Two NRW-funded films nominated for the European Film Awards 2013
The European Film Academy (EFA) announced the nominations for the 26th European Film Awards 2013 at the European Film Festival in Seville (Spain). Two NRW-funded films are among the candidates: Barbara Sukowa is in the race for the European Actress award with her role as „Hannah Arendt“. Ari Folman’s „The Congress“ is a candidate for the award as European Animation Film. The European Film Academy’s 2,900-plus members will now be voting for the winners who will receive their trophies at a gala ceremony for the European Film Awards in Berlin on December 7.
„Hannah Arendt“ and „The Congress“ have already caused a sensation at international festivals this year “, says Petra Müller, CEO of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, „I sincerely congratulate the film teams, and especially Barbara Sukowa and the two Cologne-based production companies Pandora and Heimatfilm, on their nominations. NRW is crossing its fingers for December 7!“
Margarethe von Trotta's biopic „Hannah Arendt“ was already honoured at the German Film Awards as the Best Feature Film in Silver, Barbara Sukowa also received the Lola for Best Actress and the Bavarian Film Prize for her performance as Hannah Arendt. „Hannah Arendt“ was produced by Cologne’s Heimatfilm, in co-production with Amour Fou Luxembourg, MACT Productions, Metro Communications as well as Degeto Film, BR and WDR. The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW funded the production and distribution with a total 920,000 Euros. Apart from the Filmstiftung NRW, backing also came from the FFA, FFF Bayern, DFFF, Film Fund Luxembourg, Eurimages, CNC, MEDIA, the Israel Film Fund and the Jerusalem Film Fund. The film was released theatrically at the beginning of the year by NFP and attracted over 450,000 cinema-goers in a short time. Margarethe von Trotta is being awarded the Herbert Strate Prize by the Film- und Medienstiftung and HDF Kino next Wednesday.
Ari Folman’s „The Congress“ is based on a novel by Stanislaw Lem and is about an actress who sells her digital proprietary rights to a powerful media concern who wants to implant films directly into people’s heads. Starring Robin Wright, Paul Giamatti and Harvey Keitel, the film is like Folman’s previous film „Waltz with Bashir“ in that is largely animated. Five of the 20 shooting days took place in Cologne and Dortmund. „The Congress“ is a production of Cologne’s Pandora Film with Paul Thiltges Distribution (L), ARP (F), Opus Film (PL), Entre Chien et Loup (B) and BFFG (ISR). Degeto Film is the participating broadcaster. The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW backed the film with 700,000 Euros, additional funding came from Eurimages, DFFF, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein.
The awards ceremony will be streamed live on www.europeanfilmawards.eu and broadcast by ARTE on 8 December.