Medialuna

blessed events

By Isabelle Stever

With: Annika Kuhl, Stefan Rudolf, Arno Frisch
Germany 2010, 90 min
Original Language: German with English subtitles

Toronto Intl. Film Festival 2010

Entirely unexpected Simone seems to find a kind of luck. While asking herself if this could be the face of happiness, she creates obstacles on her own…

silence is golden

By Ewa Pytka

With: Aneta Todorczuk-Perchuć, Jan Wieczorkowski
Poland 2010, 98 min
Original Language: Polish with English subtitles

A magic comedy in which a voice-over actress, Inge loses her voice when a stranger, Peter kisses her and disappears. Inge fights for her voice using psychotherapies, magic and finally love, while at the same time Peter, illustrator can realize his artistic vision only finding his inspiration, Inge, his superwoman.

Luk's luck

By Ayse Polat

With: René Vaziri, Aylin Tezel, Sumru Yavrucuk
Germany 2010, 85 min
Original Language: German and Turkish with English subtitles

A Turkish family in Germany wins the jackpot of the lottery. While the parents want to buy a hotel in Cappadocia to fulfill their dreams, their youngest son Luk has no clue what to do with the fortune. His parents assume that he will contribute to buy the hotel. But Luk wants to record a song with his ex-girl friend Gül what ends in a tragicomical catastrophe, guiding him to discover his real fortune.

BLACK FIELD

By Vardis Marinakis

With: Sofia Georgovassili, Christos Passalis, Despoina Bebedeli
Greece 2010, 104 min
Original Language: Greek and Turkish with English subtitles

Nominated for Hellenic Film Academy Awards for best new director, best cinematography, best costumes and best sets

1654, Ottoman Empire, Greece. A Turkish Warrior arrives heavily wounded at a remote Christian female monastery and is nursed by Anthi, a young nun under the oath of silence. They fall in love against all odds. But Anthi is tormented by a dark secret. The two lovers escape in the nearby forest, where Anthi's secret is revealed: She is, in fact, a boy…

I'M NOT HARRY JENSON

By James Napier Robertson

With: Gareth Reeves, Jinny Lee Story, Ian Mune
New Zeeland 2010, 98 min
Original Language: English

A grungy true crime novelist, Stanley Merse, has become obsessed with the subject of his latest book; Harry Jenson, a prolific serial killer. Convinced he's losing his mind he goes on a retreat to recover; but instead ends up with a traveller dead, blood on his hands and a secret he now has to try and keep from a lot of other people.

DECEMBER

By Hilmar Oddson

With: Tomas Lemarquis, Lovísa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir, Laufey Elíasdóttir
Iceland 2010, 91 min
Original Language: Icelandic with English subtitles

Set during the Christmas holiday’s season, DECEMBER is a sweet-natured and present-day coming-of-age tale dealing with rather harsh realities of a family breakdown in the run up to Christmas. Including excellent performances from Tómas Lemarquis (Nói albínói) and newcomer Lovísa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir.

AMPHETAMINE

By Scud

With: Byron Pang, Thomas Price, Linda So
Hong Kong 2010, 97 min
Original Language: Cantonese and English with English subtitles

  Berlin International Film Festival - Panorama (competition)

A lonely fitness trainer has attached a passionate executive and fatefully fallen in love. The young men believe their love can bridge anything, even their difference in sexuality. It turns out that the addiction to love proves more fatal than the drug they apply for the purpose of love.

STOLEN DREAMS

By Sandra Werneck

With: Nanda Costa, Amanda Diniz, Kika Farias
Brazil 2009, 85 min
Original Language: Portuguese with English subtitles

  Rio De Janeiro (Won Audience Award and Best Actress Award)

Jessica, Sabrina and Daiane have dreams like all young women in the world. They live in a low-income community in Rio de Janeiro, sometimes working as prostitutes in order to survive and satisfy their consumer desires. However, even in this context of absolute uncertainty and lack of hope, they insist on loving, having fun and dreaming of a better future.

THE TENANTS

By Sérgio Bianchi

With: Marat Descartes, Ana Carbatti, Umberto Magnani
Brazil 2009, 103 min
Original Language: Portuguese with English subtitles

  Rio De Janeiro (Won Best Script and Best Supporting Actress)

Your new neighbours sleep all day and party all night long. They receive visitors from the criminal underworld… Would you set against them or would you watch a foreseen crime happening next door?

LIFE IN ONE DAY

By Mark de Cloe

With: Tygo Gernandt, Matthijs van de Sande Bakhuyzen, Loïs Dols de Jong
The Netherlands 2009, 94 min
Original Language: Dutch with English subtitles

  Rome Film Fest

In a world in which a human life lasts just one day and where every action is a one-off, a boy and a girl fall so in love that they cannot bear this existence where everything happens only once. In the belief that they can prolong their love, they flee to hell.

JORDAN

By Stuart Culpepper

With: Gregory Zaragoza, Liezl Carstens, Isabel Kate Culpepper
USA 2009, 77 min
Original Language: English

Five-year-old Jordan walks miles through the night in the wake of a car accident on an isolated mountain road. But when small-town Sheriff Gil Lujan finally locates the girl's missing mother, Jordan claims the woman is an impostor - and insists that her real mother is still waiting for help out on the mountain. What follows is a story of psychological suspense and danger about the ferociously powerful bond between mother and child - and how far each one will go to protect it.

STRANGERS LOVERS KILLERS

By Oliver Torr, Ross Wilson, Matt Zeremes

With: Matthew Zeremes, Oliver Torr, Li Leng Au
Australia 2009, 87 min
Original Language: English

The suicide of a corrupt Mayor in Shanghai leads to convulsions in Sydney: an exchange student from China, Mei Li is abducted. Her lover, David, and a complete stranger Simon are joined in a quest to find her. On their journey, the two men are stripped of their everyday exterior finding themselves capable of murder.

MY TEHRAN FOR SALE

By Granaz Moussavi

With: Marzieh Vafamehr, Amir Chegini, Asha Mehrabi
Iran/Australia 2009, 95 min
Original Language: Farsi, English

  Won the IF award for Independent Spirit (Australia)
Adelaide IFF (in competition), Toronto IFF, Vancouver IFF, Pusan IFF, India IFF, Mannheim Heidelberg IFF (in competition), Rotterdam Film Festival.

Shot entirely on location in Tehran, MY TEHRAN FOR SALE tells the story of modern day Iranian youth struggling for cultural freedom. It brings to the screen never before seen images of modern urban Iran, and reveals how young Iranian people live behind closed doors.

"It can not be overlooked" Screen International

BLIND COMPANY

By Alkinos Tsilimidos

With: Colin Friels, Nick Barkla, Gloria Ajenstat
Australia 2009, 97 min
Original Language: English

  Melbourne IFF, World Film Festival Montreal

Geoff Brewster is seeing out his final days at the family’s isolated, coastal shack – walking the beach and recording confessions to his estranged wife, Sally. When his Porsche driving nephew, Josh, arrives unannounced, a tense game ensues with shattering consequences.

"This is film at its best. A must see. Colin Friels and Nick Barkla wreak naked, embarrassing, honest emotional havoc. Blind Company is a major work." Larry Clark

DIRTY MIND

By Pieter van Hees

With: Wim Helsen, Robby Cleiren, Peter van den Begin, Kristine van Pellicom
Belgium 2009, 102 min
Original Language: Flemish with English ST

Karlovy Vary IFF, L’Étrange Festival, Reykjavik IFF, Oldenburg IFF, Netherland Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, Festival du nouveau cinema Montreal, Semana Internacional de Cine de Valladolid (in compentition), Cinémascience Festival ( Grand Jury Prize and Jury Prize for Young Researchers)

Shy Diego struggles with low self-esteem, until he has a serious accident and wakes up as Tony T, a totally uninhibited free-spirited stuntman. A typical case of Frontal Syndrome? Certainly an ideal case study for young and ambitious neurologist Jaana. Everybody hopes that Diego will quickly recover. Except for Diego.

Dirty Mind is a tragic comedy about the fine line between manly behaviour and behavioural disorder.

"Tragicomedy laced with dark humor and some impressive stuntwork." Variety

LOW LIGHTS

By Ignas Miškinis

With: Dainius Gavenonis, Julia Maria Köhler, Jonas Antanélis
Lithuania/Germany 2009, 92 min
Original Language: Lithuanian with English ST

Won "Best Film" and Dainius Gavenonis (as Tadas) "Best Actor" at the "Silver Crane cinema and television film awards 2009"

Karlovy Vary IFF (in competition), Warsaw IFF (in competition), Filmfest Hamburg, Pusan IFF, Brussels Intl. Independent FF, Lübeck FF, Leeds IFF, EU Film Showcase – AFI, Sevilla International FF (in competition), Cottbus FF, European Film Festival Segovia, Tallin Black Nights FF

LOWLIGHTS is an atmospheric urban road movie, a love story and a buddy movie in one. Two men and one woman united for one night by a quaint ritual - night driving through the city streets. They discover new experiences, get close, find hope, love.

PERMANENT RESIDEnCE

By Scud

With: Sean Li, Osman Hung, Jackie Chow
HK 2009, 115 min
Original Language: Cantonese with English subtitles

  HK IFF, Taipei IFF, FebioFest Prague

Shot in Israel, Japan, Australia, Thailand and mainland China, PERMANENT RESIDENCE is the life story of a man who indulges in thoughts of after life and passionately falls in love with a straight guy.

MEMORY

By Matthias Luthardt

With: Franziska Petri, Paquale Aleardi, Harry Blank
Germany 2008, 82 min
Original Language: German with English ST

Hofer Filmtage, Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis, Berlinale, Festival des Deutschen Films Ludwigshafen, Molodist International Film Festival, Mumbai International Film Festival

Matthias Luthardt second film after PING PONG. Helene´s husband has been missing since a maritime disaster, but she is certain that he is still alive. One day he is right in front of her at a concert. A tightrope walk between reality and illusion.

"Intelligent and quietly compelling thriller" The Denver Post

ADAM'S PARTY

By Santiago Lapeira

With: Sergi Bitan, Rodrigo Garcia, Pedro Maria Atxa
Spain 2009, 92 min
Original Language: Catalan with English ST

A young actor, who has made his coming-out and decided to live his homosexuality, becomes writer of best sellers. He is about to get married with the man of his life, when the ghost of a serial killer that lived in San Francisco in the 70’s appears...

RESCUE

By Santiago Lapeira

With: Joe Lewis, Gisela Arnao, Manuel Medina
Spain 2009, 91 min
Original Language: Catalan with English ST

Three extraordinary bandits decide to end their carrier with a last coup: the kidnapping of the son of a shady businessman. For what seemed to be an easy job, the violence falls over them like storm.

DANCE THE SALSA DUEL

By Francis Expósito

With: José Ángel Vargas, Joan Toni Pou, Emilia Terradas
Spain 2009, 92 min
Original Language: Spanish with English ST

Javi falls in love with Teresa, a Salsa dancer, who doesn’t pay any attention to him, so he decides to learn how to dance in order to conquer her, helped by a retired dancer.

VILLA TRANQUILA

By Jesús Mora

With: Pablo Rivero, Raul Medina, Maria Barrios
Spain, 82 min
Original Language: Spanish with English ST

A man travelling from Spain to Villa Tranquila (Buenos Aires) to visit his father is forced to experience life from an altogether different perspective after becoming stranded in a strange land where survival is an everyday struggle.

A GUN FOR JENNIFER

By Todd Morris

With: Deborah Twiss, Rene Alberta, Tracy Dillon, Freida Hoops, Sheila Schmidt, Arthur Nascarella
USA, 91 min
Original Language: English

Fant-Asia Film Festival (Best Film), NY Underground Film Festival, Helsinki Film Festival, Oldenburg IFF, Jyväskylä Film Festival

At the time when the wave of Tarantino epigones was slowly fading an independent film hit the scene, which shook the film community in its very foundations. "A Gun for Jennifer" follows a girl gang on their revenge crusade against rapist, which turns into a megalomaniac war on all males.

"It is like Thelma and Louise crossed with Taxi Driver" William Loeffler, Gannett News Service

TANDOORI LOVE

By Oliver Paulus

With: Lavinia Wilson, Martin Schick, Vijay Raaz, Shweta Agarwal
Switzerland/Germany/Austria 2008, 92'
Original Language: Swiss German and Hindi with English ST

Best Film Audience Award Swiss Awards 2009
Hofer Filmtage, Cairo Film Festival, Film Festival of India, Santa Barbara Film Festival, Filmfest Max Ophüls Preis, Cinequest, Pantalla Pinamar, Shanghai IFF, Osaka European Film Festival.

Sonja is a waitress at the "Hirschen" a traditional tavern in the Bernese mountains. She is engaged to her boss Markus and has never questioned it- not until Rajah begins courting her. Rajah is the masterful personal chef of a gorgeous Bollywood superstar, who is shooting a new film nearby. Unable to resist Sonja, Rajah ditches the film crew to work at the "Hirschen". Chaos erupts before long for the filmcrew and Sonja, who becomes trapped between two different worlds - represented by Markus' security and status, and Rajah' s charm and culinary magic, which she can neither elude nor resist.

A spicy romantic comedy and homage to Bollywood and Indian cuisine.

AUTUMN

By Özcan Alper

With: Onur Saylak, Megi Koboladze, R. Gulefer Yenigul, Serkan Keskin, Nino Lejava
Turkey/Germany 2008, 106 min
Original Language: Turkish - Georgian - Hemsin with English ST

Nominated for the European Film Awards 2009!

Locarno IFF, Sarajevo IFF, Montreal World Film Festival, Adana FF (Best Film), Bangkok IFF, Thessalonki IFF, Rotterdam IFF, Göteborg IFF, Cinequest, LA Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Middle East International Film Festival, Bergen International Film Festival, Kolkata Film Festival, Noordelijk Film Festival (Best Film), Filmfestival del Garda (special mention)

Sentenced to jail in 1997 as a university student at the age of 22, Yusuf is released on health grounds ten years later. He returns to his village in the eastern Black Sea region and meets Eka, a beautiful young Georgian hooker. His love for her becomes a final desperate attempt to grasp life and elude loneliness.

With the 1990s as a backdrop, the film at once documents and criticises a slice of recent history, exposing the irony, ruthlessness and reality of the period.

FINNISH TANGO

By Buket Alakus

With: Christoph Bach, Mira Bartuschek, Fabian Busch
Germany 2008, 90 min
Original Language: German with English subtitles

  Film Festival Emden Norderney, "Festival des Deutschen Films" in Ludwigshafen, Berlin & Beyond, Cinequest Film Festival, Flying Broom International Women's Film Festival, Open Film Festival "Golden Brig"

FINNISH TANGO tells the story of a man, who – on his quest of finding the easy way out – discovers his own humanity.

KATIA'S SISTER

By Mijke de Jong

With: Betty Qizmolli, Julia Seykens, Olga Louzgina
The Netherlands 2008, 85 min
Original Language: Dutch and Russian with English subtitles

  Festivals & Awards: Locarno Film Festival (Competition), Toronto Film Festival, Miami International Film Festival (Award for Best Actress to Olga Louzgina), Sguardi Altrove Int. Women’s FF, Women with Vision FF Minneapolis

KATIA’S SISTER is an intimate portrait of a 13-year old girl, living in Amsterdam, who loses her Russian mother and older sister Katia to the world of prostitution.