The Danish movie-company Zentropa has announced that they have created a fund for financial support of experimental films, called “The Four-eyes Fund” (Brilleabe Fonden). The purpose of this fund is to

…ensure the survival of the elitist cinema, in a world of an increasing number of result-oriented and audience-craving tv-stations and film institutes.

A small handful of money will generously be strewn upon experimental films each year and it will solely be up to Lars Von Trier to determine which projects that are to be supported.

I am not so sure whether this actually will produce better cinema, but this initiative is more than welcome, since the Danish Film landscape throughout the years haven’t been able to produce thought-provoking and innovative stories. Ever since the success of Dogme 95 Danish productions haven’t really been able to stand out both nationally and internationally. A lot of good stories have been told, but generally there has been a lack of a fresh perspective.

The first project to receive the funds will be a story by Anders Rønnow Klarlund called “Memories”. A movie that tells the story about a woman who wakes up at the hospital and the memories she has from what has happened before. It consists only of still images. An unusual approach indeed, even though it has been tried before - amongst others in the movie “La Jetée”, the story that inspired the making of “Twelve Monkeys”.

Funnily enough, this initiative was introduced shortly after Nordisk Film acquired half of Zentropa earlier this year. A company, that usually do not support the development of non-commercial titles. Can you spot some irony in this? I can. :-)

I am indeed looking forward to see what comes out of this.

On this day...

... in 2007: Winter on the wane II
... in 2007: Winter on the wane I
... in 2007: Two Butterflies