European films cross borders with €9 million from MEDIA

The results have been published for MEDIA's Selective Scheme (July 2010 deadline) and four UK distribution companies received grants to support six releases of European films in the UK. Artificial Eye received funding for the UK releases of three films, including a 45,000 grant towards the release of Xavier Beauvoir's award-winning Des hommes et des dieux (Of Gods and Men),which is out in UK cinemas on 3 December. The film, which was the 2010 winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival, is receiving in total over 500,000 from MEDIA for distribution in 20 European territories.

The other successful UK distributors are New Wave Films, with a grant of 10,000 for the release of Le quattro volte (The Four Times),directed by Michelangelo Frammartino and Trinity Filmed Entertainment, with a grant of 50,000 for the release of Benda bilili!,directed by Renaud Barret and Florent de La Tullaye. Revolver Entertainment also received an award of 100,000 for the UK release of the French hit romantic-comedy L'arnacoeur (Heartbreaker),directed by Pascal Chaumeil, and starring Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis.

In total, over 5 million was awarded to distributors across Europe to release non-domestic European films theatrically. Several UK films had their European releases bolstered with these grants; Stephen Frear's Tamara Drewe, and Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, received over 500,000 each towards their European releases. Route Irish, directed by Ken Loach, received more than 300,000 towards its release in 12 European countries and Hideo Nakata's new film, Chatroom,starring Aaron Johnson, also received 227,000 for release in 12 European countries.

Earlier in the year 4 million's worth of support was also granted from the Selective Scheme to support the European releases of over 20 European titles. They included StreetDance 3D which received over 874,500 for 16 territories, Io sono l'amore, for which Metrodome in the UK received 110,000, and Gainsbourgwas awarded 341,000 for release in 12 countries.

See the full results of the Selective Schemeon our website.

Publication date: 02 Dec 2010