NisiMazine *6 FEBRUARY 08
Special Focus Script Contest Winners
Editorial O
ne could say that making a film resembles riding a rollercoaster: you’re prey to intense sensations ranging from one extreme to another, no resting in between, and you can only breathe with relief and satisfaction once you’re in the clear. The ride can speed up, slow down, it has highs and lows, scaring the hell out of you one moment and giving you enjoyable thrills the next. You chose to get on it, and until it stops moving it’s not a good idea to get off. Sure, you may not really be in control and that may seem scary, but in the end you’ll be able to leave in one piece. With a souvenir. The difference is that the rollercoaster moves by itself - for your film, you often have to get out and push. So you need all the help you can get, and it wouldn’t hurt to be able to wait less in line before you get a chance to go on the ride! And when you manage to win an award for your script in a contest, you get an extra push; a bit more momentum for your project to start rolling. One of the main objectives for NISI MASA has always been to discover and help new filmmaking talent to emerge, and the most direct way for it to do this has been with its annual script contest. Over the years, our network has helped with the financing, production and distribution of films from young European scriptwriters, some new in the field, some a bit more experienced.
Not only that: it has continued to believe in the awarded film projects, and kept an eye on their promising authors. After the special focus on scriptwriting, this issue focuses on our script contest winners of past and present, updating you on the different films projects awarded over the years. “What were their stories?”, and “where are they now?” you ask. Here you’ll find out. Inside you’ll read interviews with winners of the 2007 contest, Léo Medard and Jarkko Virtanen, who are preparing to shoot their films this year. Also, an update on one of the winning projects of 2006, Harragas by Grégory LeCocq, which recently finished wrapping up postproduction. Barnabas Toth, the winner of the first contest with his script On A Train, will also give an account of his career progression since he won the award. Finally, the Kosovan association 7arte is in the spotlight, and we’ll get to know their members a bit more. And there will be information on the next jury meeting for the script contest of 2008, to be held in Zagreb, where some more new film talents will be revealed. So the cycle continues…
Agenda January, 29th - February, 5th Andé~Clermont Ferrand, France European Short Pitch
February, 7th
In all the network Application deadline for Script & Pitch Workshops 2008
February, 20th
In all the network Application deadline for Nisimazine Cannes
Azed Kettani Vice-President
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NISIMAZINE 7 ~ March 2008 focus : archives
palunko IN THE SPOTLIGHT Portrait: Róbert Lakatos (ARGO)
NISIMAZINE is a monthly newsletter published by the association NISI MASA. EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-chief Matthieu Darras Secretary of the editorial Jude Lister Layout Emilie Padellec Contributors to this issue Jude Lister, Azed Kettani, Léo Médard, Jarkko Virtanen, Barnabas Toth, Grgory Lecocq, Itxaso Elosua Ramirez, Volkan Kavas, Lulzim Hoti Cover picture: Grégory Lecoq with Dorcy Rugamba, the main actor of his short film Harragas NISI MASA (European Office) 10 rue de l’Echiquier, 75010, Paris, France; Tel.: + 33 (0)1 53 34 62 78 + 33 (0)6 32 61 70 26 Email europe@nisimasa.com Website www.nisimasa.com
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Special Focus: Script Contest Winners
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he script contest has been at the core of NISI MASA from it’s very beginning, the original project dreamt up by the founders of the network. Over the past 6 editions, many scripts have been received, but only 18 lucky young Europeans have been awarded prizes for their work. We thought that it was about time to follow what happened afterwards for some of these talented writers, and their films…
Interview: Contest Winners 2007*
L
éo Medard (Little Girl, Belgium) & Jarkko Virtanen (Three Nights to Beginning, Finland), were winners of the 2007 Script Contest: “Circle”. What were your interpretations of the theme ‘Circle’? Léo: I attached the theme of the circle to the notion of a shockwave, like the circular waves on the surface of the water when you throw something in: it spreads rapidly and in all directions, leaving no way out. I used this idea by integrating it into a story that I’d already had in my mind for a while. Jarkko: It made me start thinking about a situation where you end up back where you started from. Eventually I figured that it represents life, in the broadest of contexts. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. So what I wanted to explore was what will we leave behind when we reach the end of our own circle. What was the writing process like? Jarkko: I spent a few months just thinking about my main idea. When I had all the bits and pieces figured out, the script came to fruition pretty fast. Afterwards I used some time on fine tuning the dialogue, rhythm and tone. Léo : I actually started at the end. This then allowed me to find the beginning, and then all the intermediary stages of the script: what the viewer should and should not know at each moment of the story, in order to let the tension build. Once these main lines were drawn out, I wrote the whole thing. I don’t like re-writing, so I forced myself to throw myself into a detailed first draft, ready to simplify it afterwards.
> Pictures above, from top to bottom: Léo Médard, Jarkko Virtanen (Photo © Outi Palonen) and Just Philippot
How do you feel about making your films during the summer studio project? Léo: I find the concept original; it could really be a good experience to shoot three scripts in the same location and time period, with people of different nationalities. I do have some doubts concerning the duration of the script, which seems a little long to be shot in only one week. I also hope that we’ll find the appropriate decor during the location scouting. It’ll depend entirely on the country and the region chosen.
Jarkko: My script includes several child actors so my biggest fear comes from whether the summer studio can provide a peaceful enough working environment for them. Do you think there will be a possibility for collaboration between your different film shoots? Jarkko: If the project ends up as the platform for our 3 films, I’m sure there will be collaboration. It’s kind of like with music. You become a better musician as you witness others play or play with them. Léo: Yes, of course. I’m very interested by the other’s projects and I’m curious to see how they will realise certain ideas in their scripts. I would be really happy to give a hand on the other film shoots. Also, it could allow me to gain contacts and experience, and to improve my English! *Congratulations also to the other winner of 2007, Just Philippot (At Midnight Everything Stops Here, France), who was unfortunately unavailable for comment at the time of publication.
JURY MEETING 2008 An application is currently being drawn up for the next Script Contest Jury Meeting, which is planned to take place in Zagreb, Croatia from the 18th to the 22nd of November 2008. The meeting will hopefully be organised during the 4th edition of the ‘One Take Film Festival’, which as the name suggests, screens films shot in only one take. NISI MASA hopes to combine the event with a new Training Course which will aim to contribute to the development of national associations by focussing on the local organisation of the annual script contest (for example exchanging best practises on management, sponsorship, promotion…)
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Special Focus: Script Contest Winners Q&A: Barnabas Toth
Production of Harrages
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Interview with Grégory LeCocq
régory LeCocq, Belgian winner of the 2006 contest: “Tourists” with the script Harragas, recently finished his short film with the help of funding from the French community of Belgium and the region of Hainaut.Harragas is the story of Amadou, an illegal immigrant who hides in the baggage compartment of a coach leaving for Brussels from the port of Tangier. Whilst the coach is making a stop in Spain, another clandestine traveller climbs inside. Amadou thus has to undertake the rest of the journey with another passenger…
B
arnabas was a winner of the very first script contest in 2002: ‘Idea(s) of Europe(s)’ with his script On a Train, which was then made into a very successful short film. Tell us a little about the success of On a Train… It was an international hit, which surprised everybody. It was a very low budget and simple script, but the universality and humanity of the story - not to mention the twist-ending - touched the juries of festivals (it got awards from Aubagne to Lithuania through Cottbus, and a screening in Cannes). It was also on TV (Channel 4 in Britain, several cable channels in francophone territories), and even screened in the metro stations of Paris and on German trains! Even financially it was a success, which is almost impossible for short films. How has your career progressed since then? After On a Train came another successful short film, Getting Even. Since then I have written, directed and produced 5 more shorts, one starring Jeanne Moreau. Meanwhile, alongside my theatre and TV activity here in Budapest I started to write a long feature film script. It is a romantic comedy, but an unusual one, because in the centre there is a very heavy father-son relationship… We are still in search of co-producers and money, and I recently changed producer. It’s a long and frustrating process, but for the first time I can see the end of the tunnel. I still love shorts though and want to make many more. With the internet and digital TV, I think that shorts and longs will be mixed again, just like in the ‘20s. Do you think that script contests are important for aspiring writers? Very much so. On a Train really put me on the map, as they say. Although only 1 out of my 10 short films had this kind of success, winning the contest gave me courage to continue. Cinema is an expensive and difficult form of art. Possibilities like the one NISI MASA proposes are rare: you only have to write a few pages, and you can win
For the shoot, a baggage compartment was recreated in a studio, avoiding the hazards of filming outside on location; constantly moving the lighting and all other material. Grégory says of the shoot, “The major worry was that it wouldn’t seem “real” enough. In the end, I think that we achieved what we wanted. Actually we chose to shoot the last scene (when the police officers arrive) outside in order to make it more credible.” For Grégory, who was trained as a scriptwriter, this was his first time directing, not something he found easy at first. Difficulties were also intensified by the fact that a crew of 20 people was working in a very small studio; “It was impossible to speak with the actors in private and we were always on top of each other… it wasn’t always obvious how to take a step back, have a clear idea of the whole” he admits. During the editing, a lot of attention was paid to getting the sound just right. Grégory explains; “The sound was an integral part of the story… the dramatic tension of Amadou’s situation is in part guided by the fear of noises, those which threaten capture, and those which announce an unwanted arrival.” Harragas will be sent to various festivals in Belgium, before trying it’s luck on the international circuit. Grégory is currently planning a feature film project, and is also working on the pre-production of his second short film, for which he has yet to obtain funding.
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Special Focus: Script Contest Winners NISI MASA SHORT FILMS
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ince the launch of the NISI MASA Script Contest in 2002, numerous short films have been produced from the winning scripts. Diverse as they are, it’s hard to find something that connects them all, other than the fact that none are conventional stories. All of the scriptwriters have clearly sought ways to express themselves outside of the regular structures of filmmaking.
Some, like the two Finnish winners Hannaleena Hauru’s If I Fall (contest 2005) and Tomi by Lassi Markus King (contest 2004) have been beautifully made, using innovative cinematographic techniques. In both films, the protagonists are searching for love, if a somewhat different kind. In If I Fall a woman working in a saw mill literally falls for a co-worker. Sometimes documentary-like, at other times filmic, it keeps you intrigued as to what the next twist in the storyline could be. Tomi is about a troubled young protagonist who is hooked on indulging his frustrated sexual impulses in an internet chat room. Regular images are intermixed with those from Tomi’s dream world… or is it a nightmare? Others are visually simpler, such as Michael Szczesniak’s A Boat (Poland, contest 2004) and Barnabas Toth’s On a Train (Hungary, contest 2002 - see p.4). Both films deal with a specific location, a boat and a train respectively. In A Boat a young man tries to escape civilisation by camping out on a boat. Unfortunately civilisation has the tendency to creep up on you. Coke bottles can be found on Everest, after all. On a Train deals with the sometimes humorous problem of communicating when you can’t speak each other’s languages. A true European story! A Waxed Movie (Turkey, contest 2004) by Eda Acara gives a glimpse into the intimate world of Turkish women, by following a beautician who performs waxing upon their bodies. Not something that we are used to seeing on film, but perhaps that’s the point. Sea Bass Dream (Italy, contest 2005) by Claudio Lauri and Rehearsals (Bulgaria, contest 2003) by Galina Georgieva both have complex and interesting narratives. In Sea Bass Dream a young man dreams of becoming a fish so that a female client of his father’s fish stall will eat him. A concept reminiscent of Homer’s Metamorphosis stories. Rehearsals deals with recounting, and performing, stories of invasions and war; the bloody recent history of our continent told in an unusual way. One thing is clear. Nisi Maseans wander off the trodden path and aren’t scared to experiment. Isn’t that after all the whole point of the contest, what NISI MASA set out to do? Giving young European writers the opportunity to take a chance and break the mould… Watch out for the upcoming release of Harragas (Belgium, contest 2006 - see p.4)! From top to bottom: ‘‘On a Train’’, ‘A Boat’, ‘A Waxed Movie’, ‘Sea Bass Dream’, ‘Tomi’ and ‘If I Fall’.
Itxaso Elosua Ramirez
Latest news Babelgum Online Film Festival
BOARD METING IN PARIS The board of NISI MASA took an early start to this year, meeting in a somewhat grey Paris on the 4th and 5th of January. On the agenda: discussion of the many upcoming events and projects in 2008! In communications, decisions were made to revamp nisimasa.com and renew the ambitious community website project, for which we hope to obtain financing this year. A brainstorming of ideas for potential future conferences and workshops also proved to be very promising.
A new, high profile online film festival created by the internet TV network ‘Babelgum’ is currently seeking film submissions. The jury will be headed by Hollywood director Spike Lee. The selection categories cover fiction, documentary, short film, animation, and even music videos and advertisements. First prizes in each category will be awarded the amount of 20 000 euros. Submitted films must not exceed 50 minutes in length (20 mins for shorts, 10 mins for music videos), and must not be shown on any other web TV platform during the festival. As Mr. Lee himself bluntly stated at the festival press launch; ‘‘You have no excuses now. If you have a film and you‘re talented and someone is not seeing it, it’s your fault.’’ Submissions deadline: 15th February More info at: www.babelgum.com/onlinefilm-festival/
One main event of 2008 will hopefully be the new ‘Summer Studio’, a production workshop for the three script contest winners. The outline for the project was made during the meeting, and the application is now underway. Possibilities for the launching of the next Script Contest and the organisation of the Jury Meeting 2008 were also up for discussion (see p.3).
NEW EVS AT THE EO After a very long wait, we finally have confirmation for our new European Voluntary Service volunteer! Atso Pärnänen, an active member of the Finnish NM association Euphoria Borealis, will arrive at the European Office in February. Amongst other tasks, he will be taking on responsibilities in the domain of film production, namely the planned ‘Summer Studio’ for the winners of the 2007 script contest. Our new recruit has been preparing himself for his new role with a kind of NISI MASA
‘intensive immersion’ experience, by recently participating in the Nisimazine film journalism workshops in Torino and Helsinki as a writer and co-organiser…
NETWORK SURVEY A recent survey sent out by the NM board aimed to obtain your opinions and ideas on a wide range of issues related to the future direction of the network. It was also designed to assess the overall situation of national associations. Amongst the respondents, the script contest was still considered the most fundamental activity, despite current difficulties finding sponsors. Reasons given were continuity, visibility, bringing in new members, and involving the whole network. Enthusiasm for the community web platform was high, and it seems to be a much-needed resource. Members expressed a wish to share information such as festival submission deadlines via the new site. There were also suggestions to distribute Nisimazine more widely, make translations into different languages, and print copies; although there is no funding for this as yet. On a local level, a lack of funds also seemed to be the most recurring problem, as well as difficulties attracting new volunteers. The planned training session (see ‘Jury Meeting’, p.3) will be designed to help with these concerns linked to sustainability. *** Don’t hesitate to send us your news for the March issue: jude@nisimasa.com
7arte In the spotlight The 7arte Association is based in Mitrovica, Kosovo. 7arte was established with the main purpose of supporting young Kosovan artists - especially filmmakers - to develop and promote common European culture. Since 2005, 7arte has been developing various kinds of cultural activities and representing the NISI MASA network in Kosovo.
Some members Valmira Baruti
Valmira was one of the founders of 7arte. Just three weeks ago she graduated with a degree in Theatre Directing from the University of Arts in Prishtina. As an active member of 7arte she is in charge of all activities that are related to theatre and performances. In the future Valmira is hoping to do an MA in television production and to participate in more NISI MASA activities.
Berat Hasani
Berat graduated from the Arts Academy in Prishtina, in graphic design studies. He now works at CMB production as a graphics and storyboard designer. Berat has made three documentary films, but prefers taking pictures. Another of the founders of 7arte, he is looking to maintain the development of contemporary culture in Kosovo, engage youth in various cultural and artistic activities and enable young artists to exhibit their works of art.
Lulzim Hoti
Luli is the president of 7arte and a board member of NISI MASA, in charge of networking and best practices. A graduate in Literature, he was awarded as best camera operator in 2004, and is now looking to become an independent filmmaker. He likes travelling and learning about different cultures. Lulzim is proud of his last name, and always tries to live up to it.
DOKO YOMI The first big project organised by 7arte was an international workshop on documentary filmmaking called DOKO YOMI (Documenting Kosovo Youth in Mitrovica). 7 short documentary films were produced within two weeks, which then travelled around Europe, being screened during many cultural events. DOKO YOMI was supported by European Cultural Foundation, the OSCE, CBM NGO, and the Bureau de Liaison de la France in Kosovo. The films can be watched online thanks to the partnership of Daazo. http://daazo.com/Kosovo/
Haris Feri
As a member of 7arte, Haris deals with the requests of youngsters to learn and shoot with video cameras. He also works for the national television of Kosovo (RTK), as a camera operator - involved in news, social and cultural reportages. Haris likes taking artistic photographs and has taken part in various photo exhibitions around Kosovo.
Arben Hakaj
Arben, known as ‘Beni’, is a good guitar player and graphic designer. He studied Graphic Design at the Arts Academy in Prishtina. He is the one who designed the promotional materials for many activities. Right now he is preparing a cool design for the 7arte association. He is a keen follower of all latest technology and multimedia gadgets.
Blerton Ajeti
Blerton graduated in Journalism at the American University in Bulgaria. He took part in various NISI MASA activities – during which he found a friend with whom he is now working on the preproduction phase for his short film Quiet Hours. He was the national finalist of the first script contest in Kosovo organised by 7arte. His knowledge and understanding of cinema is expanding remarkably.
Members who also contribute to 7arte: Mirsad, Zana, Petrit, Kushtrim and Fidan. Pictures on the left from the top: Valmira, Berat, Lulzim, Haris, Arben & Blerton.
Mitrovica’s bridge
Days of the Film This is the second year that 7arte is organising an event called ‘Days of the Film’, an activity that gives young filmmakers the opportunity to screen their films and debate them with audiences. 7arte is looking to eventually convert this activity into a European film festival entitled ‘European Bridges’.
Website www.shtatearte.blogspot.com
Volkan Kavas
W
ho is Eve-Laure? I couldn’t have known that it was going to be so hard to answer this question when I first decided to write a portrait of her. Having taken a long ref lective excursion into my memories of her, and with the help of her answers to my interview questions, I came to thinking that using her way of understanding would be the best means to find out: put aside your preconceptions, try to feel what you want to know. The necessary answers are then apparent. Being one of the members of the 2007 Script Contest Jury Meeting in Kars, Turkey, Eve-Laure entered my life so smoothly and silently that I had the feeling I had already known her for a long time. As the meetings continued, her bright nature revealed itself more every day through her soft, unhurried speech and beautiful, friendly eyes. When the Belgian script Little Girl was awarded amongst the three winners, it was astonishing to see Eve-Laure‘s solemn and graceful smile disclosing gladness, but no big signs of joy. Again then: who is EveLaure? As the daughter of a French mother and a Turkish father, Eve-Laure was born in 1981 in Cavaillon, a small city in southern France. There she spent her high school years before enrolling in the Montpellier University to study History of art and cinema. After an Erasmus in Barcelona came a period of studying cultural management in Brussels. After that, she made several “practices”, as she calls them, in art centres and film festivals, such as the Short Film Festival of Brussels, the International French-Speaking Film Festival of Namur, the European Film Festival of Brussels, and the Festival of Countryside Cinema of Lama. Introduced to the concept of NISI MASA by some friends, Eve-Laure suddenly found herself in Cinéscript, the Belgian branch of the network. She has now already taken part in the organisation of the last two script contests on the national level. “We are all between 23 and 30 years of age, and the atmosphere is more like a
© Photo by Lasse Lecklin
Portrait
Eve-Laure Avigdor
group of friends. We like to meet together principally to eat Vania’s dishes and to chat!” explains Eve-Laure about their ongoing adventure. She adds “The main aim of Cinéscript was to help young scriptwriters through the organisation of workshops. They [some members of the organisation] also did cinema and scriptwriting initiation in primary schools and the first grades of high schools.” Eve-Laure comments on her involvement in the activities of NISI MASA with great enthusiasm; “I loved that! I really enjoy reading scripts, sometimes more than seeing films!” She obviously also has another valid reason to take part: “To meet people seems to be the most important thing for me . . . and NISI MASA people are so nice! A good part of the world population, I think…” On the one hand, when asked about her relationship with cinema, she says; “I have loved to watch films since I was younger, for me it is a way to escape reality for a while, and at the same time, to be really in touch with it.”. On the other hand, she adds she almost never writes, and doesn’t make any films, nor even photos of her own. “I am a basic person; firstly I like people, and then things like eating, sleeping and making love. I love reading the most; I think even more than cinema… I really love walking too; it is a good way of reflecting, in order to relax and to be on your own.” Still, she emphasises her admiration for people who tell stories by cinematographic means, addressing the audience’s consciences and souls in an intellectual way. I seem to have found the answer now, although in the pursuit of it I couldn’t help myself from applying cinematic references. Just like the calm and dignified gaze into reality of a film with no story-teller, no director and no author - within which we the viewers are exposed to the nuances and implicit details of daily life, listening to its rhythm, discovering its secrets - Eve-Laure reads life with her heart in order to grasp what it’s actually about. A kind of simplicity and sincerity accompanies her existence, and her natural wisdom makes her a person of sensuality, rather than an ambitious author.