Network to include a unified group of European film festivals and industry events with the goal to expand the presence of and promote American Independent films in Europe

LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS (JUNE 25, 2014) The Leiden International Film Festival (LIFF) and American Film Festival of Wroclaw, Poland (AFF) announced today the launch of the 1^st European Network for Independent American Cinema. The network is strategic partnership between several European film festivals and industry events with a collective goal to promote and expose European audiences to the best of American independent film today. Through cooperative programming, the network aims to provide a unified support system to filmmakers looking to break out in the European market by using a variety of integrated marketing channels and networking opportunities to simultaneously enhance their visibility among the public and film industry in the EU.

Alexander Mouret, Artistic Director of the Leiden International Film Festival said: "The idea behind creating the network was to work side by side with those festivals in Europe who celebrate American Indies and amplify the festival experience for both audiences, industry and filmmakers attending in every region. By creating a partnership, we saw an opportunity to combine our resources and bring exciting new voices in American cinema to European audiences, while at the same time providing a diverse audience to filmmakers and participants, encouraging their circulation in the international film community."

“As it has always been our mission at the AFF and through our US in Progress program to promote and support American non-Hollywood filmmakers, we enthusiastically joined the Leiden Film Festival in their effort to establish the European Film Network and to combine forces with all of the players in Europe and work to bring more US indies to European screens. With the exchange of information through the network we will be able to connect US filmmakers to European audiences and industry in a more effective manner,” said Ula Sniegowska of AFF Poland.

Participating film festivals in the network currently include including LIFF, AFF Poland, and US IN PROGRESS, FRANCE (USiP), each which have established platforms for bringing American Indie films to their respective regions. Offering a full range of programming events including master classes, conferences and industry pitching, network participants will work together bring together a wide spectrum of viewers, iconic and emerging talent, and industry professionals to share experiences, knowledge and to celebrate the best of world cinema. 

ABOUT THE LEIDEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Founded in 2006, The Leiden International Film Festival (LIFF) has become one of the leading film festivals in the Netherlands showcasing feature films that examine the border between art-house and mainstream from all over the world.  The 2013 edition lasted 10 days, screened over 87 films, from 23 countries including INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, LA GRANDE BELLEZZA, THE LUNCHBOX, SHORT TERM 12, AIN'T THEM BODIES SAINTS, THE SPECTACULAR NOW, PRINCE AVALANCHE, KILL YOUR DARLINGS, ENOUGH SAID and COMPUTER CHESS and welcomed over 30.000 visitors. With its American Indie Competition LIFF aims to discover and cultivate an audience for today's emerging American filmmakers in the Netherlands.  The 9th edition of the festival will take place from October 31 through November 9, 2014. www.leidenfilmfestival.nl

ABOUT THE AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL OF WROCLAW, POLAND

The American Film Festival of Wroclaw, Poland (AFF) is the first film event in Central Europe solely devoted to the works of contemporary and classic American cinema.  Taking place in the cultural heritage city of Wroclaw, Poland, (European Capital of Culture 2016) it is organized by the New Horizons Association. 
The AFF presents contemporary independent productions in two major competitive sections: SPECTRUM, a panorama of contemporary American cinema, focusing on artists in mid-careers and those making significant directorial debuts, and AMERICAN DOCS, a program of compelling and award-winning documentaries from the film festival circuit with two Audience Awards with cash prizes of $10,000 and $5,000 for Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature respectively. The AFF 2013 Audience Awards winners were SHORT TERM 12 by Destin Cretton and BIG EASY EXPRESS by Emmett Malloy. The AFF also offers the INDIE STAR AWARD to a master of independent filmmaking with past honorees including Todd Solondz, Jerry Schatzberg and Christine Vachon.
The AFF also includes retrospectives of American classics with tributes to Billy Wilder, Nicholas Ray, John Cassavetes and Shirley Clarke during past editions.

ABOUT US IN PROGRESS (USIP)

US in Progress is a joint initiative between the American Film Festival of Wroclaw, the Champs Elysées Film Festival and Black Rabbit Film.  It is the first and only industry event devoted to US indies in Europe.  Its aim is to present US indie films in post-production to European buyers in order to foster the circulation and distribution of American indie films in Europe. US in Progress involves two yearly get-togethers at two different festivals (Paris in June and Wroclaw in November). Previous participants of US in Progress  include: 1982 by Tommy Oliver (Toronto 2013), PING PONG SUMMER by Michael Tully (Sundance 2014), BLUEBIRD by Lance Edmans (Tribeca 2013, Karlovy Vary 2013), I USED TO BE DARKER by Matt Porterfield (Sundance 2013, Berlinale 2013), MILKSHAKE by David Andalman (Sundance 2013), HIDE YOUR SMILING FACES by Daniel Carbone (Berlinale Generation 14Plus 2013, Tribeca 2013), A TEACHER by Hannah Fidell (Sundance 2013, SXSW 2013), Jason Cortlund & Julia Halperin’s NOW, FORAGER: A FILM ABOUT LOVE AND FUNGI (Rotterdam 2012, New Directors/New Films 2012, Gotham Awards nominee), Amy Seimetz SUN DON'T SHITE (SXSW 2012, Edinburgh IFF 2013, Gotham Awards nominee 2012) and Devyn Waitt’s NOT WAVING BUT DROWNING (Sarasota FF).