The Sundance Institute and NHK announced today 12 finalists for the 2008 Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Award.  One winner each from Europe, Latin America, the United States, and Japan will win $10,000 and an acquisition of Japanese TV broadcast rights from NHK, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation.

Nominees from Europe include:

• Janez Burger’s Slovenian war drama “Circus Fantasticus”
• Radu Jude’s Romanian family drama “The Happiest Girl In the World”
• Jasmila Zbanic’s Bosnian/ Herzegovinan relationship study “On The Path”

Nominees from Latin America include:

• Alejandro Fernandez Almendras’ Chilean family drama “Huacho”
•  Paz Fabrega’s Costa Rican existential study “Agua Fria de Mar”
• Juliana Rojas & Marco Dutra’s Brazilian thriller “Hard Labor”

Nominees from the U.S. include:

• Braden King’s road movie “Here”
• Jake Mahaffy’s tale of redemption “Free in Deed”
• The coming of age drama “Refresh, Refresh” from director James Ponsoldt (ThinkFilm’s “Off The Black”)

Nominees from Japan include:

• Akira Ichinose’s mystery drama “Lamplight and Shadows”
• Yukihiko Goto’s portrait of an elderly man “Three Cold Days and Four Warm Days”
• Aiko Nagatsu’s tale of loss “Apoptosis”

One winner from each winner will be selected by a jury of filmmakers, who will announce their decisions at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Congrats to all nominated!