Once again, after its premiere last year, ARRI and the Carl Zeiss AG are awarding this prize for Best Foreign Film at the festival.  The award and €50,000 will be presented during the award ceremony on July 3rd in the Carl-Orff-Saal at the festival center in Gasteig.  “We are very proud to have this important and groundbreaking prize”, says festival director Andreas Ströhl, “the film that won it last year, Gomorra,  went on to win the prize for Best European Film of the Year.”

The Jury of the 2009 Arri-Zeiss Award:
Katja Nicodemus, editor of the German weekly newspaper DIE ZEIT,
Teona Strugar Mitevska, director and producer from Macedonia
Jay Jeon, artistic director of the Pusan International Film Festival in South Korea

The Nominees for the 2009 Arri-Zeiss Award are:

CE QU'IL FAUT POUR VIVRE / THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE
Benoit Pilon, Canada 2008, 102 min., International Program

THE SKY CRAWLERS / SUKAI KURORA
Mamoru Oshii, Japan 2008, 122 min., Focus on the Far East

TEZA
Haile Gerima, Ethiopia, Germany 2008, 140 min., International Program

SHIRIN
Abbas Kiarostami, Iran 2008, 91 min., International Program

YURI`S DAY / YURYEV DEN
Kirill Serebrennikov, Russis, Germany, 2008, 138 min., International Program

KINATAY
Brillante Mendoza, Philippines 2009, 110 min., Focus on the Far East

KISSES
Lance Daly, Ireland 2008, 76 min., International Program

THE MISFORTUNATES / DE HELAASHEID DER DINGEN
Felix van Groeningen, Belgium 2009, 108 min., International Program

LE PERE DE MES ENFANTS  / THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN 
Mia Hansen-Løve, France 2008, 112 min. Nouveau Cinéma Français

UNA SEMANA SOLOS  / A WEEK ALONE 
Celina Murga, Argentina 2008, 110 min., Visiones Latinas

TÖDLICHES KOMMANDO / THE HURT LOCKER 
Kathryn Bigelow, USA 2008, 134 min., International Program

FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN
Oliver Hirschbiegel, Great Britain 2009, 90 min., International Program

FISH TANK
Andrea Arnold, Great Britain 2009, 124 min., International Program

LA FILLE DU RER / THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN
André Téchiné, France 2008, 105 min., Nouveau Cinéma Français

With best regards

Michael Amtmann
Press Spokesman
FILMFEST MÜNCHEN
089/ 381904-30
presse@filmfest-muenchen.de
www.filmfest-muenchen.de

17 films from 14 countries are competing for this year’s CineVision Award - productions from North and South America, Europe, Africa and Australia.

The CineVision Award has been presented at FILMFEST MÜNCHEN since 2007 and the winner receives €12,000. It goes to a first or second non-German film in the Filmfest München program that is innovative, goes in new aesthetic directions and is an outstanding contribution to the cinematic arts. Festival Director Andreas Ströhl: “The CineVision Award is intended to encourage new filmmakers as well as to foster new tendencies in cinema”.

The CineVision jury is as international as the candidates. In this year’s jury are filmmaker and journalist Claire Sanghi Ham, Philip Gröning and Syrian film editor and journalist Somar Jbawi. The award ceremony takes place on July 3, 2009 at 6 pm in the Carl-Orff-Saal at the festival center in Gasteig.

And the nominees for the CineVision Award 2009 are:

BREATHLESS / DDONGPARI
Ik-june Yang, South Korea 2008, 77 min., (Focus on the Far East)

LYMELIFE
Derick Martini, USA 2008, 95 min., (International Program)

A TALE OF TWO DONKEYS / ZOU ZHU QIAO
Li Dawei, China 2008, 100 min., (Focus on the Far East)

EVERYTHING STRANGE AND NEW
Frazer Bradshaw, USA 2008, 84 min., (American Independents)

EASTERN PLAYS
Kamen Kalev, Bulgaria 2008, 89 min., (International Program)

BLIND PIG WHO WANTS TO FLY / BABI BUTA YANG INGIN TERBANG
Edwin, Indonesia 2008, 77 min., (Focus on the Far East)

ONE DAY IN A LIFE / UN ALTRO PIANETA
Stefano Tummolini, Italy 2008, 82 min., (International Program)

INLAND / GABBLA
Tariq Teguia, Algeria, France 2008, 138 min., (International Program)

DOGTOOTH / KYNODONTAS
Yorgos Lanthimos, Greece 2009, 94 min., (International Program)

MOON
Duncan Jones, UK 2009, 96 min., (International Program)

SAMSON & DELILAH
Warwick Thornton, Australia 2009, 100 min., (International Program)

I LOVE YOU MUM / MAMI TE AMO
Elisa Eliash, Chile 2008, 78 min., (Visiones Latinas)

FILMPHOBIA / FILMEFOBIA
Kiko Goifman, Brasil 2008, 80 min., (Visiones Latinas)

WEST OF PLUTO / À L'OUEST DE PLUTON
Henry Bernadet, Myriam Verrault, Canada 2008, 95 min., (International Program)

YOU WILL BE MINE / JE TE MANGERAIS
Sophie Laloy, France 2009, 96 min., (Nouveau Cinema Francais)

GO GET SOME ROSEMARY
Josh & Ben Safdie, USA 2009, 100 min., (American Independents)

BE GOOD / SOIS SAGE
Julietta Garcias, France 2008, 90 min., (Nouveau Cinema Francais)

With best regards

Michael Amtmann
Press Spokesman
FILMFEST MÜNCHEN
089/ 381904-30
presse@filmfest-muenchen.de
www.filmfest-muenchen.de

THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS is a fantastical morality tale starring Heath Ledger und Christopher Plummer with Tom Waits as the devil, Mr. Nick. Doctor Parnassus is the owner of a travelling theatre troupe who, having made a deal with the Devil, takes audience members through a magical mirror to explore their imaginations.

Festival Director Andreas Ströhl: “Terry Gilliam again pulls out all the stops of his exuberant and eclectic creativity.We’re very pleased that he and his film are opening this year’s Filmfest.” Terry Gilliam was one of the founding members of Monty Python’s Flying Circus and isthe director of numerous films with cult status such as MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL, BRAZIL, FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS as well as 12 MONKEYS starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. Terry Gilliam was a guest of FilmfestMünchen in 2006 with TIDELAND.

THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS was Australian actor Heath Ledger’s last role. He died during the shooting in 2008. Gilliam then shot Ledger’s remaining scenes with Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell.

Terry Gilliam will be at the openingnight gala screening. The 27th FILMFEST MÜNCHEN takes place from June 26 to July 4, 2009.

With best regards

Michael Amtmann
Press Spokesman
FILMFEST MÜNCHEN
089/ 381904-30
presse@filmfest-muenchen.de
www.filmfest-muenchen.de

You can now find the hottest movie tips, latest rumors and insider info at FILMFEST MÜNCHEN’s new blog: http://blog.filmfest-muenchen.de.

or just click the blog button on this page. Festival Director Andreas Ströhl: "The new blog is intended as a forum for everyone interested in movies and the festival.”

Which films are an absolute must see? What are the good parties? Who are the stars on the red carpet this year? Tell us what you think about the Filmfest. Give us your input. Check out the blog!

The Filmfest Blog is run by four students from the Munich University for Television and Film.

Contact

Michael Amtmann
Press Spokesman
FILMFEST MÜNCHEN
089/ 381904-30
presse@filmfest-muenchen.de
www.filmfest-muenchen.de

The line-up of the 27th FILMFEST MÜNCHEN is complete. From June 26 to the 4th of July, Germany largest summer film festival will be screening over 200 films on 15 screens. Almost all of them are German premieres, many are world premieres. “We’re screening the best new films in world”, Festival Director Andreas Ströhl is proud to admit, “Our program, with its many highlights and discoveries, reminds us of how much fun movies can be. You won’t be bored, we can guarantee that.”

The sections of the 2009 FILMFEST MÜNCHEN

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM: Big Names and Intriguing Newcomers

The International Program is screening films from over 30 countries. Some of the starts are Johnny Depp, Justin Timberlake, Jeff Bridges, Joaquin Phoenix, Keira Knightley, Gwyneth Paltrow, Emmanuelle Béart, Penélope Cruz. And there are many more. Along with world famous directors such as Pedro Almodóvar and Michael Mann, FILMFEST MÜNCHEN is presenting a large number of exciting new films by up and coming filmmakers from around the world. From a new generation of Italian directors to filmmakers from Africa – or the young British newcomer, David Bowie son Duncan Jones who is presenting his debut film MOON.

The closing night film is Belgian director Félix van Groeningen’s  no-holds-barred working class comedy THE MISFORTUNATES.

RETROSPECTIVE - Stephen Frears
British director Stephen Frears will be coming to Munich for a retrospective of his films. Filmfest is screening 19 of his films, among them his latest, CHÉRI, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, before its official German premiere later this year.

CINEMERIT AWARD - Michael Haneke
The 2009 CineMerit Award goes to Munich-born Austrian director Michael Haneke. The festival is screening six of his films, among them this year’s Golden Palm winner THE WHITE RIBBON, FUNNY GAMES U.S., HIDDEN, CODE UNKNOWN, THE TIME OF THE WOLF and THE PIANIST. On Saturday, July 4, at 11 am, Haneke will be in the Black Box in Gasteig (Filmmakers Live) for a Q & A open to the public. The 2009 CineMerit Award is sponsored by Audi.

NEW GERMAN CINEMA: Rebels and Crises

Rites of passage, stylistic experiments, remarkable documentaries, caustic comedies: 16 world premieres show that New German Cinema is alive and well at Filmfest München.
In THE DAY WILL COME Iris Berben plays a former terrorist with an assume identity. THE LAWYERS, a documentary, shows the different directions the careers of attorney’s representing terrorists back in the Sixties took over a period of 30 years. Andreas Dresen, whose CLOUD 9 was a big international hit last year, is back  - with a comedy, WHISKY WITH VODKA.  A world premiere.

HIGHLIGHTS from the USA, FRANCE, LATIN AMERICA and the FAR EAST

FOCUS ON THE FAR EAST is a compilation of the best films from the Far East and Southeast Asia. Exciting new productions from China, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Ancient cultures collide with turbo capitalism and the consequences.

The AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS section, one of FILMFEST MÜNCHEN’s trademarks, will be screening the best Indie films of the year, among others, a return to low budget for Steven Soderbergh (THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE) and a portrait of American singer-songwriter Bill ‘Aint No Sunshine’ Withers (STILL BILL).

NOUVEAU CINÉMA FRANÇAIS - fans of French cinema will find delight in, among others, the latest films by auteur veterans André Téchiné (LA FILLE DU RER) and Barbet Schroeder (Inju, la bête dans l’ombre), as well as an unfinished film from 1964 starring Romy Schneider, HENRI-GEORGES CLOUZOT’S INFERNO.

The section VISIONES LATINAS presents the latest from one of the most innovative filmmaking regions in the world - 16 films, among them two world premieres, by young Latin American directors.

GERMAN TV MOVIES: Exciting, Funny, Poignant

German TV Movies are also taking another look at the Sixties. DUTSCHKE is a semi-documentary biopic by Stefan Krohmer about Rudi Dutschke, one of the leaders of the student movement in those heady days. There are new who- dun-its, black comedies,  dramas and thrillers. Some of the stars: Senta Berger, Herbert Knaup, Nadja Uhl, Yvonne Catterfeld, Anja Kling und Armin Rohde sowie die aktuellen Filme mit Heike Makatsch, Katja Flint, Kostja Ullmann, Hannelore Hoger and Rolf Lassgard.

KINDERFILMFEST: Little Heroes – Big Adventures

The 2009 Kinderfilmfest is screening eight feature films and nine shorts for kids. FRIENDS - FOREVER is a world premiere.

OPEN AIR: Lustvolle Zerstörung

The theme of this year’s Open Air section is delectable destruction. People who mean well end up by creating total chaos. The section includes Blake Edwards’ THE PARTY, Jacques Tat’s PLAYTIME, BLUES BROTHERS and Laurel and Hardy.

SILENT CLASSIC: The Woman Men Yearn For

Filmfest München, in association with the Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Foundation and Transit Film, presents Marlene Dietrich in THE WOMAN MEN YEARN FOR directed by Kurt Bernhardt in 1929. Bernhardt’s last silent film and Dietrich’s first leading role shows that she played dangerous women before becoming an international star.

As of June 10, the complete 2009 program will be online along with constantly updated info about our guests and events. The Filmfest magazine will be out on June 20, 2009.

Journalists and members of the media who want to be accredited can check out our website for the relevant information or contact us directly at:
: info-presse@filmfest-muenchen.de.

Please hurry – our deadline for accreditation is June 10, 2009.

Best regards

Michael Amtmann

Pressesprecher FILMFEST MÜNCHEN
Internationale Münchner Filmwochen GmbH
Sonnenstr. 21
D-80331 München
Tel. +49 89 38 19 04 - 30
Fax +49 89 38 19 04 - 61
presse@filmfest-muenchen.de

This year’s Cannes top winner will be our guest at the 2009 FILMFEST MÜNCHEN - director Michael Haneke, whose film THE WHITE RIBBON won the golden Palm at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Haneke is the recipient of this year’s CineMerit Award, with which FILMFEST MÜNCHEN honors outstanding personalities in the international film community for their extraordinary contributions to motion pictures as an art form.... more

“We look forward to congratulating Michael Haneke here in Munich and are exceptionally pleased that our CineMerit Award winner has won the Golden Palm at this year’s Cannes festival.” Festival director Andreas Ströhl also pointed out that “Our decision to honor Michael Haneke with the CineMerit Award was made long before Cannes."

THE WHITE RIBBON will be screened at the CineMerit Award ceremony on July 3. Five other films by the Austrian director will also be screened at the festival.

Contact

Michael Amtmann
Press Spokesman
FILMFEST MÜNCHEN
089/ 381904-30
presse@filmfest-muenchen.de
www.filmfest-muenchen.de

The Kinderfilmfest section of the 2009 FILMFEST MÜNCHEN opens on June 27 with the world premiere of the animated film FRIENDS - FOREVER. The three friends from the series by popular German children’s books author Helme Heine can be seen on the big screen. A production of MotionWorks in co-production with and released by Kinowelt.

LITTLE ROBBERS (Austria/Latvia, 2009) is the next highpoint of the opening weekend. In Armands Zvirbulis exceptional film, a brother and sister plan the ultimate bank job. They break into a bank to use the loot to help their parents solve their financial problems. LITTLE ROBBERS will be having its German premiere on June 28.

The 27th KINDERFILMFEST MÜNCHEN will be presenting eight feature films and nine shorts. Children have the opportunity to vote for their favorite film and participate in two Bluebox workshops. The Kinderfilmfest Audience award will be presented on July 4.

As of June 10, the complete line-up will be posted here on the Filmfest website.

Members of the press and media who would like to be accredited please go to Presseakkreditierung at www.filmfest-muenchen.de or send us an e-mail at: presse@filmfest-muenchen.de

Our accreditation deadline is June 10, 2009.

With best regards

Michael Amtmann
Spokesman FILMFEST MÜNCHEN
089/ 381904-30
presse@filmfest-muenchen.de

In honor of deceased television producer Bernd Burgemeister († 2008), the name of the “VFF TV Movie Award“ presented annually at FILMFEST MÜNCHEN has been changed to the “Bernd Burgemeister Television Award”. The award, and € 25,000, is presented by the Verwertungsgesellschaft der Film- und Fernsehproduzenten (German Royalty Collecting Company of Film & TV Producers) to the producer of the best German TV Movie in the festival program. It is being awarded for the 14th time at this year’s FILMFEST MÜNCHEN.

Festival Director Andreas Ströhl: “The Bernd Burgemeister Television Award honors a man who did so much for excellence in films made for television in Germany.“

Best Regards

Michael Amtmann
Press Spokesman
FILMFEST MÜNCHEN
089/ 381904-30
presse@filmfest-muenchen.de
www.filmfest-muenchen.de

For the 27th time, from June 26 through July 4, FILMFEST MÜNCHEN, Germany's premiere summer film festival, will be attracting movie lovers, filmmakers and industry insiders from around the world. We will be welcoming many famous guests, over 2500 film professionals and more than 600 accredited members of the press and media. FILMFEST MÜNCHEN will be screening over 200 films in the five cineplexes along the Munich Movie Mile – from Rio-Filmpalast to Gasteig, the Forum cinemas and CinemaxX to the Munich Filmmuseum. FILMFEST MÜNCHEN 2009 will be awarding prizes totaling roughly € 150,000.

Stephen Frears Retrospective
FILMFEST MÜNCHEN is honoring British director Stephen Frears with a retrospective this year. Festival Director Andreas Stöhl: “Stephen Frears is one of Europe’s most interesting and innovative filmmakers. His name stands for small, politically-minded and socially committed films as well as for star-studded, intelligent entertainment.” Frears will be in Munich for the festival. The retrospective will contain all of his feature films as well as several of his early films made for television so audiences will have the chance discover BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE, DANGEROUS LIASONS, SAMMY AND ROSY GET LAID, MARY REILLY, HIGH FIDELITY and THE QUEEN or enjoying watching them again on the big screen.

Open Air - Masters of Disaster
The theme of this year's Open Air screenings on the terrace of the Gasteig festival center is Masters of Disaster. Open Air fans can look forward to the total bedlam caused by people with the best of intentions. The films are classics of chaos such as Blake Edwards’ THE PARTY and Jacques Tati’s PLAYTIME and double hitters Laurel and Hardy and the Blues Brothers are also represented.

The approximately 200 films in this year’s program will be clearly arranged in our traditional sections:

International Program, New German Cinema, Silent Movie, German TV Movies, Nouveau Cinéma Français, American Independents, Kinderfilmfest, Visiones Latinas – and this year: Focus on the Far East, films from Japan, China, Korea as well as Southeast Asia.

Prelude to Filmfest: Cinema in Concert and FilmSoundArt
As an overture to FILMFEST MÜNCHEN, Bavarian Broadcasting has launched a Film Music Day. The Münchner Rundfunkorchester will be performing film scores in its Cinema in Concert on June 25th in the Munich Prinzregententheater. The MC is German actress and director Maria Schrader. On June 26th, Bavarian Broadcasting, the Abendzeitung, the FilmFernsehFonds Bayern, the Composers Club and the Association of German Composers are sponsoring FilmSoundArt in the Funkhaus-Studios, an event focusing on information and discussions about film music. As guests: Caroline Link, Enjott Schneider, Klaus Doldinger, the film score composers Annette Focks, Niki Reiser, Dieter Schleip and many others. More information at www.br-online.de/FilmTonArt

Save the Dates
The program of this year’s FILMFEST MÜNCHEN will be announced at our press conference on June 4th. As of June 10th, the entire program will be online at www.filmfest-muenchen.de Online Ticket sales will begin on June 15th. Advance ticket sales at the festival center at Gasteig begin on June 20th.

Accreditation Journalists
and members of the media who would like to be accredited please see our website www.filmfest-muenchen.de.or write to us at: info-presse@filmfest-muenchen.de. The deadline for accreditation is June 10th, 2009

Best Regards

Michael Amtmann
Press Spokesman
FILMFEST MÜNCHEN
089/ 381904-30
presse@filmfest-muenchen.de
www.filmfest-muenchen.de

Michael Amtmann is FILMFEST MÜNCHEN’s new press spokesman. He succeeds Zoran Gojic, who held the position from 2004 until late 2008.
“We’re very pleased to have found someone for this important role who knows the movie industry well and at the same time is an experienced journalist and a team player.” Festival director Andreas Ströhl is delighted.  “An ideal combination”.
Michael Amtmann has worked for many years as a producer, director and writer for various film productions, mostly in the documentary field. He is a graduate of the Deutsche Journalistenschule and brings a wide scope of press and publicity experience to the job.
“FILMFEST MÜNCHEN is Germany’s largest summer film festival and being involved with it in this capacity is an exciting assignment” Michael Amtmann commented. He will assume his responsibilities at FILMFEST MÜNCHEN as of March 16, 2009.  
The 2009 FILMFEST MÜNCHEN takes place from June 26 through July 4. 

Contact:
Michael Amtmann
Press Office
Internationale Münchner Filmwochen GmbH
Sonnenstr. 21
80331 München
Tel.: +49-89-381904-30
Fax: +49-89-381904-61
presse@filmfest-muenchen.de
www.filmfest-muenchen.de