10-09-2019

PRODUCTION: Romanian Vali Hotea Shoots Black Comedy Lebensdorf

By
    Director Vali Hotea Director Vali Hotea credit: Vlad Basca

    BUCHAREST: Romanian director Vali Hotea is currently shooting his sophomore feature Lebendsdorf aka I Hate Berlin in Romania and Germany. The film is a black comedy about indecision and the fear of taking responsibility, produced by Ada Solomon and Diana Păroiu through Romania’s HiFilm Productions.

    The script written by Vali Hotea and Ileana Muntean centers on a middle-aged writer caught between two women and two cities, Bucharest and Berlin, and it’s loosely inspired by Hotea’s own experience. The main characters are played by Mimi Brănescu, Ana Covalciuc and Ioana Flora.

    The shooting started on 24 August and will wrap on 7 October. There are 30 shooting days. Documentary director and cinematographer Alexandru Solomon (Tarzan’s Testicles) is lensing, while Dana Bunescu (The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceaușescu, ICON Production) is the editor.

    „Whoever went through a divorce knows that it might be a traumatic experience. By using fragments from my own experience, I choose to look at it with tender irony”, Vali Hotea said in a statement.

    Lebensdorf is produced by HiFilm Productions in association with Romania’s nomada.solo and Visual Walkabout, and in coproduction with Romania’s Chainsaw Europe Studio, Abis Studio, Production XMG Media and Scharf Film Production.

    The film is supported by the Romanian Film Centre and the Creative Europe MEDIA. The budget is 1.2 m EUR, Ada Solomon told FNE.

    The project was developed at the Sofia Meetings, TIFF Transilvania Pitch Stop Co-production Platform, Sarajevo Talents Pack & Pitch Workshop, Rome MIA and connecting cottbus.

    The premiere is set for 2020.

    Production Information:

    Producer:
    HiFilm Productions (Romania)
    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Mimi Branescu in Lebensdorf by Vali Hotea, credit: Vlad BascaCoproducers:
    Chainsaw Europe Studio (Romania)
    Abis Studio (Romania)
    Production XMG Media (Romania)
    Scharf Film Production (Romania)

    Credits:
    Director: Vali Hotea
    Scriptwriters: Vali Hotea, Ileana Muntean
    DoP: Alexandru Solomon
    Editor: Dana Bunescu
    Art designer: Mălina Ionescu
    Costume designer: Cireșica Cuciuc
    Hair and make-up: Bianca Boeroiu, Domnica Bodogan
    Sound design: Alexandru Dumitru
    Cast: Mimi Brănescu, Ana Covalciuc, Ioana Flora, Victor Toma, Victoria Cocias, Constantin Cojocaru