FINAL REPORT SALES OFFICE 2007
Remarkable increase in professional activity at the 55th San Sebastian Festival

10/24/2007

PARTICIPANTS

• 1,210 people were accredited at the Sales Office (1,208 in 2006)
• 797 companies (717 in 2006)
• 58 countries (53 in 2006)
• 2,939 visits were made to the Sales Office during the 10 days of the Festival (2,092 in 2006)

VIDEO LIBRARY

• 168 films available (166 in 2006)
• A total of 1,391 viewings (1,438 in 2006)
  • The most popular films were:
    1. Mataharis (Spain, Official Selection)
    2. Caótica Ana (Spain, Day of Basque Films)
    3. Dos Miradas (Spain, Made in Spain)
    4. Déficit (Mexico)
    5. Lucio (Spain, Zabaltegi)
    6. Párpados Azules (Mexico, Horizontes)
    7. Aurora Boreal (Mexico, Horizontes)
    8. Cosmos (Spain, Zabaltegi)
    9. Ladrones (Spain, Made in Spain)
    10. El Asaltante (Argentina, Horizontes)
    11. Una novia errante (Argentina, Horizontes

COMMUNICATION

Por primera vez, el Festival de San Sebastián suscribió un acuerdo de colaboración con Variety que asumió la redacción de la información industrial del Sales Office en el Diario del Festival.

Además de la edición impresa distribuida en las sedes del Festival, dicha información se pudo consultar en el apartado Sales Office de la web oficial www.sansebastianfestival.com y en la cobertura que www.Variety.com hizo del certamen.

A lo largo de todo el festival, los “Newsflash” informaron a diario de la repercusión mediática de las películas seleccionadas en las diferentes secciones del festival

ACTIVITIES

Cinema in Motion 3

Cinema in Motion is a space at the San Sebastian Film Festival open to feature films which have completed their shooting or are at the post-production stage made by filmmakers from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Portuguese-speaking African countries. It is organised with the Amiens (France) and Fribourg (Switzerland) Festivals in collaboration with the Tarifa African Film Festival.

82 participants, 68 entities, 17 countries. (In 2006: 59 participants, 39 entities, 14 countries)

Programme:

• Recycle, by Mahmoud Al Massad (78 min.) (Jordan)
• Nos lieux interdits, by Leila Kilani - First version (80 min.) (Morocco)
• Je veux voir, by Khalil Joreige and Joana Hadjithomas (70 min.) (Lebanon)
• Salt of This Sea, by Annemarie Jacir - First images (40 min.) (Palestine)

• Presentations: Amiens, Fribourg and Tarifa Festivals; Avándalus, Andalusian Film and Audiovisual Portal, and Casa Arabe

Awards:

• The four selected films each won a contribution to their Spanish subtitling from Casa Arabe for a total amount of €13,000.
• The film RECYCLE, by Mahmoud Al Massad (Jordan), won:
  • €15,000 in aid to postproduction from the CNC (Centre National de Cinématographie, France)
  • Digital calibration provided by Mikros Image
  • Conversion from digital to 35mm format provided by Swiss Effects and Kodak Suisse
  • Subtitling in French and English provided by Titra Film
  • A 35mm copy provided by Fribourg Festival
• The film SALT OF THIS SEA, by Anne-Marie Jacir (Palestine), won:
  • Aid towards post-production from the CCM (Centre cinématographique marocain), to be established in agreement with the producers.
  • €15,000 in aid towards post-production from the MACTARI mixing auditorium (www.mactari.fr) in Paris
  • A 35mm copy provided by Amiens Festiva

All of the selected filmmakers will have the opportunity to participate in the annual Cinema in Motion tour of Argentina, Columbia and Mexico organised by San Sebastian Festival and the Tarifa African Film Festival. The Cervantes Institute will moreover propose an original international programme of screenings throughout its network consisting of a mixture of films and filmmakers from Cinema in Motion and Films in Progress.

Cinema in Motion 3 – Completed films proposed the Algerian films ALGÉRIE, HISTOIRES À NE PAS DIRE, by Jean-Pierre Lledó, and VIVANTES, by Saïd Ould-Khelifa.

Films in Progress 12

Professional rendezvous organised by the San Sebastian International Film Festival and the Rencontres Cinéma d’Amérique Latine in Toulouse for Latin-American and Spanish feature films at the post-production stage.

198 participants, 127 entities, 21 countries (In 2006: 184 participants, 124 entities, 18 countries)

Programme

• Acné, by Federico Veiroj (Uruguay, Argentina, Spain, Mexico)
• A festa da menina morta, by Matheus Nachtergaele (Brazil, Argentina, Portugal)
• La extranjera, by Fernando Díaz (Argentina)
• Gasolina, by Julio Hernández Cordón (Guatemala)
• Sol na neblina, by Werner Schumann (Brazil)
• Una semana solos, by Celina Murga (Argentina)

Awards

• Industry Award: Gasolina, by Julio Hernández Cordón (Guatemala). Estudios Exa, Kodak (Cine Profesional Division, Mediapro, Molinare Madrid, No problem Sonido Technicolor Entertainment Services Spain and Titra Film will jointly assume the pending post-production of the film until achieving a 35mm copy with English subtitles.
• TVE Award: Acné, by Federico Veriroj (Uruguay, Argentina, Spain, Mexico), and Sol na Neblina, by Werner Schuman (Brazil), consisting of the purchasing of the broadcasting rights for the winning films.
• Casa de América Award: Gasolina, by Julio Hernández Cordón. Aid to post-production carrying €10,000 (gross).
• Signis Award: La extranjera, by Fernando Díaz (Argentina). Carrying $25,000 as part of its 6th Film Post-Production for Latin America Competition.
• CICAE Award: Gasolina, by Julio Hernández Cordón (Guatemala). Backing in the 1,000 AFCAE cinemas in France (and subsequently abroad) as part of its “Cinédiversité” operation.
• All of the films participating in Films in Progress have access to international diffusion on the Cervantes Institute world network.

III Trans-Pyrenean Co-production Forum

Organised by IBAIA (the Basque Independent Audiovisual Production Company Association), in coordination with the Sales Office. Presentation of five documentary and five feature film projects.

107 participants, 65 entities (In 2006: 74 participants, 54 entities)

• Documentaries: “La Chanson de Roland”, “Contando el tiempo. Las paredes de Munttogorri”, “Che Guevara Attitude”, “Life and Film. (The laberynthine biographies of Voftech Jasny)” and “Nadar”
• Feature films: “Les veus del pamano”, “Cámera Obscura”, “Luna Lunera”, “Salim, the animal magician” and “Reykjavik”

Programme:

• EGEDA at the service of audiovisual producers: Audiovisual SGR, Filmotech, Aribsan, by Fernando González.
• Small European Countries, by Susan Newman-Baudais (European Audiovisual Observatory)
• The “Irish case” by Simon Perry, Director General of the Irish Film Board and discussion with Angela Bosch (Catalan Films & TV), Ferran Tomas i Olalla (Institu Catalá de les Industries Culturals – ICIC) and Iñaki Gómez (Basque Government)
  
  Moderator: John Hopewell, director of Variety in Spain.

Professional meetings held at the Sales Office

• nTrade Meeting with the slogan Love Across Borders.
• Working sessions of the European Producers’ Club.
• Information session by MEDIA Antena Euskal Herria: MEDIA aid to independent European producers.
• Spain Film Commission meeting.
• Bilateral meetings between Cinema do Brasil and FAPAE (Spanish Federation of Audiovisual Producers)
• Meeting between representatives of the MEDIA Programme and European distributors
• Meeting between Olivier-René Veillon (Ile de France Film Commission) with the filmmakers participating in Cinema in Motion 3.
• French-Spanish co-production lunch organised by the Ile de France Film Commission and the Madrid Film Commission, with the participation of Unifrance.
• Annual Roots Programme meeting.
• VI International Film School Meeting: “Speed Meetings” by the First Team Foundation.
• Europa Distribution (Independent European Distributors Network) meeting.

Other professional activities and presentations

• European Films Crossing Borders. An intensive training programme focussing on international audiovisual distribution and promotion.
• Round table: “New film consumption trends”
• Preparatory meetings for the III Trans-Pyrenean Co-production Forum
• Panavision photography workshop with Affonso Beato and Alfonso Cuarón
• Presentation of the Audiovisual Innovation Pole by Fomento de San Sebastián.
• Presentation of the Spanish Independent Video Association (AVEI).
• Presentation of the second and third stages of City of Light.
• Presentation of EAVE (European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs)
• Presentation of the Lux Award
• FAPAE news conference
• Presentation of Cancun Festival
• Presentation of Objective Canarias: New opportunities for the audiovisual industry
• Presentation of Animadrid
• II Day of Andalusian audiovisuals
• Presentation of Abycine
• Presentation of Las Palmas Festival

Happy Hours

• Cinema Do Brasil
• Objetivo Canarias
• Presentation of Films in Progress 12
• Presentation of the VI International Film School Meeting
• Galicia Terra de Cine
• Catalan Films & TV

Work points installed at the Sales Office

• Catalan Films & TV
• Cinema do Brasil
• Egeda
• Madrid Film Commission
• Media
• Objetivo Canarias
• Televisión Española
• Vereda Filmes
• Films in Progress 12 / VI International Film School Meeting

PROFESSIONAL AGENDA AT THE FESTIVAL

THURSDAY 20

Last day of European Films Crossing Borders, started on Tuesday 18th (Closed)

FRIDAY 21

11:00-15:00 – Kursaal, Sales Office, Room 8
nTrade Meeting entitled Love across the Borders

15:30-18:30 – Kursaal, Sales Office Room 8
Working sessions of the European Producers’ Club (Closed)

19:00 - Maria Cristina Hotel
Presentation of the Audiovisual Innovation Hub of Fomento de San Sebastian

20:00-21:00 – Kursaal, Press Club
Welcome Happy Hour

SATURDAY 22

10:00-13:30 - Kursaal, Sales Office Room 8
Information session by MEDIA Antena Euskal Herria: MEDIA aid to independent European producers.

12:00-13:00 – Kursaal, Sales Office Room 9
Press conference presenting the Asociación Videográfica Española Independiente (AVEI)

19:30-21:00 – Kursaal, Press Club
Happy Hour - Cinema do Brasil.

SUNDAY 23

13:30 - Maria Cristina Hotel, Elcano Lounge
Presentation of the second and third stages of Ciudad de la Luz (With invitation)

16:00-17:00 – Kursaal, Sales Office Room 8
Presentation of EAVE (European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs).

19:00 - Maria Cristina Hotel, Elcano Lounge
Presentation of the Lux Prize

19.30-21.00 – Kursaal, Club de Prensa
Happy Hour - Objetivo Canarias.

MONDAY 24

Cinema in Motion 3 – (Accredited industry members)

Kutxa Andia Function Hall

• 10:00 – Presentation of the Amiens and Fribourg Festivals
  Recycle, by Mahmoud Al Massad (Jordan-78 min)
• 12:00 – Presentation of Avándalus, the Andalusian Film and Audiovisual Portal
  Nos lieux interdits, by Leila Kilani (Morocco). First version (80 min)
• 15:30 – Presentation of the Casa Arabe
  Je veux voir, by Khalil Joreige and Joana Hadjithomas (Lebanon-70 min)
• 17:15 – Presentation of the Tarifa African Film Festival
  Salt of this Sea, by Annemarie Jacir (Palestine). First images (60 min)
  
  
  Berasategui Restaurant
  
  
• 21:00 Announcement of prizes - Ile de France Film Commission dinner (With invitation)
  
  

10:00-12:00 – Kursaal, Sales Office Room 9
Meeting of the Spain Film Commission (Closed)

10:00-18:00 – Kursaal, Sales Office Room 8
Bilateral meetings between Cinema do Brasil and the FAPAE (Federación de Asociaciones de Productores Audiovisuales Españoles) (Closed)

12:45-14:00 – Kursaal, Sales Office Room 9
FAPAE news conference

15:00-18:00 – Kursaal, Sales Office Room 9
Meeting between representatives of the MEDIA Programme and European distributors

20:00-21:30 – Kursaal, Press Club
Films in Progress 12. Welcome cocktail (With invitation)

23:30 - Jareño Culture Hall
Two moroccan hip-hop bands, Darga and H-Kayne

TUESDAY 25

10:00-11:00 – Kursaal, Sales Office Room 9
Meeting between Olivier-René Veillon (Ile de France Film Commission) with the filmmakers participating in Cinema in Motion 3.

10:00-11:00 - Kursaal, Sales Office Room 9
Presentation of Objetivo Canarias: New opportunities for the audiovisual sector

10:00-14:00 and 16:00-19:00 – Kutxa Andia Function Hall
Films in Progress 12 (Accredited industry members)

10:00-12:00 – Victoria Eugenia Theatre Club
Round table: “New film consumption trends”

10:00 – 15:00 - Maria Cristina Hotel, Excelsior Lounge
II Andalusian Audiovisual Day

10:30-13:30 and 16:00-20:00 – Ground floor of the Kutxa Andia Function Hall
Meetings in preparation of the III Trans-Pyrenean Co-production Forum. (Closed)

11:30 – Kutxa Boulevard Room
Cinema in Motion 3 – Completed films:
Algérie, histoires à ne pas dire, by Jean-Pierre Lledo (Algeria – 150 min) (Accredited industry members)

13:30 - Maria Cristina Hotel, Excelsior Lounge
Presentation of the Andalucía Film Commission (With invitation)

14:00 – Berasategui Restaurant
French–Spanish Ile de France Film Commission and the Madrid Film Commission co-production lunch, with the participation of Unifrance. (Closed)

15:30 – Kutxa Boulevard Room
Cinema in Motion 3 – Completed films:
Vivantes, by Saïd Ould-Khelifa (Algeria – 90 min) (Accredited industry members)

16:00-18:00 - Kursaal, Sales Office Room 8
Annual Roots Programme Meeting (Closed)

19.30-21.00 – Kursaal, Club de la Presse
Happy Hour - Galicia Terra de Cine

WEDNESDAY 26

9:30-23:00 – Principe cinemas
Basque Cinema Day (With invitation)

10:00-14:00 and 16:00-19:00 – Kutxa Andia Function Hall
Films in Progress 12 (Accredited industry members)

10:30-13:30 and 16:00-20:00 – Ground floor of the Kutxa Andia Function Hall
Meetings in preparation of the III Trans-Pyrenean Co-Production Forum (Closed)

11:00-18:00 - Tabacalera
Panavision photography workshop with Affonso Beato and Alfonso Cuarón (Accredited industry members and the general public)

20:00-21:30 – Kursaal, Press Club
Presentation of the VI International Film School Meeting (With invitation)

21:30 – Maria Cristina Hotel, Elcano Lounge
Cocktail - Announcement of the Films in Progress 12 Awards (With invitation)

THURSDAY 27

9:30-20:00 - Kutxa Andia Function Hall
VI International Film School Meeting (Accredited guests and the general public)

10:00-14:00 - Kursaal, Sales Office Rooms 8 and 9
III Trans-Pyrenean Co-Production Forum

16:00-19:00 – Kursaal, Sales Office Rooms 8 and 9

• EGEDA at the service of audiovisual producers: Audiovisual SGR, Filmotech, Aribsan. By Fernando González
• Small countries in Europe, by Susan Newman-Baudais (European Audiovisual Observatory)
• The “Irish case”, by Simon Perry (Chief Executive Officer, Irish Film Board)
• Dialogue between Simon Perry and representatives of the Pyrenean institutions dedicated to culture and cinema. Followed by the screening of Tom Collins- “Kings” (Ireland, 2007)

Moderator: John Hopewell, Director, Variety, Spain

19:30-21:00 – Kursaal, Press Club
Happy Hour- Catalan Films & TV.

22:00 – Maria Cristina Hotel, Excelsior Lounge
Sales Office Cocktail (Accredited industry members)

FRIDAY 28

9:30-20:00 - Kutxa Andia Function Hall
VI International Film School Meeting (Accredited members and the general public)

14:00 – 17:30 - Kursaal, Sales Office Rooms 8 and 9
Europa Distribution meeting (Independent European Distributors Network).

SATURDAY 29

10:00-13:00 and 14:30-17:00 - Kursaal, Sales Office Rooms 8 and 9
Europa Distribution meeting (Independent European Distributors Network).

EUROPEAN ACTIVITIES AT THE SALES OFFICE

Numerous activities will underline the peculiar European slant of the 55th San Sebastian Festival, while confirming the event as a privileged meeting place for filmmakers and professionals from different continents.

European cinema will have several rendezvous at this year’s Festival.

The European Films Crossing Borders will put its workshops together from Tuesday 18th until Thursday 20th.

On Friday 21st, the European Producers’ Club will hold several working sessions. Similarly, on the same day, the nTrade Meeting entitled “Love across the Borders” will promote the broadcasting of community productions on European TV.

On Saturday 22nd, MEDIA Antena Euskal Herria will hold an information session on MEDIA Programme aid for independent European producers.

Sunday 23rd will see the presentation of EAVE (European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs). Moreover, the agenda for the same day will be rounded off with presentation of the recently created LUX Prize – the European Parliament Film Prize. This prize is granted by the European Parliament in celebration of the 50th anniversary of signing of the Treaty of Rome giving rise to the birth of the European Union.

On Monday 24th the Media Programme has scheduled a meeting with European distributors.

On Tuesday 25th, the Commission du Film d’Île-de-France and the Madrid Film Commission will hold their now traditional French-Spanish co-production lunch.

The programme for Thursday 27th will include the III Trans-Pyrenean Co-production Forum, organised by IBAIA (Association of Independent Audiovisual Production Companies of the Basque Country) in coordination with the Sales Office. The meeting will endeavour to foster the making of projects in the Working Community of the Pyrenees (Aquitaine, Andorra, Aragon, Catalonia, Euskadi, Languedoc-Roussillon, Midi Pyrenees and Navarre).

Later, also on Thursday 27th, Simon Perry (Chief Executive Officer of The Irish Film Board) will explain the “Irish” case, preceded by talk on the European Audiovisual Observatory given by Susan Newman-Baudais focussing on small countries and European regions. This will be followed by a dialogue between Simon Perry and representatives of the Pyrenean institutions dedicated to culture and cinema.

Finally, on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th, the Sales Office will host a Europa Distribution meeting.