Cape Town production company picks motion picture ''winners''

Izidore Codron, co-founder (with Chris Roland) of the high profile Cape Town based production company, The Imaginarium, is a happy man as he toasts the success and recognition of a slate of winning motion pictures - out of the company's stable - which are now on the world stage in the Awards Season. Codron is credited as Executive Producer and Co-Executive Producer on "Man to Man" and "Hotel Rwanda" respectively. The films are competing against contenders such as "The Aviator", and "Closer."

Terry George's gripping drama Hotel Rwanda - (shot in South Africa) is based on the true story of the Rwandan genocide over a decade ago - has taken Hollywood and North America by storm; firstly garnering the coveted AGF People's Choice Award and a 5 minute standing ovation at the recent Toronto Film Festival, and three Golden Globe nominations for lead actor, Don Cheadle ("Oceans Eleven, "Traffic" and "Oceans Twelve"), Best Song, and Best Film.

This is followed by three Academy Award® nominations in Best Actor category for Don Cheadle, Best Supporting Actress for Sophie Okonedo ("Dirty Pretty Things"), and Best Original Screenplay for Terry George (previously nominated for Best Screenplay for "In the Name of the Father") and Keir Pearson.

'We have hit the mark every time!" says Codron. Among the company's motion picture credits list are "The Bone Snatcher", "Stander", "The Story of an African Farm", and "Man to Man". The acclaimed international series shot in Cape Town, "Charlie Jade", is due for international, and South African, broadcast (SABC3) in April.

"Hotel Rwanda" is co-written by Terry George and Keir Pearson, and helmed by Terry George, whose other directing credits include "Some Mother's Son, and "A Bright Shining Lie"). The picture is produced by A. Kitman Ho (whose credits include the multiple Academy Award®-winning films "JFK", "Platoon", and "Wall Street"), and co-Executive produced by Izidore Codron. The international cast is headed up by Don Cheadle, Nick Nolte ("The Hulk", "Thin Red Line", "Prince of Tides"), British actress, Sophie Okonedo, and Joaquin Phoenix.

"Hotel Rwanda" was shot over six weeks on location in Johannesburg, and featured a stellar cast of local talent including Desmond Dube ("The Long Run"), Mothusi Magano ("Gums & Noses"), and Leleti Khumalo ("Yesterday" and "Sarafina!").

The other winner out of The Imaginarium stable is "Man to Man" - which has been selected as the opening film of the 55th Berlin Film Festival on February 10th . The screening "In Competition" for a Berlin Golden Bear will also be the film's World Premiere.

"Man to Man" is helmed by Regis Wagnier's ("Indochine"- which previously took home an Academy Award® for Best Foreign Film ), produced by Farid Lahouassa, and co-produced by Steve Clark-Hall and Izidore Codron. Cast includes Joseph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Iain Glen, Hugh Bonneville and Flora Montgomery.

The UK/French production, in association with The Imaginarium, is described as an epic about 19th century anthropologists who visit South Africa to hunt and capture pygmies for study back in Europe in an attempt to illustrate the link between man and ape.

The Imaginarium was responsible for bringing the production to South Africa and co-produced the film. In addition to Codron, co-producer credits in South Africa go to Glenn Masokoane and Chris Roland. Codron also serves as the international executive producer of the film.

"Man to Man"" beat over 380 entries to win prime berth opening gala premier at the Berlinale 2005. And guess what - "Hotel Rwanda" gets the second night gala premier!" says Codron. "This is a first in South African film history," comments Izidore Codron. The South African industry has been aiming for international recognition for decades, and we are confident this film will take us to the world stage."

This level of recognition is a powerful statement about South Africa's ability to deliver world-class films, is testimony to the great performing talent in South Africa, and certainly highlights Codron and his partner, Chris Roland's, skill in identifying material that can make it in the highly competitive world film arena.