Fifty European releases in first half of 2007

by Fabien Lemercier

02/01/2007 - French distributors are releasing approximately 50 European productions (not including French films, see news) in the first half of 2007.

The programme promises to be one of quality and diversity with nine Spanish productions lined up. First in line is Marc Recha’s August Days [trailer] (January 3, Pierre Grise Distribution).

Next in line are animated title Ahmed, el principe de la Alhambra by Juan Bautista Berasategi (February 7, CQFD), Venice hit DarkBlueAlmostBlack [trailer] by Daniel Sanchez Arévalo (February 28, MK2 Distribution, see interview), Honour of the Knights (Quixotic) [trailer] by Albert Serrat (March 14, Capricci Films, see article), Remake [trailer] by Roger Gual (March 28, Colifilms Distribution) and Iciar Bollain’s Mataharis (April 18, Haut et Court; see news).

Films whose release dates are eagerly awaited include Milos Forman’s Goya’s Ghosts [trailer] (Mars Distribution ), Spanish/German production The Great Match [trailer] by Gerardo Olivares (Océan Films) and Angosto [trailer, film focus] (see Focus) by Jorge Sanchez Cabezudo (ID Memento).

Eight Italian films are also lined up: Francesco Munzi’s promising Saimir [trailer] (January 10, Les Films du Paradoxe), Venice title The Missing Star [trailer] by Gianni Amelio (January 24, Magrytte Films), Alessandro d’Alatri’s The Fever [trailer] (February 28, Acadra), Italy’s Academy Awards entry Golden Door [trailer, film focus] by Emanuele Crialese (March 21, ID Memento; see interview), The Wedding Director by Marco Bellocchio (April 18, Les Films sans Frontières), Francesca Comencini’s A casa nostra [trailer] (April 18, MK2), Fire at My Heart by Lamberto Lambertini (April, Acadra) and Paolo Sorrentino’s The Family Friend (May 2, Pyramide Distribution).

Other releases in the first six months of 2007 include seven UK features. Cashback [trailer] by Sean Ellis will open the show on January 17 (Gaumont/Columbia TriStar Films), followed by Canadian co-production Snow Cake [trailer] by Marc Evans (January 24, MK2), Chris Noonan’s Miss Potter [trailer] (March 28, Bac Films), Mr. Bean’s Holiday [trailer] by Steve Bendelack (April 11, Mars Distribution) and Anton Corbijn’s Control [trailer] (June 20, La Fabrique de Films).

Other titles due for release but still undated are Shane Meadows’ multi award-winning This is England [trailer] (Ad Vitam), London to Brighton [trailer] by Paul Andrew Williams (MK2) and Irish title The Tiger’s Tail by well-known director John Boorman (Diaphana Distribution).

Six German films will go on release on French screens in early 2007: Matthias Luthardt’s subtle Pingpong [trailer, film focus] (January 24, Les Acacias), Best European Film of 2006 The Lives of Others [trailer, film focus] by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (January 31, Océan Films; see Focus), Angelina Maccarone’s German/Austrian co-production Unveiled [trailer] (February 7, Artedis), Netto [trailer] by Robert Thalheim (March 7, NOD), Germany. Pale Mother. by Helma Sanders-Brahms (April 4, Carlotta) and Fatih Akin’s much awaited Yasamin kiyisinda [trailer, film focus] (undated, Pyramide).

Austrian releases include Silentium [trailer] by Wolfgang Murnberger (February 28, Films sans frontières).

Seven Scandinavian productions are also in the starting blocks for 2007: The Boss of it All [trailer] by Denmark’s Lars von Trier (February 14, Les Films du Losange ), the impressive The Bothersome Man [trailer, film focus] by Norway’s Jens Lien (February 14, CTV International), the bitter After the Wedding [trailer, film focus] by Danish helmer Susanne Bier (March 7, Equation; see Focus), Dark Horse [trailer] by Iceland’s Dagur Kari (March 14, Epicentre Films), Uro [trailer] by Norway’s Stefan Faldbakken (undated, Rezo Films) and A Soap [trailer, film focus] by Pernilla Fischer Christensen (April, Equation, see Focus).

Four Belgian features are lined up: Philippe Blasband’s The Colour of Words [trailer] (January 17, CQFD), animated film Snow White: The Sequel [trailer] by Picha (January 31, Rezo Films), Venice title Private Property [trailer] by Joachim Lafosse (February 21, Haut et Court; see interview) and Martine Doyen’s Komma [trailer] slated for a May release through Pierre Grise (see article).

Bac Films have yet to set a date for Waiter [trailer] by Dutch helmer Alex Van Warmerdam.

Lastly, other releases include Romanian director Corneliu Porumboiu’s 12:08 East of Bucharest [trailer, film focus] (January 10, Bac Films), Swiss/French co-production My Brother is Getting Married [trailer, film focus] by Jean-Stéphane Bron (January 31, Haut et Court), Portuguese filmmaker Pedro Costa’s Cannes title Colossal Youth [trailer] (January 24, Equation, see article), French/UK/Italian co-production The Last Legion [trailer] by Doug Lefler (March 21/28, Quinta Communications) and Estonian animated film Lotte [trailer] by Janno Pöldma and Heiki Ernits (scheduled for an April release through CQFD).

(Translated from French)