Karlovy Vary Film Festival again, the industrial section is expanding

The industry Days program of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, which runs from 6 to 9 July, has undergone a makeover and is a day longer than in previous years.

The program will have a sharpened focus on Central European co-production and the Eastern Promises platform has undergone an update. It has also broadened its scope with new presentations and events devoted to the development of small screen and series. The festival has introduced a pop-up series of incubator with five original European series.

Kryštof Mucha, the executive director of Karlovy varies: “We believe that we have a unique opportunity to strengthen our position as the leading industry event dedicated to Midden -Europa, a region that also includes creative powerhouses such as Poland, Germany and Austria, and deserves international attention.

“Our goal is to serve as a central hub for producers, filmmakers, broadcasters and platforms from Midden -Europe, in addition to professionals in the global industry who want to handle this lively region.

“Recognizing the growing crossover of telling stories about different media, our extensive industrial days now have the capacity and vision to fully embrace this evolution.”

Central Europe to be central
The most important innovation is a new format that focuses on presenting film projects in the making. The previous works in progress are being replaced by a “more dynamic” and central and eastern European -targeted central showcase, an initiative created by the film industry of the festival in collaboration with the National Film Institutes of Austria, Czech REP

This will present 13 fiction films by established filmmakers from these countries that are in the late stages of development, in production or post production. Instead of traditional pitches, the projects will be introduced by interactive conversations, aimed at the filmmakers and the co -production landscape in each of the participating countries.

Hugo Rosák, the head of Karlovy Varies Industrie Kantoor: “We have chosen this new format because it tackles a real gap in the Central European film landscape. There is considerable support for emerging filmmakers in Eastern Europe, but filmmakers in the middle of the career often miss the necessary spotlight and resources to be their projects.

The showcase of the central stage takes place on July 8.

Small screen, big ambitions
Another crucial development in this year’s industrial program is the expansion that goes beyond feature films to embrace small screen content, made possible by a new partnership with Central European Media Enterprises. There will be a special event program that consists of showcases, panels, workshops and conversations of major players and experts on small screenings that will take place on 8 and 9 July.

Rosák zei: “Met de steun van CME kan het festival nu zijn potentieel als een vooraanstaande ontmoetingsplaats en het showcase-platform voor klein scherm in het centrum van Midden- en Oost-Europa volledig realiseren. In plaats van te concurreren met bestaande gespecialiseerde evenementen, maakt dit initiatief gebruik van Karlovy Vary’s unieke sterke punten in het bevorderen van internationale connecties en een ideale omgeving voor het presenteren van een televisie en het ontwikkelen van a television of traditional films. “

Pop -up series Incubator
An essential part of the new focus on small screen is the pop-up series Incubator Showcase on 8 July, a new series development program designed to support European producers and screenwriters by encouraging their projects through hands-on development, expert mentoring and financial support.

The eight-month program is organized by Tatino films. It comes together in Karlovy with a pitching session where the creative teams will present their series concepts to professionals in the industry and decision makers, followed by composite match sessions with professionals looking at financing or producing series.

Matthieu Darras, CEO of Tatino Films, said: “The impulse to create pop -up series Incubator comes from our observation and analysis of the rapid evolution of the European audiovisual landscape, as well as the many exchanges we have had with Tatino programs of the AudioVoSual Program. stories.

“This ‘IP adjustment game’ is usually reserved for major players, but pop-up series wants to create opportunities for audiovisual talents that are not necessarily in the job in international colossi such as Banijay, Freemantle or Mediawan, to adjust their own IPs to offer new and/or innovative series, diverse audience.”

The selected projects shown in Karlovy vary:
“Angelmaker” (Romania)
Producer: Anda Ionescu, Tangaj production
Writer: Cristina Grosan
Based on a true story of the Engelmakers of Nagyrév
Accompanied by scenario writers Leana Jalukse and Loïc Barrère

“Erotic lives of the superheroes” (France)
Producer: Eric Dupont, Incognito Films
Based on ‘La Vita Erotica dei Superuomini’, an Italian novel by Marco Mancassola
Accompanied by scenario writers Nadya Todorova and Ruddy-Williams Kabuiku

“The Night of the Beguines” (France)
Producer: Candice ZaCcagnino, Eliane Antoinette
Writer: David Roux
Based on ‘La Nuit des Béguines’, a French novel by Aline Kiner
Accompanied by screenwriter Yaelle Kayam

“The three funerals of Irma” (Greece)
Producer: Fenia Cossovitsa, Blonde SA
Writer: Elina Psykou
Based on “Alfatride” (O Iatrodikastis), a Greek novel by Vassilis Vassilikos
Accompanied by screenwriter Lemba de Miranda

“Therapies” (Lithuania)
Producer: Dagnė Vildžiūnaitė, a moment
Writer: Birutė Kapustinskaitė
Based on a play by Lithuanian writer Birutė Kapustinskaitė
Accompanied by scenario writers Fabrizio Muscia and Ruxandra Ghitescu

Works in Development-Feature Launch and Focus Queer to compete for EuroMages Co-Production Development Award
One of the KVIFF Eastern Promises Staples, the Midpoint Institute’s Works in Development International Script Development Program presents nine function-length projects that are under development, and five extra projects developed in the Middelpunt-Focus Queer, a program that supports Filmmakers in Thoughts, the importance of diversity and recording stories.

The projects, which are now looking for co-product partners, will compete for the 10,000 euro means and KVIFF Development Award, as well as the EuroMages Co-Production Development Award of 20,000 euros. The presentations take place on July 7.

KVIFF -Talents
Now in its third edition, KVIFF Talents is an annual program with the aim of searching and supporting talented Czech and Slovak filmmakers and innovative audiovisual genres. The Creative Pool focuses on identifying innovative ideas for audiovisual works of every genre or format – from short films and series to podcasts or game concepts. The job pool, on the other hand, is committed to supporting the development of original fiction films with fiction films with author.

This year nearly 200 entries were received. Six projects have been selected – three series and three feature films. They receive development financing, mentorship from industry experts and the opportunity to present their projects to potential producers, partners and investors during the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. The creative teams will pitch their projects on potential production partners during a dedicated KVIFF talents -Showcase on July 7.

Additional support includes the possibility of a residence in Karlovy vary and other customized forms of help.

KVIFF -Talents – Selected projects
Feature Pool:
“Unnamed” (Czech Republic)
Feature debut that combines live action and stop-motion animation
Animator and director: Daria Kashcheeva
Producer: Lukáš Kokeš, Nut Produkce

“Spirit Moose” (Czech Republic, Slovakia)
Feature film – thriller
Director: Tomáš Klein
Screenwriter: Barbora Námerová
Producer: Tomáš Michálek, Master Film

“Burnout” (Czech Republic)
Feature debut based on the novel by Petr Šesták
Writer and director: Greta Stocklassa
Producer: Marek Novák, Xova Films

Creative swimming pool:
“Mold” (Czech Republic)
Animation series for both children and adults
Animator and director: Phillip Kastner
Producer: Tereza Havlová

“Lost Boys” (Czech Republic)
Anime series
Writer and director: Dužan Duong
Producers: Azn Kru and Nut Produkce

“Remake” (Czech Republic)
Live-Action Musical Series
Writer and director: Kateřina Letáková
Producer: Daniel Bleha, Filmkolektiv

Proven industrial events anchor extensive program
In addition to these new and established showcases, the extensive KVIFF Industry Days will offer its traditional mix of events, such as the Czech Film industry Forum and International Industry Insights Forum, a series of fast sessions that offer an extensive overview of the current state of affairs, both locally and worldwide.

The program also contains more in -depth workshops, panels and conversations in the workplace, as well as the industrial networks and opportunities. The full schedule of the industrial days will be published later in June.