The first workshops of both programs are well over with, and we look back at the results from last week's intensive events in Trieste.

MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2018 – Workshop 1

The 9 participating projects took the first steps at the new and expanded Feature Launch program. The first workshop focused on the development of the script, as well as offering the participants training in pitching and financing strategies.

Director of MIDPOINT, Barbora Struss, says,

"Trieste proved to be the ideal frame for the first workshop offering both the intimacy for script development and the vibrant atmosphere for networking that is so important for filmmakers in the early stages of their careers. We are very satisfied with our partnership with Trieste Film Festival and When East Meets West, and are already counting down to the second workshop in Serbia, and the third, the Project Showcase that will unspool at Karlovy Vary IFF."

Projects

Balaur – writer/director Octav Chelaru, producer Livia Radulescu (Romania)

Brazil – writer/director Thelyia Petraki, producer Kostas Tagalakis (Greece)

Clouds On Leashes – writer/director Gunel Eva, producer Maria Ibrahimova (Azerbaijan)

Homeward – writer Marysia Nikitiuk, writer/director Nariman Aliev, producer Vladimir Yatsenko (Ukraine)

Leave No Traces – writer Kaja Krawczyk-Wnuk, director Jan P. Matuszynski, producer Leszek Bodzak (Poland)

Sex, Wire, Rock'n'Roll – writer/director Gabor Fabricius, producer Patricia D'Intino (Hungary)

The Last Balkan Film About the War – writer/director Lee Filipovski, producer Adi Dizdarevic (Serbia)

The Ugly Mandarine – writer/director Piaoyu Xie, producer Veronika Kuhrova (Czech Republic)

Sirin – writer Claudia Bottino, director Senad Sahmanovic, producer Velisa Popovic (Montenegro)

Tutors

Danijel Hocevar – Head of Studies of Feature Launch   

Anne Gensior – Core Tutor

Pavel Jech – Core Tutor 

Ivo Trajkov – Core Tutor

Elma Tataragic – Guest Tutor

Thanos Anastopoulos – Guest Tutor 

Cedomir Kolar – Guest Tutor

Stefano Tealdi – Pitching Tutor

Check out our photo gallery here.

MIDPOINT Feature Launch is realized in collaboration with Ministry of Culture Czech Republic, Czech Film Fund, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Trieste Film Festival, When East Meets West, Film Center Serbia, CineMart and COCO – Connecting Cottbus.

MIDPOINT Shorts 2018 – Workshop 1

The first out of two workshops for short film projects also took off in Trieste, parallel to Feature Launch. 4 projects participated under the tutoring of Pavel Marek.

For Alma – writer/director Anton Breum and producer Maria Møller Kjeldgaard (Denmark)

Short Film with a Sheep – writer/director Ivana Skrabalo and producer Dora Prpic (Croatia)

The Gravel – writer Zsanett Kertesz, director Tamas Benko (Hungary)

There – writer/director Zeynep Koprulu and producer Utku Zeka (Turkey)

Photo gallery here.

Supported by Ministry of Culture Czech Republic, Czech Film Fund and Film Center Serbia.

Script Consulting Incubator

The new Czech training program for script consulting initiated by the Czech Film Fund and organized by MIDPOINT took off parallel to Feature Launch in Trieste. The Czech Film Fund has initiated this ambitious project to heighten the level of feature film scripts and to support a new generation of Czech script consultants. 4 script consultant trainees have been selected, they are Lucia Kajánková, Vít Poláček, Michal Reich and Milada Těšitelová and they are mentored by Incubator's Head of Studies, acclaimed Hungarian director Gyula Gazdag. They participate as script consultant trainees at MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2018 and later move on to become script consultants for new Czech film projects that have received development support from the film fund.

Read more here.

 

 

Every year Vilnius International Film Festival Kino Pavasaris pays great attention to emerging filmmakers and their films. The 23rd edition of the festival, taking place March 15 – 29, will be opened with France’s Xaviers Legrand’s award winning debut feature Custody (Jusqu'à la garde).

Custody, the cutting-edge family drama, has already won six prizes including Silver Lion for the best director and best debut in Venice Film Festival as well as the audience award in San Sabastian International film festival.

Similarly as Legrand‘s first short feature, an Academy award nominee Just Before Losing Everything, Custody is placing the audience at the center of the strife between two divorcing parents. According to Legrand, the story mirrors everyday reality when usually only parts of a story are being presented. Creating this psychological puzzle, Legrand proves to be one of the strongest voices of the new generation of French cinema.

Custody trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1elCMUauWw

Kino Pavasaris feature selections will be screened across 5 sections: Festival‘s favorites; Discoveries; Critic’s choice; Masters; as well as retrospectives of an influential French director Jean Vigo and Lithuanian classics focusing on the theme of childhood.

Vilnius Film Festival will include works of emerging directors, such as Oscar-nominated Loving Vincent peculiarly made by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman; Iram Haq’s What Will People Say, already winning an AFI Audience Award and a prestigious Goteborg Film Festival Audience Dragon Award. Michaël R. Roskam’s passionate story about star-crossed lovers Racer and the Jailbird amazingly played by Matthias Schoenaerts and Adele Exarchopolous is also added to the festival programme, together with Robin Campillo's Cannes-winningBPM (Beats per Minute) and many more.

This year Kino Pavasariswill also present impressive Asian cinema. Shin Dong-seok‘s debut film Last Child will come to Vilnius after its international premiere at Berlinale. Other screenings will include Anucha Boonyawatana‘s second feature Malila: The Farewell Flower as well as the Mumbai Film festival‘s Jury Grand Prize winner, Dipesh Jain‘s psychological thriller In the Shadows.

All of these films are landmarks of how Vilnius International Film Festival will be this year: inspiring, taking viewers around the world and even into space by showcasing different genres and quality cinema.

 

 

One week prior to the opening, Berlinale has announced that Jiří Menzel, renowned Czech film director and actor, will receive Berlinale Camera 2018 alongside Beki Probst and Katriel Schory. Jiří Menzel, whose artistic curriculum includes more than 20 feature films, is considered a legend of Czech cinema. Menzel’sworld-celebrated film Larks on the String, had its premiere in 1990 at Berlinale, 21 years after it had been released and shortly after banned in communist Czechoslovakia.

Jiří Menzel will receive the award at the occasion of the world premiere of The Interpreter, a Slovak-Czech-Austrian co-production directed by Martin Šulík, where the Czech actor plays the main part together with his Austrian counterpart Peter Simonischek famous for Toni Erdman. Menzel will receive the award on February 23, on the day of his 80th birthday.

The Interpreter is one of the three films representing Czech cinema at the 68th Berlinale IFF. The Slovak-Czech-Austrian co-production is the work of prominent Slovak director Martin Šulík and the equally noted screenwriter Marek Leščák, who already have several successful films to their names, including The Garden (1995) and Orbis Pictus (1997).

A road-movie is a story of two men who have been brought together by an accidential mention on the WW2 events.  80-year-old Ali Ungár (Menzel) comes across a book by a former SS officer, describing his wartime activities in Slovakia. Ali realizes that one of the passages recounts the execution of his parents, and sets out to visit the former SS man, who now lives in Vienna. Instead of his parents’ murderer, though, Ali finds only his 70-year-old son. Georg Peis (Simonischek) is a former teacher who has distanced himself from his father’s past and is now struggling with alcoholism. The interpreter’s visit stirs his curiosity, so he decides to find out who exactly his father was before he dies. So it is that the two old men, the ascetic Ali and the bon vivant Georg, embark on a journey together to find the surviving witnesses of the wartime tragedy.

The Interpreter was filmed at various locations around Slovakia and in Vienna. In addition to Marek Leščák, the director brought in another long-time collaborator of his, cinematographer Martin Štrba.  Alongside the lead duo, Zuzana Mauréry, Eva Kramerová, and Attila Mokos play supporting roles. The film was produced by the companies Titanic (Martin Šulík, Slovakia), IN Film Praha (Rudolf Biermann, Czech Republic), and COOP99 (Bruno Wagner, Austria). The coproducers are RTVS: Radio and Television of Slovakia and Czech Television. The project was supported by the Czech Film Fund and the Slovak Audiovisual Fund.

The trailer to the film is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmdVZ-PiqhM

More information here: https://www.berlinale.de/en/das_festival/preise_und_juries/08_berlinalekamera/Berlinale_Kamera.html

 

 

Magiclab is pleased to be attending this year's Berlinale with Hendi & Hormoz directed by Abbas Amini, which will have its world premiere at the Berlinale Generation 14plus. Magiclab is proud to be co-producer and to have completed post-production on the film. Interpreter directed by Martin Sulik, another feature film completed at Magiclab, will have its world premiere at the Berlinale Special.

Magiclab is delighted to have been involved in the films below and for the success of co-produced films, which have garnered awards and have been very successful on the film festival circuit. 

We are looking forward to the EFM and Berlinale Co-Production Market and will be present from the 17 – 21 February, actively looking for new producers to partner with for post-production, VFX and for our 2018 co-production slate. 

 

 

This year EFP (European Film Promotion) in collaboration with Hot Docs – Canadian International Documentary Festival (April 26 – May 6, 2018) will launch a special programme entitled THE CHANGING FACE OF EUROPE, a pan-European showcase of 10 new documentaries that illustrate and examine the current cultural, geographic, economic and political factors affecting Europe today. This new initiative is possible thanks to the support of the Creative Europe – MEDIA Programme of the European Union and the participating EFP member organisations.

"We are delighted to strike up this new partnership with Hot Docs for European documentary films," says Sonja Heinen, Managing Director of EFP. "The programme reflects on the 'new Europe' with its current political and social changes, and shines a light on the rich and vivid diversity of European documentaries. The EFP member organisations have nominated an excellent array of films and we are excited to see the final selection curated by the programmers at Hot Docs. We are honored to be part of this prestigious and important festival and look forward to presenting the European filmmakers to industry and audience alike."

With this new partnership EFP continues its commitment to present outstanding creative documentaries from Europe to North American audiences. Filmmakers selected to take part in this program will participate in an array of Festival industry events including workshops, pitches and meetings with potential buyers, expanding their professional development on an international scale, and increasing their film's access to North American and international markets. 

 

 

Exclusive to Screen International for Publication Monday 05 February 2018

How to Sell a War - the fiction feature film debut of leading international documentary director Rudolph Herzog has announced start of shoot dates.  The film was developed by Creative England, Film and Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd, Finnish financing house IPR.VC and is being produced by Samantha Taylor and Mike Downey via their Dublin-based Film and Music Entertainment (IRE) in co-production with Georgia’s 20 Steps.with key financing from the UK’s Quickfire and Helsinki-based IPR.VC.  Shooting will begin on March 16 in Georgia.

London 2018 – In a few days time, the Piece Of Peace global charity concert is due to take place led by the vein and arrogant Irish rock star, Harry Hope and his over-confident PR consultant, Kate. When Russian war monger, Boris the Butcher, decides to call a cease-fire four days before the big event, Kate knows that she absolutely has to make this event happen or her career will be over. She embarks on a mission to Georgia to create a fake news story letting the world know that the war is back on. Assisted by her naïve new intern, Peggy, the two quickly discover that they have taken on more than they can handle and as events spiral out of their control, all hell quickly breaks loose.

How To Sell a War has been picked up for worldwide sales by UK sales outfit Bankside Films, and the production stars BAFTA winning Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd, The Boat That Rocked) in the leading role of Kate and co-stars up-and-coming Lily Newmark as naïve intern/niece Peggy whose five star performance in Pin Cushion scored her a BIFA nomination this year.

“This is our sixth collaboration with 20 Steps in Georgia and is the sixth project that has been produced through our Dublin-based outfit since setting it up two years ago,” says Film and Music Entertainment CEO and EFA Deputy Chair Mike Downey, “and we are delighted with the results. Talent driven world cinema at its best.  How To Sell a War is a movie that is rooted very much in our contemporary world.  Rudolf and Tim have a killer sense of humour, and the chemistry between Katherine and Lily packs an explosive punch.  It’s a Piece of Peace!”

Rudolph Herzog (director) is an award-winning director, producer and writer. RTS Award-nominated The Paedophile Next Door for Channel 4, is BBC/ARD documentary on humour in Hitler's Third Reich sold widely internationally and his book Dead Funny on the same subject was named a book of the year by THE ATLANTIC. He directed The Heist for channel Four and in 2014, a documentary based on his book A Short History of Nuclear Folly was broadcast in Europe. He helmed a National Geographic special on the mysterious death of polar explorer Roald Amundsen and The Agent on the double agent Werner Stiller who escaped East Germany and became a millionaire at Goldman Sachs. His latest best seller, Teruggestalten, has been picked up by Philipp Kreuzer’s Maze Pictures (The Happy Prince) for production.

Written by Tim Price (Dr. Who; Secret Diary of a Call Girl) whose National Theatre sell-out production Occupy starred Rhys Ifans and whose The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning won the prestigious James Tait Black prize for drama) he has brought to life an idea by Raid Sabbah which is co-produced in association with Georgia’s 20 Steps Productions, and co-funded by Georgian National Film Centre and the tax credit scheme of Enterprise Georgia.

“It's really exciting to be producing How to Sell a War at the present time.” says Fame’s Samantha Taylor, “Katherine and Lily, our extremely talented lead actors, play two very funny women who stick it to the bully man, news-fakers, and to celebrity bullshit in general. With Rudolph directing a blazing script from Tim Price this is going to be a brilliant comedy trip. No one is safe. To paraphrase, humour isn’t about appeasing the patriarchy but rolling over it in an armoured car. We’re also very happy to be working for the fourth time with 20 Steps in Georgia and with Windmill Lane for the first. With this, and the support of IPR.VC, Quickfire, Bankside, GNFC, we are unstoppable.”

Fame is in an advanced stage of negotiations to confirm Sister Bliss to compose the score for the film.  As the musical force behind Faithless, world-renowned DJ and record producer Sister Bliss needs no introduction. Together with iconic front man Maxi Jazz and producer Rollo Armstrong (brother of Dido), she formed Faithless: one of the most successful electronic acts to date.  In their career spanning nearly 20 years, the group released 7 albums (two at number 1), six top 10 singles and sold in excess of 15 million records worldwide.

Sam Taylor and Mike Downey founded the UK-based independent production house Film and Music Entertainment as part of an IPO on the Frankfurt DAX. Film & Music Entertainment films have been screened at Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Venice, San Sebastian and Toronto Film festivals.  The first 18 years of F&ME’s existence saw it entering into production on 60-odd co-productions with a total budget of $ 200 million involving 132 production companies from all over Europe, Latin America and Asia. It now has a catalogue of rights in over 60 features including Academy Award Nominee and Venice Golden Lion winner Before the Rain, Academy Award Nominee Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s Venice opener The President, box office horror hit Deathwatch, Sundance South African hit Son of Man, Jason Biggs starrer Guy X and Dinard winner White Lightnin' as well as 2012 Berlinale Audience Award Winner Parada by Srdjan Dragojevic.

How To Sell a War is a Downey/Taylor production for Film and Music Entertainment (IRE) in co-production with 20 Steps Production and in association with Quickfire Films, Bankside Films, IPR.VC fund and the Georgian National Film Centre.  Developed in association with Creative England, Film and Music Entertainment (UK), and Kinomedia.  The film is produced by Sam Taylor and Mike Downey, co-producers are Vladimer Katcharava and Radek Drabik and executive producers are James Atherton, Jan Pace, James Bierman and Aleksi Bardy.

 “We are thrilled to be bringing this whip-smart comedy to worldwide buyers.” Says Bankside Films Director Stephen Kelliher, “It is an incredibly timely piece which speaks to the world we live in today.  We feel sure that its laugh-out-loud satire will resonate with international audiences and that the creative team will excel in bringing the ultimate story of fake news to the screen.”

Quickfire’s Jan Pace added: 

“We're delighted to be working with such an accomplished creative team looking to deliver this smart, contemporary comedy. We've been following this project from an early draft, which gripped us with its irreverence and sharp instinct in highlighting our great collective political ineptitude to brilliant comedic effect. We cannot wait to see this rich cast of characters brought to life by the talented cast and the excellent Rudoph Herzog in his first comedy, and welcome working with producers as experienced and passionate as Mike and Sam on this project.”

The film will be shot by legendary German lenser Peter Zeitlinger whose work with Herzog senior has included, Grizzly Man, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, Rescue Dawn and Cave of Forgotten Dreams as well as Nicole Kidman starrer Queen of the Desert.  The film will be edited by Anne Sopel whose most recent work includes Whisky Galore as well as Mr Selfridge and The White Princess.

Paul Ashton, Head of Film for Creative England whose Ashton’s executive producer credits at Creative England include Rachel Tunnard’s BIFA-winning feature debut Adult Life Skills, Justin Edgar’s upcoming feature The Marker and Jack Lowden-Martin McCann thriller Calibre remarked:

“It has been an absolute delight developing this project with FAME. I’ve been a fan of Tim Price’s work for a long time, and his collaboration with Rudolph Herzog has given life to an outrageously contemporary and deeply discomforting satire about war, politics, power, idealism and ‘fake news’. I cannot wait to see the finished film.”

Timo Argillander Managing Partner and Co-Founder of the IPR.VC fund added:  “How to Sell a War is a perfect case for our content investment fund: a top-notch team tackles a theme so actual and important, and in a way that will reach big audiences all over the world.”

Filmed on location in in Georgia and Dublin, casting is handled in the UK by Wildman Hall. Production services in Georgia have been supplied by Caucasian Film Service, post production services and investment will come from Dublin-based Windmill Lane, where the complete edit and all post will take place.  Local accounting services supplied by Grant Thornton and legal services on behalf of the producers by Mathesons.

Contact

Manon Clement                                 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

                                                           +447788265088

Mike Downey                                    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.