06/07/2005

Unveiled [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (“Fremde Haut”), Germany’s entry in the official competition of the 40th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival had a more than enthusiastic welcome by the public during its first screening.
The film, produced by MMM Film Zimmermann in co-production with Fischer Film of Austria, is a powerful story of an Iranian woman, persecuted in her country for loving another woman, who acquires a new, male identity, in an effort to stay in a new found home in Germany. Jasmin Taratabai’s performance as the heroine Fariba, has made her a candidate for the best actress award say critics.
“A series of reasons have persuaded me to go into the project; they are political, emotional and taboo related issues” says German director Angelina Maccarone. She co-wrote the script with Austria’s Judith Kaufmann who is also the director of photography.

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Sold-out theatres and awards are good news for the filmmakers, but the public’s support is not enough; cinema is an investment that has to pay dividends, say the experts. “Films should be works of art but they need to sell too…That’s why we call it an industry at the end of the day” argues Roland Rust, director of Film Festival Cottbus. But if public opinion in Karlovy Vary can give any kind of measure Unveiled could be one of those European productions that can make the cut.
Whereas in the film the heroine is forced to disclose her true identity, Marcus Fischer, the Austrian co-producer of the movie, has no doubts that they are no secrets to be unveiled on how you count success in the European film market. “We simply believe that we have made a good, artistic film that can also travel. Art that can fit into the mainstream” says Fischer. World-sales agent Media Luna Entertainment has already pre-sold the film to markets in the Benelux countries, France, USA, Canada and Mexico. The film had its premiere in Karlovy Vary. It is expected to open in Germany in October.