4 Hubert Bals Fund supported films contend for International Oscar

For over 30 years, the Hubert Bals Fund has developed a distinguished taste for filmmakers with a forward-looking artistic vision. The HBF focuses on supporting filmmakers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe

International Oscar Contenders include:

“Excursion”
Directed by Una Gunjak
Bosnia and Herzegovina

TFV Critic Carmen Gray’s film verdict:
“Una Gunjak’s sensitive, richly textured Bosnian coming-of-ager about a lie’s repercussions questions sexual double standards in a society of repressed fears.”

“Tiger Stripes”
Directed by Amanda Nell Eu
Malaysia

TFV Critic Stephen Dalton’s film verdict:
Malaysian writer-director Amanda Nell Eu’s groundbreaking Cannes premiere is an offbeat body-horror monster movie with sharp feminist claws.

“Totem”
Directed by Lila Aviles
Mexico

TFV Critic Lucy Virgen’s film verdict:
Mexican director Lila Avilés shows sensibility and a strong hand in ‘Totem’, her second feature.

“City of Wind”
Directed by Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir

TFV Critic Clarence Tsui’s film verdict:
In ‘City of Wind’, Mongolia’s Academy Award hopeful which has already collected prizes at Venice and Pingyao, director Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir offers a charmingly intimate look at a gifted young city-dwelling shaman.

The Hubert Bals Fund has been especially helpful for filmmakers from countries where freedom of speech and a solid film infrastructure are lacking. The fund functions in tandem with other activities of IFFR Pro, which include training talent, providing networking opportunities, and hosting co-production market CineMart.

Other Oscar Seclections that screened at IFFR include

A Light Never Goes Out
Directed by Anastasia Tsang
Hong Kong

Godland
Directed by Hlynur Palmason
Iceland

Under the Hanging Tree
Directed by Perivi Katjavivi
Namibia

Vera
Directed by Tizza Covi, Rainer Frimmel
Austria