Five NRW‐Films at the Film Festival of Cannes

Competition: “Post Tenebras Lux” by Carlos Reygadas, “Holy Motors” by Leos Carax, “Paradise: Love” by Ulrich Seidel
Quinzaine des Réalisateurs: “3” by Pablo Stoll
Semaine de la Critique: “Sofia’s Last Ambulance” by Ilian Metev

NRW will be represented by five films in the various sections of the 65th Film Festival of Cannes (16th ‐27th May). These invitations to Cannes are further evidence of the state’s producers’ and filmmakers’ ability to hold their own against international competition.

Competition:
As already announced last week, Carlos Reygadas’ NRW‐supported drama “Post Tenebras Lux” will be running in the competition. German co-producer is a Cologne-based company, The Match Factory. Reygadas, who received the jury prize at Cannes for “Silent Light” in 2007, observes a Mexican couple unable to cope with their hard life farming the land.

The German-French production “Holy Motors” by Leos Carax features a prominent cast including Eva Mendes, Kylie Minogue, Michel Piccoli and Denis Lavant and was made in coproduction with Cologne-based Pandora Film. Pandora will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of its foundation next week. The episodic film “Paradise: Love” by Ulrich Seidel is an Austrian-French-German coproduction, realised on the German side by Cologne-based Tatfilm.

Quinzaine des Réalisateurs:
Pablo Stoll has been invited to the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs with his new cinema film “3”, which also received support from the Filmstiftung. Back in 2004, Pablo Stoll received the Regard Original Award and the FIPRESCI‐Prize in conjunction with Juan Pablo Rebella. Coproducer in this case is also the Cologne-based company Pandora Film.

Semaine de la Critique:
In the competition of the Semaine de la Critique it will be possible to see Ilian Metev’s documentary film “Sofia’s Last Ambulance”. This documentary sheds light on everyday work for an ambulance in Bulgaria’s capital, where 13 ambulances have to take care of 2 million people. Cologne-based Sutor Kolonko Filmproduktion realised the film with support from the Film‐ und Medienstiftung NRW. 

Focus Germany in Cannes:
During the festival, the Filmstiftung NRW will be represented in the German Pavilion at the Marché du Film. Focus Germany is available in Cannes under the telephone number +33‐4‐92590004 or per fax under +33‐4‐92590005.