NEW FACES IN EUROPEAN CINEMA

EFP member organizations, in collaboration with the Festival, have selected 10 "New Faces," one from each of the European countries participating in the inaugural venture, to showcase Europe's emerging directing talent and up-and-coming new stars.

Support from the MEDIA Programme of the European Union, EFP and several associated Consulates in Los Angeles will bring the delegation to the Festival.

Partnering with EFP on this initiative are the Consulates of Belgium, Finland, Germany, Hungary, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the Embassy of Estonia, the Danish Film Institute, ICAA (Spain) and THINKFilm.

NIMROD ANTAL - HUNGARY
Director, KONTROLL

Born in 1973 in Los Angeles, Nimrod Antal started his film studies at the Film Workshop of the Pasadena Art Center in 1991. After moving to Hungary, he studied at the Hungarian Academy of Drama and Film, graduating as a film director in 1995. KONTROLL was awarded the 23rd Prix de la Jeunesse presented in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and was Hungary's most successful film in domestic box office in 2003. KONTROLL is Antal's first full-length feature film.

LIEVEN DEBRAUWER - BELGIUM
Director, SWEET JAM / CONFITUUR

Born April 15, 1969, in Roeselare, Belgium, Lieven Debrauwer lives in Sint-Amandsberg (Ghent), Belgium. He made his first film at age 15 and is a multiple award winner for his many short films. His first feature, PAULINE & PAULETTE, premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival, where it received a Special Mention by the Ecumenical Jury. The film then went on to win numerous awards at festivals worldwide. It was also the official Belgian entry for the Best Foreign Language Academy Award® 2001-2002. SWEET JAM is Debrauwer's second full-length feature film.

TERESA HURTADO - SPAIN
Actress, ASTRONAUTS / ASTRONAUTAS, directed by Santi Amodeo

Out of the 500 candidates who attended the casting call, newcomer Teresa Hurtado was chosen to star in ASTRONAUTAS. Barely 20 years old, and with half a world behind her, this graduate of the Seville School Of Dramatic Arts appears in her first film, director Santi Amodeo's stand-alone debut. Hurtado was born May 6, 1983, in Seville, Spain.

MARTIN KOOLHOVEN - THE NETHERLANDS
Director, SOUTH / HET ZUIDEN

Martin Koolhoven graduated in 1996 from the Dutch Film and Television Academy. He has written and directed many short drama productions, music videos and two TV films, including the highly praised SUZY Q, a prize winner at the Dutch Film Festival (Golden Calf Best Actor, Best Actress) and at the International Festival of Audio-Visual Programmes in Biarritz, France (Best Director, Screenplay and Male Lead). Koolhoven's debut feature, AMNESIA (2000), won the Golden Calf for Best Actor at the Dutch Film Festival and was shown at several international film festivals. That same year, Koolhoven won the Golden Calf for Best Director for his second feature, THE CAVE, adapted from the best selling novel by Tim Krabbé. SOUTH is his third feature film.

ANNA LUIF - SWITZERLAND
Director, LITTLE GIRL BLUE

Anna Luif was born to Hungarian parents in Zurich in 1972. In 1991, after finishing high school, she traveled through India where she worked for Mother Theresa's home for children. Upon her return in 1992, she served as an intern for filmmaker June Kovach. Between 1993 and 1998 she studied Film and Video at the University of Art and Design (Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst) in Zurich, where she directed several short films. In 1999, while working as a production assistant at Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion, Luif wrote the script for her short feature SUMMERTIME, which was completed in 2001 and went on to win numerous international awards. LITTLE GIRL BLUE is Luif's first feature film and also the first Swiss film ever to be shot on High Definition.

RENÉ REINUMÄGI - ESTONIA
Director, REVOLUTION OF PIGS / SIGADE REVOLUTSIOON

René Reinumägi was born July 21, 1974, in Tallinn, Estonia. From 1992 - 1996, he studied acting, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Acting from the Estonian Academy of Music. In 1999, Reinumägi took an international scriptwriting master-class, "Mare Liberum," in Sigulda, Latvia. Beginning his career as a freelance journalist, Reinumägi then became Creative Director for the advertising agency TAEVAS. Reinumägi has won numerous awards as creative director for top television commercials. He has also written and acted in several short films. His directorial debut REVOLUTION OF PIGS, co-directed with Jaak Kilmi, won the special Jury Prize and was nominated for the Golden St. George at the recent Moscow Film Festival.

BJÖRN RUNGE - SWEDEN
Director, DAYBREAK / OM JAG VÄNDER MIG OM

Björn Runge was born in 1961. At the age of 20 he started working in film, beginning his studies at the Dramatic Institute in Stockholm in 1981. Working closely with Swedish director Roy Andersson, Runge's breakthrough came in 1991 with the acclaimed short GREGER OLSSON KOPER EN BIL. In 1993 he directed EN DAQ PA STRANDEN, part of a film series sponsored by the Gothenburg Film Festival. This led to the feature VULKANMANNEN, a highly personal portrait of Swedish author Sture Dahlström. He also directed the comedy HARRY OCH SONJA, starring Stellan Skarsgård. In 2001, Runge directed his first TV series, ANDERSSONS ALSKARINNA, which was an instant success with Swedish audiences.

PAPRIKA STEEN - DENMARK
Director, AFTERMATH / LAD DE SMÅ BØRN

Paprika Steen was born November 3, 1964, and was educated at the Actors School of the Odense Theatre. As an actress, Steen has performed for all the major Danish directors, including Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, Anders Thomas Jensen and Susan Bier in such films as DANCER IN THE DARK and THE CELEBRATION. She has received multiple acting awards and in 2003 won both the Danish Film Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in OPEN HEARTS, as well as the Award for Best Leading Actress for her role in OKAY. AFTERMATH is Steen's directorial debut.

KARI-PEKKA TOIVONEN - FINLAND
Actor, PRODUCING ADULTS directed by Aleksi Salmenperä

Born in 1967 and educated at The Theatre Academy of Finland, Kari-Pekka Toivonen received his Master of Arts in Theatre and Drama in 1992. His feature film credits include RISTILUKKI, ROMANOVIN KIVET, THE MINISTER OF STATE, TIE NAISEN SYDÄMEEN, VÄÄPELI, KORMY IA KAHTESTI LAUKEAVA, THE AMBUSH, UPSWING and PORVOO. He has appeared in numerous roles on television and in the theater. Toivonen has received several awards for his acting, including the Risto Jarva prize in 2002, the Venla prize for Best TV Film in 2002, as well as the Koura prize.

MENNAN YAPO - GERMANY
Director, SOUNDLESS / LAUTLOS

Born in Munich in 1966 to Turkish parents, Yapo began his film career in 1988, working in marketing for various German distributors. In 1995 he began writing scripts in English and German, produced several shorts and appeared as an actor in Peter Greenaway's THE PILLOW BOOK (1996) and in Wolfgang Becker's GOOD BYE LENIN! His first short film, FRAMED (1999), was nominated for a German Short Film Award. SOUNDLESS is his first full-length feature film.