TM hopes that some of his local readers managed to get to a few of the films screened recently in
Irena Kovarova's fine series
Disappearing Act 2, which looks like it may become an annual event at
Manhattan's Czech Center.
In the midst of these free screenings of recent foreign films from all over Eastern and Western Europe, most of which were either not distributed in the U.S. or disappeared too quickly to be readily viewed, is presented a panel discussion. This year's -- titled
The New World Distribution for Subtitled Films -- explored the uneasy path of foreign language films toward US distribution (often by any means necessary: theatrical, streaming, VOD, a kind of film-of-the-month-club, and screenings at which the filmmaker shows up for Q&A's to help entice an audience).
This year the panel, moderated by Ms Kovarova (shown above left), was chaired by
IndieWire's editor in chief and co-founder
Eugene Hernandez (above center). He was joined by
Ryan Werner (below, left), vice president of marketing at
IFC Films;
Meghan Wurtz, vice president at
Film Movement (above, right); and
Carlos A. Gutierrez, co-founding director of
Cinema Tropical (below, right). Having only four panelists, rather than six, as happened last year, made this program seem even
more accessible to some of us present. Hearing more from each speaker/panelist helped us get a bead on that person, who s/he was, what s/he liked and more about the company s/he represented and what it is doing toward better distribution of foreign-language films.
The program proved, as did last year's, a fascinating evening -- of great interest to anyone who follows and loves foreign-language films. Ms Kovarova and the Czech Center graciously videotaped the entire show, so that you can see and hear the nearly hour-and-one-half presentation (including the Q&A that followed). Just click
here and go to it. And if you have comments, questions or suggestions of your own, feel free to post them here and I'll get them to Ms Kovarova.
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