08/06/2005

Last year, for the first time, the Namur French-speaking Film Festival put in place meetings, reserved strictly for professionals, aimed at fostering the development of partnerships and the operational start-up of the selected projects after a call for applications. After the success of these meetings which gave a kick-start to numerous projects, Namur renews the experience this year from the 26th to the 28th of September within the framework of the 20th edition of the festival. The call for applications closes on 26th June.

Ten projects were presented last year and discussed by professionals from all over the French-speaking world (Eliane du Bois from Cinéart, Maurice Trinchant from Pierre Grise Productions, Armand Lafond distributor from Quebec company Remstard and also Pierre-Alain Meier from Thelma Film, co-producer of Delwende by Pierre S. Yaméogo, the only african film presented at Cannes this year in the Un certain Regard section). Also Cages by Olivier Masset produced by Versus Production which is scheduled for shooting in September, Faro by Salif Traoré with the French producer, P.A.V Communication, which was able to find Quebec co-producers, the film from the Belgian documentary maker Patric Jean, Libres, a Tarantula production, selected at Ateliers d'Angers and also La Grève du Lit from Henri Duparc of the Ivory Coast (Bal Poussière) whose reworked project should be presented for Advance On Receipts in the coming months.

This initiative was organised with the CNC, of the International Agency for the French Language, of the SODEC and of the Swiss Federal Office for Culture, to respond to the need to increase contact regarding the circulation of French language projects, which was brought to light during the previous two editions at Namur.

Inscription forms can be downloaded at here.

(Translated from French)