Editor

The Berlin International Film Festival ranks in the top five major festivals, yet still caters to young filmmakers offering many events on their agenda. Not only are there the film projects coming over on the Rotterdam-Berlinale Express to the European Film Market, but also the Shooting Stars, the Premiere First Award, Piper-Heidsieck Young Actor’s Prize, the European Pitch Point and the Script Factory sessions.

The European Film Promotion presents the Shooting Stars; one young talented actor from 17 different European nations is to be featured on Sunday February 10:30am at a press conference. This year’s mentor is Istvan Szabo whose film Taking Sides is being screened in out of competition.

The PREMIERE First Movie Award will be presented for the first time at the 52nd Berlin International Film Festival. A jury of five, consisting of renowned international members, will award the prize for the best debut film. In the competition for the talent award are submissions from all the main sections Competition, Forum, Panorama, German Cinema Perspective and Children's Films.

At the closing ceremony, Piper-Heidsieck will award its new talent prize to a Young Actor and a Young Actress with a reward amounting to more than 15 thousand euros for each. Piper-Heidsieck has been an active player at film festivals for many years and initiated this prize with the Berlin Festival last year for the 2001 Festival.

European Pitch Point took place on Friday the 8th presenting 12 of what are considered the most interesting stories from European authors: Norway, Iceland, UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy Slovenia and Yugoslavia. From 24 authors at the last Pitch sessions, 14 have sold or optioned their work while others continue to network with hopeful prospects in view.

All afternoon on Saturday, UK’s Script Factory Scene focuses on screenwriting and creative feature development with a selection of inspirational speakers: Saul Zaentz: The Creative Producer; Paul Greengrass: The Making of Bloody Sunday; Mira Nair: In Conversation; Tom Tykwer: Centre-Stage.