film & commercial production Jun 2007

Artcore Productions based in Amsterdam was launched seven years ago by six new commercial directors, each with a very different style and genre:

Martin Koolhoven and Michiel van Jaarsveld have a feature film background and therefore are very experienced with storytelling and working with actors. Berend Boorsma and Daniel Nogueira both have an artistic background that is reflected in their stylish work. Floris Kingma has a 'dry sense of humour', and Raf&Roel are the Belgian team represented by Artcore for their 'highly unique and very humorous work'.

Artcore recently launched a new company called Minibar aimed at the viral market.

Artists Group say this year so far has been full of excitement. Here are some of their projects:

• Alfa Romeo - with Ivo Von Renner, 'a demanding photographer with a desire for both perfection and fun'
• Volvo - with Andy Glass
• Redwood Publishing UK
• Volvo TVC - through Dockhouse, Sweden
• Ikea / MetraFilms - and their famous sheep casting
• Nikon UK - with Andy Glass, involving dolphins and mermaids swimming and flying through the air - with thanks to Lisbon Zoo for their help
• Sokos Juice  - for MetraFilms Moscow - soon to be released
• Adreleline Brothers with Slavutich Beer
• Alpen Gold Tarzan - again for MetraFilms Moscow, with Pat Holden and DOP Andre Aszankowski
• SOL Beer - for Pandora Films, with Gideon Nel in Moscow
• Mitsubishi - with Diederik Kratz and Michael Schaab
• Catamaran Bioton - stills and film footage for Marek Kowowiejski

Production company 4FILMS, based in Istanbul, produces films worldwide.

The company has 3 producers and 6 in-house directors, with years of experience working with multinational brands and agencies.

The company provides a full range of production services - from equipment rental to location.

Acclaimed filmmaker and legendary spot helmer Bob Giraldi has announced that he is partnering with Mexico City-based Catatonia Films to create CATATONIA GIRALDI, a multinational production/media company representing international directors for commercial and long-form projects, including entertainment content for the Internet.

Catatonia Films is owned by director-partners Carlos 'Hari' Sama, Arturo Pereyra and Juan Carlos Martin who are owner-partners with Giraldi in the new venture.

New York-based Katya Meyer is managing director of Catatonia Giraldi, which launches with Sama, Pereyra and Martin on the roster, as well as celebrated feature filmmaker Luis Mandoki, director Cesar Pesquera of Spain, Sven and Calle from Sweden, Keith Fulton and Lou Pepe from US. They tell us that more signings are in the offing. Debbie Merlin is the company's executive producer.

Catatonia Giraldi will represent its roster in the Hispanic market throughout the United States, and for the general market in the US and Canada.

Cinetauro was founded in 1979 and has since become one of the major advertising production houses, with over 1700 spots produced for local and foreign clients.

The company has won several awards in national and international festivals including Clio, Cannes, The New York Festival, Golden Award of Montreaux. F.I.A.P, London International Awards, Lapiz de Platino, Circulo de Creativos, Martín Fierro and Top Ten.

Among an extensive client list are J.Walter Thompson (Unilever) Vega Olmos Ponce APL (Coca-Cola) Grey Worlwide (Ford Motors) Ogilvy & Group (Quaker Oats), Bozzel Vazquez (Danone) Lautrec - Euro Bates (Visa) and Aura (Pepsico).

The company also has a documentary department, associate photographers and a wide experience in international production services. It stands out for its production structures, on-line and off-line editing and equipment which enable it to undertake any type of production independently.

Producer Gustavo Bonifetto says, 'We take on every project as if it were our own, and our customers feel like we are part of their team.'

Hamburg-based Cobblestone has produced successful commercials for 15 years. They tell us 'many things change in such a long time but one thing that has never changed is that since the very beginning, we have constantly had a leading position in creative rankings throughout Germany'.

Top creative agencies like Jung von Matt, Scholz & Friends, MC Saatchi and Grabbarz & Partner trust the firm, while leading international production companies such as Academy (UK), Blink (UK) and Social Club (SW) have created a close co-operation with Cobblestone. It is Cobblestone's experience and know-how in realising productions / production services and their ability to handle any size and scope of production that keeps clients coming back.

If further proof were needed, the company won the Silver Lion at the Cannes Lions Film Festival 2007 for Smart 'Backseat', a commercial that uses clichés from all kinds of movies and brought them to life in Hamburg, where the spot was shot.

A show reel and more information can be found at the website or you can e-mail Cobblestone.

Orange Films is an all-inclusive film and service production company with the initiative to provide clients from abroad the opportunity of producing their work with a proficient team and in a trusting environment.

Headquartered in Paris with an office also in New York, Orange Films covers the whole spectrum of production in film, video and print and is set up to take care of all production details, leaving the client free to concentrate on the essentials.

Since its foundation in 1995 the company's identity has been based on high standards and competitive professionalism.

Today Orange Films is recognised as one of the leading full media service companies in France.

Paraiso Cine is a recently-created production company specialising in making commercials that combine filming with visual effects and computer animation.

It was set up by Néstor Mazzini, who studied as a director at the Institute of Cinematographic Arts in Avellaneda, and who has been producing and directing short films and commercials for more than 10 years.

Clients include Torneos y Competencias, Cinzano, Coca-Cola and Personal, among others.

In recent years, the company has co-directed projects with ALT Broadcast Design - one of Argentina's leading animation and postproduction studios.

UVPHACTORY (uvph) is an award-winning design, production and motion graphics boutique filled with multi-disciplinary directors, designers, producers, animators and all around artists.

It offers a complete range of creative services including conceptualisation, live-action direction and production, editorial, 2D/3D animation, sound composition/design and final compositing for broadcast, commercial, film, music video and web clients.

Since the company's formation in 2000, UVPH has attracted a diverse client base including AT&T, BET, Cartoon Network, CBS, Cinemax, Cingular, Coca-Cola, Comedy Central, ESPN, FOX Sports, General Electric, HBO, IBM, IFC, Miramax, MTV, NBC, Nike, Scripps Networks, SCI FI Network, Showtime, Swatch, US Cellular, We (Woman's Entertainment) and VH1 among many others.

In addition, UVPH also create music videos, most recently for the artists, My Chemical Romance.