HIGH ALERT: Danis Tanovic's 'Triage,' which gets a case study panel at the Co-Production Forum, opens the festival.
MADRID -- For nine days in November, sunny Seville turns Euroville as its film festival takes the pulse of contempo European filmmaking.
Now at its sixth edition -- the second under journo-producer Javier Martin Dominguez as artistic director -- the Seville European Film Festival is also strengthening its position as a Continental film industry meeting point.
Pics at Seville highlight the emergence of women directors in Europe, who account for nine of the official selection's 16 titles, tackling hot-button issues.
Keren Yedaya's "Jaffa" explores a secret romance between an Israeli girl and a Palestinian boy; Jessica Hausner's Venice-prized pic "Lourdes" turns on religion; Europe's growing cultural mix is underscored by "When Heaven Falls," helmed by Afghanistan's Manyar I. Parwani, in one of Seville's international premieres; and Xiaolu Guo's Locarno-winning drama "She, a Chinese," is about a girl who migrates from China to London.
Brits, already plentiful in Andalusia, are the industry focus this year. Producer Jeremy Thomas selects his 10 favorite British films. The New Brits sidebar showcases talent including Shane Meadows ("Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee") and Andrea Arnold ("Fish Tank"). Vet helmer Nicolas Roeg chairs the jury.
As a burgeoning Euro film event, Seville hosts sidebars linked to European film institutions. EFA Selection screens pics preselected by the European Film Academy, whose nominations announcement Nov. 7 represents one of the fest's highlights. Eurimages also unspools a sidebar.
Seville meanwhile has expanded its Eurocentric industry events and seminars. The debut Seville Intl. Locations Expo runs Nov. 5-8, while the Co-Production Forum will include case studies of Danis Tanovic's "Triage" and Andrucha Waddington's "Dreammaker."
"We're seeking to support co-productions: Films need this kind of economic support to penetrate markets," Martin Dominguez explains.
Seville-born Paz Vega and Colin Farrell will host the opening gala, followed by Farrell starrer "Triage," which co-stars Vega.
TIP SHEET
When: Nov. 6-14
Where: Seville, Spain
Web: festivaldesevilla.com
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