EastWest Filmdistribution presents
PRIMA PRIMAVERA
Directed by Janos Edelenyi
Written by Janos Edelenyi, Endre Hules, Pal Salamon and Maria Stankova
Produced by Steve Bowden, Georgy Cholakov, Pavlina Jeleva & Arry Voorsmit
A Hungarian-UK-Bulgarian-Dutch-co-production
Eurofilm Studio, Vita Nova Films, Geopoly and Riba Film International
CAST
Gabor - Andor Lukats
Jolie - Vesela Kazakova
The Dutchman - Antonie Kamerling
Uncle Feri - Djoko Rosich
Brigi - Enikö Börcsök
Hungary 2008; 35mm colour; 86 minutes; aspect ratio 1:1.85; Dolby Digital;
original language Hungarian; available with English subtitles
SYNOPSIS
The life of Gabor, a middle-aged man with the manners and naïveté of a child, is turned upside
down when his mother is killed in a botched bank robbery. He and a prostitute, Jolie, are the only
ones who can identify robber, so they must run for their lives.
Armed with a chandelier as a present to Grandma, the odd pair sets out on a cross border journey to seek refuge in her house in Serbia. But Grandma, long dead, had lived on only in Gabor‘s
imagination and meticulous drawings. While the pair tries to fit in the village, the robber who is
relentlessly after them finds an unwitting ally in the local police.
Balancing between crude reality and imagination, the two manage to survive and, in the process,
find peace with each other, the world, and, most difficult of all – themselves.
DIRECTOR: JANOS EDELENYI
After graduating from the Academy of Films in Budapest, both as a director and director of
photography, Janos rejoined the staff of the Hungarian Television, where he had worked prior
to film school. Two of his documentaries won First Prizes at the National Documentary Film
Festival, and he was awarded Best Photography, Grand Prize and Best TV Adaptation Prize at
the National Television Festivals of 1974 and 1975.
Janos has directed and co produced or/and photographed over 40 documentaries and several dramas and he co-wrote and produced The Long Shadow, a Hungarian-Israeli-American
feature film starring Michael York and Liv Ullmann, directed by Oscar winning photographer,
Vilmos Zsigmond.
Prima Primavera is Janos’ first feature film as director starring Bulgaria‘s internationally
renowned actress, Vesela Kazakova. The two will collaborate again on The Undiscovered
Country, planned to be shot in English in 2010.
DIRECTOR‘S STATEMENT
Although the events are not directly based on my life, Prima Primavera is essentially an autobiographical film. Its main character, the fifty-something, slightly retarded Gábor Kertész, is really me
- beautifully played by one of the great talents of Hungarian film and theatre, Andor Lukats. Gabor
and I share the need for emotional response, the same abhorrence of brutality and violence. And
above all, we refuse to accept that our dead are lost to us forever. We both stubbornly cling to the
notion that we will see them again soon, and – cheating death – even in the mean time, we maintain
daily contact with them, offering and receiving advice and support. “Prima Primavera!”: this
was my father’s catchphrase from my childhood, but I still use it to express a state of very
deep satisfaction…
I also feel very close to the film’s female lead Jolie, played by the stunning Bulgarian actress, Vesela
Kazakova. Cast out by her mother and raised in a children’s home, Jolie has drifted from prostitution
into crime. She nurtures a superstitious terror of being trapped by her destiny – as she reprimands
her aged mentor: “You’re wrong, uncle Feri. I didn’t go astray, I was born astray.” This helps
to present the main, underlying question of the film: is there hope for those who were born on the
wrong side of the tracks? And it is mainly through Jolie’s lovable character, through her trials and
that I can answer simply and clearly: Yes, we might all get a second chance. For although life may
seem to be governed by blind fate, this is only true for those who accept it!
Prima Primavera is a road movie, but not only by virtue of the few hundred kilometres travelled by
its protagonists. The inner journey that they undertake is far more important. The kilometres measured on a map or depicted through changes in the background scenery are nothing compared to
the progress that Gábor and Jolie make towards each other – and their own selves.
Janos Edelenyi, January 2009
VESELA KAZAKOVA (JOLIE)
Vesela Kazakova was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. She studied acting at the National Academy for
Theatre and Film Arts. After playing in theatre plays, such as Antigone, Seagull and Woyzeck,
Vesela’s first film role of a mute girl in Svetoslav Ovcharov’s A Leaf In The Wind earned her the
most prestigious debut award in Bulgaria: the Award for Best Young Actress the “Golden Rose”
in Varna in 2002. Her films, “Crazy Day” “Mila from Mars” and “Stolen Eyes” have made Vesela
her country’s best known and most beloved young actress.
ANDOR LUKATS (GABOR)
Awards
Berlinale 2006 - STUDIO HAMBURG SHOOTING STARS AWARD
UBFM 2006 - AWARD FOR FEMALE LEADING ROLE in “Stolen eyes” and “Mila from Mars”
Moscow Film Festival 2005 - BEST ACTRESS AWARD - “Stolen Eyes”
Varna 2004 - BEST ACTRESS AWARD - “Mila from Mars”
Varna 2004 - AWARD of the JOURNALISTS’ ASSOCIATION - “Mila from Mars”
Bulgarian Drama Festival 2004 - Award for “BEST YOUNG ACTRESS”
Varna 2002 - NEVENA KOKANOVA AWARD - “A Leaf In The Wind”
Andor Lukats has always been considered a maverick; has never studied acting but is
now a professor of the Hungarian Drama School, began his career at the legendary Gergely
Csiky Theater as an extra, but went on to become its most influential actor and director. He is
a recipient of the country’s highest honors, the Kossuth and Mari Jaszai Prizes, Critics’ Choice
and Best Actor Awards at national film Festivals, written and directed feature films and theatre
plays. All established Hungarian theatres would be happy to boast him as a resident actor or
director, yet he has chosen to continue breaking new ground at the fringe, in his own APROPERA.
Since 1974 Andor has appeared in leading or character roles in 50 films, the most recent ones are
Fluke (2008), Nose Dive (2007) Lora (2007) White Palm (2005), Fateless (2005), and The Unburied Man (2004).
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY:
TIBOR MÁTHÉ
Tibor Máthé is a multi-award winning cinematographer with over 30 films to his credit.
ANTONIE KAMERLING (THE DUTCHMAN)
Antonie Kamerling started his career in the hugely popular Dutch Soap Opera Goede Tijden,
Slechte Tijden. After becoming a huge star in the Netherlands he made the transition from television to film with roles in Dutch and International productions. He recently starred alongside
Val Kilmer in Mindhunters and appeared in Dominion – The Prequel to the Exorcist as well as
receiving much acclaim, and the Best Actor award at the Verona Film Festival, for his role in Lisa.
His credits include:
Prima Primavera (dir. Janos Edelenyi); Hannahannah (dir. Annemarie v/d Mond); Wicked (dir.
Michael Knighton); Exorcist: The Beginning (dir.Renny Harlin); Dominion – The prequel to the
Exorcist (dir. Paul Schrader); Mindhunters (dir. Renny Harlin); Feestje (dir. Ruud van Hemert); Left
Luggage (dir. Jeroen Krabbe); Lisa (dir.Jan Keymeulen); Kleine Blonde Dude (dir.Jean van de Velde)
1985 Hungarian Film Week Best Cinematographer „The Philadelphia Attraction”
1989 Hungarian Film Week Best Cinematographer “My Twentieth Century”
1989 Hungarian Film Critics’ Prize Best Director Of Photography “My Twentieth Century”
1994 Golden Frog „Woyzeck” 1998 Cannes, Golden Camera, „My Twentieth Century”
1995 Hungarian Film Week Best Cinematographer “The Magic Hunter”
1997 Chicago Int. Film Festival Silver Hugo, Best Cinematography „Witman Boys”
1999 Hungarian Film Week Best Cinematographer „Simon the Magician”
1997 European Film Awards „Woyzeck” 1998 Hungarian Film Week, Best Film, Best Director, Best
Cinematographer, Best Actress, Best Actor and Gene Moskowitz Prize for „Passion” (by Gyorgy Feher)
2007 Main Prize, Hungarian Film Week, „Opium: Diary of a Madwoman”
PRODUCERS
STEVE BOWDEN – VITA NOVA FILMS
Steve is the managing director of Vita Nova Films. He has been working in the film and television industry since 1993 after graduating with honours from film school.
During Steve’s seven years running Ipso Facto Films, the company became one of the most prolific
co-financiers of European films accessing UK tax finance and co-production incentives.
During this time Steve also produced award winning short films and television and developed
and produced Ipso Facto’s biggest feature film, the £3.3m production, School For Seduction
(dir. Sue Heel) starring Kelly Brook which sold to 15 territories, was theatrically released throughout Europe and sold to North America.
In 2006, Steve launched Vita Nova Films. He has just completed the company’s feature film debut,
Prima Primavera – ‘the comeback’ movie of Hungarian director, Janos Edelenyi.
Steve worked closely with Janos on the development and production of Prima Primavera and
they are currently developing their next project together, The Undiscovered Country, which will
also star Prima Primavera’s lead actress, Vesela Kasakova.
PRODUCERS
GEORGY CHOLAKOV & PAVLINA JELEVA – GEOPOLY
ARRY VOORSMIT – RIBA FILM
Pavlina Jeleva is a joint Manager of Geopoly Film. Her professional activities include: Editor
at the monthly magazine “Bulgarian films”; Journalist, Film and TV critic for the professional
press, information dailies for Bulgarian radio and television channels; Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Bulgarian National Film Centre; National representative of Bulgaria at
the Council of Europe co-production supporting Fund “Eurimages”; National representative of
the Bulgarian critics’ association at the international film critics federation “FIPRESCI”; Founder of the Balkan Film Board and Vice-president for Bulgaria in the field of the Balkan integration
co-production process.
Arry has over 20 years of professional experience in film. He has attended various courses in
script development, marketing and production. He has also studied sociology and cultural work
in University. Arry is a graduate of EAVE production studies. In 2006 he studied more scriptwriting and script editing at North by Northwest.
Georgy Cholakov is a joint Manager of Geopoly Film. His professional activities include: Vice
-President and Chief of Financial Commission of The Bulgarian National Film Centre, Expert of
the Cultural Committee of the National Assembly of Bulgaria for the preparation of the Copyright
and Neighbouring Rights Law, National Representative of Bulgaria at the Council of Europe
co-production financial fund “Eurimages” and Consultant for financial and copyright aspects
connected with international co-productions for several Bulgarian production companies.
Combined Filmography: Crazy Day (Silvia Pesheva 2004), The Seventh Sun of Love (Vangelis
Serdaris 2002), My Father (Fani Kolarova 2000), Earth And Water (Panos Karkanevatos 1999), The
Bandit (Yavuz Turgul 1996), Lotrando & Zubejda (Karel Smyczek 1996).
Arry started his career in 1984 as a freelancer. For three years he was the Managing Director of
Kalahari Films. He has been a producer for Dutch public television VPRO and since 2003 he has
been a member of the Dutch producers association NVS.
He is currently the Managing Director and Senior Producer of RIBA FILM INTERNATIONAL
which concentrates on the development and production of high quality feature films and feature-length documentaries with a universal audience appeal. An emphasis on international coproductions as well as the development of new talent is of specific importance to Arry and the
company.
CREDITS
Director - Janos Edelenyi
Writer - Janos Edelenyi, Endre Hules, Pal Salamon & Maria Stankova
Editor - Károly Szalai
Producers - Steve Bowden, Gerogy Cholakov, Pavlina Jeleva & Arry Voorsmit
DoP - Tibor Mathe
Music - Patrick Hawes
CAST
Gabor - Andor Lukats
Jolie - Vesela Kazakova
The Dutchman - Antonie Kamerling
Uncle Feri - Djoko Rosich
Brigi - Enikö Börcsök
© 2009 www.eastwest-distribution.com
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