GREEK FILM CENTRE PRESENTATION Autumn 2017 Contents The Greek Film - - PDF document

Autumn 2017

GREEK FILM CENTRE PRESENTATION

1

Contents

The Greek Film Centre - About us ............................................................... 2 Main goals of the Greek Film Centre ............................................................ 2 Objectives ................................................................................................. 3 What do we do? ......................................................................................... 3 The structure of the GFC ............................................................................ 3 Funding for Production and Development - 2016 ......................................... 4 Memberships ............................................................................................. 5 Agreements - Conventions .......................................................................... 6 Hellenic Film Commission ........................................................................... 8 Greek Cinema promotion ............................................................................ 9 Festivals and Markets ............................................................................... 10 Award-winning Greek films (2016 - 2017) .................................................. 11 Cultural cinema events ............................................................................. 13

2

The Greek Film Centre - About us

The Greek Film Centre (GFC) is the main institution that applies cinematographic policy in Greece. It is an institution which enjoys financial and administrative independence,

• perates in the public interest and is supervised by the Hellenic Ministry of

Culture and Sports. The GFC functioned under a different name and with a different structure since 1970, and in 1986 it was established as an organization under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture. Today the GFC operates based on the Law N. 3905/2010 (GGHR 219/Α/23- 12-2010), regarding the “Support and Development of Cinematographic Art and other provisions”, under a new legal form as a public benefit non-profit legal entity, established under private law, which is supervised by the Minister

• f Culture.

Main goals of the Greek Film Centre

• The protection, support and development of cinematographic film art

in Greece

• The promotion and distribution of Greek film productions, both

domestically and internationally

• The promotion of Greece abroad as an appropriate location for filming

cinematic and audiovisual productions, as well as the attraction of foreign cinematic and audiovisual productions in Greece, in general

3

Objectives

The GFC aims to protect and develop the production of cinematographic art in Greece, by applying the following practices:

• Increase of investments from the local and foreign market
• Attraction of foreign productions and co-productions
• Increase of extroversion in Greek production
• Reinforcement of new creators
• Development of cinematic education in Greece
• Transparency and efficacy in administration

What do we do?

To achieve its goals, among other activities, the Greek Film Centre:

• Finances film productions and ensures advantageous conditions in

which Greek filmmakers can complete their work

• Promotes and supports film distribution both domestically and

internationally in commercial and parallel circuits

• Organizes retrospectives and film weeks abroad
• Participates in film festivals and markets

The structure of the GFC

The administrative organs of the GFC, based on law N. 3905/2010, are the Board of Directors (seven members) and the General Director. They are designated by the Minister of Culture, and their service is 3-year long, with an

• ption of renewal.

4 The Greek Film Centre consists of 4 Directorates:

• The Development and Production Directorate, which checks and corroborates

the financial amounts involved, as well as follows up the development and completion of the productions.

• The Distribution and Promotion Directorate, named “Hellas Film”, which is

responsible for promotion in international festivals and markets, and also for the support of Greek film productions and co-productions’ exploitation.

• The International Audiovisual Productions Directorate - Hellenic Film

Commission, which is responsible for promoting Greece as a film friendly country and attracting foreign audiovisual productions to shoot in Greece.

• The Financial and Administrative Directorate.

Funding for Production and Development - 2016

The majority of the GFC’s funds are allocated to the production, promotion and support of Greek cinema at an international level and for the theatrical distribution of Greek films in a national level. The largest part of the Greek Film Centre’s budget is invested in film

• production. Emphasis is given to support new filmmakers, while there is

always a special place in the funding reserved for the films of more acclaimed directors who have already presented a distinguished filmography. From July 2016 to the end of the same year, the GFC has funded more than 100 projects, based on its funding programs regulation. The funding regarded feature and short films, documentaries, as well as script development. The total amount of funding in 2016 was 3,285,324.00 €. As stated above, one of the basic obligations of the GFC is to support new filmmakers and help them to come to light. From the 100 projects approved

5 for funding, 32 were in development, 19 were completed films and 49 are currently in production. Specifically, from the 20 projects that were selected in the Main Program and in the Program for New Directors, seven (7) projects come from new

• filmmakers. They are young and promising for the future of Greek Cinema

filmmakers, who have received awards or have already shown an important work in short films.

Memberships

The Greek Film Centre is the national representative in EURIMAGES - European Cinema Support Fund of the Council of Europe, as one of the 37 member states that participate in the programme. Eurimages is the cultural support fund of the Council of Europe with a total annual budget of 25 million euros. It encourages co-operation between professionals established in different European countries and promotes independent filmmaking by providing financial support to feature-length films, animation and documentary films. For the year 2016, there were two (2) international co-production projects coming from Greece, that were funded by Eurimages with a total amount of awarded support of 500,000 €. Also, for the half semester of 2017, Eurimages funded four (4) international co-production projects coming from Greece, with a total amount of awarded support of 570,000 €. The very active presence of the Greek Film Centre in European cultural activities is especially promoted by its Creative Europe Media Desk Greece,

6 which promotes European culture and creativity through the film and audiovisual industries, as well as the cooperation with cultural organizations in

• ther countries. The MEDIA programme supports the ability of the EU’s film

and audiovisual industries to develop, distribute and promote their work across all platforms. During 2016, the Creative Europe Media Desk Greece participated in many activities and organized several Labs, such as the “Exodus Lab” for the Creative Documentary and the Short Film Script Lab, “Short Stories, Big Ideas”. Moreover, the GFC was the initiator of SEE CINEMA NETWORK of European agencies coming from the South-Eastern Europe, established in the island of Hydra, Greece, in 2000. The network still funds projects in the development stage, that are formed as co-productions between the member states. In the year 2016, seven (7) projects (feature films of international co- production) were funded for Development. The Network also funded the production of six (6) short films. The Greek Film Centre is a founding member of European Film Promotion (EFP), the unique European network for the promotion of European cinematographic film art in the world, and is also a member of the European Film Agency Directors (EFADs).

Agreements - Conventions

Greece was one of the first member States of the Council of Europe that signed the revised the European Convention

• f

the Council

• n

Cinematographic Co-production in January 2017.

7 The Parties to this Convention undertake to promote the development of international cinematographic co-production in accordance with certain provisions. In the field of cinema, Greece has bilateral agreements with France and Canada, which was recently reactivated. Recently Greece and China officially inaugurated the China-Greece Cultural Exchange and Cultural Industry Cooperation Year 2017, in Athens, and

• fficials from the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on

film co-production. Also, since 2014, a convention regarding the support of Greek-French co- productions between the Greek Film Centre and the French Centre National du Cinéma et de l’ Image Animée (CNC) is active. So far, it has funded 21 films in total, via the Aide à la Coproduction d’Œuvres Cinématographiques Franco-Grecques. On May 22, 2017, during Cannes IFF, the two Centres signed a new, 3-year long convention, confirming the continuous success of their collaboration that has already produced excellent results, both artistically and commercially. Among the completed projects, there are award-winning films, such as: “Son of Sofia” by Elina Psykou Tribeca FF / Best International Narrative Feature Award Sarajevo FF / CICAE Award “L’ Ultima Spiaggia” (“The Last Resort”) by Thanos Anastopoulos and Davide Del Degan (documentary feature)

8 In addition to that, “Djam” by Tony Gatlif was included in the Official Selection of Cannes IFF 2017. Also, “Voir du Pays”, by Delphine & Muriel Coulin received the Best Screenplay Award in “Un Certain Regard” section of the Cannes IFF 2016. Furthermore, on August 16, during the 23rd Sarajevo Film Festival, the Greek Film Centre and the Film Center Serbia (FCS) signed an agreement regarding the mutual support for distribution of films in the Republic of Greece and the Republic of Servia. This agreement is an initiative aiming to attract new audience to movie theatres and to make the local cinema of the two countries, as well as Balkan cinema in general, even more recognizable by distributing films not only in the nations’ capital but throughout the countries.

Hellenic Film Commission

One of the main present goals of the Greek Film Centre is to continue promoting Greek Cinema worldwide, as well as to further establish Greece as an ideal location for shooting, mainly through the function of the Hellenic Film Commission, a member of the European Film Commissions Network (EUFCN). Since its official establishment in March 2017, this Directorate of Greek Film Centre, functions as the primary contact point for foreign professionals,

• ffering them information on filming permits, as well as providing them with

the Industry Guide of Greece. A film friendly country since the beginning of the 20th century –when Joseph Hepp shot “The Adventures of Villar” (1924) in Athens–, Greece is proud to have provided the perfect locations for international classics such as “Zorba

9 the Greek”, and “The Guns of Navarone”, as well as for more recent films – and big Hollywood productions, for that matter– from “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” and “Mamma Mia” to “Before Midnight” and “The Two Faces of January”. With its stunning locations and backdrops, and its amazing Mediterranean climate with plenty of sunshine throughout the entire year, Greece offers far more than a unique and physical décor; versatile both in terms of landscapes as well as historical periods within short distances. Another proof of the allure of Greece is the fact that Antiparos island was recently included in the shortlist for the European Location Award, created by Filming Europe, the European Film Commissions Network (EUFCN), in collaboration with Cineuropa. Antiparos, which was the filming location of the critically acclaimed film “Suntan” by Argyris Papadimitropoulos, now competes for the title of the “Best European Film Location of the Decade”. During the last three years, more than 25 foreign productions (from USA, UK, France, Italy and China), experienced all the good reasons of what it means to film in Greece. One of the safest, most stable and extrovert countries in the region, Greece can host and accommodate the needs of audiovisual productions of any scale, through major production companies with excellent, English speaking, crews. For all the obvious reasons –and for many more to discover when coming in Greece– our country will always inspire fascinating story-telling.

Greek Cinema promotion

The Distribution and Promotion Directorate, named “Hellas Film”, is in charge

• f promoting Greek films, authors and film professionals in Greece and

abroad.

10 The Directorate’s main activities can be divided into two groups:

• rganizing presentations and promotions of Greek Cinema at

international film markets, festivals and audiovisual events

• preparing special focus programmes on Greek cinema, retrospectives
• n filmmakers

“Hellas Film” also publishes catalogues and other promotional publications concerning completed and released films, as well as projects in post- production.

Festivals and Markets

Through its Directorate, “Hellas Film”, the GFC collaborates with and supports domestic film festivals such as the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, the Documentary International Film Festival of Thessaloniki and the Drama Short Film Festival which is the biggest and oldest Short International film festival in Greece. In the international level, the GFC is continuously present in major festivals and film markets, such as the Berlin IFF (European Film Market), the Cannes IFF (Marché Du Film), the Thessaloniki IFF (Agora) and the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival (Agora), as well as the Leipzig International Documentary Festival, the Toronto Film Festival and Market, the Locarno Film Festival, the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, the Clermont Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival and Market, thus making its films available for festival screenings all over the world. During this year’s 70th Cannes IFF, the Greek Film Centre in collaboration with the Thessaloniki IFF developed and presented the activity “Thessaloniki

11 Goes to Cannes” that introduced new Greek Films in progress to the international markets.

Award-winning Greek films (2016 - 2017)

From the summer of 2016 till now, several films funded by the Greek Film Centre have received prestigious awards. Among them: “Amerika Square” by Yannis Sakaridis Beijing IFF / Audience Award Trieste IFF / Erasmus Jury Award Thessaloniki IFF / FIPRESCI Award “Amerika Square” is the Official Selection of Greece for Best Foreign Language Picture in the Academy Awards (Oscars) 2018. “Park” by Sofia Exarchou San Sebastian IFF / Kutxabank - New Directors Award - Best Film Thessaloniki IFF / Best Actress Award, ERT (Greek Public Television) Award Brussels Mediterranean FF / Youth Jury Award, Cineuropa Award Geneva IFF Tous Ecrans (Special Jury Mention) Festival International de Films de Femmes, Creteil (Special Mention) “Suntan” by Argyris Papadimitropoulos Oaxaca FilmFest / Best International Film Award Odessa IFF / Special Mention “Son of Sofia” by Elina Psykou Tribeca FF / Best International Narrative Feature Award Sarajevo FF / CICAE Award

12 “Afterlov” by Stergios Paschos Locarno IFF / Youth Jury Award “Cloudy Sunday” by Manoussos Manoussakis Slemani International Film Festival 2016, Iraq / Best Direction Award, Best Cinematography Award San Francisco Greek Film Festival / Best Picture Award Atlanta Greek Film Festival / Best Picture Award Also, two co-productions with Greece are the Official Selection of Albania and Bulgaria for Best Foreign Language Picture in the Academy Awards (Oscars) 2018. They are, respectively, “Daybreak” (“Dita Zë Fill”), the first feature film by Gentian Koçi, a co-production of Albania and Greece supported by the GFC, and “Glory” (“Slava”) by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov, a co- production of Bulgaria and Greece. In addition to that, Greek Shorts are presented at the biggest Film Festivals (examples): “Copa Loca” by Christos Massalas - Directors’ Fortnight, May, Cannes IFF 2017 / Special Jury Mention, Sarajevo FF 2017 “A Drowing Man” by Mahdi Fleifel - Short Film Competition, May, Cannes IFF 2017 “Manodopera” by Loukianos Moshonas - Locarno FF, July 2016 “Preparation” by Sofia Georgovassili - Toronto IFF, September 2017 “Helga ar in Lund” by Thelyia Petraki - International Competition, Clermont Ferrand FF, February 2017 “Hiwa” by Jacqueline Lentzou - Berlin Shorts Competition, February 2017

13

Cultural cinema events

The Greek Film Centre participates and / or co-organizes several Greek Cinema Weeks, and collaborates with some of the most important Greek Film Festivals and Greek Embassies all over the world, in order to promote Greek cinema. A special part of the GFC’s activities is the worldwide organization of retrospectives and screenings on acclaimed Greek directors, such as Theodoros Angelopoulos, Nikos Koundouros, Michael Cacoyannis, Costas Sfikas, Tonia Marketaki, Kostas Ferris, Pantelis Voulgaris and Alexis Damianos, to name a few. In this framework, retrospectives are being organized with the support of the Greek Film Centre in highly acclaimed Institutions. The most recent example is the retrospective for Theo Angelopoulos, presented in the Australian Cinémathèque (April - May 2016) and in the Museum of the Moving Image and the Harvard Film Archive (USA) (July - September 2016). The GFC is also proud to collaborate with acclaimed organizations and institutions, such as the Film Society of Lincoln Centre, Doha Film Institute and Hong Film Archive. In 2016, we had the chance to see once more these international collaborations in action –and with fine results. 2016 was a cross-cultural year between Greece and Russia and, in this context, the Greek Film Centre supported the realization of Cinematographic Retrospective of Greek Films in Moscow (October 4 -8, 2016), as well as the organization of the 1st Festival

• f Contemporary Greek Cinema in Moscow (October 8 - 12, 2016). This event

“travelled” in the Krasnoyarsk Film Festival, Siberia (December 8-11, 2016) and Nizhny Novgorod (April 5 -8, 2017)

14 We are confident that cross-cultural year between Greece and China for the years 2017 and 2018 will be equally and maybe even more successful. After all, both of our countries can be proud of their centuries-long history and are perfect examples of creating civilizations that continue to promote cultural, intellectual and artistic progress worldwide. All the activities of the GFC aim to further promoting Greek Cinema as a powerful means of communication and culture with universal appeal, as well as the constantly growing collaboration between countries in the fields of culture and civilization.