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EAVE July News 2020


EAVE EXCLUSIVE interview with EAVE graduate and Greek National Coordinator Konstantinos Kontovrakis

                                 

©Jurgen Van Tiggelen

An interview with EAVE graduate Konstantinos Kontovrakis on the shooting of one of the first European co-production to be shot after the lockdown due to the COVID crisis.  

- I’m talking to you via Skype while you are on the small Greek Island Amorgros where you have been shooting the Greek-German-Italian co-production TÖCHTER (DAUGTHERS) since mid-June. How does it feel to shoot a film again?

Well, I would say, for sure it’s a relief that we are doing it, and there are points when it feels like a victory. It’s somewhere in between these two feelings. There was a point when it was a mere “if“ and “when“ and “how“ would we be able to go back to shooting – not this film, but in general – and then I kind of took it personally. I said, no, we cannot allow this situation to make our work obsolete – it’s either this or nothing. So we have to win this battle. On the other hand are we shooting a film here in conditions that are very friendly to the COVID safety protocol: We are outdoors, we’re all staying in this hotel here, we don’t have any difficult scenes with a lot of extras, we have no sex-scenes ... . So it’s a good project to get your feet wet and experience how to shoot under these conditions. But nevertheless we are doing it and that’s the most important thing. 

- You are shooting one of the first European co-productions after the lockdown of Europe’s film industry. How is it that you are so quick?

Well, two things: one is objective and has nothing to do with us, and that’s the fact that Greece was one of the countries that managed to handle the pandemic quite quickly and efficiently and therefore we were able to get out of the lockdown sooner than other countries and it’s a safe destination in that sense. The other thing is Bettina Brokemper’s, who is the main producer, determination in making it happen and not let go. The moment it became clear that Greece will open ist borders and that it will be possible to travel safe onto this island we are now and shoot, the moment we had a protocol published by the authorities and all that, we had less than a month to do all the preparation and be here and shoot. The borders opened for countries like Germany on the 15th of June. On the 16th Bettina and the whole cast and crew boarded a private plane and came to Greece.  

- What is the story of DAUGHTERS or TÖCHTER, as the film is called in German?

The film is a road movie set in Switzerland, Italy and Greece following two friends, Betty and Martha, who have the typical problems of emancipated forty-year-old single women in Berlin. They set out on a trip with Marthas dying father on their backseat to Switzerland where he has made an appointment for assisted suicide in a special institute. As it shows, things are not going exactly according to his plans. The story evolves to a big adventure that takes them to Italy and eventually to Greece in search of another father, Bettys father. The final part of the film is set in Greece. The film is a road trip and a bittersweet comedy with lots of dry humour.

- What do you think, how much longer will the shooting have taken in the end compared to non-COVID-times?

We do not need any more time for the shoot. I mean, normally we would not have stopped, but in terms of shooting days there was no days added to the shooting schedule because of the measures. We had to hire more people instead – it would either have been more time or more people. Because we have to disinfect everything at the end of the shooting day: the camera equipment, the light equipment, the wardrobe, the make-up rooms, the production base, all of these places have to be decontaminated by people. We decided to go for a slightly bigger crew so that we can save time and stay within the schedule that was initially planned. Another reason is that we think the less time we need for shooting, the less chances are there for a possible infection. So on the one hand there are financial and practical reasons and on the other hand there are safety reasons. 

- What else do you have to do to stick to the protocol?

The Greek protocol is slightly stricter than the German. Everybody had to get tested before we started shooting. The cast was getting tested twice – the second time was here on the island. As I said, all the equipment has to be decontaminated at the end of the shooting day before the crew puts them in the trucks to store them until the next day. The same applies for the wardrobe and make-up equipment as well as for all the rooms that are used for the production. There is medical staff with us at all times. They are also taking the temperature and monitor the safety regulations. And then there is the usual stuff: indoors we need to wear masks, fortunately the majority of the scenes are outdoors. We need to keep safety distances with eachother. The medical staff inspecting the shoot, reports daily at a health inspection company, which is going to certify at the end of the shoot that the protocol was followed. But that’s pretty much it.

- So it’s strange, but it’s manageable?

It’s strange, but sometimes it’s also irritating. You know, we’re here to work. And sometimes people forget something and you don’t want to be the policeman to tell other people what they have to do. But we are all getting used to it and we are respectful to each other and that’s the main thing.

- With all these precautions and safety measures the production will cost more money?

For sure all things bring extra costs to the production, completely unforeseen costs. Now we have to start to talk budget and take all these things into consideration. But for me the most important thing is that we are making it. I’m talking to colleagues while I’m here and I’m telling that we are shooting. And the reaction I received from all of them was that they are feeling optimistic and encouraged that we, that someone is doing it. It’s important to show people that can you continue to do your job under these conditions. We’ll have to find solutions all the time and we’re doing that here, too. Most of the European independent producers are tough cookies. We are learned to work with difficulties and under harsh conditions, so we’ll battle that, too. 

- Besides TÖCHTER, you have more international co-productions scheduled for shooting this year?

Yes, we have. The funny thing is, this whole thing is happening in a year where we are only shooting international co-productions. After this one here we have MEDITERRANEO by Marcel Barrena, a Spanish-Greek production which we were supposed to shoot now and which is postponed to September. And then we have TRIANGLE OF SADNESS by Ruben Östlund, which we are also going to shoot in the fall. All these projects were initially planned for now, but we had to change our plans because of the COVID chaos. But we have resumed to work on these two projects, too. And hopefully in September and October we are going to shoot them. So for us, as I said in the beginning, it has been a matter of doing it. Otherwise – what? We close business? We can’t let this happen. 

- So this will be a memorable year, I suppose.

Yes, let’s hope for good reasons, also. Who would have thought we would experience a pandemic in our lifetime. But we are. We should be thankful that science and medicine is progressed enough to be able to battle this thing.

Still from Töchter, ©Wolfgang Ennenbach Heimatfilm

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EAVE project BEHIND THE HAYSTACKS receives funding from Eurimages

 Eurimages

At the last funding round of EURIMAGES, the following EAVE projects and projects by EAVE graduates have been supported:

  • EAVE project BEHIND THE HAYSTACKS by Asimina Proedrou, producer: EAVE graduate Ioanna Bolomyti

  • BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH by Giordano Gederlini, producer: EAVE+ graduate Jean Yves Roubin 

  • BRUXA by Cristèle Alves Meira, producers: PUENTES graduates Tatiana Leite, Gaelle Mareschi, EAVE graduate Sébastien Delloye 

  • CHICKEN BOY by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson, producer: EAVE graduate Anton Mani Svansson, PUENTES graduate Nima Yousefi

  • DISCO BOY by Giacomo Abbruzzese, producer: EAVE graduate Maria Blicharska

  • DREAMING WALLS by Amélie Van Elmbt, Maya Duverdier, producers: EAVE graduates Simone Van den Broek, David Herdies

  • GOOD LIFE by Viktorija Siaulyte, Marta Dauliute, producer: EAVE graduate Dagne Vildziunaite

  • PUENTES Project LA CIVIL by Teodora Ana Mihai, producer: EAVE and PUENTES graduate Irina Andreea Malcea

  • NORMAL by Olivier Babinet, producer: TTB graduate Valerie Bournonville

  • THE COW THAT SANG A SONG ABOUT THE FUTURE by Francisca Alegria, producer: EAVE graduate Sophie Erbs

  • THE DELEGATION by Asaf Saban, producers: EAVE group leader Roshanak Behesht Nedjad, EAVE graduate Agnieszka Dziedzic, EAVE+ graduate Yoav Roeh

  • THE GOOD DRIVER by Tonislav Hristov, producers: EAVE graduates Kaarle Aho, Tijana Visnjic

  • THE MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES by Sonia Kronlund, producer: EAVE graduate Beata Rzezniczek

  • THE NIGHTSIREN by Tereza Nvotova, producer: EAVE MW graduate Peter Badac

  • THE RESTLESS by Joachim Lafosse, producers: EAVE+ head of studies Jani Thiltges, EAVE graduates Anton Iffland Stettner, Alexandre Gavras

  • TRACES by Dubravka Turic, producer: EAVE group leader Ankica Juric Tilic

  • VICTIM by Michal Blasko, producers: EAVE graduates Pavla Janouskova Kubeckova, Saar Yogev 

  • WHITE PLASTIC SKY by Tibor Bánóczki, Sarolta Szabó, producers: EAVE graduate and Hungarian National Coordinator Viktoria Petranyi, EAVE graduate Juraj Krasnohorsky

www.coe.int/web/eurimages

 

 WCF 

The World Cinema Fund (WCF) jury has made their selection out of 153 submissions and awarded production funds totalling 395,000 €. Five of the selected films are produced by EAVE graduates.

WCF Production Funding

  • BOMB BAY by Nantenaina Lova, producer: EAVE graduate Nicole Gerhards

  • TTB project TIGER STRIPES by Amanda Nell, produced by TTB graduate Foo Fei Ling, co-producers: EAVE graduate Fran Borgia, TTB graduate Yulia Evina Bhara, EAVE graduate, TTB group leader and German national coordinator Jonas Weydemann  

WCF Europe 

  • LOVE IS A DOG FROM HELL by Khavn de la Cruz, producer: TTB graduate Stephan Holl

Distribution Funding

  • EAVE project ROJO by Benjamin Naishtat, producer: EAVE graduate Barbara Sarasola-Day, co-producers: EAVE graduates Ingmar Trost, Marleen Slot 

  • MONOS by Alejandro Landes, producer: EAVE graduate Fernando Epstein 

www.berlinale.de

 

 Hubert Bals Fund 

The Hubert Bals Fund (HBF) has announced the 2020 selection of its HBF+Europe: Minority Co-production Support scheme. Five film projects from Thailand, Columbia, Ukraine, Malaysia, and Mexico have received a contribution through their European co-producers.

  • TTB project ARNOLD IS A MODEL STUDENT by Sorayos Prapapan, producer: TTB graduate Donsaron Kovitvanitcha, co-producer: EAVE graduate Denis

  • TTB project TIGER STRIPES by Amanda Nell, produced by TTB graduate Foo Fei Ling, co-producers: EAVE graduate Fran Borgia, TTB graduate Yulia Evina Bhara and EAVE graduate Jonas Weydemann 


https://iffr.com/en/blog/hbfeurope-selection-2020

 

 FFHSH 

The Hamburg-based film fund Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein (FFHSH) is supporting two films made by EAVE graduates: 

  • FOLLOW ME by Joya Thome, producer: EAVE graduate Martin Heisler

www.ffhsh.de

 

 Netherlands Film Fund

Six new titles by EAVE graduates have been selected for support by the Netherlands Film Fund:

  • CHILDHOOD DREAMS by Bram Schouw, producers: EAVE graduates Arnold Heslenfeld, Laurette Schillings & Frans van Gestel 

  • DEAR DESTINY by Marc Schmidt, producer: EAVE graduate Simone Van Den Broek

  • HUSA’S SALON by Hany Abu-Assad, producer: EAVE + graduate Hanneke Niens

  • MNK BOY by Mete Gümürhan, producer: EAVE graduate Stienette Bosklopper

  • OCCUPIED CITY by Steve McQueen, producer: EAVE graduate Floor Onrust

  • PSYCHOLOGY OF CON ARTISTS by Victor Vroegindeweij, producers: EAVE graduates Arnold Heslenfeld, Laurette Schillings & Frans van Gestel 

www.filmfonds.nl

 

 Sreen Brussels

Ten new feature films, documentaries and TV series are supported by screen.brussels. Among them:

  • BARAKI by Fred De Loof, Bérangère McNeese, Adriana Da Fonseca, Adolf El Assal, producer: EAVE graduate Benoit Roland

  • ENDLESS NIGHT by David Perrault, producer: EAVE graduate Jacques-Henri Bronckart

  • ENTRE LA VIE ET LA MORT (BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH) by Giordano Gederlini, producer: EAVE graduate Jean-Yves Roubin

  • REBEL by El Arbi and Bilal Fallah, producer: EAVE graduate Diana Elbaum

  • THE RESTLESS (LES INTRANQUILLES) by Joachim Lafosse, producer: EAVE graduate Anton Iffland Stettner, co-producer: EAVE + head of studies Jani Thiltges 

https://screen.brussels

 

 Film Fund Luxembourg

Film Fund Luxembourg’s selection committee has announced the recipients of its latest slate of funding. 12 fiction features, two animated features, one documentary feature, two TV series, one transmedia documentary, one docufiction series, one animated series and one VR project will be supported.

  • A COLÔNIA LUXEMBURGUESA by Dominique Santana, producer: EAVE+ Head of Studies Jani Thiltges 

  • BACHMANN & FRISCH by Margarethe Von Trotta, producer: EAVE + graduate Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu

  • CAPITANI by Christophe Wagner, producer: EAVE+ Head of Studies Jani Thiltges 

  • DIE SPALTUNG DER WELT by EAVE graduate Donato Rotunno 

  • FINDING ROSA by EAVE MW graduate Adolf El Assal

  • MISTER by Emily Atef, producer: EAVE+ Head of Studies Jani Thiltges 

  • MONK, PANNONICA ET LES JAZZMEN by Jacques Goldstein, producer: EAVE graduate Marion Guth

  • PAN DE LIMON by Benito Zambrano, producer: EAVE graduate Alexandra Hoesdorff

  • PUENTES project BLANQUITA by Fernando Guzzoni, producer: PUENTES graduate Giancarlo Nasi

  • QUARTET by Massoud Bakhshi, producer: EAVE + graduate Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu

  • SLEEPWALKERS by Radu Jude, producers: EAVE graduate and Romanian National Coordinator Ada Solomon, EAVE graduate Paul Thiltges, Adrien Chef

  • STARGAZER by Christian Neuman, producer: EAVE MW graduate Helene Walland

  • THE BELIEVERS by Christophe Wagner, producer: EAVE+ Head of Studies Jani Thiltges 

https://gouvernement.lu

 

 Wallimage

Wallimage supports three films by EAVE graduates:

  • LE TEMPS D’AIMER by Katell Quillévéré, producer: EAVE graduate Jean-Yves Roubin

  • NORMALE by Olivier Babinet, producer: EAVE graduate Valérie Bournonville

  • VESPER SEEDS by Kristina Buozyte and Bruno Samper, producer: EAVE graduate Benoit Roland

www.wallimage.be

 

 Lithuanian Film Centre

The Lithuanian Film Centre has announced its second round of funding pre-approvals for 2020, through which it will support 59 projects at various stages of production and development. Among the list of projects:

  • LOVE IN TIMES OF CORONA VIRUS by Laila Pakalnina, producer: EAVE graduate Dagne Vildziunaite 

  • MOTINOS by Birute Kapustinskaite, producer: EAVE + graduate Kestutis Drazdauskas 

  • SAUSIS by Viesturs Kairiss, producer: EAVE + graduate Kestutis Drazdauskas 

  • SAY YOU LOVE ME by Elena Rozukaite, producer: EAVE graduate Ieva Norviliene

www.lkc.lt/en

 

 EAVE Project MAYSOON by Nancy Biniadaki, producer: EAVE participant Christopher Zitterbart is in development. The film has received the first production funding in Germany. The German Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) supports the project. The plot: The safe and happy life of a young Egyptian woman in Berlin threatens to break when her partner is leaving her for another woman. Repressed stories from her former political activities suddenly reappear, and she is facing the danger of losing. Developed through MFI Script 2 Film, participation at FEST Pitching Forum, supported by Creative Europe – MEDIA Programme of the EU. 

https://watchmen.de/films/maysoon

 

 TRANSIT TIMES by Ana-Felicia Scutenicu, producer: EAVE graduate Jonas Weydemann is in development. The plot: Mid 1990s somewhere in the former Soviet Empire. Tamara struggles for survival for her family, her two kids. The old values and stability of the communist era have become meaningless, but still no new ones have been established. The film receives funding from the German Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Creative Europe.

www.weydemannbros.com/filme/transit-times

 

 EAVE project THE HERD by Milko Lazarov, producer: EAVE participant Veselka Kiryakova is in development. The project is about the particularities of the small, vanishing communities and their way of life, religion and culture in the context of threat from globalization and the unification of cultural values. This subject is dramatically explored through the relationship between a boy from the mountains with special abilities and a girl from the nearest village, both children belonging to different ethnographical identity. The project’s main message is the belief that only children as carriers of the new are capable of letting go of age-old enmities and cultural differences. The film is supported by the Bulgarian National Film Centre and Creative Europe - MEDIA. Support comes from the Bulgarian National Film Centre, Bulgarian National Television, 42 Film (MDM Germany), Arizona Productions (CNC France), ZDF/ARTE and Eurimages. 

http://redcarfilms.com

 

 EMBODIED CHORUS by Mohamed Sabbah & Danielle Davie producer: EAVE graduate Julia Wagner & Yara Abi Nader, MADAME LE TAPIS, co-producer: Hélène Walland & Chris Neuman, Wild Fang Films is in pre-production. The hybrid / creative documentary presents a HIV-positive woman and a gay man who experience living with sexually transmitted infections in Lebanon. They engage with others to wake up to the feeling that everything is possible. The project was selected for the IFP week / Spotlight on documentaries section and received IDFA Bertha Fund Europe, OIF Fonds Images de la Francophonie and Luxembourg Film Fund. Confirmed partners: IDFA Bertha Classic development fund, Springboard El Gouna Egypt: Main Jury Award, Lebanese Ministry of Culture fund, IMS Media Support Denmark, PostOffice Beirut, AFAC Arab fund for Arts and Culture, BUSAN ACF/AND Asian Cinema Fund, Luxemburg Film Fund.

www.heartwake.de/films/portfolio

 

 THE HAPPIEST MAN IN THE WORLD by Teona Strugar Mitevska, producer: EAVE graduate Labina Mitevska receives support from the North Macedonia Film Agency. 

sistersandbrothermitevski.com

 

 RHINOCEROS by Oleg Sentsov, producers: EAVE graduates Izabela Wojcik, Heino Deckert, EAVE + graduate Violetta Kaminska is in pre-production. RHINOCEROS takes place in the 90s in the Ukraine, during the transition from the Soviet Union. "We have seen a lot of films about criminals but I am interested mostly in an average person: what a person feels, why they act this way, whether such a person can change... . After all, there are no bad people, there are people who do bad things," Sentsov said. The co-production between the Ukraine, Poland and Germany is supported by the State Film Agency of Ukraine, the Polish Film Institute and the German film fund Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg. The preparation for the shooting of RHINOCEROS started back in 2013, but was halted due to Sentsov’s imprisonment in Russia.

http://applefilm.pl

 

 THE FRAGILE BEAUTY OF MASCULINITY by Andrea Culkova, producer: EAVE graduate Katarina Krnacova is in development
 
Produced by Czech Duracfilm, Slovak Silverart, and  Norwegian Chezville, the film sets out to explore the crisis of masculinity, which would not be possible without also looking at femininity. The plot revolves around a married couple and their relationship, which starts shifting following Adam’s adrenaline-fuelled exploits. The director attended a scriptwriting residency by the European Women’s Audiovisual Network under the guidance of experienced script consultant Suzanne Pradel. In July, the film was presented KVIFF & MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2020.
 
 
 

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A THOUSAND FIRES produced by EAVE graduates Estelle Robin You, May Odeh and Palmyre Badinier is in production

 A THOUSAND FIRES by Saeed Taji Farouki, producers: EAVE graduates Estelle Robin You, May Odeh and Palmyre Badinier is in production
 
A THOUSAND FIRES is a story about the human scale of the oil industry in Myanmar, and the marks it leaves on the body and soul. It is a film about transformation, reincarnation, and generational clashes. Supported by Region Pays de la Loire, Region Rhône Alpes, Procirep, CNC – Aide aux Cinémas du Monde, Creative Europe Media (slate funding), Al Jazeera documentary, Netherlands Film Fund, Buddhist Programing KRO-NCRV, OFC – Office Fédéral de la Culture (Suisse), Cineforom, RTS, Swiss OFC, Cineforom and the Swiss TV RTS, the Buddhist Channel and the Netherlands film fund.
 
www.balibari.com
 
 
 ERIK STONEHEART by Ilmar Raag, producers: EAVE graduate and Estonian National Coordinator Riina Sildos, EAVE graduates Paul Thiltges, Adrien Chef, Aleksi Bardy is shooting
 
The film revolves around an 11-year-old boy called Erik, who is convinced that he has a stone for a heart. That’s why he doesn’t mind that his parents have no time for him or that he has no real friends. When his family moves to a villa they inherited from Aunt Brunhilda, he discovers another family living there – Maria and her dad, whom Erik’s parents want to kick out. When the family gets an eviction notice, Maria hatches a secret plan to bring back her missing mother to save them. Together, they end up on a fantastical journey to the In- Between-World, and Erik learns how hard it really is to wear a heart of stone. The first shooting session took place in November in Luxembourg’s Filmland Studios, whilst the ongoing one began on 6 July and will wrap on 25 July. Current locations are Tallinn’s Haven Kakumäe Marina and Toila (in Ida-Viru County). A third and final filming session is scheduled to take place from 3-18 August at Meysembourg Castle (Luxembourg).
ERIK STONEHEART is being produced by Riina Sildos for Estonia’s Amrion, in co-production with Paul Thiltges and Adrien Chef for Luxembourg’s Paul Thiltges Distributions, Uljana Kim for Lithuania’s Uljana Kim Studios, Aleksi Bardy for Finland’s Helsinki-filmi Oy and Roberts Vinovskis for Latvia’s Locomotive Productions. The project is being backed by the Estonian Film Institute, the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, the Viru Film Fund, Film Fund Luxembourg, the Creative Europe - MEDIA programme, the Lithuanian Film Centre, the Finnish Film Foundation, YLE and the National Film Centre of Latvia.
 
www.amrion.ee
 
 MELCHIOR THE APOTHECARY by Elmo Nüganen, producers: EAVE graduaze Esko Rips, EAVE + graduate Kristian Taska is in production
The protagonist of the story is Apothecary Melchior, who needs to discover the secrets behind a wave of murders set in medieval Tallinn. The Estonian/Latvian/German coproduction is based on Indrek Hargla's successful crime novels. The first part of the medieval crime trilogy started shooting on in July in Tallinn. The Estonian Film Institute supported the first film. The film has recently been approved for the Riga Film Fund cash rebate scheme. Besides Tallinn, the shooting will take place in Narva, Purtse, Lääne-Viru County, Saare County, and in Latvia. The shooting will wrap at the end of this year.
 
www.nafta.ee
 
 BURIAL by Emilija Skarnulyte, producer: EAVE graduate Dagne Vildziunaite is in production
The 70-minute film is a reflection on the effect of nuclear power, and looks at its impact from the archeological perspective of a visitor from the future. The journey goes from an Etruscan burial site to New Mexico, which was the site of the world’s first nuclear test. The sequences presented are notable for their striking visual images and minimalist soundscape. The project participated in the Eurimages Lab Project Award presentation at the online edition of Karlovy Vary Eastern Promises in July 2020.
 
www.justamoment.lt

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LOCARNO OPEN DOORS 2020 invites EAVE Producers to meet the selected projects during their upcoming online edition

Dear EAVE Producers, 

 

The next edition of Open Doors is taking place online during Locarno 2020, highlighting 8 feature projects for international coproduction and 9 production talents from Southeast Asia and Mongolia.

We invite you to discover the 2020 selection on the OD booklet at this LINK.
 

Professional meetings

One-to-one meetings with the project-holders of the Hub will be scheduled on 6, 7, 10 and 11 August 2020 via a digital meetings platform.

Requests will also be taken in consideration for the 9 creative producers selected at the Open Doors Lab.

 

If you wish to request meetings with the project-holders, please first contact Open Doors’ Meetings Coordinator Alan Quaglieri at meetings@locarnofestival.ch by July 30th.
An invitation will be then sent to you in order to activate your profile on Locarno’s meetings platform.


 

Online events and screenings

The program will close with Open Doors’ Awards Ceremony on 12 August 2.30pm UTC+2.


You will also be able to access for free Locarno Pro’s online conversations and of course screenings of films including the Open Doors Screenings, the Pardi di Domani competition and a Journey Through the Festival History (*according to territories agreements with the rights holders).

No accreditation is foreseen for industry professionals for this special edition. Access to the initiatives is free of charge, but it is necessary to register individually for each of them.


More details on the industry conversations and the online screenings will be provided soon on www.locarnofestival.ch.

For any questions regarding the 2020 edition, please contact the Open Doors Team at meetings@locarnofestival.ch.

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New film by EAVE graduate Marija Razgute now in post-production

 RUNNER by Andrius Blazevicius, producer: EAVE graduate Marija Razgute is in post-production. The film about sacrifice, love and freedom takes place in a 24-hour period. The central character, Marija is on a frantic search for her boyfriend, who is on the loose during his latest psychotic episode. She chases down random clues throughout the city. The Lithuanian/Czech coproduction, which was previously titled Paralysis, was introduced on 6 July 2020 at First Cut+ Works in Progress, presented as part of the online Karlovy Vary Eastern Promises programme. The film received production support from the Lithuanian Film Centre. Principle photography took place in Lithuania in the summer of 2019. Post-production should be finished by the end of the summer.

www.m-films.lt

 

 IMMACULATE by Monica Stan and George Chiper Lillemark, producer: EAVE graduate Marcian Lazar is in post-production. IMMACULATE is based on the personal story of Stan’s own life and tells the story of Daria, 18 and in love, whose boyfriend introduced her to heroine. Her boyfriend is sent to prison, and she checks into a rehab clinic to get clean. Daria vows to remain faithful to the boyfriend, but the men at the rehab clinic begin to clash over her, some wanting to look out for her, others wanting her for themselves. The film was presented at the online First Cut+ Works in Progress section of Karlovy Vary IFF's Eastern Promises. 

www.alexfilm.ro

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Three awards for EAVE graduates at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

Winner of KVIFF Eastern Promises 2020 Online

  • WILD ROOTS by Hajni Kis, producer: EAVE graduates Julia Berkes and Balazs Zachar 

 Works in Progress Post-production Development Award

  • EAVE project THE ALLEYS by Bassel Ghandour, producer: EAVE graduate Rula Nasser 

 Works in Development - Feature Launch KVIFF & MIDPOINT Development Award

  • USUD by Stefan Malesevic, producer: EAVE MW graduate Andrijana Sofranic Sucu

www.kviff.com

 

 Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival 

  • PELICAN BLOOD by Katrin Gebbe, producer: EAVE graduate Vera Gräfe-Höft won the Best of Bucheon Award at the hybrid edition of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) which wrapped in South Korea.

www.bifan.kr/eng

 

 Romanian Gopo Awards

Success for EAVE graduates at the Romanian Gopo Awards:

  • THE WHISTLERS by Corneliu Porumboiu, co-producer: EAVE graduate Jonas Dornbach received 10 awards including in the best film and best director categories 

  • MONSTERS by Marius Olteanu, producer: EAVE graduate and Romanian National coordinator Ada Solomon was awarded best actress and best actor (Judith State and Iulian Postelnicu)

  • TOUCH ME NOT by Adina Pintilie, producer: EAVE graduate Philippe Avril was awarded best first film

  • MARONA’S FANTASTIC TALE, produced and directed by EAVE graduate Anca Damian, co-producer: EAVE graduate Tomas Leyers won Best Original Music

  • THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND ME by Mona Nicoar, producer: EAVE graduate and Romanian National coordinator Ada Solomon won best documentary

https://premiilegopo.ro

 

 Iceland Documentary Film Festival

  • COLLECTIVE by EAVE graduate and Luxembourgish National Coordinator Bernard Michaux wins the main award at the Iceland Documentary Film Festival.

https://icedocs.is/

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MYTHO produced by EAVE graduate Caroline Nataf nominated in 5 categories by the French Association of Series Reviews

 Cinekid Script Lab

19 writers from 14 different countries have been selected to participate in Cinekid Script LAB. The six-month initiative focuses on the development of scripts for children’s films. Among them five projects by EAVE graduates:

  • A GHOST YOU KNOW produced by EAVE graduate Jon Nohrstedt
  • MALCOLM ROCKS produced by EAVE + graduates Ilkka Matila and Marko Röhr
  • MARIT AND THE MAXIMARKET produced by EAVE graduate Peter De Maegd
  • MIKI’S WORLD produced by EAVE graduate Denis Vaslin
  • OGRES AND BOGIES produced by EAVE graduate Milan Stojanovic

https://cinekid.nl

 

 NEW HORIZONS STUDIO + 2020

Participants of the 11th edition of New Horizons Studio + 2020: 

  • LOVE LAND by Viktoria Marinov, producer: EAVE MW graduate Malgorzata Wabinska 
  • EAVE project TO THE NORTH by Mihai Mincan, producers: EAVE graduate Radu Stancu, EAVE MW graduate Ioana Lascar
  • USUD by Stefan Malesevic, producer: EAVE MW graduate Andrijana Sofranic Sucur

www.nowehoryzonty.pl

 

 MYTHO produced by EAVE graduate Caroline Nataf has been nominated in 5 categories by the French Association of Series Reviews: best series, best actress, best scenario, best achievement, best production.

http://www.lefilmfrancais.com/television/147647/prix-de-l-association-francaise-des-critiques-de-series-les-nominations-2020

 

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EAVE Marketing Workshop project WHITE ON WHITE in Spanish Cinemas

 In French cinemas

  • JUMBO by Zoé Wittock, producers: EAVE graduates Anaïs Bertrand, Pascaline Saillant, Annabella Nezri, Gilles Chanial. July 1. 

www.insolenceproductions.com

  • MALMKROG by Cristi Puiu, co-producers: EAVE graduates Milan Stojanovic, Anamaria Antoci, Labina Mitevska, Dan Wechsler

www.senseproduction.rs

 

 In Belgian cinemas

  • UN FILS by Mehdi M Barsaoui, producer: EAVE graduate Myriam Sassine. July 1. 

www.abboutproductions.com

  • MONOS by Alejandro Landes, producer: EAVE graduate Fernando Epstein. July 1. 

www.mutantecine.com

  • JUMBO by Zoé Wittock, producers: EAVE graduates Anaïs Bertrand, Pascaline Saillant, Annabella Nezri, Gilles Chanial. July 1. 

www.insolenceproductions.com

 

 In UK cinemas

  • A WHITE, WHITE DAY by Hlynur Palmason, producer: EAVE graduate Anton Mani Svansson, co-producers: EAVE graduate Katrin Pors and PUENTES graduate Nima Yousefi, TTB graduate Mikkel Jersin. July 3.   

www.snowglobefilm.com

  • VOLCANO by Roman Bondarchuk, producer: EAVE graduate Olena Yershova, co-producer: EAVE graduate Tanja Georgieva. July 3. 

http://tatofilm.com

 

 In Dutch cinemas

  • DUELLES by Olivier Masset-Depasse, producer: EAVE graduate Jacques-Henri Bronckart. July 16.   

www.versusproduction.be

 

 In Swiss cinemas

  • 7500 by Patrick Vollrath, producer: EAVE + graduate Jonas Katzenstein. July 1. 

www.augenschein-filmproduktion.de

  • BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ by Burhan Qurbani, producers: EAVE graduates Léontine Petit, Derk-Jan Warrink, Marleen Slot. July 9. 

www.lemmingfilm.com

 

 In German cinemas

  • TOO FAR AWAY (ZU WEIT WEG) by Sarah Winkenstette, producer: TTB group leader, EAVE graduate and German National Coordinator Jonas Weydemann. July 1. 

www.weydemannbros.com

  • BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ by Burhan Qurbani, producers: EAVE graduates Léontine Petit, Derk-Jan Warrink, Marleen Slot. July 15. 

www.lemmingfilm.com

  • AND THEN WE DANCED by Levan Akin, producer: EAVE FFF graduate Ketie Daniela

www.totem-films.com/films/and-then-we-danced


 

 In Croatian cinemas

  • THE BAREFOOT EMPEROR, directed and produced by EAVE graduate Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth, co-producers: EAVE graduates Frans van Gestel, Arnold Heslenfeld and Laurette Schillings. July 27.

www.topkapifilms.nl

 

 In Italian cinemas

 

  • MONOS by Alejandro Landes, producer: EAVE graduate Fernando Epstein. July 31. 

www.mutantecine.com

 

 In Spanish cinemas

  • EAVE Marketing Workshop project BLANCO EN BLANCO by Théo Court, producer: PUENTES graduate Giancarlo Nasi 

www.donquijotefilms.com


 

 In Danish cinemas

  • THE COUNTY by Grimur Hakonarson, co-producer: EAVE graduate Ditte Milsted. July 30.

 www.profilepictures.dk


 

 Streamings

AYOUNI by Yasmin Fedda, producer: EAVE graduate Elhum Shakerifar will be launching WorldWide on Wednesday 1st July and available directly through the film's website: www.AyouniFilm.com. Please join us in marking its release by streaming it.

Ayouni follows the journeys of two phenomenal women Noura and Machi; their loved ones - open source software developer Bassel Khartabil, and celebrated Jesuit priest Father Paolo Dall’Oglio - are amongst over 100,000 forcibly disappeared individuals in Syria. Faced with the limbo of an overwhelming absence of information, hope is their only anchor. See the trailer here.

The expression ‘ayouni’ in Arabic is a commonly used term of endearment. It literally means ‘my eyes’ and is understood as ‘my love’ – suggesting that when you love someone, your eyes see the world through the prism of their existence. To us, it speaks to the limbo and ongoing quest for justice that families are locked into when a loved one is forcibly disappeared.  

This is a film about accountability, about resilience, about hope. It speaks loudly to the present moment we are all living – and those closely following the situation in Syria - the news of the Cesar Act, the trials in Germany – will also know that the detention and disappearance are under the microscope, though not present enough in the headlines. 

Please help us spread the word (don't forget to use the hashtag #Ayouni via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) and thank you in advance for supporting us, as we launch this real feat of independent cinema (7 years in the making, no less!) 

www.hakawati.co.uk

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FESTIVALS ONLINE

FESTIVALS ONLINE

 Revelations Perth Film Festival  (July 9 – 19)

  • ATLANTIS by Valentyn Vasyanovych, producer: EAVE graduate Vladimir Yatsenko 

  • PUSH by Frederik Gertten, producer: EAVE graduate Margarete Jangard

  • SIBERIA by Aberl Ferrara, producer: Interchange graduate Marta Donzelli

  • THE SOUND IS INNOCENT by Johana Ozvold, producers: EAVE graduate Jean-Laurent Csinidis   

www.revelationfilmfest.org

 

 Galway Film Fleadh (July 7 – 12)

  • IN TOUCH by Pawel Ziemilski, producer: EAVE graduate Anton Máni Svansson 

  • MY EXTRAORDINARY SUMMER WITH TESS by Steven Wouterlood, producers: EAVE graduates Marcel Lenz, Guido Schwab

  • POISSONSEXE by Olivier Babinet producer: PUENTES graduate Valérie Bournonville 

www.galwayfilmfleadh.com


 

FID International Film Festival of Marseille (July 22 – 26)

  • I WAS AT HOME, BUT by Angela Schanelec, line producer: EAVE graduate Jana Cisar, co-producer: EAVE graduate Natasa Damnjanovic

www.fidmarseille.org

 

 Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (July 3 – 11)

  • BREAKING SURFACE by Joachim Hedén, producer: EAVE graduate Julia Gebauer

  • JUMBO by Zoé Wittock, producers: EAVE graduates Anaïs Bertrand, Pascaline Saillant, Annabella Nezri, Gilles Chanial

  • POISSONSEXE by Olivier Babinet producer: PUENTES graduate Valérie Bournonville 

  • SCHLAF by Michael Venus, producer: EAVE graduate Verena Gräfe Höft

  • SEA FEVER by Neasa Hardiman, producer: EAVE graduate Jean-Yves Roubin

www.nifff.ch

 

 Sofia Meetings (July 3 – 8)

Second Film Projects

  • NENE by Mariam Khatchvani, producer: EAVE graduate Vladimer Katcharava

Plus Minus One Projects

  • THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO KIMON by Neritan Zinxhiria, producer: EAVE graduate Vasilis Chrysanthopoulos

  • THE HERD by Milko Lazarov, producer: EAVE participant Vesselka Kiryakova

  • THE WORKER by Eliza Petkova, producer: EAVE graduate Karsten Stöter

First Films First

  • LITTLE TROUBLE GIRL by Urska Djukic, producer: EAVE graduate Marina Gumzi

  • BABY by Kyritsis Nikolas, producer: EAVE graduate Maria Drandaki 

Projects in Bank

  • EAVE project DUE (TWO OF US) by Giuseppe Battiston, producer: EAVE graduate Marica Stocchi
  • HELLO by Stephan Komandarev, producer: EAVE graduate Katya Trichkova 
  • KIRIL'S LUCK by Milena Andonova, producer: EAVE graduate Katya Trichkova 
  • TRIUMPH by Peter Valchanov, Kristina Grozeva, producer: EAVE graduate Konstantina Stavraniou

Presentation of European Training Programmes including:

Mercedes Fernandez Alonso, TORINO FILM LAB, Italy
Violeta Kaminska, SCRIPTEAST, Poland
Antoine Le Bos, LESS IS MORE, France
Kristina Trapp, EAVE, Luxembourg
Stefan Arsenijevic, FIRST FILMS FIRST, Serbia

 

 Polish Days at New Horizons IFF (July 27 – 29)

Completed films

  • DEAR ONES by Grzegorz Jaroszuk, producer: EAVE graduate Agnieszka Kurzydło

  • LOVE TASTING by Dawid Nickel, producer: EAVE graduate Marta Habior

  • SWEAT by Magnus von Horn, producer: EAVE graduate Mariusz Wlodarski, sales: EAVE graduate Jan Naszewski

Pitchings 

  • FEARS by Łukasz Ronduda, producer: EAVE graduate Kuba Kosma

  • FUCKING BORNHOLM by Anna Kazejak, producer: PUENTES and EAVE MW graduate Marta Lewandowska

  • GENTLEMEN OF ZAKOPANE by Maciej Kawalski, producer: EAVE graduate Agnieszka Dziedzic

  • I WANNA BE YOURS by Grzegorz Mołda, producer: EAVE graduate Izabela Igel

  • SORRY, POLAND by Kuba Czekaj, producer: EAVE graduate Anna Rozalska

  • TRACKERS by Maciej Mądracki, Michał Mądracki, Gilles Lepore, producers: EAVE graduate Beata Rzeźniczek

Works in Progress

  • ANATOMIA by Ola Jankowska, producers: EAVE graduates Łukasz Dzięcioł, Edyta Janczak-Hiriart

Marché du Film Online

  • WIKA! by Agnieszka Zwiefka, producer: EAVE graduate Katarzyna Slesicka

The POLISH FILM INSTITUTE – EAVE Scholarship award at the Polish Days 2020 goes to Anna Stylinska - congratulations!

www.nowehoryzonty.pl

 

 Transilvania International Film Festival Cluj-Napoca (July 31 – August 9)

  • 18% GREY by Viktor Chouchkov, producers: EAVE graduates Katya Trichkova, Boris Chouchkov, Marcel Lenz, Guido Schwab

  • ACASA, MY HOME by Radu Ciorniciuc, producer: EAVE graduate Monica Lazurean-Gorgan 

  • ADULTS IN THE ROOM by Costa-Gravras, producer: EAVE graduate Alexandre Gavras

  • ATLANTIS by Valentyn Vasyanovych, producer: EAVE graduate Vladimir Yatsenko

  • COLLECTIVE by Alexander Nanau, producer: EAVE graduate Bernard Michaux 

  • CORPUS CHRISTI by Jan Komasa, co-producer: EAVE graduate Patrice Nezan 

  • EAVE project SOLE
 by Carlo Sironi, producers: EAVE graduates Giovanni Pompili, Agnieszka Wasiak

  • FATHER by Srdan Golubovic, producers: EAVE graduates Danijel Hocevar, Adis Djapo, EAVE graduate and National Coordinator Bosnia-Herzegovina Amra Baksic Camo 

  • GIPSY QUEEN by Hüseyin Tabak, producer: EAVE graduate Danny Krausz 

  • INSTINCT by Halina Reijn, producers: EAVE graduates Frans van Gestel, Arnold Heslenfeld, Laurette Schillings

  • JUMBO by Zoé Wittock, producers: EAVE graduates Anaïs Bertrand, Pascaline Saillant, Annabella Nezri, Gilles Chanial

  • PATRICK by Tim Mielants, co-producers: EAVE graduates Jacques-Henri Bronckart, Peter Bouckaert, Frans van Gestel

  • PELICAN BLOOD by Katrin Gebbe, producer: EAVE graduate Vera Gräfe-Höft

  • IVANA THE TERRIBLE by Ivana Mladenovic, producer: EAVE graduate and Romanian National Coordinator Ada Solomon 

  • MALMKROG by Cristi Puiu, co-producers: EAVE graduates Milan Stojanovic, Anamaria Antoci, Labina Mitevska, Dan Wechsler

  • MARONA’S FANTASTIC TALE, produced and directed by EAVE graduate Anca Damian, co-producer: EAVE graduate Tomas Leyers 

  • ROUNDS by EAVE graduate Stephan Komandarev, producer: EAVE graduate Katya Trichkova 

  • SHINDISI by Dito Tsintsadze, co-producer: EAVE graduate Vladimer Katcharava  

  • THE BAREFOOT EMPEROR, directed and produced by EAVE graduate Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth, co-producers: EAVE graduates Frans van Gestel, Arnold Heslenfeld and Laurette Schillings

  • THE COUNTY by Grimur Hakonarson, producer: EAVE graduate Jamila Wenske

  • THE MONEYCHANGER by Federico Veiroj, producer: PUENTES graduate Hernan Musaluppi 

  • UPPERCASE PRINT by Radu Jude, producer: EAVE graduate and Romanian National Coordinator Ada Solomon

  • WOOD by EAVE graduates Ebba Sinzinger, Monica Lazurean-Gorgan, Michaela Kirst, producers: EAVE graduates Ebba Sinzinger, Monica Lazurean-Gorgan 

https://tiff.ro/en/ 

 

Frontières International Co-Production Market (July 23 - 26)

  • ELECTRIC CHILD by Simon Jaquemet, producer: EAVE graduate and group leader Didar Domehri, EAVE group leader and EAVE+ graduate Titus Kreyenberg 
  • THE WITCH'S BOY by Kyoko Miyake, producer: EAVE graduate Guillaume De Seille 
  • PUENTES project THE FEVER by Mateo Bendesky, producers: PUENTES graduates Agustina Costa Varsi, Daniel Pech

https://frontieresmarket.com/en/coproduction-market/2020

 Festivals cancelled or postponed

  • Odessa International Film Festival (September 25 – October 3)

www.oiff.com.ua

  • European Film Festival Palic  (August 8 – 14)

www.palicfilmfestival.com

  • Pula International Film Festival (July 13 – 21)

www.pulafilmfestival.hr

  • PriFest, Prishtina International Film Festival (August 25 – 30) 

www.prifest.org

  • Durban International Film Festival (September 10 – 20) online

http://ccadiff.ukzn.ac.za

  • Jerusalem Film Festival (December 10 – 20) 

www.jff.org.il

  • New Horizons International Film Festival Wroclav (November 5 – 15)

www.nowehoryzonty.pl

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CREATIVE PRODUCER INDABA ANNOUNCES ITS PREMIERE SELECTION

The urgent need for global black stories that center African perspectives could not be more timely as the world reckons with the Black Lives Matter movement. In order for these African diasporic stories to take their rightful place on the global stage there is a critical missing element – more skillful producers with access to international financing to birth these projects into reality to counter balance the wealth of untold stories and creatives stemming from the continent. In response Realness Institute is launching Creative Producer Indaba.

This year-long professional producorial development programme was created in partnership with EAVE, International Film Festival Rotterdam’s IFFR Pro and Sundance Institute. “The media landscape of Africa is swiftly changing and the importance of local producers that have the training to catalyze the growth of their local markets is paramount,” says Indaba African Group Leader and Realness Institute Co-Founder Mehret Mandefro. “Indaba will make sure African talent is well-positioned to capitalize on the opportunities their markets present and insure that the media sector can become an engine for economic growth and development across Africa.”

The first workshop will take place online from August 28 to September 11, 2020. “Indaba is a game-changer for producers on the continent who are interested in building their skills in international coproductions and financing and playing a role as eco-system builders in their market,” says Head of IFFR Pro Marit van den Elshout. IFFR Pro, hosts CineMart, the premiere co-production market in the world.

“We are excited to work with the Realness Institute in partnership with EAVE and International FilmFestival Rotterdam's IFFR Pro to support emerging African producers. Our participation is a great opportunity to listen and work together with our partners to consider new business practices that have the potential to impact financing and co-production structures between Africa, Europe and North America,” noted Matthew Takata, Senior Manager of the Sundance Institute International Feature Film Program.

The inaugural cohort of 17 participants is divided into two groups, those with projects and those who are focusing on career development.

The 2020 participants with projects are producers:

  • Carol Kioko – DISKO MATANGA, Feature Film by Silas Miami (Kenya)
  • Maia Lekow – HOW TO BUILD A LIBRARY, Feature Documentary by Chris King (Kenya)
  • Lesedi Moche – ARE YOU WEARING YOU? Feature Documentary by Nikissi Serumaga (Uganda)
  • Lara Sousa – KARIGANA, Feature Film by Inadelso Costa (Mozambique)
  • Souleyman Kebe – COURA + OULEYE, Feature Film by Iman Djonne (Senegal)
  • Wafa Tajdin - THE LAST POST OFFICE IN LAGOS, Feature Film by Akinola Davies Jnr. (Nigeria)

The 2020 participants with career development focus are:

  • Chioma Onyenwe – Artistic Director, Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), (Nigeria)
  • Dina Ema – Founder; Producer, Lotus Picture Co. (Egypt)
  • Flavia Motsisi – Commissioning Editor for Local Entertainment Channels, Mnet (South Africa)
  • Frank Hoeve – Producer; Co-Owner, BALDR Film (The Netherlands)
  • Israel Mehari –Producer; Assistant Director, Kana TV (Ethiopia)
  • Melissa Adeyemo – Founder; Producer, Ominira Studies (Nigeria/US)
  • Oluwaseun Babalola – Founder; Producer; Director, DO Global Productions (Nigeria/Sierra Leone/US)
  • Thomas Hakim –Founder; Producer, Petit Chaos (France)
  • Thomas Kaske – Founder; Producer, Kaske Films (Germany)
  • Toni Kamau – Founder; Producer, We are not the machine Ltd (Kenya)
  • Yolanda Ncokotwana – Production and Development Manager, National Film and Video Foundation (South Africa)

In addition to training, Creative Producer Indaba aims to be a forum for rethinking business models for content creation in Africa and connecting producers with a community.

“EAVE focuses on people over projects; mind over matter.  The participants’ current projects and career or business issues are used as real life case studies throughout the workshop cycle.  As a result, projects and business are developed, yet our long-term success criteria are that participants become/remain successful professionals with distinct voices, that actively engage in sustaining, strengthening, and innovating audiovisual storytelling as well as the industry as a whole  – regionally, nationally and internationally.” says CEO of EAVE Kristina Trapp. EAVE has been building networks of producers for over 30 years.

Realness Institute presents Creative Producer Indaba in partnership with EAVE, IFFRPro, Sundance Institute; with the support of DOCA, National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, French Institute of South Africa and IEFTA.

For further enquiries, please email: ab@realness.institute

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EAVE announces 14 new National Coordinators!

         

 

EAVE is proud to announce several new appointments as EAVE country and continent representatives. 

With great film industry experience and careers, the following 14 players in the international film industry will become part of the EAVE National Coordinators’ Network.

 

“EAVE Producers Workshop was probably the biggest step in my journey from producing a film - to being a producer. Mentorship of such wonderful people and professionals was inspiring, empowering experience, while friendships with fellow producers only got stronger in time. Every once in a while, I wish I could go back and do it again.

Being appointed as the National Coordinator in my country is such a great honor, that I'm honestly humbled by it. I'm grateful I'll be able to contribute and be an ambassador to what I feel is a family to me. And I very much look forward to working with the amazing EAVE team, as well as with the fellow producers in Serbia.”

Milan Stojanovic, Sense Production, Serbia

 

NEW in 2020: EAVE has selected ambassadors from Africa, Asia and Latin America representing the growing and dynamic new producer generation outside of Europe and to foster international co-productions between these continents and Europe.

 

"EAVE was so instrumental in my career development and I could only pay it forward by encouraging other producers and help grow the brand in Africa." 

Bongiwe Selane, Blingola Media, South Africa

 

A warm welcome to our new EAVE ambassadors!

 

AFRICA

Bongiwe SELANE, Blingola Media, South Africa

Bongiwe Selane is an award-winning producer who has produced across several mediums, including commissioned serial content for Africa’s largest pay TV broadcaster, multiple short films, a feature film and a documentary series. Her credits and accolades include Culture Shock, the 2013 SAFTA winner for best reality show; Best South African Short Film at The Durban International Film Festival in 2015 for uNomalanga and The Witch, Great Africans – a documentary series for Africa Magic Entertainment, and she was the first recipient of the NFVF’s Female Only Filmmakers Project, which saw her produce a series of 26 short narrative films by women filmmakers.  Happiness is a Four-Letter Word is her debut feature film which was released in February 2016 is the best performing local film of 2016 in S.A. She is an alumna of the Durban Film Mart, La Fabrique Cinema de l’Institut Français in Cannes, as well as Produire au Sud and the Venice Biennale Cinema College. In 2018, she was awarded a full scholarship by Creative Europe Media to participate in the EAVE Producers Workshop (European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs).

 

ASIA

Bianca BALBUENA, Epicmedia, Philippines

Bianca Balbuena is a Philippine-based producer, writer and CEO of Epicmedia Productions Inc. which has produced over 30 feature films and series most notably Venice Film Festival 2009 Lion of the Future and Orrizonti Best Film “Engkwentro" by Pepe Diokno and Berlinale 2016 Silver Bear "A Lullaby To The Sorrowful Mystery" by Lav Diaz. Currently a mentor at Locarno Open Doors and a group leader at EAVE Ties That Bind, she is also the recipient of the 2018 Busan’s Asian Film Commissions (AFC) Network Producer of the Year and the youngest awardee of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) FIAPF Award for outstanding contribution to Asia Pacific cinema.

 

LATIN AMERICA

Fernanda DEL NIDO, Setembro Cine, Spain

She was born in Buenos Aires and develops her professional career in Spain. Member of EAVE, she has been in the profession for almost twenty years producing and fostering Iberoamerican talents. Among her productions are: the Oscar winner Best Foreign Film "A Fantastic Woman" by Sebastián Lelio, "Rosa's Wedding" by Iciar Bollain (2020), “Princesita" by Marialy Rivas, “Neruda" by Pablo Larraín, "18 comidas" by Jorge Coira, "Tralas Luces" by Sandra Sánchez and "Cold Water of the Sea" by Paz Fábrega.

 

EUROPE

AUSTRIA

Michael KITZBERGER, NGF Geyrhalterfilm

Michael Kitzberger graduated in history, philosophy and film theory and worked as journalist and researcher. In 2003 he founded NGF Geyrhalterfilm in Vienna together with Nikolaus Geyrhalter, Markus Glaser and Wolfgang Widerhofer. An EAVE alumni of 2006, he has produced and coproduced more than 30 feature documentaries, 30 TV docs, 5 feature fiction films and 3 TV doc series (with several seasons) so far. NGF documentaries (OUR DAILY BREAD, HOMO SAPIENS, EARTH, MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE, THE VISIT, …) have been shown in festivals all over the world (Sundance competition, IDFA competition, Berlinale Forum, …) and won numerous awards (a.o. European Film Award, Millenium Award, Grimme Award). Feature fiction films (THE ROBBER, MICHAEL, MADEMOISELLE PARADIS …) have been premiered in Berlinale, Cannes, San Sebastian and Toronto competitions and sold worldwide.

 

DENMARK

Marie SCHMIDT OLESEN, Northern Souls / Autonomi Ltd.

Marie Schmidt Olesen is a creative producer and film consultant working internationally between Scotland and Denmark. An EAVE graduate, Marie is currently developing the feature THE MAN ON THE BEACH, in production with the documentary BALLOON WARS and the cross media hybrid LEGACY OF AN INVISIBLE BULLET as well as collaborating with independent films, organisations and schemes.

 

FINLAND

Elli TOIVONIEMI, Tuffi Films

Elli Toivoniemi is an award-winning producer-director from production company Tuffi Films based in Helsinki, Finland. She has been working as a producer since 2009 and has produced and co-produced films and series in all forms and lengths, including six feature films. Toivoniemi is an EAVE & ACE producer graduate, and is a co-founder-owner of the production company Tuffi Films, and behind acclaimed films like the Academy Award nominated short fiction Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? (2014). Films produced by her have been distributed all over the world and awarded at festivals for instance at Sundance (The Date 2013) and Chicago (The Good Son, 2011), one of the latest productions, Stupid Young Heart (2018) is Berlinale Crystal Bear Winner and Finland’s official Oscar Entry 2019. The newest project she is behind is anthology series Force of Habit, exploring how women are discriminated against because of their gender in public and private life. This all-female production covers 11 episodes and a single feature film by fifteen writers and directors, including herself.

Currently she is working as a producer on live action fantasy family feature film Sihja (2021) as well as the second season of Carpe Fucking Diem TV-serie.

 

NETHERLANDS

Frank HOEVE, BALDR Film

Frank Hoeve is producer and co-owner of Amsterdam-based BALDR Film.

He (co-)produced several award-winning films that were selected to A-Festivals around the world such as Window Boy would also like to have a Submarine by Alex Piperno (Berlinale Forum 2020) and Sick, Sick, Sick, Sick, Sick by Alice Furtado (Cannes Directors Fortnight 2019, KVIFF), Gold by Rogier Hesp (IFFR 2020), Etgar Keret:based on a true Story by Stephane Kaas(International EMMY Award) and Those who feel the fire burning by Morgan Knibbe (IDFA).  

Frank graduated from the Haarlem Business School with a Bachelor of Economics and studied at the Pompeu Farba University in Barcelona.

Besides his producer work he has been vice-president of the New Filmmakers Association, board member for the Go Short International Film Festival and is currently member of the Supervisory Board of Movies that Matter Film Festival.

He has participated in both ACE and EAVE Producer Workshops.

Frank was selected as Producer on the Move during the Cannes Film Festival 2018.

 

IRELAND

Katie HOLLY, Blinder Films

Katie Holly is co-owner and Managing Director of Blinder Films, where she has produced several award winning and critically acclaimed features including One Hundred Mornings (2009), Sensation (2010), Citadel (2012) and The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology (2012) which have screened at festivals including Sundance, Berlinale, Tribeca, SXSW, Toronto, London, Rotterdam, Karlovy Vary and Sydney. Her most recent projects include Come To Daddy (2019); Extra Ordinary (2019); A Dog Called Money (2019); Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami (2017); Vita & Virginia (2018); TV drama Striking Out; Whit Stillman’s Love & Friendship (2016 and The Queen of Ireland (2015). She is currently in post-production on French Exit, an Irish/Canadian co-production directed by Azazel Jacobs and starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges; and has recently completed The Racer, directed by Kieron J. Walsh, starring Louis Talpe, Tara Lee, and Iain Glen which was due to premiere at SXSW 2020. She is a graduate of EAVE, Inside Pictures, was a former Producer on the Move at Cannes, and is a board member of the Screen Ireland and Irish Film Institute and former co-Chair and a founding member of Women in Film and Television Ireland.  She is a member of the Irish Film and Television Academy, BAFTA, BIFA and the European Film Academy; and also founder and co-creative director of X-Pollinator, a cross-disciplinary training and networking initiative for female creative talent.  

 

ITALY

Alessandro GROPPLERO, Fondo Audiovisivo FVG

Alessandro Gropplero graduated in Communication Studies at the Trieste University, he started his working experience in 2003 with the Italian production company PIDGIN; later he moved on to collaborate at the London based company NUMBER 9 FILMS and in 2005 he returned to Italy and started working for the UDINE FAR EAST FILM FESTIVAL.

Since May 2007 he is the head of international relations of the FVG AUDIOVISUAL FUND and in this capacity he has planned the international policy of the fund and managed a variety of initiatives, such as “WHEN EAST MEETS WEST Co-production Forum”, “TIES THAT BIND Asia Europe Producers Workshop” (both supported by the Creative Europe Programme) and RE-ACT Co-development Fund”.

He is an EAVE graduate, board member of EURODOC, and member of the EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY.

 

LUXEMBOURG

Bernard MICHAUX, Samsa Film

Bernard, born and raised in Luxembourg, has studied film production at the University of Television and Film Munich. In 2006 he founded Lucil Film, that merged in 2015 with Samsa Film. Bernard Michaux is a EAVE and ACE Graduate and a member of the European Film Academy. He has produced several award-winning international production like “Tel Aviv On Fire” by Sameh Zoabi or "Collective" by Alexander Nanau.


SERBIA

Milan STOJANOVIC, Sense Production

Milan Stojanovic produced BARBARIANS (2014, KVIFF) by Ivan Ikic and co-produced HER JOB (2018, TIFF) by Nikos Labot and MALMKROG (2020, Golden Bear Plaque, Berlinale) by Cristi Puiu. Milan is an EAVE alumni and a member of the European Film Academy. Together with Maja Popovic and Marija STojanovic, he runs Belgrade-based Sense Production.

 

SLOVAKIA

Katarina KRNÁČOVÁ, Silverart

Katarína Krnáčová is an EAVE graduate and Producers on the Move participant, Vice-President of the Slovak Film and Television Academy and a voting member of European Film Academy. She produced LITTLE HARBOUR, the Crystal Bear-winner at Berlinale, and is currently producing BUNKER, the upcoming film of director György Kristóf (previous film premiered at Cannes' Un Certain Regard) and a debut feature FLOOD by Martin Gonda (short film premiered at Cannes’ Cinéfondation). Next to children family film SUMMER REBELS, Silverart‘s current slate includes a road-movie STAND UP (the first Slovak film shot green), a Czech co-production SAVING THE ONE WHO WAS DEAD directed by Václav Kadrnka and Serbian co-production children film HOW I LEARNED TO FLY.

 

SWEDEN

Julia GEBAUER, Way Creative Films

German, living in Sweden, Julia has a university diploma and is an EAVE graduate (2016). She has been working in the film industry for 15 years producing feature films, documentaries and TV-series - always with an eye for the story that crosses borders. Her recent film Breaking Surface (2020) has sold to 70+ countries.

 

SWITZERLAND

Francine LUSSER, Tipi’mages Productions

Francine Lusser holds a Master's degree in economics from the University of Berne, Switzerland. Attracted by the world of cinema, she worked as location and production manager on national and international films before setting up her own company TIPI’MAGES PRODUCTIONS in Geneva. Francine is a member of the EAVE Network, of the boards of SUISSIMAGE, of the SFP (Swiss Film Producers Association), of the selective film commission of the Canton of Berne, of the board and of the producer experts group the SWISSPERFORM Foundation, and was a member of the Federal Film Commission until the end of 2019.


 

The 14 new National Representatives are joining the other players of the European film industry who have been selected from the EAVE network to represent and promote EAVE in their respective countries.

 

Find the complete list of the 38 EAVE ambassadors on our website.

 

 

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EAVE graduates invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Congratulations to the 819 artists invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences!

Among this prestigious list, we find the following EAVE graduates:

 Monica Weston Hellström 

 Sonja Henrici

 Anne Köhncke

 Monica Lazurean-Gorgan

https://www.oscars.org/

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Call for Applications: EAVE Producers Workshop 2021

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: August 31, 2020

EAVE, European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs, is one of the leading training and development providers for producers in Europe, renowned for its EAVE Producers Workshop.

  Who is it for?

EAVE is aimed at producers, both fiction, documentary and TV series, who are already working in the film and television industries who wish to expand their operation internationally by increasing their knowledge of producing and co-producing in Europe and by building up a pan European professional network. We also welcome applications from associated branches of the industry – e.g. commissioning, funding, legal and finance, festivals & markets, media administration. Each year fifty participants are selected from most of the EU countries and beyond and take part in three one-week long workshops.

  How does it work?

Half the participants attend the course with projects and it is an excellent means of development through intense focus on the project with colleagues and experts throughout the year. The other half come to EAVE in order to focus on developing their companies or careers. Most participants attending with a project also bring their writer for the first two weeks which enables producer and writer to benefit together from one-to-one sessions with script experts.

During the first two workshops, participants work within groups led by experienced producers and with several experts on script analysis, development and production financing, legal aspects of co-production, marketing, pitching, packaging and more. In the third workshop 60-70 Decision Makers (commissioning editors, national and regional media funds, sales agents, etc.) join the participants to discuss the projects, companies and careers of the participants, a process which offers unusual access to Europe's Decision Makers.

EAVE graduates join a unique network of active European producers which forms one of the backbones of the industry. Furthermore, EAVE participants and members benefit from our partnerships with the leading European film festivals and markets where EAVE facilitates graduate participation.

  Timeline
The interviews with a pre-selection of candidates will take place in autumn 2020 and the selection will be announced in December 2020. The 3 workshops take place in March 5-12, 2021 in Luxembourg (LU), June 2021 in Orléans (FR - TBC), and October 2021 in Catalonia (ES - TBC).
EAVE is a residential workshop programme with a strong focus on network building. Should local travel restrictions occur, alternative digital solutions will be proposed.

Check out the EAVE website for more information and the application form or contact us!

 

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Call for applications: EAVE Marketing Workshop 2020

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: August 10, 2020

EAVE offers a tailor-made workshop embracing the importance of marketing techniques and Audience-centered strategies. Co-Heads of Studies Alya Belgaroui-Degalet and Sarah Calderón have designed a unique programme where participants are collectively working on the group’s projects more than half of the time. Inspired by the EAVE sharing pedagogy, Design Thinking techniques and visual, tangible and ludic exercises, the sessions are equally creative, innovative and strategic. The result is a hands-on approach with concrete tools that anyone can apply immediately within their own team in today’s and tomorrow’s industry. This casual way of learning facilitates network and community building across countries from all over the world.

An importance place for digital marketing

Now, more than ever, digital strategies are gaining importance in the audiovisual market. Although digital, innovation and new windows have always been crucial at this workshop, in 2020 we are taking it a step further: we will involve more digital-oriented sessions, more online and hybrid case studies and a handful of forward-thinking social media examples that are linked to the new digital era. Through our EAVE IMPACT Programme, we also consider inviting some participants online to selected sessions.

The 30 carefully selected participants will have a full overview of the actual marketing trades in terms of targeting and positioning from international sales strategies to national release and also generating awareness all across the release process including festivals.

“The EAVE Marketing Workshop has been for me a unique opportunity to work on new marketing techniques together with a group of experts tutors and established colleagues, in an open and collaborative environment where everyone was keen to share experiences in order to improve together in the business.”

Gaetano Maiorino, True Colours Glorious Films, Italy

Participants can apply with or without a project at any stage of production to work with cutting-edge marketing specialists, such as Alya Belgaroui-Degalet (Wild Bunch – international sales marketing) and Sarah Calderon (The Film Agency – marketing consultant) as Heads of Studies and contributors like Michael Arnon (Wolf Consultants – PR), Boris Pugnet (former Head of Marketing at Le Pacte / Editor at Turn Right), Sally Hodgson (PIPOCA, UK), Wendy Mitchell (Screen International, UK) and others to come. These cherry-picked experts go beyond their own field of marketing and get involved in other experts sessions sharing their complementary experience

“The workshop was great in bringing together people from all over the film industry and we've learnt a great deal about what film marketing actually means during each step of a film's life: From production to sales and distribution and finally the audience.”

Meret Ruggle, Trigon Films, Switzerland

The workshop is targeted at producers as well as professionals working in sales, distribution and marketing departments.  We also welcome applications from related areas of the industry (e.g. regional and national funding institutions, film festivals and markets etc.) and from relevant trainers and consultants who want to innovate in their marketing techniques. The two groups that will be working during the entire workshop are balanced in terms of all the above-mentioned trades of the film industry in order to nourish as much as possible the different perspectives.

EAVE MARKETING BUDDIES PROGRAMME

The EAVE Marketing Workshop participants are joined every year by graduates of the renowned EAVE Producers Workshop, who have trained over one year as specialized marketing professionals.


ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS

EAVE is also proud to announce ongoing steady partnerships. We will select participants from Warsaw Kids Film Forum, M:brane, Thessaloniki Crossroads and LA INCUBADORA. Members of CICAE, Europa International, Europa Distribution and EuroVOD as well as EAVE graduates will benefit of special discounts.

The workshop will take place in Luxembourg in partnership with Film Fund Luxembourg. 

Application deadline: August 10, 2020

Application requirements and the application form can be downloaded on our website!

For further information, please contact satu@eave.org.

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CINELINK: Opportunity for EAVE producers

 

Dear EAVE producers, 


We are happy to let you know that thanks our partnership with CineLink Industry Days, we are again able to offer EAVE producers the unique possibility to have privileged access to the CineLink Co-production Market in order to meet regional filmmakers and discover their projects.


Producers interested in co-producing with Southeast Europe can now apply through EAVE for participation at CineLink Industry Days taking place August 15-20, 2020.


In these unprecedented times, a safe place for filmmakers and their projects is needed more than ever. To this end the Sarajevo Film Festival Industry team continues its mission to develop, support and present the most promising projects from the region in various development stages and formats across key CineLink strands: Co-Production Market, Work in Progress and CineLink Drama, but also through programmes that are organized in collaboration with our partners such as Docu Rough Cut Boutique (Balkan Documentary Center) and Docu Talents from the East (Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival).  

 As the latest development of the global pandemics and current epidemiological situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina do not allow Sarajevo Film Festival to host the largest industry event in the Southeast Europe physically, in order to offer the essential aspects of film industry events - both business and social ones, this year CineLink Industry Days will be organized in a new format.  

The new hybrid edition will feature an online segment where most of the business including the meetings at the co-production market, screenings of the work-in-progress films and workshops, panels and talks will be done (August 15-18, 2020).  

CineLink Industry Days activities online: 

  • The CineLink Co-Production Market presents the most promising Southeast European feature projects in a development and financing stage. // August 15 – 18, 2020 (one-on-one meetings) 
  • CineLink Work in Progress, closed screenings of up to 10 feature fiction and documentary films in production or post-production stages from Southeast Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. / August 15 – 18, 2020 (Presentation on August 15) 
  • CineLink Drama, a co-financing forum presenting high-end drama series from Southeast Europe. August 15 – 18, 2020 (one-on-one meetings) 
  • Docu Rough Cut Boutique workshop and closed screening of 5 creative feature length documentary films in post-production from Southeast Europe. //August 14 – 19, 2020 (Presentation on August 16, one-on-one meetings August 17-19) 
  • Docu Talents from the East, a presentation of 10 creative feature length documentary projects from Central and Eastern Europe, in production and post-production. // August 16 – 19, 2020 (Presentation on August 16, one-on-one meetings August 17-19) 
  • Avant Premiere, a workshop dedicated to the new challenges of the cinema exhibition in Former Yugoslavia.  // August 16 – 18, 2020  
  • Talents Sarajevo Pack & Pitch, a workshop and presentation of the up-coming projects selected at Talents Sarajevo. // August 18, 2020 
  • CineLink Talks, series of debates, panel discussions and presentations intended to deal with key issues the industry faces. // August 15 – 19, 2020  

CineLink Industry Days are pleased to present the most promising projects of emerging filmmakers from Southeast Europe selected for the The CineLink Co-production Market, CineLink Drama and Docu Rough Cut Boutique strands. In the weeks to come, CineLink Work in Progress, Docu Talents from the East and Pack & Pitch selections will be announced.  


Please let us know by July 30 if you are interested and send us a short motivation statement by e-mail to tina@eave.org and masa.markovic@sff.ba so that the selection of EAVE producers participating can be made.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!

 

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SPECIAL FOR EAVE PRODUCERS: IFP Week (online) – Deadline: July 26

Dear EAVE producers,


We are happy to continue the special partnership with the Independent Filmmaker Project in the framework of the  IFP Week.


IFP Week, now in its 42nd year, is a signature program of the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), the only multiple-platform, international co-production market for projects in the United States. Taking place usually at IFP’s Made in NY Media Center and nearby venues in New York City, IFP Week spans 5 days with customized 1-on-1 Industry meetings for curated fiction and nonfiction features, series and audio projects, and with panels and screenings in the Conference.
The full week facilitates hundreds of storyteller/industry meetings. Nearly 4,000 filmmakers, series, audio and new media creators, members of the public, and related industry representatives attend annually.
Each day of the conference guides filmmakers in the art, technology and business of independent filmmaking. Project Forum has had a prolific history in the independent community supporting both emerging and established independent filmmakers at critical stages in their development processes. IFP has played a vital role in launching the careers of now-established directors including Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You), Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine), Moira Demos & Laura Ricciardi (Making a Murderer), Robert Eggers (The Witch), Ciro Guerra (Embrace of the Serpent), Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), David Lowery (A Ghost Story), Laura Poitras (Citizenfour), Dee Rees (Mudbound), Denis Villeneuve (Sicario), Roger Ross Williams (Life, Animated), and Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild).


IFP Week will take place online during September 20-25. 2020.


Special for EAVE producers: EAVE and IFP offer the opportunity for 2 EAVE producers to be registered for free at the IFP Week.


Please let us know if you are interested, by e-mail: tina@eave.org, no later than July 26, 2020.


For more information please visit: https://www.ifpweek.com/

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EAVE sessions available to watch!

Don't miss the EAVE sessions available to watch on EAVE vimeo for a limited time!

 

EAVE PED TALK in partnership with Creative Europe Desk Berlin-Brandenburg

Sarah Calderón from The Film Agency shares with us their unique perspective in the digital transition our film industry is currently facing.
Taking a look at concrete experiences and fresh case studies at the Marché du Film Online, Annecy Online, and collecting key examples of virtual cinemas, event-cinemas with social distance and promotion initiatives that involve new selling arguments, we will understand better the present and shape key aspects of the near future.

EAVE Masterclasses in partnership with Marche du Film 2020:

Roadmap to Co-Production, presented by EAVE discusses co-production becoming the new normal. But how to co-produce – and why (or why not)? This session will provide you with a broad overview of opportunities and obstacles, do’s and don’ts. More than anything it attempts to give you an insight into basic considerations and some rules of thumb, that will hopefully make your co-production life easier.

How do you prepare for your meetings with financiers, co-producers and sales-agents? What information do you need to give them? How and when? How do you analyze your project in order to have the relevant facts and be ready to present it? What is relevant information? Is there a difference between pre-arranged and spontaneous meetings? When do you pitch and when do you not?

EAVE Masterclass in partnership with Shoot the Book! in Cannes:

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News archives


Donate to the EAVE Alan Fountain International Scholarship Fund

A scholarship has been set up to honour the memory of Alan Fountain, former Head of Studies and President of EAVE, who passed away in 2016. Its goal is to enable one producer from outside the EU to participate in all three sessions of the EAVE Producers Workshop each year.

Find out more...

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