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LATEST NEWS & UPDATES

May 15 2008 - FRANKA TO ATTEND WALKONCEMORE PARTY IN CANNES

According to Event International, Franka will attend the WALKONCEMORE party in Cannes next week (05/20). Other guests expected include Kate Moss and Quentin Tarantino. WOM supports those suffering from spinal cord injuries and scientists in search of a cure.

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May 14 2008 - FRANKA WON'T BE "POPE JOAN"

Johanna Wokalek joins 'Pope Joan'
Actress replaces Franka Potente

BERLIN — Johanna Wokalek, who starred alongside Til Schweiger in the 2005 hit comedy “Barfuss” (Barefoot), has replaced Franka Potente in Soenke Wortmann’s upcoming period drama “Pope Joan.”
Potente was set to topline Constantin Film’s bigscreen adaptation of Donna Woolfolk Cross’ 1997 bestseller but dropped out of the production due to a scheduling conflict.

Production on the film, which recounts the ninth-century legend of a woman who disguises herself as a man in order to educate herself and ultimately ascends the papal throne, is set to start in Germany in August.

The long gestating project has hit a number of bumps over the years.

Volker Schloendorff was originally attached to direct but was sacked by Constantin last year just weeks before filming was due to start after making public comments the company deemed unacceptable. Schloendorff had publicly criticized the industry’s practice of simultaneously making features and extended TV versions of big-screen productions, which he said limited the creative freedom of filmmakers. Constantin planned on making a longer TV version of “Pope Joan.”

Pic, which has been in development for eight years, was also postponed last year after actor John Goodman exited the project, moving Constantin to take legal action against the actor.

Schloendorff had been set to shoot the film in 2002 for UFA Filmproduktion and Senator Film, but the project was shelved after Senator filed for bankruptcy, which led to its eventual resurrection at Constantin.

Wokalek, meanwhile, will next be seen in Constantin’s upcoming terrorist drama “Der Baader-Meinhof Komplex.”

source: variety

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May 13 2008 - QVEST MAGAZINE SCANS

Scans of the Feb/March 2008 issue of german magazine QVEST - featuring a new interview w/th Max about 'Tokyo, Tokyo' - have been added to the gallery.

GALLERY LINK:
• QVEST FEB/MARCH 08 (x6)

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May 11 2008 - 'HEAR THE WORLD AMBASSADORS' EXHIBITION

On May 1st, Franka attended the opening of Bryan Adams' photography exhibit, Hear The World Ambassadors, in New York. Unfortunatly i've only found one picture of the event, which i've added to the gallery. The exhibition is currently held in New York and will soon travel to Berlin and Zurich. All pictures (including Franka's) will be auctioned off w/th proceeds going to the Hear The World Foundation. For more information about the exhibit or on how to place a bid, see the official website.

GALLERY LINKS:
• 'HEAR THE WORLD AMBASSADORS' EXHIBITION OPENING (x1)
• 'HEAR THE WORLD AMBASSADORS' EXHIBITION (x1)

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May 11 2008 - 'CHE' PROMOTIONAL STILLS

the first promotional stills from CHE have surfaced. For reminder, the movie will premiere at this year's Cannes Film Festival on May 21. hopefully Franka should attend the event!

GALLERY LINK:
• 'CHE' PROMOTIONAL STILLS (x2)

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Mar 22 2008 - MAGAZINE ALERT, PROJECTS INFO & NEW PHOTOSHOOT

Franka is featured in the latest issue of Zoo Magazine (No 18 Cinema issue). Although the interview is short, it gives information on her latest projects - a.k.a. Baba's Trial, the documentary Tokyo, Tokyo co-directed with friend Max Urlacher - and includes a gorgeous new pic taken by Bryan Adams (a color version has been added to the gallery).

Here are some extracts from the interview:

"I don't care where a film shoots or what the budget is, really. Whenever my work takes me is fine. I decide upon the script, a director, those kinds of things. Of course, in many regards, "bigger budget" films are more convenient, but i always have the best time where i least expect it. For example, i just worked on a low budget indie film in Malawi, Africa. It was not "fancy" at all, but it was so much fun and i really got to see a lot of the country and bonded with great people."

"This year was super crazy. I worked back to back.... traveled to about ten different countries. Normally i wouldn't do that, but it just happened that way. I shot a documentary (Tokyo, Tokyo) about Tokyo at the beginning of the year, and then i worked on a french film (La Traque) about Beate Klasfeld in France, Bolivia and Argentina. Then i did a remake of Die Brücke in Lithuania. Then there was Guerilla with Steven Soderbergh in Spain and Bolivia, and then the little indie film (Baba's Trial) in Africa. I should write a travel book!"

GALLERY LINK:
• BRYAN ADAMS PHOTOSHOOT (2007)

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Mar 16 2008 - 'LA MER' DVD SCREENCAPTURES

45 screencaptures of the short 'La Mer' (2002) has been added to the gallery!

GALLERY LINK:
• 'LA MER' DVD SCREENCAPTURES

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Mar 09 2008 - PUMA EURO 2008 COUNTDOWN

On February 6, Franka co-hosted the 2008 European Championships Countdown organized by PUMA in Zurich, Germany. Pictures of the event are now available in the gallery! (credit: malte)

GALLERY LINK:
• PUMA EURO 2008 COUNTDOWN

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Mar 09 2008 - NEW PROJECT: "BABA'S TRIAL"

According to Swiss newspaper Blick, Franka was in Malawi last december to shoot a new movie untitled "Baba's Trial". Directed by Wolfgang Panzer ("The Bridge"), it tells the story of two AIDS orphans. The official website is up, but doesn't mention Franka. Thanks again to Malte for the news.

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Feb 26 2008 - 'LA TRAQUE' AIRING DATE + DVD RELEASE

On March 10, french channel Canal + will air La Traque at 08:50PM. In addition, a dvd release is scheduled for April 06. Features don't seem to include the making of, but two interviews w/th the Klarsfeld couple and Ladislas de Hoyos (famous journalist/author of a book on Klaus Barbie). You can pre-order it on amazon.fr for 19,98 €.

RELATED LINKS:
• 'LA TRAQUE' promotional stills

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Jan 06 2008 - VANITY FAIR.DE INTERVIEW TRANSLATED

Many, many thanks to Julia for providing a translation of the recent german Vanity Fair interview!

* * *

FRANKA POTENTE: HER PLEASURE PRINCIPLE

The actress talks about Cuba, what she dislikes about the pope and her Cooperation with Bryan Adams.

Soon Franka Potente will be in cinemas as Pope Joan and the longtime companion of Che Guevara in Steven Soderbergh's movie "The Argentine". To Vanity she talks about her passion for Cuba and where it comes from, what she dislikes about Benedikt XVI, why she mobilizes with Bryan Adams for deaf people and why she thinks that soon there won't be any dubbed versions of movies anymore.

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Jan 02 2008 - VANITY FAIR.DE INTERVIEW + GALLERY BACK ONLINE

Happy new year everybody! Hope all of you spent nice and safe holidays. The german VANITY FAIR website has just published a new interview w/th Franka where she speaks about her latest projects, including Pope Joan, along w/th gorgeous movie stills and a good version of the Hear The World photoshoot. Speaking of the calendar, i strongly recommend it, it's gorgeous and for a good cause (will add a HQ scan this week-end)! Thanks again to Malte for the info.

As you've probably noticed, the gallery is back online and a new layout is coming very soon... So stay tuned.

RELATED LINKS
• VANITY FAIR interview (german)

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Dec 19 2007 - 'JULIA' SHELVED

Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan and the German actress Franka Potente starrer, Julia is in trouble.

According to our sources, the producer UTV Motion Pictures is no longer keen to go ahead with Vishal Bharadwaj’s ambitious project for reasons best known to them.

It comes a shocker as Bharadwaj has completed his screenplay and has signed all the actors. Recently, he had meetings with the cast members to fix the shooting dates.

From what we hear, the director had some irreconcilable differences with the producers, which led the producers to pull out of the film.When quizzed about it, a UTV official (name withheld on request) refused to comment and suggested that we speak to Bharadwaj himself.

Though the filmmaker was not available for comment, his spokesperson informs that Julia has been put on hold for the time being. He says, “It is just that Sanjay Dutt and Ajay Devgan’s dates could not be matched. The film will start by the end of 2008.” Now Bharadwaj will have to either approach some other producer or put the project on the backburner.

Julia is based on the life and times of Mary Ann Evans aka Fearless Nadia, who ruled the Hindi film industry in the ’30s.

(source: Times of India)

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Dec 07 2007 - 'DIGGING FOR BELLA DONNA' GERMAN DVD RELEASE

Franka's directorial debut, Digging For Bella Donna, finally hits DVD in Germany Dec 28th - w/th english subtitles! The movie premiered at the Berlinale 2006 and aired on Arte last summer. No words on sub for the audio commentary or the making of (Jan-Ole Gerster's excellent "Die Rolle der Regisseurin"). You can pre-order the dvd now on amazon.de for 11.99€.

RELATED LINKS:
• dvd info (in german)
• 'Digging For Belladonna Official site

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Dec 02 2007 - HIATUS/GALLERY DOWN

as you've probably noticed, the gallery's down since quite some time due to an unknown reason, and i haven't been able to post pics of the 2007 MTV EUROPEAN MUSIC AWARDS, among others. i'll do my best to fix the problem very soon. sorry for the inconvience.

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Dec 02 2007 - 'HEAR THE WORLD' 2008 CALENDAR

With the holiday season in full swing, Hear the World is offering a gift suggestion that truly gives back.

For holiday 2008, Hear the World, a non-profit initiative launched by hearing device manufacturer Phonak to educate the public about the importance of good hearing, is issuing a limited-edition, beautifully designed calendar featuring its celebrity ambassadors in photos taken by Bryan Adams, the official photographer of the initiative. Plácido Domingo, Joss Stone, Moby, Harry Belafonte, Amy Winehouse and Franka Potente are featured, among others.

The 2008 calendar is available for purchase at www.hear-the-world.com for $27.90 (19.99€), with all proceeds donated directly to the Hear the World Foundation.

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Sep 19 2007 - FRANKA'S DIARY ON DIE ZEIT

Franka's diary untitled "Sick at high altitudes in Bolivia" has been recently published in german newspaper Die Zeit. From June 21 to July 6, Franka recounts her experience while shooting "Guerilla" and "La Traque" in Spain and South America. I'll do my best to translate/post it this week-end. Thanks a lot to Markus for the heads up!

LINK: http://www.zeit.de/2007/37/Sommer-franka-potente

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Sep 19 2007 - "LA TRAQUE" PROMOTIONAL STILL

The first promotional still of La Traque has surfaced!

Starring Franka, Yvan Attal ("Rush Hour 3"), Hanns Zischler ("Munich") and directed by Laurent Jaoui, the 90-minute TV movie tells the story of Beate and Serge Klarsfeld, a Franco-German couple that worked relentlessly for more than twelve years to bring the former Gestapo officer Klaus Barbie to justice. The movie, shot on location in Argentina, Bolivia, France and Germany, will be broadcasted on french channel Canal + in 2008. (source: Markus, Bavarian Media Television, Le Figaro.fr)

GALLERY LINKS:
• "La Traque" Promotional stills

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Sep 19 2007 - VISHAL SIGNS MATT DAMON'S HEROINE

Franka Potente of The Bourne Identity to do Bollywood movie

After putting together an impressive starcast for his much-acclaimed Omkara , filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj has now gone a step ahead for one of his forthcoming films. And this time around he’s fished a star from international waters.

The filmmaker has signed on "Run Lola Run" star FRANKA POTENTE for his docu-drama "Julia". A source reveals that Bharadwaj had met the award-winning actress — who was also seen in "The Bourne Identity" and "The Bourne Supremacy" — in Berlin about two months ago.

“Franka, who has been in India to shoot "The Bourne Supremacy", loved the script and agreed immediately. She was very keen on doing the film, but had to have her dates worked out. Finally after two months, she’s signed on the dotted line,” says the source.

Interestingly, Hollywood Star Uma Thurman was also considered for the same role.

However, due to date hassles, she could not be signed. Though Bharadwaj is reluctant to talk about it, an insider informs that the docu-drama will have an ensemble of Indian and international stars. The insider added, “We are yet to finalise the lead actor, the hunt is still on.”

SOURCE: The Times of India

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Aug 05 2007 - SITE LAUNCH

hi there and welcome to Franka Potente Fan! This site is still somewhat in construction, so don't mind the broken links and "in construction" sections. Within the next few days i'll do my best to update, so please check back later!

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Aug 05 2007 - "POPE JOAN" DIRECTOR FIRED

FRANKFORT, Germany, July 24 (UPI) -- Troubles continue for the film "Pope Joan," after Constantin Film in Germany fired director Volker Schlondorff six weeks before shooting was to begin.

The move came after a disagreement between Schlondorff and Constantin about the industry's growing tendency to make extended television versions of feature films, Variety reported Tuesday.

Schlondorff spoke against the practice in a newspaper interview and was let go Friday. Constantin, based in Frankfurt, said Schlondorff's comments made it difficult to finance the film starring Franka Potente.

Negotiations are under way with other directors, Constantin production chief Martin Moszkowicz told Variety.

"Pope Joan," based on the novel by Donna Woolfolk Cross, recounts the ninth-century legend of a woman who, disguised as a man, becomes pope.

Schlondorff's firing is the latest setback for the picture. Actor John Goodman exited the set earlier this year, prompting Constantin to file a $3 million lawsuit against the actor, accusing him of reneging on an agreement to appear in the film.

[ source: United Press International ]

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Aug 05 2007 - FRANKA POTENTE JOINS "THE SHIELD"

Star of Run Lola Run runs to join cast of gritty cop drama.

Franka Potente The LAPD just got a little bigger.

FX has announced that Franka Potente is joining the cast of The Shield. The actress, who received global attention in the German film Run Lola Run, was recently seen in The Bourne Supremacy. Potente joins the current cast, which features Michael Chiklis and new recruit Forest Whitaker.

The sixth season of The Shield returns to FX in January 2007. FX has already green-lit the seventh and final season of the acclaimed cop show, to premiere sometime in late 2007 or early 2008.

The German-born Potente will next be seen opposite Benicio Del Toro in the film Guerilla, about the life of Che Guevara, and alongside Johnny Depp in the drug drama Shantaram.

[ source: TV.com ]

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