Film fra Sør, in cooperation with the French Embassy and the French Cultural Centre in Oslo, is once again proud to present a number of films supported by Fonds Sud Cinéma in this year’s programme.
Fonds Sud Cinema is an initiative aimed at supporting cultural diversity in world cinema. Over the last 25 years, the fund has helped over 400 films from Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. Its commission, composed of film experts and professionals, is responsible for awarding grants to promising, high-quality projects. Over the year, its choices have helped cast a light on international talents, bringing new and exciting filmmaking to the attention of the international critique. The Fonds’ backing provides filmmakers with visibility, and a reputation for quality as well as financial support.
Films helped by Fonds Sud Cinema have also benefited from the recognition of the film world’s most prestigious festivals. This year the Cannes Festival has awarded its celebrated Palme d’or to Apichatpong Weerasethakul for his Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, also included in this year’s programme.
Mahamat Saleh Haroun, who was also awarded this year’s Jury Prize in Cannes for A Screaming Man, has benefited from support from the Fonds Sud for previous films, effectively kick-starting his international career. He acted as director of the Fonds Sud commission from 2008 to 2010.
This year, Raoul Peck, the Haitian director of Moloch Tropical, will be presenting his film as well as participating in this year’s edition of the Oslo Films from the South Festival Forum, both his in quality of beneficiary of Fonds Sud backing, and as former Fonds Sud Commission director.
Cinema is an extraordinarily powerful medium and contributes to the building of both cultural and political opinions and identity. Films from the South believe that Fonds Sud Cinéma’s initiative is a sound way to help modern storytelling, through the cinematic medium, to gain international foothold and not only to be reserved for economically powerful countries.
Film fra Sør has been actively involved in promoting the establishment of a similar fund in Norway, with pooled resources from the Norwegian Foreign Office, the Ministry of Culture and the Norwegian Film Institute. The experience of the Fonds Sud is crucial to this initiative, and the French Embassy and the French Cultural Centre have been instrumental in relaying this experience to Norway.
Over the years, films made with such support have been a natural part of the Films from the South programme. This year we present the following titles:
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