26-06-2012

Scotland Shifts Sights to CEE

By FNE Staff

    {mosimage}EDINBURGH: Central European filmmakers will find a warmer reception from Scotland in the future.

    At the Edinburgh International Film Festival (running through 1 July 2012, www.edfilmfest.org.uk) Poland carries the torch for the region, with three films screening, including main competition hopeful It Looks Pretty from a Distance (www.filmpolis.pl) directed by Anka Sasnal and Wilhelm Sasnal and distributed by New Horizons Association (www.nowehoryzonty.pl); and the Polish Film Festival (www.fpff.pl) triple prize winner Rose (www.wfdif.pl) directed by Wojciech Smarzowski.

    Next year should see a larger representation of films from CEE territories. "I want to expand the films from Central Europe," Edinburgh IFF's new artistic director Chris Fujiwara told FNE. The festival requires that films be UK premieres, which has restricted the presence of CEE films, Fujiwara explained. He plans to

    At the same time, Scottish producers are eager to engage in coproductions, Industry Office reps told FNE. In size and output, Scotland can be roughly compared to Slovakia with a population of 5.2 million and film production averaging around 10 films per year. Scotland has some 4 million pounds in funding for film production, with some of that targeted for coproductions. The country has both national and regional film funds, including the new Mackendrick Film Fund for larger budget films of 3 million pounds and above.