27/09/2006

The 22nd Warsaw International Film Festival (October 6-15) is to host the CentEast regional film market, specialised in Central and Eastern European cinema. All professionals are invited to take part in the market, which will take place from October 11-15.

CentEast groups over 16 of the main film festivals in Central and Eastern Europe and aims at increasing the distribution of films from these regions on the international market. The Warsaw CentEast market is being held for the second time and features films from countries such as Armenia, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary and many more.

Along with professional meetings, this year its organisers have planned the presentation of a ten or so projects, the screening of completed films as well as the presentation of films in production (works in progress). Thematic conferences on the regional film industry also feature on the event’s programme.

The highlight of the festival is the Warsaw Screenings, the screening of the most recent Polish films for foreign buyers. The CentEast market is supported by the MEDIA Plus programme.

The programme of the 22nd edition of the festival includes 157 films from 48 different countries, including titles that have had preview screenings at the recent Toronto, Venice and Locarno Film Festivals. The director who won awards in the fifth edition of the main competition – New Films, New Directors – is to be awarded the Nescafé Grand Prix.

New events at the festival include a regional competition for Central and Eastern Europe productions and the competition for documentary feature. Directors taking part in the competitions will be evaluated by three different juries. An audience prize will also be awarded.

(Translated from French)