03/07/2019 - Rattlesnakes and Grey Skies also picked up prizes at the last stop on this year’s edition of the training and networking platform

(l-r) KVIFF industry head Hugo Rosak, MIDPOINT director Barbora Struss, and the team behind Some Birds: writer Zsanett Kertész, director Daniel Hever and producer Laszlo Dreissiger

As was the case at its previous editions, this year’s MIDPOINT Feature Launch programme organised its final showcase during the 54^th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and the Czech gathering’s Eastern Promises Industry Days, where 18 participants came along to present their eight projects (see the news) from Central and Eastern Europe. Karlovy Vary was the last stop on the road, after the workshop started in Prague just a few days ago. All of the participants, along with two script-consultant trainees, attended this workshop, which then wrapped with the pitching session and the handing out of the awards.

Starting with the main KVIFF & MIDPOINT Development Award, this was bestowed upon the Hungarian project Some Birds by first-time director Daniel Hever, written by Zsanett Kertesz and produced by Laszlo Dreissiger. The prize is worth €10,000, and the members of the jury, comprising head of industry at KVIFF Hugo Rosak, Slovenian producer and Feature Launch head of studies Danijel Hocevar, and Feature Launch expert Katriel Schory, stated that the project was “a story about two characters that are trying to find a place in the world creating a special bond which transcends generations”.

The connecting cottbus Award, which invites the winner to a pitching session at the German co-production market, went to the Serbian project Rattlesnakes, written and directed by Nikola Ljuca, and produced by Maja Ilic. The connecting cottbus team underlined: “As every year at MIDPOINT, the project selection was outstanding, so for us it was not an easy choice. Rattlesnakes is a daring script that delves deep into today’s corporate landscape and shows how quickly idealism and love can be corrupted.”

Elene Margvelashvili, the producer of the Georgian project Grey Skies, will have a chance to attend the Rotterdam Lab professional training programme for producers, which will run next year during the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Mirjam Klootwijk, from Rotterdam Lab, mentioned: “The presentations for all of the projects were very inspiring. Elene Margvelashvili impressed me with her pitch during the pitching session. Her clear and positive approach towards challenging elements within the project stood out during the one-on-one meeting.”

Attendees were also reminded that all of the participating producers are invited to the next edition of Trieste’s When East Meets West in order to have a chance to widen their networks even further, and seek financial and artistic partners during the Feature Launch Spotlight.

MIDPOINT Feature Launch is a training and networking platform for emerging film professionals, which aims to support the writer, director and producer in the development process for their first or second feature films. The call for applications for MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2020 is currently open, with the deadline set for 13 September 2019.