The First Annual PeZ International Film Festival will be held in PeZ, Annoyastan, on February 6 through February 14 2004.

All Balkan Nations may submit one film for judging in each of the following categories (please, one film only per category):

-- Drama
-- Comedy
-- Documentary
-- Film Restoration
-- Animation

Films must be previously unreleased, (except in the Film Restoration category) and must be made available for general distribution following the film festival. Prizes will be awarded for Best in Class, for Audience Favorite, and for Best Film.

Please submit films as soon as possible, so that venues can be scheduled.

Jean Picarzyk
Director
Annoyastani Filmic Arts

OOC:

Wow! Great poster!

I think we overlooked your talent in design in this region. We should have benefited from it.

Nice work, Annoyastan.

Byzanthine will participate. By the Weekend, we will announce our candidates.

NEW ACHAEA'S DIRECTORS TAKE TO THE PEZ FESTIVAL

Submissions to the Festival Chosen in Last Night's National Arts Festivities

The pressure is off for the construction workers of the Ajax Film Complex, as Annoystan recently announced its own film festival in the capital city of Pez. At last night's arts banquet in Ajax, four films were chosen to be entered on behalf of New Achaea's well-invested cinema industry into the Balkan festival.

For the Documentary Piece, director Helen Bridge's comedic look into the road life of rock group The Heinz 58s looks into the burgeoning underground music movement in New Achaea and the rest of the Balkans as the progressive group works to adjust to a difficult life of studio-production, touring, and public-imaging. Complete with a soundtrack from the band itself and several other underground sets,Seven Capos came as no surprise for a nomination to the film festival.

One of the great surprise nominations of the night was Troy University student Wayne Chrebet's controversial piece, Dazzled, which covers the rise and fall of slum politician Bruno Weiss amidst the corrupt policies of a collapsing socialist government. Eventually closing with the fall of the government and the death of the hero, many have come to see the piece as a call to return to pure socialism, though when asked about these claims, the young auteur commented, "My work is simply covering the life of an ultimately good man. I'm not one to dive into politics, but rather would have the audience question how much good a person can do in a hostile society like the one in the film." Film professor at Ajax University, Dr. Malina Kieslowski, who was a member of the selection committee, praised the film as, "...one of the best to come out of the low-budget circuit in this generation. This will certainly raise some eyebrows in Pez."

Comedic actress Jane Forrest's directorial debut piece, Snakeskins, is a 'mockumentary' about the rising obsession with televised poker championships, introducing notable characters including a professional Elvis impersonator who take to a final table for a championship and three million euros. The film shocases newcomer Casey Dean in his major film debut as poker ace 'Gulch', a backwoods hog farmer who enters the tournament with twenty-eight euros and his great-uncle's glass eye for earnings. One of the boldest comedic productions in years, the piece easily slided its way to the international stage and has intrigued many moviegoers who await its release.

Computer animation studio Spectacle Productions earned Animation category honors for their feature-length retelling of The Odyssey, with inspiration from masterful 2-dimensional artists Brian and Nathan van Iser in a children's book recounting the classic tale. Also showcased in the film is the production team's latest bodily expression database technology, which based several characters' emotions and expressions in the film on those of the actors and actresses who provided their voices. As a result, the characters have been said to appear "significantly more believable," according to one source, who also said that "...the new technology really brings the audience a greater sense of appreciation for the art of animation and The Odyssey all at once." The film, Shores of Ithaka, will be released soon after its festival debut.

Surprisingly, no restoration pieces were submitted for consideration, although turnout for the Pez festival will be expected to be feverous. Nevertheless, selection committee member Nancy Calico holds confidence in the four selected pieces: "These films, we feel, represent the best of what this film-concious nation has to offer. They're cultured, professional, and artistically brilliant productions from their respective genres and should certainly hold their own in Annoystan in February.

As of yet, word from other nations regarding their submissions have not yet been released.

ZNN Stjepanagrad, The usually deserted Summer Capitol of Zahumlje has been buzzing with word of the Pez Film Festival. Film partnership Akmet Hirwat and Micun Knezavic have been working all hours restoring the post war classic 'The Village in Shadow' the sad story of Mirza,a naive, innocent village beauty, Zelko the kind old man who would like to marry her but fears rejection, and Goran the vicious warlord. Micun knezavic said sadly 'The filmstock is in terrible condition, it another tragedy what happened to this wonderful film!' Two other Zahumlje studios plan entries.
There is anticipation and excitement as Zahumlje takes great pride in it's small, quirky phone service.
Mekmet Turkovic ZNN Stjepanagrad.


OOC: Awesome poster Annoyastan!

Annoyastani Filmic Arts appreciates the great support shown for the coming film festival, and the kind words regarding our poster. We are currently screening possible films for Annoyastan's nominations, and hope to post them next week. The films nominated to this point all sound very wonderful; we anticipate sold out performances on a regular basis. Already there is quite a positive buzz over Shores of Ithaka and Dazzled.

We received good news yesterday: legendary Balkan film star Teski Deruzulu will emerge from his long seclusion to attend the grand opening reception in PeZ on February 6th!! An incredible opportunity for everyone to meet and talk with a legend!

Jean Picarzyk
Director
Annoyastani Filmic Arts

ZNN (Zahumlje News Service) A new film is being made, a historical drama about the unique herd of toros bravos in Zahumlje and how they came to be there. This film is called 'The Train' it is a historical epic. Marinka Ni Niall a famous expatriot Irish actress is playing the late Queen Konstanza. Zorica Knezovic is playing the late Queen-Mother Marija, and what has film buffs in Zahumjle really delighted, especially the ladies is that the famous but reclusive 80 year old dean of Zahumlje actors Valentin Marijo Pilic is comeing out of retirement to play the tragic Spanish duke who succeded in saveing his beloved herd only to die in a Madrid cafe felled by a random sniper's bullet.
Zahumlje ladies and girls were clustered around a humble house in the suburbs of Stjepanagrad the usually deserted Summer capitol bearing armeloads of fragrant imported roses and jasmine. Mira K. 'We have heard he is still the most elegant man in the world, we must feast our eyes upon his beauty.' At least the snow is melting or the hospitals of Zahumlje will soon be full of women literally sickened by love
Mekmet Turkovic
Blizanaci Vrh: Outside the Vaquero's Meeting Hall accross from the Spanish Church vaqueros on their days off are lineing up for auditions for 'the Train'
Seamstresses all over Blizanaci Vrh are busy sewing new clothes to be used by the exacting Costumeing Director of 'th Train' Out in the Toro Bravo Sanctuary particular care is being given to selecting the most beautiful animals to appear in the film.
The eccentric female director Lilijana Kordic has been in a frenzy for weeks lineing up studio space 'This has been such a shot in the arm for our film industry!' she enthused.
Marija Frankovic

ANNOYASTANI FILMS NAMED FOR PEZ COMPETITION!
AFA Favors Five Fantastic Fliks!

In an exciting ceremony at AFA Hall in PeZ, Annoyastani Filmic Arts named the five Annoyastani films that will be entered in the PeZ Festival.

Monkey Puzzle (Drama)
Ali Ben Alibar, Director
The first film by Ali Ben Alibar, this thought-provoking drama, set 50 years in the future, posits a future Annoyastan controlled by unknown technological forces. This is a future of artificial life forms, unsettling implications, and new moral dilemmas; everything Speilberg's AI should have been, and with a plot twist that leaves theater-goers spinning in their seats and demanding to see the film again and again and again. "One of those rare films that gets better with multiple viewings." - Caros Nestoslk, Mastrinko Morning Rollcall. "I still don't get it." -- Worlsky Maraka, Jesufiscu World Bulletin.

Notta Lotta Goodrocks (Comedy)
Jalena Clijsters, Director
There are a billions of rocks on the beach, but can you find the one good one? This romantic comedy, set on the scenic beaches of Pepestonia, concerns a beautiful young Annoyastani woman whose passion for rock collecting leads to some pretty surprising offers! What starts out as a comedy of errors ends as an amusing yet heartwarming farce. Starring a delightful Jiggi Dlosike, in her first role, as Notta.

PeZ 4:57 (Documentary)
Milos Pakic, Director
Pakic's tour de force documentary follows what seems to be a typical day, a handful of typical people, and a spiraling chain of unlikely events, which evolves into a startling clockwork mechanism, with everything leading --unstoppably-- to PeZ 4:57. "A freight-train, gathering speed, till finally, at the end: 4:57." - Groko Pzysrt, Xpra Daily Tribune. "An instant classic." - Jimmy Vradlk, Gromky Press Journal Star Herald.

Stars in the River (Restoration)
Vesna Ugricic, Director
Slobodanka Bulatovic, Restoration
This classic 1951 post-war film -- the "Dr. Zhivago" of Annoyastan -- concerns the young poet and cab-driver Dimitrija, his love for the beautiful librarian Marija, and the political turmoil of Annoyastan at the end of the war, as communists, royalists, anarchists, Skinnarians, democratic socialists, Gozzles, laborites, nationals socialists, mensheviks, Big-Baggers, and conservative republicans battled for control over the war-torn Annoyastan. The film survived for years only in a badly cut-up communist-approved version, but recent discoveries of "lost" footage and painstaking restoration by Bulatovic have restored to Annoyastan one of its film landmarks. Zagorka Benjz as Marija, and the tragic Uvula Balisskzc -- who died in a speeding red corvette in 1956, age 26, the speedometer in the car frozen at 166 miles per hour -- as Dimitrija.

The Majik Accordion of Plemzca (Animation)
Witold Makicz, Director
The classic children’s story of little Borka and his lucky discovery of the majik accordion in his Uncle Fevra’s attic. Borka’s wishes bring a temporary veneer of happiness, but then the majik accordion’s sad songs bring to Borka the painful realization that happiness is fleeting and life is primarily misery and sorrow and despair and disappointment. And humiliation. This story frightened you as a child; this fantastic new animated version will leave you feeling empty and depressed.

Although no Thracian movie is participating in PeZ Festival, we predict that thousands of Thracian will visit PeZ, just to see all these tuly impressive films.

We are very disappointed to hear that no Thracian films are to be entered, as the Thracian Cinema-Au-Gris Movement has had a profound effect on the whole of Balkan Films, and on Annoyatani Film-making in particular.

It would be a shame if such important and influential Thracian work was not represented at the festival.

Jean Picarzyk
Director
Annoyastani Filmic Arts

ooc:

Sorry for my ignorance, but what exactly is "cinema-au-gris"?

Does it have anything to do with the grey color? If you give me some description of this type of films, Thracia might be able to finbd a representative film to send.

From Balkan Film: An Encyclopedic History, by Vlad Poclir, 1988:

"In 1961 a number of film makers in Thrace began to experiment with black-and-white films with a new social realism perspective. Thus was born Thracian Cinema-au-gris, so called because of both the subtle cinematic shadings of light and shadow, and the prevailing sense that all moral issues are relative. As Illya Travk, an early proponent of the cinema-au-gris school, said, "There are no blacks, no whites, and no black-and-white issues. None. It's all a matter of perspective, all shades of grey. The cine auteur faces a profound responsibility to portray that effectively, and a serious challenge in making this relativism both meaningful and moving." Shot mostly in black-and-white (though a few works were done in muted colors, and one was shot entirely at night) Thracian cinema-au-gris spoke to the post-war cold-war generation with its frequently implied fatalism and its obvious clenched-fist anger. Cinema-au-gris films began to be made in a number of Balkan nations, and experienced wide popularity in the mid-sixties, culminating in the Annoyastani film Cold Light, Dark Heat (1966), which caused an uproar with its stark sexuality and use of mimes."

Upon the repeated requests from the PeZ Film Festival organizing committee, The Thracian Minstry of Tourism and Information has
persuaded a young Thracian documentary director, Halil Zejbekov to send his new film Green Mountains, Grey Horizons to PeZ as a last-minute entry.

Green Mountains, Grey Horizons is a two-hour documentary about the life of the Muslim residents of Rhodope mountain villages, who speak the Pomak dialect of Bulgarian.

Despite the fact that Thracia is a wealthy nation, these villages have remained relatively underdeveloped. The Rhodopes are beautiful and green, yet the life in these mountains is tough, and the prospects of the young villagers bleak, unless they migrate to the cities.

The film examines the daily lives of four young Pomaks, two men and two women, and their struggle to improve their and their families' conditions in their village.

Zejbekov's film has been characterized a realistic description of the harsh conditions in the Thracian mountainous villages, but it has elements of cinema-au-gris, which makes it less didactic and more poetic.

[FONT=Impact]BREAKING NEWS[FONT=Times]
ZNN Stjepanagrad: A new unanticipated Zahumljani film is being released for the PeZ Film Festival, it is called 'Ljubav Nije Dobra (Love Is No Good) This is the story of a Zahumaljani refugee's catastrophic time in the United States and his terrifying love affair with an American woman and the terrible revenge she took on him upon finding out that he was 1. already married, 2. unable to get divorced, 3. not returning to America. She is politically 'wired' and procedes to use her connections in various government agencies to ruin the stupid but loveable man's life. At times lyrical, at times wildly comedic, at times just plain bleak and sad this movie is an amazeing film based on a totally amazeing true story.

The other surprise Zahumlje entry is a documentary of the terrible years of the Zahumlje Civil War, Mir ....(i ostale govni lazi). (Peace and other s**** lies)This film takes a sarcastic look at the siege years in Stjepanagrad, the internecine intercommunal war. Some of it is very graphic and very grim. DO NOT take the childrento see this film The film does in fact have a happy ending, Those who know Zahumllje's history already know, but you feel like you lived it. It is a film in the Montageist School a unique little known Zahumljani school of filmic theory. Absurd, sureal combinations of animation, stills, documentary film and live action with actors and unique musical techniques are used. The director is Haris Ademovic. He is a brash new director.
Many recently demobilized war vetrans of the Civil War from all sides have participated in the filming, lending an unusual air of reality. Some scenes are so realistic t hat the director had to engage a psychiatric team from Annoyastan to help the men and women vetran participants process their memories. This film is beyone War and Peac, or Gone With the Wind or Battle of Algiers in sheer scope.
Of course The Train, the Apartment, and Village in Shadows are already in the film vault awaiting the discerning Annoyastani , Balkans, and World film viewing communities.
Mekmet Turkovic
ZNN

Perussian Films Announced for Pez Festival

The River King(drama)PG13
After the death of his father, Brestvik goes to live with his uncle in his cottage by the Styx River. His Uncle, a retired profesional fisherman, begins training him to win the fishing championchip. While living with his uncle, Brestvik finds friends, love, and a new way of life. (staring Yona Bartog, 5/5 stars by the Slavic National Movie Association)

February 31st(comedy)PG13
When a young man wakes up, he prepares to go on with his life...until he realizes it's February 31st! This discovery sends him on a search for a way out of this imaginary day!(directorial debue Bram Togan, Gorgonzollie Award for Best Comedy of 2003)

Blood On the Snow(documentary)NR/AO
A documentary of the 16 civilwars waged in the Union, from the death of SMC Jorge Libtz(Gregorio Tets), to the signing of the Declartion of the Socilaist Unification of the Perussian States in 2003. Also, it is one of the first documtary's of it's kind, not only giving you the public story, but also that of the Bristinian nationals who aided the revolutionaries. This is one you'll not want to miss!

White Star(animation)G
A classic Bristinian story of a small boy who wishes he could do big things. When 8 year old Roy Stevus finds his magical necklace, the whole world changes. Chocolate for brekfast, the bullie's are scared of him, and Anna has a crush on him. The world is his, until the necklace is gone...the ending is so secret, they haven't even shown it in Perussian theater's yet!

FILM FEST PROGRESS
PeZ – (ANS) With the PeZ Film Festival only some two weeks away, preparations “are progressing nicely,” said Jean Picarzyk, Director of Annoyastani Filmic Arts. “We have the theaters all arranged, and ticket sales are proceeding nicely. There are a number of public celebrations and parties, and we have received reservations from a number of famous international film makers, including Godard, Scorsese, Coppola, and our own Dieter Krum.” Picarzyk cited surprising interest in a silent film marathon that will take place as part of the festival, but said that the festival would undoubtedly have something for everyone. “The Zahumlje films sound very exciting, and we feel, of course, that the Annoyastani entries are very strong. We are exceedingly fortunate to have such a wonderful representative of Thracian film-au-gris, and we are looking forward to films of every school and movement. We've just been informed that the Perussian films have just been selected, and the early buzz about Blood on the Snow is very exciting.

Again, we ask all Balkan nations to participate. Lengthy descriptions of your films are not necessary. If we can just get the titles, we can let the films speak for themselves.”

Montfortslavian films that will be participating in the festival:

In the shades of the gods -Drama
Filmaker Milos Tajiavic´s masterpiece, which was featured on the International Independent Film Festival. This film narrates the story of a Yahil, young farmer´s struggle against the family tradition of farming, in hopes of becoming a painter. The film´s title makes reference to an ancient Montfortslavian tradition that claims that painting and art were brought down from the heavens on the robes of the gods. The story is a compelling portrait of the relations between honor, tradition and the value of family.

The day the silence died -Drama
"Marko Lasic´s film is some of the best ever produced, simple, straightfoward and humorous. An incisive critisism on modernization and its consequences" The film portrays the consequences on a small Montfortslavian village when Ivan, a city bussinesman, comes to town and starts the village´s first radio station. Soon the entire village is turnmoiled by the sounds of modernity, and the grievances of Karlo, the village´s old man, that we are not able to hear silence anymore.

R-Evolve -Documentary
An independent film that portrays clips and interviews on 48 hours in the sidewalks of Sarajevo. No scipts, no theme and no actors. Simply the testimones of normal people on normal things. And how we all have to go trough the revolving door.

PEPESTONIAN FILMS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE ANNOYASTAN FILM FESTIVAL

Going Up in Smoke
-Drama / Documentary-

I wish I hadn´t said good-bye
-Drama-

Dude, where´s my Pelozca?
-Comedy- Pepestonian-Annoyastani film

Tomiko´s Journey
-Animation-

TSP-0076
-Film Restoration-
This film is a recent restoration from the archives in the Uionstat Filmotech. The original black and white film was used as a training video for military forces during times of war on counter-insurgency. The film has risen to controversies and was recently used by the Pepestonian Historical War Crimes Comission of the Parliament to bring to justice the former Generals who commited crimes against humanity during the war. French-Pepestonian documentarist Jacques Al-Mohad restored the training videos with interviews from surivor from Pepestonian gulags, to portray the dark side of Pepestonia´s history. A crude, often visualy explicit film that has caused shock in the nation, remains a memoir of the errors of the past.

This film was selected for the Festival due to its tremendous visual power, however, this remains no easy viewing. Strong images and languaje are present, and only to be understood by objective viewers. This film is scheduled to produce strong comments at the festival.

The Information minister of Csabaland has issued the following statement:

"Unfortunately, our nation is not developed yet to create top quality movies that would be able to compete with the rest of the entrees. We are saddened that, after holding a public contest for the best movie in our nation, we have found out that the winner, and only movie worthy of viewing is The Life of a Spray Can, a tragic story with shocking details, but no real message or meaning to anyone. Thus, we have decided only to observe the festival, but not participate."

The Ministry of Tourism and the foreign Minister have issued the following statement:

"We would like to inform the nation of Annoyastan that many of our people are interested in visiting the PeZ festival. The government of Csabaland will subsidize their travel to Annoyastan, with hope that the nation of Annoyastan will provide comfortable hotels and other means of accomodation for our people, at a lower price if possible."

PARADISZIAN FILMS TO BE PRESENTED

-Viva La Revolution
-Documentary
-A documantary telling the story of the Paradiszian Revolution.


-iEva!
-Drama
-A drama that tells the story of the life of Eva Duarte de Peron, Eva is considered important in our nation for her socialistic beliefs, and how her Descamisados loved her.


-Quit Stalln' and Give Us Your Marks
-Comedy
-A comedy about four university students who failed their final exams, and can't tell their parents.The title itself is a bit of communist comedy(Stalin&Marx).

--------
-Paradiszian Arts & Entertainment Association, Moscoba(Hollywood of Paradiszia), Paradiszia

Montfortslavia would like to ask, what will the awarding prodecure will function?
Based on what criteria will a film be chosen and who will make those deliberations ?

Montforstlavia raises an important question. We would like to know too!

I apologize for the delay in responding to the question.

These matters have been under quite a bit of discussion by the directorship committee of Annoyastani Filmic Arts. It had been planned that a panel of Annoyatani film professionals, scholars, and critics would deliberate on the offerings and award the prizes. However there has been a vocal minority of the organization who believes we should open up the voting to other nations as well.

The directorship committee feels strongly that -- as they are hosting the event and making all the arrangements -- they deserve the right to award the prizes as they deem fit. However, in the interest of organizational unity, they are at this time soliciting other opinions from other participating nations. Would it be preferred that all participating nations also have some say in the voting?

Please inform us of your opinions. The directorship reserves the right to act as they deem the best interest of the festival, but we will of course take into serious account the opinions of those nations that have been so kind as to participate in the first annual Pez International Film Festival.

Jean Picarzyk
Director
Annoyastani Filmic Arts

Crowds Gather for PeZ Film Festival
Friday Night Opening Celebration Dubbed "Night of Nearly 100 Stars"
Ticket Sales "Intense"

1 February 2004 - PeZ - (ANS) With less than a week before the beginning of the first PeZ International Film Festival, the excitement is building within the Balkan film community. "Better than Sundance, more fun than Cannes," says Jean Picarzyk, Director of Annoyastani Filmic Arts, who is managing the show. "Our films will be top notch. It will be exciting and it will be art. The variety and quality of these films is unmatched anywhere in the world."

Already the stars are starting to land in PeZ, and the pre-party parties are beginning. Sharp-eyed film buffs might already see Togan, Alibar, Ademovic, Makicz, Lasic, Chrebet, and other glitterati in the local bistros. And it's not just the Balkan Film movers-and-shakers who are partying in PeZ -- the creme de la creme of Hollywood has also started to arrive, with Jack Nicholson, Sean Penn, Micky Mouse, Diane Keaton, Sam Mendes, and Steven Speilberg arriving yesterday. "I think we can learn a lot," Speilberg said, "about the nature of film, about film as art, about structuring and plot and the use of lighting. I'm looking forward to an exciting and highly educational week." Mendes echoed Speilberg's praise. "Hollywood can learn a lot from Balkan Film," Mendes said, "I only hope I am ready."

Still Room Available!
Picarzyk released yesterday this listing of films (below) booked for the festival. "There's still plenty of time for last minute submissions," he said. "We want this Festival to really represent the entire Balkans, as much as possible."

Current Film Submissions

Documentary:
New Achaea, Seven Capos
Annoyastan, PeZ 4:57
Thracia, Green Mountains, Grey Horizons
Zahumlje, Mir ....(i ostale govni lazi). (Peace and other s**** lies)
Perussia, Blood on the Snow
Montfortslavia, R-Evolve
Pepestonia, Going Up In Smoke
Paradiszia, Viva la Revolution

Drama:
New Achaea, Dazzled
Annoyastan, Monkey Puzzle
Zahumlje, The Train
Perussia, The River King
Montfortslavia, In the Shades of the Gods
Montfortslavia, The Day the Silence Died
Pepestonia, I Wish I Hadn’t Said Goodbye
Paradiszia, iEva

Comedy:
New Achaea, Snakeskins
Annoyastan, Notta Lotta Goodrocks
Zahumlje, Ljubav Nije Dobra (Love Is No Good)
Perussia, February 31st
Pepestonia, Dude, Where’s my Pelozca?
Quit Stalln’ and Give Us Your Marks

Animation:
New Achaea, The Shores of Ithaka
Annoyastan, The Majik Accordion of Plemzca
Perussia, White Star
Pepestonia, Tomiko’s Journey
Zahumlje, The Apartment

Restoration:
Annoyastan, Stars in the River
Zahumlje, The Village in Shadow
Pepestonia, TSP-0076

Not that I am complaining, but was there something wrong with the Paradiszian Drama"iEva!"?

We apologize for the error.
It has been rectified.

We appreciate you calling it to our attention, and hope that any other nation that notes errors in our material will please call it to our attention.

J.P.
AFA

Even though we did not submit any films this year, would it be alright if we attended the gala this friday? We are just interested to see the hopefully smashing films that our region made. If we can go, we can't wait to attend!

Actually We just had a Brilliant Idea, what about Yugoslovenija judgeing the films? Since Yugoslovenija has not entered any film this would be an objective judge, at very least Yugoslovenija could be the tie breaking vote...
So far the Festival looks excellent! We are enjoying the assorted banquets and parties. We are giveing a banquet at the Festival in honor of Our Birthday the 11th of February. Stars of all the films will be present. There will be a full menu of traditional Zahumljani dishes, and wines, as well as spirits.
We of course invite all participateing Nations to come or to send representatives. It will be at one of the better hotels in PeZ. Incidentally the lovely Tatijana Zivkovic, President of ZYSL is an actress, she did a voice over in 'The Apartment' and played a minor role in 'Mir (i ostale govni lazi)' She is a vetran of the Civil War and served in the defense of Stjepanagrad, along with many ZYSL members. She has brought a number of vetrans to view the screening.

just some editing...

OOC : Sorry for our very late answer. Also, the titles are both latin-english translations, but they arent 100% acurate....

IC :

The Ministry of Media Communications and Networks of Byzanthine announces that the candidates to represent the Sacrum Hapsburg Imperium of Byzanthine on the Pez Film Festival of 2004, will be :

Documentary :
Concordis et Regenero Denique (Reunification and Rebirth) : Based on the transcition acts of 2003-2004, this independent-style documentary narrate the backgrounds of the turks conquest, the independence war, the rise of Byzanthine and Bizantine Territories. The difference between East and West and the fall of Bizantine Territories and the reunification. All of this through the eyes and opinions of citizens of all ages and social position, not only of Byzanthine-Bizantine, but from diverse nation of the Balkan Region as well. (Rated as apt for everybody).

Drama :
Amor Sperare (Hope of Love) : Based on the classical byzanthine book of the same name ( published in 1730, one of the most important clasics of our post-independence history) By Ricardus Lominous (1698-1750). Thomas and Rosa are a married couple in love. While Thomas went to bussiness trip to the capital, war explodes and his native village is captured. Desperate, Thomas joins the army, thrusting that he will find the way back to his wife. Rosa, now a slave, has no choice that submit herself to her captors, thrusting that she and thomas will reunite one day. After years of horror and dissapointment for the couple, but always in hope, Thomas, now a general, retake his city, and the couple reunite once again.
(Rated Mature).

Comedy :
Via (The Road) : A young man goes traveling around the nation on hike. What interesting tales could he narrate us? (Rated R-15).

Animation :
Lux et Creperum (Light and Darkness) : A manga-style tale about the constant fight between good and evil in every person in a small agriculture city, from the local priest to the fugitive murderer that arrives to the town. (Rated R-15).

Restoration :
Cotidie (Day) : The first Byzanthine film, a clasic of the mute cinema. Is a comedy based on the insane happenings of a young boy on what started looking as a normal school day. (Rated as Apt for Everybody).

All this movies are in their original language, Latin, with english subtitles.

ZNN: The cast hosted party for the noted Zahumljani film 'the Train' was exciteing. There were absolute fountains of sangria, platters of tapas and of meze, Valintin Marjio Pilic was all dressed up in his bullfighting costume, and drove the young ladies wild with his still elegant good looks. The lead from 'Ljubav Nije Dobra' was there with of all people, Tatijana Zivkovic. He is also an older gentleman, but not as elegant as the suave Valentin, he has that frazzled refugee look going. One special feature of 'the Train' party is that a vaca brava and her calf were present in a special coral. People could actually go and touch them. This was a big hit with the guests. These animals combine beauty, wildness and inquisitiveness. Many of the stars of other Zahumljani films were present, they gave autographed pictures to the local film fans and the guests at the party.
In the other hotel, the party for 'Mir i ostale govni lazi' was a wilder affair. The rakija flowed freely, many of the vetrans of the civil war were danceing and singing songs from that sad time. There were party crashers but they left as it was a little scary. Tatijana Zivkovic came by to calm things down.
'The Apartment' being comic adult animation does not have visable stars. It was a story of the years immediately after the Civil War, of the inhabitants of an apartment in Stjepanagrad, people trying to survive a hard time and the ridiculous things that happened. It is like many Zahumljani films based on a true story.
The restorer of the Zahumljani classic film, 'The Village in Shadow' and the surviveing cast members of the original film were present. The couple who played Mirza's parents unfortunately died at a New Years party where someone was playing with handgrenades. the young lady who played the part of Mirza was present and her real life husband Zelko, who played the part of the kindly old man. the actor who played the dreadful warlord spent some time convinceing people that he was abroad for most of the war years and didn't do all the horrible things in the movie. He was very convinceing! The Zahumljani citizens who came have been going to movie parties all over PeZ. Byzanthine's Latin Cinema has been well attended by Spaghettian Zahumljani and by Zahumljani of the Morlach community who do not need the subtitles to understand the Latin as they speak Latin daily in the home.
Many ZYSL members went to the Paradizian films and the films from other Socialist Nations. In fact ZYSL took advantage of a discount offered by World Socialist Tours and are staying the PeZ Youth Hostel.

Invitation

The Embassy of The Honorable Sovreign Republic of Montfortslavia in Annoyastan would like to invite all assisting delegations and honored guests to attend a small fete-a-soir in honor of the PeZ Film Festival.

Montfortslavia has submited several films for the Festival and in this small gathering, we will be presenting the release of Outside, Looking in, a new film by filmaker Jadid El-Batev, which was not submited for the Festival due to its recent release.

The gathering will take place in the gardens of the Embassy around 6 pm.
No dress code.
R.S.V.P

Annoyastani Filmic Arts will certainly be attending the Montfortslavian fete-a-soir. Looking forward to it.

We request further input from participants on the judging issue. I'm afraid that we at AFA do not look favorably upon Zahumlje's idea of allowing Yugoslovenia to judge the festival, considering all the effort the AFA has put into the programming.
The AFA still falls into two camps, the majority that wish the AFA to do the judging as it sees fit, and the minority that would allow some degree of participant voting.

Are there strong opinions on these two positions? Or other ideas?

We are very excited about the late Byzanthine entries!! We had high hopes for Byzanthine participation, and our hopes have been rewarded!

As to the question of Yugoslovenia, of course you are invited and encouraged to attend and participate in the festivities!! All Balken nations are welcome to come and enjoy the Films and the Celebrations!!

Jean Picarzyk
Director
Annoyastani Filmic Arts

The New Achaean Cinematic Guild feels that voting should be left entirely to the AFA, as it is hosting the event in PeZ. If the AFA should decide to allow other national guilds to put in votes, though, we would be ok in joining, but would prefer the hosts to have the honors.

On thinking things over, We were wrong, We meant no offense to AFA. Our thoughts were in case a tie,
So far We've greatly enjoyed all the films and look forward to seeing the Montfortslvian film.
Best Wishes
Katja of Zahumlje
queen-Kommissar

The Crimea submits its film!

The fury of the Czar (documentary)
This informational movie takes you through the hell of czar Ivan's reign. It takes viewers step by step through Balkan history into the lives of the Czars people. We've tried to make this movie fare and balaced. Mentioning the czar's good aspects and the bad. Relive history with The Fury of the Czar

ZNN (Zahumlje News Service) The Zahumljani who came to the PeZ Film Festival have been really enjoying the delights of Annoyastan's unique Capitol, PeZ. They have marveled at the streets where there is no animal drawn traffic, and the modernity of it all. Some find it aesthetically a little dry. Zahumljani architecture preserves may Medieval elements, so the sheer size of things has some of them reeling. Zahumljani visitors have particularly been impressed with the large numbers of video arcades and internet cafes. These things are confined pretty much to the capitol in Zahumlje. People bought cell phones too, as the Zahumlje phone service isn't good.

VOTING PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED!

The Directorship of Annoyastani Filmic Arts has resolved the issue of Prize Awards by deciding to open the voting on prizes to all participating Balkan nations.

"Though the Film Festival is taking place in Annoyastan, it is a Balkan Film Festival, and we feel that it is only appropriate to include all participants in the process, to reflect Balkan-wide opinion," said Jean Picarzyk, AFA Director.

Voting Process

After the films have been viewed, please vote for
1. the top film in each category, and
2. the top Director, and
3. the best film of the festival.

Please vote by secret Ballot, by telegramming your votes to the AFA.

Nations may not vote for their own film submissions.

Voting may take place until midnight, February 13.

AFA hopes to announce the winners on February 14.

AFA will also announce the Audience Prize for Best Film, after counting votes by film audiences.

Please let AFA know if there are any questions about these procedures, and, everyone, Let's Enjoy the Festival!!

ZNN In an amazeing real life reprise of the Zahumljani entry 'The Train' the train bearing the royal herd of toros bravos crossed from Austro-Hungarian Empire into Annoyastan today on it's way to the new territory of Zahumlje. Crowds lined the tracks hopeing for a glimps of the magnificent beasts, but they did not see anything as every individual animal was crated for shipment. This is for the safety of the animals themselves as well as to prevent their escape. The crowds did see some of the vaqueros, at one stop some of them got the horses out for a brief rest. and others could be seen takeing feed and water to the cars which hold the crates.
It is eerily similar to the stock footage and reenactments in 'The Train' and more people definately want to see the film as a result.
Mekmet Turkovic ZNN

PeZ International Film Festival OPENS!

With a tremendous early evening banquet, a triumphant Jean Picarzyk officially opened the First Annual PeZ International Film Festival. "It started out as a crazy dream," Picarzyk said, "a what-if scenario. And it has grown and evolved into a Balkan Community recognition and celebration of the Filmic Arts. And a week-long party too!"

The banquet, featuring the finest in Balkan cuisine and hundreds of bottles of Annoyastani Pelozca, was a who's-who of international cinema, with a heavy Balkan flavor. Party-goers ate and drank their fill, while discussing the festival's nine day schedule with rabid anticipation for the full slate of films. The remarkably strong slate of documentary films drew particular attention from the crowd, though Zahumlje's The Train was perhaps the single most talked about film of the night, given the remarkable recent events in the Balkans.

A special joint-presentation was announced during the dinner, whereby the last day's films and the awards ceremony will be simulcast as the grand opening of the new Ajax Film Complex, in New Achaea.


The Films of the Festival:


Documentary:
New Achaea, Seven Capos
Annoyastan, PeZ 4:57
Thracia, Green Mountains, Grey Horizons
Zahumlje, Mir ....(i ostale govni lazi). (Peace and other s**** lies)
Perussia, Blood on the Snow
Montfortslavia, R-Evolve
Pepestonia, Going Up In Smoke
Paradiszia, Viva la Revolution
Byzanthine, Concordis et Regenero Denique (Reunification and Rebirth)
Crimea, The Fury of the Czar

Drama:
New Achaea, Dazzled
Annoyastan, Monkey Puzzle
Zahumlje, The Train
Perussia, The River King
Montfortslavia, In the Shades of the Gods
Montfortslavia, The Day the Silence Died
Pepestonia, I Wish I Hadn’t Said Goodbye
Paradiszia, iEva!
Byzanthine, Amor Sperare (Hope of Love)

Comedy:
New Achaea, Snakeskins
Annoyastan, Notta Lotta Goodrocks
Zahumlje, Ljubav Nije Dobra (Love Is No Good)
Perussia, February 31st
Pepestonia, Dude, Where’s my Pelozca?
Paradiszia, Quit Stalln’ and Give Us Your Marks
Byzanthine, Via (The Road)

Animation:
New Achaea, The Shores of Ithaka
Annoyastan, The Majik Accordion of Plemzca
Perussia, White Star
Pepestonia, Tomiko’s Journey
Zahumlje, The Apartment
Byzanthine, Lux et Creperum (Light and Darkness)

Restoration:
Annoyastan, Stars in the River
Zahumlje, The Village in Shadow
Pepestonia, TSP-0076
Byzanthine, Cotidie (Day)