The Hubert Bals Fund of the International Film Festival Rotterdam announced this week its spring 2012 selections which include five Latin American projects to receive grants for script development, digital production, post-production and workshops. Short filmmaker, visual artist and film editor, Sebastián Hofmann from Mexico will receive a post-production grant for his debut feature film Halley, a contemporary gothic story that casts a compassionate look at the life of a zombie.

For script development, the Fund awarded Alex Piperno from Uruguay as he prepares his feature project Chico ventana también quisiera tener un submarino / Window Boy Would Also Like to Have a Submarine, in which a ship crew member discovers a solitary girl behind a mysterious door. Also from Uruguay, Pablo Stoll will receive a grant for development of his next project Silver Shadow, and Brazilian filmmaker Eduardo Nunes will receive the same support for his film A morte feliz / A Happy Death, to be co-produced by Chile and Argentina.

Additionally, it was informed that the 13th edition of the Colón Workshop for Latin American filmmakers in Argentina will also receive support funds. The Hubert Bals Fund is designed to bring remarkable or urgent feature films and feature-length creative documentaries by innovative and talented filmmakers from developing countries to completion. By providing grants, the Fund gives an opportunity that often plays a crucial role in enabling filmmakers to realize their projects.