The Selection Committee for the National Audiovisual Production Support Fund (Film Fund Luxembourg) has confirmed that it met from Sunday 11 to Thursday 15 February 2024 for the first session of 2024.
The decisions taken by the Committee at the end of the deliberation session following the various meetings resulted in 20 projects out of 34 applications being supported with selective financial aid (AFS) for writing and/or development and production, including seven live feature films, three animated feature films, one feature documentary, two live series, one animated series, three live short films, two animated short films and one virtual reality project.
IN DEVELOPMENT FUNDING
Live Series
LAZARUS, written/directed by Max Jacoby, with co-writers Bianca Jaeger Montobbio, Thierry Faber, Philipp Von Leipzig, Elisabeth Johannesdottir, Bernard Michaux; Production company: Samsa Film; funding allocated: €90,000
Live Feature Films
MA MÈRE EST UNE STAR, by writer-director Gabriel Pinto Monteiro; Production company: Tarantula Luxembourg; funding allocated: €60,000
LOFTBUERG, written by Anne Simon, Jeff Schinker; Production company: Amour Fou Luxembourg; funding allocated: €30,000
TOUT S'OUBLIE, written/directed by Pascal Thiebaux; Production company: Skill Lab; funding allocated: €60,000
QUIETLY, directed by Désirée Nosbusch, with writers Jason O’Mara, Catherine Walker; Production company: Deal Productions; funding allocated: €60,000
DEAD DAD GIRL, directed by Stephen Korytko, written by Alexia Verbeke; Production company: Samsa Film; funding allocated: €90,000
SA PLAGE PRÉFÉRÉE, by writer-director Joséphine Derobe; Production company Red Lion; funding allocated €30,000
Animated Feature Films
TROIS CONTES AUX PETITS OIGNIONS, written and directed by Hugo de Faucompret, with co-writer Lison D’Andréa; Production company Doghouse Films; funding allocated €30,000
THE LAST DINOSAUR, directed by Federico Milella, written by Ben Smith; Production company Fabrique d’Images; funding allocated: €45,000
Documentary Feature Films
ALORS COMMENCE LA DANSE, by briter-directors Nicolas Blies, Stéphane Hueber-Blies, Sylvia Camarda; Production company a_BAHN; funding allocated €60,000
VR Project
INSIDE THERESIENSTADT, by writer-director Max Jacoby; Production company: Digital Voodooh; funding allocated: €40,000
PRODUCTION FUNDING
Live Feature Film
LE BAISER (drama) by writer-director Thierry Besseling, with co-writer Caroline Pesenti; Production company: Samsa Film; a co-production with Belgium; funding allocated: €2,850,000 (73.83%) out of a total budget of €3,860,000. Shooting to start in January 2025. Synopsis: Clairval Abbey: while on a spiritual retreat, a young aspiring priest falls in love with a passing guest whom he hopes to never see again. But life, over four seasons, will never stop putting him back on his path.
Live Series
BROTHERS (1st part; thriller) by author-director Simon Farmakas, with co-writer Donna Sharpe; Production company Deal Productions; co-production with Greece and Germany; funding allocated: €1,500,000; Shooting to start in March 2025; Synopsis: The son of a German politician is found murdered in the no-man's land that divides Cyprus. Eleni and Fatih, two polar opposite detectives, begin the investigation and quickly discover a political conspiracy around energy alternatives at a European level.
Animated Series
3,2,1 GO! (action, comedy) written and directed by Sarah Sutter, Laurent Witz, with co-writer Cyril Bossmann; Production company: Zeilt Productions. A Luxembourgish production; allocated funding: €2,394,000 (88.69%) out of a total budget of €2,699,294. Shooting to start in April 2024. Synopsis: A group of teenagers create an Internet video show aimed at discovering different sports with humour and creativity.
Animated Feature Film
JULIAN (adventure) by writer-director Louise Bagnall, with co-writer Juliany Taveras; Production company: Mélusine Productions. A co-production with Ireland, Denmark, UK and Canada; funding allocated: €1,481,867 (14.82%) out of a total budget of €9,998,476. Shooting to start in May 2024. Synopsis: Follow Juliàn's adventures through a summer of discovery and transformation during which he will be confronted with the choices between being loved and being free.
Live Short Films
LINDA, LINDA! (comedy, romance, thriller) by writer-director Kiyan Agadjani; Production company: Red Lion. A Luxembourgish production; allocated funding: €120,000 (94.86%) out of a total budget of €126,500. Shooting to start in April 2024. Synopsis: In Luxembourg, Linda (82), a former bank robber, pines for her tumultuous past. When her former sidekick Tony (80) reappears, she is faced with a choice: join in one last heist or say goodbye to him.
RACCROCHER (drama) by writer-director Marylène Andrin; Production company: Six Letters. A Luxembourgish production; allocated funding: €149,500 (94.94%) out of a total budget of €157,950. Shooting to start in June 2024. Synopsis: To save a user from prison, a young educator frantically sets out to find him, even putting himself in danger.
LE DERNIER DIMANCHE DE MAI (drama) by writer-director Alexandre Bordier; Production company Cinetel. A Luxembourgish production; allocated funding: €150,000 (94.22%) out of a total budget of €159,210. Shooting to start in May 2024. Synopsis: When he passes his childhood home again years later, Jean confronts the tragedies of his family past.
Animated Short Films
MATIN BRUN (drama) by writer-director Carlo Vogele; Production company: Doghouse Films. A Luxembourgish production; allocated funding: €150,000 (78.02%) out of a total budget of €192,247. Shooting to start in February 2024. Synopsis: To avoid getting into trouble, Charly abides by the rules of a world without colours.
TRAME CACHÉE (drama, fantasy) byy author-director Sophia Kolokouri; Production company: Amour Fou Luxembourg; a Luxembourgish production; allocated funding: €120,000 (94.97%) out of a total budget of €126,350. Shooting to start in February 2024. Synopsis: In a medieval universe, the survival of a queen and a soldier depends on the invisible forces of our world.
