Hubert Bals Fund

Deadline reminder: HBF+Europe Post-production Support ✂️🎞️

Time is running out to submit projects for HBF+EU Post-production Support.

The scheme is intended to support European minority co-productions that are in late post-production stages and do not have any world premiere confirmed until November 2024.

The projects should be aimed for their festival premiere and/or theatrical release from year 2025 and onwards.

The deadline is 9 September.

Submit your project here: https://iffr.com/.../hbfeurope-post-production-support

📸 Agora dir. Ala Eddine Slim, HBF+Europe: Post-production Support 2024, Pardo Verde winner Locarno 2025

Supported titles screening at TIFF 🍁

The summer festival tour for supported titles continues with a number of screenings of recent Hubert Bals Fund-backed highlights at TIFF, which kicks off tomorrow.

🌖 All We Imagine as Light dir. Payal Kapadia, France, India, Netherlands, Luxembourg (HBF Development, NFF+HBF, HBF+Europe)

🐒 Monólogo Colectivo dir. Jessica Sarah Rinland, Argentina, United Kingdom (HBF Development)

🦛 Pepe dir. Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias, Dominican Republic, Germany, France, Namibia (HBF Development)

⛏️ Viet and Nam dir. Trương Minh Quý (HBF Development, NFF+HBF)

🧵 Youth (Hard Times) & Youth (Homecoming) dir. Wang Bing (HBF Development, NFF+HBF)

Submissions open for HBF+Europe Post-production Support 📥

Project submissions are now open for the latest HBF+EU Post-production Support call, intended to support European minority co-productions that are in late post-production stages and do not have any world premiere confirmed until November 2024.

The projects should be aimed for their festival premiere and/or theatrical release from year 2025 and onwards.

The deadline is 9 September.

Submit your project here: https://iffr.com/en/hubert-bals-fund/funding-schemes/hbfeurope-post-production-support

📸 Una sombra oscilante dir. Celeste Rojas Mugica, HBF+Europe: Post-production Support 2023

CineMart extended deadline: 5 September ⏳📢

We've extended the deadline for project submissions for the next edition of CineMart during IFFR 2025.

IFFR Pro's co-production market showcases an adventurous lineup of feature and immersive projects in development to select international industry representatives, and offers tailor-made mentorship and networking opportunities.

Submit your project now!

📥 https://iffr.com/en/cinemart-project-entry

Sarajevo with the Hubert Bals Fund team 🇧🇦✨

We're just back from an amazing trip to the SARAJEVO FILM FESTIVAL where the HBF team had a productive time connecting with filmmakers and creators.

As part of the CineLink Industry Days, HBF Head Tamara Tatishvili took part in the panel "Gendered Doubts: Women in Film and Imposter Syndrome", which explored the impact of gendered expectations and industry pressures on self-doubt among successful women in film.

We were also delighted to see the regional premiere of Georgian filmmaker Tato Kotetishvili’s darkly comedic HBF-backed debut HOLY ELECTRICITY, where it screened in competition, hotly following its Golden Leopard win at Cineasti del Presente in Locarno.

HBF submissions update 🚨

By Saturday 10 July application deadline, the HBF Development scheme received a record-breaking number of submissions. Preselection results were communicated to the designated project contacts on Tuesday 20 August via e-mail.

Success for three HBF-supported films at Locarno Film Festival! 🐆🎉

✝️ Georgian filmmaker Tato Kotetishvili’s darkly comedic debut HOLY ELECTRICITY wins Golden Leopard at Cineasti del Presente.

The film is a Netherlands co-production and twice received Hubert Bals Fund support at core stages of Development in 2019 and Post-production in 2024, next to CineMart in 2021 and our work-in-progress Darkroom programme in 2023. Congratulations to the team Zango Studio, NUSHI FILM, Film & The Film Kitchen.
Next step is regional premiere in official competition at SARAJEVO FILM FESTIVAL!

🔥 Agora by Tunisian filmmaker Alaa Eddine Slim won the Green Leopard.

The co-production from Tunisia, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar was supported by HBF via its HBF+EU Post-production Support in 2024. Congratulations to the team, director and Cinenovo!

🪡 Youth (Hard Times), the second film of Wang Bing's trilogy on young working class in Chinese garment capital Zhili, scoops three awards: Special Mention, FIPRESCI Prize and Special Prize of first Junior Jury Award!

The film is a co-production between France, Luxembourg and Netherlands and has been supported by HBF in Development & via NFF+HBF. Congrats to the director and teams of Volya Films, Les Films Fauves and HOUSE ON FIRE Productions!

Meet the team at international festivals ⛰️

The IFFR team visits many festivals, markets and film industry events throughout the year. Take a look at the blog below for details of the upcoming festivals, including Locarno, and find contact information if you'd like to request a meeting.

Find out more: https://iffr.com/en/teams-festival-attendance

📸 Locarno Film Festival

Upcoming deadline: HBF+Europe: Post-production Support ✂️🎞️

The latest HBF+EU Post-production Support call is intended to support European minority co-productions that are in late post-production stages and do not have any world premiere confirmed until November 2024.

The projects should be aimed for their festival premiere and/or theatrical release from year 2025 and onwards.

The deadline is 9 September. The application form will be available online from two weeks before the deadline.

📸 Agora dir. Ala Eddine Slim, HBF+Europe: Post-production Support 2024

We're looking for a Hubert Bals Fund intern! ‍🎓

For a period of five months, from October 2024 to February 2025, we're offering an exciting internship in the Hubert Bals Fund team, that merges event production with research.

Together with the team, you’ll be responsible for supporting HBF activities during IFFR 2025 but also cultivating research and organisational skills towards both HBF archives and funding opportunities for HBF.

Please note: to be eligible for an internship at IFFR, you must be enrolled as a student for the duration of the placement. We cannot consider applicants who are not enrolled.

Find out more about the internship here: https://iffr.com/en/about-us/vacancies

📸 Dormir de olhos abertos dir. Nele Wohlatz

Four supported titles in the Locarno competition lineups 🐆

We're delighted for the filmmakers from Tunisia, Georgia, Argentina and China whose HBF-supported work is set to premiere in the Locarno Film Festival competitions!

🕵️ Agora dir. Ala Eddine Slim, Concorso Internazionale, HBF+Europe: Post-production Support
♱ HOLY ELECTRICITY dir. Tato Kotetishvili, Concorso Cineasti del Presente, HBF Development, HBF+Europe: Post-production, BoostNL, CineMart
🦩 Monólogo colectivo dir. Jessica Sarah Rinland, Concorso Cineasti del Presente, HBF Development
🧶Youth (Hard Times) dir. Wang Bing, Concorso Internazionale, HBF Development & NFF+HBF

Read more about them all here: https://iffr.com/en/locarno-2024-iffr-backed-titles-in-competition

Private donation boosts Hubert Bals Fund support

We’re excited to announce that financial backing from a private donor will allow us to expand our support to filmmakers!

The donation provides for a further two grants in the 2024 development round, as well as paving the way for big-picture future planning around the HBF’s impact.

We pay tribute to Susan Weeks, founder and former Board Chair of the US-based Global Film Initiative, for her generous donation and dedication to cross-cultural understanding through film.

Find out more here: https://iffr.com/en/private-donation-boosts-iffrs-hubert-bals-fund-support

📸 Stills from recent HBF-backed titles: Praia Formosa, Cu Li Never Cries, All We Imagine as Light, Baby

Top prizes in Karlovy Vary for supported filmmakers! 💥

Zhengfan Yang and Nelicia Low were amongst the top prize winners at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival for their HBF-backed titles!

Singaporean filmmaker Nelicia Low picked up the Best Director Award in the main Crystal Globe Competition with her gripping atmospheric thriller Pierce, inspired by fencing and brotherly love.

The Grand Prize in the Proxima Competition for adventurous new voices went to Chinese filmmaker Zhengfan Yang for the hotel-set Stranger, made of seven "absurd, darkly humorous, poignant, and mysterious stories."

We're very proud to see the creative vision of two more HBF-backed filmmakers celebrated. Congratulations on these fantastic prizes!

📸 Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary

Una sombra oscilante wins FIDMarseille prize! 🌟

Chilean visual artist and filmmaker Celeste Rojas Mugica won the Special Mention in the First Film Competition at FIDMarseille.

“The exercise was, and still is, to close our eyes and imagine a place.” In her captivating, intimate debut, she works with her father in a darkroom to develop images from his past a clandestine photographer in Pinochet's Chile.

The project received our HBF+Europe: Post-production Support grant last year. Many congratulations to Celeste and the team!

Read more about it here: https://fidmarseille.org/en/film/una-sombra-oscilante/

NFF+HBF awards latest production funds 🇳🇱

The Hubert Bals Fund’s joint venture with the Nederlands Filmfonds awards production funds to former HBF-supported projects that have an attached Dutch co-producer.

In the scheme’s latest selection, The Burning Giants by Thai filmmaker Phuttiphong Aroonpheng (Manta Ray, 2018) and Raja’s Early Summer by Chinese filmmaker Gao Zee (The Funeral of Spring, IFFR 2023) are both awarded €75,000.

Read all about the projects here: https://iffr.com/en/latest-nffhbf-support-goes-to-projects-from-china-and-thailand

Development Support submissions now open! ✍️

Our renowned Development Support scheme provides vital support at a project's genesis.

It offers grants of up to €10,000 for the further development of a script (e.g. research, writing, translation or hiring a coach or script consultant), but can also be used to present a project to financiers or other potential partners at co-production meetings or film festivals.

The upcoming deadline is 10 July.

Read more and apply here: https://iffr.com/en/hubert-bals-fund/funding-schemes/hbf-script-and-project-development-support

Film still: Praia Formosa dir. Julia De Simone

Una sombra oscilante to world premiere at FIDMarseille 🌔

"A father took photos during the Chilean dictatorship. His daughter plays with him in the darkroom, developing other images. Images to resist and invent other futures."

Congratulations to Chilean artist, photographer and filmmaker Celeste Rojas Mugica whose debut will have its world premiere in the First Film Competition at Festival international de Cinéma Marseille!

We awarded the project HBF+Europe: Post-production Support funds last year.

Find out more: https://fidmarseille.org/en/film/una-sombra-oscilante/

Bomba Cine Eaux Vives Productions

Two HBF titles selected for Karlovy Vary International Film Festival! 🇨🇿

The Czech festival have announced their competition lineups and we're very pleased to see two HBF-backed titles!

📍 Pierce dir. Nelicia Low, Singapore, Taiwan, Poland . "Nelicia Low’s gripping atmospheric thriller offers a nerve-wracking duel between the ideals of brotherly love and the illusions that we project onto those close to us."

📍 Stranger dir. Zhengfan Yang, USA, China, Netherlands, Norway, France. "The film’s absurd, darkly humorous, poignant, and mysterious stories are set in a seemingly confined space that nevertheless opens up new and surprising dimensions with each episode."

Take a look at the programme: https://www.kviff.com/en/programme/catalogue-of-films/sekce/906-proxima-competition

Special Mention Caméra d’or for Mongrel 💛

More congratulations are in order for Wei Liang Chiang and You Qiao Yin, the co-directors of Mongrel that received a Special Mention Camera d'Or at Cannes!

The award recognises an outstanding first feature film and we couldn't be happier to see it go to Mongrel. The film has been highly praised in the press for its vital and touching portrait of migrant care workers in Taiwan.

The project received HBF development funding, HBF+Europe, and was presented at IFFR Pro's work-in-progress programme Darkroom in 2024.

✨ Grand Prix for All We Imagine as Light by Payal Kapadia 🏆

Fantastic news as the Hubert Bals Fund and IFFR Pro-supported title takes home a much deserved major Cannes prize. We're delighted with the news and with all the incredible reaction we've been seeing to the film. Our heartfelt congratulations to the team!

Supported by the HBF for development, HBF+Europe (Creative Europe), NFF+HBF (Nederlands Filmfonds) and presented at CineMart in 2020.

🏆 Our warmest congratulations to actor Ricardo Teodoro, who plays Ronaldo in the HBF-supported Baby by Marcelo Caetano, who picked up the Prix Fondation Louis Roederer de la Révélation at the Semaine de la Critique - Cannes 2024! 🎉

🌟 Congrats to Trương Minh Quý and the cast and crew of Viet and Nam after its world premiere in Un Certain Regard

First reviews for "impressive" Mongrel ✨

After its premiere yesterday, we're delighted to read some great reviews for the co-directed feature by Chiang Wei Liang and You Qiao Yin.

Mongrel was supported by the HBF for development and with the HBF+Europe scheme, then presented at IFFR Pro's Darkroom programme earlier this year.

Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian praises the film's "impressive artistry", focusing on the compassion with which the film approaches the topic of exploited care workers and their patients. Writing on the main character Oom, he says: "He is at one with them, in their suffering and pain. It is a secular transcendence."

Read the full review: https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/may/20/mongrel-review-zen-like-tale-of-compassion-and-suffering-among-migrant-care-workers

First trailer for Payal Kapadia’s Cannes competition title 💕

Screen International have shared the first glimpse into All We Imagine as Light ahead of its world premiere in competition on Thursday 23 May. It's one of the five HBF-supported titles screening in Cannes.

"In Mumbai, Nurse Prabha’s routine is troubled when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a spot in the city to be intimate with her boyfriend. A trip to a beach town allows them to find a space for their desires to manifest."

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAkmSO-ngOc

Two HBF-backed projects in La Fabrique Cinéma 🎪

Each year La Fabrique Cinéma de l’Institut français invites ten directors working on their first or second feature films to attend the Cannes along with their producer for a tailor-made programme.

Daughters of the Sea by Filipino filmmaker Martika Ramirez Escobar and Tremble Like a Flower by Thai filmmaker Pathompon 'Mont' Tesprateep, both backed with HBF development funds, are setting off to the next edition.

Read about the projects here: https://www.lescinemasdumonde.com/en/la-fabrique/2024/projet/daughters-sea

Three more Hubert Bals Fund-backed projects are on their way to Festival de Cannes! 🌠

Chiang Wei Liang's debut Mongrel screens in Quinzaine des Cinéastes. Set in the mountains of Taiwan, Oom, an undocumented migrant, struggles to preserve his humanity as he cares for the elderly and disabled. We supported the project in development and with HBF+Creative Europe production funds.

Alongside it in the Quinzaine selection is To a Land Unknown by Mahdi Fleifel, a drama on Palestinian refugees plotting an escape from Athens. We backed the project for development and through the Nederlands Filmfonds+HBF scheme as a Dutch co-production.

Marcelo Caetano's latest film Baby screens in Semaine de la Critique - Cannes. Set in Sao Paulo, the film follows Wellington on this release from a juvenile detention centre, and his spiralling relationship with the older Ronaldo. Baby was supported for development and the NFF+HBF scheme.