ROTTERDAM 2012


The HBF-backed Voice Of My Father and (below) Southwest are both screening in this year’s Tiger Awards competition


are continuing to apply together for Dutch lottery funding. They have not yet been successful, but they have been encouraged to keep on trying. The Fund’s hand has been strength-


ened by recent successes. Palme d’Or winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives and Locarno Golden Leop- ard winner Back To Stay are two of the notable titles it has supported in recent years. “In the quest for funds, it’s a good signal that these films are being appreci- ated around the world and win prizes,” Chronis says. The amounts HBF invests are rela- tively small — around $12,800


‘In the quest for funds, it’s a good signal that these films are being appreciated and


win prizes’ Iwana Chronis


(¤10,000) for script development, $25,600 (¤20,000) for digital produc- tion, $38,400 (¤30,000 ) for post-pro- duction, $19,200 (¤15,000) towards distribution costs in the country of ori- gin or $12,800 (¤10,000) for special projects such as training workshops. Nonetheless, HBF seed money can be vital for kick-starting productions. “It can open doors for a project to


attract further finance,” says Chronis. “It is a catalyst — $12,800 (¤10,000) on a budget of $1.3m (¤1m) is not that much but it is the symbolic support it can give.” As the world economic map changes, the notion of rich European countries


n 16 International Film Festival Rotterdam January 2012


and cash-strapped developing countries is shifting. It can seem perverse for a Benelux country to be supporting the film industry of a fast-rising economic giant such as Brazil. However, the HBF takes its definition of ‘developing’ coun- tries from the list of countries eligible for development aid, as drawn up by the Organisation for Economic Co-opera- tion and Development (OECD). HBF organisers are aware of the tensions sur- rounding their investments in countries with burgeoning film industries such as Argentina, and discussions are under way for the Fund to potentially revise its investment criteria. n


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