_{Occupied City by Steve McQueen}

Occupied City** is a documentary by Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen, based on the book Atlas of an Occupied City by Bianca Stigter. The film will be presented in the Special Screenings programme at the festival. McQueen on Occupied City: "Living in Amsterdam for me is like living with ghosts. It feels like two parallel stories are always unfolding at the same time. The past is always present." The film is produced by Floor Onrust of production company Family Affair Films (NL), in co-production with Lammas Park (UK).

Dutch minority co-production Youth (Spring)* by Wang Bing is co-produced by Volya Films and is selected for the Competition. The documentary takes place in Liming, which is a worker district close to Shanghai – the richest city in China. Every year, many young people leave their villages and move there. They are between 17 and 20, all from rural Yunnan province, 2,500 km west, where the Yangtze River has its source. International sales are handled by Pyramide Films. Wang Bing's Man in Black also is selected for Cannes as part of Special Screenings. Previously, the director was at Cannes with Dead Souls.

Omen** is directed by Baloji and minority co-produced by New Ams. Omen, which will world premiere in Un Certain Regard, is an ensemble film about four people accused of being witches and sorcerers. Despite their misfortune they find the way to guide each other away from their socially imposed destinies and into the phantasmagoria of Africa. Sales are handled by Memento.

For more information on Cannes Film Festival, click here.
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*Film is supported by the Netherlands Film Fund
**Film is supported by the Netherlands Film Fund and Film Production Incentive