The Film Verdict: Berlinale & EFM Review Daily Day 2

Berlinale & EFM Review Daily

BERLINALE & EFM REVIEW DAILY

SPECIAL GALA SHE CAME TO ME

VERDICT: Opening the Berlin film festival, Rebecca Miller's quirky New York rom-com creaks and stumbles in places, but is saved by its fine cast and off-beat charm.

Stephen Dalton, February 16, 2023

A safely middlebrow choice of opening film for the Berlinale’s first fully post-Covid edition since 2020, She Came to Me is an oldfashioned rom-com at heart. Mapping the intersecting love lives of a group of neurotics, eccentrics and New York City bohemians, writer-director Rebecca Miller’s seventh feature feels creaky and over-familiar in places, but a fine ensemble cast

and endearingly goofy plot deliver just enough crowd-pleasing charm to keep it afloat. Reportedly still just enough crowd-pleasing charm to keep it afloat. Reportedly still looking for North American sales deals in Berlin, it may prove too quirky and personal for big studio players, but smaller outlets and streaming services should take an interest. Full Review

VERDICT: Iranian director Sepideh Farsi opens a revelatory and very chilling window on a city under siege by a foreign power in her powerful, animated comingof-ager, ‘The Siren’.

Deborah Young, February 16, 2023

A plucky 14-year-old boy on the cusp of manhood takes the audience on a frightening trip back to Iran in the 1980’s, when his native city of Abadan, the country’s’s largest port city, falls under attack in the long war of attrition with Iraq. It was a war in which some 1.5 million lives were lost, most of them civilians. Taking full advantage of animation and its ability to recreate explosions, missiles and warfare as well as dramatic scenes of masses, filmmaker Sepideh Farsi chooses a classic storytelling Full Review

CEO VINCENZO MOSCA REFLECTS ON THE INDUSTRY

A place for State, Changes, Digital and TVCO

major productions and to have contributed to their success. I look forward to continuing to work in this dynamic industry and to making a positive impact through my current role as CEO of TVCO.

TFV: With such a deep career in the Italian film and television business since 1986, you have been part of the State Run media (RAI & SACIS) to the private sector; do you believe that there continues to be a role in State run media conglomerates that compete with the private sector, especially in Film?

TFV: Thank you for taking the time to meet with The Film Verdict. You have a unique view of the Italian film industry, having begun your career in 1986 and spending ten years at SACIS as head of TV and Film sales, after which you moved to Head of Internationals Sales for RAITRADE. In 2000 you moved to the private commercial sector, Grupo Europroducciones in Spain, 2003 Director of SIRIO VIDE, LUX Vide as Head of Business Affairs/Coproductions and Sales, and now you are CEO and founder of TVCO and President of ADECI. Along the way, you have been involved in several major productions – Have I missed anything so far?

VM: Thank you for the comprehensive overview of my career and the recognition of my unique perspective on the Italian film industry. Yes, you have captured my professional journey quite accurately. I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in various aspects of the film industry, from sales to business affairs, and from international co-productions to the private commercial sector. Each step of my career has added valuable knowledge and experience and has allowed me to understand the intricacies of the film industry from different angles. I am proud of my accomplishments, but also humble to have been a part of several

VM: I do believe that there is a role for state-run media in the film industry. While the private sector is focused on maximizing profits, state-run media has a different mandate and can play a crucial role in supporting and promoting local content and talent. However, it is important to strike a balance between the role of state-run media and the private sector. In my experience, a healthy balance between state-run media and the private sector can lead to a thriving film industry that produces a diverse range of highquality content. By working together, the two can complement each other and create a positive environment for the industry as a whole.

TFV: You have been in film and television sales your entire career; what have been the major changes you’ve seen selling films internationally than when you first began your career?

Full Interview

The Film Verdict met with CEO Vincenzo Mosca as he traveled to Berlin’s European Film Market, for insight of his experience as an international veteran of film and television.

SCREENING GUIDE

Acquisition begins with a TFV Review

Friday, 7 February Select Screenings

Twice Colonized

Saturday, 8 February Select Screenings

A Bunch of Amateurs

VERDICT: Danish documentary filmmaker Lin Alluna’s feature-length debut veers away from the political to reveal the internal conflicts tearing at the Greenland-born, Denmark-educated and Canadabased Inuit civil rights activist Aaju Peter.

12:10 CinemaxX 13

Autlook Filmsales

Apolonia, Apolonia

VERDICT: A multi-layered, intensely personal exploration of what’s at stake in an artistic life, through a sprawling portrait of French painter Apolonia Sokol.

VERDICT: In her prize-winning documentary, director Kim Hopkins finds hope, humour and heartwarming humanity at a struggling amateur filmmaking club in northern England.

09:00 CinemaxX 14

MetFilm Sales

The Echo (The Match Factory)

11:05 | CinemaxX 11

The Circle (True Colours)

11:20 CinemaxX 8

Donna (Wide)

14:00 CinemaxX 18

The Chapel (Picture Tree International)

14:50 CinemaxX 12

CAT& Docs

14:40 | CinemaxX 8 For Complete Screening Guide, click here

SCREENING GUIDE

Acquisition begins with a TFV Review

Saturday, 8 February Select Screenings

Mamacruz

VERDICT: Kiti Manver plays a religious grandmother who accidentally discovers online porn, igniting a comedy that empow- ers older women while poking fun at Spain’s dwindling Catholic faithful.

11:50 Arsenal Cinema 2 Filmax

Playland

VERDICT: The ghosts of Playland Cafe, Boston’s oldest gay bar pre-demolition, return in this heartfelt, multi-layered tribute to marginalised history,DIY spirit and queer performance.

15:40 Virtual Cinema 14 alief

June Zero (Films Boutique)

16:00 CinemaxX 17

Hanging Gardens (True Colours)

16:30 | CinemaxX 10

Operation Napoleon (Beta Cinema)

15:50 Virtual Cinema 1

Ice Maiden (Odin’s Eye Entertainment & Animation)

19:15 CimemaxX 13

Give Me Pity (alief)

19:30 Arsenal Cinema 2

Ajoomma

VERDICT: The ghosts of Playland Cafe, Boston’s oldest gay bar pre-demolition, return in this heartfelt, multi-layered tribute to marginalised history,DIY spirit and queer performance.

17:50 CinemaxX

17 Rediance

Dok Leipzig Introduces New Awards

• Silver Dove for a feature-length documentary film by an up-andcoming director

• Silver Dove for a short documentary film by an up-andcoming director

International Competition

Animated Film

(three-member jury)

• Golden Dove for a feature-length animated film

DOK Leipzig is introducing a new award for feature-length animated films for the 66th edition of the festival this fall. In doing so, festival director Christoph Terhechte is fulfilling his intention of giving greater prominence to feature-length animated films at the festival.

“Every year we’ve been seeing feature-length animated films of very high artistic quality. In recent years, these animated films have been competing alongside documentaries for the Golden and Silver Doves. We now intend to change that and award a Golden Dove for a feature-length international documentary as well as a separate one for a featurelength animated film – as we’ve been doing with the short films,” explains Christoph Terhechte.

In adding the Golden Dove for a feature-length animated film, DOK Leipzig is also revamping the entire framework of its competitions.

International Competition

Documentary Film:

(five-member jury)

• Golden Dove for a feature-length documentary film

• Golden Dove for a short documentary film

• Golden Dove for a short animated film

German Competition

Documentary Film

(Three-member jury)

• Golden Dove for a feature-length documentary film

• Golden Dove for a short documentary film

Audience Competition: (5 local film enthusiasts jury)

• Golden Dove for a feature-length documentary or animated film

DOK Leipzig takes place Oct 8 - 15

Sheffield Docfest Announces 2023 Programme Team

Marie Russo as Industry Consultant for the 2023 Edition. Reekers returns to Sheffield DocFest to oversee the Marketplace activity, including the MeetMarket (entries close 17 February and Alternate Realities Talent Market, for the second year running. She will deliver a range of initiatives taking place during the festival for delegates of all experience-levels who are interested in making industry connections and gaining industry knowledge. She will also oversee live pitches and bespoke sessions for international delegations. Reekers has worked as an Industry Program Consultant for organizations such as IDFA, EFM, The Gotham and Black Film Space. In 2022, she created the Fiction Toolbox program for the EFM Market, and was the Head of the Industry Days at FIPADOC.

Sophie Duncan

Sheffield DocFest welcomes back Charlotte Reekers as Marketplace & Talent Manager, and Sophie Duncan as Industry Programme Producer, and introduce Lisa

Duncan returns for her fourth year in the Sheffield DocFest Industry team. As Industry Programme. Producer, Sophie will produce the MeetMarket and other Marketplace activities including networking events and workshops MeetMarket and other Marketplace activities including networking events and workshops.

Photo: Victoria Conzelann

Charlotte Reekers

In addition to her experience organising DocFest’s Marketplace, Duncan produced one on one meetings at the 2022 IDFA Forum, and has worked at a range of other festivals including London Short Film Festival, Open City Documentary Festival, Leeds International Film Festival and BFI Flare. She is also Festival Producer & Programmer at volunteer-led film festival, Women X, a North East event which uplifts women, non-binary and gender nonconforming filmmakers

Sea, (London, Toronto) and Of Time And The City (Cannes Out of Competition).

She is currently developing the adult animation feature Lollipop, inspired by her experience surviving breast cancer twice.

They also have announced the six International industry professionals, who will be involved in assessing applications for the MeetMarket: Carlos A. Gutiérrez, Elçin Bahçeci, Hicham Falah, Marina Burić, Rico JohnsonSinclair and Seggen Mikael. Their combined expertise covers production, development, sales, distribution, exhibition, and festivals. Meet the team here

Sheffield takes place June 14 – 19

BFI / BMW Filmmaking Challenge Opens March 1

Russo joins the team this year as Industry Consultant. Lisa Marie is a filmmaker and consultant; she works in docs, fiction and animation, and has led three UK Funds including the BFI Doc Society Fund from 2018-21.

In 2009, Russo and Kate Ogborn launched Fly Film. Her producer feature credits include Ken Loach’s The Spirit of ’45 (Berlin FF and C4), Gillian Wearing’s Self Made (LFF, MOMA) and Andrew Kotting’s Swandown (Cannes Acid). She was EP on Hockney (BBC Arts) and on Terence Davies’ The Deep Blue

BFI has partnered with BMW UK and Michaela Coel to offer five filmmaking teams the chance to break new ground and quite literally push the boundaries of what our screens can offer.

Encouraging filmmakers to dream big and expand their

outcome of its new 10 year strategy ambitions, The BMW Filmmaking Challenge in partnership with the BFI is inspired by the all-electric BMW i7 and its ultra-wide 31.3-inch rearpassenger theatre screen.

They welcome applications from filmmaking teams in any genre or style, across fiction, documentary or animation. Under the theme ‘Evolving Perspectives’ they’re looking for ideas that aim to surprise and inspire within a duration of 90 seconds.

Five successful films will be provided with access to the latest 8K camera equipment on top of a £10,000 production budget; editorial and production support from an exec producer from the BFI. Emmy award-winning writer, director, and actress Michaela Coel will act as the mentor, supporting the execution of the filmmakers’ visions, from discussing creative influences through to the production itself.

The five films created will be judged by an esteemed panel of film experts and one film will be selected to screen as part of the Closing Night Gala at the BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express. After this, all five films will screen as a collection on BFI Player.

Applications will open on March 1. For more, click here

Lisa Marie Duncan