06/02/2009

The second-chance opportunities of the Greek Film Center (GFC) are being presented as having failed to apply on Panos H. Koutras’ new film Strella [+see also:
trailer
film profile], set to screen in the Berlinale’s Panorama section. The film was denied GFC funding twice before, while in the pre-production and production stages.

Word in the Greek media has it that GFC President George Papalios contacted Koutras and suggested he re-submit his film and ask for reimbursement of production costs. However, the notion was all but unanimously overruled by the board on the grounds that they had not seen the film.

The GFC’s bylaws state that any completed film vying for funding needs to be screened by the board, which then decides whether funding will be granted and to what extent, a decision based in part on the film’s artistic merits. This argument was muted by the fact that Strella is the first Greek film to be admitted to the Berlinale’s prestigious section in four years.

The outcome caused significant friction between the two camps, resulting in a press release from Koutras’ side stating the film has been denied funding altogether and its world premiere at the Berlinale in less than a week will be without government backing.

However, events are muddier than they seem, as the GFC states the discussion is ongoing, and not about whether or not the director (who is now in large personal debt) will be seeing money coming his way. The GFC board is said to actually be unanimously in favor of the grant.

The question now is how much of the film’s production costs will be relieved by the state, a decision expected to be reached only after the film’s Berlinale screening. Nonetheless, Koutras long ago secured international sales representation, from hefty French firm Films Distribution.