Gold View Co, part of the European Film Market's first ever New Cinema From Japan (NCFJ) umbrella, has sold Forum-screener Nemuru Otoko (Sleeping Man) to ZDF for broadcasting on cultural channel ARTE next year.
The Kohei Oguri-directed tale of spiritual awakenings in rural Japan is one of 30 Japanese films in the new initiative, which is a co-operative effort to raise the profile of the country's
independent filmmakers in Europe. NCFJ's Kiyo Joo aimed to establish the organisation, which is partly funded by The Japan Foundation, as a regular presence at the EFM in Berlin.
The move comes as Japan's TV stations, video companies and independent distributors are providing filmmakers with increasing co-production and financing opportunities, but US and mainstream Japanese product continue to dominate the local market.
"We are seeing a surge of new, young and talented filmmakers who are eyeing foreign markets more than the domestic," said Joo. "There are few opportunities for Japanese filmmakers to promote their films overseas. Costs and time have made it very difficult
to bring films out of Japan."
Other titles under NCFJ auspices include Panorama screeners Yume no ginga (Labyrinth of Dreams) and DANGAN Runner, directed by Sogo Ishii and Sabu respectively, plus Satoshi Isaka's Forum-screener, Focus. Adam Minns
[Home ] [Content ] [The Sponsors ] [The Team ] [Comments ] [Help ]
