Midsummer Madness
VARIETY FILM REVIEW
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Friday 24 March 2006: The feature film comedy 'Midsummer Madness' (Janu Nakts), directed by newcomer Alexander Hahn and starring Dominique Pinon (A Very Long Engagement, Amélie, Delicatessen), Maria de Medeiros (Pulp Fiction, The Saddest Music In The World), Tobias Moretti, (TV's Inspector Rex, Speer and Hitler), Chulpan Khamatova (Goodbye Lenin) and Orlando Wells (Wilde) begins principal photography this weekend in Riga, Latvia, it was announced today. The film also stars Birgit Minichmayr (Downfall, Taking Sides), Detlev Buck (Jailbirds), Roland Düringer (Hinterholz 8) and Latvia's Gundars Abolins (Limuzins Janu nakts krasa). With a budget of $US3.25million, 'Midsummer Madness' will shoot entirely in Latvia over seven weeks for delivery in December 2006. It is a co-production between Austria's Fischer Film, UK's Steve Walsh Productions, and Latvia's Kaupo Filma. The film will be shot in English and post-produced in the UK. 'Midsummer Madness' is directed by Alexander Hahn from a screenplay which he co-wrote with Alexander Mahler and Norman Hudis (who wrote the first six 'Carry On' films) with Jerzy Palacz as director of photography, Ieva Romanova as production designer, Thomas Oláh as costume designer and Justin Krish (Bend it Like Beckham; Bride and Prejudice; Nanny McPhee) as editor 'Midsummer Madness' is a wild and hilarious comedy set in Latvia during the shortest night of the year when the whole country celebrates and just about anything goes. The ensemble cast includes a poetess from Portugal; two English firemen; an American who hates everything he sees; some shady businessmen; an escaped kangaroo; an insatiable flight attendant and her bemused Japanese boyfriend. By the time morning comes their lives will have been changed for ever. Lead producer Markus Fischer of Fischer Film says 'I should like to thank all those who have helped to make this movie a reality. It is a tribute in particular to the funds in Austria and Latvia that they have shared our faith in Alexander Hahn and the vision we have for this film.' UK producer Steve Walsh adds, 'When I first saw Alexander's showreel I knew immediately that he could make this wonderful, funny script come to life. I'm delighted that we have got together a tremendous cast for a movie which we are convinced will travel across frontiers and find a wide audience all over the world"' 'Midsummer Madness' was developed with Media Slate Funding and is being produced with backing from the Austrian Film Institute, Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (Film Funding Department), Vienna Film Fund, State of Upper Austria, National Film Centre of Latvia, Ingenious Media and Eurimages.
EastWest Filmdistribution is handling the international sales.