Cannes 2009 Line-Up

CANNES OFFICE: LERINS Stand R17 | Phone +33 (0)4 92 99 33 23 | Fax +33 (0)4 92 99 33 24 Mobile +49 151 54 45 89 21 (Andreas Rothbauer) | Mobile +49 170 638 48 06 (Dirk Schürhoff)

www.betacinema.com 2 3 Screening Schedule Screening Schedule

The Three Investigators in the Secret of Terror Castle Market Screenings Saturday I May 16th I 4 p.m. I Lerins 1 Hilde Market Screenings Saturday I May 16th I 8 p.m. I Palais I Sunday I May 17th I 8 p.m. I Riviera 2 Monday I May 18th I 8 p.m. I Palais I

The Orange Girl Market Screenings Thursday I May 14th I 4 p.m. I Riviera 3 Effi Briest Market Screenings Sunday I May 17th I 5:30 p.m. I Riviera 4 Sunday I May 17th I 2 p.m. I Olympia 6 Tuesday I May 19th I 8 p.m. I Riviera 2

Princess Lillifee Market Screenings Sunday I May 17th I 3.30 p.m. I Riviera 4 Bride Flight Market Screenings Friday I May 15th I 5.30 p.m. I Riviera 4 Tuesday I May 19th I 3.30 p.m. I Riviera 2 Monday I May 18th I 5.30 p.m. I Riviera 4

Killing is My Business, Honey Market ScreeningS Tuesday I May 19th I 8 p.m. I Riviera 4 November Child Market ScreeningS Friday I May 15th I 1.30 p.m. I Riviera 2 Wednesday I May 20th I 1.30 p.m. I Riviera 2 Wednesday I May 20th I 3.30 p.m. I Riviera 2

John Rabe Market Screenings Friday I May 15th I 7.30 p.m. I Riviera 2 Lulu & Jimi Market Screenings Tuesday I May 19th I 1.30 p.m. I Riviera 4 Tuesday I May 19th I 5.30 p.m. I Riviera 4

4 5 John Rabe MARKET

DIRECTOR Florian Gallenberger genre World War II Drama produced by Hofmann & Voges Entertainment, EOS Entertainment and Majestic CAST Ulrich Tukur language German / English Daniel Brühl Filmproduktion in co-production length 134 min Steve Buscemi with Wang Zhongjun & Wang Anne Consigny Zhonglei / Huayi Brothers and Pampa Production. status completed

WINNER OF 4 GERMAN FILM AWARDS 2009 (including Best Picture and Best Actor) A true story, based on John Rabe’s diaries “The Good Man from Nanking”.

SYNOPSIS China was in flames when a German businessman became a reluctant hero. When the Imperial Japanese army invaded China in 1937 and attacked the civilian population of the capital Nanking with unprecedented inhumanity, JOHN RABE took action. Along with a few other members of the foreign community including doctors and missionaries who remained in the city, he created a safety zone in which a quarter of a million civilians survived what was later to go down in history as the "Nanking Massacre".

press quote “Credible and entertaining” (The Hollywood Reporter) “It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if “John Rabe” turned out to be ’s Oscar candidate for 2010.” (Screen International)

SCREENINGS Friday I May 15th I 7.30 p.m. I Riviera 2 Tuesday I May 19th I 5.30 p.m. I Riviera 4

TERRITORIES AVAILABLE: World excluding German speaking territories, Italy, , Benelux, Czech Republic & Slovakia, China mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan. 6 7 The Three Investigators in the Secret of Terror Castle market premiere

DIRECTOR Florian Baxmeyer genre Family Entertainment produced by Studio Hamburg International in co-production with Two CAST Cameron Monaghan language English Oceans Production Chancellor Miller length 97 min Nick Price James Faulkner status completed

Based on the bestselling novel by Robert Arthur, published in more than 30 countries

SYNOPSIS Clowns are usually the last people you’d suspect of committing crimes, so Jupiter, Pete and Bob – the Three Investigators – hardly pay attention when a clown sneaks into Jupiter’s birthday party and tries to make off with something. Though they don’t catch the clown, they retrieve his booty: it’s a tape of Jupiter’s parents, who died several years earlier. The only thing that’s clear in the garbled tape is that Jupiter’s parents were also investigators, and on the trail of something big… Jupiter vows to solve the mystery his parents were working on. The only clue they have is the name Stephen Terrill, a once-famous inventor who lived in what is now called “Terror Castle.” The boys soon found out how aptly chosen the name is: doors open by themselves, gates slam shut as if by magic, things move, slide, crash, appear and disappear. Plus there seems to be a ghost! It would all be too much for the hardy trio if it weren’t for the ethereally pretty Caroline, a little girl who claims she is a psychic and feels a particularly strong bond toward Bob. Unfortunately, Caroline is also the daughter of the local sheriff, who shoos them away from Terror Castle. It takes more than a narrow-eyed, ill-tempered sheriff to shake off the three investigators, however, and soon the boys are back in the house, determined to find out what Jupiter’s parents were looking for – something that is supposed to be hidden in the house. Fearlessly defying the mysterious machines that seem to make the house itself come alive, they penetrate to the secret heart of Terror Castle and come upon Stephen Terrill’s invention: a diamond-making machine! But there’s no time to admire the stones, for the ghost of Stephen Terrill appears – and he doesn’t like intruders…

press quote “Fun and suspense: a fast-paced adventure for kids” (TV Today)

SCREENINGS Saturday I May 16th I 4 p.m. I Lerins 1 Sunday I May 17th I 8 p.m. I Riviera 2

TERRITORIES AVAILABLE: World excluding German speaking territories, Spain and Portugal. 8 9 The Orange Girl MARKET premiere

DIRECTOR Eva Dahr genre Drama produced by Helgeland Films in co-production with Tradewind Pictures and Jaleo CAST Mikkel Bratt Silset language Norwegian Harald Thompson Rosenström Films length 81 min Annie Dahr Nygaard Rebekka Karijord Emilie K. Beck status completed

Based on Jostein Gaarder’s (“Sophie’s World”) bestseller translated into more than 40 languages

SYNOPSIS It could have been a perfectly normal day, if he had missed that streetcar... But Jan Olav just catches that streetcar, on a cold autumn day in Oslo. And on that exact streetcar, on that exact day, there she is. A beautiful girl in a red coat, holding a large bag of oranges in her arms. She smiles, and as their eyes meet she drops the bag and the oranges roll all over the streetcar. She gets off at the next stop, but Jan Olav cannot forget her. Who is she, what if he never sees her again? The quest for the girl with the oranges leads him through winter-cold Oslo and all the way to colorful Seville, where the air is warm and the trees are full of oranges. Twenty years later Georg receives a letter from his father, Jan Olav, about a mysterious girl he calls the Orange Girl. But what can a father who is no longer alive have to tell his 16-year- old son? Georg starts reading the letter on his way to ski in the Norwegian mountains. On this ski trip he meets Stella. Through his father's letter and a magical encounter under the starry Easter sky, Georg realizes that he and his father have something in common – the dream of true love. Does Georg dare take the chance?

press quote “The Orange Girl marries grief and love in a beautiful and well acted film that will touch broad audiences regardless of sex and age.” (TV2 Norway)

SCREENINGS Thursday I May 14th I 4 p.m. I Riviera 3 Sunday I May 17th I 2 p.m. I Olympia 6

TERRITORIES AVAILABLE: World excluding German speaking territories and Scandinavia. 10 11 Princess Lillifee market premiere

DIRECTOR Ansgar Niebuhr genre Animation produced by ndF: neue deutsche Filmgesellschaft Zhijian Xu and Caligari Film in co-production language English Alan Simpson with Universum Film, Beta Film, length 73 min WDR and Ismael Feichtl STATUS completed

Almost 700,000 admissions in Germany after 4 weeks Based on the books published in nearly 30 countries including France, Spain, Japan, Korea, Benelux and Scandinavia

SYNOPSIS In the enchanted kingdom of Pinkovia the fairy PRINCESS LILLIFEE rules with a magic hand, creating beauty and spreading goodwill wherever she goes. Together with her best friend, PUPSI the pig, she flies throughout her realm, leaving behind a magical trail: clouds of pink butterflies and sparkling stars! She soon discovers that not all Pinkovians are happy. They complain about the recklessness and destructive rivalry between the fairies SNOWFLAKE, FLICKER and MISTRAL, and, yes, even about low-flying Pupsi's knack for crashing into market stalls or chicken coops. If things don't change, the Farmer PIXIES, the Fisher ELVES and the Mermaids will leave the enchanted kingdom! Naturally, this makes Lillifee very sad. But with the help of her friends Pupsi, BASIL the hedgehog and CARLOS the frog, Lillifee finds a way to restore peace among the fairies and harmony in her magical realm!

SCREENINGS Sunday I May 17th I 3.30 p.m. I Riviera 4 Tuesday I May 19th I 3.30 p.m. I Riviera 2

TERRITORIES AVAILABLE: World excluding German speaking territories, Benelux and Israel. 12 13 Killing is My Business, Honey market premiere

DIRECTOR Sebastian Niemann genre Comedy produced by Rat Pack Filmproduktion in co- production with Warner Bros. CAST Rick Kavanian language German Film Productions Germany, B.A. Nora Tschirner length 109 min Produktion, Babelsberg Film, Beta Christian Tramitz Film and Erfttal Film Bud Spencer Franco Nero STATUS completed

SYNOPSIS “Good money, flexible hours, plenty of human contact” – hitman Toni Ricardelli has a great job. He also has a big mouth and can’t stop telling people about his occupation. Few people believe him, but it does put a bit of a damper on his romantic rendezvous. And though he’s a real charmer and, well, a lady-killer, he yearns for a steady girlfriend. Toni’s been contracted to dispatch the reclusive Enrico Puzzo, an ex-Mafioso whose memoirs are about to be published by Kimbel & Son. The Kimbel “Son” Bob lives in permanent fear of his tyrannical father, a situation only slightly alleviated by the psychiatrist who’s always at his side. When Puzzo doesn’t show up at a press conference, Bob sends his PR lady and fiancée Julia to lure the sensitive author from his Italian hideaway with a fat check. Toni is also in hot pursuit of Puzzo, whom he kills just moments before Julia appears on the scene and mistakes Toni for Puzzo. Hey, a gorgeous woman, a check for 500,000 euros – he’d be a fool to set things straight. So he decides to stand in for Puzzo, unaware that he‘s slipping into the shoes of a man whom big-time Mafia boss Marino wants dead. So dead that he’s sending out an entire armada of killers to do away with the alleged Puzzo before his tell-all memoirs appear in print. Among them is Toni’s old friend and fellow hitman Helmut, who cheerfully blasts away at Toni while telling him not to take it personally… In spite of her imminent marriage to Bob, Julia clearly feels much more than professional interest in Toni, especially when he thwarts one ambush after another with grace and ease. But with Bob contracting a private eye to get rid of his rival, and Toni being hounded by a variety of hitmen and hitwomen, it‘s time to clear up this inconvenient misunderstanding. Even Toni has to admit that, all in all, he prefers being the killer than the victim…

press quote “A super-slick “Pink Panther”-ish crowdpleaser, recalling the Universal Studio look of the late ‘50s/ early ‘60s.” (VARIETY)

SCREENINGS Tuesday I May 19th I 8 p.m. I Riviera 4 Wednesday I May 20th I 1.30 p.m. I Riviera 2

TERRITORIES AVAILABLE: World excluding German speaking territories. 14 15 Hilde MARKET

DIRECTOR Kai Wessel genre Drama produced by Egoli Tossel Film AG in co-produc- tion with MMC Independent GmbH CAST Heike Makatsch language German / English Dan Stevens length 137 min Monica Bleibtreu Johanna Gastdorf Hanns Zischler status completed

The Charisma of Marlene Dietrich. The heart of Edith Piaf. The soul of post-war Germany: “The Knef.” Berlin 2009 – Berlinale Special Gala

SYNOPSIS Broadway star, songstress, screen diva, international icon and bestselling author – Hildegard Knef was many things. But more than anything else, she was a fighter who often fell, but never stayed down. Berlin, 1943. The collapse of Nazi Germany looms, but young HILDE marches through the rubble of Berlin with only one thought in her head: she wants to become a star. With luck, looks, the right men and overwhelming self-confidence, she makes her way in the film world, both during and after the war, swapping her Nazi lover for a young Jewish husband. Hollywood beckons, but Hilde is no Marlene. Underemployed and frustrated she longs for Germany. The divided country welcomes her back but a short nude scene in "The Sinner" (1950) provokes a national scandal, making her an outcast in her own country. Internationally, she becomes what she's always wanted to be: a star, on the big screen, on Broadway, in America and Europe. The years go by in a whirl of successes and failures, of ups and downs. Yet even as her film career wanes she picks herself up and embarks on a new journey...

press quote “An outstanding biopic with a captivating, standout performance by German singer-actress Heike Makatsch.” (The Hollywood Reporter)

SCREENINGS Saturday I May 16th I 8 p.m. I Palais I Monday I May 18th I 8 p.m. I Palais I

TERRITORIES AVAILABLE: World excluding German speaking territories and Benelux. 16 17 Effi Briest MARKET

DIRECTOR Hermine Huntgeburth genre Drama produced by Constantin Film Produktion CAST Julia Jentsch language German Sebastian Koch length 118 min Juliane Köhler Mišel Maticevic status completed

Berlin 2009 – Berlinale Special Gala 2 nominations at the German Film Awards 2009 (Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Costume Design)

SYNOPSIS At her parents’ urging, Effi Briest, a free-spirited 17-year-old girl, marries Baron von Innstetten, nearly 20 years her senior – and a former admirer of Effi’s mother. The arranged marriage spells the beginning of a monotonous existence for Effi far away from her hometown: Innstetten is entirely pre-occupied with his political career and the sleepy artist town of Kessin on the Baltic Sea shore offers little excitement. That is until Major Crampas, arrives – one of Innstetten’s military comrades and a charming womanizer. Effi starts a passionate affair with him and finally discovers what love is. But it comes at a steep price: The affair proves fatal for Crampas. Effi, on the other hand – unlike in Fontane’s novel – deals with the consequences of her decisions and embarks on a new chapter in her life...

press quote “A gorgeous-looking pic…Jentsch (“Sophie Scholl”), almost constantly onscreen, again gives a magnetic performance”

SCREENINGS Sunday I May 17th I 5:30 p.m. I Riviera 4 Tuesday I May 19th I 8 p.m. I Riviera 2

TERRITORIES AVAILABLE: World excluding German speaking territories, Benelux, Scandinavia, , Czech Republic & Slovakia and former Yugoslavia. 18 19 Bride Flight market

DIRECTOR Ben Sombogaart genre Drama produced by IDTV Film in coproduction with Samsa Film and the NCRV CAST Karina Smulders language Dutch / English Elise Schaap length 125 min Anna Drijver Waldemar Torenstra Rutger Hauer status completed

Directed by Academy Award nominee Ben Sombogaart (“Twin Sisters”) One of the most expensive Dutch-language productions ever...more than 3 Mio. USD at the Dutch Box Office

SYNOPSIS Eager to escape the damp and suffocating atmosphere of post-war Holland, the three young Dutchwomen Ada, Esther and Marjorie look forward to a better life in New Zealand. They meet on the immigration flight – the "Bride Flight" – to their new country, where they are to join fiancés and marry. During the flight, the three women form a bond of friendship among themselves, and with Frank, an attractive young man who wants to set up a winery. On their arrival, all four part ways to start a new life. Yet their paths continue to cross... Ada will one day leave her children and her puritan husband for Frank, an escape to freedom that is ultimately doomed... And the single career woman Esther will give her unwanted child to Marjorie and her husband after Marjorie suffers a miscarriage and will probably never bear a child again. As the boy grows up, Marjorie fears that Esther might break the pact of silence they made. An outing that reunites all four friends and the boy turns into a near tragedy that destroys one friendship, shatters a loving relationship, and nearly costs the boy's life... Only 50 years later do they all come together again, perhaps closer now than ever before...

press quote “Excellent acting and lensing” (VARIETY)

SCREENINGS Friday I May 15th I 5.30 p.m. I Riviera 4 Monday I May 18th I 5.30 p.m. I Riviera 4

TERRITORIES AVAILABLE: World excluding Benelux, Australia and New Zealand. 20 21 November Child Market

DIRECTOR Christian Schwochow genre Drama produced by Sommerhaus Filmproduktion in coproduction with SWR, Filmaka- CAST Anna Maria Mühe language German demie Baden-Württemberg, Cine Ulrich Matthes length 95 min Plus and Filmemacher Produktion Christine Schorn Juliane Köhler status completed

2 nominations at the German Film Awards 2009 (Best Screenplay, Best Actress)

SYNOPSIS INGA grows up in a small village in Eastern Germany. According to her grandparents, her mother ANNE perished by drowning in the Baltic. One day ROBERT, a pro- fessor for literature, turns up in Malchow where Inga now lives, and claims that he met Anne a few years previously in Constance. Inga's world comes crashing down when she realizes that Robert is right. Apparently, the whole village knew about Anne's flight to the West. But what did really happen at that time? Inga meets only with silence, denial, and a sense of guilt. Why did her mother leave her behind in the GDR? Inga begs Robert to help her in her search for Anne. While they are hunting for clues all over Germany, it becomes more and more obvious, that Robert's sudden appearance in Inga's life was no coincidence.

press quote “A knockout lead performance by young actress Anna Maria Mühe… daughter of the late Ulrich Mühe (“The Lives of Others”)…a smartly layered script… a richly rewarding family drama with a difference” (VARIETY)

SCREENINGS Friday I May 15th I 1.30 p.m. I Riviera 2 Wednesday I May 20th I 3.30 p.m. I Riviera 2

TERRITORIES AVAILABLE: World excluding German speaking territories. 22 23 Lulu & Jimi market

DIRECTOR Oskar Roehler genre Drama produced by sperl+schott film in co-produc- tion with X Filme Creative Pool, CAST Jennifer Decker language German / English Senator, EMC Produktion and Ray Fearon length 95 min Oskar Roehler Katrin Sass Udo Kier Rolf Zacher Ulrich Thomsen status completed

Sundance 2009 – World Cinema Competition Nominated for Best Cinematography at the German Film Awards 2009

SYNOPSIS It’s the rock ‘n’ roll era in Germany – the lust for life and rebellion is in the air. Lulu, the daughter of a bankrupt factory owner, falls in love with Jimi, the impossibly handsome but penniless son of a damaged African American World War II veteran. The inhabitants of the conservative small town are horrified, and especially Lulu’s mother GERTRUD tries to stir the prejudices in her friends to fight against this unwanted love affair. She orders her chauffeur,S chultz, and her doctor, von Oppeln, to do everything they can to spoil the lovers’ happiness. But Lulu and Jimi won’t let anybody or anything get in their way! They live and love on the run, always one step ahead of their pursuers. Until they fall into a trap...

SCREENINGS Tuesday I May 19th I 1.30 p.m. I Riviera 4

TERRITORIES AVAILABLE: World excluding German speaking territories and France. 24 25 Like It or Not upcoming

DIRECTOR Ben Verbong genre Drama produced by Elsani Film and 3L Filmproduktion in co-production with MMCI, CTM CAST Katharina Marie Schubert language German Film and Borderline Pictures Julia-Maria Köhler length 100 min Christiane Paul Anna Böger Senta Berger status completed

A bittersweet, deeply moving story about conflict and reconciliation, losing touch and making up, mute dismay and the search for harmony.

SYNOPSIS LAURA, in her late 20s and the youngest of four sisters, has cancer. When she suddenly stops chemo and arrives unannounced at her parents' house, her mother is dismayed. And her three very different sisters even more so. But after grumbling a bit, they rush home from all over Germany. Their goal is to get Laura to take up her treatment again – and then leave as fast as possible. After all, they have nothing to say to one another… Laura has a different goal: she wants to bring her crazy, dysfunctional family together again.

press quote “‘Like It Or Not’ is about family conflicts, dashed dreams, leave-taking, sorrow and death – yet it is anything but depressing.” (Cinema) “The film gives a refreshingly light-hearted spin on the difficult topic of terminal care.” (Film Dienst)

Trailer available

TERRITORIES AVAILABLE: World excluding German speaking territories and Benelux. 26 27 Berlin ‘36 upcoming

DIRECTOR Kaspar Heidelbach genre Historical Drama produced by Gemini Film with backing from NDR and Degeto CAST Karoline Herfurth language German Sebastian Urzendowsky length 110 min Axel Prahl August Zirner Thomas Thieme status in post-production

Based on a true story Starring Karoline Herfurth (“The Reader“, “A Year ago in Winter“) and Sebastian Urzendowsky (“The Counterfeiters”)

SYNOPSIS Berlin 1936. The threatens to boycott the Olympic games if there are no Jews in the German team. The Nazis then decide to include the Jewish high jumper GRETEL BERGMANN – the leading high jumper of the time – in the Olympic team. But to make sure that she doesn't win a gold medal, they send in a rival, the unknown MARIE KETTELER. What nobody knows is that she is actually a man… The two rivals forge a tenuous friendship during their training. Will they unite to fight the crushing domination of the Nazis or will they follow the call of their athletic ambitions?

Trailer available

TERRITORIES AVAILABLE: World excluding German speaking territories. 28 29 Bon Appétit upcoming

DIRECTOR David Pinillos genre Romantic Dramedy produced by Morena Films in co-production with Orio Produkzioak, Zodiac CAST Unax Ugalde language English Pictures and Egoli Tossell Film Nora Tschirner length approx. 95 min Giulio Berruti Herbert Knaup status in post-production

A touching romantic dramedy set in the competitive world of international cuisine, starring two of Europe's hottest up-and-coming actors Unax Ugalde (“Che“, “Love in the Time of Cholera“) and Nora Tschirner (“Rabbit Without Ears“)

SYNOPSIS DANIEL, HANNA and HUGO are three budding young chefs in their late twenties who come from different countries and backgrounds, but all have something in common: a talent and a passion for cooking. They meet in , in the kitchen of one of the most prestigious restaurants in Europe. They connect at once and form a special relationship based on friendship, cooking and common goals. Envied by their colleagues, praised by their superiors, the trio seems unbeatable – until Daniel falls in love with Hanna, who then reveals a secret that changes their lives. As the three of them embark upon a culinary and emotional journey of exploration, they begin to discover what their real goals and passions are...

Trailer available

TERRITORIES AVAILABLE: World excluding German speaking territories, Italy and Spain. 30 31 Lila, Lila upcoming

DIRECTOR Alain Gsponer genre Romantic Comedy produced by Film 1 and Falcom in coproduction with Millbrook Pictures AG CAST Daniel Brühl language German Hannah Herzsprung length approx. 100 min Henry Hübchen status in post-production

Starring Daniel Brühl (“Good Bye, Lenin!”), Hannah Herzsprung (“Four Minutes”) and Henry Hübchen (”Go for Zucker”)

SYNOPSIS The shy waiter DAVID succeeds in winning the attentions of the young MARIE after he pretends to be the author of a novel whose manuscript he found in a junk shop. Everything goes well: the novel – a tragic love story set in the 1950s – hits the bestseller lists and the two become an item – until, suddenly, a tramp appears at a book signing claiming to be the real author of “Lila, Lila”…

Trailer available

TERRITORIES AVAILABLE: World excluding German speaking territories. 32 33 Ceasefire upcoming

DIRECTOR Lancelot von Naso genre Drama produced by DRIFE Deyle & Richter Filmprodukti- on in co-production with DCM Mitte CAST Thekla Reuten language German Productions and ERFTTAL Film & Matthias Habich length approx. 90 min Fernsehproduktion, ZDF and ARTE Hannes Jaenicke Maximilian von Pufendorf Husam Chadat status in post-production

The first German film on the Iraq War Starring Thekla Reuten (“In Bruges”) and Mathias Habich (“The Reader“, “”)

SYNOPSIS Baghdad. The official war is over, but everyday life is an endless catastrophe. The situation in Falluja is particularly desolate: hardly any food supplies left, no medi- cine, medical care in shambles. In the midst of this dramatic situation, the U.S. forces reach an agreement with the rebels: a 24-hour ceasefire. KIM (Thekla Reuten), the Dutch member of an international aid organization, is planning a transport of badly needed supplies to a hospital in the war zone with ALAIN (Matthias Habich), a doctor. Assisting them is OLIVER (Maximilian von Pufendorf), a young journalist who hopes to finally land a spectacular story. Forming a community of conflicting interests, the three very different idealists all want to save lives – but first they have to save their own...

TERRITORIES AVAILABLE: World excluding German speaking territories. 34 35