EAVE April News 2024
- SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier receives funding
In Development April 2024 - FRANZ by Agnieszka Holland is shooting
In Production and Post-Production April 2024 - EAVE project TO THE NORTH Best First Feature at the Romanian Gopo Awards
Awards April 2024 - EAVE Marketing Workshop project THE SETTLERS in Swedish cinemas
In Cinemas April 2024 - EAVE project SOUVENIRS OF WAR selected for Bolzano Film Festival
Festivals April 2024 - MEET EAVE IN MAY!
The EAVE team at workshops and festivals - TIES THAT BIND kicks-off in Udine!
press release - Equitable Co-Productions: Join Us for the EAVE Impact Think Tank Panel in Cannes!
press release - EAVE@ TRONDHEIM: SPECIAL WORKSHOP FOR PARTICIPANTS FROM NORWAY
Call for applications - Empowering Moroccan female filmmakers: Interview with EAVE graduate Lamia Chraibi on Tamayouz Cinéma Foundation
“Mentoring goes beyond sharing facts; it's about exchanging experiences, providing advice and creating a safe space to ask questions without judgment” - EAVE+ 14th Edition: Strategies for Sustainable Film Production Companies
press release - Diversity of filmmakers in the Irish screen industry: Interview with EAVE graduates Katie Holly and Evan Horan on X-Pollinator
"Our viewpoint is to create opportunity and action change in order to address the lack of gender diversity, and not dwell on the general state of the industry." - EAVE on Demand Montenegro coming up!
press release
SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier receives funding
Romanian Film Centre
Romania announces production grants: Ten feature films, including three minority co-productions, received production support.
- A LONG-AWAITED VACATION by Bogdan Theodor Olteanu, producers: EAVE graduates Anda Ionescu, Anamaria Antoci
- DOR by Valeria Testagrossa, producer: EAVE graduate and Romanian National Coordinator Ada Solomon
- FIVE TIMES MY FATHER FORGOT HIS BAG by Dragomir Sholev, producer: EAVE graduate and Romanian National Coordinator Ada Solomon
- I MATTER by Alina Serban, producer: EAVE graduate and Romanian National Coordinator Ada Solomon
- IN DEZECHILIBRU by Paula Onet, producer: EAVE graduate and Romanian National Coordinator Ada Solomon
- JURNALUL ALEGERILOR by Alexandru Solomon, producer: EAVE graduate and Romanian National Coordinator Ada Solomon
- PADUREA LETEA by Eva Pervolovici, producer: EAVE graduate Anca Damian
- WHEN THE KIDS SING THE HITS by Mina Dukic, producers: EAVE graduates Anda Ionescu, Anamaria Antoci
- YESTERDAY FINISHED LAST NIGHT by Oana Tenter, producer: EAVE graduate and Romanian National Coordinator Ada Solomon
Croatian Audiovisual Centre
Two co-productions by EAVE graduates receive minority support by the Croatian Audiovisual Centre:
- MOTHER FREEDOM, FATHER LAND by Elena Cemerska, producer: EAVE graduate Tibor Keser
- WHITES WASH AT NINETY by Marko Nabersnik, producer: EAVE graduate, group leader and National Coordinator Croatia Ankica Juric Tilic
National Film Centre of Latvia
Among the 14 new productions, that receive funding by the National Film Centre of Latvia are 2 projects by EAVE graduates:
- SORCERER’S EYE by Aik Karapetian, producer: EAVE graduate Gints Grube
- TABITA by Juris Kursietis, producer: EAVE graduate Alise Gelze
FFA
Production support by the German-French Funding Commission goes to:
- EIN KURZER SOMMER by Nastia Korkia, producer: EAVE graduate Dirk Decker
- THE MYSTERIOUS GAZE OF THE FLAMINGO by Diego Cespedes, producer: EAVE graduate, TTB group leader and German National Coordinator Jonas Weydemann
Funding from the German Federal Film Board FFA:
- SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier, producer: EAVE graduate Jonas Dornbach
Wallonia-Brussels Federation Film Centre
- VIGILANTE by Olivier Pairoux, producer: EAVE graduate Annabella Nezri receives funding by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation Film Centre.
The Austrian Film Institute & Film Fund Vienna grants production support to:
- RIOT/GIRL by Arman T. Riahi, producer: EAVE graduate Arash T. Riahi
- MÜSSEN WIR ALLE STERBEN? by Werner Boote, producer: EAVE graduate Erich Lackner
- DIE BLUTGRÄFIN by Ulrike Ottinger, producer: EAVE+ graduate Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu
Finnish Film Foundation
The following films receive production support from the Finnish Film Foundation:
- EAGLES OF THE REPUBLIC by Tarik Saleh, producer: EAVE graduates Mark Lwoff and Misha Jaari
- HÄJYT by Aleksi Mäkelä, producer: EAVE + graduate Jukka Helle
- THE ELF by Hannes Vartiaine and EAVE graduate Joonas Berghäll, producer: EAVE graduate Joonas Berghäll
- MY SOUL STARTLED by Syllas Tzoumerkas, producer: EAVE graduate Maria Drandaki, co-producer: EAVE graduate Nadia Trevisan is in pre-production. In his next feature-length project, Tzoumerkas is weaving a tapestry of interconnected stories in the vein of Arabian Nights. Set against the backdrop of the Dodecanese islands, the film delves into the transformation of the idyllic location under the pressure of mass tourism, uncovering the hidden underbelly of a world that was once vibrant and untainted. The story reflects both a lament for lost purity, and an examination of the islands' complex blend of paganism and Christianity. This dichotomy serves as a fertile ground for exploring mythological themes, intertwining tales of gods and titans with the lives of the characters in a way that offers new perspectives on ancient myths. The film will be shot mostly in Greece, with some scenes filmed in Italy. With development wrapped, Tzoumerkas and the producers are completing the financing, aiming to start production in 2025. MY SOUL STARTLED is a Greek-Italian-French-Austrian-Cypriot co-production being staged by Homemade Films, and co-produced by Nefertiti Film, Sister Productions, Nabis Film Group, Felony Productions and the Onassis Foundation. The project has been supported by the Greek Film Centre, ERT SA, MIC – Direzione Generale Cinema e Audiovisivo, the Nouvelle Aquitaine Regional Film Fund and Creative Europe – MEDIA.
https://homemadefilms.gr/my-soul-startled
FRANZ by Agnieszka Holland is shooting
In production
- SUKKWAN ISLAND by Vladimir de Fontenay, co-producer: EAVE graduate Jacques-Henri Bronckart is in production. Adapted by the director himself from the novel Legend of a Suicide by US author David Vann, the story revolves around a young man who heads off to a secluded and hostile island to rekindle memories of his father. Ten years beforehand, they shared an experience that profoundly altered the course of their lives. Produced by Carole Scotta and Eliott Khayat for Haut et Court, SUKKWAN ISLAND is being co-produced by Norwegian outfit Maipo Film, Belgian firm Versus Production and the UK’s Good Chaos. Also on board as co-producers are Finland’s Aurora Studios, Norway’s Fjordic Film and Filmfond Nord, Belgium’s Proximus, VOO-Be TV and RTBF, as well as France’s Proarti. Other sources of support include the Brittany region, Creative Europe – MEDIA, the Norwegian Film Institute, the Inver Tax Shelter, the Global Screen Fund and Curzon. The 25-day shoot in Norway and Scotland will wrap in June.
- FRANZ by Agnieszka Holland, co-producers: EAVE graduates Marcin Wierzchoslawski and David Grumbach, is currently filming in Prague, including the area of the Old Town near Franz Kafka’s birthplace. The film, written by Holland and Marek Epstein, explores Kafka’s life in a mosaic form, from his birth in late 19th century Prague to his death in Austria in 1924. Sarka Cimbalova and Agnieszka Holland are producing through Czech Marlene Film Production in co-production with Marcin Wierzchoslawski through Polish Metro Films, Uwe Schott and Jorgo Narjes through German X-FILME, David Grumbach and Alexis Hofmann through French Bac Films, as well as the Czech Television, Barrandov Studio and Czech Anglo Production. Mike Downey, Daniel Bergmann and Kevan Van Thompson are executive producers. The project has been backed by the Czech Film Fund, the Prague Audiovisual Fund, Eurimages and the Czech Region of Pilsen. The production in Prague started at the beginning of April 2024 and it will continue until the end of May 2024, with additional filming planned in Germany.
- MADE IN EU by EAVE graduate Stephan Komandarev, producer: EAVE graduate Katya Trichkova is currently in production. The story follows Iva, a seamstress in a small town, who is forced to hide the fact that she’s ill in order to keep her job, but after the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in town, all the blame for the infection falls on her and she will be demonised by the community. “I don't like to give ready answers, but rather to raise questions with my films. In MADE IN EU we raise questions about the garment (textile) manufacturing that exist today in the EU in small factories far from the lights of the big cities. We also raise questions about the negative and positive sides of globalisation, and about the division between centre and periphery in Europe. We are interested in what is happening at the periphery: the story follows a seamstress who works six days a week for 12 hours and is unfairly accused as a public enemy. The story is set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it deals primarily with the much more serious pandemic of modern slavery. Everything in the script is based on real stories, because the first COVID-19 outbreaks in Bulgaria happened in such provincial sewing factories”, Stephan Komandarev said. Komandarev is producing together with Katya Trichkova through Argo Films (Bulgaria) in co-production with Eike Goreczka and Christoph Kukula through 42film (Germany) and Pavel Strnad through Negativ (Czech Republic). The film has been supported by the Bulgarian National Film Center, MDM and the Czech Film Fund. The project was developed at MFI (Greece, 2021), Cannes Film Festival’s L’Atelier (2022) and Arras Days (2023), where it won the award for best project. The postproduction will take place in Germany and the Czech Republic, and it will be completed till the end of 2024. The premiere of the film is set for 2025. The producers are currently looking for additional funding from co-production as well as presales from TV broadcasters. The film is currently being shot for 27 days from 18 March 2024 to 1 May 2024 in Dimitrovgrad, Haskovo, Rudozem and Madan (Bulgaria) and also in Leipzig (Germany).
- GLOBAL PROJECT by Ivo Marques Ferreira, producer: EAVE graduate Donato Rotunno is in production. Made up of a 6x45-minute series and a 100-minute feature, Ferreira’s new effort is “anchored in the political, economic and social reality of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and the illusions and disenchantments of a far left that was glorified in 1959, with the Cuban Revolution and the revolutionary myth of Che Guevara, who shouted, ‘Power to the Imagination!’ on May 1968, and which started to decline after the fall of the Berlin Wall”. In detail, the 1970s saw European left-wing armed movements thriving: ETA in Spain, the IRA in Ireland, the Red Brigades in Italy and the Baader-Meinhof Group in Germany. Portugal would have to deal with a similar phenomenon in the 1980s with the Popular Forces 25 April (FP-25), a far-left organisation defending the achievements of the 1974 Carnation Revolution, which brought 48 years of dictatorship to an end. The organisation gradually lost touch with the people it had aimed to protect, and was dismantled by a massive police operation in 1984. The feature and series condense and fictionalise these events. In the vibrant and decadent city of Lisbon, we follow FP-25 members and the police officers chasing them. Rosa, an actress and single mother; Queiroz, her best friend; and Jaime, a disillusioned young soldier – they all belong to the FP-25. Refusing to accept the death of their ideals, they must soon abandon everything and go undercover. On the other side of the barricade, Marlow, an officer with a troubled personality, faces his first big mission against the organisation. He and Rosa were former lovers, and he becomes obsessed with finding her while fulfilling his duty. Donato Rotunno and Luis Urbano, co-producing for Portuguese outfit O Som e a Furia, about the production: “We’re going to finish filming right after the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution. We’re filming for 80 days, and we’ve already started editing. We first aim to release the feature-film version in the first semester of 2025, and ideally release it in Portugal on 24 April 2025, one day before the 51st anniversary of the Carnation Revolution. In order to fulfil this schedule, we will be showing the film at the EFM in Berlin in 2025, together with our world sales agent, The Match Factory. Then, the six-episode TV series will be premiered on RTP and on RTL in the second half of 2025.
In post-production
- APUNTES PARA UNA FICCIÓN CONSENTIDA by Ana Serret Ituarte, producer: EAVE FFF graduate Cristina Zumarraga is in post-production. The film tells the story of Lea Grand, a Swiss woman lost in Madrid, who will have to find her own path to becoming an actress in a country she wasn’t born in. However, she will have some help from an array of different characters whom she crosses paths with: A young actress, her ex, a pianist who does not talk, a neighbour of hers and a nurse specialising in bats. Regardless, she’s looking in the wrong place. “It’s a fiction authorised by actress Isabelle Stoffel, based on her own experiences, where reality and fiction are totally indistinguishable from one another. That’s how a series of notes came about as well as a string of characters that populate her life and accompany her as she struggles to be an actress in a foreign country whose language is so different to her own”, said Ituarte. The film is a Atiende Films and Tandem Films production, its producers are Xesc Cabot, Pep Garrido, Cristina Zumárraga and Pablo E Bossi. It has secured funding from the ICAA, the Community of Madrid and Madrid City Council, and it also boasts the involvement of the Filmin platform. The film was shot in Madrid and Basel.
- DANIELA FOREVER by Nacho Vigalondo, co-producer: EAVE graduate Benoit Roland is in post-production. According to its producers, the film is Vigalondo's most personal project to date. A dystopia about love, personal dilemmas and dreams that tells the story of how life loses all meaning for Nicolas (played by Henry Golding) with the loss of his girlfriend Daniela (Beatrice Grannò). But one day he is invited to take part in a clinical trial that will allow him to control his dreams and he agrees in the hope of recovery. Now Nicolas can dream of Daniela every night and resume their relationship, more idyllic than ever... even if only in dreams. And at the risk of getting lost in them forever. Daniela Forever (with music by the duo Hidrogenesse) is produced by Nahikari Ipiña and Nacho Vigalondo from Sayaka Producciones, in co-production with Benoit Roland from the Belgian company Wrong Men, Leire Apellaniz from Señor y Señora, Gustavo Ferrada from Mediacrest Entertainment and US company XYZ Films. The film has the participation of Filmin, Movistar Plus+ and Wallimage, as well as financing from the ICAA.
EAVE project TO THE NORTH Best First Feature at the Romanian Gopo Awards
Premios Platino
EAVE graduates scooped 8 awards at the Premios Platino, the Ibero-American academy awards:
- 20,000 SPECIES OF BEES by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren, producer: EAVE+ graduate Valérie Delpierre Best First Feature Fiction, Best Screenplay, Best Film and Education in Values and Best Supporting Actress (Ane Gabarain)
- CLOSE YOUR EYES by Víctor Erice, producer: EAVE+ graduates José Alba, Odile Antonio-Baez won Best Supporting Actor
- ROBOT DREAMS by Pablo Berger, producer: EAVE graduate Alejandro Arenas won Best Ibero-American Animated Film and Best Original Score
- THE ETERNAL MEMORY directed and produced by PUENTES graduate Maite Alberdi was awarded Best Ibero-American Documentary
Estonian Film and Television Awards
THE INVISIBLE FIGHT and SMOKE SAUNA SISTERHOOD by Anna Hints won most of the film awards at the Estonian Film and Television Awards.
- THE INVISIBLE FIGHT by Rainer Sarnet, producer: EAVE graduate Katrin Kissa, co-producers: EAVE graduate Amanda Livanou, B’EST graduates Alise Gelze, Helen Vinogradov won nine awards including Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Actress and Best Actor
- SMOKE SAUNA SISTERHOOD by Anna Hints, producer: EAVE graduate Marianne Ostrat was awarded in the Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Cinematographer and Best Sound categories.
Austrian Diagonale
- SLEEPING WITH A TIGER by Anja Salomonowitz, producer: EAVE graduate Antonin Svoboda won Outstanding Production Services, Best Actress (Birgit Minichmeyer), Best Production Design (Martin Reiter)
- THE DEVIL’S BATH by Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala, producer: EAVE + graduate Martina Brokemper won Best Sound Design (Matz Müller, Tobias Fleig)
Irish Film & Television Awards
- POOR THINGS by Yorgos Lanthimos, producer: EAVE graduate Ed Guiney won Best International Actress (Emma Stone) and Best Cinematography (Robbie Ryan) Irish Film & Television Awards (IFTA) in Dublin.
Romanian Gopo Awards
- FREEDOM by EAVE graduate Tudor Giurgiu, producer: EAVE graduate Oana Giurgiu wins Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay ex aequo, Best Lead Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Production Design, Best Costumes, Best Make-up and Hairstyling at the Romanian National Film Awards, the Gopo Awards.
- DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD by Radu Jude, producer: EAVE graduate and Romanian National Coordinator Ada Solomon, co-producers: EAVE graduate Paul Thiltges, Adrien Chef, EAVE group leader and Croatian National Coordinator Ankica Juric Tilic, executive producer: EAVE graduate Dan Wechsler won Best Screenplay ex aequo and Best Lead Actress
- EAVE and TTB project TO THE NORTH by Mihai Mincan, producers: EAVE and TTB graduates Radu Stancu, co-producers: TTB and EAVE graduate Konstantinos Vassilaros, EAVE graduate Mikulas Novotny, EAVE MW graduate Ioana Lascar won Best Cinematography, Best First Feature and Best New Hope (Niko Becker actor)
- BETWEEN REVOLUTIONS by Vlad Petri, producer: EAVE graduate Monica Lăzurean-Gorgan won Best Documentary
Slovak Film and Television Academy’s Sun in a Net
- TONY, SHELLEY AND THE MAGIC LIGHT by Filip Posivac, producers: EAVE graduates Pavla Janouskova Kubeckova, Jakub Viktorin won Best Animated Film, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects
Armenian National Film Academy Awards
- THE SONG OF FLYING LEAVES, produced and directed by EAVE graduate Armine Anda won Best Animated Film at the Armenian National Film Academy “Anahit” Awards. The film also won Best Short Animation in the International Competition of the Beirut International Women Film Festival, Lebanon
Cyprus Film Days
- ANIMAL by Sofia Exarchou, producer: EAVE graduate Maria Drandaki, co-producer: EAVE graduate Vicky Miha won Best Director and Best Cinematographer (Monika Lenczewska) in the Glocal Images International Competition
- EMBRYO LARVA BUTTERFLY by Kyros Papavassiliou, producer: EAVE graudate Mario Piperides won Best Cypriot Film and Best Director of a Cypriot Film
- AFRICA STAR by Adonis Florides, producer: EAVE graduate Mario Piperides won Best Performance in a Cypriot Film (Marina Makris)
- THE TEACHER by Farah Nabulsi, producer: EAVE graduate Ossama Bawardi won the Audience Award
Dot.on.the.map Industry Days
- MOTHER TONGUE by Caterina Biasiucci, co-producer: EAVE and TTB graduate Anda Ionescu won the Agora Networking Award
- SHIBBOLETH by Alexandra Matheou, co-producer: EAVE graduate Maria Drandaki received the PS Movies and Stories Award
- EAVE project SUN IN SATURN by Ary Zara, producer: EAVE participant Andreia Nunes won the Best Debut Project Pitch Award
Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival
- FRANKY FIVE STAR by Birgit Möller, producer: EAVE graduate Jamila Wenske won the Silver Méliès at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival.
- FLIES by Aritz Moreno, producer: EAVE graduate Merry Colomer received a Special Mention.
One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival
East Doc Platform awards
- BIRDIE by Aneta Ptak, producer: EAVE graduate Malgorzata Staron won the HBO Max Award
Ex Oriente awards
- THE POOR CRY TOO by Viktorija Mickute, Ieva Balsiunaite, producer: EAVE graduate Dagne Vildziunaite won the Cut Thru the Noise Award
EDP partner awards
- NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING FRIENDS by EAVE graduate Monica Lazurean-Gorgan, producer: EAVE graduate Monica Lazurean-Gorgan won the Sunny Side of the Doc Prize.
ZagrebDox
- DAHOMEY by Mati Diop, producer: Interchange graduate Judith Lou Lévy won the Movies That Matter Award of the ZagrebDox International Documentary Film Festival.
- KIX by David Mikulan, Balint Revesz, co-producer: EAVE MW graduate Rea Rajcic won the Big Stamp in the Regional Competition, the Small Stamp Award of the Young Jury and the FIPRESCI prize.
Reims Polar
- BORGO by Stéphane Demoustier, producer: EAVE graduate and French National Coordinator Jean des Forêts won the Jury Prize
- BLAGA’S LESSONS by EAVE graduate Stephan Komandarev, producers: EAVE graduates Stephan Komandarev, Katya Trichkova was awarded the Sang Neuf Prize
Las Palmas International Film Festival
- EXPLANATION FOR EVERYTHING by Gabor Reisz, producers: EAVE graduate Julia Berkes, EAVE graduate and Hungarian National Coordinator Viktoria Petranyi won the Silver Lady Harimaguada
- CU LI NEVER CRIES by Pham Ngoc Lan, co-producers: TTB graduate and group leader Bianca Balbuena, TTB graduate Bradley Liew, EAVE graduates Verona Meier, Claire Lajoumard won Best Performance
- THROUGH THE GRAVES THE WIND IS BLOWING by Travis Wilkerson, co-written and co-produced by EAVE graduate Ivan Peric received a Special Mention
Canneseries
- OPERATION SABRE by Vladimir Tagić, Goran Stanković, producer: EAVE graduate Snezana van Houwelingen won a Special Interpretation Award.
EAVE Marketing Workshop project THE SETTLERS in Swedish cinemas
In French cinemas
- SIDONIE IN JAPAN by Elise Girard, producer: EAVE graduate Sébastian Haguenauer. April 3.
- SOLITUDE by Ninna Palmadottir, producer: EAVE graduate Lilja Osk Snorradottir, co-producer: EAVE graduate Jakub Viktorin. April 3.
- THROUGH THE NIGHT by Delphine Girard, producer: EAVE graduate Jacques-Henri Bronckart. April 10.
- HOLY WEEK by Andrei Cohn, co-producer: EAVE graduate Dan Wechsler. April 10.
- BORGO by Stéphane Demoustier, producer: EAVE graduate and French National Coordinator Jean des Forêts. April 17.
- AMAL by Jawad Rhalib, co-producer: EAVE graduate Ellen de Waele. April 17.
- OCCUPIED CITY by Steve McQueen, producer: EAVE graduate Floor Onrust. April 24.
In Belgian cinemas
- LA CHIMERA by Alice Rohrwacher, producer: EAVE+ graduate Carlo Cresto-Dina. April 3.
- LITTLE GIRL BLUE by Mona Achache, producer: EAVE graduate Benoit Roland. April 3.
- THE DELINQUENTS by Rodrigo Moreno, producer: EAVE graduate Ezequiel Borovinsky, EAVE and TTB graduate Gilles Chanial, co-producer: EAVE graduate Julia Alves. April 3.
- TTB project TIGER STRIPES by Amanda Nell, co-producers: TTB graduate Foo Fei Ling, EAVE and TTB graduates Fran Borgia and Yulia Evina Bhara, EAVE graduate, TTB group leader and German National Coordinator Jonas Weydemann, EAVE graduate Ellen Havenith. April 24.
In Dutch cinemas
- OMEN by Baloji, producers: EAVE graduates Benoit Roland, Ellen de Waele. April 27.
- GREEN BORDER by Agnieszka Holland, producers: EAVE graduate Maria Blicharska, EAVE graduate and group leader Diana Elbaum. April 18.
In Swiss cinemas
- ANDREA GETS A DIVORCE by Josef Hader, producers: EAVE graduates Arash T. Riahi, Sabine Gruber. April 11.
- SIDONIE IN JAPAN by Elise Girard, producer: EAVE graduate Sébastian Haguenauer. April 10.
- BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD BLACKBERRY by Elene Naveriani, producer: EAVE+ graduate Britta Rindelaub, associate producer: EAVE+ graduate Bettina Brokemper. April 10.
In Austrian cinemas
- DISCO BOY by Giacomo Abbruzzese, co-producer: EAVE graduate Maria Blicharska. March 29.
In German cinemas
- ANDREA GETS A DIVORCE by Josef Hader, producers: EAVE graduates Arash T. Riahi, Sabine Gruber. April 13.
- OMEN by Baloji, producers: EAVE graduates Benoit Roland, Ellen de Waele. April 3.
- LA CHIMERA by Alice Rohrwacher, producer: EAVE + graduate Carlo Cresto-Dina. April 19.
- EUREKA by Lisandro Alonso, producer: EAVE graduate Jonas Dornbach. April 24.
In Estonian cinemas
- LA CHIMERA by Alice Rohrwacher, producer: EAVE + graduate Carlo Cresto-Dina. April 10.
- ROBOT DREAMS by Pablo Berger, producer: EAVE graduate Alejandro Arenas. April 22.
In Finnish cinemas
- LA CHIMERA by Alice Rohrwacher, producer: EAVE + graduate Carlo Cresto-Dina. April 19.
- ROBOT DREAMS by Pablo Berger, producer: EAVE graduate Alejandro Arenas. April 26.
In Polish cinemas
- SLOW by Marija Kavtaradze, producer: EAVE graduate Marija Razgute, co-producers: EAVE graduates Luisa Romeo, Anna-Maria Kantarius. April 19.
In Romanian cinemas
- LA CHIMERA by Alice Rohrwacher, producer: EAVE + graduate Carlo Cresto-Dina. April 19.
In Swedish cinemas
- EAVE Marketing Workshop project THE SETTLERS by Felipe Galvez, producer: TTB, PUENTES, MW and EAVE+ graduate Giancarlo Nasi, PUENTES and EAVE+ graduates Benjamin Domenech and Santiago Gallelli, TTB graduate Stefano Centini, co-producers: EAVE and PUENTES graduate Katrin Pors, EAVE graduate Ingmar Trost, TTB graduate Mikkel Jersin. April 26.
In Spanish cinemas
- LA CHIMERA by Alice Rohrwacher, producer: EAVE + graduate Carlo Cresto-Dina. April 19.
In Hungarian cinemas
- ROBOT DREAMS by Pablo Berger, producer: EAVE graduate Alejandro Arenas. April 25.
In Chinese cinemas
- GONE WITH THE BOAT by Xiaoyu Chen, co-producer: TTB graduate Alina Qu. April 12.
EAVE project SOUVENIRS OF WAR selected for Bolzano Film Festival
Cleveland International Film Festival (April 3 – 13)
- HUMANIST VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON by Ariane Louis-Seize, producer: EAVE and EAVE+ graduate Jeanne-Marie Poulain
- CREATURA by Elena Martin, producer: EAVE graduate and Spanish National Coordinator Maria Zamora
- SLOW by Marija Kavtaradze, producer: EAVE graduate Marija Razgute, co-producers: EAVE graduates Luisa Romeo, Anna-Maria Kantarius
- GREEN BORDER by Agnieszka Holland, producers: EAVE graduate Maria Blicharska, EAVE graduate and group leader Diana Elbaum
- JE’VIDA by Katja Gauriloff, producer: EAVE graduate Joonas Berghäll
- LOST COUNTRY by Vladimir Perisic, producers: EAVE graduates Vincent Quenault, Janja Kralj, EAVE graduate, group leader and Croatian National Coordinator Ankica Juric Tilic
- PARADISE IS BURNING by Mika Gustafson, producers: EAVE graduates Venla Hellstedt, Jenni Jauri, Marco Valerio Fusco, Maria Stevnbak Westergren and PUENTES graduate Nima Yousefi
- TONY, SHELLY AND THE MAGIC LIGHT by Filip Posivac, producers: EAVE graduates Jakub Viktorin, Pavla Janouskova Kubeckova
- WHITE PLASTIC SKY by Tibor Banoczki and Sarolta Szabó, producer: EAVE graduate Juraj Krasnohorsky, co-producer: EAVE graduate and Hungarian National Coordinator Viktoria Petranyi
D’A Barcelona International Auteur Film Festival (April 4 – 14)
- 8 VIEWS OF LAKE BIWA by Marko Raat, producers: EAVE graduates Misha Jaari, Mark Lwoff, Dora Nedeczky
- ANIMAL by Sofia Exarchoiu, producer: EAVE graduate Maria Drandaki
- EAVE project CITIZEN SAINT by Tinatin Kajrishvili, co-producers: EAVE graduates Borislav Chouchkov, Carine Chichkowsky, Gergana Stankova, Denis Vaslin
- CITY OF WIND by Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir, producer: Interchange graduate Charlotte Vincent, EAVE graduates Denis Vaslin, Fleur Knopperts
- DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD by Radu Jude, producer: EAVE graduate and Romanian National Coordinator Ada Solomon, co-producers: EAVE graduate Paul Thiltges, EAVE group leader and Croatian National Coordinator Ankica Juric Tilic, executive producer: EAVE graduate Dan Wechsler
- EUREKA by Lisandro Alonso, producer: EAVE graduate Jonas Dornbach
- LA CHIMERA by Alice Rohrwacher, producer: EAVE+ graduate Carlo Cresto-Dina
- LÉGUA by Filipa Reis and João Miller Guerra, producer: EAVE graduate Filipa Reis, co-producer: EAVE graduate Alexandre Gavras
- MUSIC by Angela Schanelec, producer: EAVE+ graduate Giorgos Karnavas.
- PARADISE IS BURNING by Mika Gustafson, producers: EAVE graduates Venla Hellstedt, Jenni Jauri, Marco Valerio Fusco, Maria Stevnbak Westergren and PUENTES graduate Nima Yousefi
- THE PRACTICE by Martin Rejtman, producer: PUENTES, TTB and EAVE+ graduate Giancarlo Nasi
- YOUTH (SPRING) by Wang Bing, producers: EAVE graduates Denis Vaslin, Fleur Knopperts
D'A Film Lab Barcelona
- LA FURIA by Gemma Blasco, producer: PUENTES graduate Mireia Graell
- LA MITAD DE ANA by Marta Nieto, producer: EAVE graduate and Spanish National Coordinator Maria Zamora
Canneseries (April 5 – 10)
- OPERATION SABRE by Vladimir Tagić, Goran Stanković, producer: EAVE graduate Snezana van Houwelingen
- MORESNET by Frank van Passel, co-producers EAVE graduates Gabriele Simon and Martin Heisler
Reims Polar (April 9 – 14)
- BORGO by Stéphane Demoustier, producer: EAVE graduate and French National Coordinator Jean des Forêts
- BLAGA’S LESSONS by EAVE graduate Stephan Komandarev, producers: EAVE graduates Stephan Komandarev, Katya Trichkova
- HESITATION WOUND by Selman Nacar, producers: EAVE graduates Guillaume de Seille, Oana Giurgiu
Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (April 9 – 21)
- HUMANIST VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON by Ariane Louis-Seize, producer: EAVE and EAVE+ graduate Jeanne-Marie Poulain
- FLIES by Aritz Moreno, producer: EAVE graduate Merry Colomer
- FRANKY FIVE STAR by Birgit Möller, producer: EAVE graduate Jamila Wenske
- ROBOT DREAMS by Pablo Berger, producer: EAVE graduate Alejandro Arenas
Visions du Réel, Nyon (April 12 – 21)
- DIARIES FROM LEBANON by Myriam El Hajj, producer: EAVE graduate Myriam Sassine
- KAMAY by Ilyas Yourish & Shahrokh Bikaran, produced by Hanne Phlypo
- OCCUPIED CITY by Steve McQueen, producer: EAVE graduate Floor Onrust
- PREPARATIONS FOR A MIRACLE BY Tobias Nölle, producer: EAVE + graduate Christof Neracher and Gabriele Simon
- REAS by Lola Arias, producer: EAVE + graduate Gema Juarez Allen, EAVE graduate Ingmar Trost
- A SHEPHERD by Louis Hanquet, produced by EAVE graduate Valérie Montmartin
- THE FLATS by Alessandra Celesia, producer: EAVE graduate Jean-Laurent Csinidis, Genevièvre De Bauw
- THE HUMAN SURGE 3 by Eduardo Williams, co-producers: EAVE, PUENTES and TTB graduate Raymond van der Kaaij, EAVE graduates Germen Boelens and Julia Alves, TTB graduate Stefano Centini THE MIRACLES OF ALMERIA (Collective work), produced by EAVE graduate Emmy Oost
- ZLATA by Mattias Bavré, producer: EAVE graduate Peter Brosens
Selected for the VdR-Industry section of the Visions du Réel festival:
- MAGNETIC LETTERS by Demie Dangla, producer: EAVE participant Laura Kloeckner
- TO THE MOON AND BACK by Elisa Gomez Alvarez, producer: EAVE graduate Palmyre Badinier
Bolzano Filmfestival, Bozen (April 12 – 21)
- ANDREA GETS A DIVORCE by Josef Hader, producers: EAVE graduates Arash T. Riahi, Sabine Gruber
- EAVE project SOUVENIRS OF WAR by Georg Zeller, producer: EAVE graduate Martin Rattini, Moritz Bonatti
- ELBOW by Asli Özarslan, producer: PUENTES graduate Jamila Wenske, co-producers: EAVE graduates Guillaume Dreyfus, Delphine Schmit
- PERSONA NON GRATA directed and produced by EAVE graduate Antonin Svoboda
- PUAN by Maria Alché, Benjamin Naishtat, producers: EAVE graduates Barbara Sarasola-Day, Giovanni Pompili, PUENTES graduate Tatiana Leite
- SALTY WATER by Henrika Kull, producer: EAVE participant Fabian Altenried
- SLEEPING WITH A TIGER by Anja Salomonowitz, producer: EAVE graduate Antonin Svoboda
- TOUCHED by Claudia Rorarius, producer: EAVE+ and MW graduate Harry Flöter
- THE BURITI FLOWER by João Salaviza, Renée Nader Messora, producer: EAVE graduate Julia Alves
- THE FEVER by Maya Da-Rin, producer: PUENTES and EAVE SLATE graduate Leonardo Mecchi
- VISTA MARE by Julia Gutweniger, Florian Kofler, producer: EAVE graduate Bernhard Holzhammer
- WHILE THE GREEN GRASS GROWS by Peter Mettler, producer: EAVE graduate Brigitte Hofer
ZagrebDox (April 14 – 21)
- 1001 NIGHTS directed and produced by EAVE MW graduate Rea Rajcic
- ARSENIE . AN AMAZING AFTERLIFE by Alexandru Solomon, producer: EAVE graduate and Romanian National Coordinator Ada Solomon
- CABIN PRESSURE by Eszter Nagy, Sára Czira, producer: EAVE participant Patricia D'intino
- DAHOMEY by Mati Diop, producer: Interchange graduate Judith Lou Lévy
- EAVE project STRAY BODIES by Elina Psykou, producer: EAVE graduates Ivan Madeo, Veselka Kiryakova, co-producer: EAVE graduate Rea Apostolides
- FAIRY GARDEN by Gergő Somogyvari, co-producer: EAVE graduate Sára László
- GIRL AWAY FROM HOME by Simon Lereng Wilmont, Alisa Kovalenko, producer: EAVE graduate Maria Stevnbak Westergren
- INTERCEPTED by Oksana Karpovych, producer: EAVE graduate Darya Bassel
- PHOTOPHOBIA by Ivan Ostrochovský, Pavol Pekarčík, produced by EAVE graduates Katarína Tomková, Tomas Michalek
- SMILING GEORGIA by Luka Beradze, produced by EAVE graduate Eva Blondiau, CHANGE graduate Anna Khazaradze
- THE STANDSTILL by Nikolaus Geyrhalter, producer: EAVE graduate, group leader and Austrian National Coordinator Michael Kitzberger
- WHILE THE GREEN GRASS GROWS by Peter Mettler, producer: EAVE graduate Brigitte Hofer
Istanbul Film Festival (April 17 – 28)
- EXPLANATION FOR EVERYTHING by Gabor Reisz, producers: EAVE graduate Julia Berkes, EAVE graduate and Hungarian National Coordinator Viktoria Petranyi
- PARADISE IS BURNING by Mika Gustafson, producers: EAVE graduates Venla Hellstedt, Jenni Jauri, Marco Valerio Fusco, Maria Stevnbak Westergren and PUENTES graduate Nima Yousefi
- ANIMAL by Sofia Exarchoiu, producer: EAVE graduate Maria Drandaki
- ELBOW by Asli Özarslan, producer: PUENTES graduate Jamila Wenske, co-producers: EAVE graduates Guillaume Dreyfus, Delphine Schmit
- THE PROMISED LAND by Nikolaj Arcel, producer: EAVE graduate Lizette Jonjic
- DAHOMEY by Mati Diop, producer: Interchange graduate Judith Lou Lévy
- BLACK TEA by Abderrahmane Sissako, co-producer: EAVE graduate Vincent Quénault, TTB graduate Tsai Hsin-Hung
- MY FAVOURITE CAKE by Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, producer: EAVE graduate Christopher Zitterbart, PUENTES graduate Nima Yousefi
- TTB project TIGER STRIPES by Amanda Nell, co-producers: TTB graduate Foo Fei Ling, EAVE and TTB graduates Fran Borgia and Yulia Evina Bhara, EAVE graduate, TTB group leader and German National Coordinator Jonas Weydemann, EAVE graduate Ellen Havenith
- CU LI NEVER CRIES by Pham Ngoc Lan, co-producers: TTB graduate and group leader Bianca Balbuena, TTB graduate Bradley Liew, EAVE graduates Verona Meier, Claire Lajoumard
- SIDONIE IN JAPAN by Elise Girard, producer: EAVE graduate Sébastian Haguenauer
- DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD by Radu Jude, producer: EAVE graduate and Romanian National Coordinator Ada Solomon, co-producers: EAVE graduate Paul Thiltges, EAVE group leader and Croatian National Coordinator Ankica Juric Tilic, executive producer: EAVE graduate Dan Wechsler
- EMBRYO LARVA BUTTERFLY by Kyros Papavassiliou, producer: EAVE graudate Mario Piperides
- EUREKA by Lisandro Alonso, producer: EAVE graduate Jonas Dornbach
- HESITATION WOUND by Selman Nacar, producers: EAVE graduates Guillaume de Seille, Oana Giurgiu
- OMEN by Baloji, producers: EAVE graduates Benoît Roland, Ellen de Waele
- CITY OF WIND by Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir, producer: Interchange graduate Charlotte Vincent, EAVE graduates Denis Vaslin, Fleur Knopperts
Meetings on the Bridge:
Film Development Workshop
- ILLETLER by Deniz Tortum, producer: EAVE graduate Annamaria Aslanoglu
- PIATRAMARE by Gökce Erdem, producer: EAVE graduate Ipek Erden
Work in Progress
- APOLLON BY DAY ATHENA BY NIGHT by Emine Yildirim, producer: EAVE graduate Emine Yildirim
- BEST OF FUNERAL SONGS, producer: EAVE graduate Annamaria Aslanoglu
German-Turkish Co-Production Development Fund
- HEZEYAN by Ali Özgür Baltaoglu, producer: EAVE participant Linus Günther
Las Palmas International Film Festival (April 19 – 28)
- EXPLANATION FOR EVERYTHING by Gabor Reisz, producers: EAVE graduate Julia Berkes, EAVE graduate and Hungarian National Coordinator Viktoria Petranyi
- CU LI NEVER CRIES by Pham Ngoc Lan, co-producers: TTB graduate and group leader Bianca Balbuena, TTB graduate Bradley Liew, EAVE graduates Verona Meier, Claire Lajoumard
- THROUGH THE GRAVES THE WIND IS BLOWING by Travis Wilkerson, co-written and co-produced by EAVE graduate Ivan Peric
- DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD by Radu Jude, producer: EAVE graduate and Romanian National Coordinator Ada Solomon, co-producers: EAVE graduate Paul Thiltges, EAVE group leader and Croatian National Coordinator Ankica Juric Tilic, executive producer: EAVE graduate Dan Wechsler
- EUREKA by Lisandro Alonso, producer: EAVE graduate Jonas Dornbach
- THE ECHO by Tatiana Huezo, producer: PUENTES graduate Nicolas Celis
Cyprus Film Days (April 21 – 29)
- AFRICA STAR by Adonis Florides, producer: EAVE graduate Mario Piperides
- ANIMAL by Sofia Exarchou, producer: EAVE graduate Maria Drandaki, co-producer: EAVE graduate Vicky Miha
- EAVE project BEHIND THE HAYSTACKS by Asimina Proedrou, producer: EAVE graduate Ioanna Bolomyti
- EMBRYO LARVA BUTTERFLY by Kyros Papavassiliou, producer: EAVE gradudate Mario Piperides
- INSHALLAH A BOY by Amjad Al Rasheed, producer: EAVE graduate Rula Nasser
- SLOW by Marija Kavtaradze, producer: EAVE graduate Marija Razgute, co-producers: EAVE graduates Luisa Romeo, Anna-Maria Kantarius
- THE TEACHER by Farah Nabulsi, producer: EAVE graduate Ossama Bawardi
Dot.on.the.Map Industry Days
- MIA HARA by Simon Farmakas, co-producer: EAVE+ graduate Fenia Cossovitsa
- MOTHER TONGUE by Caterina Biasiucci, co-producer: EAVE and TTB graduate Anda Ionescu
- SHIBBOLETH by Alexandra Matheou, co-producer: EAVE graduate Maria Drandaki
- EAVE project SUN IN SATURN by Ary Zara, producer: EAVE participant Andreia Nunes
- UNDER THE JUDAS TREE by Christos Houliaras, producer: EAVE SLATE graduate and EAVE participant Mina Dreki
goEast – Festival of Central and Eastern European Film, Wiesbaden (April 24 – 30)
- BAURYNA SALU by Ashkat Kuchinchirekov, co-producer: EAVE graduate Anna Katchko
- EAVE project CITIZEN SAINT by Tinatin Kajrishvili, co-producers: EAVE graduates Borislav Chouchkov, Carine Chichkowsky, Gergana Stankova, Denis Vaslin
- DAYBREAK by Gentian Koci, co-producer: EAVE graduate Konstantina Stavrianou
- EAVE project LOOKING FOR VENERA by Norika Sefa, producer: EAVE graduate Besnik Krapi
- HOLY WEEK by Andrei Cohn, co-producer: EAVE graduate Dan Wechsler
- JANUARY by Viesturs Kairiss, producers: EAVE graduates Inese Boka-Grube, Gints Grube, co-producer: EAVE graduate Malgorzata Staron
- MILLION MOMENTS by Amalie Kovarova, producer: EAVE graduate Jiri Konecny
- OXYGEN STATION by Ivan Tymchenko, producer: EAVE graduate Peter Krupenin
- SMILING GEORGIA by Luka Beradze, produced by EAVE graduate Eva Blondiau, CHANGE graduate Anna Khazaradze
- STEPNE by Maryna Vroda, producer: EAVE graduates Agnieszka Dziedzic, Jan Naszewski
- WORKING CLASS GOES TO HELL by Mladen Djordjevic, producers: EAVE graduate and Serbian National Coordinator Milan Stojanovic, EAVE graduate, group leader and Croatian National Coordinator Ankica Juric Tilic, EAVE graduates Maria Drandaki, Anamaria Antoci
Far East Film Festival (April 24 – May 2)
- ROOKIE by Samantha Lee, producer: TTB graduate and group leader Bianca Balbuena
- WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER by Kevin Mayuga, producer: TTB graduate and group leader Bianca Balbuena
FOCUS ASIA
All Genres Project Market 2024
- 1982 directed and produced by TTB graduate Diep Nguyen Hoang
- A BALLAD OF LONG HAIR by Giovanni Rustanto, producer: EAVE and TTB graduate Fran Borgia
- EAVE project KYUSHU MOON by Stéphanie Argerich, producer: EAVE graduate Katia Monla
- THE HORSE by Yi-tzu Lan, producer: TTB graduate Celine Kao
Far East in Progress 2024
- I, THE SONG by Dechen Roder, producer: TTB graduate Stefano Centini, Fernanda Renno, Johann Chapelan
- MONGRELS by Yerome Yoo, producer: EAVE ACCESS graduate Nach Dudsdeemaytha
- TALE OF THE LAND by Loeloe Hendra, producer: EAVE and TTB graduate Yulia Evina Bhara
TIES THAT BIND, EAVE’s Asia – Europe Co-Production Workshop is taking place during Far East Film Festival, from April 28th until May 2nd.
Hot Docs (April 25 – May 5)
- 7 BEATS PER MINUTE by Yuqi Kang, producer: CPI graduate Sherien Barsoum
- THE CLICK TRAP by Peter Porta, producer: EAVE graduate Marieke van den Bersselaar
- DEVI by Subina Shrestha, producer: EAVE graduate Heejung Oh
- DIARIES FROM LEBANON by Myriam El Hajj, producers: EAVE graduates Myriam Sassine, Carine Ruszniewski
- DRAWING A LINE by Sama Pana, producer: EAVE graduates Hanne Phlypo, Estelle Robin You, Marion Guth, François Le Gall
- THE FABULOUS GOLD HARVESTING MACHINE by Alfredo Pourailly De La Plaza, producer: EAVE graduate Annemiek van der Hell
- FARMING THE REVOLUTION by Nishtha Jain, producer: EAVE graduate Valérie Montmartin
- A FRENCH YOUTH by Jérémie Battaglia, producer: EAVE graduate Elodie Pollet
- IMMORTALS by Maja Tschumi, producer: EAVE graduate Nadine Lüchinger
- INTERCEPTED by Oksana Karpovych, producer: EAVE graduate Darya Bassel
- MARCHING IN THE DARK by Kinshuk Surjan, producer: EAVE graduate Hanne Phlypo
- MY SEXTORTION DIARY by Patricia Franquesa, producer: PUENTES and MW graduate Mireia Graell
- THE NEW MAN by Carlos Yuri Ceuninck, producer: EAVE graduate Alyaa Musa, Aurélien Bodinaux, MW graduate Gudula Meinzolt
- NICE LADIES by Mariia Ponomarova, producer: EAVE graduate Rogier Kramer
- SILENT TREES by Agnieszka Zwiefka, producer: EAVE graduate Heino Deckert
- SMILING GEORGIA by Luka Beradze, produced by EAVE graduate Eva Blondiau, CHANGE graduate Anna Khazaradze
- THE STORY OF NE KUKO by Festus Toll, producer: EAVE graduate Janneke Doolaard
- EAVE project STRAY BODIES by Elina Psykou, producer: EAVE graduates Ivan Madeo, Veselka Kiryakova, co-producer: EAVE graduate Rea Apostolides
- AN UNFINISHED JOURNEY by Aeyliya Husain, Amie Williams, producer: Interchange graduate Charlotte Uzu
- WOMAN OF GOD by Maja Prettner, EAVE graduate Bostjan Virc
Hot Docs Forum
- AUTUMN OF THE PATRIARCH by Anna Bogoliubova, co-producers: EAVE graduates Valéria Montmartin, Sinisa Juricic
- IMAGO by Déni Oumar Pitsaev, producers: EAVE graduate Anne-Laure Guégan, PUENTES graduate Géraldine Sprimont
- POWER, ELAINE by Mila Turajlić, producer: EAVE graduate Carine Chichkowsky
- TEA WITH THE TALIBAN by Ovidio Salazar, producer: EAVE Documentary Expert Sylvia Stevens
- THIS LAND OF OURS directed and produced by ACCESS graduate Ngardy Conteh George
- UNDER THE FLAGS, THE SUN by Juanjo Pereira, producers: PUENTES graduates Paula Zyngierman, Gabriela Sabaté, Leandro Listorti
Deal Maker
- THE ART OF WAR by Grecia Barbieri, Gonzalo Benavente Secco, producer: PUENTES graduate Carolina Denegri
- THE GOOD MAN OF PACHALUM by Renato Borrayo Serrano, producer: PUENTES graduate Inés Nofuentes
- WAR ON WOMEN by Maris Salumets, producer: EAVE graduate Elina Litvinova
San Francisco International Film Festival (April 25 – May 5)
- THE TEACHER by Farah Nabulsi, producer: Ossama Bawardi
- THE PRACTICE by Martin Rejtman, producer: PUENTES, MW and EAVE+ graduate Giancarlo Nasi
Crossing Europe, Linz (April 30 – May 5)
- BAAN by Leonor Teles, producer: EAVE and TTB graduate Filipa Reis
- BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD BLACKBERRY von Elene Naveriani, producer: EAVE+ graduate Britta Rindelaub, associate producer: EAVE+ graduate Bettina Brokemper
- DAY OF THE TIGER by Andrei Tanase, producers: EAVE graduates Anamaria Antoci, Konstantina Stavrianou
- ELBOW by Asli Özarslan, producer: PUENTES graduate Jamila Wenske, co-producers: EAVE graduates Guillaume Dreyfus, Delphine Schmit, Annamaria Aslanoglu
- ELECTRA by Daria Kashcheeva, producer: EAVE graduate Juraj Krasnohorsky
- EMBRYO LARVA BUTTERFLY by Kyros Papavassiliou, producer: EAVE graudate Mario Piperides
- HOUSEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS by Goran Stolevski, producers: EAVE graduates Marija Dimitrova, National Coordinator Croatia Ankica Juric Tilic, National Coordinator Serbia Milan Stojanovic, Beata Rzezniczek, Jan Naszewski, PUENTES graduate Marcin Luczaj
- LAZZARO FELICE by Alice Rohrwacher, producer: EAVE+ graduate Carlo Cresto-Dina
- LOST COUNTRY by Vladimir Perisic, producers: EAVE graduates Vincent Quenault, Janja Kralj, EAVE graduate, group leader and Croatian National Coordinator Ankica Juric Tilic
- MELK by Stefanie Kolk, producer: EAVE graduate Leontine Petit
- PARADISE IS BURNING by Mika Gustafson, producers: EAVE graduates Venla Hellstedt, Jenni Jauri, Marco Valerio Fusco, Maria Stevnbak Westergren and PUENTES graduate Nima Yousefi
- PLANET B by Pieter Van Eecke, producers: EAVE graduates Hanne Phlypo, Dutch National Coordinator Frank Hoeve
- REPRODUKTION by Katharina Pethke, producer: EAVE graduate Julia Cöllen
- SILENT SUN OF RUSSIA by Sybilla Tuxen, producer: EAVE graduate Rikke Tambo Andersen
- STEPNE by Maryna Vroda, co-producers: EAVE graduates Anna Katchko, Agnieszka Dziedzic
- THE HYPNOSIS by Ernst De Geer, producer: PUENTES and EAVE graduate Elise Fernanda Pirir
- VIKA! by Agnieszka Zwiefka, producer: EAVE graduate Heino Deckert
THE SONG OF FLYING LEAVES, produced and directed by EAVE graduate Armine Anda has been selected for the Music & Cinema International Festival Marseille, France and the Reel2Reel Film Festival for Youth, Canada.
IDA Getting Real Conference
Stronger Together: Collectives and Mobilizing Around the World
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 4:00 PM PDT
Moderator: Pulkit Datta (Tikkun Olam Productions)
Panelists: Mohamed Saïd Ouma (DocA/East Africa Screen Collective), EAVE participant Laura Kloeckner (SAVVY Contemporary/United Screens), EAVE graduate Melissa Adeyemo (Yetu Collective)
Filmmakers perpetually face challenges from fundraising to pairing up with solid partners, managing post-production details and legal requirements, and launching and promoting their final work, not to mention simple job security in a world of contract work. Filmmakers from the Global South and from underrepresented groups also face the colossal task of trying to shift well-worn narratives about their communities, homes, and lives. But we don't have to do this alone. One of the most powerful and simplest strategies to tackling these difficulties involves deliberately coming together to pool resources, share knowledge, and perhaps most importantly, provide intangible encouragement for each other's projects and cheerleading for each other's successes.
In this session, we’ll hear from members of different collectives that were formed in order to move member projects, careers, and companies forward in strategic and coordinated ways. What problems are these collectives trying to address? What methods are they using to do so? What have they been able to accomplish and build? What setbacks have they faced along the way? Most importantly, how are they setting up models for relationships that when replicated on a larger scale, will help us move towards a more just and distributed future?
https://www.documentary.org/gettingreal24/program
MEET EAVE IN MAY!
@ TIES THAT BIND W2, April 28 - May 2, Udine (IT)
EAVE CEO Kristina Trapp (April 28 - 30), EAVE Project Manager Tanika Sajatovic
@ Cannes Film Festival, May 16 - 21, Cannes (FR)
EAVE CEO Kristina Trapp, EAVE Deputy CEO Satu Elo
TIES THAT BIND kicks-off in Udine!
The second workshop of the 15th edition of TIES THAT BIND will take place between April 28 – May 2, 2024, in Udine, in parallel to FOCUS ASIA, the Industry section of the Udine Far East Film Festival.
Under the guidance of the two group leaders, Bianca Balbuena (Kroma Entertainment - Anima Studios, PH) and Jonas Weydemann (Weydemann Bros., DE), the participants will continue developing their projects, companies and careers.
The rich programme of plenary sessions is prepared in collaboration with FOCUS ASIA. It will feature three case studies:
- Thomas Bruxelle (Bright Lights Films, FR) will give insight into the remake and Netflix success story of RESTLESS.
- TTB graduates Bianca Balbuena and Bradley Liew (Epicmedia Productions, PH) and Stefano Centini (Volos Films, IT/TW) produced VIET AND NAM by Trương Minh Quý (Un Certain Regard Cannes 2024). Together with Christian Jilka (Scarlet Visions, DE) they will share their experience on this 8-country-co-production.
- Vincent Wang will elaborate on co-producing BLACK TEA by Abderrahmane Sissako (Berlinale Competition 2024)
Furthermore, Sami Arpa (Largo Films, CH) will give a hands-on workshop on AI usage for film industry.
VIET AND NAM © Epicmedia Productions, Volos Films
The TTB participants will receive feedback on the distribution potential of their projects from top-notch European and Asian distributors such as Kana Koido (The Klockworks, JP), Vincent Quek (Anticipate Pictures, SG), Albert Yao (Swallow Wings Films, TW), Johanna Mayer (Jour2Fête, FR), Alberto Vandenbroucke (Surtsey Films, ES) and TTB graduate Stephan Holl (Rapid Eye Movies, DE).
Individual meetings with TTB experts will be organised on topics such sales strategies with Nathalie Jeung (Kinology, FR) and PUENTES graduate Marie Lamboeuf (Urban Sales, FR), private equity financing with Winnie Lau (JEM Production, HK), Asian films and festival strategies with Roger Garcia (General Film Services, UK/HK) and Marco Müller (Taormina Film Festival, IT). TTB’s script consultants Clare Downs (UK) and Nayeem Mahbub (EE/BD) will focus on developing the participants’ scripts, and the TTB’s pitching consultant Sibylle Kurz (DE) will work on their presentation and communication skills. Career participants will meet with TTB Head of Studies Christophe Bruncher (Ici et Là Productions, FR) to address company-, career- or project-related questions.
The participants will also have individual meetings with key industry professionals at Focus Asia and benefit from meeting the participants of the second edition of the Distribution Lab organised in partnership with Europa Distribution and Focus Asia. Once again it will bring to Udine over 20 distributors from over 15 countries. The 2-day workshop will include case studies, group work and screenings, and will be entirely dedicated to discovering and sharing best practices and innovative strategies for promoting the distribution of Asian cinema in Europe and vice versa.
The selected participants are:
- Acone Acone, IFFR Pro | International Film Festival Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Haziqah Azemi, Kapsul Studio, Malaysia
- Project: GAREK by Cech Adrea
- Svetlana Cherrier, Ciclic Centre-Val de Loire, France
- Stefano Chiavarini, Piroetta, Italy
- Marta Cruañas, Canada, Spain
- Project: TIMES OF LONELINESS, VIOLENCE AND YOUTH by Jiajie Yu Yan
- Guillaume Dreyfus, Tripode Productions, France
- Project: THREE TIMES JENNY by Milena Beurer Doenst
- Florence Giovani, Studio Antelope, Indonesia
- Project: FIRST BREATH AFTER COMA by Jason Iskandar
- Martin Horyna, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Czech Republic
- Frauke Kolbmüller, Oma Inge Film, Germany
- Project: IF I STAY by Su-Jin Song
- Maya Korn, MHK Productions, UK/Germany
- Project: ICON by Christina YR Lim
- Mina Moteki, Kowatanda Films, Japan
- Project: TIDES by Anshul Chauhan
- Alex Poblete, Los Otros, Philippines
- Project: THE BOY AND THE FIGHT OF SPIDERS by Jarell Mahinay Serencio
- Yu-Hao Su, InLight Film Studio, Taiwan
- Project: WILL YOU STILL BE MY FRIEND by Po Shun Lu
- Katalina Tobón, BAM - Bogotá Audiovisual Market, Spain
- Carna Vucinic, Naked, Serbia
- Project: HOLY DAD by Dusan Zoric & Matija Gluscevic
TIES THAT BIND is organised by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Audiovisual Fund, EAVE, Udine Far East Film Festival and the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) and supported by the Creative Europe - MEDIA sub-programme of the European Union.
For more information please contact:
EAVE Project Manager - Tanika Sajatovic: tanika@eave.org
www.eave.org, www.tiesthatbind.eu
Equitable Co-Productions: Join Us for the EAVE Impact Think Tank Panel in Cannes!
Dear EAVE members,
The 2024 EAVE Impact Think Tank took place in Trieste in January this year in partnership with When East Meets West and it focused on equitable approaches to co-production. The collaborative event brought together key professionals to come up with concrete suggestions and innovative ideas for our future.
We will present the key findings of the EAVE Impact Think Tank in Cannes, thanks to the partnership with Marché du Film, and as part of its programs, impACT, at a public panel to which you are warmly invited! The event takes place during the Co-production Day of the Marché du Film.
Empowering Producers: Best Practices for Equitable Co-Productions
Saturday, May 18th, from 10:00-11:00
At Palais Stage (-1 Palais des Festivals)
Producers, unpack the 2024 EAVE Impact Think Tank recommendations on inclusive co-productions and delve into actionable strategies and success stories to empower fellow producers to navigate collaborations with integrity and innovation.
Moderated by EAVE graduate Tamara Dawit, Gobez Media
Speakers:
- EAVE graduate Ada Solomon, Micro Film
- EAVE graduate Karen Harnisch, Film Forge
- EAVE graduate Emile Hertling Péronard, Ánorâk Film
- Mohamed Ouma, Documentary Africa
If you wish to attend, please save the date!
EAVE@ TRONDHEIM: SPECIAL WORKSHOP FOR PARTICIPANTS FROM NORWAY
EAVE Producers Workshop in Trondheim (June 7 - 14, 2024) also opens its doors to Norwegian producers and professionals with a tailor-made programme.
All plenary sessions of the workshop will be open for all interested industry professionals and film students to attend.
In addition, 10 participants from Norway with a project (fiction feature or documentary) will be selected for a special local EAVE programme tailor-made for their needs.
EAVE@Trondheim will take place over 2 days in between June 8 - 9th, 2024.
This workshop will consist of group work, one-to-one mentoring and plenary sessions by various EAVE experts (on topics such as career development, co-production finance, the international market, festival strategies, marketing and story development), and of networking with the 56 EAVE participants from 36 different countries as well as with all EAVE experts, guests and team.
The exact contents will be defined according to the final selection of participants.
Check out the list of some of the EAVE experts already confirmed for the workshop.
- Sarah CALDERON (The Film Agency, ES)
- Martin DANIEL (US)
- Jean DES FORETS (Petit Film, FR)
- Didar DOMEHRI (Maneki Films, FR)
- Clare DOWNS (UK)
- Matti HALONEN (Wolfberry Film, FI)
- Ankica JURIC TILIC (Kinorama, HR)
- Petri KEMPPINEN (P1 Kemppinen, FI)
- Michael KITZBERGER (Nikolaus Geyrhalter Filmproduktion, AT)
- Peter Bille KROGH (European Collection Agency, DK)
- Sibylle KURZ (DE)
- Lise LENSE-MØLLER (Magic Hour Films, DK)
- Nayeem MAHBUB (EE/BD)
- Pierre-Emmanuel MOUTHUY (Mouthuy Avocats, BE)
- Nicola OFOEGO (Balck Mic Mac, FR)
- Arash T. RIAHI (Golden Girls Filmproduktion, AT)
- Lucas SCHMIDT (Studio Zentral, DE)
- Riina SILDOS (Amrion, EE)
- Esther SPRINGER (Creators Inc, UK)
- Sylvia STEVENS (UK)
Our target group are upcoming producers who already have a track record and credit as producer (of short or long feature films and/or documentaries) and who are willing to open up to the international market and to co-produce internationally.
To apply for this special programme, please download the application form here and send the enclosed application form, as well as other documents specified in it, to satu@eave.org by May 3, 2024.
Participation at EAVE@Trondheim is free of cost. For the travel and accommodation costs, you might be eligible for a travel grant from your regional film centre, after the selection is confirmed (early May).
EAVE@Trondheim is organized in co-operation with FilmInvest, The Norwegian Film Institute, Midtnorsk Filmsenter and Mantra Film c/o Gary Cranner.
Further information:
Satu Elo, satu@eave.org
Gary Cranner (local coordinator of the workshop in Trondheim), garycd72@gmail.com
https://www.nfi.no/kalender/eave-trondheim--prosjektbasert-workshop
Empowering Moroccan female filmmakers: Interview with EAVE graduate Lamia Chraibi on Tamayouz Cinéma Foundation
Since its creation in 1988, EAVE has been actively involved in the global transformation of the European film industry as a key player, promoting cross-border and interdisciplinary collaboration. We empower graduates to become agents of change, shaping their local, regional and national communities like "rings in the water". The EAVE community is committed to sharing its experience and expertise to support and transform business - and society - in a collaborative effort.
New tutors and experts constantly emerge from the pool of past participants, and knowledge spreads globally through community members. We explore this "ripple effect" in a series of interviews where EAVE graduates talk about their inspiring new initiatives, such as training programs, funding initiatives or networking events in their countries, with the aim of making an impact on the industry.
EAVE graduate Lamia Chraibi is one of the five founders of the Tamayouz Cinéma Foundation in Morocco, which aims to give young Moroccan women easier access to the film industry, particularly in the production sector. It also aims to encourage young female talent, foster exchanges and collaboration in the region, and create equal opportunities and greater visibility for Moroccan filmmakers at home and internationally.
EAVE: Could you give us an overview of the Tamayouz Cinéma Foundation's activities in Morocco and the specific professionals it targets?
Lamia Chraibi: The Tamayouz Cinéma Foundation aims to provide young female talent with the necessary platform to professionalize their production skills, help them move from improvisation to professionalism in independent film production and gain visibility on the national and international scenes.
What kind of support do you give to female talent, and how does your initiative contribute to better access to the national and international film industry?
Our initiative provides support for female talent aspiring to enter the film industry. We offer scholarships to young women wishing to enter Morocco's private film school, ESAV. In addition, we support them in the development phase of their first feature film by organizing workshops that accompany them through the development phase of their first feature film. We offer ongoing mentoring to guide them through the process of structuring the project, both in terms of writing and financing.
We are aware of the financial difficulties that often accompany the development of film projects in our part of the world. To remedy this, we want to provide financial assistance to project owners, covering various development expenses.
It's very important to establish networks within the Moroccan film industry and among our participants: through these connections, we facilitate dialogue and awareness-raising on gender issues, creating a supportive community that strengthens talent and gives them better access to opportunities in the national and international film industry.
What are the main issues and challenges facing the Moroccan film industry that you hope to address with the program?
First of all, we're tackling the problem of insufficient communication between industry professionals and supervisory bodies. The main objective is to improve coordination and alignment between stakeholders, in order to facilitate operations and growth within the industry. We are also tackling the limited representation of women in the film professions. We strive to break down barriers and create pathways for female talent to enter and thrive in diverse roles within the industry, promoting diversity and inclusion. Our program tackles gender disparities, both on screen and behind the camera. We seek to challenge stereotypes and promote equality between men and women throughout the film production process.
We also try to address the problem of elitist access to the industry by offering opportunities, resources and support to budding filmmakers from diverse backgrounds. By democratizing access and creating pathways for emerging talent, we aim to create a more inclusive and representative film community.
We need to recognize the pervasiveness of the problem of harassment, particularly in male-dominated industries like film. Through education, advocacy and support systems, we are trying to create safer and more respectful working environments, ensuring that all individuals can pursue their passion for filmmaking without fear or intimidation.
Finally, our program aims to address the significant absence of creative producers capable of driving change. By providing training, mentoring and networking opportunities, we aim to give a new generation of producers the skills, knowledge and vision to positively transform Moroccan cinema.
How does the Tamayouz Foundation plan to contribute to the long-term sustainability and growth of the Moroccan film industry? Are there any strategic partnerships or collaborations in the pipeline?
We have strategic partnerships with leading academic institutions, notably our collaboration with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, and we are working closely with the Ministries of Culture and the Moroccan Film Center. Also, by working with Moroccan film schools, ISMAC and ESAV, we ensure that we remain connected to the next generation of talent. We open our doors to young graduates and offer them concrete opportunities in the film world. We are committed to supporting their successful transition into the industry.
Our aim is to collaborate with the Atlas workshops of the Marrakech International Film Festival, a prestigious platform for international film professionals. By joining this festival, we will be offering young Moroccan producers a unique opportunity to showcase their work and prove themselves on the international scene. This is an important first step for them, as it's taking place in their own country.
We would also like to emphasize that during our training courses, we attach great importance to the rigorous selection of speakers. We ensure that they are experienced and recognized professionals in their field, to guarantee that participants benefit from diverse expertise and constant updates on the realities of the film industry.
In your experience, what role does mentoring play in nurturing emerging talent, particularly in the context of the Moroccan film industry? Can you share any success stories or notable impacts resulting from the mentoring programs?
We are currently in discussion with internationally recognized Moroccan producers to host young producers for a mentoring program throughout the making of their first feature film. We firmly believe in the importance of personalized support for emerging talent, and this mentorship will offer them a unique opportunity to learn from seasoned experts in the Moroccan film industry, who have proven themselves on a global scale. The exchange of knowledge will encourage innovation and strengthen ties between generations of Moroccan film professionals. Collaborating with a reputable production company with an extensive filmography can bring invaluable credibility to young producers starting out in the field. They will benefit not only from advice and expertise but also from the enhancement of their legitimacy through association with the established track record of the company.
Mentoring plays a crucial role for emerging talent in the Moroccan film industry. Despite formal education, there are practical challenges to navigating the industry, often without accessible guidance. Mentoring goes beyond sharing facts; it's about exchanging experiences, providing advice and creating a safe space to ask questions without judgment. For example, the invaluable support and advice provided by Noreddine Sail was instrumental in the early stages of my career, and the lessons learned from this mentoring still stay with me today.
In its early years, the Tamayouz Cinéma Foundation had the privilege of supporting talented individuals through scholarships. Zineb Ouakrim stood out, her short film winning a prize in the Cinef' program at the Cannes Film Festival. Basma Rkioui successfully completed her studies at the FEMIS summer school and the Filmakademie, marking a milestone in her cinematic career. Houda El Anbri entered the professional arena by securing a position in the dubbing industry.
What are your upcoming events and projects? Are there any initiatives on the horizon that you're particularly excited about, or that you think will have a significant impact?
I'm delighted with the launch of the first of three sessions of TAP01 (our first program designed to support our talented young professionals in developing their projects in line with international industry standards), and we're already planning the second edition, taking into account current developments. We look forward to continuing our scholarship program. In addition, we recognize a great need for knowledge in the field of distribution, and are therefore planning to organize a workshop for producers and distributors. We are also looking forward to expanding our team to approach more funding opportunities and to plan the future of Ateliers professionnels Tamayouz with a stronger budget for more action.
EAVE+ 14th Edition: Strategies for Sustainable Film Production Companies
The 14th edition of EAVE+ takes place from April 19-24, 2024 at Hotel Légère Premium in Luxembourg. The workshop will gather 14 experienced producers from 10 countries to discuss the structure of their companies, best management practices and new business models, guided by a hand-picked selection of seasoned industry professionals.
We are grateful to our scholarship partners and their support to the selected workshop participants:
- Canada Media Fund with a special scholarship for companies owned by persons from Racialized or Indigenous communities: Éric Idriss-Kanago (Yzanakio, Canada)
- SODEC: Daniela Mujica (Productions Ocho, Canada)
- CineLink: Tamara Babun (Wolfgang&Dolly, Croatia)
See the complete list of participants below.
In tailor-made sessions according to the participants’ needs and company profiles, EAVE+ will tackle the most pressing issues for producers who want to run a sustainable company: Transformational processes in film companies, diversification, new business models and company constellations, which we will explore via a series of inspiring company case studies by Frédéric Fioré (Logical Pictures, FR) and Line Winther Skyum Funch & Helen Ahlsson (Nordic Drama Queens, SE).
The workshop will tackle the business requirements of running a sustainable film company and address the challenges related to working with streamers and private equity.
Marc Bordure (FR), General and Financial CFO of the French production company AGAT FILMS & Cie / Ex Nihilo, will explore questions related to company finance. Sophie Erbs (Gaïjin, FR) will analyse together with the participants their company business plans and strategies.
Program Director of Leadership Academy of Poland Olga Brzezińska and Polish producer Anna Różalska (Match&Spark) will offer a half-day module on Leadership & Entrepreneurship.
Management coach Michael Comyn (The Time Signal Limited, IE) will work with the participants in individual meetings on their personal leadership and management skills.
Alexander Glehr from FILM AG (AT), Bernard Michaux from Samsa Film (LU) & Noémie Sornet from FUSE Film (FR) and Jožko Rutar from SPOK Films (SI) will share their insights into some recent innovative initiatives and survival strategies for small and medium-sized companies.
EAVE+ Head of Studies Jani Thiltges (Samsa Film, LU), will lead group discussions analysing in depth the individual company cases of the selected participants.
Additionally, participants will be able to go into more detail into the topics which are most urgent and most important to them and to their particular companies, during one-to-one meetings with the EAVE+ pedagogical team and with each other.
“If the EAVE Producers workshop was a turning point for my career as a producer, the EAVE+ is a similarly important step for me as an entrepreneur.”
Boštjan Virc, Studio Virc D.O.O., Slovenia
“A workshop that all producers should attend to learn more about their company and their production ecosystem, but also themselves.”
Jeanne-Marie Poulain, Art et Essai, Canada
EAVE+ takes place once a year in Luxembourg with different experts and curates the most urgent, contemporary topics for each session according to industry needs.
EAVE+ is supported by the Creative Europe - MEDIA sub-programme of the European Union and Film Fund Luxembourg.
EAVE+ 2024 PARTICIPANTS
- Amka Films Productions: Michela Pini & Amel Soudani (IT/CH)
- Biônica Filmes: Karen Castanho (BR)
- Fiction Park: Maria Tsigka (DE)
- Fralita Films : Zivile Gallego (LT)
- Harmonica Films: Per Janérus (SE)
- Kinocompany: Katja Koivisto & Ari Matikainen (FI)
- Nafta Films: Diana Mikita (EE)
- Productions Ocho: Daniela Mujica (CA)
- Samsara Filmproduktion: Loredana Rehekampff & Andreas Schmied (AT)
- Yzanakio: Éric Idriss-Kanago (CA)
- Wolfgang&Dolly: Tamara Babun (HR)
More information on: https://eave.org/programmes/eave-14th-edition
Diversity of filmmakers in the Irish screen industry: Interview with EAVE graduates Katie Holly and Evan Horan on X-Pollinator
EAVE has been actively engaging in the overall transformation of the European film industry as a key player, promoting cross-border and cross-disciplinary collaboration since its inception in 1988. We empower graduates to become agents of change and shape their local, regional and national communities, like “rings in the water”. The EAVE community is committed to sharing experience and expertise to sustain and transform the business - and society – in a collaborative effort.
New tutors and experts constantly emerge from the pool of past participants and knowledge spreads globally through the members of the community. We are exploring this ‘ripple effect’ in a series of interviews where EAVE graduates talk about their inspiring new initiatives, such as training programmes, funding initiatives or networking events in their countries, with the scope of having on impact on the industry.
In this interview, Katie Holly and Evan Horan of X-Pollinator, both EAVE graduate producers, talk about their inspiring initiative to foster diversity in the Irish screen industry. Gain valuable insights into their mission to promote gender equality and inclusivity while advocating for emerging talent and nurturing cross-disciplinary collaborations.
EAVE: What is X-Pollinator and how did you come up with the name for your initiative?
Katie Holly: The idea for X-Pollinator came from the desire to try and make a real change in the diversity of filmmakers in the Irish screen industry. It was inspired by my own experience doing an initiative called Catalyst (through which I produced my first feature, many moons ago) which the Irish Film Board, as it was known at the time, ran over two weekends, with a view to fully funding three low budget films. 150 aspiring writers, directors and producers spent time together and from that three films were made through the scheme, but at least 7 more came out of it directly from the relationships made at the workshops. I thought if we could do the same for female, non-binary and trans talent we could actually make some change so recruited my colleague Evan Horan who had brilliant experience with festivals and events, and Lara Hickey who was coming from a stellar background producing theatre into film to start X-Pollinator.
The name was a play on the X-chromosome, and also our desire to have a true cross disciplinary approach, bringing in artists and practitioners across writing, directing and producing, and other practitioners working in film and TV, but also artists from other creative industries such as theatre, comedy, performance, advertising, literature and journalism who have ambitions to create and want to make work for the screen. Lara was instrumental in helping recruit practitioners beyond those already working for the screen.
Evan Horan: Our initiative, which has been running for five years now, provides the space for our participants to meet, develop, network and share ideas, and to help with the cross pollination of future creative teams and projects.
Could you share an overview of the programs offered by X-Pollinator and who are the specific professionals they target?
EH: When we set out our goal was to support participants at the more emerging stage of their career, so anyone who hadn’t yet made a feature or similar was eligible to apply. Over the course of the five years of X-Pollinator, we have managed to run different programmes that each year has a distinct purpose, addressing an identified gap in the Irish screen industry. In 2019, we started our goal of addressing gender diversity with X-Pollinator 2019, a two-weekend event which saw 140 participants, 37 sessions and 63 industry guest speakers inspire collaborations and networking amongst the next wave of female Irish talent.
After our launch, we were then affected by the pandemic and had to pivot our initiative’s event online. We then followed up with INCUBATOR, a female-driven development initiative that aimed to build on the success of X-Pollinator 2019 to encourage and support collaborations between teams of X-Pollinator participants to create new feature film or TV pitches and treatments. INCUBATOR offered a paid and structured period of development for six projects, providing support in the form of mentorship, script editing and pitch creation, enabling writers to work up treatments with creative and practical input from their director and producer teammates.
In 2021, we launched ELEVATOR, a development programme that identified and supported twenty emerging and diverse female and non-binary writers and directors; it was our goal to actively seek out and support a deeper range of under-represented and emerging voices. Through case studies and panels, ELEVATOR offered participants a comprehensive understanding of the development process, and of the opportunities and careers in writing and directing for the screen, pitching, how to find a producer, and a chance to build a network of collaborators.
KH: After two years online, X-Pollinator was keen to get back in the room; in 2023, we then ran CREATOR, an immersive residential talent development lab for twelve directors who took part in a week-long residency in Adare, Co. Limerick, working on their own individual projects under the guidance of renowned director Aisling Walsh (MAUDIE, SONG FOR A RAGGY BOY) as our lead Creative Mentor, and featured speakers such as Clio Barnard (ALI & AVA), Sophie Hyde (GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE), Kate Dolan (YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER), and Frank Berry (AISHA).
And this year, we felt there was a need to run a large-scale event again, with 140 participants, and X-Pollinator 2024 was held in TU Dublin School of Media earlier this year. We also try to do an event every year at a film festival, which have always been really well attended and shows the need and importance of such networks, so this aspect is something we hope to be able to offer more of, in terms of more regular networking opportunities.
How do you measure the success of your initiatives in promoting gender diversity and equality within the screen industry?
KH: As we have grown and delivered a range of different programmes, we have continued to champion our X-Pollinator participants and their productions and successes. X-Pollinator participation is frequently noted as a marker in participants careers, and we are so thrilled to be a part of their professional journeys. Beyond the intangible impact and positive feedback there have also been multiple tangible outcomes from X-Pollinator with collaborations and productions such as the establishment and launch of Raising Films Ireland; various award winning Screen Ireland funded shorts including SHADOW (Janna Kemperman), LAMB (Sinead O’Loughlin), and WAITING DAY (Grace Dyas); three former participants were named Screen Rising Stars Ireland - Collie McCarthy, Mia Mullarkey and Katie McNeice; three projects from INCUBATOR have since received development support from Screen Ireland - HIT WHERE IT HURTS (Roisin Agnew), DAUGHTERHOOD (Karen Healy and Claire Frances Byrne) and SHAY (Mia Mullarkey), and finally one of CREATOR participants director Claire Frances Byrne will be launching her feature debut READY OR NOT. We were also thrilled to be nominated for a Big Screen Diversity & Inclusion Award last year which felt like a real recognition of our work. We continue to see the need and the positive impact we have for the opportunity to contribute to making the Irish screen industry more diverse, inclusive and successful.
How have you observed gender diversity and equality evolve within both the Irish and international film industries since the inception of your initiatives?
EH: While as an initiative, X-Pollinator’s position on this point remains positive and hopeful; our viewpoint is to create opportunity and action change in order to address the lack of gender diversity, and not dwell on the general state of the industry. Of course, there has been a lot of advancements in recent years but more needs to be done.
The statistics in relation to female writers, directors and producers remain at a critically low level. In particular, we look to the European Audiovisual Observatory who recently released findings that only 26% of European feature films were directed by women from 2018 – 2022. Justine Triet, this year, became the eighth woman ever to be nominated for the Best Director Academy Award. And we have also seen the Re-Framing the Picture report that recently showed the UK film industry may achieve gender parity by 2085 – only sixty-one years to go!
In terms of Ireland specifically, there have certainly been improvements in the number of female writers and directors getting funded and produced and studies show that projects helmed by women tend to have more diversity throughout both in front of and behind the camera, so it’s a virtuous circle that helps further change happen.
When it comes to other equality measures and across crew representation progress is slower, and data is lacking to understand our starting point so we can measure and set meaningful targets for change. We would also be curious to know more about total funding awards and budget levels broken down by gender, we’d expect there is still quite a disparity there. With costs of production increasing and challenges in the market, it’s more important than ever to ensure that those at the earlier stage in their careers particularly those from more diverse groups can have opportunities to make their first features, and that it’s sustainable. Shorts and other schemes are great but really market finance beyond local funders will only come after people have made their first feature, Kate Dolan is a brilliant recent example of that, so we hope we can help advocate for first feature funding pathways locally too. It is clear there is still a crucial need to improve gender balance and diversity in the industry worldwide, and in terms of our work, specifically in Ireland, we remain motivated to keep going and continue this work.
Could you elaborate on the process of establishing an Irish branch of Raising Films, a support network for parents and carers in the screen sectors?
KH: The establishment of Raising Films Ireland has most definitely been one of our biggest measures of success across our years of running X-Pollinator.
In 2019, during our inaugural event in 2019, we invited writer/director Hope Dickson Leach (THE LEVELLING) for a Director in Focus panel. Hope is a co-founder of Raising Films, and was interested in helping set up an Irish branch of the organisation. During a coffee break after the panel, Hope was approached by a large number of participants, inspired by her talk and eager to be a part of establishing this new body; emails were exchanged and not too long after, Raising Films Ireland was launched and it’s been hugely active in trying to make the Irish screen industries a more welcoming place to work for those that are carers.
Working towards a more inclusive screen industry is a main goal for X-Pollinator, which is a shared mission for Raising Films Ireland who want to make the screen industry accessible for parents and carers. Over our recent X-Pollinator events, we have had childcare onsite available for our participants as well as an accessibility fund set aside in our budget, in order to address any barriers for our participants and help those who may not have been able to attend otherwise.
What upcoming events or projects do you have planned? Are there any initiatives on the horizon that you're particularly excited about?
KH: We just wrapped on X-Pollinator 2024 which took place over one weekend in late February. This marked our return to a large-scale event which saw 140 participants, 23 sessions and 39 industry guest speakers including directors Ella Glendining (IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?), Aoife McArdle (SEVERANCE), Sofia Exarchou (ANIMAL) and producers Cleona Ní Chrualaoí (AN CAILÍN CIÚIN) and Maria Drandaki of Homemade Films and EAVE Producers Workshop alumni.
We intend to run one major X-Pollinator event every year so we are now in the process of figuring out our 2025 plans. We do see potential in taking our cross-pollination idea further, for instance with our CREATOR Directors Lab, might there be opportunities to expand this into Europe, partnering with other European screen agencies for a bi-lateral event.
EH: We have also managed to secure some funding from our long-standing supporters Coimisiún na Meán to develop our network of over 310 participants, and run smaller events throughout the year to ensure our previous participants remain engaged with X-Pollinator, and to continue to highlight and cheerlead their work. We plan to do some year-round meet ups, which could be screenings, networking reception, or panels. We want to keep this networking growing and support our participants as they develop their careers.
I have always been an admirer of the BFI Flare x BAFTA development programme which showcases and supports six LGBTQIA+ filmmakers each year. I have recently joined the Board of GAZE International LGBTQIA+ Film Festival in Dublin, and would love to see a similar programme developed for Irish LGBTQIA+ talent.
EAVE on Demand Montenegro coming up!
EAVE is organizing in partnership with Film Center of Montenegro and Creative Europe MEDIA Desk Montenegro an EAVE on Demand workshop for producers from Montenegro.
The tailor-made workshop is kicking off in Podgorica on April 9th, 2024!
The objective is to provide insights into the role of the producer from development to production, positioning of your project and building international festival and market strategies. The participants will also be given an overview of European funding sources as well as tips and trick for producers from low production capacity countries and/or working with low-budget feature films.
The workshop will consist of interactive masterclasses by EAVE Experts Vicky Miha (asterisk*, GR) and Katriel Schory (IL):
- Role of the Producer from Development to Production
- Tips & Tricks for Producers from Low Production Capacity Countries and of Low-Budget Feature Films
- European Funding Sources
- Positioning Your Project and Building International Festival and Market Strategies
More information: https://fccg.me/eave-on-demand-montenegro-2024-katriel-schory-vicky-miha/
