During this year's Cannes Film Festival,– the European Film Festival Palić organized on 23 May, at the Cannes riviera, a well attended cocktail called Love Palić.
The reception was attended by numerous guests as well as representatives of many film centers from Europe. On this occasion European Film Festival Palić awarded well known German distribution company The Match Factory (www.the-match-factory.com) with The Bravest World Sales Award. The Award was received by the “heart and brain” of The Match Factory - Michael Weber. The award was handed to him by Palic Executive Manager Miroslav Mogorovic and Palić Official Selection programmer Nikolaj Nikitin.Successful European producer Peter Rommel, who was twice guest at Palić (his production COULD 9 won Best Director Award and last year he picked up together with his director Andreas Dresen the Best Film Award for their collaboration STOPPED ON TRACK) comments on the award for Michael Weber:
I met Michael Weber at the time he was starting a new section of Bavaria International Sales. As an independent producer I showed him edited material of so-called serious artistic film by some young German director.
He bought the rights and represented the film, in cooperation with us, at Berlinale in 1998, where Night Shapes by Andreas Dresen won Silver Bear.
From then on we've been close friends sharing the same taste in movies, food and football. Several years ago he has changed his 'dress' in order to launch his own distribution company – The Match Factory. Not only has Michael, in my opinion, become leading distributor of independent, artistic film in the whole world, but he has also discovered some very talented people and enjoyed in close communication with distributors, producers, film authors and festival organizers around the world. He still develops brave, adventurous spirit in the film distribution business.
Watch out for Match Maker Michael Weber!The Reception, annually organized at Berlin and Cannes Film Festival by European Film Festival Palić, is a liked gathering point of many European and national filmmakers and professionals who have enjoy the time there with music and authentic gastronomic delicacies of Voivodina. Many of them also make some new connections often resulting in interesting co-production or collaboration projects. At Cannes Film Market European Film Festival Palić was presented within Southeastern Europe stand in cooperation with Serbian Film Center.
