Mongolia’s film industry is on the rise, with a momentum that began at Cannes in 2023.
Zoljargal Purevdash’s If Only I Could Hibernate was the first Mongolian film to be shown in Cannes’ official selection when it played in Un Certain Regard last year, going on to win a jury prize at Tokyo FilmEx and scoring box-office success both at home and internationally.
It was followed by Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir’s City Of Wind, the first feature from the Asian country to play Toronto and Venice.
Both features followed the introduction of a film law in January 2022 to promote production in Mongolia,...
Zoljargal Purevdash’s If Only I Could Hibernate was the first Mongolian film to be shown in Cannes’ official selection when it played in Un Certain Regard last year, going on to win a jury prize at Tokyo FilmEx and scoring box-office success both at home and internationally.
It was followed by Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir’s City Of Wind, the first feature from the Asian country to play Toronto and Venice.
Both features followed the introduction of a film law in January 2022 to promote production in Mongolia,...
- 5/21/2024
- ScreenDaily
A tented district of Ulaanbaatar is the backdrop as a gifted student with a chance to succeed and move away finds himself having to care for his siblings
A valuable debut feature from 34-year-old Mongolian film-maker Zoljargal Purevdash, inspired by her childhood experiences of studying for a life-changing educational scholarship, as well as by the poverty-stricken tented yurt district of the capital Ulaanbaatar where her mother owned a shop and where she saw the customers’ tough lives. In the film, Purevdash has gender-switched her physics-student teen hero to a boy and evidently fictionalised her own school challenges by transplanting them to a family from just this kind of deprived background, battling against hardship and the bitter and terrible cold, yearning to be able to see out the winter by hibernating, like a bear. Unable to afford coal, kids rip up wooden planks from fences and go on illegal “logging” raids into surrounding woodland.
A valuable debut feature from 34-year-old Mongolian film-maker Zoljargal Purevdash, inspired by her childhood experiences of studying for a life-changing educational scholarship, as well as by the poverty-stricken tented yurt district of the capital Ulaanbaatar where her mother owned a shop and where she saw the customers’ tough lives. In the film, Purevdash has gender-switched her physics-student teen hero to a boy and evidently fictionalised her own school challenges by transplanting them to a family from just this kind of deprived background, battling against hardship and the bitter and terrible cold, yearning to be able to see out the winter by hibernating, like a bear. Unable to afford coal, kids rip up wooden planks from fences and go on illegal “logging” raids into surrounding woodland.
- 4/17/2024
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
South Korean director Hong Sang-soo was awarded the El Gouna Gold Star for best narrative film for his meditation on art and relationships, “In Our Day,” as the delayed edition of the El Gouna Film Festival held its closing ceremony on Thursday. The Italian animated film “A Greyhound of a Girl,” directed by Enzo D’Alò, and the Brazilian director Guto Parente’s “A Strange Path” picked up the Silver and Bronze Stars respectively.
The jury comprised of Indian director Anup Singh, Jordanian actress Saba Mubarak, Palestinian actress Yasmine Al-Massri, French Lebanese actress Manal Issa and Egyptian filmmaker Omar El Zohairy.
In the non-fiction category, Ibrahim Nash’at’s acclaimed documentary “Hollywoodgate” took the top prize, with “Seven Winters in Tehran” and Mila Turajlić’s Serbian film “Non-Aligned: Scenes from the Labudović Reels” sharing the Silver Star, and “On the Adamant,” directed by French director Nicolas Philibert, taking the Bronze Star. The...
The jury comprised of Indian director Anup Singh, Jordanian actress Saba Mubarak, Palestinian actress Yasmine Al-Massri, French Lebanese actress Manal Issa and Egyptian filmmaker Omar El Zohairy.
In the non-fiction category, Ibrahim Nash’at’s acclaimed documentary “Hollywoodgate” took the top prize, with “Seven Winters in Tehran” and Mila Turajlić’s Serbian film “Non-Aligned: Scenes from the Labudović Reels” sharing the Silver Star, and “On the Adamant,” directed by French director Nicolas Philibert, taking the Bronze Star. The...
- 12/22/2023
- by John Bleasdale
- Variety Film + TV
Everyone is invited to the 67th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express!
The BFI London Film Festival, founded in 1957, now at its 67th edition, is a renowned annual event that celebrates international and British cinema. It offers a diverse array of films, premieres, and engaging discussions, attracting filmmakers, industry professionals, and movie enthusiasts. This festival is a vital platform for promoting cinematic excellence and storytelling. Once again, this year's selection of Asian titles is rich and articulated.
Find all the Asian films and the Festival's trailer, here:
Cobweb
In this electric meta-comedy, The Good, the Bad, the Weird director Kim Jee-Woon captures the turbulence of South Korea's film industry in the 1970s.
Evil Does Not Exist
Drive My Car director Ryusuke Hamaguchi's new drama sees a community fighting to preserve its principles and the integrity of their natural world.
Self-Portrait: 47 Km 2020
The eleventh instalment in Zhang Mengqi...
The BFI London Film Festival, founded in 1957, now at its 67th edition, is a renowned annual event that celebrates international and British cinema. It offers a diverse array of films, premieres, and engaging discussions, attracting filmmakers, industry professionals, and movie enthusiasts. This festival is a vital platform for promoting cinematic excellence and storytelling. Once again, this year's selection of Asian titles is rich and articulated.
Find all the Asian films and the Festival's trailer, here:
Cobweb
In this electric meta-comedy, The Good, the Bad, the Weird director Kim Jee-Woon captures the turbulence of South Korea's film industry in the 1970s.
Evil Does Not Exist
Drive My Car director Ryusuke Hamaguchi's new drama sees a community fighting to preserve its principles and the integrity of their natural world.
Self-Portrait: 47 Km 2020
The eleventh instalment in Zhang Mengqi...
- 9/16/2023
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Paris-based sales agent locks deals for Zoljargal Purevdash’s debut feature.
Paris-based Urban Sales has secured multiple deals on Zoljargal Purevdash’s feature debute If Only I Could Hibernate, following the film’s world premiere earlier this year in Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
The film has sold for theatrical release to UK-Ireland (Conic), Switzerland, Germany and Austria (First Hand Films), Italy (Trent Film) and Taiwan (Andrews Film). Eurozoom will handle the French release of the film.
If Only I Could Hibernate became the first Mongolian film ever to be shown in Cannes’ official selection, when it launched in Un Certain Regard.
Paris-based Urban Sales has secured multiple deals on Zoljargal Purevdash’s feature debute If Only I Could Hibernate, following the film’s world premiere earlier this year in Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
The film has sold for theatrical release to UK-Ireland (Conic), Switzerland, Germany and Austria (First Hand Films), Italy (Trent Film) and Taiwan (Andrews Film). Eurozoom will handle the French release of the film.
If Only I Could Hibernate became the first Mongolian film ever to be shown in Cannes’ official selection, when it launched in Un Certain Regard.
- 8/29/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Paris-based sales agent locks deals for Zoljargal Purevdash’s debut feature.
Paris-based Urban Sales has secured multiple deals on Zoljargal Purevdash’s feature debute If Only I Could Hibernate, following the film’s world premiere earlier this year in Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
The film has sold for theatrical release to UK-Ireland (Conic), Switzerland, Germany and Austria (First Hand Films), Italy (Trent Film) and Taiwan (Andrews Film). Eurozoom will handle the French release of the film.
If Only I Could Hibernate became the first Mongolian film ever to be shown in Cannes’ official selection, when it launched in Un Certain Regard.
Paris-based Urban Sales has secured multiple deals on Zoljargal Purevdash’s feature debute If Only I Could Hibernate, following the film’s world premiere earlier this year in Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
The film has sold for theatrical release to UK-Ireland (Conic), Switzerland, Germany and Austria (First Hand Films), Italy (Trent Film) and Taiwan (Andrews Film). Eurozoom will handle the French release of the film.
If Only I Could Hibernate became the first Mongolian film ever to be shown in Cannes’ official selection, when it launched in Un Certain Regard.
- 8/29/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Paris-based sales agent locks deals for Zoljargal Purevdash’s debut feature.
Paris-based sales agent Urban Sales has secured multiple deals on Zoljargal Purevdash’s feature debute If Only I Could Hibernate, following the film’s world premiere earlier this year in Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
The film has sold for theatrical release to UK-Ireland (Conic), Switzerland, Germany and Austria (First Hand Films), Italy (Trent Film) and Taiwan (Andrews Film). Eurozoom will handle the French release of the film.
If Only I Could Hibernate became the first Mongolian film ever to be shown in Cannes’ official selection, when it launched in Un Certain Regard.
Paris-based sales agent Urban Sales has secured multiple deals on Zoljargal Purevdash’s feature debute If Only I Could Hibernate, following the film’s world premiere earlier this year in Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
The film has sold for theatrical release to UK-Ireland (Conic), Switzerland, Germany and Austria (First Hand Films), Italy (Trent Film) and Taiwan (Andrews Film). Eurozoom will handle the French release of the film.
If Only I Could Hibernate became the first Mongolian film ever to be shown in Cannes’ official selection, when it launched in Un Certain Regard.
- 8/29/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
After a one-year hiatus, the much-missed El Gouna Film Festival (Oct. 13 – 20) is back and poised to make an increased impact. Joining beloved festival director Intishal Al-Timimi this time around is esteemed Egyptian producer-director Marianne Khoury in the artistic director position.
Khoury’s long-time championship of female filmmakers and themes finds an echo in the impressive first wave of programming just announced. Of the 19 features, 10 boast a distaff helmer or co-director.
The kudo-laden titles include “Anatomy of a Fall” from Justine Triet, “On the Adamant” from Nicolas Philibert, “Scrapper” by Charlotte Regan, “Stepne” from Maryna Vroda and “The Strange Path” from Guto Parente, which claimed every prize in Tribeca’s international competition.
Among the other buzzed-about auteur titles are Todd Haynes’ “May December” and Wang Bing’s epic documentary “Youth.” Emerging talents Tibor Bánóczki and Sarolta Szabó offer dystopian hybrid-animation “White Plastic Sky,” while a robust documentary selection includes Tatiana Huezo...
Khoury’s long-time championship of female filmmakers and themes finds an echo in the impressive first wave of programming just announced. Of the 19 features, 10 boast a distaff helmer or co-director.
The kudo-laden titles include “Anatomy of a Fall” from Justine Triet, “On the Adamant” from Nicolas Philibert, “Scrapper” by Charlotte Regan, “Stepne” from Maryna Vroda and “The Strange Path” from Guto Parente, which claimed every prize in Tribeca’s international competition.
Among the other buzzed-about auteur titles are Todd Haynes’ “May December” and Wang Bing’s epic documentary “Youth.” Emerging talents Tibor Bánóczki and Sarolta Szabó offer dystopian hybrid-animation “White Plastic Sky,” while a robust documentary selection includes Tatiana Huezo...
- 8/24/2023
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (Gff) has unveiled a first wave of international titles due to play at its upcoming comeback sixth edition, unfolding from October 13 to 20 after a one-year hiatus.
The selection features a number of high-profile festival titles including Justine Triet’s Cannes 2023 Palme d’Or winner Anatomy Of A Fall, Berlinale 2023 Golden Bear winning documentary On the Adamant by Nicolas Philibert and Guto Parente’s Tribeca Film Festival break-out The Strange Path.
The line-up also showcases a host of buzzy first and second films including UK director Charlotte Regan’s Sundance 2023 Grand Jury Prize winner Scrapper and French filmmaker Delphine Deloget’s Cannes Un Certain Regard social drama All To Play For, starring Virginie Efira.
Respected Egyptian distributor and producer Marianne Khoury is overseeing the selection for the first time, following her appointment as artistic director earlier this year, working alongside long-time festival director Intishal Al Timimi.
The selection features a number of high-profile festival titles including Justine Triet’s Cannes 2023 Palme d’Or winner Anatomy Of A Fall, Berlinale 2023 Golden Bear winning documentary On the Adamant by Nicolas Philibert and Guto Parente’s Tribeca Film Festival break-out The Strange Path.
The line-up also showcases a host of buzzy first and second films including UK director Charlotte Regan’s Sundance 2023 Grand Jury Prize winner Scrapper and French filmmaker Delphine Deloget’s Cannes Un Certain Regard social drama All To Play For, starring Virginie Efira.
Respected Egyptian distributor and producer Marianne Khoury is overseeing the selection for the first time, following her appointment as artistic director earlier this year, working alongside long-time festival director Intishal Al Timimi.
- 8/23/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Lila Aviles received best director in the international competition.
Marie Amachoukeli’s Ama Gloria and Juraj Lerotic’s Safe Place lead the winners of the 40th Jerusalem Film Festival, which handed out 1m Ils in prizes this evening (July 20).
Ama Gloria, which premiered in Critics’ Week at Cannes this year, won the best international film award. The film depicts the last summer between a six-year-old girl and her nanny Gloria, before the latter returns to Cape Verde to care for her own children.
Scroll down for the full list of feature winners
A jury led by Claire Denis and consisting of Whit Stillman,...
Marie Amachoukeli’s Ama Gloria and Juraj Lerotic’s Safe Place lead the winners of the 40th Jerusalem Film Festival, which handed out 1m Ils in prizes this evening (July 20).
Ama Gloria, which premiered in Critics’ Week at Cannes this year, won the best international film award. The film depicts the last summer between a six-year-old girl and her nanny Gloria, before the latter returns to Cape Verde to care for her own children.
Scroll down for the full list of feature winners
A jury led by Claire Denis and consisting of Whit Stillman,...
- 7/20/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Marie Amachoukeli’s Ama Gloria has won the Best International Film Prize at the 40th edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival, running from July 13 to July 26.
The feature, which world premiered as the opening film of Cannes Critics’ Week in May, revolves around a motherless six-year-old girl who travels to Cape Verde to reunite with her longtime nanny.
The jury presided over by Claire Denis, and also figuring Whit Stillman, Florian Zeller, Joana Vicente, and Maria Schrader praised the film’s “extraordinary poignancy, beauty and insight”.
Ama Gloria is produced by Bénédicte Couvreur, the long-time producer of Céline Sciamma and her films Petite Maman and Portrait Of A Lady On Fire.
Other winners in the International Competition include Best Director for Mexico’s Lila Avilés for Berlinale-selected family drama Totem and a Special Mention for the ensemble cast of Argentinian director Rodrigo Moreno’s The Delinquents, which debuted in Un Certain Regard this year.
The feature, which world premiered as the opening film of Cannes Critics’ Week in May, revolves around a motherless six-year-old girl who travels to Cape Verde to reunite with her longtime nanny.
The jury presided over by Claire Denis, and also figuring Whit Stillman, Florian Zeller, Joana Vicente, and Maria Schrader praised the film’s “extraordinary poignancy, beauty and insight”.
Ama Gloria is produced by Bénédicte Couvreur, the long-time producer of Céline Sciamma and her films Petite Maman and Portrait Of A Lady On Fire.
Other winners in the International Competition include Best Director for Mexico’s Lila Avilés for Berlinale-selected family drama Totem and a Special Mention for the ensemble cast of Argentinian director Rodrigo Moreno’s The Delinquents, which debuted in Un Certain Regard this year.
- 7/20/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Asia's most significant film education program, Chanel X Biff Asian Film Academy, has appointed this year's dean and faculty, beginning the preparations for its 2023 edition.
The 2023 Chanel X Biff Asian Film Academy's faculty consists of director Suwa Nobuhiro as dean, director Kim Hee-Jung as directing mentor, and cinematographer Artur Żurawski as cinematography mentor. Through this year's faculty appointment, a blueprint for discovering new talents in Asian cinema is underway.
Director Suwa Nobuhiro, who is set to lead the 2023 Chanel X Biff Asian Film Academy, came to the forefront with his official debut, 2/Duo (1997) which was honoured with the Netpac Award at the 1997 Rotterdam International Film Festival and a Special Mention for the Dragons and Tigers Award at the 1997 Vancouver International Film Festival. Following his debut, he received the Fipresci Award at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival with his second film, M/Other (1999), and the Jury's Special Prize and C.I.C.
The 2023 Chanel X Biff Asian Film Academy's faculty consists of director Suwa Nobuhiro as dean, director Kim Hee-Jung as directing mentor, and cinematographer Artur Żurawski as cinematography mentor. Through this year's faculty appointment, a blueprint for discovering new talents in Asian cinema is underway.
Director Suwa Nobuhiro, who is set to lead the 2023 Chanel X Biff Asian Film Academy, came to the forefront with his official debut, 2/Duo (1997) which was honoured with the Netpac Award at the 1997 Rotterdam International Film Festival and a Special Mention for the Dragons and Tigers Award at the 1997 Vancouver International Film Festival. Following his debut, he received the Fipresci Award at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival with his second film, M/Other (1999), and the Jury's Special Prize and C.I.C.
- 6/21/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
This year's edition of Cannes film festival offered a number of high quality titles from Asia, both in competiton(s) and side bar programmes. One of the most awaited films was Takeshi Kitano's “Kubi” screened in Premiere section, in director's presence. Back to the samurai genre, 20 years after the critically acclaimed “Zatoichi” and with a period piece based on his own historic novel published in 2019, Kitano struggled to bring his characters close to the audience, but stayed faithful to the title by making many heads roll. “Kubi” (which was also the title of his novel) means “neck”, a beloved target of the samurai sword. This is allegedly the last film by “Beat”, if we take his statement before the festival kicked off seriously.
A year after his drama “Broker” brought Palme D'Or for Best Actor to Song Kang-ho, and five after he was awarded Palme D'Or for “Shoplifters”, Hirokazu Koreeda...
A year after his drama “Broker” brought Palme D'Or for Best Actor to Song Kang-ho, and five after he was awarded Palme D'Or for “Shoplifters”, Hirokazu Koreeda...
- 6/18/2023
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Text written on June 6, 2023 by Jean-Marc Thérouanne
Asia in the juries :
Franco-Afghan writer and director Atiq Rahimi was the only Asian member of the prestigious jury at the 76th Cannes Film Festival
Fench-Cambodian director Davy Chou was the only Asia-related member of the Un Certain Regard jury
Davy Chou
Shlomi Elkabetz was the only member of the short film jury and the Cinef with a connection to geographical Asia.
Asia in the selections:
Asia, from the Near to the Far East, was present with 31 features and 13 shorts in all the official and parallel sections of the 76th Cannes Film Festival.
In compétition :
– China: Youth (Spring) by Wang Bing
– Japan: Monster by Kore-eda Hirokazu,
Kim Dong-ho, Hirokazu Koreeda
– Turkey: About Dry Grasses by Nuri Bilge Ceylan,
and The Pot-au-feu by French-Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung and Wim Wenders' Perfect Days, set in Japan.
Out of compétition :
– Korea: Cobweb by Kim Jee-won,...
Asia in the juries :
Franco-Afghan writer and director Atiq Rahimi was the only Asian member of the prestigious jury at the 76th Cannes Film Festival
Fench-Cambodian director Davy Chou was the only Asia-related member of the Un Certain Regard jury
Davy Chou
Shlomi Elkabetz was the only member of the short film jury and the Cinef with a connection to geographical Asia.
Asia in the selections:
Asia, from the Near to the Far East, was present with 31 features and 13 shorts in all the official and parallel sections of the 76th Cannes Film Festival.
In compétition :
– China: Youth (Spring) by Wang Bing
– Japan: Monster by Kore-eda Hirokazu,
Kim Dong-ho, Hirokazu Koreeda
– Turkey: About Dry Grasses by Nuri Bilge Ceylan,
and The Pot-au-feu by French-Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung and Wim Wenders' Perfect Days, set in Japan.
Out of compétition :
– Korea: Cobweb by Kim Jee-won,...
- 6/7/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
by Khushi Jain
Winters have the propensity to crawl inside the skin and seep into the bones. And when there is no source of warmth, we can go as far as burning our own hands to get through the cold. Or perhaps, we hope that we could hibernate, like the beasts of the animal world. Zoljargal Puevdash's “If Only I Could Hibernate” is a wish and a promise that a young boy, Ulzii, excellently portrayed by the newcomer Batsooj Uurtsaikh, makes to his family, and more importantly to himself, that they are more than their circumstance. This debut premiered in Un Certain Regard at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and made history as the first Mongolian film to play in the official selection. It is a gentle but resilient coming of age in the biting winters of the Mongolian capital.
If Only I could Hibernate is screening at Cannes Official poster...
Winters have the propensity to crawl inside the skin and seep into the bones. And when there is no source of warmth, we can go as far as burning our own hands to get through the cold. Or perhaps, we hope that we could hibernate, like the beasts of the animal world. Zoljargal Puevdash's “If Only I Could Hibernate” is a wish and a promise that a young boy, Ulzii, excellently portrayed by the newcomer Batsooj Uurtsaikh, makes to his family, and more importantly to himself, that they are more than their circumstance. This debut premiered in Un Certain Regard at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and made history as the first Mongolian film to play in the official selection. It is a gentle but resilient coming of age in the biting winters of the Mongolian capital.
If Only I could Hibernate is screening at Cannes Official poster...
- 5/27/2023
- by Guest Writer
- AsianMoviePulse
Meeting a down-to-earth talent in Cannes is always a bit of a shock, especially if it's a one-on-one interview in a nice setting, untimed by the publicists who handle the red carpet folks, telling you how privileged you are to be granted five minutes to be in their presence. This year is parfticularly challenging for the journalists accredited in Cannes, since they are told that some stars won't be giving any interviews at all, and if they kind of are, those turn out to be junkets involving so many people at the table, that the same gig gets published in 23 languages the next day.
The talent we spoke to is writing history. Zoljargal Purevdash is not only the first Mongolian director with a film in festival's 76-year-old existence, but her debut feature “If Only I Could Hibernate” that runs for both The Golden Camera Award and the main prize of the Un Certain Regard competition,...
The talent we spoke to is writing history. Zoljargal Purevdash is not only the first Mongolian director with a film in festival's 76-year-old existence, but her debut feature “If Only I Could Hibernate” that runs for both The Golden Camera Award and the main prize of the Un Certain Regard competition,...
- 5/25/2023
- by Marina D. Richter
- AsianMoviePulse
Natacha Kaganski has joined Luxbox as festivals and acquisitions manager and Solène Colomer has been named sales & marketing coordinator.
Previously, Kaganski spent four years as acquisitions manager at Wild Bunch, where she handled deals for the French and international market as well as coordination for multi-territories deals with the Wild Bunch group, such as Germany, Spain and Italy.
She was involved in films likeVenice winner “Happening” by Audrey Diwan, Gaspar Noé’s “Vortex” or “Leila’s Brothers,” also taking part in first Wild Bunch productions.
Solène Colomer has one year of experience assisting the sales and production teams at Urban Group under her belt. She was involved in “Plan 75” by Chie Hayakawa and “If Only I Could Hibernate” by Zoljargal Purevdash which, as reported by Variety, has already made history in Cannes.
They complete the already existing team with president Fiorella Moretti and Jennyfer Gautier, head of international sales.
“Personally,...
Previously, Kaganski spent four years as acquisitions manager at Wild Bunch, where she handled deals for the French and international market as well as coordination for multi-territories deals with the Wild Bunch group, such as Germany, Spain and Italy.
She was involved in films likeVenice winner “Happening” by Audrey Diwan, Gaspar Noé’s “Vortex” or “Leila’s Brothers,” also taking part in first Wild Bunch productions.
Solène Colomer has one year of experience assisting the sales and production teams at Urban Group under her belt. She was involved in “Plan 75” by Chie Hayakawa and “If Only I Could Hibernate” by Zoljargal Purevdash which, as reported by Variety, has already made history in Cannes.
They complete the already existing team with president Fiorella Moretti and Jennyfer Gautier, head of international sales.
“Personally,...
- 5/24/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Zoljargal Purevdash’s “If Only I Could Hibernate,” the first Mongolian film to be shown in Cannes’ official selection, marks another important step for the industry that’s ready to make some moves.
“Things are looking up,” observes the director, mentioning the newly established Mongolian National Film Council and Mongolian Film Fund. “Mongolia just introduced its new film law [which came into force in January 2022] so it’s really starting right now. I hope we will be able to make more films in the future.”
Her debut feature, presented at Un Certain Regard, was produced by Amygdala Films and France’s Urban Factory, with Urban Sales also on board.
“It’s still not that easy to co-produce with Mongolia, but there is finally a new fund in place for these films. When you start supporting local producers and then you end up in Cannes, it’s a very good sign,” notes Urban Factory’s Frédéric Corvez.
“Things are looking up,” observes the director, mentioning the newly established Mongolian National Film Council and Mongolian Film Fund. “Mongolia just introduced its new film law [which came into force in January 2022] so it’s really starting right now. I hope we will be able to make more films in the future.”
Her debut feature, presented at Un Certain Regard, was produced by Amygdala Films and France’s Urban Factory, with Urban Sales also on board.
“It’s still not that easy to co-produce with Mongolia, but there is finally a new fund in place for these films. When you start supporting local producers and then you end up in Cannes, it’s a very good sign,” notes Urban Factory’s Frédéric Corvez.
- 5/22/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Zoljargal Purevdash’s debut feature If Only I Could Hibernate tells the story of a teenager living in the yurt district of Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, who is determined to win a physics competition and earn a scholarship to a good school.
But his plans change when his mother takes a job in the countryside and leaves him and his siblings to fend for themselves. Rather than study, he’s forced to take a risky job so he can buy food and fuel.
“My mum opened a shop in the yurt district when I was teenager and we saw many different kinds of people – some were nomads, some living in difficult situations, some parents buying alcohol for themselves, but no food for their kids, just a few cheap candies,” Purevdash tells Deadline. “Somehow, I always wanted to create something for those innocent little children, to tell them a story that would make them happy,...
But his plans change when his mother takes a job in the countryside and leaves him and his siblings to fend for themselves. Rather than study, he’s forced to take a risky job so he can buy food and fuel.
“My mum opened a shop in the yurt district when I was teenager and we saw many different kinds of people – some were nomads, some living in difficult situations, some parents buying alcohol for themselves, but no food for their kids, just a few cheap candies,” Purevdash tells Deadline. “Somehow, I always wanted to create something for those innocent little children, to tell them a story that would make them happy,...
- 5/20/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
The grant will be open for applicants of underrepresented genders.
Breaking Through The Lens (Bttl) has opened up a $10,800 feature film development grant for directors of underrepresented genders.
The grant is funded by jewellery brand Chopard, with Chopard president Caroline Scheufele part of the grant’s official jury.
The winning recipient will become a part of the 2024 Bttl training programme line-up. Applications open on May 23. The winner will be announced at Venice Film Festival.
Bttl, a US-based non-profit that advocates for a more equitable film industry, supports directors of underrepresented genders through three key pitching and industry events, held at Cannes,...
Breaking Through The Lens (Bttl) has opened up a $10,800 feature film development grant for directors of underrepresented genders.
The grant is funded by jewellery brand Chopard, with Chopard president Caroline Scheufele part of the grant’s official jury.
The winning recipient will become a part of the 2024 Bttl training programme line-up. Applications open on May 23. The winner will be announced at Venice Film Festival.
Bttl, a US-based non-profit that advocates for a more equitable film industry, supports directors of underrepresented genders through three key pitching and industry events, held at Cannes,...
- 5/19/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
The revenge story stars Nicolas Duvauchelle, Finnegan Oldfield, Denis Lavant and Florent Hill-Chouaki.
Georgian-French director Akaki Popkhadze’s mafia thriller In the Name of Blood has joined the Urban Sales family with the Paris-based sales company headed by Frédéric Corvez acquiring global rights to the France-set feature ahead of the Cannes market.
In the Name of Blood (Brûle le Sang) stars Nicolas Duvauchelle, Finnegan Oldfield, Denis Lavant and Florent Hill-Chouaki. Set in a working-class neighbourhood in Nice, the film follows an aspiring orthodox priest whose father, a pillar in the local Georgian community, is murdered and his older brother with...
Georgian-French director Akaki Popkhadze’s mafia thriller In the Name of Blood has joined the Urban Sales family with the Paris-based sales company headed by Frédéric Corvez acquiring global rights to the France-set feature ahead of the Cannes market.
In the Name of Blood (Brûle le Sang) stars Nicolas Duvauchelle, Finnegan Oldfield, Denis Lavant and Florent Hill-Chouaki. Set in a working-class neighbourhood in Nice, the film follows an aspiring orthodox priest whose father, a pillar in the local Georgian community, is murdered and his older brother with...
- 5/12/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Firm has hired Eric Mabillon as head of business and legal affairs
Paris-based Urban Group has hired Eric Mabillon as head of business and legal affairs and has made a number of key appointments across its sales, distribution and production divisions.
Urban Group is home to sales companies Urban Sales and Reservoir Docs, French distributor Urban Distribution and production arm Urban Factory.
Mabillon has joined Urban Group as head of business and legal affairs. He has previously been head of business and legal affairs at Paradis Films and Celluloid Dreams as well as in charge of legal affairs for Le Pacte...
Paris-based Urban Group has hired Eric Mabillon as head of business and legal affairs and has made a number of key appointments across its sales, distribution and production divisions.
Urban Group is home to sales companies Urban Sales and Reservoir Docs, French distributor Urban Distribution and production arm Urban Factory.
Mabillon has joined Urban Group as head of business and legal affairs. He has previously been head of business and legal affairs at Paradis Films and Celluloid Dreams as well as in charge of legal affairs for Le Pacte...
- 5/3/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Although there are plenty of examples of features involving the idea of hinting at something, rather then stating it openly, the art of subtlety is largely lost, at least when it comes to mainstream cinema. Especially when it comes to human emotion or longing, it can be a moment, a seemingly banal item or even the expression you have when no one is looking, which can give away much of what is going on in our lives. Given the structure of short features, there are some interesting examples exercising the art of subtlety and relying on visuals rather than any other means to express a variety of things. One such example is certainly “Naked Bulb” by Mongolian filmmaker Zoljargal Purevdash, a feature about loneliness, temptation and the craving to be close to somebody.
Naked Bulb is screening Busan International Short Film Festival
A woman (Nomin Batbayar) lives with her daughter in a small apartment.
Naked Bulb is screening Busan International Short Film Festival
A woman (Nomin Batbayar) lives with her daughter in a small apartment.
- 5/2/2023
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Frédéric Corvez’s Paris-based Urban Sales has boarded “Pictures of Ghosts”, the latest film of renowned Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho.
The movie, which marks Mendonça Filho’s fifth feature film, will world premiere at Cannes in the Special Screenings section.
“Pictures of Ghosts” will mark the director’s third film to bow at Cannes, following two competition entries, “Bacurau” (co-directed by Juliano Dornelles) which won the Jury Prize n 2019, and “Aquarius” in 2016.
“Pictures of Ghosts” combines archive documentary, mystery, film clips and personal memories. The film is produced by Emilie Lesclaux at CinemaScópio Produções and co-produced by Silvia Cruz and Felipe Lopes’ Vitrine Filmes.
Described as a multidimensional journey through time, sound, architecture and filmmaking, “Pictures of Ghosts” is set in the urban landscape of Recife, located in the Brazilian coastal capital of Pernambuco. Having hosted dreams and progress, these places have also embodied a major transformation on social practices.
The movie, which marks Mendonça Filho’s fifth feature film, will world premiere at Cannes in the Special Screenings section.
“Pictures of Ghosts” will mark the director’s third film to bow at Cannes, following two competition entries, “Bacurau” (co-directed by Juliano Dornelles) which won the Jury Prize n 2019, and “Aquarius” in 2016.
“Pictures of Ghosts” combines archive documentary, mystery, film clips and personal memories. The film is produced by Emilie Lesclaux at CinemaScópio Produções and co-produced by Silvia Cruz and Felipe Lopes’ Vitrine Filmes.
Described as a multidimensional journey through time, sound, architecture and filmmaking, “Pictures of Ghosts” is set in the urban landscape of Recife, located in the Brazilian coastal capital of Pernambuco. Having hosted dreams and progress, these places have also embodied a major transformation on social practices.
- 4/27/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
As film events kick into full swing with no shortage of highly anticipated releases this year, the prestigious Cannes Film Festival has unveiled the Official Selection for its 76th edition, which will take place from May 16 to May 27, 2023. Here is a list of the Asian films selected for each section including Competition, Un Certain Regard as well as special screenings:
Competition
Monster
Kuru Otlar Ustune / About Dry Grasses
Perfect Days
Jeunesse
Monster, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Japan Un Certain Regard
The Breaking Ice
If Only I Could Hibernate
Hopeless
Out of Competition
Cobweb
Midnight Screenings
Kennedy
Cannes Premiere
Kubi
Special Screenings
Man in Black...
Competition
Monster
Kuru Otlar Ustune / About Dry Grasses
Perfect Days
Jeunesse
Monster, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Japan Un Certain Regard
The Breaking Ice
If Only I Could Hibernate
Hopeless
Out of Competition
Cobweb
Midnight Screenings
Kennedy
Cannes Premiere
Kubi
Special Screenings
Man in Black...
- 4/18/2023
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
Stars are getting ready to walk the Croisette.
On Thursday, the Cannes Film Festival announced its full 2023 lineup, including some heavy hitters like Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City”.
Read More: Scorsese’s Long-Awaited ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ To Premiere At Cannes In May
The festival had been teasing Scorsese’s film, which stars Leonard DiCaprio, for weeks ahead of the official announcement.
“Killers” will be playing out of competition, alongside the hotly anticipated sequel “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”, as well as Sam Levinson’s TV show with The Weeknd “The Idol”, and the Johnny Depp-starring “Jeanne du Barry”, which will open the festival.
“Asteroid City”, which features an all-star cast including Jason Schwartzman, Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Scarlett Johansson and Tilda Swinton, will be vying for the Palme D’Or in competition.
Other films in competition...
On Thursday, the Cannes Film Festival announced its full 2023 lineup, including some heavy hitters like Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City”.
Read More: Scorsese’s Long-Awaited ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ To Premiere At Cannes In May
The festival had been teasing Scorsese’s film, which stars Leonard DiCaprio, for weeks ahead of the official announcement.
“Killers” will be playing out of competition, alongside the hotly anticipated sequel “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”, as well as Sam Levinson’s TV show with The Weeknd “The Idol”, and the Johnny Depp-starring “Jeanne du Barry”, which will open the festival.
“Asteroid City”, which features an all-star cast including Jason Schwartzman, Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Scarlett Johansson and Tilda Swinton, will be vying for the Palme D’Or in competition.
Other films in competition...
- 4/13/2023
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
Discover the list of feature films selected in Competition, Un Certain Regard, Out of Competition, Midnight Screenings, Cannes Premiere and Special Screenings.
In Competition
Jeanne Du Barry by MAÏWENN – Opening Film Out of Competition
Club Zero by Jessica Hausner
The Zone Of Interest by Jonathan Glazer
Fallen Leaves by Aki Kaurismaki
Les Filles D’Olfa by Kaouther Ben Hania
(Four Daughters)
Asteroid City by Wes Anderson
Anatomie D’Une Chute by Justine Triet
Monster by Kore-eda Hirokazu
Il Sol Dell’ Avvenire by Nanni Moretti
L’ÉTÉ Dernier by Catherine Breillat
Kuru Otlar Ustune by Nuri Bilge Ceylan
(About Dry Grasses)
LA Chimera by Alice Rohrwacher
LA Passion De Dodin Bouffant by Tran Anh Hun
Rapito by Marco Bellocchio
May December by Todd Haynes
Jeunesse by Wang Bing
The Old Oak by Ken Loach
Banel E Adama by Ramata-Toulaye Sy | 1st film
Perfect Days by Wim Wenders
Firebrand by Karim AÏNOUZ
Un...
In Competition
Jeanne Du Barry by MAÏWENN – Opening Film Out of Competition
Club Zero by Jessica Hausner
The Zone Of Interest by Jonathan Glazer
Fallen Leaves by Aki Kaurismaki
Les Filles D’Olfa by Kaouther Ben Hania
(Four Daughters)
Asteroid City by Wes Anderson
Anatomie D’Une Chute by Justine Triet
Monster by Kore-eda Hirokazu
Il Sol Dell’ Avvenire by Nanni Moretti
L’ÉTÉ Dernier by Catherine Breillat
Kuru Otlar Ustune by Nuri Bilge Ceylan
(About Dry Grasses)
LA Chimera by Alice Rohrwacher
LA Passion De Dodin Bouffant by Tran Anh Hun
Rapito by Marco Bellocchio
May December by Todd Haynes
Jeunesse by Wang Bing
The Old Oak by Ken Loach
Banel E Adama by Ramata-Toulaye Sy | 1st film
Perfect Days by Wim Wenders
Firebrand by Karim AÏNOUZ
Un...
- 4/13/2023
- by Movies Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
The 76th Cannes Film Festival unveiled its 2023 official selection Thursday morning in Paris, delivering the usual mix of festival regulars and exciting new filmmaking voices. The latest films from Cannes mainstays like Ken Loach, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Todd Haynes, Nanni Moretti and Wes Anderson were included in the selection, as expected. But Cannes also maintained its reputation as the preeminent discoverer of new cinematic talent with the inclusion of newcomers like Senegalese director Ramata Toulaye Sy, whose debut feature Banel & Adama landed in the main competition, and the very first Mongolian film to be invited to the festival, If Only I Could Hibernate, by Zoljargal Purevdash, screening in Un Certain Regard.
There was one less familiar aspect to the 2023 program announcement, though: A couple of filmmakers were included twice.
German filmmaking legend Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire, Paris, Texas), still going strong at the age of 77, will be doing double duty...
There was one less familiar aspect to the 2023 program announcement, though: A couple of filmmakers were included twice.
German filmmaking legend Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire, Paris, Texas), still going strong at the age of 77, will be doing double duty...
- 4/13/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Get your tux out of the mothballs and brush up on your French phrasebook: After feverish speculation about what might premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, the lineup has finally been announced.
Thierry Frémaux’s annual press conference, which you can watch below, has wrapped and we now know what will debut on the Croisette when Cannes takes place May 16-27. We already knew there’d be a spot for Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” that Harrison Ford and James Mangold would be bringing fedora couture with “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (filling this year’s blockbuster spot reserved by “Top Gun: Maverick” last year), and that, controversially, the Johnny Depp-starring film “Jeanne du Barry” by Maïwenn would open the festival.
Among the titles now confirmed to appear at Cannes are Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City,” Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest,” Todd Haynes’ “May/December,...
Thierry Frémaux’s annual press conference, which you can watch below, has wrapped and we now know what will debut on the Croisette when Cannes takes place May 16-27. We already knew there’d be a spot for Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” that Harrison Ford and James Mangold would be bringing fedora couture with “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (filling this year’s blockbuster spot reserved by “Top Gun: Maverick” last year), and that, controversially, the Johnny Depp-starring film “Jeanne du Barry” by Maïwenn would open the festival.
Among the titles now confirmed to appear at Cannes are Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City,” Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest,” Todd Haynes’ “May/December,...
- 4/13/2023
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
It’s Christmas morning for cinephiles. As per tradition, the Cannes Film Festival unveiled its 2023 selections in a press conference early this morning––at least for those of us stateside. Now in its 76th edition, this year’s event will take place May 16-27.
With Killers of the Flower Moon and Indiana Jones’ fifth and supposedly final outing previously confirmed, both out of competition, new highlights in competition include Todd Haynes‘ May December, Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, Alice Rohrwacher’s La chimera, Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s About Dry Grasses, and Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves. Additional selections include Víctor Erice’s long-awaiting return to filmmaking Cerrar los ojos, Steve McQueen’s documentary Occupied City, Takeshi Kitano’s Kubi, Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Pictures of Ghosts, plus two films from both Wang Bing and Wim Wenders.
While more announcements will be made in the coming weeks, and there...
With Killers of the Flower Moon and Indiana Jones’ fifth and supposedly final outing previously confirmed, both out of competition, new highlights in competition include Todd Haynes‘ May December, Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, Alice Rohrwacher’s La chimera, Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s About Dry Grasses, and Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves. Additional selections include Víctor Erice’s long-awaiting return to filmmaking Cerrar los ojos, Steve McQueen’s documentary Occupied City, Takeshi Kitano’s Kubi, Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Pictures of Ghosts, plus two films from both Wang Bing and Wim Wenders.
While more announcements will be made in the coming weeks, and there...
- 4/13/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The anticipation is running high at the Cannes Film Festival’s packed annual press conference on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, where festival chief Thierry Fremaux is expected to unveil the bulk of the Official Selection for the 76th edition.
The festival has been teasing cinephiles with splashy announcements about Martin Scorsese returning to the Croisette with “Killers of the Flower Moon,” 38 years after winning best director with “After Hour,” as well as Disney’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” and Pedro Almodóvar’s short film, “Strange Way of Life.”
But Fremaux, who is leading the presser with the festival’s new president Iris Knobloch, is expected to have saved a few high-profile surprises, including Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City,” starring an ensemble cast that includes Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Scarlett Johansson and Tilda Swinton; Todd Haynes’ “May December” with Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore; Karim Aïnouz’s Henry VIII...
The festival has been teasing cinephiles with splashy announcements about Martin Scorsese returning to the Croisette with “Killers of the Flower Moon,” 38 years after winning best director with “After Hour,” as well as Disney’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” and Pedro Almodóvar’s short film, “Strange Way of Life.”
But Fremaux, who is leading the presser with the festival’s new president Iris Knobloch, is expected to have saved a few high-profile surprises, including Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City,” starring an ensemble cast that includes Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Scarlett Johansson and Tilda Swinton; Todd Haynes’ “May December” with Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore; Karim Aïnouz’s Henry VIII...
- 4/13/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The selection includes films by Wes Anderson, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Wim Wenders, Ken Loach, Todd Haynes and Steve McQueen.
The Official Selection of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival has been announced.
Scroll down for the line-up
The selection includes films by Wes Anderson, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Wim Wenders, Ken Loach, Todd Haynes and Steve McQueen.
As previously announced, ’s Jeanne du Barry, starring the director opposite Johnny Depp, will open the festival on May 16.
The festival’s longtime director Thierry Frémaux revealed the Official Selection at a press conference at the Ugc Normandie theatre in Paris today alongside incoming festival president Iris Knobloch.
The Official Selection of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival has been announced.
Scroll down for the line-up
The selection includes films by Wes Anderson, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Wim Wenders, Ken Loach, Todd Haynes and Steve McQueen.
As previously announced, ’s Jeanne du Barry, starring the director opposite Johnny Depp, will open the festival on May 16.
The festival’s longtime director Thierry Frémaux revealed the Official Selection at a press conference at the Ugc Normandie theatre in Paris today alongside incoming festival president Iris Knobloch.
- 4/13/2023
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
The Doha Film Institute’s Qumra talent and project incubator event returned as a 100% in-person event last week, bringing participants together face-to-face in Doha for the first time since it was forced online in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It’s been great to have everyone back gain. I keep pinching myself that it’s still happening. I could not be happier with how it has gone,” said Dfi CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi.
The ninth edition, running from March 10 to 15, gathered 44 Dfi grantee projects across all formats and in various stages of development and production, accompanied by their first, second and third-time directors and producers.
The Dfi is one of the main sources of funding for independent cinema in the Middle East and North Africa, a region with very little state support for independent film.
“We have between 400 to 500 submissions per cycle, and we have two cycles a year. It...
“It’s been great to have everyone back gain. I keep pinching myself that it’s still happening. I could not be happier with how it has gone,” said Dfi CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi.
The ninth edition, running from March 10 to 15, gathered 44 Dfi grantee projects across all formats and in various stages of development and production, accompanied by their first, second and third-time directors and producers.
The Dfi is one of the main sources of funding for independent cinema in the Middle East and North Africa, a region with very little state support for independent film.
“We have between 400 to 500 submissions per cycle, and we have two cycles a year. It...
- 3/20/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Long distance relationships are hard work, but in this nomadic lifestyle we all have come to fall for, it is also a necessity, albeit often just temporal. Will we ever get used to this taxing reality? Will our body and mind be able to stay together, or is it a long-distance relationship even between them? Mongolian directress Zoljargal Purevdash, inspired by her personal experience, has tried to switch the light on the matter in this short slice-of-life film jocosely called “Naked Bulb”.
Naked Bulb is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
The opening scene shows a passionate kiss in the lift, but unfortunately our protagonist is only an embarrassed bystander. The young woman (Nomin Batbayar) shares her days between her daughter and her writing job in her semi-empty apartment. That emptiness, however, is more related to her absent husband than to a lack of furniture. In fact, he is working...
Naked Bulb is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
The opening scene shows a passionate kiss in the lift, but unfortunately our protagonist is only an embarrassed bystander. The young woman (Nomin Batbayar) shares her days between her daughter and her writing job in her semi-empty apartment. That emptiness, however, is more related to her absent husband than to a lack of furniture. In fact, he is working...
- 3/12/2021
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
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