Four wins - the film north in Toronto

Helge AlbersCEO of Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein: "Filmnorden is represented four times this year at one of the world's most prestigious festivals: 'Pelikanblut' by Hamburg filmmaker Katrin Gebbe and Executive Producer Verena Gräfe-Höft has a strong festival start and will open the 'Orrizonti' series at the Venice Film Festival beforehand. France's star Julie Delpy is bringing a family drama to the cinema with 'My Zoe', which was produced by the Hamburg-based company Amusement Park. Keren Yedaya's 'Red Fields' has already won two prizes at the film festival in Jerusalem and was produced by Hamburg-based Riva Film. And last but not least, I am of course very happy for Alla Kovgan and my old team at 'Achtung Panda!' that 'Cunningham' will have its world premiere in the festival programme. Congratulations to all four film teams!"

More about the films: In the centre ofPelican blood centres on the emotional and dramatic relationship between a mother - played by Nina Hoss - and her newly adopted daughter: a touching story in which Katrin Gebbe confronts the audience with despair, strong feelings and conflicts, but also mental boundaries. The drama is produced by Hamburg-based Verena Gräfe-Höft (Junafilm). The SWR/ARTE co-production is expected to be released in cinemas by DCM in autumn 2019. The film has received 550,000 euros in production funding from the FFHSH and will be screened in Toronto in the Special Presentations series.

French actress and Director Julie Delpy celebrates her new dramaMy Zoe premiered in the "Platform" section in Toronto. The film is about the scientist Isabelle, who is trying to build a new life after a failed marriage. Living separately, she and her ex-husband bring up their little daughter Zoe. When a stroke of fate further disrupts the broken family, Isabelle makes an unexpected decision. In addition to Delpy, who is also responsible for Directors and script, the film also stars Daniel Brühl, Richard Armitage and Sophia Ally. Most of the sound and image post-production took place in Hamburg. "My Zoe" was supported with 175,000 euros in production funding and will be released in cinemas by Warner Bros. in November 2019.

The DocumentaryCunningham by filmmaker Alla Kogvan brings Merce Cunningham's legendary choreographies - danced by the last members of his famous company - back to life. In poetic images, the film follows Cunningham's artistic career from 1944 to 1972. Supported by 3D technology, his story and his ideas combine to create an emotional journey into the choreographer's world. The international co-production had several days of filming in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein and was the last production work of current FFHSH CEO Helge Albers, who headed the production company Achtung Panda! until the end of March 2019. The film received 120,000 euros in production funding and will be released in German cinemas by Camino Filmverleih on 19 December. In Toronto, Cunningham is screening in the "TIFF Docs" section.

Red Fields is an adaptation of the Israeli rock opera "Mami" from the 80s, which has become a cult film there. A total of 17 songs tell the incredible story of Mami, who flees her run-down city for Tel Aviv and becomes Prime Minister of Israel after a wild and adventurous journey. Directors Keren Yedaya's film has already won two awards at the film festival in Israel and was co-produced by Michael Eckelt and his Hamburg-based company Riva Filmproduktion. The sound post-production took place at Konken Studios in Hamburg. The FFHSH supported the film with 80,000 euros in production funding, which is being shown in Toronto in the "Contemporary World Cinema" section.

The festival The 44th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival will take place from 5 to 15 September 2019. Founded in 1976, the festival is one of the world's most popular film events with over 300 films, 400,000 viewers and over 5,000 trade visitors and is considered a barometer for the upcoming Oscars. Further information about the festival: www.tiff.net

Photo: My Zoe - Amusement Park