CINELINK 2018 | 1 - SARAJEVO FILM FESTIVAL
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
CineLink 2018 | 1
CineLink
CineLink Projects
Projects 20182018
/B
CineLink Projects 2018:
4 A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On Director & Writer: Gentian Koçi
8 Balaur Director & Writer: Octav Chelaru
12 The Celts Director & Writer: Milica Tomović
AIR
16 Chemistry Director & Writer: Adina Dulcu
20 Deskmate Director: Ferit Karahan, Writer: Ferit Karahan ,Gülistan Acet
24 The Elegy of Laurel Director & Writer: Dušan Kasalica
FOR
28 Erasing Frank Director: Gabor Fabricius, Writer: Gabor Fabricius, György Barathy
32 Fiume o morte! Director & Writer: Igor Bezinović
36 The Island Within Director & Writer: Ru Hasanov
ART
40 May Labour Day Director & Writer: Pjer Žalica
44 Natural Light Director & Writer: Dénes Nagy
48 Orchestra Director & Writer: Matevž Luzar
52 Safe Place Director & Writer: Juraj Lerotić
56 Summer Night, Half Past Ten
Director: Ivana Mladenović
Writer: Ivana Mladenović, Adrian Schiop
60 War and War
Director: Efthimis Kosemund Sanidis
Writer: Efthimis Kosemund Sanidis, Elizampetta Ilia-Georgiadou
CineLink Guest Projects 2018:
64 The Enchanted Wanderer Director & Writer: Babak Payami
70 Streams Director & Writer: Mehdi Hmili
72 The Voice of Amirah Director & Writer: Khalifa Al-Thani
CineLink, Sarajevo Film Festival 2018
CineLink 2018 | 3
CineLink Projects 2018
CineLink Projects 2018
DIRECTOR, PRODUCER’S BIOGRAPHY occurs. At the ophthalmologist, a few days
GENTIAN KOÇI graduated in Film Directing in later, the two brothers discover that due to a
2009, in Tirana. In 2012, Gentian Koçi produced genetic and rare disease, they will separately,
shot and directed the documentary, NOT A but progressively and irreversibly go blind.
CARWASH, which premiered in official selec- Slowly immersing into an unbearable silenced
tion at Hot Docs, was nominated for the Special darkness, not being able to see the world and
Jury Award at Sheffield Doc/Fest 2012 and met each other anymore, only Ana by their side, the
with great critical acclaim in Sight & Sound. In two brothers have to make a strong decision
2017, Gentian Koçi finished his first feature film around a cup of coffee with new shoes on.
DAYBREAK, as producer, director and screen-
Gentian Koçi writer. DAYBREAK had the world premiere at DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
AL / GR
Sarajevo International Film Festival in August A CUP OF COFFEE AND NEW SHOES ON takes
2017, in main competition, where the main place in today’s Tirana. The story is a strong
A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On actress was awarded Heart of Sarajevo – Best existential drama with a social background on
Actress. Since its world premiere, DAYBREAK two identical twin brothers facing their limited
Two identical inseparable deaf-mute twin brothers in their forties, discover has been selected in more than 35 films fes- life choices. I feel challenged by the idea to
that due to a genetic disease, they will separately, but progressively and ir- tivals all over the world, gathering awards make a film that deals with fundamental ques-
reversibly go blind. Slowly immersing into an unbearable silenced darkness, such as Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, tions: what happens to a human being when
not being able to see the world and each other anymore, the two brothers an Audience Award and a Special Jury Prize. he/she is completely immersed into darkness,
have to make a strong decision. DAYBREAK was the official Albanian submission not being able to communicate with the oth-
for the Academy Awards – Oscars 2018 ers and the world? What happens to a human
Writer: Gentian Koçi Production timeline being when all his windows of perception are
Director: Gentian Koçi Final script to be delivered in October 2018; Director(s) Filmography irreversibly walled? The most important chal-
Producers: Gentian Koçi, Blerina Hankollari Fundraising: October 2018 - March 2020; NOT A CARWASH (documentary, 2012, AL) lenge for me is to visually show the unbear-
Production Company’s contact details Pre-production: March 2020 - September ÁJÀSO, UNE PHILOPERFORMANCE (documen- able violent separation of two identical twin
ARTALB FILM 2020 (6 months), tary, 2014, AL/FR) brothers in a subtle and minimal way. As
Rr. Mustafa Mehidri Production: September-October 2020. DAYBREAK (feature, 2017, AL/GR) screenwriter and director, I want to honestly
Njësia 1, Nr. 64, Tirana, Albania, Looking for at CineLink Co-production Market show the progressive immersion of two human
Phone: +35569 23 21 352 Third, even a forth regional or/and European PRODUCER BIOGRAPHY beings into a deep silenced darkness. The two
artalbfilm@gmail.com co-producer, sales agent BLERINA HANKOLLARI studied European phi- main characters are set mostly in indoor loca-
kocigenti@gmail.com Director’s previous work on Festival Scope: losophy. She has worked as creative consult- tions. In terms of style, I aim at adopting a
Co-Production Company Daybreak ant in Gentian Koçi’s documentary NOT A realistic approach by purifying the cinema lan-
GRAAL FILMS (GR) CARWASH and as national co-producer in his guage from its conventional artifices. Intense
Estimated production budget first feature film, DAYBREAK. corporal dialogues in sign language condense
750.000,00 EUR emotions in a strong cinematic way, while cold
Financing in place SYNOPSIS colours baths help to unfold the tenderness of
112.223,00 EUR - in-kind investment, In today’s Tirana, Agim and Gëzim, two insepa- the story.
own investment and MG rable deaf-mute identical twin brothers in their
forties, live under the same roof. Ana, Gëzim’s PRODUCER’S STATEMENT
girlfriend, a young high-spirited woman in her A CUP OF COFFEE AND NEW SHOES ON is a
thirties, visits them quite often. One evening, feature fiction project in advance stage of
Attending the market: development, an existential and social drama
Agim is driving back home with Gëzim, when
Gentian Koçi, focused on two identical twin brothers fac-
his sight gets blurred and a fatal accident nearly
Blerina Hankollari
4 | CineLink 2018 CineLink 2018 | 5
CineLink Projects 2018
ing strong existential conditions. The story is
an original one, but in some of its elements,
inspired by a true story. As producer, I strongly
believe that this very emotional and authentic
BDDP
story, with an important social realistic back-
ground, has a very good distributional potential
at a regional, European and international level. ARTE6
The project has already on board the Greek
co-producer, Graal Films, represented by Irini Date
Vougioukalou and Konstantina Stavrianou. In
CineLink, we’re looking for a third, even a forth
co-producer and a committed sales agent. DC
COMPANY PROFILE Respo
ARTALB FILM is a film company based in Tirana.
It was founded in 2011 by the Albanian emerg-
Comm
ing producer and director Gentian Koçi. The
company’s focus are European co-produced
author movies with an authentic visual style Direct
and narrative. Its distinctive titles are NOT
A CARWASH and DAYBREAK, produced and
Conce
directed by Gentian Koçi. NOT A CARWASH
premiered in official selection at Hot Docs
2012 and was nominated for the Special Jury Client
Award at Sheffield Doc/Fest 2012. ARTALB
FILM co-produced DAYBREAK, which premiered
at Sarajevo Film Festival 2017, in main competi-
tion. The main protagonist was awarded the
Heart of Sarajevo – Best Actress. DAYBREAK has
THE SMALL SCREEN THAT LOVES Cineli
been selected in more than 35 films festivals THE BIG SCREEN.
- © Carole Bethuel - Mia Hansen-Løve, réalisatrice de «Le père de mes enfants»
all over the world, gathering awards such as FU 1
Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Audience
Award and Special Jury Prizes. DAYBREAK
was the official Albanian submission for the
Academy Awards – Oscars 2018.
CINEMA
ARTE partner of Sarajevo Film Festival
ARTE International Prize
Cinelink
6 | CineLink 2018 Cinelink Mag 142x202_Cine Ang_Fest Sarajevo.indd 1
CineLink 2018 | 7
13/07/2016 11:34
CineLink Projects 2018
CineLink Projects 2018
DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY SYNOPSIS
OCTAV CHELARU (b. 1991) started making films MRS. IVANOVICI, a 35-year-old Religion teach-
when he was 14-years-old, using his relatives er, is not living a truthful life. She married too
and classmates as actors. After being rejected young with the town priest and she has three
by the film school, Octav started to be a boys with him. A part of her life is missing.
self-taught. While he was studying Computer Even though she is an attractive and intel-
Science in college, he directed commercials ligent woman, she cannot express her feelings
and videos and produced short films for other because they got replaced by the others’. But
directors. Among the short films he directed, something is boiling inside her.
we mention OCCUPIED – winner at Timishort It’s her first Religion class of the year. The new
Octav Chelaru RO IFF; PRIVATE PARTY – selected for Les Arcs student, IULIU, a 16-year old, stands out. He
IFF, Tirana IFF; BLACK CLOTHES, produced by is audacious and looks at her in a special way.
deFilm, selected in competition for Locarno She feels looked at as a woman, a feeling that
Balaur IFF, Valladolid IFF, Grimstad IFF and others. she didn’t have for a long time. They have a
Currently, Octav is developing his debut feature disagreement in front of the class, which makes
Mrs. Ivanovici, a 35-year-old religion teacher and wife of the town priest, BALAUR, participating in various workshops Iuliu angry. Later, when he comes to ask for an
begins a relationship with Iuliu, an audacious 16-year-old student of hers. and markets. explanation, she apologizes and offers him a
Iuliu starts confessing to the priest. ride home.
Director’s Filmography During the next days, they become friends.
Writer: Octav Chelaru Production timeline BLACK CLOTHES (short, 2017, RO) Mrs. Ivanovici meets Iuliu in various places
Director: Octav Chelaru Final script: by end of 2018; Fundraising: by PRIVATE PARTY (short, 2017, RO) after school and she enjoys the new intimacy
Producers: Radu Stancu, Ioana Lascăr, end of 2019; Pre-production: 4 months by OCCUPIED (short, 2015, RO) found with him. A new routine is taking shape
Livia Rădulescu (delegate producer) end of April 2020; Production: 5 weeks by and starts to influence the routine she has
Production Company’s contact details mid 2020; Post-production: 7 months by early PRODUCER’S BIOGRAPHY at home, as a wife and as a mother of a son
deFilm 2021. RADU STANCU is a Romanian film producer, who is the same age as Iuliu. Very soon, Mrs.
Busolei 11, Bucharest, Romania Looking for at CineLink Co-production Market owner of independent production company Ivanovici has sex with Iuliu and, scared about
+40755 991 199 Co-producers, co-financiers, development deFilm. After graduating film school, Radu her trespass, she takes a step back.
livia@defilm.ro funds, pre-sales, sales, distribution opportuni- started producing successful shorts, anima- Feeling betrayed, Iuliu gets mad. As blackmail,
http://defilm.ro ties, festival representatives tions, feature films and documentaries. In 2012 he starts going to confessions to the town
Estimated production budget Director’s previous work on Festival Scope: his short film HORIZON by Paul Negoescu was priest, the husband of Mrs. Ivanovici. He tells
700.000,00 EUR Black Clothes in the official selection at Cannes – Semaine the priest about the awful things he does with
Financing in place Private Party de la Critique. In 2015 he is back in Cannes an older woman and he calls Mrs. Ivanovici
Development: 15,000 EUR; with the short RAMONA by Andrei Cretulescu, every time he does this. When Iuliu reveals her
Production: 265,000 EUR - CNC Romania; a Kinosseur and Wearebasca co-production, identity to her husband, she is pressed to deal
Own investment: 50,000 EUR winning Canal + Award at Semaine de la with that. She initially refuses and makes her
Critique. The feature film THE WORLD IS MINE husband act like a priest and truly help Iuliu.
by Nicolae Constantin Tanase, a Libra Film co- At a tense family dinner where Iuliu is invited,
production, is awarded in the East of the West the priest tries to manipulate him, but Mrs.
competition at Karlovy Vary 2015 and Best Ivanovici takes the blame for what happened.
Debut at Transilvania IFF. MARITA, by Cristi She starts a confession in front of the fam-
Attending the market:
Octav Chelaru Iftime, co-produced with Hi Film Productions, ily. Iuliu has a meltdown at the sight of Mrs.
Ioana Lascăr won the FEDEORA Award at Karlovy Vary 2017. Ivanovici ruining her family life. He runs away,
Livia Rădulescu and Mrs. Ivanovici goes after him.
8 | CineLink 2018 CineLink 2018 | 9
CineLink Projects 2018
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT financing stage. We are now looking for co-
I was always interested in how set beliefs influ- producers and co-financiers, and we are open
ence people. When I read a story from my to a mix of creative input.
small hometown about a high school student
committing suicide after a relationship with his COMPANY PROFILE
Enjoy while filming
teacher, also a priest’s wife, I thought it was a DEFILM was conceived as an independent pro-
tragedy but that was it. Later, I found out that, duction company in 2009. We engage cin-
during her trial, the community was supporting ematic productions with diverse approach-
the teacher. Then it hit me, everybody knew, es and styles. Films like RAMONA by Andrei
so there must be multiple layers to it. I decided Cretulescu, HORIZON by Paul Negoescu, BLACK
to make a film inspired by this story, trying to CLOTHES by Octav Chelaru, THE WORLD IS
discover what lies beneath this seemingly in- MINE by Nicolae Constantin Tănase, or MARITA
control surface. by Cristi Iftime, were presented and awarded
I am interested in a perspective where the in prestigious international festivals: Cannes,
audience’s focus is more on the human per- Locarno, Karlovy Vary, AFI, Chicago, Busan,
spective of the story – what they would do if Transilvania IFF, and many more. Our recent
they were the character. The protagonist of stop motion animation THE BEST CUSTOMER
this film can be easily judged for being a bad by Serghei Chiviriga was selected in 24 major
mother, a bad wife or a bad teacher, but, on the genre film festivals. We are currently in differ-
other hand, who can blame our need for love ent stages of production with two feature films,
and understanding? For this balance I plan to TO THE NORTH by Mihai Mincan, and BALAUR
create the appearance of a small horizon that by Octav Chelaru, five shorts, two animations,
widens by discerning the surroundings through and four documentaries.
self-discovery.
PRODUCER’S STATEMENT
From the very beginning, there were several
facts that compelled us to make this film but
also struck us personally. BALAUR tells the
intriguing story of a woman whose core values
become subject to transformation when her
Film in Montenegro!
unquestioned traditional setting is challenged
by a forceful encounter. For the protagonist,
this provokes surprising actions that reach ille-
gality. But also brings about a series of larger
questions that were never posed before in the info@fccg.me|www.fccg.me
conventional world in which BALAUR is set.
These questions relate to dysfunctional family
www.montenegro.travel
dynamics, to twisted aggressor-victim roles, to
the division between opposing values, to the
social status of women, to the meaning of real
faith – in the world, in oneself. But BALAUR also
addresses central human needs: for love, for
acceptance, for defining one’s place in society, Montenegro
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
and in life. The project is in development and
10 | CineLink 2018 CineLink 2018 | 11
CineLink Projects 2018
CineLink Projects 2018
DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY has produced/co-produced, feature THE BLACK
MILICA TOMOVIĆ (1986, SFR Yugoslavia). PIN by Ivan Marinović, documentary GORA by
Graduated from Academy of Dramatic Arts in Stefan Malešević and short fiction TRANSITION
Belgrade 2011 with omnibus film OCTOBER, by Milica Tomović.
which she made together with her classmates.
The film was shown in Cottbus, Trieste, Sofia SYNOPSIS
Film Meetings, Isola Cinema, Liffe festivals and Winter, 1993. Bill Clinton is elected president.
others. In 2011 they won the Special mention Audrey Hepburn dies. Wars following the
award in Cinema City – Novi Sad. Her segment breakup of socialist Yugoslavia are continued
in omnibus – GRADUATION, was nominated in Croatia and Bosnia. Belgrade is under sanc-
Milica Tomović for one of the best short films made in last tions and inflations that threaten to become
RS/ME
three years in Serbia by Serbian Academy of hyperinflations. MOTHER (38) wakes up on a
Motion Pictures and Science. She participated day when she has to do all the preparation
Celts in workshops: Sarajevo Talent Campus 2012, for her younger daughter’s birthday party –
goEast Project Market 2013 in Wiesbaden and cooking awaits her, guests await her, and dirty
In the middle of the country’s breakup, three generations, equally hilarious PriForum in Priština 2014. In 2016 she finished dishes await her, when the night is over. After
and deranged, attend a child’s costume birthday party. her short film TRANSITION which had its inter- a full year of not having sex with her husband,
national film premiere in Locarno as part of Mother introduced masturbation in her every-
Pardi di domani selection. TRANSITION won day routine.
Writer: Milica Tomović Production timeline golden plaque in Serbian short fiction film On that day Mother fails to reach an orgasm.
Director: Milica Tomović Script: finished April 2018; Fundraising: fin- selection in Belgrade FF and Heart of Sarajevo On that day TAMARA (14), the older sister, gets
Producer: Vladimir Vasiljević ished until February 2018.; Pre-production: for Best Short Film in Sarajevo FF and won Best her period and gets an order to craft a costume
Production Company’s contact details January-February 2019; Production: March Director Award at the International Short Film for her little sister.
EED Productions doo 2019. Festival of Cyprus. Over the years she mostly On that day GRANDMOTHER (68) finds out her
Topličin venac 29 Looking for at CineLink Co-production Market worked as assistant director and casting direc- friend has died and also finds out she has to
11000 Belgrade, Serbia Bosnian co-producer, Croatian co-producer, tor for feature films. use walnuts to make an almond cake for her
Phone: +381641514812 post-production partner and sales granddaughter.
vladimir@eed.rs Director’s previous work on Festival Scope: Director’s Filmography On that day FATHER (35), the taxi driver doesn’t
Co-Production Company Transition JUTRO ĆE PROMENITI SVE (series, 2018, RS) charge the ride and lies to his youngest, she’ll
Meander film (ME) TRANSITION (short, 2016, RS) get a puppy for her birthday.
Estimated production budget GRADUATION (short, 2011, RS) On that day MINJA (8), birthday girl, can’t wait
402.280,00 EUR to get home and put on a Raphael costume
Financing in place PRODUCER’S BIOGRAPHY (the red Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle) to wel-
194.600,00 EUR VLADIMIR VASILJEVIĆ, was born in Serbia 1981. come her schoolmates. She invited everyone,
While living in Singapore as a teenager I’ve even the Princess, who stuck a gum in her best
learned basics of film production. Finished friend’s hair.
Academy of dramatic arts in Belgrade, Film Mother tries to be polite while she welcomes
and TV production department. For ten years Minja’s friends and gets criticized by parents
I’ve been working as a freelancer and in 2013 I for organizing a costume party. Mother tries to
founded EED productions. EAVE graduate 2015. seem excited when the guests start to arrive:
Attending the market:
EED Productions is based in Belgrade, Serbia. Uncle and his boyfriend, Father’s colleague
Milica Tomović
Primary goal is to tell stories that inspire and from an old firm – the drunk, Mother’s best
Vladimir Vasiljević
cooperate with young authors. EED Productions friend Zaga with a new girlfriend, and just after
12 | CineLink 2018 CineLink 2018 | 13
CineLink Projects 2018
CineLink Projects 2018
two of them, Zaga’s ex-lover rings the doorbell, Through the characters – family members, follow festivals where we had big success with
too. Mother expresses compassion for the I want to represent a person’s developing Milica’s short film TRANSITION, which includes
problems of her friends – the two ex-lovers path from childhood, through adolescence and Sarajevo FF, Festival del film Locarno, TIFF, and
which becomes the main topic of the night. till the adulthood. By doing so I will try to others.
Mother tries not to notice that Father is flirt- explore the ways in which these characters
ing with a newly arrived guest – young actress. were shaped by their experiences. The ques- COMPANY PROFILE
Mother feels invisible while she drowns in tion which interests me is if in some cases EED PRODUCTIONS is a production company
endless dramas and repeated conversations. a certain experience can even have such an based in Belgrade, Serbia. EED Productions was
Mother decides to leave the party and finally effect on one’s life, that from one point on founded by producer Vladimir Vasiljević after
do something for herself. everything goes irrevocably wrong. In the same more than ten years of experience in executive
On the streets she gets a chance to reach an way, I wish to explore the epoch, approaching production. Our goal is to produce films that
orgasm, to insult someone and to smoke a ciga- it with a distance of the present moment and we filmmakers would like to see in theatres,
rette with a stranger. On the streets Mother with a desire to comprehend where it all went to collaborate with creative young authors and
also gets a chance to realize she’s inevitably irreversibly wrong with the country we were to keep making international co-productions.
part of a family in which: margarine is used born in, Yugoslavia. At the same time, together Our films were screened at numerous film
instead of butter, walnut instead of almond, with my characters, I am trying to question festivals around the world such as: Locarno FF,
masturbation instead of sex and one declares my identity, or to consider the possibility of Toronto IFF, Sarajevo FF, Film Festival Cottbus,
as Celt instead of Yugoslav. obtaining a new one - as UNCLE did in film, Thessaloniki IFF. Apart from producing films,
which would imply giving up or negating the EED Productions act as service provider for
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT past completely. domestic and international companies.
THE CELTS is a family drama with the elements Nineties are used as a frame for an intimate
of comedy written with a desire to make a fun, family story, but also as a metaphor of our
crazy, nostalgic, emotional film that audience present time and inevitable repetitions – which
would wish never to end. It is a film about are displayed in personal relationships, political
disappearance of one country and loss of one’s contexts and events. This film should point out
identity which are portrayed through three that what people of my parent’s generation
different generations within one family and witnessed and lived through in the nineties,
their daily routine while preparing the birthday has everything to do with what we live through
party for the youngest daughter. Idea was to and witness right now.
simultaneously deal with my childhood and
with my adult life, by trapping them inside one PRODUCER’S STATEMENT
house and one day, and by giving an eight-year- We had first draft of the script in August 2017.
old perspective on that period with an oppor- After that we got on board script consultant,
tunity to grasp what my parents were going Tanja Šljivar, with whom we worked on 2nd
through, now that I’ve reached their years. and 3rd draft of the script. Since CELTS is
The year 1993 in Yugoslavia (Serbia and relatively low budget (402.280 EUR), biggest
Montenegro) marks the end of Dafiment bank support, as it was planned, in Film Center
– Ponzi scheme that was supported by presi- Serbia which granted us productions support.
dent Slobodan Milošević, which finally led to Our next step is applying on Montenegrian film
hyperinflation. Milošević’s regime deeply dam- fund, with our co-producers Ivan Salatić and
aged country’s bruto national product as well Dušan Kasalica from Meander film. CineLink
as life standard of all its citizens. Moreover, will be our only co-production market in terms
his regime was one of the main causes of wars of production, since we plan to apply on work
in Bosnia and Croatia, which by then reached in progress markets once we have first draft
devastating points. of editing. As for festival strategy we plan to
14 | CineLink 2018 CineLink 2018 | 15
CineLink Projects 2018
CineLink Projects 2018
DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY SYNOPSIS
ADINA DULCU graduated from UNATC After a childhood spent in the working-class
Bucharest and obtained a master’s degree in neighborhood of a small industrial town on the
Film Studies at Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès. shores of the Black Sea, ANA PETREANU is now
She lives between Romania and France and captain of a major handball team and married
has developed a multi-layer career as a pro- to the financial manager of the factory that
ducer, scriptwriter, head of development and sponsors the club.
assistant director. Enriched by all these experi- But a serious injury clouds this perfect picture.
ences, she began developing her own projects. Ana is confronted with the limitations of her
Her first short film as a director, NETWORK own body and her most intimate fears. The
Adina Dulcu RO UNAVAILABLE, has just concluded its interna- team’s management hires a renowned physi-
tional festival circuit, including festivals like otherapist, Frenchwoman EMILIE, in order to
Mumbai IFF, Dublin IFF, Cartagena IFF or Let’s bring Ana as quickly as possible back on the
Chemistry CEE Vienna. Adina has just finished post-pro- court. Only Emilie tries to make Ana aware that
duction on her second short, THE ISLAND, a return to the court could endanger both her
An injury on the handball court pushes Ana to fight against the limits of and is in development with her first feature, career and her health.
her own body, but also against those of an entire corrupt society. This is the CHEMISTRY, initiated at L’Atelier Scénario Fémis MARIUS, Ana’s husband, is displeased by
most important match of her career. Of her life. and supported by a development grant from the complicity the two women harbor and
the Romanian Film Centre. doesn’t take kindly to this stranger’s intrusion.
Writer: Adina Dulcu Production timeline Especially since Emilie is a lesbian… However,
Director: Adina Dulcu Final script to be delivered by beginning of Director’s Filmography his apparent jealousy conceals something else.
Producers: Tudor Giurgiu, Bogdan Crăciun 2019; Fundraising throughout 2018-2019; THE ISLAND (short, 2018, RO) After a domestic argument, Marius reveals
Production Company’s contact details Pre-production 2 months beginning 2020; NETWORK UNAVAILABLE (short, 2016, RO) that the factory and the team will soon be
Libra Film Productions Shooting 5 weeks spring 2020; Final DCP to be liquidated, dismantled and sold piece by piece.
52 Popa Soare Street, Et. 1, Apt. 4 delivered by beginning 2021. PRODUCERS’ BIOGRAPHY This is why management pressures Ana to play
023984 Bucharest, Romania Looking for at CineLink Co-production Market TUDOR GIURGIU is a director, scriptwriter to her full potential – they want to keep the
Phone: +40213266480 Co-producers, sales agents, post-production and producer. He is the founder of Libra Film appearances and cash in the most amount of
http://www.librafilm.net services, festival awareness Productions and Transilvania IFF, the most money before it all turns into dust.
Estimated production budget Director’s previous work on Festival Scope: important feature film festival in Romania. He Ana is mortified. All along, her battle with her
1.240.000,00 EUR Network Unavailable has been President of the National Television own body had only been a prologue to her
Financing in place between 2005-2007 and is the initiator of the battle with an entire corrupt societal system.
245.000,00 EUR GOPO Awards, annual awards for best achieve- After a lifetime’s struggle out on the court, Ana
ments in local filmmaking. Member of the readies herself for the ultimate match: the one
European Film Academy, he counts more than that will tell her what price she needs to pay, in
30 credits as a producer. order to regain her own freedom.
Born in 1980, graduated Law in 2002, BOGDAN
CRĂCIUN started working with Libra Film in DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
2006. Being involved in most of the company’s I question myself since a long time about per-
projects since then, he became a producer in sonal identity, about taking act within a corrupt
2013. Amongst his latest films are Iulia Rugina’s socio-political context and the consequences
Attending the market:
Adina Dulcu BREAKING NEWS (Karlovy Vary competition it engenders; a questioning that is both social
Bogdan Crăciun 2017) and Tudor Giurgiu’s PARKING, set to pre- and intimate.
miere in Autumn 2018. Ana’s story speaks about the emancipation of
16 | CineLink 2018 CineLink 2018 | 17
CineLink Projects 2018
a woman in search for her own freedom, who one which has been granted three times
runs into the ruthless wall of a patriarchal soci- (2009, 2011, 2014) development support by
ety marred by corruption and intolerance. It’s a MEDIA Programme for its slate of projects.
story about how each “personal revolution” is Recently, Libra was the Romanian co-producer
essential, regardless of our nationality, culture of HISTORY OF LOVE, Radu Mihăileanu’s adap-
or gender. tation of Nicole Krauss’ bestseller, starring
The title enfolds all the audio-visual themes Gemma Arterton and Derek Jacobi. In 2016
I want to explore: the industrial chemistry of Libra Film co-produced the third feature film
the factory and its ultra-polluted environment, of Romanian director Iulia Rugină, BREAKING
the chemistry of the bodies thrashing on the NEWS, which premiered at Karlovy Vary IFF
handball court, the organic chemistry installing 2017, where young actress Voica Oltean won
between Ana and Emilie and condemned by a Special Jury Mention. Currently Libra Film is
everyone. It’s this multiplicity I would like to finalizing Tudor Giurgiu’s PARKING, set to pre-
capture, between the atmosphere of a social miere in autumn 2018, and is developing sev-
drama and a more intimate and poetic film. eral feature projects among which CHEMISTRY,
first feature of director Adina Dulcu; Tudor
PRODUCER’S STATEMENT Cristian Jurgiu’s second feature film project,
CHEMISTRY is an ambitious feature debut, a entitled AND THEY MAY STILL BE ALIVE TODAY,
very personal questioning about what options THE WINDSEEKER, first feature of director
one has, facing a corrupt society. Mihai Sofronea.
Due to this engaged storyline and the current
local political status, the project won’t be an
easy one to finance in Romania. We therefore
need to find the best partners who can support
us throughout the journey. Especially since the
thematic goes beyond local, focusing on an
encounter between East and West, between
two ways of conceiving the world. One in
which capitalism and de-industrialization have
already happened, and the other where the
process grows toward its most violent degree.
One in which personal freedom is no longer
questioned, and the other where religious
associations want to impose an intolerant
standard.
This story, portrayed by a powerful female ACE PRODUCERS IS AN EXCLUSIVE NETWORK OF EXPERIENCED
character, and told by a woman director, brings INDEPENDENT FILM PRODUCERS FROM EUROPE AND BEYOND.
a new perspective to Romanian cinema, and
ACE Producers’ Director and Head of Studies, Jacobine van der Vloed,
we strongly believe that its potential is not only is present at CineLink from 12 to 16 August 2018.
for the festival circuit, but also for the audi-
ences worldwide.
To organise a meeting to discuss possible applications for the 2019-2020
session, or to get more information on the network, please email:
jacobinevandervloed@ace-producers.com
COMPANY PROFILE
LIBRA FILM is one of the most important www.ace-producers.com
Romanian production companies, the only
18 | CineLink 2018 CineLink 2018 | 19CineLink Projects 2018
CineLink Projects 2018
DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY to take Memo to hospital, the roads are com-
FERIT KARAHAN was born in Muş, Turkey on pletely blocked by snow. No one can even get
4 April 1983. He’s living in Istanbul. He started out of the school gates.
working as a first assistant director on feature The gravity of the situation finally sinks in with
films. His short films Before the FLOOD and the school’s administration. And so begins
YUSIV’S DREAM have been screened at numer- a concerted effort firstly to get one of many
ous festivals and have won awards and honor- stranded ambulances to come to the school,
able mentions. His feature debut THE FALL and secondly to figure out the cause of Memo’s
FROM HEAVEN premiered at the Antalya Film illness.
Festival and won Best Film Award. Also won As Memo’s condition goes from bad to worse,
Ferit Karahan Best First Film Prize at the Ankara Film Festival Yusuf is overtaken by a growing sense of
TR
and was later screened at more than 15 festi- anguish and disquiet. And the fact that the
vals and won 10 awards more. DESKMATE will school heating system has broken down makes
Deskmate be Ferit’s second feature film. the already strained school community even
more aggressive. The incident soon spreads,
At a repressive boarding school miles from anywhere, Yusuf (13) is anxious Director’s Filmography involving maintenance staff and students as
to get his mysteriously sick friend to hospital. First, he’s thwarted by school THE FALL FROM HEAVEN (2013, TR) well as teachers. Things become messier still
bureaucracy, then, once this is overcome, by heavy snowfall. As they wait when people begin to blame each other in
for roads to be cleared, teachers-students jostle to exonerate themselves PRODUCER’S BIOGRAPHY order to exonerate themselves. When the cloak
from circumstances surrounding the boy’s mystery condition, revealing KANAT DOGRAMACI was born in Eskisehir, of mystery gradually begins to lift, long con-
ruthless vendettas and hidden secrets in the process. Turkey on 31st of March 1987. After high cealed rifts suddenly surface in a savage show-
school he worked for a few production compa- down. Ultimately, it becomes apparent that no
nies such as MED YAPIM and 5. Boyut. Then he one, including Yusuf, is innocent.
Writers: Ferit Karahan, Gülistan Acet Financing in place
went to United Kingdom to study Film Studies. Hours later, an ambulance arrives to take away
Director: Ferit Karahan 200.000,00 EUR
He graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in Memo, who by this time is showing no sign of
Producer: Kanat Doğramacı Production timeline
Cambridge. When he got back to Turkey, he life whatsoever.
Production Company’s contact details It’s final script; Pre-production: September
founded ASTEROS CINEMA in 2014. Since then The boys are back in the school baths, fooling
ASTEROS CINEMA – November 2018; Production: January
he has produced numerous advertisements around and making a lot of noise as they wash.
Rumeli Hisarı Mah – February 2019; Post-production: March –
August 2019; and total of five feature films. Yusuf, who is sharing a basin with two of his
Saygılı Sok Özgen Apt. No:9/4
Sarıyer, İstanbul / Türkiye Looking for at CineLink Co-production Market friends, pours a scoop of water over his soapy
+90 212 257 00 48 Fund, partner, world sales SYNOPSIS head. The suds wash away to reveal a swathe
info@asterosfilm.com Director’s previous work on Festival Scope: YUSUF (12) is a student at an all-boys board- of closely cropped hair running down the mid-
karahan.ferit@gmail.com The Fall from Heaven ing school attended mostly by the children dle of his head from front to back and the ‘train
Estimated production budget of underprivileged rural families. Run with an tracks’ of longer hair on either side.
380.000,00 EUR iron fist, the school is located in mountainous
region miles from the nearest town. DIRECTOR’S STATEMENTz
When he wakes one morning to go to classes, DESKMATE is set in a rural all-boys boarding
Yusuf realizes that his best friend, MEMO, school where strict discipline and repressive
is too sick to get up or even speak. Yusuf is policies are the order of the day. It tells the
instructed to take Memo to the school sickbay seemingly simple story of 12-year-old Yusuf’s
Attending the market:
by the teacher on duty in the boarding house. struggle to get his sick friend to a doctor. This,
Ferit Karahan
By the time Yusuf has broken through the however, entails having to contend with the
Kanat Doğramacı
school bureaucracy and persuaded the staff school’s bureaucracy, the administration’s cal-
20 | CineLink 2018 CineLink 2018 | 21CineLink Projects 2018
CineLink Projects 2018
lous indifference and the inhospitable local FALL FROM HEAVEN. From a cinematic point of uniqueness of these lives that are otherwise making feature-length films, its founding objec-
landscape. The entire story takes place in a view, I found that both his narrative style and shunned and ignored. As a producer, I consider tive. Over the course of the last two years,
single location over the course of a single day. the subjects he addressed spoke to my own it a personal responsibility to contribute to the Asteros has produced a total of five films, one
Unlike boarding schools in the west of Turkey, idea of cinema. Even if I didn’t yet know him telling of this story inasmuch as it confronts us of them as co-producer. The company’s mis-
those in the east are attended almost exclu- in person, I felt as if I did because we shared with a set of painful realities that the majority sion is to provide talented filmmakers with
sively by the children of poorer families. The the same outlook on, and concerns about life. of us, myself included, close our eyes to most the space to work freely, to make films that
staff at these schools are largely made up of When we did finally meet, DESKMATE was at of the time. shed light on social issues and problems, and
teachers on a mandatory stint in the east or the script stage. So, for all the reasons I have DESKMATE will give us an experience of real- to bring these films to as wide an audience as
trained teachers doing national service. As just given, the idea of making the film together ist cinema not only with its subject and style, possible.
a general rule, the schools are located in a was both a pleasure and a personal mission. but also with the method of production used
non-urban, socially isolated environment and DESKMATE is set in the relatively underdevel- during the shoot. I am a producer who sees
discipline is strictly enforced. This emphasis oped east of Turkey. It tells the story of lives the primary mission of cinema as realism and
on discipline has to do with many schools that are not only economically and geographi- documenting reality, so the pleasure and satis-
being based in predominantly Kurdish areas. In cally challenged, but also best hidden away faction I think I will get from making this pro-
other words, the schools effectively function as in the eyes of the powers that be. It paints ject happen are indescribable. Principal pho-
‘assimilation centres’. a portrait of Turkey’s minority communities tography will take place in one of the provinces
I spent six years of my childhood at one such and their systematic oppression, while also close to Turkey’s eastern border, where the
boarding school and came away with a raft of alluding to the arrogance and condescension story is actually set. The one location we will
indelible memories, both good and bad. On a of the country’s west and its highly success- use is again, as presented in the script, a real
personal note, mining this bank of memories ful efforts to consign such communities to state boarding school. Photography will begin
in order to make the film has turned all the oblivion. We are provided with a record, of in January 2019, when schools are out for the
negatives into positives. Equally, telling a story sorts, of how the system instils in these people winter break and the region is under snow.
about a place I know back to front gives me a sense of ‘acquiescence’ and ‘hopelessness’. This will allow us to capture the film’s claustro-
greater confidence as a director. In portraying this societal ‘predicament’, the phobic atmosphere as realistically as possible.
Just when all appears to be fine at the school, film chooses children as its heroes – children, Furthermore, the actors for all the boys at the
something minor happens that is barely notice- of course, being a symbol of purity, innocence centre of the story will be carefully cast from
able to the audience but, with the revelation and, most importantly, hope. By contrast, it is the local community so that they can bring to
of successive details, soon escalates into the the metaphor of a boarding school run with the film their own personal experience. This in
main focus of the story. In a sense, the story an iron fist and Kafkaesque bureaucracy that turn will lend a rawness to the film’s criticism of
develops by itself. is used to illustrate the life-crushing system. the oppressive system that is its subject.
Violence and the possibility of violence in Snow, too, has symbolic value; in fact, from the Above and beyond everything else, DESKMATE
a repressive environment have a profound very beginning of the film it features almost demonstrates the importance of being posi-
effect on young lives. Children are driven to as a character in its own right. Snow is largely tive, of never losing hope; it points to the
be on their guard from a young age and to responsible for making the location so claus- difference this can make, even in the face
develop a pattern of behaviour that stops at trophobic; it gives rise to all sorts of physical of an oppressive system and its overzealous
nothing for the sake of survival. Friendship, and practical challenges and almost fulfils the attempts to reduce extraordinary lives to the
innocence and feelings are then superseded by function of a prison guard. ordinary. What is more, this is a message
more fundamental needs; and satisfying these There can be no one better to tell this story informed by real-life experience.
needs means, in most cases, resorting to lies. than director, Ferit Karahan, who went through
DESKMATE illustrates how fibs told to save the a comparable boarding-school experience as COMPANY PROFILE
moment can quickly snowball into a calamity. a child; however, he came out of the sys- Founded in 2014, ASTEROS FILM spent its first
tem with admirable results. While identifying two years producing numerous commercials
PRODUCER’S STATEMENT and describing the realities of the experience, and digital videos. Since then, however, the
I had been following director, FERIT KARAHAN, DESKMATE brings out the hope that the direc- company has consciously distanced itself from
since his multi award-winning first feature, THE tor himself represents. The film shouts the the world of commercials and given focus to
22 | CineLink 2018 CineLink 2018 | 23CineLink Projects 2018
CineLink Projects 2018
DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY and he returns to the city. A series of situations
DUŠAN KASALICA was born in 1987 in seems to indicate that his life is collapsing, but
Montenegro where he studied film directing Filip, refined and armed with confidence, faces
at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Cetinje. His each new circumstance in his life with unusual
short films have been shown and awarded on ease. Filip’s escape from problems leads him
numerous festivals around the world. Since to a small mountain village deep in the for-
2016 he co-runs Meander Film, a produc- est, where he meets his MOTHER and falls in
tion company based in Montenegro. He is a love with a GIRL that once was a snake. His
producer of the feature film YOU HAVE THE own fairytale that will break him down and
NIGHT by Ivan Salatić, a co-production with change him, but also give him a chance for a
Dušan Kasalica Serbia and Qatar. He participated in Sarajevo new beginning.
ME
Talent Campus, Berlinale Talents and Locarno
Filmmakers Academy. DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
The Elegy of Laurel THE ELEGY OF A LAUREL deals with the ego of
Director’s Filmography a man who is part of the comfortable Yugoslav
The travels of a self-sufficient professor through several episodes of life A MATTER OF WILL (short, 2015, ME) middle class that had first built and then silently
and fantasy, in order to overcome contemporary narcissism. SOA (short, 2017, ME) watched the destruction of a system. Without
clear ideological, cultural and political critique
Writer: Dušan Kasalica Production timeline PRODUCER’S BIOGRAPHY of its reality, this generation wishes to keep
Director: Dušan Kasalica Final script to be delivered by end of august JELENA ANGELOVSKI graduated from the living its romantic self-sufficiency, represented
Producer: Jelena Angelovski 2018; fundraising in the second half of 2018 Academy of Arts’ department of acting and in this story through the character of Filip. This
Production Company’s contact details pre-production – 3 months starting from holds an MA degree from the Faculty of is a film about Filip, a narcissistic intellectual
MEANDER FILM December 2018;, Production - 6 weeks from Political Sciences. She has been working in who is unable to change – because a narcissist
Vuka Karadžića 6a March 2019; Post-production - 6 months start- the creative industry for the past 15 years and can only be tricked by his own reflection in
81400 Nikšić, Montenegro ing from May 2019. is dedicated to producing independent films. the water. The film’s structure is divided into
Estimated production budget Looking for at CineLink Co-production Market In 2016, she produced her debut feature film the prologue and a few turning points in Filip’s
510.000,00 EUR We are looking for investors, co-production WIND, directed by Tamara Drakulić, which life in which he does not face the problems
Financing in place partners, pre-sales. was screened at Torino FF, Goteborg, BAFICI, that come up, does not solve them, choosing
Project development: 20.000,00 EUR – Film Director’s previous work on Festival Scope: Cottbus and was awarded for the Best Serbian rather to delay any reaction as if he did not
Center Montenegro Soa Film at FEST in Belgrade. Jelena was part of care. He escapes to a fantasy world where he
5.000,00 EUR – own investment A Matter of Will EURODOC, LisbonDocs, CineLink, Visions du meets fantasy creatures like the Serpent Girl,
Reel, Jihlava Academy. Currently as a pro- the Host, and the Mother, who is in the con-
ducer she is involved in the production of many text of this story also a fairy-tale figure. These
regional documentary and feature films sup- characters are treated in the Slavic tradition:
ported by MEDIA, Visions Sud Est, DOHA Film the serpent is not just a dangerous animal,
Institute. but it also talks to people, grants wishes, has a
relationship with them. Mythical creatures are
SYNOPSIS not just objects of fear or loathing, but friends;
FILIP, a sophisticated university professor, goes they are equal to people so that meeting them
with his WIFE to a spa hotel on the coast. After is straightforward, as if with old acquaintances.
Attending the market:
a couple of days spent in the comfy, monoto- The fantasy world changes Filip, who then tries
Dušan Kasalica
nous ambiance of the hotel, their seemingly to begin a new, more dignified life.
Jelena Angelovski
ideal marriage is over. Filip is left by his wife,
24 | CineLink 2018 CineLink 2018 | 25CineLink Projects 2018
PRODUCER’S STATEMENT establishment of a unique film language.
THE ELEGY OF A LAUREL is the first feature film Its visual approach and bold narrative treat-
by the Montenegrin scriptwriter and director ment will engage a wide cinema audience, and
Dušan Kasalica. Important international suc- we believe that in addition to a successful festi-
cesses achieved by his short films A MATTER OF val life, THE ELEGY OF A LAUREL will be refresh-
WILL and SOA have preceded the development ing both for the up-and-coming Montenegrin Professionals
of this project at the Script Circle Development cinema, as well as in the surrounding region.
Workshop at the Priština Film Festival 2017 Professionals Programme: 28 Sept - 1 Oct 2018
and Script Station at the Berlin IFF 2018. The COMPANY PROFILE Yearly the Nederlands Film Festival (NFF) presents Holland’s leading industry
Film Centre of Montenegro has co-financed the MEANDER FILM is Montenegrin film produc- gathering with keynotes, flaming discussions and masterclasses by renowned
Dutch and international experts in Utrecht.
project in the development stage. Kasalica is an tion company founded by directors – Dušan
alumnus of the prestigious Locarno Filmmakers Kasalica and Ivan Salatić. Guided by the idea For in-depth and tailer made project development NFF offers various
Academy and Berlinale Talents Campus. of developing modern trends in the field of art international programmes: BoostNL, Stories & Beyond, Sales & More,
film in Montenegro and encouraged by the fact Talent Feedback Sessions and Talent en Route.
Close to the poetics of his previous works,
Kasalica continues in the Elegy of the Laurel to that recently in Montenegro there’s a wave of
build upon transcendental and visually strong young, creative and courageous authors who Contact:
content verging on reality and embarks on an are keeping up with a modern understand- nffprofessionals
ing of film, Kasalica and Salatić established filmfestival.nl/professionals
exploration of a former Yugoslav individual,
professionals@filmfestival.nl
with his useless present and ‘fantastic’ past. Meander Film. First project of the company
The authors of this area have not so far treated are Kasalica’s short film SOA and Salatic’s short
Supporting Dutch filmmakers since 1981 - Embracing talent and interactive storytelling
the contemporary individual through his arche- documentary WE ARE SONS OF YOUR ROCKS
typal and mythological heritage, which makes and feature film YOU HAVE THE NIGHT.
THE ELEGY OF THE LAUREL a courageous enter-
prise in cinematic articulation.
The script of THE ELEGY OF THE LAUREL takes
its first part from life, while its second part is
derived from art and one of the most recog-
nizable fairy-tales by Ivana Brlić Mažuranić,
STRIBOR’S FOREST. The fairy-tale motifs about
an immature and weak man found in the heart
of the conflict between an unprotected mother
and a beautiful woman transforms Slavic myth
into contemporary, universal phenomena of
the Balkans. Kasalica assembles a very par-
ticular poetics and, together with actors that
include stars of Yugoslav film, creates a nostal-
gic ode to the disappearance of vitality.
The specificity of this project lies also in the
fact that the construction of its visual and
sound identity encourages the participation of
creators with different backgrounds and styles.
It is our intention to realize this film in coop-
eration with partners from the neighbouring
countries, so that diverse approaches to this
topic and shared heritage will contribute to the
26 | CineLink 2018 CineLink 2018 | 27CineLink Projects 2018
CineLink Projects 2018
DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY to get his message across: words of freedom
GÁBOR FABRICIUS is a film director, producer, that one day make a rusty empire collapse.
writer and media designer. He is an MA grad-
uate from Central Saint Martins College in DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
London, his professors included Mike Figgis. Political and social drama set in 1983, behind
After graduation he worked as an intern at the iron curtain, in a dystopian world, using
E R AS I N G FR AN K Scott Free Films, the production company of brutalist architecture. The film guides through
Ridley Scott. He writes and directs short movies a world where words are weapons of mass
since 2010. His topics mainly are socio-political, destruction. As a kid being around my parents,
psychological. BIANKA, story of a gipsy girl, I recall memories of detecting paranoia in their
Gábor Fabricius whose father was killed, has premiered at 43th eyes, since they were involved in different
HU
Development
Hungarian Film Festival, SKINNER tells the story movements. Dystopia was reality; the state
about the state of East European capitalism destroyed individual voices, so it is a story of
supported by:
Erasing Frank through an eviction, has premiered at Toronto an unknown soldier, fighting for freedom of
IFF. was in competition of over 30 film festivals speech, a hero of the 1984 times, who reflects
1983. Frank, an angry kid from the streets with “no future”. The state globally. His latest short, DIALOGUE has won the mission of a generation. I emphasize the
banned their music because their words are political. Frank escapes to a FICC Special Mention, at Febiofest and pre- importance of the individual voice for today’s
psychiatric ward where Hanna, a young enemy of the system, joins him. sented at the Zurich International Film Festival. youth as well, as it is eventually freedom itself.
Medication mutes Frank, but words of freedom are louder. Every generation has the task of looking after
Director’s Filmography freedom during each dystopian time. My goal
Writers: Gábor Fabricius, György Baráthy Production timeline
BIANKA (short, 2012, HU) is to redefine direct cinema in Hungarian film,
Director: Gábor Fabricius Script development: August 2017 – August
2018; Pre-production: September 2018 – SKINNER (short, 2014, HU) which had a golden era in the 70’s, in order
Producers: Gábor Ferenczy, András Muhi,
February 2019; Production: April 2019 – May DIALOGUE (short, 2017, HU) to present a raw experience of the character.
Gábor Fabricius
2019; Post-production: 2019 May – December Frank will help new generations to value free-
Production Company’s contact details
Focus Fox 2019. SYNOPSIS dom.
Huvosvolgyi ut 14 Looking for at CineLink Co-production Market 1983. FRANK, a kid from the streets of Budapest
Budapest, 1021, Hungary We are looking for a potential partner, sales represents a sensitive, talented, but angry gen- PRODUCER’S STATEMENT
http://focusfox.hu/ agents, distributors from Central-Eastern Europe eration – youth with ”no future” in a dystopian I have long been familiar with multiple award-
fox@focusfox.hu such as Poland, Czech Republic, Romania or world. With his punk band he realizes that winning Gábor Fabricius’ short films – which
Co-Production Company Serbia. We also would like to meet several festi- the state banned their music because their have enjoyed success recently as well in Europe
Otherside Stories (HU) val representatives, festival agencies. words are political. The police are after them, as in North-America and have been invited to
Estimated production budget Director’s previous work on Festival Scope: so Frank escapes to a psychiatric ward, where more than 20 festivals – and I consider them to
1.265.768,00 EUR Skinner he finds not only the disabled, but opposi- be excellent films. His 2014 film, SKINNER, was
Dialogue tion thinkers, free-spirited artists, and enemies successful not only in Europe, but has its world
Financing in place
320.984,00 EUR of the system finding safe haven. He meets premiere at Toronto IFF and won the Huszárik
Hanna, a boyish, young patient who has never Prize in Hungary, given by the Hungarian Media
experienced freedom. They join forces to fight Fund. His 2017 short, DIALOGUE is currently on
Comrade ERŐS, the cultural leader of the state. its festival tour, enjoying success not only at
Erős is a skillful match and as sensitive as Frank. European festivals, but also in American ones.
Oddly enough, he is the only one Frank can The film got the Special Mention Award of
Attending the market:
look up to. In a maniacal fight, Frank sacrifices the FICC (Federation Internationale des Cine-
Gábor Fabricius
his friends, love, and – due to political psychia- Clubs. He worked on DIALOGUE with Mátyás
Andras Muhi
Aniko Mangold try’s medication – even his own voice, in order Erdély (SON OF SAUL, DELTA), who will be
28 | CineLink 2018 CineLink 2018 | 29CineLink Projects 2018
the DOP of his first feature film as well. As a dailies or in case of film-based shooting films
media designer, he also has made more than are developed in our lab, we make one-light
300 spots, commercial films. Gábor Fabricius or best-light telecine transfer, online editing,
is currently one of Hungary’s most recognized final grading, 3D animation, VFX, composit-
emerging young filmmakers, and I was pleased ing, subtitling, sound design, foley, final mix,
as he asked me to be the producer of his first DCP, release prints, recording and dubbing.
feature, ERASING FRANK. As his producer, I Since 2011 FocusFox also acts as a Production
already applied to the Hungarian Film Fund for Company marked by Gábor Ferenczy, András
Script Development. I know Gábor for more Muhi, Attila Tőzsér. Its first independent movie
than 15 years, and worked with him before WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO TIMI became a real
as co-producer, I know he has strong visions, blockbuster and the most successful comedy in
ideas about the world and society. His earlier 2014 in Hungary.
works also concern about social relevant topics
but at the same time they are person focused
examinations the individual. His current pro-
ject, ERASING FRANK, fills a gap in Hungary
and Europe. Never has anyone made a film
of such depth and sincere voice about the era
of the 80s in Hungary. Private citizens as well
as public figures were forced to lie, or do not
speak at all. They were observed based on
false, non-existing reasons. His main character,
Frank is a modern-day, young protagonist. This
wasn’t a topic that was typically dealt with in
recent Hungarian cinema, and more impor-
tantly, Gábor’s film will be a significant contri-
bution to building self-awareness in the viewer
towards untold lies and to face Hungary’s and
his own history. I highly favor his goal with his
first feature, to redefine social-realism and
direct cinema in Hungarian film, which experi-
enced a golden era in the 70’s.
COMPANY PROFILE
We established FOCUSFOX STUDIO as the first
private digital studio in Hungary exclusively
for post-production and production. FocusFox
Studio has been serving clients effectively
and thoroughly for 20 years with a continu-
ous technical and infrastructural leadership.
To keep up with global trends in picture post
production, we use the most up-to-date equip-
ments for video and film post. Our produc-
tion managers supervise the films through
the post-production process: we make digital
30 | CineLink 2018 CineLink 2018 | 31You can also read
