Petra Müller takes office:
New CEO of Filmstiftung NRW starts in Düsseldorf

In office: Petra Müller is the new Filmstiftung's CEO

(1 Sep 2010) Wednesday, September 1st was the first day of work at Film­stiftung NRW for Petra Müller; as CEO she moved into her office in the Medienhafen Düsseldorf and so began her work for the media location North Rhine-Westphalia. Müller is successor to Michael Schmid-Ospach, who managed the Filmstiftung NRW for nine years. After Dieter Kosslick and Schmid-Ospach, Müller is the first woman to head the biggest regional film support institution in Germany. In conjunction with Petra Müller’s appointment, Christina Bentlage will be taking over responsibility for film support at the Filmstiftung. She succeeds Claudia Droste-Dese­laers, who left the Filmstiftung on August 31st. [...more]

Toronto Film Festival: NRW participating with six productions
Three world premieres at the Canadian festival in September

NRW-supported films at the Toronto International Film Festival

(25 Aug 2010) Invited to the 35th Toronto International Film Festival (9-19 Sep) are six productions, which were supported by the Filmstiftung NRW: Their world premieres celebrate “Brownian Movement” by Nonouk Leopold, “Home for Christmas” by Bent Hamer and “The Poll Diaries” by Chris Kraus. Furthermore, at the Canadian festival are to by shown Tom Tykwers new film “Three”, which will celebrate its premiere in Venice, Pia Marais debut film “At Ellens Age” and “Life, above all” by Oliver Schmitz. […more]

International Film Festival San Sebastian:
Two supported films in competition for Golden Shell

Supported films running in the competition of San Sebastian

(26 Aug 2010) Two films, which were supported by the Filmstiftung NRW, are invited to the competition of the 58th International Film Festival San Sebastian (17-25 Sep). For the main prize, the Golden Shell, goes Bent Hamer’s episodic film “Home for Christmas” as well as Sophie Heldman’s debut film “Colours in the Dark”, which opened this year’s International Film Conference of the Filmstiftung NRW. Furthermore, in the section Za­bal­te­gi-Pearls will be presented “Bal“ by Semih Kaplanoglu, which won the Golden Bear at this year’s Berlinale. […more]

Venice Film Festival: Tom Tykwer on the Lido
Tykwer‘s new film „Three“ in the festival’s competition

Tom Tykwer's "Three" to be shown in Venice competition

(29 Jul 2010) Tom Tykwer‘s new film „Three“ will be celebrating its world premiere in the Competition of the 67th Venice International Film Festival, which is being held on the Lido from 1 - 11 September. Tykwer will be in the running for the coveted Golden Lion with his tragicomedy which was funded by Filmstiftung NRW. In the past, Tykwer had already been a guest at the city on the lagoon with his feature films „Run Lola Run“ and „The Princess and the Warrior“, which were also funded in North Rhine-Westphalia. [...more]

Strong stories from NRW for the Big Apple:
Cologne producers at the co-production market in New York

(27 Jul 2010) The Cologne film producers Sonja Ewers and Claudia Steffen will be presenting their new projects „Take the Blame“ and „Layla Fourie“ at the No Borders co-production market during the Independent Film Week, which is being held in New York from 19 - 24 September. The platform for independent filmmakers is organised by the Independent Filmmaker Project, the largest organisation for independent filmmakers in the USA, and provides a forum for new documentary and fiction projects. This is an opportunity for both NRW producers to attract further partners and financiers for their films. […more]

“At Ellen’s Age” to be premiered in Locarno:
Pia Marais’ new film in the festival competition

"At Ellen's Age" to be premiered in Locarno / © Pandora

(14 Jul 2010) “At Ellen’s Age”, the new film by Pia Marais, will be celebrating its world premiere at the 63rd International Film Festival Locarno (4th – 14th August). After her debut “The Unpolished”, for which Marais won the Tiger Award in Rotterdam in 2007, this is the second collaboration between the South African-born director, Pandora Film (Claudia Steffen and Christoph Friedel), and the Filmstiftung NRW. In Locarno the film will be competing for the coveted Leopard. [...more]

Katriel Schory recognised as Film Ambassador of his Country:
Filmstiftung NRW and Arte honour director of Israel Film Fund

Katriel Schory beim Internationalen Filmkongress der Filmstiftung NRW

(12 Jul 2010) Katriel Schory, director of the Israel Film Fund, will receive recognition for his services to European film by the Filmstiftung NRW and Arte at the Jerusalem International Film Festival (8th – 17th July). Together with ARTE editor Rémy Burah, Claudia Droste-Deselaers, director of the Filmstif­tung NRW, will personally honour Schory in Jerusalem on 12th July. The Filmstiftung and the German-French television channel Arte intend this honour as thanks to Katriel Schory for his untiring commitment to European film. The initial idea was put forward by former CEO of the Filmstiftung, Michael Schmid-Ospach. [...more]

International Film Conference of Filmstiftung NRW:
Film country Spain, creative young generation and new film party

"Anita an Fred" opens the Int. Film Conference on 26th June

(10 Jun 2010) The International Film Conference of Filmstiftung NRW opens with Sophie Heldman’s “Anita and Fred” at Cinenova, Cologne on the evening of Saturday, 26th June. In her cinema debut, Heldman tells the story of Anita and Fred, who have been married for 50 years. Their life changes radically when they find out that Fred has a terminal illness. The Cologne company unafilm realised the entire drama with Senta Berger and Bruno Ganz in the leading roles in Düsseldorf and environs. Leading actor Bruno Ganz and Barnaby Metschurat, who plays the couple’s son Patrick, will attend the showing in Cologne, which is by personal invitation only. [...more]

Further information on International Film Conference:
· Programme Survey
· Download programme folder
· Press release: KinoSpecials at International Film Conference (21 May 2010)

Cannes Film Festival: Prize for “Life, Above All”
NRW-supported coproduction wins the Prix Francois Chalais

The team of "Life, Above All" in Cannes / © Hubert Bösl

(26 May 2010) The film "Life, Above All" by Oliver Schmitz, an entry in the section Un Certain Regard, was awarded the Prix Francois Chalais in Cannes on Saturday evening. The international coproduction by Dreamer Joint Venture, Senator Film Produktion, Niama-Film and the South African company Enigma Pictures, which received support from Filmstiftung NRW, is an adaptation of the successful novel “Chanda’s Secrets” by Canadian author Allan Stratton. The film was already acclaimed with great enthusiasm by the audience at its world premiere at the festival last Tuesday. [...more]

Petra Müller named new CEO of Filmstiftung NRW:
Minister: "Strengthening of NRW as leading film location"

Petra Müller to get new CEO of Filmstiftung NRW / © medienboard

(21 Apr 2010) The Filmstiftung NRW is to get a new boss. On 1 August 2010, renowned media industry and film expert Petra Müller will take over the helm of Germany's largest regional film foundation from Michael Schmid-Ospach. Ms Müller, who currently heads the Media Board Berlin-Brandenburg, is looking forward to her new challenge: "I'm looking forward to continuing to develop the Foundation and its work and thereby helping to strengthen the film and media sector of NRW in a sustainable manner". Media Minister Armin Laschet welcomes the decision: "Petra Müller has an excellent reputation within the industry. She is therefore eminently suitable to strengthen the leading position of the film and media industry of NRW." [...more]

Filmstiftung NRW takes stock:
136 films supported with 29.4 million euro in 2009

CEO Michael Schmid-Ospach takes stock at a press conference

(8 Dec 2009) A Silver Bear in Berlin for “Gigante”, an Oscar in Holly­wood for Kate Wins­let in “The Reader”, a Palm in Cannes for Char­lotte Gains­bourg in “Anti­christ”, and two Lions in Venice for “Lebanon” and “Women with­out Men”: the film year now draw­ing to a close was one of the most success­ful in its history for the Film­stif­tung NRW, but the best event is yet to come for the film region. The Euro­pean Film Awards will be presen­ted in the Cen­tury Hall, Bochum on 12th December. It is the first time that the cere­mony for the most im­por­tant Euro­pean film award has taken place in NRW. [...more]