Happy 10th anniversary, TorinoFilmLab!

Cannes Critics’ Week will welcome the premiere of DIAMANTINO, by the American duo Gabriel Abrantes & Daniel Schmidt. The satirical comedy,, is centered on the character of Diamantino, a world league soccer star who loses his special touch and ends his career in disgrace. Searching for a new purpose, the international icon sets on a delirious odyssey where he confronts neo-fascism, the refugee crisis, genetic modification, and the hunt for the source of genius. The directors said to have taken inspiration from Portugal’s football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. The film is the result of a co-production between Les Films du Bélier (France), Maria & Mayer (Portugal) and Syndrome Films (Brazil). It has been developed within the FeatureLab 2013 programme and was one of the 9 films to be introduced during the work-in-progress showcase TFL Coming Soon 2017. It also participated in Les Arcs Work in Progress, thanks to a partnership between the French festival and TorinoFilmLab.The world premiere is scheduled for Friday, 11^th May.

The 50^th Quinzaine des Réalisateurs opened yesterday with the second TFL Film, BIRDS OF PASSAGE. Written and directed by the Colombian duo Ciro Guerra & Cristina Gallego, BIRDS OF PASSAGE takes place in Colombia in the 1970s, when the demand for marijuana hits the country, quickly turning farmers into seasoned businessmen. Unfolding in the Guajira desert, the film follows an Wayuu indigenous family who takes a leading role in this new drug trade, and discovers the perks of wealth and power, but with a violent and tragic downside. The film is a co-production between Ciudad Lunar (Colombia), Blond Indian Films (Colombia), Pimienta Films (Mexico), Films Boutique (Germany) and Snowglobe (Denmark). It received the support of TorinoFilmLab during the TFL Meeting Event 2017 through the TFL Audience Design Fund Award (€ 40.000), which aimed at supporting its international distribution and encouraging innovative audience engagement strategies.

Besides, the French Riviera also welcomes a TFL Alumnus in the Official Selection, Aditya Assarat presenting the collective work 10 YEARS IN THAILAND (Special Screenings), together with Wisit Sasanatieng, Chulayarnon Sriphol & Golden Palm-winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul.

5 TFL Alumni will present their new short films: Juanita Onzaga (Colombia) in the Directors' Fortnight; Jacqueline Lentzou (Greece), Mikko Myllylahti (Finland), Yorgos Zois (Greece) and Bertrand Mandico (France) in Cannes Critics' Week.

3 TFL Projects will also be looking for international partners with La Fabrique des Cinémas du Monde & Cinéfondation: NIGHT OF THE KINGS by Philippe Lacôte (France/Ivory Coast), WHETHER THE WEATHER IS FINE by Carlo Francisco Manatad (Philippines) & AZRA NADINE by Sara Kern (Slovenia).

TorinoFilmLab will also participate in several events on the Croisette:

Co-producing outside Europe: the role of the international co-production funds

Sat. May, 12 - 15.00 - Creative Europe MEDIA stand

Panel organized by Creative Europe – MEDIA presenting 6 international co-production funds active on the international scene.

TorinoFilmLab: An incubator for feature film projects

Sat. May, 12 - 17.30 - Creative Europe MEDIA stand

TFL Artistic Director Matthieu Darras will showcase this year's Berlinale Golden Bear winner TOUCH ME NOT.

10 Years of TorinoFilmLab

Mon. May, 14 - 16.00 - Italian Pavilion Salon Marta, Hotel Majestic

Showcase of the activities & new initiatives of TorinoFilmLab by TFL Staff & Alumni.