Luc Frieden at the 66th Cannes Festival

Luxembourg industry satisfied!
As the 66th Cannes International Film Festival draws to a close, the Fonds national de soutien à la production audiovisuelle is drawing a very positive initial assessment of its presence at the film world's most important annual event.

Cannes the 66th! - The Luxembourg sector satisfied

As the 66th Cannes International Film Festival draws to a close, the Fonds national de soutien à la production audiovisuelle is drawing a very positive initial assessment of its presence at the film world's most important annual event.
Alongside the Luxembourg co-production The Congress, directed by Ari Folman and produced by "PTD Luxembourg", which opened the "Directors' Fortnight" selection, another piece of good news for national cinema has just been announced. The co-production TIP TOP, directed by Serge Bozon and produced by "Iris Productions", received a special mention from the SACD (Société des auteurs et compositeurs dramatiques) for best direction on Friday evening.
It was the first time that the new Minister for Communications and Media, Luc Frieden, visited Luxembourg's 7th art professionals, who are flocking to the Bay of Angels to promote their audiovisual sector.
Luc Frieden listened attentively to the representatives and took the time to find out more about a sector that was no stranger to him. He was impressed by the scale of the national film industry and its economic and cultural importance.
The Minister was also present at the Marché du Film, which, with over 10,000 participants, 4,000 films presented and 1,500 screenings, is the most important event at this major film industry fair. He visited the stands of partners with whom Luxembourg has co-production agreements. A visit to the "Cross Media Corner" enabled Luc Frieden to discover new and innovative production strategies.
The Minister also attended a screening of the film TIP TOP and met Ari Folman, the director of The Congress.
Luc Frieden explained: "I discovered a new world, very different from the sectors I am usually confronted with. Although I was familiar with the funding mechanisms for Luxembourg production, I didn't realise the multitude and diversity of activities that exist in the country. I was impressed by the passion I saw in the young and not so young filmmakers when they spoke to me about their various activities. It's a small, very active, well-established industry that I wholeheartedly support. 
 

Luc Frieden, Minister for Communications and the Media, attended Luxembourg Day on Sunday 19 May, organised as part of the 66th International Film Festival in Cannes.
On this occasion, Luc Frieden visited the International Village, where the Film Market is located and where, as every year, the National Support Fund for Audiovisual Production is presented through a promotional umbrella.
The Minister also took advantage of his presence to visit the Luxembourg pavilion, where he met with audiovisual professionals - filmmakers, producers and directors - who had turned out in large numbers for the festival, which is a not-to-be-missed annual event. These meetings, which encourage dialogue, make a significant contribution to supporting and promoting Luxembourg production.
The minister's visit ended with a reception for national and international professionals, followed by a dinner for Luxembourgers.
At the Festival, two Luxembourg films were selected in the "Directors' Fortnight" category, including the Luxembourg co-production The Congress, which opened the Festival. The film is directed by Ari Folman and co-produced by Paul Thiltges and David Grumbach (Paul Thiltges Distributions).
Tip Top is the second film in the running for one of the prizes awarded by the Fortnight's partners. The film is directed by Serge Bozon and co-produced by Nicolas Steil (Iris Productions).
Young Luxembourg director Eileen Byrne, a student at the Munich Film and Television School, received a grant from the Fund to familiarise herself with the festival and the film market.
In addition, Gilles Chanial, producer at Red Lion, has been chosen by the Fund to represent Luxembourg at the "Producers on the move" event, an initiative organised by European Film Promotion to promote young European producers.
And last but not least, this year, 6 young national directors will be presenting their short films at the Short Film Corner, an essential event organised by the festival around short films.