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While the German film industry is certainly proud of its past with big names such as Fritz Lang and Rainer Werner Fassbinder being named as two examples of filmmakers who have earned international success, it also has a troubled present when it comes to funding those projects which actually challenge the way people look at certain issues, both content-wise and aesthetically. When Mongolian-German filmmaker Uisenma Borchu decided to make her first feature and applied for financial support, German cultural institutions would reject her project titled “Don’t Look At Me That Way”, resulting in her making the film with a minimal budget, provided by the University of Television and Film Munich, where she had studied documentary filmmaking. In the end, “Don’t Look At Me That Way” was only awarded with awards such as The Fipresci Film Critics Prize in 2015, but is also a thought-provoking and intelligent feature challenging traditional gender roles...

In her second feature after the critically acclaimed “Don’t Look At Me That Way” (2015) Mongolian-German director Usienma again deals with characters in between two cultures. Considering her family moved to Germany when she was four years old, it is a theme which is very dear to her as it is obviously part of her biography. In interviews, she has explained how her relationship to Mongolia has changed over the years, a development which ran parallel to the country changing, with the place of her childhood years only existing in rural areas, as she explains in an interview with the German newspaper “Merkur”. Her second feature “Black Milk” takes place in these rural areas of Mongolia, showing its beauty, but also the clash of two cultures, two sets of gender identities embodied by two sisters who fittingly are called Ossi and Wessi.

After many years of living in Germany, Wessi...

The hallowed feminist message that women’s bodies belong to them is exotically dramatized in the Germany-Mongolia co-production Black Milk (Schwarze Milch). Set among nomads living on the Mongolian plains, but seen through the eyes of a Westernized local woman, the story of two sisters plays with cultural expectations in a tale of sexuality and the limits of female empowerment when it jostles tradition. Drawing the viewer into the story are its striking leads, Gunsmaa Tsogzol and Uisenma Borchu, who try to bridge the culture gap that separates them after one sister moves to Europe.

The German-Mongolian Borchu, who also ...

The hallowed feminist message that women’s bodies belong to them is exotically dramatized in the Germany-Mongolia co-production Black Milk (Schwarze Milch). Set among nomads living on the Mongolian plains, but seen through the eyes of a Westernized local woman, the story of two sisters plays with cultural expectations in a tale of sexuality and the limits of female empowerment when it jostles tradition. Drawing the viewer into the story are its striking leads, Gunsmaa Tsogzol and Uisenma Borchu, who try to bridge the culture gap that separates them after one sister moves to Europe.

The German-Mongolian Borchu, who also ...

Saudi Arabia’s nascent Red Sea International Film festival has unveiled its inaugural lineup featuring the Middle East premiere of Harvey Weinstein-inspired workplace abuse drama “The Assistant” amid a fresh mix of feature films and docs from Europe, the U.S., Asia, and Africa launching in the region on top of a robust representation of Arab films.

Significantly, the opener will be “The Book of Sun” by debuting Saudi directorial duo Faris and Suhaib Godus, about a teenager named Husam who, prompted by the growing phenomenon of Saudi YouTube content, embarks with a group of geeks on a mission to make a no-budget horror pic. Production of this film was supported by the fest.

Oliver Stone will preside over the competition jury.

Red Sea festival chief Mahmoud Sabbagh in a statement called “Book of Sun” “a testament to the passionate community of pioneering filmmakers who have inspired and drive Saudi cinema culture.

The project is written and directed by German-based Mongolian director Uisenma Borchu.

Pim Hermeling’s Amsterdam-based Nine Film has acquired international sales rights, outside Germany, to Berlinale Panorama title Black Milk, written and directed by German-based Mongolian director Uisenma Borchu.

It will be released in Germany by Munich-based Alpenrepublik.

Black Milks a semi-autobiographical drama about a young woman in search of her roots.

“We have a tendency to follow women and stories about women. This is something important for us,” said Nelleke Driessen, head of sales and acquisitions for Nine Films.

Driessen was attending the International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr...

Matteo Garrone to present ‘Pinocchio’ as the first Berlinale Special Gala.

The Berlinale has revealed the first films set to be screened at the 70th edition of the festival.

They include the live-action adaptation of Pinocchio, from Italian director Matteo Garrone, which is the first Berlinale Special Gala to be announced – a category that replaces ‘out of competition’. It will mark the international premiere of the film, starring Roberto Benigni, which is released in Italy this weekend.

Scroll down for full list of titles

The first 18 films selected for the Panorama strand have also been named, including 11 world premieres.

Among...

Matteo Garrone to present ‘Pinocchio’ as the first Berlinale Special Gala.

The Berlinale has revealed the first films set to be screened at the 70th edition of the festival.

They include the live-action adaptation of Pinocchio, from Italian director Matteo Garrone, which is the first Berlinale Special Gala to be announced – a category that replaces ‘out of competition’. It will mark the international premiere of the film, starring Roberto Benigni, which is released in Italy this weekend.

Scroll down for full list of titles

The first 18 films selected for the Panorama strand have also been named, including 11 world premieres.

Among...

Matteo Garrone’s “Pinocchio,” starring Roberto Benigni, will have its international premiere at the 70th Berlin Film Festival the event announced Tuesday as new artistic director Carlo Chatrian unveiled the first titles for his debut edition.

“Pinocchio” will play as part of the Berlinale Special Gala section, which replaces the Out of Competition category.

Chatrian, who co-heads the Berlinale with executive director Mariette Rissenbeek, said: “Garrone succeeds in re-telling the well-known story with his very own world of images. Although he is faithful to Carlo Collodi’s ideas, he has nevertheless created a very personal Pinocchio that is much more cheerful than we’ve experienced before.”

The first films selected for the Panorama, Perspektive Deutsches Kino, Generation and Forum Expanded sections were also announced (links attached).

Among other titles, Michael Stütz, the new head of the Panorama section, has picked films by Faraz Shariat (“No Hard Feelings”), Uisenma Borchu (“Black...

The German festival runs from June 28 to July 7.

The Munich Film Festival opens on Thursday (June 28) with the world premiere of Joachim A. Lang’s Mackie Messer – Brechts Dreigroschenfilm, starring Lars Eidinger as Bertold Brecht.

The film is inspired by Brecht’s 1928 play The Threepenny Opera and Kurt Weill’s song Mack The Knife, which was written for the play.

The German premiere of Andrew Niccol’s Anon, starring Clive Owen as a detective who finds a young woman with no identity, played by Amanda Seyfried, will close the festival on July 7. The sci-fi thriller is produced by Germany’s K5 Film.

We present the winners of the 11th Osaka Film Festival that took place from March 4th until the 13th, in the city of Osaka (Japan).

Grand Prix – Best Picture Award

My Sister, the Pig Lady by Jang Moon-il – South Korea | 2015 – 103 min.

Most Promising Talent Award

Uisenma Borchu for the film Don’t Look at me that way – Germany, Mongolia | 2015 – 89 min.

Japan Cuts Award

Somewhere in my Memory by Kanyama Keihiro – Japan | 2015 – 30 min.

ABC Award

Heart Attack (Freelance) by Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit – Thailand | 2015 – 132 min.

Yakushi Pear Award

Ella Che for the film The Missing Piece by Chiang Fong-hong – Taiwan | 2015 – 104 min.

Audience Award

Wansei Back Home by Huang Ming-cheng – Taiwan | 2015 – 111 min.

Pictured (L-r): Award winners Jang Moon-il, Uisenma Borchu, Kanyama Keihiro, Chiang Fong-hong, Reiko Kishino (accepting for Ming-Cheng Huang). Osaka Asian Film Festival 2016 came to a close over the weekend with prizes being handed to the best films of the past 11 days. President of the International Competition Jury Yee Chih-yen was present to give out the awards along with fellow jury members and filmmakers Phan Dang Dee and Joko Anwar. Taking home the top prize, the Grand Prix, was Korean entry My Sister, The Pig Lady. Set in a small rural town where most of the men have left to find jobs in the city, the film follows young Jae-hwa and her efforts to raise pigs as a means of getting rich. While Jae-hwa...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Most stories are about love: falling in love, falling out of love, betrayal, passion, death. And often, there is a good lover and a bad lover, or at least, someone with whom the audience is supposed to share perspective. But how much is one good and the other bad? Do we need to know why the bad one does what they do, or can their actions be enough? These are questions I was asking myself, and not necessarily satisfied with answers (or lack thereof), in Don't Look At Me That Way. The first film by German-Mongolian filmmaker Uisenma Borchu, it is a story of an odd love triangle, and the even odder behaviour of its protagonist, one that ight have benefited from further explanation.Iva (Catrina Stemmer)...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

The first ever Tridens First Features competition will include 14 titles, alongside two out of competition.Scroll down for the full list

The 19th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (Nov 13-29) has revealead the line-up for the inaugural edition of its new programme: the Tridens First Features competition.

In total, there will be 14 world and international premieres shown, all helmed by debut directors, selected from diverse regions including Colombia, Australia and Iran.

The Colombian title be the world premiere of Delivery, the first feature from director Martin Mejira Rugeles. The film, shot on 16mm, follows a pregnant woman who lives in a remote village in a forest.

The Australian title is the international premiere of Pawno. Set in Melbourne, director Paul Ireland’s debut looks at an eclectic selection of the city’s inhabitants, all of whom are desperately looking for love.

The Iranian film, Two, is the directorial debut of actress Soheila Golestani. The feature...

The first ever Tridens First Feature competition will include 14 titles, alongside two out of competition.Scroll down for the full list

The 19th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (Nov 13-29) has revealead the line-up for the inaugural edition of its new programme: the Tridens First Feature competition.

In total, there will be 14 world and international premieres shown, all helmed by debut directors, selected from diverse regions including Colombia, Australia and Iran.

The Colombian title be the world premiere of Delivery, the first feature from director Martin Mejira Rugeles. The film, shot on 16mm, follows a pregnant woman who lives in a remote village in a forest.

The Australian title is the international premiere of Pawno. Set in Melbourne, director Paul Ireland’s debut looks at an eclectic selection of the city’s inhabitants, all of whom are desperately looking for love.

The Iranian film, Two, is the directorial debut of actress Soheila Golestani. The feature...

Audiences respond to movies at the Munich International Film Festival much like the way popcorn is served — sweet or salty. It’s a relatively peaceful festival, with neither chaotic ticket lines nor crowded after-parties. But pouring out from small dark cinemas into the summer sun, attendees quickly share ruthless but straightforward critiques, a la Roger Ebert thumbs-up or down. This definitive sweet or salty response to a film feels standard among the German crowds. It’s certainly an effective method for rating movies. But when I need some time to marinate after watching Uisenma Borchu’s world premiere of Don’t Look At […]...

Audiences respond to movies at the Munich International Film Festival much like the way popcorn is served — sweet or salty. It’s a relatively peaceful festival, with neither chaotic ticket lines nor crowded after-parties. But pouring out from small dark cinemas into the summer sun, attendees quickly share ruthless but straightforward critiques, a la Roger Ebert thumbs-up or down. This definitive sweet or salty response to a film feels standard among the German crowds. It’s certainly an effective method for rating movies. But when I need some time to marinate after watching Uisenma Borchu’s world premiere of Don’t Look At […]...

Germany’s Burhan Qurbani wins best director prize for We Are Strong. We Are Young.

Gábor Reisz’s slacker comedy For Some Inexplicable Reason won the Grand Prix winner at the 6th edition of the Voices festival for young European cinema in the Russian provincial town of Vologda on Sunday evening (July 5).

Reisz’s debut had its world premiere in the East of the West competition at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival last year and is handled internationally by Alpha Violet.

The award was the film’s ninth trophy after prizes at festivals in Turin and Sofia, among others.

Speaking to ScreenDaily in Vologda, Reisz said that his film’s lead actor - fellow directing student Áron Ferenczik - had been overhelmed by the attention given to him for his acting turn as the slacker Áron, but is now preparing to direct a TV movie.

Reisz, meanwhile, is participating in the Cinéfondation residency in Paris and will...