Koen Mortier’s 22nd of May and Kadir Balci’s Turquaze have been invited to this year’s 35th edition of the Hong Kong International Film Festival (20 March-5 April). Both films will screen in the World Cinema programme. Also selected is the animated feature A Cat in Paris by Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli, which is to have a gala premiere at Hong Kong.
After receiving its world premiere at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, 22nd of May was shown in competition at both the Ghent International Film Festival and the International Film Festival of Rotterdam, where it was part of the special ‘Return of the Tigers’ anniversary programme. Produced by Eurydice Gysel for CCCP/Epidemic, the film’s international sales are handled by Paris-based Reel Suspects. According to the HKIFF, 22nd of May tackles its subject matter “with gorgeously bleak handheld visuals, beautiful destruction in slow-mo and painstakingly observed long takes”.
Kadir Balci’s Turquaze had its world premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival, and also toured other fests such as Hamburg and Palm Springs. Producer is Dirk Impens for Menuet. International sales are handled by Delphis Films. The festival describes Turquaze as “Realistic yet warm, tense yet romantic, this is a fresh and uplifting spin on the modern issue of multiculturalism”.
A Cat in Paris is a French-Belgian-Swiss co-production directed by Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli. Its presentation at last month’s Berlinale Generation Kplus marked its international debut. The film will also be shown at Cartoon Movies in Lyon. Flemish co-producer is Annemie Degryse for Lunanime, with Pieter Samyn and Pascal Vermeersch part of the animators’ team. International sales agent is Films Distribution.