News

W&b Television hat in diesem Jahr einen Lauf auf Netflix mit den Produktionen „60 Minuten“ und „Crooks“, die jeweils auch internationalen Anklang fanden. Jetzt produzieren sie einen deutschen Erotik-Thriller mit Svenja Jung und Theo Trebs.

Svenja Jung und Theo Trebs (Credit: Netflix / Julia Terjung)

Der Netflix-Erotik-Thriller „Fall for Me“ (At) ist seit kurzem auf Mallorca in Produktion. Die Hauptrollen spielen Svenja Jung und Theo Trebs. Sherry Hormann führt Regie nach einem Drehbuch von Stefanie Sycholt. Die Produktion verantwortet W&b Television, die in diesem Jahr schon „60 Minuten“ und „Crooks“ erfolgreich zum Streamingdienst brachten.

Zur Handlung: Lilli reist auf die sonnenverwöhnte Insel Mallorca um abzuschalten und ihre kleine Schwester Valeria zu besuchen. Bei Lillis Ankunft enthüllt Valeria ihr sowohl die überstürzte Verlobung mit dem charmanten Franzosen Manu, als auch den gemeinsamen Plan, in ein luxuriöses B&b zu investieren. Lilli ist misstrauisch. Beim Versuch, mehr über den Verlobten ihrer Schwester zu erfahren,...

Following the international acclaim of “Babylon Berlin,” XFilme Creative Pool, in partnership with Beta Film, debuted excerpts from its newest drama series, “House of Promises,” scoring on Sunday MipDrama’s prestigious Buyers’ Coup de Couer Award.

The 12-part drama, directed by the reputed Sherry Hormann (“Desert Flower”) and Umut Dag (“Vienna Blood”) for bullishly growing SVOD service Rtl Plus, centers on its female protagonists, giving breath to their histories and the tide-shift taking place in the ‘20s that allowed them to chase their passions and ambitions fiercely.

“House of Promises” is the female perspective of the Golden 20s. The center of our series isn’t only a love story, it’s about love on all levels. Romantic love, love within a family. It’s about the failure of love, about friendship and love between women,” Hormann notes.

“Our vision is to dive into daily life at this time. Telling facts...

The 7th MipDrama – an industry centrepiece at Cannes MipTV trade fair – wrapped with Germany’s “House of Promises” scooping the prestigious Buyers’ Coup de Coeur award.

The romantic drama proved the clear favorite among the MipDrama audience gathered in the Debussy Theatre at Cannes’ Palais des Festivals, receiving the most rapturous applause of the day following its presentation.

The 12-episode series stars Naemi Feitisch, Ludwig Simon – also seen in Amazon’s Prime Video series “Beat” – Alexander Scheer and Nina Kunzendorf, fresh off hit Viaplay Original “Furia.”

Set in Berlin, “House of Promises” explores the eventful story behind the legendary credit department store Jonass, founded in the 1920s in a building which has now become Berlin’s Soho House.

While the times are hard, marked by poverty and hardship, the protagonists of “House of Promises” still dream of a better future. Including Vicky (Feitisch), a headstrong young woman desperate to earn...

TVNow, Rtl Deutschland’s streaming service, high-flying Berlin-based production house X Filme Creative Pool and production-distribution powerhouse Beta Film are partnering on what looks like one of the biggest German drama series productions of 2021: “House of Promises,” (a working title).

Beta Film is handling world sales and will present first moving images of the series at October’s Mipcom trade fair in Cannes, it said Friday.

Described by Beta Film as a “high-end” and a “visually stunning drama,” the 12-hour series is currently shooting on location in Berlin, Brandenburg and the Saxon city of Görlitz. Set in Berlin in the 1920s, it captures the hopes of a dazzling decade and the dramatic turn of an era from the perspective of a young woman and a Jewish family, owner of a state-of-the-art department store at Berlin’s Torstrasse 1.

Award winning director Sherry Hormann directs episodes 1-6, once again focusing on “complex,...

First production to receive backing is Netflix’s ‘1899’ by ‘Dark’ creators.

The German federal states of Berlin and Brandenburg are investing €13m annually to develop the region as an international hub for digital film and TV production.

Administered by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, its first investment has been made in Dark creators Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar 1899 for Netflix. The eight-part mystery series began shooting at a custom-built virtual production studio called Dark Bay on the Studio Babelsberg lot yesterday (May 3). The studio has been set up by Friese and bo Odar’s own company Dark Ways with Studio Babelsberg and backing from Netflix.

"I am just a woman..." The Match Factory has released an official promo trailer for a German film titled A Regular Woman, originally Nur Eine Frau (or "Just a Woman") in German, made by filmmaker Sherry Hormann. This premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, but is still seeking international distribution outside of Germany. The film is based on the true story of Hatun Aynur Sürücü, whose murder caused an outcry in 2005. It tells of her struggle for a free, self-determined life in the face of her family's intense opposition. Her brothers refuse to accept her lifestyle, and insults & threats continue to escalate. Finally, the young woman reports her oldest brother to the police. But this won't save her in the end... Starring Almila Bagriacik as Aynur, with a cast including Rauand Taleb, Meral Perin, Mürtüz Yolcu, Armin Wahedi, and Aram Arami. A sad story of how hard it is to live a free life,...

Based on the same real-life “honor killing” that inspired fellow German Feo Aladag’s prize-winning 2010 feature “When We Leave,” Sherry Hormann’s “A Regular Woman” takes a compelling new approach to the contentious 2005 case that shocked Germany: By allowing the murdered woman — a 23-year-old German of Turkish-Kurdish ancestry shot point blank by her youngest brother — to narrate the action both before and after her death, the director (“Desert Flower”) restores the victim’s voice. Further fest screenings and niche arthouse play should follow the film’s Tribeca world premiere.

From a family of strict Sunni Muslims and the oldest daughter of nine siblings, Hatun “Aynur” Sürücü was forced to leave her Kreuzberg school in 1998, age 16, and marry a cousin in Istanbul. In her voiceover, which outlines the expectations assigned to a dutiful daughter, Aynur calls it “a change of owner,” as control over her person shifts from father to husband.

No great movie, even if dealing with bleak subject matter, is depressing. It's an ineffable quality — a grim story (Robert Bresson's L'Argent, Claire Denis's Bastards and Steven Spielberg's Munich come immediately to this writer's mind) that leaves a viewer oddly elated. For all its scrupulousness of performance, aesthetic and intent, director Sherry Hormann and screenwriter Florian Oeller's Tribeca Film Festival world premiere, A Regular Woman, is not such a movie.

Based on an actual incident, the film dramatizes the short life and violent death of Hatun "Aynur" Sürücü (Almila Bagriacik), a ...

No great movie, even if dealing with bleak subject matter, is depressing. It's an ineffable quality — a grim story (Robert Bresson's L'Argent, Claire Denis's Bastards and Steven Spielberg's Munich come immediately to this writer's mind) that leaves a viewer oddly elated. For all its scrupulousness of performance, aesthetic and intent, director Sherry Hormann and screenwriter Florian Oeller's Tribeca Film Festival world premiere, A Regular Woman, is not such a movie.

Based on an actual incident, the film dramatizes the short life and violent death of Hatun "Aynur" Sürücü (Almila Bagriacik), a ...

German mini-major Constantin Film has acquired Hager Moss Film, a Munich-based production outfit best known for its television dramas.

Founded in 1989 by producers Kirsten Hager and Eric Moss, Hager Moss Film has produced more than 70 TV movies and feature films, including Pepe Danquart's acclaimed documentary To the Limit, which was nominated for a German Film Award and European Film Award in 2008. Among its more successful features have been the soccer-set rom-com Guys and Balls (2007) from Sherry Hormann's, and Johannes Brunner's crime drama Oktoberfest (2005).

But TV is the main focus at Hager Moss, which has produced ...

Emily Atef’s film about actress Romy Schneider receives 10 nods including best film, best direction.

Emily Atef’s Berlinale Competition film 3 Days in Quiberon has dominated the nominations for this year’s German Film Awards (also known as the Lola Awards).

It scored ten nods, including best feature film, best direction, best lead actress (for Marie Bäumer), best supporting actor, best cinematography and best film score.

The Rohfilm Factory production will compete in the best feature film category with another of this year’s Berlinale competition films, Thomas Stuber’s In The Aisles, the Berlinale Special title The Silent Revolution,...

The second edition of the 'Women in Motion' program will take place in Cannes from May 11 to 22, 2016 at the 69th Festival de Cannes.

The year’s official poster is of Frances McDormand whose presentation at last year’s first edition illuminated gender bias practices within the film industry in the most captivating, funny and serious presentation of the several presentations given.

During her Talk on 22 May 2015, the actress addressed the impact gender discrimination had on budget negotiations for female filmmakers, the lack of money being one of the main issues faced within the industry. Frances McDormand made her point hit home:

"We don't need help, we need money. We don't need more initiatives; we need money."

"Women in motion - it's done! We are moving, we just need to catch up."

Read more on SydneysBuzz about the inaugural sessions of Women in Motion, Cannes 2015.

Launched jointly by Kering and the Festival de Cannes in 2015 as part of an official five year partnership, the 'Women in Motion' program celebrates women's talent in cinema. In keeping with the first edition, the 'Women in Motion' program will be comprised of its two founding pillars: the 'Women in Motion' Talks and the 'Women in Motion' Awards.

The Talks will be announced ahead of the Festival, and will highlight the contribution of women and discuss their role in the film industry.

In addition to the Talks, the first 'Women in Motion' Award will reward the exemplary contribution of a laureate to both the film industry and women's causes. The second Award will be attributed to one or several up-and-coming talents in the film industry, chosen from a shortlist of individuals compiled throughout 2015.

To watch Frances McDormand's Talk on 22 May 2015 visit Here

"I am proud that ‘Women in Motion’ has once again been given the chance to feature in the program of such a major event as the Festival de Cannes this year. In 2015, ‘Women in Motion’ proved to be a powerful platform for supporting women in cinema.

With ‘Women in Motion’ – and even more so this year, given the real support we are providing to several female directors – we are taking another step towards real awareness and tangible changes, promoting a film industry that is more representative of the richness and diversity of our societies." -François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of the Kering Group

The ‘Women in Motion’ Talks: discussing the role and importance of women in film

Taking place as morning sessions throughout the entire competition, this year’s ‘Women in Motion’ Talks will welcome guests from outside the film industry to enrich the discussions about the place and contribution of women in cinema and underline solutions which would make the industry more representative.

· During the first edition of the ‘Women in Motion’ Talks held in 2015, a number of high-profile men and women eagerly joined the debate. Isabella Rossellini, Claire Denis, Salma Hayek Pinault, Matthias Schoenaerts, Melvil Poupaud, Isabelle Huppert, Sylvie Pialat, Agnès Varda, Thierry Frémaux, Frances McDormand and Deniz Gamze Ergüven all expressed their views on women and cinema during a series of interviews open to journalists and industry professionals.

The ‘Women in Motion’ Awards: celebrating talented women

· In addition to the talks, the 69th Cannes International Film Festival will also be marked by the presentation of the ‘Women in Motion’ Awards.

· In 2015, two honorary awards were attributed; the first to actress, producer and committed philanthropist Jane Fonda, who also holds two Oscars for best actress; and the second to independent producer Megan Ellison to celebrate the launch of the ‘Women in Motion’ programme. Both women are emblematic of their cinematic generations.

· In 2016, the first award will be presented to a laureate who has made an exemplary contribution to both the film industry and women’s causes. The first award winner will then be offered the chance to choose the recipient(s) of the second award, intended to support up-and-coming talents in the film industry, from a shortlist of individuals compiled throughout 2015. The second award will be accompanied by financial support for an ongoing film project.

· The awards will be presented on 15 May 2016, during the ‘Presidential Dinner’ organised by Kering and the Festival de Cannes and hosted by François-Henri Pinault, Pierre Lescure and Thierry Frémaux.

A long-term commitment to both Women and Cinema

Kering and cinema

· From financing films and restoring works to producing documentaries and supporting producers and feature films, Kering and its Corporate Foundation have supported a number of films with a strong message: “Desert Flower” by Sherry Hormann (2009), “Home” by Yann-Arthus Bertrand (2009), “Brave Miss World” by Cecilia Peck (2013), and “Ice and Sky” by Luc Jacquet (2015).

· Kering has also been a partner of the Ecole de la Cité film school, part of the Cité du Cinéma complex created by Luc Besson, since its launch in 2012.

· Through its brands, Kering has also supported high-profile film institutions and festivals, such as the Tribeca Film Institute (New York), Britdoc (London), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Lacma) and the Lumière Festival (Lyon).

Kering and women

· Kering has been committed to empowering women for many years, primarily through the Kering Foundation, created and chaired by François-Henri Pinault, Kering Chairman and CEO, as well as the Chime for Change initiative launched by Gucci, to empower women and girls around the world.

About Kering

A world leader in apparel and accessories, Kering develops an ensemble of powerful Luxury and Sport & Lifestyle brands: Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Brioni, Christopher Kane, McQ, Stella McCartney, Tomas Maier, Boucheron, Dodo, Girard-Perregaux, JeanRichard, Pomellato, Qeelin, Ulysse Nardin, Puma, Volcom, and Cobra. By 'empowering imagination' in the fullest sense, Kering encourages its brands to reach their potential, in the most sustainable manner.

Present in more than 120 countries, the Group generated revenues of more than €11.5 billion in 2015 and had more than 38,000 employees at year end. The Kering (previously Ppr) share is listed on Euronext Paris (Fr 0000121485, Ker.Pa, Ker.Fp).

Festival will feature 10 films from the German cinematographer in February.

The 66th Berlin International Film Festival (Feb 11-21) is to award an Honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement to German cinematographer Michael Ballhaus, to whom the festival is also dedicating this year’s Homage.

Ballhaus is perhaps best known for his collaboration with director Martin Scorsese on films including Goodfellas, The Color of Money, The Age of Innocence and Gangs Of New York.

Before spending 25 years working primarily in the Us, Ballhaus established his reputation in Germany where he worked with, among others, auteur Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

The award will be bestowed on Feb 18, accompanied by a screening of Gangs Of New York, which was shown out of competition at the 2003 Berlinale.

The previous evening, there will be an in conversation event titled Michael Ballhaus Meets Jim Rakete.

Ballhaus was president of the Berlinale’s International Jury in 1990 and was awarded the Berlinale Camera for his unique...

Thierry Fremaux to address women and the film industry as part of a joint venture with new sponsor Kering.

Cannes Film Festival general delegate Thierry Frémaux will tackle the controversial topic of women and film during this year’s edition, as one of the first participants in a new female-focused programme called ‘Women in Motion’.

The programme – a joint initiative between the festival and its new sponsor, the luxury goods group Kering – will feature a series of talks on women and film as well as an award celebrating talented women in the industry.

The talks will discuss a wide-range of topics related to women and film, including women’s status, representation within the profession and on screen, the nature of their narrative points of view and their perspective behind the camera, said the festival and Kering in a joint statement.

Frémaux will be one of the first high-profile guests at the inaugural edition of the talks. The full...

Thierry Fremaux to address women and the film industry as part of a joint venture with new sponsor Kering.

Cannes Film Festival general delegate Thierry Frémaux will tackle the controversial topic of women and film during this year’s edition, as one of the first participants in a new female-focused programme called ‘Women in Motion’.

The programme – a joint initiative between the festival and its new sponsor, the luxury goods group Kering – will feature a series of talks on women and film as well as an award celebrating talented women in the industry.

The talks will discuss a wide-range of topics related to women and film, including women’s status, representation within the profession and on screen, the nature of their narrative points of view and their perspective behind the camera, said the festival and Kering in a joint statement.

Frémaux will be one of the first high-profile guests at the inaugural edition of the talks. The full...

A total of 15 films have been submitted for consideration.

German producers have submitted 15 films for consideration to German Films as the country’s entry for the 87th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

An independent expert jury will decide on Aug 27 which film is to be sent into the race for Germany.

The following titles were submitted:

Home From Home – Chronicle Of A Vision

Edgar Reitz (De/Fr, Erf Edgar Reitz Filmproduktion)

Beloved Sisters

Dominik Graf (Bavaria Filmverleih- und Produktion)

Finsterworld

Frauke Finsterwalder (Walker + Worm Film)

Hanna’s Journey

Julia von Heinz (De/Il, 2 Pilots Filmproduction)

Im Weissen Rössl – Wehe Du Singst

Christian Theede (Ziegler Film)

Stations Of The Cross

Dietrich Brüggemann (Ufa Fiction)

Run Boy Run

Pepe Danquart (De/Fr, bittersuess pictures, A Company Filmproduktion, B.A. Produktion, Quinte Film)

The Last Mentsch

Pierre-Henri Salfati (Elsani Film)

Stereo

Maximilian Erlenwein (Frisbeefilms, Kaissar Film, Wild Bunch Germany)

West

Christian Schwochow (zero one film, Terz...

A total of 15 films have been submitted for consideration.

German producers have submitted 15 films for consideration to German Films as the country’s entry for the 87th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

An independent expert jury will decide on Aug 27 which film is to be sent into the race for Germany.

The following titles were submitted:

Home From Home – Chronicle Of A Vision

Edgar Reitz (De/Fr, Erf Edgar Reitz Filmproduktion)

Beloved Sisters

Dominik Graf (Bavaria Filmverleih- und Produktion)

Finsterworld

Frauke Finsterwalder (Walker + Worm Film)

Hanna’s Journey

Julia von Heinz (De/Il, 2 Pilots Filmproduction)

Im Weissen Rössl – Wehe Du Singst

Christian Theede (Ziegler Film)

Stations Of The Cross

Dietrich Brüggemann (Ufa Fiction)

Run Boy Run

Pepe Danquart (De/Fr, bittersuess pictures, A Company Filmproduktion, B.A. Produktion, Quinte Film)

The Last Mentsch

Pierre-Henri Salfati (Elsani Film)

Stereo

Maximilian Erlenwein (Frisbeefilms, Kaissar Film, Wild Bunch Germany)

West

Christian Schwochow (zero one film, Terz...

Constantin Film has been named by the German Federal Film Board (Ffa) as the nation’s top producer of German films for the ninth consecutive year in 2013 and the top distributor for the tenth consecutive year.

The Munich-based producer-distributor was allocated around €2.2m ($3m) “reference funding” in total by the Ffa to invest in future film projects and theatrical campaigns.

The company attracted €1.6m ($2.2m) production “reference” funding based on the box office of such releases as Bora Dagtekin’s comedy Fack Ju Göhte (Suck Me Shakespeer) which was seen by more than 5.8 million cinemagoers last year, as well as Sherry Hormann’s 3096 Tage about the abduction of Natascha Kampusch, and the comedy Dampfnudelblues.

In addition, eight successful releases including Fack Ju Göhte, Fünf Freunde 2, Ostwind and Dampfnudelblues earnt Constantin’s distribution arm €633,000 ($875,000) in distribution “reference” support.

Constantin Film subsidiary Rat Pack Filmproduktion, who was the main producer of Fack Ju Göhte, received the second...

Constantin Film has been named by the German Federal Film Board (Ffa) as the nation’s top producer of German films for the ninth consecutive year in 2013 and the top distributor for the tenth consecutive year.

The Munich-based producer-distributor was allocated around €2.2m ($3m) “reference funding” in total by the Ffa to invest in future film projects and theatrical campaigns.

The company attracted €1.6m ($2.2m) production “reference” funding based on the box office of such releases as Bora Dagtekin’s comedy Fack Ju Göhte (Suck Me Shakespeer) which was seen by more than 5.8 million cinemagoers last year, as well as Sherry Hormann’s 3096 Tage about the abduction of Natascha Kampusch, and the comedy Dampfnudelblues.

In addition, eight successful releases including Fack Ju Göhte, Fünf Freunde 2, Ostwind and Dampfnudelblues earnt Constantin’s distribution arm €633,000 ($875,000) in distribution “reference” support.

Constantin Film subsidiary Rat Pack Filmproduktion, who was the main producer of Fack Ju Göhte, received the second...

The Berlin International Film Festival is celebrating its opening today, on February 7, 2013 at 7.30 pm. After a few words of greeting from Minister of State for Cultural and Media Affairs Bernd Neumann and Governing Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit, the Festival will be officially opened by Jury President Wong Kar Wai (Hong Kong, China) and Berlinale Director Dieter Kosslick. The International Jury – whose other members are Susanne Bier (Denmark), Andreas Dresen (Germany), Ellen Kuras (USA), Shirin Neshat (Iran), Tim Robbins (USA) and Athina Rachel Tsangari (Greece) – will also be introduced during the gala. Anke Engelke will again host the evening. This year’s music will be provided by Ulrich Tukur & Die Rhythmus Boys. 3sat will be broadcasting the opening live. Ziyi Zhang in Yi dai zong shi (The Grandmaster) by Wong Kar Wai Following the gala, Wong Kar Wai’s epic martial-arts drama The Grandmaster will have its international premiere. The director and his leading actors,...

3096 is an upcoming movie based on the real-life case of Natascha Kampusch, and in case you’re not so familiar with this story – I will right here at the beginning warn you that the whole thing looks terrifying. Directed by Sherry Horman and described as a story about the triumph of the human spirit, this drama opens next month in Germany. Still nothing about the Us release date, but at least we have the first trailer, poster & images to share with you, make sure you check them out!

Hormann directed the controversial biopic from a script written by Oscar-nominated producer Bernd Eichinger (who was working on the script when he died suddenly in January) and Ruth Thoma (who completed Eichinger’s unfinished screenplay).

As we said – the movie centers on Natascha Kampusch, kidnapped in 1998, when she was only 10, and held hostage in a cellar by Wolfgang Priklopil until 2006 (not hard...

Because, looking forward, 2013 promises to be such a fruitful cornucopia of cinema, we were excited to be able to easily list an additional 100 titles we are eagerly looking forward to catching in the new year. From these 200-101 titles, we’re happy to list several projects featuring the extremely busy Isabelle Huppert, include two English language projects, Ned Benson’s split film project The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby His/Hers and the Niels Arden Oplev film, Dead Man Down (and don’t forget her French projects, a starring turn in Serge Bozon’s followup, Tip Top as well as Guillaume Nicloux’s The Religious).

Additionally, the horror genre should be extremely noteworthy in the coming year, with new projects from Neil Marshall (The Descent), Alexandre Aja (High Tension), Fabrice Du Welz (Calvaire), Lucky McKee (May) and directing team Alexandre Bustillo & Julien Maury (Inside). We’ve got two Australian beauties playing...

It wasn't so long ago that Natascha Kampusch was dominating news broadcasts around the world. Kidnapped in 1998 when she was only ten, Kampusch was held hostage in a hidden cellar for over eight years until she managed to escape in 2006. And now her story is coming to the big screen.A German production with Sherry Hormann at the helm, the cast includes Danish star Thure Lindhardt. The first trailer is freshly on the scene, take a look below....

The film's working title, 3096, is taken from the number of days Natascha Kampusch was held captive by Wolfgang Priklopil

The ordeal of an Austrian woman who was kept locked in a cellar for eight years is to be turned into a feature film involving members of the team who produced a hit biopic about Hitler's last days in his bunker.

The €6m (£4.9m) film about Natascha Kampusch has the working title 3096 after the number of days she was held hostage by her kidnapper, Wolfgang Priklopil, before escaping in 2006. The production crew aim to capture her claustrophobic nightmare by recreating in the studio an exact replica of her 2m x 3m cell.

The screenplay was drafted by Bernd Eichinger, the main force behind the 2007 hit film Downfall about Hitler's last days. Eichinger based his screenplay on several intense discussions with Kampusch in the months before his death in January 2011.

Cinematographer Michael Ballhaus,...

Northern Irish actress Antonia Campbell-Hughes has been cast in the title role in 3096, a fact-based English language film about Natascha Kampusch, the Austrian girl who was kidnapped and held hostage in a basement for more than eight years.

The title refers to the 3096 days Natascha was held captive, from the age of 10 when she was kidnapped on her way to school until she managed to escape aged 18 in 2006.

Antonia was one of Screen Internationals Stars of Tomorrow in 2011, and was awarded the Berlinale Shooting Star award in 2012. As well as a role in Albert Nobbs, she has a number of films coming out including a leading role in Noel Clarke's Storage 24.

10 year old newcomer Amelia Pidgeon from London will play the young Natascha, prior to her kidnapping.

The film, directed by Sherry Hormann, will commence shooting in Munich next month with a projected 2013 release date.

Natascha Kampusch 1998 abduction story helmed by Sherry Horman. Hermon is set to take the helm for the story of Austrian kidnap victim Natascha Kampusch which Cosntantin Film is producing. According to Variety, th project was inherited from the late Bernd Eichinger and Constantin are seeking a writer to finish the script Eichinger wrote prior to dying from a heart attack this January. Kampusch, now 24 years-old, was abducted in 1998 at the age of 10 while walking to school. She was held captive for over eight years in an underground cell in Vienna. In 2006, she made her escape and her captor Wolfgang Priklopil killed himself shortly after her escape by leaping in front of a train.

Natascha Kampusch 1998 abduction story helmed by Sherry Horman. Hermon is set to take the helm for the story of Austrian kidnap victim Natascha Kampusch which Cosntantin Film is producing. According to Variety, th project was inherited from the late Bernd Eichinger and Constantin are seeking a writer to finish the script Eichinger wrote prior to dying from a heart attack this January. Kampusch, now 24 years-old, was abducted in 1998 at the age of 10 while walking to school. She was held captive for over eight years in an underground cell in Vienna. In 2006, she made her escape and her captor Wolfgang Priklopil killed himself shortly after her escape by leaping in front of a train.

Natascha Kampusch 1998 abduction story helmed by Sherry Horman. Hermon is set to take the helm for the story of Austrian kidnap victim Natascha Kampusch which Cosntantin Film is producing. According to Variety, th project was inherited from the late Bernd Eichinger and Constantin are seeking a writer to finish the script Eichinger wrote prior to dying from a heart attack this January. Kampusch, now 24 years-old, was abducted in 1998 at the age of 10 while walking to school. She was held captive for over eight years in an underground cell in Vienna. In 2006, she made her escape and her captor Wolfgang Priklopil killed himself shortly after her escape by leaping in front of a train.

This week gives us few potentially watchable flicks but nothing great. It’s mid-march, which means nothing will be very exciting (to be fair, the noteworthy Greenberg did come out same time last year, but there’s a particularly large amount of mediocrity going on. If you want a decent dramedy that has something for everyone, Win Win, starring Paul Giamatti, is probably your best bet. For stoner and geek crowds, Paul might give you a laugh, and if you’re in New York, definitely check out docs Nostalgia for the Light or Bill Cunningham, New York which opened at the Film Forum on Wednesday. U.S Indie The Music Never Stopped - Jim Kohlberg - Roadside This father son pic based on a case study by Oliver Sacks was the first major film to be acquired at Sundance this past January. We say this will be "a sentimental father-son...

Reviewed by Amy R. Handler

(March 2011)

Directed/Written by: Sherry Horman

Starring: Liya Kebede, Sally Hawkins, Timothy Spall, Juliet Stevenson and Anthony Mackie

When a Cockney shopgirl befriends a beautiful Somali refugee in an upscale dress shop’s loo, neither is prepared for what lies ahead.

The taboo subject of female circumcision (otherwise known as female genital mutilation or cutting) is artfully revealed in “Desert Flower,” written and directed by Sherry Horman (“Guys and Balls”). Fgm is a far-reaching, ancient rite of passage that is believed to protect virginity and elevate very young girls to sainted womanhood. Though this seldom-discussed practice is condemned by the World Health Organization and the United Nations, it continues to this day in certain areas of Asia, Northeastern Africa, Australia and South America.

Horman’s movie is based upon the best-selling autobiography “Desert Flower” written by the now 46-year-old former fashion model and actress Waris Dirie...

Reviewed by Amy R. Handler

(March 2011)

Directed/Written by: Sherry Horman

Starring: Liya Kebede, Sally Hawkins, Timothy Spall, Juliet Stevenson and Anthony Mackie

When a Cockney shopgirl befriends a beautiful Somali refugee in an upscale dress shop’s loo, neither is prepared for what lies ahead.

The taboo subject of female circumcision (otherwise known as female genital mutilation or cutting) is artfully revealed in “Desert Flower,” written and directed by Sherry Horman (“Guys and Balls”). Fgm is a far-reaching, ancient rite of passage that is believed to protect virginity and elevate very young girls to sainted womanhood. Though this seldom-discussed practice is condemned by the World Health Organization and the United Nations, it continues to this day in certain areas of Asia, Northeastern Africa, Australia and South America.

Horman’s movie is based upon the best-selling autobiography “Desert Flower” written by the now 46-year-old former fashion model and actress Waris Dirie...

Title: Desert Flower Director: Sherry Horman Starring: Liya Kebede, Sally Hawkins and Craig Parkinson Chronicling a person’s life story on screen is never an easy task, especially when the person is from a different culture than the intended audience. Sherry Hormann is one such screenwriter-director, as she had the difficult task of adapting African nomad-turned-supermodel Waris Dirie’s autobiography Desert Flower. Instead of going the easy route and focusing on the success Waris found later in life as a model, Hormann made the risky decision to focus on Waris’ fight to end the female genital mutilation (Fgm) she wrongfully had to endure. ‘Desert Flower’ follows the life of Waris (portrayed by Ethiopian model and actress [...]...

We’ve been tracking this film for over a year now. It’s called Desert Flower, and it’s based on the world best-selling book of the same name by Waris Dirie – an autobiographical tale of a Somalian nomad circumcised at 5, sold in marriage at 13, who became an American supermodel, and is now at the age of 38, the Un spokeswoman against female circumcision.

A UK/Germany/Austria tri-production, the film has already screened in several European countries since 2009. It’s only North American play-date was at the Hamptons International Film Festival in October 2009.

Some names in it you might recognize include Anthony Mackie and Timothy Spall. The director, Sherry Horman, lives and works in Germany, and I’m not at all familiar with her previous work.

Sergio last reported in January that the film had been acquired for Us distribution by National Geographic Films, but no release date was available at the time,...

Cologne, Germany – Peter Herrmann and Sherry Hormann, the director/producer team behind Waris Dirie biography "Desert Flower," are re-teaming to adapt self-help bestseller "The Situation Is Hopeless But Not Serious (The Pursuit of Unhappiness)" from psychologist Paul Watzlawick.

The 1983 tome is an ironic guide to the typical ways in which people conspire to sabotage their own happiness. Hormann will use Wartzlawick's book and theories as the basis for a fictional comedy.

"Desert Flower," which starred Sally Hawkins and model Liya Kebede, was a sleeper hit in Germany, where both Hermann and Hormann are based, earning nearly $10 million at the box office. Herrmann's producer credits also include 2001 Foreign Language Oscar-winner "Nowhere in Africa."...

The German sales co. known for providing the fest circuit and art-house plexes with subtitled stuff from around the globe will set fire to the Director's Fortnight section this year. If I'm counting right, the Match Factory supply the section with a trio of titles (five total in the fest) including the much discussed on this site Cam Archer's sophomore feature, and they nabbed a Main Comp spot for one of the most celebrated directors of the decade in Apichatpong Weerasethakul latest – a sort of “ghost” story. - The German sales co. known for providing the fest circuit and art-house plexes with subtitled stuff from around the globe will set fire to the Director's Fortnight section this year. If I'm counting right, The Match Factory supply the fest with a five titles including The Light Thief (see pic above), The City Below, the including the much discussed...

The German sales co. known for providing the fest circuit and art-house plexes with subtitled stuff from around the globe will set fire to the Director's Fortnight section this year. If I'm counting right, The Match Factory supply the fest with a five titles including The Light Thief (see pic above), The City Below, the including the much discussed on this site Cam Archer's sophomore feature, and they nabbed a Main Comp spot for one of the most celebrated directors of the decade in Apichatpong Weerasethakul latest – a sort of “ghost” story. Everything Will Be Fine (Alting Bliver Godt Igen) by Christoffer Boe - Completed Shit Year by Cam Archer - Completed The City Below (Unter Dir Die Stadt) by Christoph HOCHHÄUSLER - Completed The Light Thief by Aktan Arym Kubat - Completed Uncle Boonmee Who Nn Recall His Past Lives (Loong Boonmee Raleuk Chaat) by Apichatpong Weerasethakul -...

The 2010 German Academy Award winners will be announced on April 23 in Berlin. Best film Everyone Else, dir. Maren Ade When We Leave, dir. Feo Aladag Soul Kitchen dir. Fatih Akin Storm dir. Hans-Christian Schmid The White Ribbon dir. Michael Haneke Desert Flower dir. Sherry Hormann Best documentary The Woman with the 5 Elephants dir. Vadim Jendreyko The Heart of Jenin dir. Marcus Vetter, Leon Geller Best children’s film Lippel’s Dream dir. Lars Buchel The Suburban Crocodiles dir. Christian Ditter Best director Maren Ade for Everyone Else Feo Aladag for When We Leave Michael Haneke for The White Ribbon Hans-Christian Schmid for Storm Best actress Corinna Harfouch for This Is Love Sibel Kekilli for When We Leave Susanne Lothar for The White Ribbon Birgit Minichmayr for Everyone Else Best actor Fabian Hinrichs for Schwerkraft Henry Hubchen for Whiskey [...]...

Berlin -- Michael Haneke's "The White Ribbon" may have missed out on the best foreign film Oscar but the Austrian filmmaker is all but certain to sweep the German Film Awards after "The White Ribbon" received 13 nominations for the country's top prize, the Lolas.

"The White Ribbon" picked up Lola noms in all possible categories, including best film, best director and best acting noms for stars Burghart Klaussner and Susanne Lothar.

Cinematographer Christian Berger, whose stark black-and-white images earned him an Oscar nomination, is the favurite to win the Lola for best cinematography at the German Film Awards on April 23 in Berlin.

"When We Leave," a drama from first-time director Feo Aladag, was the big surprise, earning six Lola nominations including ones for best film and best actress for Sibel Kekilli ("Head-On") in her comeback role as a young woman banished from her devout Muslim family.

Hans-Christian Schmid's...

Until women reach a 50-50 parity with men directors, my mission continues to count the women directors in upcoming and recent film festivals (and an occasional informal glance at what’s selling in the markets). Women’s films in Berlin reflect women’s place in the world both in content and in the numbers of women represented as directors, producers, writers, etc. John Cooper of Sundance stresses the increasing and possibly 50-50 parity of women producers, but I am looking at the directors. As March is Women’s History Month (and all the other months are Men’s History Month according to Gloria Steinem’s L.A. Times Article of March 4, 2010) this blog is in honor of all women everywhere.

Congratulations to Kathryn Bigelow for winning the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture. La Times puts into perspective the fact that the Best Director Oscar went to Kathryn Bigelow...

News to me… somehow we missed this while it made its film festival run last year.

It’s called Desert Flower, and it’s based on the world best-selling book of the same name by Waris Dirie – an autobiographical tale of a Somalian nomad circumcised at 5, sold in marriage at 13, who became an American supermodel, and is now at the age of 38, the Un spokeswoman against female circumcision.

A UK/Germany/Austria tri-production, the film has already screened in several European countries in the last 6 months, and is scheduled for further Euro-screenings this year. It’s only North American play-date was at the Hamptons International Film Festival last October.

Some names in it you might recognize include Anthony Mackie and Timothy Spall. The director, Sherry Horman, lives and works in Germany, and I’m not at all familiar with her previous work.

Anyone seen this thing? I’m not sure...

Berlin -- Sherry Horman's fashion biopic "Desert Flower" and the political drama "Der Grosse Kater" (The Big Tom-Cat) from director Wolfgang Panzer tied for the top prize as Best Film at the Bavarian Film Awards this weekend.

"Flower" producers Peter Herrmann and Dietmar Guntsche and "Kater" producer Wolfgang Behr will share the €200,000 ($287,000) award that comes with the honor, cash that has to be invested in new film projects.

Acting legend Barbara Sukowa added a Bavarian best actress trophy to her trophy cabinet, taking the honor for her portrayal of Medieval nun and proto-feminist Hildegard von Bingen in "Vision" from Magarethe von Trotta.

Best director went to Juraj Herz for his period drama "Habermann," with lead Mark Waschke taking the best actor prize for his role as a mill owner whose life is transformed with the onset of World War II.

Benjamin Heisenberg received the best newcomer nod for his sophomore effort,...

At the beginning of every month, Ioncinema.com's "Tracking Shot" features a half of a dozen or so projects that are moments away from lensing and that we feel are worth signaling out. This October (2009), we are keeping tabs on.... - At the beginning of every month, Ioncinema.com's "Tracking Shot" features a half of a dozen or so projects that are moments away from lensing and that we feel are worth signaling out. This October (2009), we are keeping tabs on.... Arteta's Youth in Revolt got pushed back to 2010, by then he'll be in post-production with Cedar Rapids. Backed by Ad Hominem and Alexander Payne, hot off The Hangover, Ed Helms will play a sad-sack insurance agent who goes to an industry. convention to try to save the jobs of his colleagues. I imagine the comedy will film in a tax incentive friendly city with a convention center for rent.

Cologne, Germany – Olivia Thirlby will play the lead in "The No Game," the new feature from "Desert Flower" director Sherry Hormann, which Doris Kirch's Blue Angel shingle is producing.

Thirlby will star alongside Marcia Gay Harden and Shohreh Aghdashloo in the story of an adopted Upper West Side Jewish girl who travels to Israel only to discover that her birth parents were Palestinian. Hormann will direct from a script by Elisabeth Fein and David Abramowitz.

Shooting is set to start in March in New York and Israel. The Match Factory is handling international sales.

Cologne, Germany -- Sonke Wortmann's "Pope Joan" crowned Germany's boxoffice this weekend, one of seven German productions or co-productions to make the top ten.

The Constantin Film production, which stars Johanna Wokalek as a 9th century female pontiff, grossed $4.4 million in its first four days, with 370,000 admissions over 461 theaters. The German-Spanish-Italian co-production was shot in English and also stars John Goodman and David Wenham. Summit Entertainment is handling international sales.

German productions crowded out most imports. Simon Verhoeven's romantic comedy "Men In the City," came in at number three, just behind Disney animated family feature "G-Force." A Warner Bros. release, "Men" stars Christian Ulmen, Til Schweiger and Nadja Uhl and has grossed more than $10 million in its first three weeks.

Besides "G-Force," only two other Hollywood titles made the German top ten: "Up," which came in at number five in its fifth week in release and Sony's romcom "The Ugly Truth,...

Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden and Oscar nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo are in talks to star in Sherry Horman's upcoming indie drama "The No Game," which David Abramowitz ("Highlander") and Elizabeth Fein wrote.

The story, according to the Hollywood Reporter, centers on an 18-year-old Jewish woman who discovers her biological mom is Palestinian. The girl ends up traveling to her aunt (Aghdashloo) in Brooklyn, and their relationship causes friction between her and her adoptive mother (Harden).

Shohreh Aghdashloo and Marcia Gay Harden have battled for an Oscar and are up against each other at this month's Primetime Emmys. Now they'll go head-to-head again in the indie drama "The No Game."

Sherry Horman is directing the coming-of-age piece, which follows an 18-year old Jewish woman who finds out her biological mother is Palestinian. The search for her identity takes her to an aunt (Aghdashloo) in Brooklyn, where their immediate bonding causes problems with her adoptive mother (Harden, who is in negotiations).

Shooting begins next month in New York; lensing in Israel also is on tap.

David Abramowitz and Elizabeth Fein wrote the screenplay; Doris Kirch produces.

Aghdashloo and Harden were Oscar-nominated in 2004 for their respective work in "House of Sand and Fog" and "Mystic River," and they're nominated for Emmys this year for "House of Saddam" and "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler."

Aghdashloo, who stars in "The Stoning of Soraya M,...

Madrid -- Cannes Palme d'Or winner "The White Ribbon," directed by Michael Haneke has won the Fipresci Grand Prize to be awarded at the inaugural ceremony of the 57th San Sebastian International Film Festival, organizers announced Thursday, as they unveiled the remaining titles of the Zabaltegi-Pearls section.

The award is chosen by members of the International Federation of Film Critics and will be awarded Sept. 18 at the festival, which runs through the 27th.

"Ribbon" will screen in the festival's Pearls section, which showcases the top films from the world's festivals. Additionally, the festival said it has added Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnussus," Sherry Horman's "Desert Flower" and Rachid Bouchareb's "London River" to the Pearls section, to complement the list of 11 titles announced earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Michael Winterbottom returns to San Sebastian with his newest effort "The Shock Doctrine," a documentary tracing Milton Friedman's ideology.

The 66th edition of the Venice Film Festival lineup includes the main festival plus the sidebar which will be playing films like Yannick Dahan's gangster zombie flick The Horde.

In competition we have the long awaited scifi awesomeness from Jaco Van Dormael, Mr. Nobody and Shinya Tsukamoto's trfiecta Tetsuo the Bulletman.

Out of competition has [Rec] 2 and the Midnight section has Nicolas Refn's long awaited Valhalla Rising which was actually made before Bronson.

Man I wish I could go! Anyone want to cover the fest for us? Use the contact link at the bottom of the page. We'd be happy to do cross-posted reviews.

Full list after the break.

66Th Annual Venice Film Festival Lineup

Competition

"36 vues du Pic Saint Loup," Jacques Rivette (France)

"Accident," Cheang Pou-Soi (China-Hong Kong)

"Baaria," Giuseppe Tornatore (Italy) – Opening Film

"Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," Werner Herzog (U.S.)

"Between Two Worlds,...

• Right before the big announcement of films competing for the Golden Lion, the Venice Film Festival announced the Venice Days sidebar selections which is flooded with mostly Euro titles from Spain, Italy and France. The section, the equivalent to Cannes Director's Fortnight, will feature eleven films including nine world premieres and the international preem for Sterlin Harjo’s Barking Water (who we interviewed for his Sundance premiere). Among the list of films that we should look out for in the long term which includes the added six world premieres in the Special Events category, we have Sherry Horman's directorial debut Desert Flower which is not necessarily a rags to riches narrative, but more of a look "where I came from" drama, there is a prison pic from Spanish helmer Daniel Monzon (Celda 211) and legend Claude Miller co-directs with his son Nathan Miller on Je Suis Heureux Che Ma Mere Soit Vivante,

...

Rome -- Venice Days, the Venice Film festival's well-regarded sidebar focusing on new directors, will have a European focus in its 6th edition, the first since the return of Venice Days founder Giorgio Gosetti.

The lineup, which so far features a total of 15 world premieres, will include "Desert Flower," based on a book by the same name by Somali model Waris Dirie and directed by Germany's Sherry Horman, "Honeymoons" from Goran Paskaljevic, billed as the first-ever co-production between Albania and Serbia, and the class struggle drama "The Last Days of Emma Blank" from Van Warmerdam,

The only U.S. film in the lineup is "Barking Water," a Native American travel story from Sterlin Harjo.

The sidebar, which is modeled on Cannes' Directors' Fortnight, will again be run by Gosetti, who returned to Venice Days after leaving to held found the Rome International Film Festival in 2006.

Venice Days will take place Sept.