Films Distribution & Mercure International are proud to present in 54th Berlin International Film Festival and in AFM

FILMS DISTRIBUTION & MERCURE INTERNATIONAL ARE PROUD TO PRESENT IN 54th BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND IN AFM OFFICIAL SELECTION - OUT OF COMPETITION

Memoria del Saqueo, A Social Genocide A film by Fernando E. Solanas

The dramatic circumstances which we are living out bring me back to my very beginnings in the cinema, thirty-five years ago, when my search for a political identity and my desire to struggle against the dictatorship led me to shoot The Hour of the Furnaces. Circumstances have greatly changed, but the consequences of the neo-liberal plan have today proved so disastrous that, once again, I am forced to bear witness to memories and testimonies by composing a living fresco based on what we have supported and endured over the past twenty-five years, from Videla's dictatorship to today. It is in this manner that I wish to contribute to the urgent debate that Argentina, Latin America and the world at large are conducting, which, as its driving force, the certainty that, faced with dehumanized globalization, "another world is possible".

Screenings in Berlin Feb 10, 21h00, Kino International (official) Feb 11, 09h45am, CinemaxX 10 (market) Feb 13, 12h00pm, Royal Palast (official) Feb 15, 20h00, International (official)

Also screening in AFM

GENRE : DOCUMENTARY FORMAT: 35 mm / 1.85 LENGTH : 2h00 YEAR : 2003

SELECTED IN PANORAMA

L'Esquive A film by Abdel Kechiche

For Krimo, a teenager living in the suburbs of Paris, days go by, carying the weight of his boredom around the neighbourhoodS Until a few lines from a 19th century play echo in an open field, and suddenly nothing seems quite the same anymore : Lydia, all dressed-up in her theatre costume, is rehearsing the school play. And Krimo falls in love with her. Despite the reputation Krimo has to sustain, he will accept a role in the play in order to declare his love. Will he find the right words?

Starring Osman Elkharraz, Sara Forestier, Sabrina Ouazani, Hajar Hamlili, Rachid Hami.

Screenings in Berlin Feb 06, 13h30, CinemaxX 2 (market) Feb 07, 19h30, CinemaxX 7 (official) Feb 08, 12h00, CineStar 3 (official) Feb 09, 17h30, CineStar 3 (official) Feb 11, 13h00, CinemaxX 2 (market)

Also screening in AFM

GENRE : COMEDY/DRAMA FORMAT: 35 mm / 1.85 / DOLBY SR LENGTH : 1h57 YEAR : 20033

The Other Side of the Street A film by Marcos Bernstein

Regina, a lonely 65 year old who works on the neighbourhood watch for the police in Copacabana, believes to have witnessed a murder in the building across the street, and ends up getting involved with the suspect in a potentially dangerous chain of events that will force her to take stock of her life in a way that she could have never imagined.

Starring Fernanda Montenegro, Raul Cortez.

Screenings in Berlin Feb 06, 15h30, CinemaxX 11 (market) Feb 09, 10h00, CinemaxX 11 (market) Feb 12, 19h00, Zoo-Palast (official) Feb 13, 11h30, CinemaxX 7 (official)

Also screening in AFM

GENRE : DRAMA FORMAT: 35mm / 1.85 LENGTH : 1h38 YEAR : 2003

Wild Side A film by Sébastien Lifshitz

Stephanie returns home to care for her dying mother. Having run away to the big city over 15 years ago, Stephanie is reminded of another lifestyle back in the desolate rural landscape of her childhood. The countryside provokes a flood of emotions and memories. Not only for Stephanie, but also for Mikhail and Jamel, the two young men who share her affections and her bed. Experiencing inevitable flashbacks of her childhood as a boy, transsexual Stephanie is haunted by the early death of her beloved only sister. The monotony of streetwalking and turning tricks night after night is also difficult to forget. Young Russian man Mikhail lives illegally hand to mouth in a country where he hardly speaks the language. A former soldier, he is still tormented by horrific images of war. Jamel is an Arab guy who makes ends meet through prostitution. Not as tough as he acts, he secretly yearns for the days when he was still part of his family. His biggest fear is sleeping alone. Their future is uncertain. Others may not understand them. But the three unlikely friends have found comfort and passion in one another's arms.

Starring Stéphanie Michelini, Edouard Mikitine, Yasmine Belmadi.

Screenings in Berlin Feb 07, 19h30, CinemaxX 11 (market) Feb 08, 11h30, CinemaxX 11 (market) Feb 08, 21h30, Zoo-Palast (official) Feb 09, 14h00, CinemaxX 7 (official) Feb 10, 14h30, International (official) Feb 14, 14h30, International (official)

Also screening in AFM

GENRE : DRAMA FORMAT: 35 mm LENGTH : 1h43 YEAR : 2003

MARKET SCREENINGS

With George Bush on my Mind A film by Joaquin Oristrell

While travelling through the country with its latest play, a Spanish theatre company looses its lead role in a car accident. Jorge Ruiz, a young newcomer, takes over the part. Almost instantly, his provocative attitude awakens hidden conflicts. As a political activist, Jorge decides to read a declaration against the war in Iraq at each performance. Some of the actors disapprove and the theatre company implodes…

Starring Javier Camara, Juan Diego Botto, Elvira Minguez, Maria Botto.

Screenings in Berlin Feb 05, 15h30, CinemaxX 11 Feb 08, 17h30, CinemaxX 11

Also screening in AFM

Festival San Sebastian 2003 – Arte Prize

GENRE : DRAMA FORMAT: 35 mm / 1.85 / Dolby SRD LENGTH : 1h30 YEAR : 2003

Le Grand Rôle A film by Steve Suissa

Maurice, Sami, Simon, Elie and Edouard are still unknown actors despite their late thirties. But one day, Grinchenberg, the famous American director, comes to Paris looking for the lead role in his Yiddish adaptation of the Merchant of Venice. Maurice gets the part ! It is the major breakthrough he has been waiting for. He rushes home to proudly announce the big news to his wife Perla. But Perla also has news for him: she is very ill… Unfortunately, the part eventually goes to a famous American star. Maurice doesn’t have the heart to tell Perla… With his friends’ help, he will go all the way to make his wife believe that he still has the part, and will end up playing the role of his life to protect her.

Starring Stéphane Freiss, Bérénice Béjo, François Berléand and Peter Coyote.

Screenings in Berlin Feb 07, 13h30, CinemaxX 11 Feb 10, 10h00, CinemaxX 11

Also screening in AFM

GENRE : COMEDY/DRAMA FORMAT: 35 mm / 1.85 LENGTH : 1h29 YEAR : 2003

Textiles A film by Franck Landron

Sophie and Olivier are a young couple with 2 children. They work hard in their parisian bakery. Sophie feels that her husband doesn’t pay much attention to her anymore… One day, Sophie and Olivier come across an add in their own shop: the beach house they’ve been dreaming about for so long, is for sale. Taken over by the terrific bargain, the young couple decides to buy the house without even visiting it. Little do they know that there is a hitch to it all, and that they are now the happy owners of a home in a nudist village...

Starring Barbara Shulz, Alexandre Brasseur.

Screenings in Berlin Feb 05, 17h00, CinemaxX 17 Feb 10, 12h15, CinemaxX 18

Also screening in AFM

GENRE : COMEDY FORMAT : 35 mm / 1.66 LENGTH : 1h30 YEAR : 2003

Any Way the Wind Blows A film by Tom Barman

Antwerp, early June. On a sweltering Friday afternoon, eight people dream of a different life. There’s wind and music, police and paronoia, hints and allegations. There’s an ancient virus, a wandering frisbee, a dead horse, and, drifting through town, an enigmatic phenomenon called Windman who feels the pain of everyone but can’t seem to help himself. At night, a party welcomes all...

Soundtrack contains music by Herbie Hancock, Squarepusher, Queens of the Stone Age, Charly Mingus, Yazoo, Magnus and many more...

Starring Natali Broods, Jonas Boel, Diane de Belder, Titus de Voogdt, Eric Kloeck, Sam Louwyck, Dirk Roofthooft, Matthias Schoenaerts, Frank Vercruyssen.

Screenings in Berlin Feb 09, 16h30, CinemaxX 11 Feb 11, 17h00, CinemaxX 13

Piazza Grande, Locarno Film Festival, 2003

GENRE : URBAN TALE FORMAT : 35 mm / Scope / Dolby SRD LENGTH : 2h07 YEAR : 2003

Feathers in my head A film by Thomas de Thier

The small Belgian town of Genappe revolves around its sugar factory. Rotting beets in the town's surrounding drainage system attract migratory birds. The quiet routine of Blanche's family is upset when her young son disappears. Blanche feels she has lost everything. The tragic event and its consequences is treated with dream-like touches as Blanche fights to rebuild her life and to recover the essential...

Starring Sophie Museur, Francis Renaud, Ulysse de Swaef, Alexis Den Doncker.

Screenings in Berlin Feb 07, 09h30, CinemaxX 11 Feb 11, 11h30, CinemaxX 11

Toronto Film Festival 2003 Quinzaine des Réalisateurs - Cannes 2003 Edimburgh International Film Festival 2003 Pusan International Film Festival 2003 Tokyo International Film Festival 2003

GENRE : DRAMA FORMAT: 35 mm / 1.85 / Dolby SRD LENGTH : 1h43 YEAR : 2003

Sansa A film by Siegfried

Sansa’s incredible adventures around the world.

Starring Roschdy Zem, Ivry Gitlis, Emma Suarez, Rita Durao, Silke, Valentina Cervi, Ayako Fujitani, Georges Abe, Bassem Samra, Amar Attia.

Screenings in Berlin Feb 06, 11h30, CinemaxX 11 Feb 10, 13h30, CinemaxX 11

Director's Fortnight - Cannes 2003 Toronto Film Festival 2003

GENRE : DRAMA FORMAT: 35 mm / 1.66 / Dolby SRD LENGTH : 1h55 YEAR : 2002

UPCOMING PROJECTS

Now Shooting

Bottoms Up A film by Marion Vernoux, starring Emmanuelle Béart, Edouard Baer.

In Post Production

They Came Back A film by Robin Campillo starring Géraldine Pailhas, Jonathan Zaccaï, Frédéric Pierrot.

The dead are coming back by thousands... In the world, millions of deceased left there cemetery to the towns. One central question is to be answered : how can living and dead manage to live together...

My father is an Engineer A film by Robert Guédiguian starring Ariane Ascaride, Jean-Pierre Darroussin.

It's the story of a man and a woman that, since childhood, can not live separated one from the other. For those two, living for themselves and for the others is one single thing. Both are medical doctors. One chose to take care of the whole world; the other a little village. Those carriers had them separated, juste a little and not for long : they will fight against fate and reality to keep together... But to really understand this movie, one has to know this : for Natacha, La Pastoral, the traditional French "Provençal" story of the Christ's birth, is the most beautiful story of the world.

Three Dancing Slaves A film by Gaël Morel, starring Stéphane Rideau, Nicolas Cazalé.

Through the portrait of three brothers, the story of a revenge that, benign at first, takes on tragic proportions until it forces each of the brothers to adopt a clear-cut position in relation to each other.

The Silence A film by Orso Miret, starring Mathieu Demy, Natacha Régnier.

Olivier (35 years old) is on holiday in Corsica in the small mountain village where his mother was born. He is with his girl friend, Marianne who is nearly three months pregnant. Olivier is clearly very attached to his Corsican roots, even if he is sometimes made to feel a bit like an outsider - and even if he himself is uneasy about assuming an identity which is not quite his own. The peacefulness of their stay is brutally broken : he is the sole witness to a murder committed by a young man from the same village and whom he has clearly recognized. Fearing that he will become a persona non grata in the village if he denounces the killer, Olivier decides to keep quiet. For how long?

Earth & Ashes A film by Atiq Rahimi.

A bridge, a dry riverbed in a desolate landscape, the sentry house guard who’s in a foul mood, a road that reaches its vanishing point at the horizon, a merchant who contemplates the world, an old man, a small child, and then the waiting. Nothing moves, or almost nothing. We’re in Afghanistan. The old man embarks on a journey to the coal mine where his son, the child’s father, works. He’s going to tell him that the village has been bombed, everyone’s been killed. He speaks, he thinks – the damnation of memories, of waiting, of remorse, of conjectures, of suspicions… It’s the unembellished word that gives voice to the suffering, the solitude, the fear of not being heard.

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