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<div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Just after Yamanaka <span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><i><span lang="FR" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:MS Mincho;color:black;mso-ansi-language:FR;mso-fareast-language:AR-SA;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Desert of Namibia</span></i><span lang="FR" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:MS Mincho;color:black;mso-ansi-language:FR;mso-fareast-language:AR-SA;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:italic"> </span></span>got selected for Cannes Quinzaine des <span><span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span lang="FR" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:MS Mincho;mso-ansi-language:FR;mso-fareast-language:AR-SA;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Ciné</span></span>astes, she has won the developmeny pfoject at FEFF for her project, <i>Polaris</i>. Her <i>Amiko</i> was my favourite film at Nippon Connection last year.</span></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><a href="https://www.quinzaine-cineastes.fr/en/film/desert-of-namibia" class="" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.quinzaine-cineastes.fr/en/film/desert-of-namibia</a></div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Roger<br></div><div><br></div>
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<div>----- Forwarded message -----</div>
<div><b>From:</b> Feff Press <feff@cecudine.org></div><div><b>To:</b> Feff Press <feff@cecudine.org></div><div><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, 2 May 2024 at 14:25:11 CEST</div><div><b>Subject:</b> FOCUS ASIA 2024 - Japanese project POLARIS wins the TAICCA/Focus Asia Co-Production Award!</div><div><br></div>
<div><div id="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027"><div><div class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WordSection1"><p class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><b><img id="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027Immagine_x0020_1" src="cid:de1ef703-7ecc-9bb9-e159-0970812373b9@yahoo.com" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" style="width: 151px; max-width: 151px;"></b><b><span lang="EN-GB"></span></b></p><p class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><b><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align:center;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><b><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align:center;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><b><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align:center;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><b><span lang="EN-GB">24 April/2 May 2024 - Udine, Italy, Teatro Nuovo and Visionario</span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align:center;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><b><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align:center;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027MsoNoSpacing"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:36.0pt;font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;color:red;">FOCUS ASIA 2024</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;color:red;"><br></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><br></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;color:red;">Over 200 participants from 35 territories,</span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align:center;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027MsoNoSpacing"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;color:red;">11 projects in development, 6 works in progress, over 300 one to one meetings.</span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align:center;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027MsoNoSpacing"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align:center;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027MsoNoSpacing"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">Japanese project <i>POLARIS</i>, the new feature directed by Yoko Yamanaka and produced by Shoichiro Kawashima (TWENTY FIRST CITY INC), wins the TAICCA/Focus Asia Co-Production Award!</span></b></p><p align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: white; background-repeat: repeat; background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-size: auto;"> </span></b></p><p class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027Grigliamedia21"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027Grigliamedia21"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">Press release for 2 May, 2024 </span></p><p class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027Grigliamedia21"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">For immediate publication/release</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"></span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p style="text-align:justify;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">UDINE – With <b>over 200 participants</b> from 35 territories, <b>11 projects in development</b>, <b>6 works in progress</b>, <b>3 days of panels & case studies</b> and <b>over 300 one to one meetings</b>, <b>Focus Asia 2024</b> confirms his unique role in fostering artistic and production links between <b>Asia and Europe</b>.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">Within the frame of this special edition, marked by a large series of new partnerships and reinvented initiatives, the <b>TAICCA/Focus Asia Co-Production Award</b>, cash prize worth €10,000, goes to the <b>Japanese project <i>Polaris</i></b>, a portrait of the bar Polaris, that lights up in Tokyo’s night, drawing in “women” of diverse backgrounds whose lives intertwine like constellations, only to part at down. Talented filmmaker <b>Yoko Yamanaka</b> begins her journey into her new feature brilliantly, just a few weeks before the world premiere of her second film, <i>Desert of Namibia</i>, officially selected to the Quinzaine des Cinéastes at Cannes Film Festival.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">The confirmation of the TAICCA award for the second consecutive year, is part of a reinforced international strategy based on a close long-lasting collaboration with a large network of Asian and European partners. </span></p><p style="text-align:justify;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p style="text-align:justify;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">On the Asian side</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">, numerous partnerships were confirmed this year with the main funding and promotional entities in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Taiwan. Thanks to its collaboration with FDCP - Film Development Council of the Philippines, VIPO - Visual Industry Promotion Organization, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia and Indonesian Producer Association (APROFI), Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest), TAICCA - Taiwan Creative Content Agency, Focus Asia has been able to count on the direct support of the directors and producers of the projects and works in progress at this edition, with the aim of guaranteeing the physical presence of the greatest number of selected teams.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">But the reach of the Focus Asia 2024 partner network is not confined to the East</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">. Focus Asia has initiated a new partnership with FFA-Filmförderungsanstalt / German Federal Film Board, SPCINE / Brazilian Content, RE-ACT — Regional Audiovisual Cooperation and Training, CNA Cinema e Audiovisivo, so to offer to around twenty producers the possibility to attend the Focus Asia Lab, a bespoke programme designed in collaboration with Marché du Film-Festival de Cannes to highlight the real co-production opportunities offered by South Korea, China, Japan, South East Asia, as well as to better understand the landscape of Asian distribution and Asian investing companies.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">Alongside the project market, works in progress and programmes to foster Asia Europe co-production, the team from Europa Distribution, the European Network of Independent Film Publishers and Distributors, have been back to Udine, once again accompanied by 20 distributors from over 15 European countries who took part for the second year in the Distribution Lab. The workshop has included case studies, group work and screenings and has been entirely dedicated to discovering and sharing best practices and innovative strategies for promoting the distribution of Asian cinema in Europe and vice versa.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">For the first time</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">, a partnership has been inaugurated with Europa International, the European network of international film sales agents, allowing its member companies to join the industry programme of the Far East Film Festival. Focus Asia and Europa International have been workingtogether to elaborate and plan joint future initiatives aimed at facilitating a larger and targeted access to the wide and diverse Asian market.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">The framework programme of panels and case studies has also featured a brand-new partnership with Bridging the Dragon, with a session showcasing insights from leading Asian production companies on their decision to film in Europe.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">For future editions</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">, there is still a lot to explore and discover, but there is no doubt that after 9 editions Focus Asia managed to create a unique “family market” that throughout these years constantly grew, reinvented itself and dreamt big about the future, confirming a strategic leading role amongst the existing platforms dedicated to Asian and European film professionals.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" style="text-align:center;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color:red;">Press Office / Far East Film Festival 26</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color:windowtext;"></span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align:center;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><b><span style="color:windowtext;">Gianmatteo Pellizzari & Ippolita Nigris Cosattini</span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align:center;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default">+39 0432 299545<span lang="X-NONE"></span></p><p align="center" style="text-align:center;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:feff@cecudine.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">feff@cecudine.org</span></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"> - </span><a href="mailto:stampafareastfilm@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">stampafareastfilm@gmail.com</span></a><b><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;color:red;"></span></u></b></p><p style="text-align:justify;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p style="text-align:justify;" class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027WW-Default"><i><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">Focus Asia is organized by Centro Espressioni Cinematografiche with the support of MiC-Ministero della Cultura Direzione Generale per il Cinema. </span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">It is developed in partnership with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Audiovisual Fund, EAVE, Ties That Bind, Confindustria Udine, and in collaboration with Bridging the Dragon, CNA Cinema e Audiovisivo, Europa Distribution, Europa International, FFA-Filmförderungsanstalt / German Federal Film Board, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Golden Horse Film Project Promotion Taiwan, HAF Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum, Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest), Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia and Indonesian Producer Association (APROFI), RE-ACT - Regional Audiovisual Cooperation and Training, SPCINE/Brazilian Content, Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) and Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO).</span></i></p><p class="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p></div><div id="ydp970da9e8yiv7119042027DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><br><table style="border-top:1px solid #D3D4DE;" class="yahoo-compose-table-card"><tbody><tr><td style="width:55px;padding-top:13px;"><a href="https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://s-install.avcdn.net/ipm/preview/icons/icon-envelope-tick-round-orange-animated-no-repeat-v1.gif" alt="" width="46" height="29" style="width:46px;min-height:29px;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"></a></td><td style="width:470px;padding-top:12px;color:#41424e;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;line-height:18px;">Privo di virus.<a href="https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient" style="color:#4453ea;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.avast.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> </a></div></div></div></div>
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