Hubert Bals Fund appoints interim manager (screendaily.com)
Veteran distribution executive Esther Bannenberg has spoken about her new role at International Film Festival Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals Fund (HBF), which supports projects by filmmakers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe.
Bannenberg will act as interim consultant on distribution and financing matters and will assist in developing and future-proofing the fund’s policy. Her appointment comes as Fay Breeman departs as manager of HBF after four years to take up a new role at regional talent hub The Machinerie in Utrecht.
Bannenberg has long experience in sales and distribution, having held positions at companies including Fortissimo Films, Lumiere and Cinemien. She also runs her own consultancy Toto Cinema, which she founded in 2006.
Alongside Jeske van der Slikke and Fraser White, Bannenberg will run the HBF at least until June when Rotterdam plans to hold the second part of its 50th edition. She will help the fund restructure its distribution activities and will be looking to further develop financing possibilities for the fund.
Bannenberg couldn’t confirm whether she will be remain in the post beyond June. “It’s too early to tell,” she told Screen. “First, I am going to explore what can be done in terms of distribution and what can be done in terms of financing.”
By: Geoffrey Macnab
Continue Reading at screendaily.com
