17/02/2015 - New films by Lucrecia Martel and Hany Abu-Assad are among the titles supported through the Netherlands Film Fund budget destined for Dutch minority co-productions

Acclaimed Argentinean director Lucrecia Martel is directing Zama, co-produced by Dutch outfit Lemming Film

Six international projects (including five features and a documentary) have received support to the tune of €550,000 from the Netherlands Film Fund (NFF) through its special budget for selective funding for Dutch minority co-productions.

Standing out among the titles with a €150,000 grant is Siv Sleeps Astray [+see also:
trailer
film profile], a children’s film directed by Catti Edfeldt and written/co-directed by Lena Hanno Clyne, based on the popular children's book by Pija Lindenbaum. The Netherlands’ Viking Film is co-producing along with Sweden’s Snowcloud Films.

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The NFF is also backing Love and Friendship [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Whit Stillman, an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Lady Susan starring Chloe Sevigny and Stephen Fry, which is being granted €100,000. Dutch co-producer Revolver is on board along with Irish producer Bl!nder Films and French partner Chic Films.

Another movie granted €100,000 is Argentinean director Lucrecia Martel’s highly anticipated return with the historical drama Zama [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lucrecia Martel
film profile]. Starring Spanish/Mexican actor Daniel Giménez Cacho, the film caught the eye of Dutch outfit Lemming Film, which is co-producing it with the Almodóvar brothers’ El Deseo (Spain), MPM (France), Louverture Films (USA) and Bananeira Filmes (Brazil).

Meanwhile, Arab Idol [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Israeli-born Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad is receiving €75,000. The film, based on the true story of Mohammed Assaf (winner of the Arab Idol show in 2013), is produced by the UK’s Idol Film Production along with Dutch partner KeyFilm.

€75,000 were also granted to Aktan Arym Kubat’s Centaur [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], a co-production between France’s ASAO Films, Germany’s Pallas Films, Kyrgyzstan’s Oy Art and the Netherlands’ Volya Films.

Finally, Andreas Johnsen’s Bugs [+see also:
trailer
film profile], a documentary produced by Danish Documentary and the Netherlands’ Submarine, is being granted €50,000.