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Out of the 130 high-quality films submitted, Marcel Jean revealed 21 feature films in the Official Selection:
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In the Official competition
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Allah is Not Obliged by Zaven Najjar, based on the book of the same name by Ahmadou Kourouma – WIP 2024 (Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg)
"For his first feature film, Zaven Najjar rose to the challenge of adapting Ahmadou Kourouma's novel Allah is Not Obliged. It's a tall order given the book's raw, unusual language, which the director manages to preserve in this first-person narrative of a child soldier."
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A Magnificent Life by Sylvain Chomet, based on Confidences by Marcel Pagnol (France, Luxembourg, Belgium) – release date 15th October 2025 – Wild Bunch Distribution
"Sylvain Chomet makes his comeback with this feature film dedicated to Marcel Pagnol. It is such a delight to see the filmmaker's sophisticated graphics again, and for the first time he uses dialogue to capture the musical Marseille accent."
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Arco by Ugo Bienvenu (France)
"True to his graphic style, Ugo Bienvenu offers us an astonishing first science-fiction feature film for all the family, in which a 10-year-old girl takes in a boy of the same age from the future."
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ChaO by Yasuhiro Aoki (Japan)
"This whimsical tale comes to us from Japan, with its assertive graphic style and bold colours, somewhat reminiscent of Masaaki Yuasa and
THE FESTIVAL BEAT MAKER ! SHARING MOTION AND EMOTION SINCE 1995
I take this opportunity to extend our warmest wishes for a successful new year on the festival circuit. We are working hard on a new version of our platform to better serve our community. Filmfestivals.com was established in 1995 before google existed, turned into a social network in 2006 with a blog platform welcoming festivals and film professionnals with some 120 000 articles.In the meantime we are busy maintaining the old site and offering some visibility and promotion in our temp dailies. Bruno Chatelin
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We cover over 15 000 festivals worldwide and proudly share our knowledge of the Festival circuit with our community, we trust our audience will ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE even more once the new platform is up and running : stay tuned!. In case you missed any of these 1100+ newsletters ... you can find them all here.
> PEOPLE IN FOCUS
Filmfestivals.com lost a friend, WorldFest founder Hunter Todd RIP
Good bye Hunter rest in peace, it has been a very long and fun partnership and I have been very happy to serve as Advisory Board Member with you and your team! We sadly join all WorldFest friends bidding a fond farewell to its founding director Hunter Todd. Bruno Chatelin filmfestivals.com founder and team. ...
Henry Ian Cusick, Dean Cain, Rory Gibson Lead All-Star Cast in New Sci-Fi Drama "Fugitive from Asteron"
Henry Ian Cusick (Lost, MacGyver, The 100), Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman), Rory Gibson (The Young and The Restless) are set to star in the new sci-fi drama Fugitive from Asteron, adapted from the award-winning novel by Gen LaGreca, who also wrote the screenplay. Directed by Dan T. Hall (Noble Vision, Greek Fire – Demon Spirit) and executive produced by LaGre
THE FESTIVAL BEAT MAKER ! SHARING MOTION AND EMOTION SINCE 1995
I take this opportunity to extend our warmest wishes for a successful new year on the festival circuit. We are working hard on a new version of our platform to better serve our community. Filmfestivals.com was established in 1995 before google existed, turned into a social network in 2006 with a blog platform welcoming festivals and film professionnals with some 120 000 articles.In the meantime we are busy maintaining the old site and offering some visibility and promotion in our temp dailies. Bruno Chatelin
FOLLOW US :
With other 11 000 festivals worldwide which we cover: no surprise reaching the '1100' mark for our newsletters count. We proudly share our knowledge of the Festival circuit with our community and really hope our audience will ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE. In case you missed any of these 1100+ newsletters ... you ll find them all here.
> PEOPLE IN FOCUS
Filmfestivals.com lost a friend, WorldFest founder Hunter Todd RIP
Good bye Hunter rest in peace, it has been a very long and fun partnership and I have been very happy to serve as Advisory Board Member with you and your team! We sadly join all WorldFest friends bidding a fond farewell to its founding director Hunter Todd. Bruno Chatelin filmfestivals.com founder and team. ...
Henry Ian Cusick, Dean Cain, Rory Gibson Lead All-Star Cast in New Sci-Fi Drama "Fugitive from Asteron"
Henry Ian Cusick (Lost, MacGyver, The 100), Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman), Rory Gibson (The Young and The Restless) are set to star in the new sci-fi drama Fugitive from Asteron, adapted from the award-winning novel by Gen LaGreca, who also wrote the screenplay. Directed by Dan T. Hall (Noble Vision, Greek Fire – Demon Spir
THE FESTIVAL BEAT MAKER ! SHARING MOTION AND EMOTION SINCE 1995
I take this opportunity to extend our warmest wishes for a successful new year on the festival circuit. We are working hard on a new version of our platform to better serve our community. Filmfestivals.com was established in 1995 before google existed, turned into a social network in 2006 with a blog platform welcoming festivals and film professionnals with some 120 000 articles.In the meantime we are busy maintaining the old site and offering some visibility and promotion in our temp dailies. Bruno Chatelin
FOLLOW US :
With other 11 000 festivals worldwide which we cover: no surprise reaching the '1100' mark for our newsletters count. We proudly share our knowledge of the Festival circuit with our community and really hope our audience will ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE. In case you missed any of these 1100+ newsletters ... you ll find them all here.
> PEOPLE IN FOCUS
Filmfestivals.com lost a friend, WorldFest founder Hunter Todd RIP
Good bye Hunter rest in peace, it has been a very long and fun partnership and I have been very happy to serve as Advisory Board Member with you and your team! We sadly join all WorldFest friends bidding a fond farewell to its founding director Hunter Todd. Bruno Chatelin filmfestivals.com founder and team. ...
Henry Ian Cusick, Dean Cain, Rory Gibson Lead All-Star Cast in New Sci-Fi Drama "Fugitive from Asteron"
Henry Ian Cusick (Lost, MacGyver, The 100), Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman), Rory Gibson (The Young and The Restless) are set to star in the new sci-fi drama Fugitive from Asteron, adapted from the award-winning novel by Gen LaGreca, who also wrote the screenplay. Directed by Dan T. Hall (Noble Vision, Greek Fire – Demon Spir
Laura Zentner (Media Law Expert, GreenbergTraurig), Clement Schwebig (President and Managing Director Western Europe & Africa, Warner Bros. Discovery), Emilie Anthonis (President & Managing Director, MPA EMEA), Jörg Bachmaier (CEO of Studio Babelsberg) and Christian Sommer (MPA Germany)
By Mark Tchelistcheff
March 5th, 2025
With SXSW film rodeo ride about to begin it was only a couple weeks ago that Berlinale completed its 75th film festival with the largest number of local films. Although the outlook for many looked dim due both to the downward spiraling economic forces and a new German federal government on the horizon the last-minute funding incentives in December 2024 by the German Federal Film Fund and the German Motion Picture Fund saw their production cost rebate levels raised from 25% to 30%.
For those looking at doing productions in German, the Berlinale panel organized by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and the law firm Greenberg Traurig, industry experts discussed the present production climate and underscored the urgent need for competitive film incentives in Germany, with the consensus that the country is lagging behind in the global race for film production. The session, moderated by media law expert Dr. Laura M. Zentner, featured key insights from Jörg Bachmaier (CEO of Studio Babelsberg), Clement Schwebig (President and Managing Director Western Europe & Africa, Warner Bros. Discovery), and Emilie Anthonis (President & Managing Director, MPA EMEA). The panel was introduced by Christian Sommer (MPA Germany) and Thomas Hacker (Member of German Parliament and Media Policy Spokesperson for the FDP Bundestag group), who critiqued past government inefficiencies and emphasized that the real solution lies in implementing tax incentives but that most likely he would be out of the game after the elections.
Germany’s film funding system is facing a significant stalemate. Unlike countries such as Spain, Austria, UK and others, which have attracted international productions with tax incentives and flexible funding models, Germany is still stuck in political gridlock. Negotiations between federal and state governments over a tax incentive model have stalled, and while a recent 30% increase in funding offers some relief, the lack of a comprehensive tax incentive system threatens to hinder long-term competitiveness. Industry leaders are skeptical that Germany will introduce the necessary tax incentives before 2026, though some hope that post-election budgets for 2025 and 2026 might provide a path forward.
Jörg Bachmaier of Studio Babelsberg with an optimistic outlook for the future emphasized that while the recent funding boost is a step in the right direction, it is not enough. He called for a 30% tax incentive, an automated system, and reduced bureaucracy. Bachmaier suggested that policymakers should prioritize achievable reforms like tax incentives rather than diving into more contentious issues like investment obligations. His message was clear: “We need win-win situations, not coercive measures. Less talk, more action.”
Clement Schwebig from Warner Bros. Discovery echoed the call for better incentives, stressing that without attractive tax breaks, major productions will go elsewhere. He pointed to recent Warner Bros. projects like The White Lotus and The Regime—filmed in Italy and Austria, respectively—both chosen because of favorable tax incentives. Schwebig acknowledged the recent
Montreal, Saturday, November 30, 2024 - The Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM) ends tomorrow, Sunday, December 1st. The winners of this 27th edition were revealed during an awards ceremony which took place this evening at the Cinémathèque québécoise.
GRAND PRIZE FOR INTERNATIONAL FEATURE COMPETITION
Republic by Jiang Jin (Singapore, China)
“Republic captures the restless dreams and defiant spirit of Beijing’s youth as they forge a communal utopia within the tiny, vibrant space of their self-declared Republic, challenging the political and social constraints that surround them. The intimate, immersive cinematography brings the viewer directly into the room, transforming the confined setting into a boundless world of collective imagination, resistance and the pursuit of freedom.“
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR INTERNATIONAL FEATURE COMPETITION presented by Vital Distribution
To Our Friends by Adrián Orr (Spain, Portugal)
“By blending fictional storytelling with documentary, To Our Friends offers a nuanced exploration of youth, identity and the complexities of personal growth, effectively capturing the essence of Sara's metamorphosis while employing deliberate techniques that dissolve the boundary between the constructed world of cinema and the reality of its subjects. Through moments where characters subtly acknowledge the camera’s presence and a hybrid narrative that dismantles the divide between fiction and nonfiction, the film creates a meta-cinematic effect, positioning itself as a profound meditation on storytelling and the narratives we construct about ourselves in both art and life.“
The jury for the international feature film competition was comprised of Andrea Bussmann (filmmaker), Dominique Dussault (producer) and Beatrice Fiorentino (critic).
GRAND PRIZE FOR NATIONAL FEATURE COMPETITION presented by the Canada Media Fund (CMF) and PRIM
Intercepted by Oksana Karpovych (Quebec/Canada, France, Ukraine)
“Without losing sight of its intentions, convictions and without losing its edge, this powerful film maintains a rare balance, both formally and thematically. It reveals the brutal consequences of an invasion, as well as the human and social dramas that in wartime are the lot of the majority. Intercepted makes tangible the actual situation in Ukraine, while revealing something about contemporary Russia. We believe it is important not to forget this ongoing conflict, and its impacts.“
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR NATIONAL FEATURE COMPETITION presented by Télé-Québec and Post-Moderne
Archéologie de la lumière by Syl
Another Eight Seconds” is the Latest Film from 805 Beer Following Gripping Life Story of Legendary Bull Rider Stetson Lawrence who retired from the PBR at the height of his career after severe neck injury
Paso Robles, CA (embargoed until May 16, 2024) – Today, 805 Beer premiered its latest documentary film directed by acclaimed filmmaker Keith Malloy, “Another Eight Seconds,” which follows 805 Authentico and American pro bull rider Stetson Lawrence. The film is an inspiring story behind the grit and determination of Stetson, a nine-time PBR world finals qualifier. Stetson climbed to the top of world rankings despite personal tragedies and major injuries. “Another Eight Seconds” dives into the fortitude that made Stetson a bull-riding legend and the injury that changed his life forever. The film will be released globally on May 16, 2024 on YouTube.
Growing up in a rodeo family in Williston, North Dakota, Stetson Lawrence’s connection to bull riding ran deep. As horses were a way of life for them, the Lawrence family’s bond was held together with this passion and by Stetson’s mother, his biggest supporter. Stetson, a Chippewa Sioux Native American, ranks among the top 25 bull riders globally and is one of the few Native American professional riders. “Another Eight Seconds” offers a glimpse into Stetson’s childhood, the rodeo culture that shaped him, and the integral role his family played in his pursuit of bull-riding greatness. His story is one of resilience, tenacity, and the unwavering support of his rodeo community as viewers are taken into the next chapter of his life.
"Working on this documentary was more than a single ride — it became a tribute to my roots, the foundation of community in my life, and the unbreakable bond that has kept my family by my side every step of the way," said Stetson Lawrence. “It was an honor to work with 805 Beer, sharing my story and celebrating the competitive, thrilling spirit that defines bull riding. I hope it inspires others to face their challenges head-on, as I cannot wait to work on more projects with the team.”
Dustin Hinz, Chief Marketing Officer of 805 Beer stated, “Mastering the art of bull riding requires a blend of skill, passion, and mental fortitude. All qualities that resonate with 805’s core values. Stetson’s story aligns seamlessly with our commitment to telling compelling narratives that inspire and uplift. In ‘Another Eight Seconds’, we aimed to not only show the sport, but the human inexperience.”
Another Eight Seconds is the latest release from 805 Beer Films that highlights the incredible stories of their team of ambassadors which they fondly refer to as Authenticos - A vast cast of athletes, creators, musicians, and artists who embodied the trailblazing spirit of the 805 - the central coast of California where 805 Beer is born and brewed. Past award-winning films include “The House That Built Me”, the life story of X-Games champion and Motocross Freerider, Tyler Bereman, “Convergence”, a surf film that brings together three pro-surfers (Conner Coffin, Nate Tyler, and Greyson Fletcher) on different life paths to share the command thread that inspires them - surfing, family and community, “Inverted Perspective”, the incredible true story of the most winning female Motocross rider on the planet, Vicki Golden, and “Reaching The Unknown”, a short art-film that features trail rider Gillian Larson and her journey as she travels the Pacific Coast Trail alone with just her two horses.
A lineup of new 805 Films projects includes the upcoming short “Till the Lights Go Out”, documenting life on the road with singer-songwriter The White Buffalo, a.k.a. Jake Smith. Film projects also include a live studio recording session w Progressive House
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