Six NRW‐Supported Films in Toronto
Six NRW‐Supported Films in Toronto
- World premieres for “Hannah Arendt” by Margarethe von Trotta and “Cloud Atlas” by Tom Tykwer with Lana and Andy Wachowski
- “Camp 14 – Total Control Zone” in the section TIFF‐Doc
- “Wir wollten aufs Meer” and “Tres” in the section Contemporary World Cinema
- “Post Tenebras Lux” in the category Wavelength
Today sees the start of the 37th Toronto International Film Festival. This year it will be possible to see a total of six films supported by the Film‐ und Medienstiftung NRW at this, one of America’s biggest film festivals. Besides the already reported premieres of “Cloud Atlas” (direction: Tom Tykwer with Lana and Andy Wachowski) and Margarethe von Trotta’s biopic “Hannah Arendt”, NRW is represented by “Tres” by Pablo Stoll, “Wir wollten aufs Meer” by Toke C. Hebbeln, “Post Tenebras Lux” by Carlos Reygadas and the documentary film “Camp 14 – Total Control Zone” by Marc Wiese.
"We are delighted by the great attention being directed towards German films in Toronto, in particular those productions supported by NRW,” says the Filmstiftung’s CEO Petra Müller. “Congratulations to the filmmakers and their teams. This invitation to North America’s most important festival is a magnificent confirmation of their work.”
The excitedly awaited film “Cloud Atlas”, directed by Tom Tykwer and Lana and Andy Wachowksi and based on the novel by David Mitchell, will experience its premiere in Toronto. The cast of this story spanning a period of 500 years, about six people whose destinies are closely intertwined, includes Halle Berry, Tom Hanks, Jim Broadbent and Ben Whishaw as well as Susan Sarandon and Hugh Grant. The production by X Filme Creative Pool and Anarchos in coproduction with A‐Company and ARD Degeto received 1 million Euros support from the Film‐ und Medienstiftung NRW. X Verleih will be launching “Cloud Atlas” in German cinemas on 15th November.
Margarethe von Trotta’s new film will also celebrate its premiere in Toronto: “Hannah Arendt” sheds light on those years that the famous philosopher spent in New York exile. The title character is played by Barbara Sukowa, while other roles include Axel Milberg as her husband and Janet McTeer as her friend Mary McCarthy. Cologne-based Heimatfilm are this film’s producers along with Paris-based Mact Productions and the Luxembourg company Minotaurus. Broadcasting partners are Degeto, BR and WDR. Two weeks of shooting took place at locations in North Rhine‐Westphalia. The Film‐ und Medienstiftung supported Heimatfilm with 80,000 Euros for project development and 750,000 Euros for its production. NFP will be launching the drama in cinemas as from mid January 2013.
Pablo Stoll’s family comedy “Tres” is running in the section Contemporary World Cinema. “Tres” is a coproduction by Cologne-based Pandora Film, ControlZ Films (Uruguay) and Rizoma Film (Argentina); it was supported with 40,000 Euros by the Film‐ und Medienstiftung NRW. The film, which celebrated its premiere in this year’s Quinzaine des Réalisateurs in Cannes, takes a light and humorous look at how difficult it can be to be part of a family. In the same section, “Wir wollten aufs Meer” will experience its international premiere in Toronto shortly before being launched in German cinemas.
Toke Constantin Hebbeln’s cinema debut featuring Alexander Fehling, August Diehl and Ronald Zehrfeld is about three young men who sign on at the Stasi in order to realize their dream, although this decision leads to a difficult test of their friendship. The project is a coproduction by UFA Cinema and Frisbeefilms in collaboration with BR, SWR, SR and Arte. It received support amounting to 190,000 Euros from the Filmstiftung NRW. Distributor Wild Bunch will be launching the drama in German cinemas on 13th September.
Just under a month after Locarno Film Festival, Marc Wiese will be presenting his documentary film “Camp 14 ‐ Total Control Zone” in Toronto as well – as an entry in the TIFF Docs section. Wiese’s film tells the story of a man who was born and grew up in a North Korean gulag, succeeding in escaping only after 23 years. The production by Cologne-based Engstfeld Film (coproducers: WDR, BR, Arte Deutschland) received 175,000 Euros support from the Film‐ und Medienstiftung NRW.
Carlos Reygadas has been invited to take part in the category Wavelength with his drama “Post Tenebras Lux”, for which he received the Best Direction award at this year’s 65th International Film Festival in Cannes. The German coproducer is Michael Weber from Cologne-based The Match Factory. Mexican filmmaker Reygadas, who also wrote the screenplay, observes a Mexican couple who cannot come to terms with their hard life working the land. The film was made with participation by Arte, as well as support from the Filmstiftung NRW.
This year Toronto International Film Festival is taking place from 6th – 16th September; the biggest film festival on the American continent, it is often regarded as a yardstick for Oscar hopefuls.