IDFA departs, EFA arrives (December 2002) The International Documentary FilmFestival of Amsterdam (IDFA) draws to an end with the arrival of the first day of December. The variety of films screened at the 15th annual event offered a veritable feast for all those in attendance. The major theme of "What Do You Believe In?" did indeed offer a wide spectrum of varying aspects of contemporary values found in different parts of the world, whether or not they might be based in tradition, which are often regarded by others as extremist or expressive of radical standpoints. The European Film Awards will be presented on Saturday 7th December 2002 in a star-studded ceremony in the Auditorium at the Parco Della Musica in Rome. Supported by over 20 Patron companies representing the European and international film industry, the event is backed by the Municipality of Rome, Italys Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Cinecitta Holdings, the MEDIA Programme of the EU, the German National Lottery, the German State Minister for Culture and Media and the Filmförderungsanstalt, as well as by sponsors Ernst & Young LLP, Tiscali SpA, TNT and UIP. There are a record number of candidates for the award this year, so don't hold your breath as we go through the list a little further below. (Some 50,000 videotapes are travelling through the mails to voting members in order to insure their duties as responsible viewers.) From more than 300 films that have been suggested by various organizations, specialist publications, film industry associations, festivals, Academy members and producers from all over Europe, the Board of the European Film Academy has selected 37 for consideration in the award category of EUROPEAN FILM 2002. From these 37, every member can designate up to three films for nomination of the EUROPEAN FILM 2002 as well as up to three candidates in the following categories: EUROPEAN DIRECTOR 2002, EUROPEAN ACTOR 2002, EUROPEAN ACTRESS 2002, EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER 2002 and EUROPEAN CINEMATOGRAPHER 2002. The European Film Academys nominations were announced at the beginning of November, after which, the Academy members will vote for the Award winners. All European cinema-goers, whether members or not, could vote for the People's Choice Awards between September 1st and October 31st via the Internet (the nominations and voting mechanism can be found at efa.tiscali.com), or through leading European newspapers and film magazines (in The Netherlands "De Filmkrant"), which support the campaign by providing voting forms in the September and October issues. For the first time, Ernst & Young LLP, one of the leading global professional services firms, will act as Official Tabulator, endorsing the voting procedures and confirming the winners of the three Peoples Choice Awards. By voting, entrants have the chance to win a weekend in Rome and to be part of a glamorous night among the stars, at the Awards ceremony itself. Oh, yes. The (short) list of 37 films includes: 8 Femmes, France directed by Franois Ozon produced by Fidlit Productions, France 2 Cinma, Mars Films All or Nothing, UK/France directed by Mike Leigh produced by Thin Man Films, Les Films Alain Sarde, Studiocanal Angela, Italy directed by Roberta Torre produced by Rita Rusic Company, Movieweb Astérix et Obélix - Mission Clopatre, France directed by Alain Chabat produced by Path Renn Production, Katharina, TF1 Film Production, CHEZ WAM Babi Lto (Autumn Spring), Czech Republic directed by Vladimir Michlek produced by Czech Television, BKP Film, BUC Film Bella Martha (Mostly Martha), Germany directed by Sandra Nettelbeck produced by Pandora Film Produktion, Kinowelt Filmproduktion Bloody Sunday, UK/Ireland directed by Paul Greengrass produced by Granada Film, Hells Kitchen, in association with Granada, the Film Council and Bord Scannn na hEireann/the Irish Film Board Brucio Nel Vento (Burning in the Wind), Italy/Switzerland directed by Silvio Soldini produced by Albachiara, Rai Cinema, Vega Film, RTSI Televisione Svizzera Italiana Dekapentavgoustos (One Day in August), Greece directed by Constantinos Giannaris produced by Greek Film Centre, Attika SA, J.N. Leoussis Group, Prooptiki SA Elsker Dig For Evigt (Open Hearts), Denmark directed by Susanne Bier produced by Zentropa Entertainments 4 En Construccin (Work in Progress), Spain directed by Jos Luis Guerin produced by Ovideo TV S.A. En la Ciudad sin Limites (The City of No Limits), Spain directed by Antonio Hernndez produced by Zebra Producciones, Iconica Felh a Gangesz Felett (Cloud over the Ganges), Hungary directed by Gbor Dettre produced by Filmart Kft, Hunnia Film Studio Kft, Hungarian Television Co. Food of Love, Spain directed by Ventura Pons produced by Els Films de la Rambla S.A. Production, 42nd Street Productions S.L., FFP Media Entertainment GmbH Hable Con Ella (Talk to Her), Spain directed by Pedro Almodvar produced by El Deso Hafid (The Sea), Iceland/France/Norway directed by Baltasar Kormakur produced by Blueeyes Productions, Emotion Pictures Halbe Treppe (Grill Point), Germany directed by Andreas Dresen produced by Peter Rommel Productions Heaven, Germany/US directed by Tom Tykwer produced by X Filme Creative Pool, Miramax Films Corp. Josephine, Germany/UK/Croatia directed by Rajko Grlic produced by Indigo Film Produktion, Bridie Films, F&M.E., Motovun Film Festival Kisrtsek (Temptations), Hungary directed by Zoltn Kamondi produced by Nextreme Film Ltd, Honeymood Films, Human Media 2000, Fivinvest Ltd. Laissez-Passer, France/Germany/Spain directed by Bertrand Tavernier produced by Les Films Alain Sarde, Little Bear, France 3 Cinma, France 2 Cinma, KC Medien, Vertigo Le Fils (The Son), Belgium/France directed by Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne produced by Les Films du Fleuve, RTBF, Archipel 35 Lilja 4-ever (Lilya 4-ever), Sweden directed by Lukas Moodysson produced by Memfis Films, Film i Vst, SVT, Zentropa LOra di Religione (My Mothers Smile), Italy directed by Marco Bellocchio produced by Film Albatros, RAI Cinema Luce dei miei Occhi (Light of my Eyes), Italy directed by Giuseppe Piccioni produced by Albachiara, RAI Cinema Lucia y el Sexo (Sex and Lucia), Spain directed by Julio Medem produced by Sogecine Lundi Matin (Monday Morning), France/Italy directed by Otar Iosseliani produced by Pierre Grise Productions, Rhne-Alpes Cinma, Mikado Mies Vailla Menneisyytt (The Man Without a Past), Finland/Germany/France directed by Aki Kaurismki produced by Sputnik Oy, Pandora Film, Pyramide Productions Morvern Callar, UK directed by Lynne Ramsay produced by Company Pictures Nirgendwo in Afrika (Nowhere in Africa), Germany directed by Caroline Link produced by Medien & Television Mnchen, Constantin Film Produktion, Bavaria Film, MC one GmbH Russkij Kovcheg (Russian Ark), Russia/Germany directed by Alexander Sokurov produced by Hermitage Bridge Studio, Egoli Tossell Film AG, Kopp Media, WDR/Arte, Fora Film M, Ast Studio, NHK Sma Ulykker (Minor Mishaps), Denmark directed by Annette K. Olesen produced by Zentropa Entertainments 6 Srbija, Godine Nulte (Serbia, Year Zero), Yugoslavia/France directed by Goran Markovic produced by RTV B 92, Les Films du Lendemain, Dari Films, Arte France Cinma Sur Mes Lèvres (Read My Lips), France directed by Jacques Audiard produced by Cin B, Sedif, Path Image, France 2 Cinma Sweet Sixteen, UK/Germany/Spain directed by Ken Loach produced by Sixteen Films Ltd., Road Movies Film Produktion, Tornasol/Alta Films The Pianist, France/Poland/Germany/UK directed by Roman Polanski produced by RP Productions, Heritage Films, Studio Babelsberg, Runteam Ltd Voina (The War), Russia directed by Alexei Balabanov produced by CTB Film Company For those of you seeking more information about the European Film Academy, check out: www.europeanfilmacademy.org. And exactly how many on the above list have you seen? Chosen from among 600 short films, Jacqueline van Vugt's "Morgen" ("Tomorrow"), starring Pim Lambeau and Ton Kuyl, won the prize at the 51st Mannheim-Heidelberg Film Festival in Germany last month. Director Jan Schütte will finish shooting this month on "SuperTex", the film based upon Leon de Winter's novel about an American textile mogul who tries to break the emotional threads binding him to his father. Max Breslauer, the main character (portrayed by Stephen Mangan) is a 33-year-old man searching for his identity in a world, strongly affected by love and religion, where daily life is shadowed by the past. Due to open in cinemas for autumn of 2003. (Noted dramatic actress and comedian Maureen Lipman is among the English speaking cast members.) Kate Beckinsale and Hugh Jackman are scheduled to play opposite each other in the upcoming "Van Helsing". As one can imagine from the title, it is a tale about Bram Stoker's king of vampires, Count Dracula. Writer-Director Stephen Sommers, known for such epic action adventures as "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns" (as well as "The Scorpion King") will begin shooting early next year. It seems that Summers is also set to bring Frankenstein and the Wolf Man back to life in the future. Seeing as the the Count's new author/director was (once upon a time) student both at St. Johns University and the University of Seville in Spain, it is not beyond expectation that the religious aspects of blood will be splattered across the screen for a feeding frenzy. Hungarian born star Zsa Zsa Gabor is in a coma at Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. It would be kinder if anyone visiting didn't mention this to her. © 1994-2006 The Green Hartnett