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A European Film
Development Initiative
celebrating Europe's cultural diversity

Cannes 2008

Main Programme 2008

A packed schedule of events in Cannes, 14-20 May, included Babylon seminars from industry professionals who generously supported the programme with their time and their wealth of experience. Contributors included Sales Agent Marta Lamperova (mdc international), Producers Damian Jones (DJ Productions) and Philippe Carcassonne (Pathé), Media Lawyer Robin Hilton (Sheridans), Completion Bond Guarantor James Shirras (Film Finances), producer and script consultant Jürgen Seidler (ScriptHouse), Distributor Andy Whittaker (Dogwoof) plus feedback sessions from 2007 participants Sülbiye Günar and Anthony Alleyne, How to Access Cannes with Fiona Howe and Gareth Jones, and ongoing individual project consultancy by appointment.

BABYLON was also delighted, as a contributing sponsor this year of the UK Film Centre, to host a public panel discussion Minority Films for Majority Audiences, with contributions from veteran filmmaker Menelik Shabazz, rising producer Zoe Stewart of Shona Productions, whose film Hush screened and sold well at the Cannes Market, together with 2008 Babylon participants Maninderpal Sahota and Samona Naomi Williams, moderated by Gareth Jones and Fiona Howe.

18 participants representing 10 of this year's projects were present at Cannes. Most were accredited courtesy of The Marketplace to the European Pavilion with its comfortable facilities, which gave everyone a haven in which to continue working (parties permitting!). Thanks to the Marketplace organisers for their professionalism, also to the UK Film Centre organisers Eventa Management, the UK Film Council Press Department, and of course the British Council, for all their fantastic support in hosting our seminars. And a special thanks to Nour-Eddine Saïl and his staff who hosted us at the Moroccan Pavilion.

Participants 2008

2008 has already shown very pleasing results:

Piero Passatore and Aneel Ahmad began collaboration on a UK/Italy/Pakistan short film co-production, with Aneel Ahmad's short films Boot Polish and Waiting for Sunrise screened in Turin in March 08; Jürgen Seidler of Script House has optioned Das Museum by Sara Wassermair for development; Um-Hussein produced by Isabelle Stead received UK Film Council development funding; Hüseyin Tabak, whose short film Cheeese was screened at Montreal, will shoot his first documentary feature in autumn 2008, having been discovered by leading producer Josef Aichholzer after participating at Cannes; Samona Naomi Williams, producer of G-Luv was one of 15 young professionals selected to take part in Film London's emerging Producer training programme in July 2008 and will attend the London Film Market in October.

BABYLON has been delighted to welcome new national partners the Netherlands, Austria and Italy, with thanks to our Dutch co-producers Mira Media, the Netherlands Film Fund and the Vienna Film Fund; and to the CNC, Goethe-Institut, British Council and UK Film Council for their continuing support.

The number of participating nations in 2008 doubled from three to six. The number of participating projects increased by 50%. The workshop schedule includes an extra day at Rotterdam, devoted to detailed script work, with new consultants joining the programme to accommodate the additional workload.

For more about the 2008 Participants click here.

For more about the 2008 Consultants click here.