N I A C O S M I N A S T R ATA N

“IT IS IM PORTANT FOR M E TO HAV E A SPECIAL REL ATIONSH I P W ITH TH E DIREC TOR. SOM EONE, W H O C AN H ELP M E AND I NSPI RE M E ON SET.”

Cosmina Stratan in “Shall We Kiss”.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

42

“COSM I NA RU LES W ITH H ER EM OTIONS. I N BE YOND TH E H ILL S, SH E DEM ONSTR ATES I NCREDI BLE PRECISION IN H ER AC TI NG, W ITH AN EXPERTLY M ODU L ATED PERFORMANCE THAT KEEPS EM OTION REI NED I N BUT R ADIATES A POW ERFU L FEELI NG.” ANDERS BA ASMO CHRISTIANSEN

CONTACT RO M A N I A N FI L M PRO M OT I O N

Raluca Papanicoglu Bucharest, Romania phone +40 213 26 64 80 raluca @ tiff.ro www.romfilmpromotion.ro NOMINATED BY

www.romfilmpromotion.ro L ANGUAG ES

Romanian, English ( Cambridge degree ), German ( Deutsch Zertifikat )

© O L E G M U T U / M O B R A F I L M S

RO M A N I A N FI L M PRO M OT I O N

Cosmina Stratan, Valeriu Andriu a in Cristian Mungui’s “Beyond The Hills”.

FILMOG R APHY

B E YO N D T H E H I L L S RO M A N I A C O S M I N A S T R ATA N

Dupa dealuri

by Cristian Mungiu Romania, France, Belgium 2012

SPOTLIGHT FILM BE YOND TH E H ILL S Dupa dealuri Voichita and Alina grew up together in an orphanage and were family for each other since first grade. At 19, Alina was taken in by a foster family and later went to work in Germany. Voichita found refuge in an Orthodox monastery and became a nun. There she found not only God but the family she’d never had. When they re-unite together over a weekend, Alina strives to get Voichita back in her life. But Voichita is not prepared to abandon her newly found peace. Alina is baffled by her decision and fights with all her strength to get Voichita back. But, God is a difficult lover to fight over – and soon the inhabitants of the monastery start to suspect something evil in the force that drives Alina.

© VLAD BARDU

© O L E G M U T U / M O B R A F I L M S

Director Cristian Mungiu Production Company Mobra Films World Sales Wild Bunch

© O L E G M U T U / M O B R A F I L M S

Rãmâi cu mine

by Constantin Popescu, Mihai Bauman Romania 2013

© O L E G M U T U / M O B R A F I L M S

S H A L L W E K I SS

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

Cosmina Stratan in Cristian Mungui’s “Beyond The Hills”.

42

“COSM I NA RU LES W ITH H ER EM OTIONS. I N BE YOND TH E H ILL S, SH E DEM ONSTR ATES I NCREDI BLE PRECISION IN H ER AC TI NG, W ITH AN EXPERTLY M ODU L ATED PERFORMANCE THAT KEEPS EM OTION REI NED I N BUT R ADIATES A POW ERFU L FEELI NG.” ANDERS BA ASMO CHRISTIANSEN

CONTACT RO M A N I A N FI L M PRO M OT I O N

Raluca Papanicoglu Bucharest, Romania phone +40 213 26 64 80 raluca @ tiff.ro www.romfilmpromotion.ro NOMINATED BY

www.romfilmpromotion.ro L ANGUAG ES

Romanian, English ( Cambridge degree ), German ( Deutsch Zertifikat )

© O L E G M U T U / M O B R A F I L M S

RO M A N I A N FI L M PRO M OT I O N

Cosmina Stratan, Valeriu Andriu a in Cristian Mungui’s “Beyond The Hills”.

FILMOG R APHY

B E YO N D T H E H I L L S RO M A N I A C O S M I N A S T R ATA N

Dupa dealuri

by Cristian Mungiu Romania, France, Belgium 2012

SPOTLIGHT FILM BE YOND TH E H ILL S Dupa dealuri Voichita and Alina grew up together in an orphanage and were family for each other since first grade. At 19, Alina was taken in by a foster family and later went to work in Germany. Voichita found refuge in an Orthodox monastery and became a nun. There she found not only God but the family she’d never had. When they re-unite together over a weekend, Alina strives to get Voichita back in her life. But Voichita is not prepared to abandon her newly found peace. Alina is baffled by her decision and fights with all her strength to get Voichita back. But, God is a difficult lover to fight over – and soon the inhabitants of the monastery start to suspect something evil in the force that drives Alina.

© VLAD BARDU

© O L E G M U T U / M O B R A F I L M S

Director Cristian Mungiu Production Company Mobra Films World Sales Wild Bunch

© O L E G M U T U / M O B R A F I L M S

Rãmâi cu mine

by Constantin Popescu, Mihai Bauman Romania 2013

© O L E G M U T U / M O B R A F I L M S

S H A L L W E K I SS

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

Cosmina Stratan in Cristian Mungui’s “Beyond The Hills”.

“I LEARNED A LOT FROM TH E DI REC TORS I’V E WORKED W ITH. I LEARNED THAT REL ATIONSH IPS ARE M OST I M PORTANT. W ITH TH E DIREC TOR, W ITH YOU R AC TING PEERS, W ITH TH E PEOPLE ON TH E SET.”

When he was a young boy nine years old, the Bosnian War raged, and Nikola’s family lived through it. Nikola remembers it as a very difficult time. Twenty years later, he is starring “Circles”, a film about the war and its devastating effect. For Nikola Rakocevic, making the film was a very personal experience. “I had the feeling that I was involved in the war, but I wasn’t. I was only a kid at that time. Everybody who worked on the film felt the same way – the costume designer, the director of photography, everyone.

We were all emotionally very involved. This created a great potential for making a very good movie.” And that was how it turned out. The film is this year’s Serbian national entry for the Academy Award as Best Foreign Language Film.

As Nikola puts it: “It’s a movie about forgiving, and it was very hard for me”.

SERB I A N I KO L A R A KO C E V I C

Nikola knew he wanted to act early on. “I was in amateur theater. It was there that I learned a lot about acting, movies and the theater. That was where I started to love everything that had to do with acting. After that, I attended the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. While I was there, I did a few short films. One of them was ‘Street Walker’, which was in a lot of international film festivals. I received my first award for that film”.

© P E TA R P O P OV I C

SERBIA NIKOLA R AKOCEVIC

44

Nikola Rakocevic, European Shooting Star, Serbia.

© BAŠ CELIK

“It was in amateur theater where I started to love everything that had to do with acting.”

Nikola Rakocevic in “Circles” by Srdan Golubovic.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

One of his most important acting experiences was in the omnibus film, “October”.

The segment he acted in was written and directed by an up and comer, Milica Tomovic. “I was already an established actor in Serbia, and I got a call to be in this film. But the director said that I had to audition for it! I couldn’t believe it.

But then, I was very surprised by everything. It was one of the best roles I ever had. It was the first time I really felt the power of acting, the power of the moment. You feel so confident, so strong. Everything was right. Maybe it was because I didn’t feel like I had to prove my talents. We only had ten days to shoot, and there was so much energy in the moment”.

Nikola is thankful that he has had the chance to work with some very good directors as well. “I learned a lot from the directors I’ve worked with. I learned that relationships are most important. With the director, with your acting peers, with the people on the set. And, of course, the relationship between your character and the other actors characters. But most importantly, I learned something about my style of acting: not to show too much, just to feel things. I had to cover the emotion. When you cover it, it becomes stronger”.

“I LEARNED A LOT FROM TH E DI REC TORS I’V E WORKED W ITH. I LEARNED THAT REL ATIONSH IPS ARE M OST I M PORTANT. W ITH TH E DIREC TOR, W ITH YOU R AC TING PEERS, W ITH TH E PEOPLE ON TH E SET.”

When he was a young boy nine years old, the Bosnian War raged, and Nikola’s family lived through it. Nikola remembers it as a very difficult time. Twenty years later, he is starring “Circles”, a film about the war and its devastating effect. For Nikola Rakocevic, making the film was a very personal experience. “I had the feeling that I was involved in the war, but I wasn’t. I was only a kid at that time. Everybody who worked on the film felt the same way – the costume designer, the director of photography, everyone.

We were all emotionally very involved. This created a great potential for making a very good movie.” And that was how it turned out. The film is this year’s Serbian national entry for the Academy Award as Best Foreign Language Film.

As Nikola puts it: “It’s a movie about forgiving, and it was very hard for me”.

SERB I A N I KO L A R A KO C E V I C

Nikola knew he wanted to act early on. “I was in amateur theater. It was there that I learned a lot about acting, movies and the theater. That was where I started to love everything that had to do with acting. After that, I attended the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. While I was there, I did a few short films. One of them was ‘Street Walker’, which was in a lot of international film festivals. I received my first award for that film”.

© P E TA R P O P OV I C

SERBIA NIKOLA R AKOCEVIC

44

Nikola Rakocevic, European Shooting Star, Serbia.

© BAŠ CELIK

“It was in amateur theater where I started to love everything that had to do with acting.”

Nikola Rakocevic in “Circles” by Srdan Golubovic.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

One of his most important acting experiences was in the omnibus film, “October”.

The segment he acted in was written and directed by an up and comer, Milica Tomovic. “I was already an established actor in Serbia, and I got a call to be in this film. But the director said that I had to audition for it! I couldn’t believe it.

But then, I was very surprised by everything. It was one of the best roles I ever had. It was the first time I really felt the power of acting, the power of the moment. You feel so confident, so strong. Everything was right. Maybe it was because I didn’t feel like I had to prove my talents. We only had ten days to shoot, and there was so much energy in the moment”.

Nikola is thankful that he has had the chance to work with some very good directors as well. “I learned a lot from the directors I’ve worked with. I learned that relationships are most important. With the director, with your acting peers, with the people on the set. And, of course, the relationship between your character and the other actors characters. But most importantly, I learned something about my style of acting: not to show too much, just to feel things. I had to cover the emotion. When you cover it, it becomes stronger”.

46

SPOTLIGHT FILM CIRCLES

© FI L M D ELU X I N T ER N AT I O N A L

Krugovi

“TH E YOU NGEST OF FIV E LEAD AC TORS I N ENSEM BLE PIECE CIRCLES, NIKOL A REGISTERS STRONGLY WITH AN EXCEPTIONALLY V IV ID PERFORMANCE. OVER ALL WE RECOGNISE A VERSATILE STEALTH W EAPON W ITH GREAT C A STING POTENTIAL.”

Director Srdan Golubovi Production Company Baš Celik World Sales Memento Films International

DA S I M PER I U M M A N AG EM EN T G M B H

Georg Georgi Berlin, Germany phone +49 30 28 87 95 20 georg @ dasimperium.com www.dasimperium.com NOMINATED BY FI L M CEN T ER S ER B I A

www.fcs.rs L ANGUAGES

Serbian, English

FILMOGR APHY T R AV EL ATO R

by Dusan Milic Serbia 2014 CI RCL ES

Krugovi

by Srdan Golubovic Serbia, Germany, France, Slovenia, Croatia 2013

© BAŠ CELIK

SERB I A N I KO L A R A KO C E V I C

Nikola Rakocevic in “ Travelator” by Dusan Milic.

Marco, a Serbian soldier on leave during the war, returns to his Bosnian hometown. When three fellow soldiers accost Haris, a Muslim shopkeeper, Marco intervenes, but it costs him his life. Twelve years later the war is over, but the wounds remain open. Marco’s father is rebuilding a church when Bogdan, the son of one of Marco’s killers, appears looking for work. Meanwhile in Belgrade, Marco’s friend Nabobs, a renowned surgeon, debates whether or not to operate on another of Marco’s killers.

And in Germany, Haris – now married with a family – strives to repay his debt when Marco’s widow arrives seeking refuge.

CONTACT

T RO L L I N G

S / Kidanje

by Kosta Djordjevic Serbia 2013 O C TO B ER

Oktobar

by Milica Tomovic and others Serbia 2011

HERMINE HU NTG EBU RTH

T H E WO M A N W I T H A B RO K EN N OS E

Zena sa slomljenim nosem

by Srdjan Koljevic Serbia, Germany 2010 SKINNING

© BAŠ CELIK

Sisanje

by Stevan Filipovic Serbia 2010

Nikola Rakocevic in “Circles” by Srdan Golubovic.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

46

SPOTLIGHT FILM CIRCLES

© FI L M D ELU X I N T ER N AT I O N A L

Krugovi

“TH E YOU NGEST OF FIV E LEAD AC TORS I N ENSEM BLE PIECE CIRCLES, NIKOL A REGISTERS STRONGLY WITH AN EXCEPTIONALLY V IV ID PERFORMANCE. OVER ALL WE RECOGNISE A VERSATILE STEALTH W EAPON W ITH GREAT C A STING POTENTIAL.”

Director Srdan Golubovi Production Company Baš Celik World Sales Memento Films International

DA S I M PER I U M M A N AG EM EN T G M B H

Georg Georgi Berlin, Germany phone +49 30 28 87 95 20 georg @ dasimperium.com www.dasimperium.com NOMINATED BY FI L M CEN T ER S ER B I A

www.fcs.rs L ANGUAGES

Serbian, English

FILMOGR APHY T R AV EL ATO R

by Dusan Milic Serbia 2014 CI RCL ES

Krugovi

by Srdan Golubovic Serbia, Germany, France, Slovenia, Croatia 2013

© BAŠ CELIK

SERB I A N I KO L A R A KO C E V I C

Nikola Rakocevic in “ Travelator” by Dusan Milic.

Marco, a Serbian soldier on leave during the war, returns to his Bosnian hometown. When three fellow soldiers accost Haris, a Muslim shopkeeper, Marco intervenes, but it costs him his life. Twelve years later the war is over, but the wounds remain open. Marco’s father is rebuilding a church when Bogdan, the son of one of Marco’s killers, appears looking for work. Meanwhile in Belgrade, Marco’s friend Nabobs, a renowned surgeon, debates whether or not to operate on another of Marco’s killers.

And in Germany, Haris – now married with a family – strives to repay his debt when Marco’s widow arrives seeking refuge.

CONTACT

T RO L L I N G

S / Kidanje

by Kosta Djordjevic Serbia 2013 O C TO B ER

Oktobar

by Milica Tomovic and others Serbia 2011

HERMINE HU NTG EBU RTH

T H E WO M A N W I T H A B RO K EN N OS E

Zena sa slomljenim nosem

by Srdjan Koljevic Serbia, Germany 2010 SKINNING

© BAŠ CELIK

Sisanje

by Stevan Filipovic Serbia 2010

Nikola Rakocevic in “Circles” by Srdan Golubovic.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

SWEDEN EDDA MAGNASON

48

Edda Magnason’s inspirations stem from her life as a musician and singer. From Björk to Michael Jackson, from Joni Mitchell to “the entire jazz world” – all have helped shape her talents. Her music career advanced quickly, writing songs as a teen and performing them. She has released two albums, both critically acclaimed, and been called a “music personality of great stature – intuitive, intelligent and poetic” ( Svenska Dagbladet ).

With two albums under her belt, and with a name well known in Scandinavia, she seemed a natural for the main role of legendary Swedish jazz singer Monica Zetterlund in the film “Waltz For Monica”. But it was all not that easy… As Edda explains, “I had a gig in a theater in Stockholm. A friend in the film crew saw me perform, and thought I would be right for the part of Monica Z. I was invited to a casting, which for me – although I had no acting training or experience – was very exciting. There were a lot of call-backs, and I took each one of them as an opportunity to progress as an actor. It took almost a year, but finally I was cast in the part”.

Although new to acting, she was not new to the stage. And her experience as a singer and performer put

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

her at ease in front of the camera. According to Edda: “It was more intuitive at the beginning. Then little by little it became more and more like a school. The director gave a lot of space to the actors. He gave us a frame to work in and then allowed us a lot of freedom to improvise. It was both creative and fun. Acting for me was almost like falling in love – a journey from beginning to end”. And like any true love affair, it was also a challenge for Edda. She said “It was like jumping off a rock from the start. Every day there were bigger and smaller challenges. I got used to those challenges – you just jump into it”.

Well within her comfort zone was, perhaps, the side of her character as a singer. “I studied her voice, and I tried to get as close as possible. But I didn’t want to just copy it. I wanted to make something more authentic, real… more organic.”

Edda made her theater debut last year as well, with the Malmo Opera, in “The Feeling Of Going”, and is coming out with a new album in April.

© CARL THORBORG

SW ED EN E D DA M AG N A S O N

“TH E DIREC TOR GAV E US A FR AM E TO WORK I N AND TH EN ALLOW ED US A LOT OF FREEDOM TO IM PROV ISE. AC TI NG FOR M E WA S ALM OST LI KE FALLING IN LOV E – A JOU RNEY FROM BEGI NNI NG TO END.”

Edda Magnason, European Shooting Star, Sweden.

SWEDEN EDDA MAGNASON

48

Edda Magnason’s inspirations stem from her life as a musician and singer. From Björk to Michael Jackson, from Joni Mitchell to “the entire jazz world” – all have helped shape her talents. Her music career advanced quickly, writing songs as a teen and performing them. She has released two albums, both critically acclaimed, and been called a “music personality of great stature – intuitive, intelligent and poetic” ( Svenska Dagbladet ).

With two albums under her belt, and with a name well known in Scandinavia, she seemed a natural for the main role of legendary Swedish jazz singer Monica Zetterlund in the film “Waltz For Monica”. But it was all not that easy… As Edda explains, “I had a gig in a theater in Stockholm. A friend in the film crew saw me perform, and thought I would be right for the part of Monica Z. I was invited to a casting, which for me – although I had no acting training or experience – was very exciting. There were a lot of call-backs, and I took each one of them as an opportunity to progress as an actor. It took almost a year, but finally I was cast in the part”.

Although new to acting, she was not new to the stage. And her experience as a singer and performer put

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

her at ease in front of the camera. According to Edda: “It was more intuitive at the beginning. Then little by little it became more and more like a school. The director gave a lot of space to the actors. He gave us a frame to work in and then allowed us a lot of freedom to improvise. It was both creative and fun. Acting for me was almost like falling in love – a journey from beginning to end”. And like any true love affair, it was also a challenge for Edda. She said “It was like jumping off a rock from the start. Every day there were bigger and smaller challenges. I got used to those challenges – you just jump into it”.

Well within her comfort zone was, perhaps, the side of her character as a singer. “I studied her voice, and I tried to get as close as possible. But I didn’t want to just copy it. I wanted to make something more authentic, real… more organic.”

Edda made her theater debut last year as well, with the Malmo Opera, in “The Feeling Of Going”, and is coming out with a new album in April.

© CARL THORBORG

SW ED EN E D DA M AG N A S O N

“TH E DIREC TOR GAV E US A FR AM E TO WORK I N AND TH EN ALLOW ED US A LOT OF FREEDOM TO IM PROV ISE. AC TI NG FOR M E WA S ALM OST LI KE FALLING IN LOV E – A JOU RNEY FROM BEGI NNI NG TO END.”

Edda Magnason, European Shooting Star, Sweden.

50

Congratulations for Edda Magnason who just won Best Actress at this years Swedish Guldbagge Awards for her role as Monica Zetterlund in “ Waltz for Monica”.

SPOTLIGHT FILM WALT Z FOR M ONI C A

CONTACT S W ED I S H A RT I S TS AG EN C Y

Monica Z Monica, a young, rebellious small town girl is determined to make it as a singer in the vibrant jazz clubs of Stockholm, and even New York City, in the sixties. Beautiful and sensual, she embarks on the singing career of her dreams, and an exquisite singer and actress evolves in the golden era of jazz. But behind all the glamour, Monica struggles to face the dark side of fame and success. As late nights of working and partying keep playing a bigger part in her life, the walls around her begin to shake. With a string of broken love affairs, a father she can never please, and a daughter to whom she’ll never be the perfect mother, Monica finds herself feeling more lost than ever. And when the morning breaks, she’s alone, with a cocktail in her hand. Is this a road with no turning back?

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

© CARL THORBORG

© CARL THORBORG

© CARL THORBORG

SW ED EN E D DA M AG N A S O N

JANI THILTG ES

Edda Magnason as Monica Zetterlund in “ Waltz for Monica”.

NOMINATED BY S W ED I S H FI L M I N S T I T U T E

www.sfi.se L ANGUAGES

Swedish, English

FILMOGR APHY WA LT Z F O R M O N I C A

Monica Z

by Per Fly Sweden 2013

Director Per Fly Production Company StellaNova Film World Sales Svensk Filmindustri AB

“I N WA LT Z FO R M O N I C A, ED DA O FFER S A N EXCITI NG DEBUT PERFORMANCE, C ARRYI NG TH E FI L M A N D O U R AT T EN T I O N I N E V ERY S CEN E. SH E CONV INCED US OF H ER TALENT W H ILE PL AYING A TREA SU RED SW EDISH ICON, SH OWC A SING H ER FI NE SI NGI NG VOICE.”

Peter Jansson Stockholm, Sweden phone +46 8 651 05 00 peter @ artistgruppen.se www.artistgruppen.se

50

Congratulations for Edda Magnason who just won Best Actress at this years Swedish Guldbagge Awards for her role as Monica Zetterlund in “ Waltz for Monica”.

SPOTLIGHT FILM WALT Z FOR M ONI C A

CONTACT S W ED I S H A RT I S TS AG EN C Y

Monica Z Monica, a young, rebellious small town girl is determined to make it as a singer in the vibrant jazz clubs of Stockholm, and even New York City, in the sixties. Beautiful and sensual, she embarks on the singing career of her dreams, and an exquisite singer and actress evolves in the golden era of jazz. But behind all the glamour, Monica struggles to face the dark side of fame and success. As late nights of working and partying keep playing a bigger part in her life, the walls around her begin to shake. With a string of broken love affairs, a father she can never please, and a daughter to whom she’ll never be the perfect mother, Monica finds herself feeling more lost than ever. And when the morning breaks, she’s alone, with a cocktail in her hand. Is this a road with no turning back?

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

© CARL THORBORG

© CARL THORBORG

© CARL THORBORG

SW ED EN E D DA M AG N A S O N

JANI THILTG ES

Edda Magnason as Monica Zetterlund in “ Waltz for Monica”.

NOMINATED BY S W ED I S H FI L M I N S T I T U T E

www.sfi.se L ANGUAGES

Swedish, English

FILMOGR APHY WA LT Z F O R M O N I C A

Monica Z

by Per Fly Sweden 2013

Director Per Fly Production Company StellaNova Film World Sales Svensk Filmindustri AB

“I N WA LT Z FO R M O N I C A, ED DA O FFER S A N EXCITI NG DEBUT PERFORMANCE, C ARRYI NG TH E FI L M A N D O U R AT T EN T I O N I N E V ERY S CEN E. SH E CONV INCED US OF H ER TALENT W H ILE PL AYING A TREA SU RED SW EDISH ICON, SH OWC A SING H ER FI NE SI NGI NG VOICE.”

Peter Jansson Stockholm, Sweden phone +46 8 651 05 00 peter @ artistgruppen.se www.artistgruppen.se

52

UNITED KINGDOM GEORGE MACK AY “I’V E LEARNED A LOT ABOUT BEI NG I NVOLV ED, AND TH E RIGHT TO HAV E AN OPINION – A S LONG A S IT D OESN’T COM E FROM AN ARRO GANT PL ACE.”

Not one to sit on his laurels, George MacKay made his theatre debut in Ian McEwan’s “The Cement Garden” in early 2014. Not on the stage of a prestigious London theatre, but in the labyrinth tunnels beneath London’s Waterloo, as part of the second incarnation of the unique and critically acclaimed Vault Festival.

Following a stellar year in 2013, where he has had four critically acclaimed feature films released since October, been nominated for BAFTA’s 2014 EE Rising Star Award as well as Young British Performer of the Year by the London Critics’ Circle, this is just another step for George in working his craft and expanding his horizons.

“I recently worked with Duane Hopkins on an upcoming project, ‘Bypass’. We had a close relationship and I felt so involved in the project. I’ve learned a lot about being involved, and the right to have an opinion – as long as it doesn’t come from an arrogant place”. Also slated for 2014 is “Pride”, directed by Matthew Warchus, which tells the emotionally charged story of gay activists who helped striking mine workers while the Thatcher government was in power.

With all that is going on in George’s life right now, he knows he wants to continue to work with the rising talents of the British film industry, and he definitely wants to keep the challenges coming.

“I want the challenge of expressing myself in as many ways as possible.”

© ALISA CONNAN/CAMER A PRESS

It was on “Private Peaceful” in 2012, where George had his first lead role, that he knew definitively that acting was his passion and his future, and he wasted no time in getting to work. He shot film after film, working with both experienced British directors, such as Kevin Macdonald and up and comers like Dexter Fletcher and Paul Wright ( who directed “For Those In Peril”, which won George the Scottish BAFTA Award as Best Actor ) .

“It became about wanting to study the craft. I met Eddie Marsan, one of the most brilliant actors I’ve ever known.

He was so knowledgeable about his craft. And that was a true inspiration for me”.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

George MacKay, European Shooting Star, United Kingdom.

Challenges also motivate George. “What attracted me to ‘Sunshine On Leith’ is that I had never done a musical before. We were all a bit terrified as we started out, as you are confined to a pre- determined rhythm, and need to figure out how to navigate that. We were way out of our comfort zones. But I want the challenge of expressing myself in as many ways as possible.”

© A G A T H A A . N I T E C K A / B R I T I S H F I L M I N S T I T U T E / CHANNEL FOUR TELEVISION

U N IT ED KI N G D O M G E O R G E M A C K AY

When asked how this journey began, George replies modestly, “It was all luck”. He was cast in a film adaptation of Peter Pan, directed by PJ Hogan, when he was ten years old. “We were a group of kids – 10, 14 years old – dropped in Australia on a make-believe pirate ship, with painted faces. What could be better!” Although he eventually auditioned for drama school, he didn’t get in – a development he took in stride. As he put it: “Three years is a long time not to be working”.

George MacKay in “How I Live Now”.

52

UNITED KINGDOM GEORGE MACK AY “I’V E LEARNED A LOT ABOUT BEI NG I NVOLV ED, AND TH E RIGHT TO HAV E AN OPINION – A S LONG A S IT D OESN’T COM E FROM AN ARRO GANT PL ACE.”

Not one to sit on his laurels, George MacKay made his theatre debut in Ian McEwan’s “The Cement Garden” in early 2014. Not on the stage of a prestigious London theatre, but in the labyrinth tunnels beneath London’s Waterloo, as part of the second incarnation of the unique and critically acclaimed Vault Festival.

Following a stellar year in 2013, where he has had four critically acclaimed feature films released since October, been nominated for BAFTA’s 2014 EE Rising Star Award as well as Young British Performer of the Year by the London Critics’ Circle, this is just another step for George in working his craft and expanding his horizons.

“I recently worked with Duane Hopkins on an upcoming project, ‘Bypass’. We had a close relationship and I felt so involved in the project. I’ve learned a lot about being involved, and the right to have an opinion – as long as it doesn’t come from an arrogant place”. Also slated for 2014 is “Pride”, directed by Matthew Warchus, which tells the emotionally charged story of gay activists who helped striking mine workers while the Thatcher government was in power.

With all that is going on in George’s life right now, he knows he wants to continue to work with the rising talents of the British film industry, and he definitely wants to keep the challenges coming.

“I want the challenge of expressing myself in as many ways as possible.”

© ALISA CONNAN/CAMER A PRESS

It was on “Private Peaceful” in 2012, where George had his first lead role, that he knew definitively that acting was his passion and his future, and he wasted no time in getting to work. He shot film after film, working with both experienced British directors, such as Kevin Macdonald and up and comers like Dexter Fletcher and Paul Wright ( who directed “For Those In Peril”, which won George the Scottish BAFTA Award as Best Actor ) .

“It became about wanting to study the craft. I met Eddie Marsan, one of the most brilliant actors I’ve ever known.

He was so knowledgeable about his craft. And that was a true inspiration for me”.

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

George MacKay, European Shooting Star, United Kingdom.

Challenges also motivate George. “What attracted me to ‘Sunshine On Leith’ is that I had never done a musical before. We were all a bit terrified as we started out, as you are confined to a pre- determined rhythm, and need to figure out how to navigate that. We were way out of our comfort zones. But I want the challenge of expressing myself in as many ways as possible.”

© A G A T H A A . N I T E C K A / B R I T I S H F I L M I N S T I T U T E / CHANNEL FOUR TELEVISION

U N IT ED KI N G D O M G E O R G E M A C K AY

When asked how this journey began, George replies modestly, “It was all luck”. He was cast in a film adaptation of Peter Pan, directed by PJ Hogan, when he was ten years old. “We were a group of kids – 10, 14 years old – dropped in Australia on a make-believe pirate ship, with painted faces. What could be better!” Although he eventually auditioned for drama school, he didn’t get in – a development he took in stride. As he put it: “Three years is a long time not to be working”.

George MacKay in “How I Live Now”.

54

CONTACT G O R D O N & FR EN CH

© A G A T H A A . N I T E C K A / B R I T I S H F I L M I N S T I T U T E / CANNEL FOUR TELEVISION

Donna French London, United Kingdom phone +44 20 77 34 48 18 mail @ gordonandfrench.net www.gordonandfrench.net NOMINATED BY B R I T I S H CO U N CI L

SPOTLIGHT FILM FOR TH OSE IN PERIL Aaron, a young misfit living in a remote Scottish fishing community, is the lone survivor of a strange fishing accident that claimed the lives of five men including his older brother. Spurred on by seagoing folklore and local superstition, the village blames Aaron for this tragedy, making him an outcast amongst his own people. Steadfastly refusing to believe that his brother has died, he sets out to recover him and the rest of men.

Director Paul Wright Production Company Warp X Films Ltd. World Sales Protagonist Pictures

www.britishcouncil.org / film L ANGUAG ES

English

FILMOG R APHY © A G A T H A A . N I T E C K A / B R I T I S H F I L M I N S T I T U T E / CANNEL FOUR TELEVISION

PR I D E

by Matthew Warchus United Kingdom 2014

BY PA SS

by Duane Hopkins United Kingdom 2014 SU N S H I N E O N L EI T H

by Dexter Fletcher United Kingdom 2013 F O R T H OS E I N PER I L

by Paul Wright United Kingdom 2013

© A G A T H A A . N I T E C K A / W A R P X

U N IT ED KI N G D O M G E O R G E M A C K AY

George MacKay in “How I Live Now”.

H OW I L I V E N OW

ORIANA KU N I EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

B R E A K FA S T W I T H JOHNNY WILKINSON

by Simon Sprackling United Kingdom 2013

© A G A T H A A . N I T E C K A / W A R P X

“TH E R ANGE OF GEORGE’S WORK IS REMARK ABLE: IN TH E PA ST YEAR H E IM PRESSED A S A FORM ER SOLDIER IN MUSIC AL SU NSH INE ON LEITH; A S TH E ROMANTIC MALE LEAD OF DYSTOPIAN TEEN DR AMA H OW I LIV E NOW; AND TH E EM OTIONALLY R AW PROTAGONIST OF FOR TH OSE IN PERIL.”

by Kevin MacDonald United Kingdom 2013

George MacKay in “For Those In Peril”.

54

CONTACT G O R D O N & FR EN CH

© A G A T H A A . N I T E C K A / B R I T I S H F I L M I N S T I T U T E / CANNEL FOUR TELEVISION

Donna French London, United Kingdom phone +44 20 77 34 48 18 mail @ gordonandfrench.net www.gordonandfrench.net NOMINATED BY B R I T I S H CO U N CI L

SPOTLIGHT FILM FOR TH OSE IN PERIL Aaron, a young misfit living in a remote Scottish fishing community, is the lone survivor of a strange fishing accident that claimed the lives of five men including his older brother. Spurred on by seagoing folklore and local superstition, the village blames Aaron for this tragedy, making him an outcast amongst his own people. Steadfastly refusing to believe that his brother has died, he sets out to recover him and the rest of men.

Director Paul Wright Production Company Warp X Films Ltd. World Sales Protagonist Pictures

www.britishcouncil.org / film L ANGUAG ES

English

FILMOG R APHY © A G A T H A A . N I T E C K A / B R I T I S H F I L M I N S T I T U T E / CANNEL FOUR TELEVISION

PR I D E

by Matthew Warchus United Kingdom 2014

BY PA SS

by Duane Hopkins United Kingdom 2014 SU N S H I N E O N L EI T H

by Dexter Fletcher United Kingdom 2013 F O R T H OS E I N PER I L

by Paul Wright United Kingdom 2013

© A G A T H A A . N I T E C K A / W A R P X

U N IT ED KI N G D O M G E O R G E M A C K AY

George MacKay in “How I Live Now”.

H OW I L I V E N OW

ORIANA KU N I EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

B R E A K FA S T W I T H JOHNNY WILKINSON

by Simon Sprackling United Kingdom 2013

© A G A T H A A . N I T E C K A / W A R P X

“TH E R ANGE OF GEORGE’S WORK IS REMARK ABLE: IN TH E PA ST YEAR H E IM PRESSED A S A FORM ER SOLDIER IN MUSIC AL SU NSH INE ON LEITH; A S TH E ROMANTIC MALE LEAD OF DYSTOPIAN TEEN DR AMA H OW I LIV E NOW; AND TH E EM OTIONALLY R AW PROTAGONIST OF FOR TH OSE IN PERIL.”

by Kevin MacDonald United Kingdom 2013

George MacKay in “For Those In Peril”.

56

EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS WOULD LIKE TO THANK

MEDIENBOARD BERLIN-BRANDENBURG GERMANY

EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS IN FILMS FUNDED BY MEDIENBOARD MAIN PARTNER

CO - PARTNER

EU RO PE A N SH O OTI N G STA RS W O U L D L I K E TO T H A N K

THIRD PARTNERS

EVENT PARTNER

medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH

SPECIAL THANKS TO

MAIN MEDIA PARTNER

MEDIA PARTNERS

THE PARTICIPATING EFP MEMBER ORGANISATIONS

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

2009 David Kross in THE READER

by Stephen Daldry 2010 Zrinka Cviteši´c in ON THE PATH

by Jasmila Žbani´c 2011 Alexander Fehling in GOETHE!

by Philipp Stölzl 2012 Anna Maria Mühe in BIS ZUM HORIZONT, DANN LINKS!

by Bernd Böhlich 2013 Carla Juri in WETLANDS

by David Wnendt

WE EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS! 2014 Maria Dragus in THE WHITE RIBBON by Michael Haneke 2014 Nikola Rakocevic in CIRCLES by Srdan Golubovic

56

EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS WOULD LIKE TO THANK

MEDIENBOARD BERLIN-BRANDENBURG GERMANY

EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS IN FILMS FUNDED BY MEDIENBOARD MAIN PARTNER

CO - PARTNER

EU RO PE A N SH O OTI N G STA RS W O U L D L I K E TO T H A N K

THIRD PARTNERS

EVENT PARTNER

medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH

SPECIAL THANKS TO

MAIN MEDIA PARTNER

MEDIA PARTNERS

THE PARTICIPATING EFP MEMBER ORGANISATIONS

EU RO PE A N SHOOTING STARS 2014

2009 David Kross in THE READER

by Stephen Daldry 2010 Zrinka Cviteši´c in ON THE PATH

by Jasmila Žbani´c 2011 Alexander Fehling in GOETHE!

by Philipp Stölzl 2012 Anna Maria Mühe in BIS ZUM HORIZONT, DANN LINKS!

by Bernd Böhlich 2013 Carla Juri in WETLANDS

by David Wnendt

WE EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS! 2014 Maria Dragus in THE WHITE RIBBON by Michael Haneke 2014 Nikola Rakocevic in CIRCLES by Srdan Golubovic

EUROPEAN FILM PROMOTION

Headlights on.

I NITIATIV ES I N SU PPORT OF TH E EU ROPEAN I NDUSTRY

Audi – Partner of the Berlinale.

Founded in 1997 by ten members as a nonprofit organisation, EFP has since grown into a leading international promotion organisation with a membership of 35 organisations representing 34 countries in Europe – from Portugal in the West to Georgia in the East. While promoting European cinema with joint initiatives under the EFP umbrella, the organization fully respects the culturally rich and unique nature of each of its member’s own cinema heritage. EFP represents the diverse interests of its members through a variety of projects which are taking place under the EFP banner, at different festivals and markets around the globe. EFP ’s reliance on the national expertise and know-how of the member institutes has been at the core of the organizational goals since it’s inception, and has been essential to EFP ’s ability to achieve sustainable success through a long - term approach to bringing European cinema to audiences around the world.

EFP thus represents a true network of industry professionals whose goals are threefold: to increase the circulation and exploitation of European films in Europe and internationally: to establish networking opportunities for European filmmakers; and to support up-and- coming talent. The organisation, which is highly tuned to market realities, is able to effectively adjust to rapid changes that occur within the film industry as well as to the evolving and challenging world of new technology. Over the past 17 years, EFP ’s strategies, activities and events have grown to span a broad spectrum and include artistic and business- oriented platforms which support the goals of the organization on an international level.

EFP has been financially supported by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union ( 2007 to 2013 ) and by its member organisations. The Hamburg-based office is backed by the German Minister of State for Culture and the Media, the Ministry of Culture of the City of Hamburg and the Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein. In addition, EFP ’s promotion and PR activities are supported by the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image animée (CNC ).

W W W. EFP- ONLINE . COM

WITH THE SUPPORT OF

EFP IS SUPPORTED BY

THE EFP NET WORK

59

EUROPEAN FILM PROMOTION

Headlights on.

I NITIATIV ES I N SU PPORT OF TH E EU ROPEAN I NDUSTRY

Audi – Partner of the Berlinale.

Founded in 1997 by ten members as a nonprofit organisation, EFP has since grown into a leading international promotion organisation with a membership of 35 organisations representing 34 countries in Europe – from Portugal in the West to Georgia in the East. While promoting European cinema with joint initiatives under the EFP umbrella, the organization fully respects the culturally rich and unique nature of each of its member’s own cinema heritage. EFP represents the diverse interests of its members through a variety of projects which are taking place under the EFP banner, at different festivals and markets around the globe. EFP ’s reliance on the national expertise and know-how of the member institutes has been at the core of the organizational goals since it’s inception, and has been essential to EFP ’s ability to achieve sustainable success through a long - term approach to bringing European cinema to audiences around the world.

EFP thus represents a true network of industry professionals whose goals are threefold: to increase the circulation and exploitation of European films in Europe and internationally: to establish networking opportunities for European filmmakers; and to support up-and- coming talent. The organisation, which is highly tuned to market realities, is able to effectively adjust to rapid changes that occur within the film industry as well as to the evolving and challenging world of new technology. Over the past 17 years, EFP ’s strategies, activities and events have grown to span a broad spectrum and include artistic and business- oriented platforms which support the goals of the organization on an international level.

EFP has been financially supported by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union ( 2007 to 2013 ) and by its member organisations. The Hamburg-based office is backed by the German Minister of State for Culture and the Media, the Ministry of Culture of the City of Hamburg and the Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein. In addition, EFP ’s promotion and PR activities are supported by the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image animée (CNC ).

W W W. EFP- ONLINE . COM

WITH THE SUPPORT OF

EFP IS SUPPORTED BY

THE EFP NET WORK

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DENMARK DANI C A CU RCI C GERMANY MARIA DR AGUS ITALY M IRIAM K ARLK V IST THE NETHERL ANDS MARWAN KENZ ARI NORWAY JAKOB OFTEBRO POL AND MATEUSZ KO SCIU KIE W I C Z ROMANIA COSM INA STR ATAN SERBIA NIKOL A R AKO CE V I C SWEDEN EDDA MAGNA SON UNITED KINGDOM GEORGE MACK AY

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