Luxembourg, a leading contributor to French-language co-productions worldwide, is well represented once again at this year’s edition of CINEMANIA. In collaboration with Film Fund Luxembourg, a national institute dedicated to cinema which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, we are honoured to recognize the involvement of professionals from Luxembourg in various aspects of the selection for this 26th edition of the festival.
 

Actor Jules Waringo to be member of Francophone Youth Jury

Jules Waringo joins the eight other members of the Francophone Youth Jury, assembled by CINEMANIA for the third consecutive year and led by Quebec actress Juliette Gosselin (FABULOUS, 1991, TADOUSSAC). After watching 13 feature films selected for the Visages de la Francophonie competition (focused on politically and socially engaged films), the jury will award the "Visages de la Francophonie TV5" Award for Best Film and the Award for Best Quebec film or coproduction.

Jules Waringo began his cinema career working in short film, notably with Eric Lamhène, director of LAUSCHTER, GËFF EENS and SERENA. He then went on to act in two major European co-productions: THE TASTE OF BLUEBERRIES, a Belgian drama by Thomas de Thier (2014) and COLONIA (2015), a German historical thriller by Florian Gallenberger and starring Emma Watson. In 2018, Waringo landed one of the leading roles in Felix Koch’s SUPERCHAMP RETURNS, a big-budget (€3.5 million) superhero comedy and Luxembourg’s most popular film to date. Jules was part of the Génération Talents 2019 program at the 34th Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur (FIFF).
 

Three Luxembourg shorts in competition

Three of the 26 international short films in competition at CINEMANIA this year are from Luxembourg. They range in genre: LUPUS by Laurent Prim, a thriller set on a farm; ARTICLE 19-42, a suspenseful sci-fi thriller by Julien Becker; and Nicolas Debray’s animated ABIGAIL, from Luxembourg’s eminent Melusine Productions (WOLFWALKERS, THE PRINCE’S VOYAGE, THE SWALLOWS OF KABUL).


ABIGAIL by Nicolas Debray



Nicolas Debray has been an animator for nearly 15 years. After beginning his career at Disney Australia, he worked on various films in Europe, including THE ILLUSIONIST (2010) and APRIL AND THE TRICKED WORLD (2015). He has been collaborating with Studio 352 since 2012, acting as animation supervisor on ETHEL & ERNEST (2016) and THE SWALLOWS OF KABUL (2019). ABIGAIL is his short-film directorial debut.


ARTICLE 19-42 by Julien Becker 



Julien Becker is a co-founder of the production company Skill Lab. After making a number of commercials, he completed his first short film, 22:22, in 2013. In addition to being selected for various festivals, 22:22 won the Best Luxembourg Short Prize in 2014. ARTICLE 19-42 is Julien’s second short film. He is currently developing his first feature film.


LUPUS by Laurent Prim



After studying literature at the University of Luxembourg and English Literature and Film Studies at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, Laurent Prim decided to pursue a career in filmmaking. After returning to Luxembourg, he worked in the local film industry as a director and second-unit director. He was awarded Best Director for his first short film, MORGUE (2015) at the San Antonio Film Festival. LUPUS (2020) is his latest short film.

 

Filippo Meneghetti’s TWO OF US co-production among the premieres

The first feature film by young Italian director Filippo Meneghetti will be shown on CINEMANIA’s online platform from November 4 to 22, 2020. TWO OF US is a delicate and intensely moving story of passionate love between two older women. Bold and visionary in its directorial approach, the subtle melodrama draws much of its power from silence and things unsaid. Germany’s Barbara Sukowa and French theatre actress Martine Chevallier craft a graceful and compelling portrayal of the couple at the centre of the film.

TWO OF US is a minority co-production with Luxembourg (35%) through the Tarantula company (Donato Rotunno), with co-financing from France (Paprika Films) and Belgium (Artemis Productions). After being selected for the Discovery Section of the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the film has gone on to receive several international awards including the Audience Award at the 2020 Festival Premiers Plans d’Angers (France).



For information:
CINEMANIA is also pleased to partner with the Luxembourg City Film Festival, celebrating its 11th edition in March 2021. Both organizations are members of the Europa Film Festival network, an association of 12 events which aims to stimulate and encourage exchanges and common projects between European festivals and abroad.

Luxembourg has approximately 30 production companies, 15 post-production companies, special effects studios and other businesses connected with the sector. Altogether, they employ some 600 people (technicians, directors, writers and more). Filmland Kehlen, which opened in 2013, is the biggest film studio in the country and offers a range of modern facilities.