13/02/2006

In Berlin to look for possible new acquisitions for their 2006-2007 distribution line-up, Pam Engel and Robert Beeson from UK arthouse company Artificial Eye are extatic about the box office results of Michael Haneke´s Hidden [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Margaret Menegoz
interview: Michael Haneke
film profile], their biggest success in years with over 720,000 pounds gross in just two weeks. The distributors are now increasing the print run from 27 to 38 and waiting for the figures to continue to climb.

Asked by Cineuropa about this year´s offerings at the Berlinale, Robert Beeson doesn´t hide his disappointment: "We haven´t seen every single film, but the only thing we like so far is Robert Altman´s A Prairie Home Companion he says, a film that unfortunately we couldn´t afford to buy!" Beeson is also annoyed that buyers are asked to wait one hour, until the press is let into the Berlinale Palast for official screenings, and that no space at the new European Film Market venue -the Martin-Gropius Bau building- is made available for buyers only. One positive comment though from the regular UK client of European cinema: "the golden glittering roof of the Renaissance building of the Martin-Gropius Bau is beautiful!