BALKAN FUND OPENING
TIFF’s Balkan Fund had a cordial and enthusiastic opening on Saturday, November the 14th, at the Port’s Warehouse 13. The Fund for the Development of scripts from Balkan countries, having helped set off various cinema projects that have been met with noteworthy success in the international film festival circuit in the past, continues its successful work for a seventh consecutive year. In 2009, it includes nine film scripts.
Balkan Fund’s artistic director Christina Kallas – Kalogeropoulou welcomed the participants, highlighting the philosophy of the Festival’s initiative: «We have worked hard to overcome the… jinx of the seventh year. The means at our disposal may be modest, but we have a lot to show for them. Scriptwriting is an art and this is what we are here to prove, that a good idea should be rewarded. We are very proud of the projects that have been showcased by the Fund». Mr Giannis Chrisafis, member of TIFF’s board, made a welcome address on behalf of TIFF’s president, Mr. Corraface and artistic director Mrs Mouzaki: «We are happy and proud that scripts that have been judged and discussed about in Thessaloniki have had such a noteworthy presence in international festivals of the caliber of Cannes or Berlin. This past success makes us highly optimistic about the new projects participating in this year’s initiative. We believe that the fact that we have created the artistic environment necessary to develop the ideas of new writers is a success in and of itself».
This year’s Balkan Fund jury consists of Lenny Crooks, head of the UK’s New Cinema Fund, scriptwriter and filmmaker Richard Kuuietniowski, script writer and filmmaker Razvan Radulescu –all three of them are old acquaintances of the Balkan Fund- and Mrs Christina Kallas - Kalogeropoulou.
