RIGA IFF 2017 INDUSTRY EVENTS

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CONTENTS

3

RIGA IFF INDUSTRY EVENTS SCHEDULE

7

THE TEAM

8

FESTIVAL VENUES

9

RIGA IFF FORUM

11

RIGA IFF FORUM PANEL: EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM MEETS TECH

13

EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECTS

26

ARTDOCFEST/RIGA: EASTERN EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS

34

ARTDOCFEST/RIGA: DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS — OBSERVERS

43

EASTERN EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS @ BALTIC SEA DOCS 2017

45

BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB

52

RIGA IFF ZIP-MEETING

53

RIGA IFF CRITICS MEETING

55

SHORT RIGA: COMING SOON SESSIONS

64

SHORT RIGA: THE WIP

67

NOTES

07.09 10:00 – 12:30

THURSDAY

CAFE FILM NOIR

RIGA IFF FORUM

EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECT PITCHING SESSIONS ENTRANCE FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY

12:30 – 13:00

CAFE FILM NOIR

RIGA IFF FORUM

FILMS IN LATVIA 2017 PRESENTATION. FILM PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION OF LATVIA ENTRANCE FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY

14:00 – 17:30

CAFE FILM NOIR

RIGA IFF FORUM INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS

ENTRANCE FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY

08.09

FRIDAY

10:00 – 13:00

CAFE FILM NOIR

RIGA IFF FORUM

WORK TOGETHER WITH THE AUDIENCE! FILM-MAKERS PITCH THEIR PROJECTS TO KIDS. WITH THE HELP OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS. ENTRANCE FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY ART ACADEMY OF LATVIA

13:00 – 18:00

BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB

CHARACTER DESIGN FOR ANIMATION WORKSHOP. EDMUNDS JANSONS ENTRANCE FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY

14:00 – 16:00

CAFE FILM NOIR

RIGA IFF FORUM PANEL

EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM MEETS TECH Tasse Film (Latvia), ACME Film Latvia, SilkWay Films (Germany), University of Tartu (Estonia), OVERLY (Latvia)

17:30 – 19:00

CAFE FILM NOIR

RIGA IFF FORUM: ARTDOCFEST/RIGA

EASTERN EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS PITCHING SESSION ENTRANCE FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY

20:00

SPLENDID PALACE

RIGA IFF #OPENING_EVENT: SOUND WE SEE: RĪGA. LIVE

TICKETS: WWW.RIGAIFF.LV

22:00

KAŅEPES KULTŪRAS CENTRS

#OPENING_AFTER FREE ENTRANCE FOR FESTIVAL BADGE OWNERS

3

RIGA IFF INDUSTRY EVENTS SCHEDULE

09.09

SATURDAY ART ACADEMY OF LATVIA

10:00 – 17:00

BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB

4

10.09 10:00 – 17:00

SUNDAY ART ACADEMY OF LATVIA

BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB

CREATING CHARACTER VOICES FOR ANIMATION I WORKSHOP. DIAN PERRY

CREATING CHARACTER VOICES FOR ANIMATION II WORKSHOP BY DIAN PERRY

ENTRANCE FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY

ENTRANCE FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY

11:00 – 13:00

18:00 – 19:30

CAFE FILM NOIR

RIGA IFF ZIP-MEETING: LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!

PRESENTATION + DISCUSSION. SHOOTING SITES IN THE BALTICS

ENTRANCE FOR FESTIVAL BADGE OWNERS ONLY

14:00 – 17:30

JANTARNIJ BEREG IN JŪRMALA CITY

RIGA IFF ZIP-MEETING

LOCATION TOUR + NETWORKING

17:30 NORDIC HIGHLIGHTS #PROGRAMME_OPENING: CITIZEN SCHEIN – BALTIC PREMIERE SPECIAL RECEPTION BY THE EMBASSY OF SWEDEN IN RIGA

TICKETS: WWW.RIGAIFF.LV

23:00

KAŅEPES KULTŪRAS CENTRS

HOMO NOVUS INVITES:

SUFFICIENTLY COMPACT MASS (PLU)

CAFE FILM NOIR

BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB

CASE STUDY SESSION PIGTAIL AND MR. SLEEPLESSNESS. DIRECTOR – EDMUNDS JANSONS

12.09 21:30

TUESDAY

KAŅEPES KULTŪRAS CENTRS

14.09

THURSDAY

14:00 – 18:00

KINO BIZE

IN KINO VERITAS #PROGRAMME_OPENING_ AFTER:

SHORT RIGA: COMING SOON SESSIONS I

FREE ENTRANCE FOR FESTIVAL BADGE OWNERS

14:00 – 15:30

13.09

TALK. NEIL YOUNG – FILM IN THE CLASSROOM

NIKTO LIVE IN CONCERT SKAŅU MEŽS DISCOTHEQUE

16:00 – 19:00

WEDNESDAY

CAFE FILM NOIR

RIGA IFF CRITICS MEETING: ENTRANCE FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY

CAFE FILM NOIR

RIGA IFF CRITICS MEETING: TALK. NEIL YOUNG – TEN FILM CRITICS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD

20:00

BALTIC SHORT FILM PROJECTS IN THEIR FINISHING STAGE

KAŅEPES KULTŪRAS CENTRS

SHORT RIGA #OPENING_EVENT FREE ENTRANCE FOR FESTIVAL BADGE OWNERS

22:00

KAŅEPES KULTŪRAS CENTRS

ERA OF DANCE #PREMIERE_AFTER FREE ENTRANCE FOR FESTIVAL BADGE OWNERS

15.09 10:00 – 14:00

FRIDAY

KINO BIZE

SHORT RIGA: COMING SOON SESSIONS II BALTIC SHORT FILM PROJECTS IN THEIR FINISHING STAGE

20:00

KAŅEPES KULTŪRAS CENTRS

SHORT RIGA #BMV

BALTIC MUSIC VIDEO COMPETITION SCREENING

TICKETS: WWW.RIGAIFF.LV

+

#BMV_AFTER FREE ENTRANCE FOR FESTIVAL BADGE OWNERS

5

16.09

12:00 – 14:00

KINO BIZE

20:00 – 21:30

SPLENDID PALACE

SHORT RIGA: THE WIP

RIGA IFF #AWARDS

13:00 – 14:30

21:30

SHORTS IN PROGRESS

CAFE FILM NOIR

BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB

TALK: CONTEMPORARY FILM SCORE THOR JOACHIM HAGA

15:00 – 17:00

CAFE FILM NOIR

BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB: FILM MUSIC CASE STUDY SESSION

6

SATURDAY

KRISHA directed by Edward Shults and scored by Brian Mcomber

FIRSTBORN directed by Aik Karapetian and scored by Andris Dzenītis LIFE WITHOUT GABRIELLA FERRI directed by Olga and Priit Parn and scored by Erkki-Sven Tuur

18:30 – 20:00

CAFE FILM NOIR

BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB

BALTIC FILM MUSIC HUB BALTIC DIRECTORS + COMPOSERS MEET-UP ENTRANCE FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY

KAŅEPES KULTŪRAS CENTRS

RIGA IFF #AWARDS_AFTER FREE ENTRANCE FOR FESTIVAL BADGE OWNERS

THE TEAM

AIJA BĒRZIŅA Member of the Board Founder/President aija@rigaiff.lv LIENE TREIMANE Member of the Board Festival Director liene@rigaiff.lv

EVENTS DEPARTMENT ANETE EGLĪTE Head of Events department events@rigaiff.lv ILZE PELNĒNA Project manager – ARTDOCFEST/RIGA ilze@artdocfest.com

INDUSTRY EVENTS CURATORS

ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT

AMANDA BOKA Head curator of RIGA IFF Industry Events amanda@rigaiff.lv

KASPARS KONDRATJUKS Head of Admissions Department admissions@rigaiff.lv

KRISTĪNE SIMSONE RIGA IFF FORUM content curator & coordinator kristine@rigaiff.lv

ANNA MIESNIECE Accreditation and INFO centre manager admissions@rigaiff.lv

VITALY MANSKY Curator – ARTDOCFEST/RIGA manski@artdocfest.com

GUEST SERVICE DEPARTMENT

AGNESE LOGINA Curator of RIGA IFF CRITICS MEETING agnese@rigaiff.lv VIKTORIJA KASPEROVIČA BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB project manager victoria@rigaiff.lv ANNA ZAČA BALTIC FILM MUSIC HUB coordinator SHORT RIGA curator anna@rigaiff.lv INGRĪDA NAGLE Guest curator, RIGA IFF ZIP-MEETING

JANA PAKALNA Head of Guest service guests@rigaiff.lv SANDIJA SKRASTIŅA Logistics & hospitality manager

7

FESTIVAL VENUES

SPLENDID PALACE ELIZABETES IELA 61

The legendary cinema house Splendid Palace is the nerve centre of the festival. It boasts two screening halls and the restaurant Cafe Film Noir which is also the main grounds for Industry Events.

8

KAŅEPES KULTŪRAS CENTRS SKOLAS IELA 15

The festival’s official club this year! Two storeys and a yard and everything to network, have fun, listen to music. All the festival events and parties at KKc – free entrance for festival badge owners!

KINO BIZE

ELIZABETES IELA 37-2 (ENTRANCE FROM THE YARD)

Probably the smallest and cutest cinema in Riga!

K. SUNS

ELIZABETES IELA 83/85 (BERGS BAZAAR)

Art cinema house with the ability to screen 35mm film (a rarity!).

ART ACADEMY OF LATVIA

KALPAKA BULVĀRIS 13

The festival is proud to take up some of the Academy’s space for its educational activities!

FRIENDLY HOTELS WELLTON RIGA HOTEL

RIXWELL OLD RIGA PALACE HOTEL

RIXWELL IRINA HOTEL

RIXWELL TERRACE DESIGN HOTEL

RIXWELL GERTRUDE HOTEL

RIXWELL ELEFANT HOTEL

VAĻŅU IELA 49

DZIRNAVU IELA 2

MINSTEREJAS IELA 8/10

ĢERTRŪDES IELA 70

MERĶEĻA IELA 12

KALNCIEMA IELA 90

RIGA IFF FORUM 9

07.09 10:00 – 12:30

THURSDAY

CAFE FILM NOIR

08.09 10:00 – 13:00

FRIDAY

CAFE FILM NOIR

EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECT PITCHING SESSIONS

WORK TOGETHER WITH THE AUDIENCE!

12:30 – 13:00

14:00 – 16:00

CAFE FILM NOIR

CAFE FILM NOIR

FILMS IN LATVIA 2017 PRESENTATION. FILM PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION OF LATVIA

PANEL: EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM MEETS TECH

14:00 – 17:30

17:30 – 19:00

INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS

CAFE FILM NOIR

CAFE FILM NOIR

ARTDOCFEST/RIGA

EASTERN EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS PITCHING SESSION

The festival’s work-in-progress and coming-soon film market was launched in 2016 in co-operation with the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia and the National Film Centre of Latvia when it featured project presentations from Latvia and the neighbouring region with a special focus on projects for children’s audience. In 2017 the FORUM is again focusing on feature length projects devised for a children’s audience and gathering those interested in the genre as well as exercising an additional experimental pitching format. In 2017, Artdocfest brings about a specially selected documentary project pitching session intended for Eastern European collaboration.

10

This year›s edition of European children’s film project pitching sessions feature a dozen of handpicked childrens and youth film projects from the Baltic sea region and Central Europe in stages of development and pre-production. Most of the participants test their courage to pitch their project to its target audience - the kids themselves!

One of the most important missions of the FORUM is the exchange of experience and ideas. An international panel explores the potential synergy between the dynamic worlds of cinema and tech featuring members of the Baltic VR and AR scene, as well as seasoned film distributors and producers.

Eastern European project selection showcases contemporary art documentary film that has entered the ambiguous grounds where it no longer can be funded by the institutions backed by the Russian Federation but at the same time – being created by filmmakers that are not yet accustomed to the European network. The collaboration between Artdocfest of Russia and the Baltic Sea Docs forum that runs almost in sync with the RIGA IFF this year allows the city the chance to host even more Eastern European projects.

BEST PITCH — € 5000 This year a RIGA IFF international jury of experts choose one pitch for the BBrental Prize – 5000€ worth of post-production services or filming gear.

BBrental is a full-service professional filming

equipment rental house with branches in Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius, they offer the largest range of equipment in the Baltics since 1999 as well as color grading and post-production services.

RIGA IFF FORUM PANEL

EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM MEETS TECH 11

A large number of quality children’s films are traveling around festivals and bright ideas for children’s content are pitched in forums all across Europe. At the same time considerably smaller number of films are shown at European cinemas, making existence in the market more challenging for sales agencies and distributors.

In the meantime new mediums as virtual and augmented reality are open for new content. As quality and innovative content is one of the strongholds of European cinema, there is a food for thought: is there an open possibility of symbiotic co-operation between the domains of cinema and tech? But are they more accessible and more effective in capturing the public’s eye than traditional ways of marketing? Also - what would the linking of the two worlds mean for cinema?

AIJA BĒRZIŅA

INESE APSE

MADIS VASSER

Experienced producer with a demonstrated history of working in the production industry, Aija is also one of the founders of and the current president of RIGA IFF. Aija’s lead company TASSE FILM received a Crystal Bear at Berlin International Film festival for the youth film Mellow Mud.

Inese is the head of marketing and distribution at the biggest independent movie distributor in the Baltic states - ACME Film Latvia.

Coming from cinematography studies background, she is a seasoned expert in film, working with Hollywood as well as independent productions.

Being a researcher at the computer graphics and virtual reality lab of University of Tartu, Madis is also the founder of the Tallinn based Virtual Neuroscience lab, which aims to take VR and our knowledge of ourselves to new depths and to develop VR products that have a real effect.

SILKE WILFINGER

AINĀRS KĻAVIŅŠ

KRISTĪNE SIMSONE MODERATOR

Silke is a seasoned expert in acquisitions and film sales.

She is currently consulting for the globally known Sola Media as well as leading her own, Germany based company SilkWay Films.

Ainārs is the founder and owner of OVERLY - the first and only agency in the Baltic States that focus on the development of augmented reality solutions and other interactive technologies.

12

Freelance film journalist, working at Latvian weekly magazine IR. Kristine joined RIGA IFF at the first year of the festival as curator of children’s film programme KIDS WEEKEND, willing to encourage filmgoers in regarding film more as an art form, not merely entertainment.

EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECTS

13

EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECTS

EVEN MICE BELONG IN HEAVEN Comedy, Family entertainment CZ/FR/SK 80’ TARGET AUDIENCE AGE: 5 - 11 DIR.: Denisa Grimmova, Jan Bubenicek PROD.: Vladimir Lhotak, Alexandre Charlet, Tomas Janisek STATUS: pre-production COMING: 06/11/2019 PROD. COMP.: Hausboot Production, Fresh Films, Les Films du Cygne, Cinemart SK LOOKING FOR: sales agents, broadcasters, festivals, funding

14

A film about two mortal enemies - a little Mouse and a Fox, who after an unfortunate accident, meet in animal heaven. They lose their natural instincts and become best friends. Their wish to stay together after they return to earth comes true, but they are reborn into opposite roles.

Thanks to the power of friendship they can even overcome what seems to be impossible. The film Even Mice Belong in Heaven is about hope, a quest for love and courage, and about overcoming prejudices and old pains. It is a story about two outsiders, who combining their very different personalities and ways of thinking, are able to overcome tremendous obstacles and handle situations that might have been considered already lost.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR DENISA GRIMMOVA is an animation films director specialised in puppet and cartoon animation. She has directed several short films and worked as a designer on a puppet feature film Fimfarum 3. Her design for the characters and puppets is the key element of the film. Jan is a student from FAMU. He has attended various workshops and one of his short films The Three Fuo was selected to Kodak European talents in the Cannes FF. His animation feature length debut Murderous Tales was released in 2016.

FRESH FILMS, HAUSBOOT PRODUCTION Fresh Films activities include producing creative and highly artistic films, organising art exhibitions and cultural events. Company co-organises international videomapping and light design festival and runs a videomapping animation studio. They have joined forces with Hausboot Production. Prague based company’s main activity is development and production of animation and creative documentaries with high artistic value and international potential.

Hausboot is a delegate producer of the project.

VLADIMIR LHOTAK PRODUCER vladimir@hausboot.cz

EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECTS

SUMMER WITH BERNARD

Adventure, Children SK/DE/other 90’ TARGET AUDIENCE AGE: 8 - 14 DIR.: Martina Sakova PROD.: Katarina Krnacova, Martin Kleinmichel STATUS: development COMING: 11/07/2019 PROD. COMP.: Silverart, PROJECTOR23 LOOKING FOR: co-production, distribution, sales agents, broadcasters, festivals, funding

Jonas (11) is looking forward to summer holidays. Escaping all the stress with stepdad Uli, he’ll stay with his cool grandfather in Slovakia, ideally forever. Weather is hot, no annoying parents around - holidays can start! But something is wrong with grandpa Bernard (57). He recently got off the track; he comes home late and sleeps during the day. Jonas is confused.

Is grandpa sick, or maybe too old? Something must be done! To save the summer and get good old grandpa back, Jonas uses all kind of tricks. In attempt to fix Bernard’s love life he hacks into his computer and connects to dating websites, or he secretly opens a business.

All plans go wrong but end happily. Thanks to Jonas, Bernard starts working again and even finds love. Jonas gives his relationship with Uli a second chance. After all, even adults seem to be able to change.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR MARTINA SAKOVA is a Slovak director & producer, studied film direction at Film Academy VSMU, at the Film Academy HFF and experimental media design at the University of Arts in Berlin. While her studies she worked at SK Nat. TV in Programme Department for Children and Youth. She lives and works in Berlin where in 2007 she co-founded production company Projector23. She works on concept development and as a director of short commercial formats and creative film projects. This is her feature debut.

SILVERART Silverart has been formed and run by Katarina Krnacova, producer with 10 year long experience. She is Ex Oriente 2009 and EAVE 2015 graduate, a member of EFA and Slovak Film and TV Academy. She is a Delegate Producer of a family drama Little Harbour (dir. Iveta Grofova, Hulapa film/SK), a SK-CZ coproduction awarded with Crystal Bear at Berlinale 2017 for the Best Film in Generation Kplus. In Silverart, she is developing two feature films and a TV series, all set as international co-productions.

KATARINA KRNACOVA PRODUCER katarina.krnacova@gmail.com

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EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECTS

LITTLE ART DETECTIVES Adventure, Detective story LV 90’ TARGET AUDIENCE AGE: 5 - 9 DIR.: Armands Zvirbulis PROD.: Inese Boka-Grūbe, Gints Grūbe STATUS: early development COMING: 11/10/2019 PROD. COMP.: Mistrus Media LOOKING FOR: co-production, sales agents, funding

16

Can works of art become alive? What would it be like to enter the paintings and experience the stories painted on them? What secrets are hidden in the paintings? Detective film for children Little Art Detectives invites on an exciting adventurous journey to the secret world of the art inside the paintings.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR ARMANDS ZVIRBULIS is an experienced Latvian film director and film editor. He debuted with the feature drama The Broken Nest (co-directed with Uldis Pucitis). For the past years Zvirbulis has worked as an editor on several documentaries and fiction films, as well as directed TV series and evening shows for the Latvian TV. The Little Thieves (2009) was the screen debut of Zvirbulis, the film has been screened in more than 60 film festivals and won 20 awards, diplomas and nominations.

MISTRUS MEDIA Mistrus Media was established in 2000 and is one of the leading film studios in Latvia, producing feature documentaries, feature fiction films and is a provider of filming and location services and producer of industrial films and commercials.

Productions of Mistrus Media have received several national and international festival awards and they have been broadcast on various TV stations worldwide.

INESE BOKA-GRŪBE PRODUCER

inese.boka@mistrusmedia.lv

GINTS GRŪBE PRODUCER

gints.grube@mistrusmedia.lv

EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECTS

MICE ON STRIKE / SQUEEK Adventure, Animation PL 80’ TARGET AUDIENCE AGE: 7 - 99 DIR.: Lukasz Kacprowicz, Marcin Wasilewski PROD.: Robert Jaszczurowski STATUS: development COMING: 2020 PROD. COMP.: GS Animation / Grupa Smacznego LOOKING FOR: co-production, distribution, funding

The underground mouse city Squeek is ruled by a despot named Uncle Julius, who has created a perfect totalitarian system. 12-year-old Maya is about to spend her lifetime like every other citizen - building mysterious Machinery - a key project of the tyrant. The forbidden visit to the outside world and a friendship with Alek will start the transformation of Maya, leading her to nailing Julius, and to showing the citizens of Squeek what solidarity and freedom are.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR LUKASZ KACPROWICZ is an experienced director, script writer, creative producer, character designer, co-founder of GS Animation. He gave the original idea for Mami Fatale, TV series.

He’s a leader of numerous workshops for young animators. Currently he’s directing Basia TV series and working on script development of his series Johann, Sebastiana and Bach. An active member of Polish Filmmakers Association (SFP).

GS ANIMATION GS Animation is one of the most active and innovative studios in Poland, specialized in 2D animation. Currently the studio hires around 30 talents working on developing their own IPs, as well as providing high quality service work to their clients.Their own projects such as Mami Fatale, Basia and Grand Banda are well known in the European market for their original design and creative value. Since May 2016 GS Animation is a Toon Boom Authorized Training Centre (ATC).

ROBERT JASZCZUROWSKI CREATIVE PRODUCER robert@g-s.pl

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EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECTS

THE PIT

Drama, Thriller LV/EE 90’ TARGET AUDIENCE AGE: 7 - 19 DIR.: Dace Pūce PROD.: Elīna Zazerska, Kristele Pudāne STATUS: development COMING: 01/05/2019 PROD. COMP.: Marana Productions LOOKING FOR: co-production, distribution, sales agents, broadcasters, festivals, funding

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After his mother leaves the family and his father lands in jail, Markuss ends up at his grandmother’s house in the countryside. Anete, a girl from a good family, offends Markuss and he takes her as prisoner. As he dreams about the return of his parents, Markuss begins harming himself by carving initials on his arm and making surreal, eerie drawings of the neighbours in their small village. With these drawings he is following his father’s dream of becoming a famous painter, but he also witnesses a gruesome incident at the neighbour’s house. The only real friend Markuss has is the old Sailor, who reveals his secret to the boy shortly before he dies. A ray of hope enters the story when Markuss’ mother returns shortly before he receives his punishment.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR DACE PŪCE has created 5 short films, 4 documentaries and many music videos. She works as a teacher in Latvian Culture College and runs a project Creative Film workshops. She holds a Master’s degree as film director and producer of Latvian Academy and studied at the Brighton Film School, the New York Film Academy and received S. Meisner dramatics techniques certificate from True Acting Institute. Dace is currently working on documentary Annie and feature The Pit. MARANA PRODUCTIONS Production house Marana Productions was founded in 2013 and currently works as commercial, audiovisual and event production company. Marana Productions have produced documentaries, commercials, countless music videos and shorts. Currently the company is producing documentary Annie and feature film The Pit.

DACE PŪCE DIRECTOR marana@marana.lv

KRISTELE PUDĀNE PRODUCER kristele.pudane@inbox.lv

EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECTS

GAJA’S WORLD

Comedy, Detective story SI 90’ TARGET AUDIENCE AGE: 9 - 15 DIR.: Peter Bratusa PROD.: Tilen Ravnikar STATUS: pre-production COMING: 05/02/2018 PROD. COMP.: Felina Films LOOKING FOR: co-production, distribution, sales agents, broadcasters, festivals, funding

Gaja’s World is family film narrated by 11 years old Gaja, who introduces us to her unusual family in the world she lives in. In the center of the story is her family which goes through a lot of changes, with the mother off to Medecins sans Frontieres. The father is faced with the troubles and challenges of everyday chores and raising two teenage daughters. Gaja plays the saxophone and is a friend and protector of her weak friend Matic. Gaja’s sister Tea gets in trouble with a foolish and naive online application to a ‘fashion show’. But Gaja, who is smart and savvy takes control of the situations that are facing her, her family and friends, and manages to fix everything. Although she sometimes breaks some rules, her ‘right’ is in line with the honest and bold world that touches us every time.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR PETER BRATUSA (1962) studied film photography in Zagreb and started his career as a d.o.p.

He shot his first two feature films in 1991 and then took on a director’s role and shot more than 300 commercials in his more than 20 year career – many of them received various awards.

In recent years he decorated himself in screenwriting and directing various film projects. His feature film Awakenings will arrive in theaters and festivals in September.

FELINA FILMS Felina Films was founded in 1993 by director Peter Bratusa. It specializes in TV commercials and TV shows – especially cooking shows, which were unprecedented in SI. In 2013 company made its first big step into film production with a TV series Life of Tomaz Kajzer. They have made several short films, and are now producing two feature films – Awakenings is to arrive in theaters in September 2017 and Gaja’s World is currently in pre-production.

TILEN RAVNIKAR PRODUCER tilen@felinafilms.si

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EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECTS

EIA’S CHRISTMAS AT PHANTOM OWL FARM 20

Children’s film EE/NL 90’ TARGET AUDIENCE AGE: 4 - 7 DIR.: Anu Aun PROD.: Maie Rosmann-Lill, Maario Masing STATUS: pre-production COMING: 01/12/2018 PROD. COMP.: Luxfilm OÜ, Kinosaurus Film LOOKING FOR: distribution, sales agents, broadcasters, festivals

Children’s adventure film Eia’s Christmas at Phantom Owl Farm follows a 10-year-old Eia, whose Christmas holiday is taking an unexpected turn, after being brought to mysterious farm in rural South-Estonia. She follows her heart to rescue an old primeval forest, helps two lovers to find each other, and is destined to unwrap her family’s well-kept secret.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR ANU AUN is an Estonian director-scriptwriter and producer, a co-founder of Luxfilm. She has graduated as a TV and Film Director from Baltic Film and Media School. Anu’s latest short film Shift was selected to more than 70 international film festivals. Her debut feature The Polar Boy was developed in Torino Film Lab and Nipkow Program. Anu is currently in production with creative documentary Walker on Water and family film Eia’s Christmas at Phantom Owl Farm.

LUXFILM Luxfilm (2005) is an independent Estonian film studio specializing in film production and postproduction services. The company has produced several internationally awarded shorts and documentaries. It has four films in production - documentary about poetess Kristiina Ehin Walker on Water, documentary about singer and composer Tonis Magi, existential comedy The End of Chain (co-production with Alexandra Film) and family film Eia’s Christmas at Phantom Owl Farm (co-production with Kinosaurus Film).

ANU AUN DIRECTOR anu@luxfilm.ee

MAIE ROSMANN-LILL PRODUCER maie@kinosaurus.ee

EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECTS

IBRACADABRA

Comedy SE/DK/DE 90’ TARGET AUDIENCE AGE: 10 - 75 DIR.: Karzan Kader PROD.: Peter Krupenin, Nima Yousefi STATUS: development COMING: 23/05/2019 PROD. COMP.: TMV AB LOOKING FOR: co-production, broadcasters, funding

21 Moe,13, is a daydreamer, and he often fantasizes about being awesome at something just like his idol Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But Moe is everything Zlatan is not: He is a guy with low self-esteem and special needs. Moe finds a pair of soccer shoes that he believes belong to Zlatan.

The shoes changes his whole persona. In his too big shoes Moe is as cool as Zlatan. But then, something happens. It´s reported that Zlatan have lost his mojo. Together with Aminah, his only friend, Moe goes on a road trip to give back the shoes. It’s an unforgettable road trip.

Finally with a little ‘Ibracadabra’ they get to Stockholm and the arena with Zlatan. During the journey Moe and Aminah get close and discover feelings for each other, but most of all Moe learns that it is not about the shoes. Self esteem comes from yourself.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR KARZAN KADER (1982) is a Swedish film director and writer. He was nine when his family fled Kurdistan during the Iraq War and settled in Sweden. In 2007 he enrolled in Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts to study directing. His short film Bekas won a Student Oscar and was developed into the acclaimed feature-length film by the same name. Karzan’s exceptional storytelling with visual and character richness together with his experience directing for children makes him well suited for Ibracadabra.

TMV AB Since the establishment in 2008 TMV AB have produced two features, and since 2016 Peter Krupenin share the ownership with Nima Yousefi. The company focuses on films for children, families and young adults, in addition international arthouse films are being developed. TMV AB is prepared for the future with a slate of projects in development, with the new direction for TMV AB it is becoming an important player in the new media landscape.

NIMA YOUSEFI PRODUCER nima@hobab.se

EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECTS

IN THE MIRROR

Fairy tale LV/CZ 85’ TARGET AUDIENCE AGE: 12 - 99 DIR.: Laila Pakalniņa PROD.: Laila Pakalniņa, Mikulas Novotny STATUS: development COMING: 2019 PROD. COMP.: Hargla Company, Backgroundfilms LOOKING FOR: co-production, distribution, funding

22 A CrossFit trainer becomes the father of a baby girl, Snow White. Snow White’s mother dies, and her father marries a young woman obsessed with CrossFit and herself. She works out all the time in order to be the best. And she really is the best – she can do 50 burpees.* In the meantime, little Snow White plays and grows up in the CrossFit gym. All of those ropes, bars, balls, and jump ropes are her toys. Time passes, and one day it is revealed that while the Stepmother can do 50 burpees, Snow White can already do 53 burpees...

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR LAILA PAKALNIŅA graduated from the Moscow Film Institute (VGIK), Department of Film Direction, in 1991. A director and scriptwriter of 28 documentaries, 5 shorts, and 5 fiction features, altogether she has 38 films, 2 children, 1 husband, 1 dog, and 2 bicycles. And many ideas for new films. Her films have been screened in official programmes at Cannes, Venice, Berlinale, Locarno, Karlovy Vary, Rome and other international festivals, where they have won numerous awards.

HARGLA COMPANY Hargla Company was founded in 1997 to enable its founders to make their own films. So far, the company has produced 5 features, 11 creative documentaries and 4 shorts. Almost all of them have won festival awards. They were selected for Cannes, Venice, Berlinale, Locarno, Rome, Karlovy Vary, IDFA, Visions du Reel, etc.

LAILA PAKALNIŅA DIRECTOR laila.pakalnina@inbox.lv

MIKULAS NOVATNY PRODUCER novotny@backgroundfilms.cz

EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECTS

FATIMA AND THE SECRET TREASURE

Animation, Family film PL/PT 80’ TARGET AUDIENCE AGE: 6 - 12 DIR.: Bartek Kik PROD.: Wojciech Stuchlik STATUS: pre-production COMING: 08/02/2019 PROD. COMP.: Platige Image LOOKING FOR: broadcasters, funding

One day Madalena discovers her mother’s secret journal. Browsing through it, she finds a feather and clues leading to a mysterious big white bird’s nest. The girl decides to locate it, believing that it’s the only way to cheer up her ornithologist father who after losing his wife became estranged to his children. Using the directions from her mother’s journal, Madalena sets on an adventurous journey through her hometown of Fatima. She is accompanied by her brother and their two new friends, whose identity, just like the one of the big bird’s, remains unknown to her. During the expedition Madalena will learn the true meaning of friendship, loyalty, faith and betray. And the secret that will be revealed to her in the end will change her life and the lives of those close to her.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR BARTEK KIK graduated from the NFS in Lodz with a degree in animation and visual effects.

He debuted in 2008 with Teaching Infinity, a short film he co-directed with Jakub Jablonski.

Since his joining Platige Image in 2007 he’s been involved in the creation of many advertisements and cultural projects. He co-directed Culture, a short film produced for the Move Your Imagination campaign promoting Poland at the ITB tourism trade fair in Berlin, and a short animation for the Catzilla computer benchmark.

PLATIGE IMAGE Platige Image is a world renowned production and animation studio. It has received some of the industry’s most important awards including a SIGGRAPH Award and a BAFTA . It was also nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Lion, a Golden Palm, and a VES Award. The studio specializes in special effects. Platige Image showcases creativity, the highest quality of service and an unconventional approach to projects. The team consists of 300 artists: directors, art directors, graphic designers and producers.

WOJCIECH STUCHLIK LINE PRODUCER ws@platige.com

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EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECTS

WHERE THE ROAD LEADS Adventure, Western LV 100’ TARGET AUDIENCE AGE: 15 - 35 DIR.: Matīss Kaža PROD.: Dace Siatkovska, Zane Kalniņa, Una Celma STATUS: early development COMING: 01/03/2020 PROD. COMP.: Fenixfilm, Deep Sea Studios LV LOOKING FOR: co-production, distribution, funding

24

1881, Latvia. On the day of her arranged engagement, Eva (16) decides to flee the aristocratic manor where she grew up under the guardianship of the Baron. Miks, a Latvian farm boy, is asked to bring her back. Just as he’s about to convince Eva to return, an assassin makes an attempt on Eva’s life, but misses, shooting Miks in the shoulder and killing the only witness.

Desperate, Eva takes the injured Miks with her and runs away. A government Investigator, a corrupt Sexton and a mysterious Hypnotist set out to retrieve the kids for different reasons.

Eva finds out that she belongs to a royal lineage and her death could have dire political consequences throughout Europe. Unable to return to their previous lives, Eva and Miks join forces. Their friendship will be tested in a world which disregards humanity in favor of a strict class system.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR MATĪSS KAŽA was born in 1995 in Stockholm, Sweden. He grew up in Riga, Latvia in a family of filmmakers and has been involved with filmmaking in different capacities since the age of 12. Matīss is about to finish his film education at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2018. His first documentary feature One Ticket Please has screened in several international film festivals and won the NewDoc award for Best Documentary Debut in Stockholm.

FENIXFILM Fenixfilm is a production company based in Riga. They have been operating for more than 10 years and their track record includes several feature length documentaries and narrative films, some of which have been international co-productions with Sweden and the United States.

Company’s goal is to create professional work that engages audiences both emotionally and intellectually, encouraging and valuing diversity and freedom of expression.

ZANE KALNIŅA PRODUCER zaneikalninai@gmail.com

EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM PROJECTS

DIPLODOCUS

Comedy, Animation, Family PL 80’ TARGET AUDIENCE AGE: 6 - 12 DIR.: Wojtek Wawszczyk PROD.: Anja Sosic, Maks Sikora STATUS: development COMING: 2020 PROD. COMP.: Human Ark LOOKING FOR: distribution, broadcasters, festivals, funding

Little dinosaur Diplodocus is dreaming of a great adventure. Unfortunately, his overprotective parents won’t let him explore the beautiful but dangerous world beyond the wall they have built to protect their home. Diplo’s world actually is part of a comic book created by Ted, an artist desperate for success. When his editor asks him to abandon his dinosaurs Ted puts the eraser to the paper. As Diplo witnesses the disappearance of his parents, he leaps out of the comic strip and lands in another story created by Ted. There, he meets a shady wizard and a pair of quirky scientists. Together, they set off for an epic quest to save Diplo’s family.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR WOJTEK WAWSZCZYK has worked at the Digital Domain studios in LA as an animator for several Disney productions, he has directed the cinematics of Fight Club, official game version of the known film. He’s been the lead animator for The Lost Town Of Switez; together with K. Tarkowski and T. Lesniak, he directed his animated feature debut George The Hedgehog (2011). He is artistic director of Human Ark, where he has directed over 100 commercials and the animated TV series Casparade.

HUMAN ARK It’s one of Poland’s leading animation studios, based in Warsaw and employs a team of 35 recognized artists and technical experts who specialize in high-end 3D character animation and complex visual effects. Besides the famous short The Lost Town of Switez, they have produced hundreds of high quality commercials. In 2016, they released its first TV series, family animation Casparade, in co-production with Canal+. Currently, the studio is in pre-production of its first feature film, Diplodocus.

ANJA SOSIC VP / HEAD OF PRODUCTION a.sosic@human-ark.com

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ARTDOCFEST/RIGA

26

EASTERN EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS

EASTERN EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS

THE THIRD LIFE OF MARINA KLESHCHEVA Drama RU 52 / 80’ DIR.: Elena Demidova PROD.: Liza Antonova COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: Passenger Film Studio

The story of the life of the actress Marina Kleshcheva. After she is released from prison, she attempts to transform her life before our eyes but her previous life is constantly pulling her back. Filmmakers S. Loznitsa and K.Serebrennikov film her but she has nowhere to live and all too often she doesn’t even have enough money to buy cigarettes. While her fellow actors meet in café’s, she is taking parcels to her husband in jail. She is a talented woman but is already fifty.

Does she have the time and energy to get ahead in life and attain success?

ELENA DEMIDOVA antel-dem@yandex.ru Director, scriptwriter, producer, born in Russia. First education is Moscow State Technical University (engineer) and Voronezh State University (The Faculty of History).

Director’s education: film school Internews, Moscow.

Participated in Hot Docs Forum, Leipzig Doc Coproduction Meeting, Baltic Forum, Dragon Forum, Below Zero Pitching Forum a.o. Her docs are broadcasted on number of TV channels and participate and win awards at many intl. film festivals. Her debut feature film was released in 2016.

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EASTERN EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS

INDEPENDENT-2 Politics RU 60’ DIR.: Julia Kiseleva PROD.: Julia Kiseleva COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: Julia Kiseleva

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Dasha endured election race against overpowering political rivals only to loose her chance to get a seat in Russian State Duma. She decided to get elected to local municipality again.

This time local authorities do not want to see her in position of power, may it be even on municipal level. Dasha decides to get nominated as an independent candidate in a few districts.

This is a story of different elections, a slice of a nation’s life, reflected in one city’s chronicle.

JULIA KISELEVA docfilm@list.ru Screenwriter, director, producer, teacher, lives in Moscow. She graduated from the Faculty of Journalism UrFU and the directing department of VGIK. As a director she has implemented 16 author projects, has produced more than a dozen television films and programs, worked as a screenwriter, editor and chief editor on TV. Finalist of the TEFI-region award and three times finalist of the LAVR award. Her films took part in over 50 film festivals all over the world and received many awards.

EASTERN EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS

RASHKA. NO MARGIN FOR ERROR Portrait, ethnic issues RU 90’ DIR.: Dmitry Kubasov PROD.: Anastasia Murashkina COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: 17+4

Rashid is 21, and one of the most promising fighters in Russia. He is a Lak and according to the secret laws of Dagestan, the Laks cannot occupy leading positions in the government.

Rashid wants to change the state of affairs in his homeland and become the head of a town.

He’s forced to come to Moscow and enter a law school, graduating from which will give him the status. If he succeeds in sports, he will get famous and will be able to return home renowned and influential, which will allow him to win the election.

DMITRY KUBASOV septemquattuor@gmail.com Born in 1985, Moscow. Graduated from Shchukin Theater Institute majoring in acting. During graduate school defended dissertation Elements of Vakhtangov school of 2nd year of education. Meanwhile he started his acting career in films and theater, has acted in more than 15 films. In 2008 he had a major role in film Lake by a French director Philippe Grandrieux. Later he decided to pursue a career in directing, and in 2010 graduated from Marina Razbezhkina Production Studio of Documentary Film.

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EASTERN EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS

BULLET’S FLIGHT War chronicle RU 80’ DIR.: Beata Bubenets PROD.: TBC COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: TBC

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I’m lying in the trench and hear bombs. One of them can get into me, but I’m not afraid. It turns out that fear exists only when a past or a future exist, in the present there is none. I don’t know what will happen in a moment, but here and now my life is still lasting. After the bombardment, I was captured, and then I got into a band of soldiers from the battalion Aidar.

They have become my new world, which I want to tell about. For these 80 minutes, I didn’t turn off the camera, because life was lasting while recording was continuing.

BEATA BUBENETS beatabubenec@yandex.ru Graduated from the Nizhny Novgorod State Philology Faculty named after Lobachevsky, worked as a journalist. In 2012 she entered the Documentary Film and Theatre School of Marina Razbezhkina and Mikhail Ugarov in Moscow. Her documentaries God’s Will and Chechen have been screened in prestigeous international documentary film festivals and awarded with multiple prizes.

EASTERN EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS

MY NAME IS SHUKIN Portrait RU 52’ DIR.: Alexsandra Lihacheva PROD.: Alexsandra Lihacheva COMING: 2017 PROD. COMP.: Alexsandra Lihacheva

Father was laying in bed when I was feeding him breakfast. He died in my arms on the same day - he suffocated, he had lung cancer. He was 75 years old. He was a brilliant poet, I believe, and he betrayed the poet in him. He did not publish anything, he worked as an engineer. My name is Ivan Shukin. I am 36 years old now. Here we stop. This is a moment of breakthrough. I am an artist; I am creativity; I am carrying the paintings from the room, I am going to publish, dad.

ALEXSANDRA LIHACHEVA al.lihacheva@gmail.com Painter by the first education, film director — by second, Alexsandra Lihacheva has graduated from Aleksei Uchitel’s faculty in VGIK in 2011. Participated in IDFA, Hamburg ISFF, Festival de Documentales deMadrid, Open festival of documentary cinema Russia among many others, received the National award a laurel branch in the field of documentary cinema and television nomination.

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EASTERN EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS

FULFILL THE DREAM Portrait RU 40 - 50’ DIR.: Konstantin Selin PROD.: TBC COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: TBC

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Vladimir, 52, lives in Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek. A few years ago he was diagnosed with HIV after heavy usage of hard drugs in youth. He had to quit his job and now makes cemetery fences and makes some money on the side as a plumber. He’s upset that he didn‘t do anything significant for the largest part of life, but remembers that he has a dream. He wants to go to the south of Kyrgyzstan, to the City of Osh, to buy candy and bake a cake for children in the orphanage where he grew up and has never been to ever since.

KONSTANTIN SELIN yakostya.s@ya.ru Graduated the Faculty of Philology at the Krasnoyarsk State University of Education, during studies worked as an editor in the Krasnoyarsk TV-company Afontovo.

In 2010 entered the St. Petersburg State University of Culture and Cinema as director of documentary films.

During his studies he made several short films. In 2013 he graduated from the Faculty of Photo Correspondents and completed an internship at Bedfordshire University in England as a documentary film director.

EASTERN EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS

FLOOD ZONE Ecology RU 52 - 72’ DIR.: Nataliya Babintseva PROD.: Denis Branitsky COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: Studio KinoKi

In the late 1930s several towns on the river Volga were sacrificed for the sake of Industrialization — they were intentionally flooded behind new dams in order to create power stations.

Recently various people ­– scientists, amateur archaeologists, divers along with local history experts and antiquarians tend to gather around the flooded towns and form a community of people who are really into it! The flooded zone doesn’t seem to be an abandoned area anymore.

NATALIYA BABINTSEVA nbabintseva@yandex.ru Documentary director and journalist, graduated from VGIK and in cooperation with the coursemates founded KinoKi film studio. Nataliya is the author of the Russian TV film The Island and the Treasure. In cooperation with the French producers she wrote and co-produced the film Utopia Coordinates, Museum Revolution (Revolutionary art of Maidan) it was her first full-length project.

The film was bought by Arte/ZDF channels and was awarded by the youth jury of film festival in Innsbruck.

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ARTDOCFEST/RIGA

34

DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS — OBSERVERS

DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS — OBSERVERS

PARTS

Art film UA 70 – 90’ DIR.: Dmitriy Lavrinenko PROD.: Dmitriy Lavrinenko COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: Dimalavr Production

The theatrical performance making by the refugees from the occupied territories of Crimea’s and Donbass’s areas. It happened in Kharkiv, nearest big city next to Ukrainian Russian State Border.

DMITRY LAVRINENKO dimalavr.up@gmail.com His filmography as a screenwriter and director includes more than twenty documentaries, auteur films and music clips. During the last seven years, he filmed the band Auktyon and Leonid Fyodorov and made several music clips for the group.

35

DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS — OBSERVERS

THE DANCE Edited footage, news RU 70’ DIR.: Tatiana Chistova PROD.: Tatiana Chistova COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: Tatiana Chistova

36

How the events were perceived and experienced by people, and how they felt, what they did, and how and what they danced in a particular event at a particular moment of Russian history.

TATIANA CHISTOVA tatiachi@yandex.ru Tatiana Chistova has worked as an assistant, as casting director, assistant director and 1AD at the Lenfilm studio. As a filmmaker she’s done one fiction film and a number of documentaries.

DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS — OBSERVERS

ORDINARY FILM Creative doc., social issuees, POV BY 90’ DIR.: Liubou Ziamtsova PROD.: Maryia Yahorava, Mikalai Laureniuk COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: Illusion

Passion, hopes, dreams and disappointments… 7 ordinary love stories of 7 not that ordinary people.

LIUBOU ZIAMTSOVA cvetanka@bk.ru Graduated from Belarusian State Academy of Arts in Documentary filmmaking, studied in The Andrzej Wajda Master School of Film Directing, made 4 midlength and short documentaries.

37

DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS — OBSERVERS

HEAVEN REALITY Divine comedy RU 120’ DIR.: Maksim Drozdov PROD.: TBC COMING: 2021 PROD. COMP.: TBC

38

A man is in fact the only available ‘optical’ tool to observe and describe the non-physical reality. By adding different facets of the non-physical experience of people we see a whole picture of an unphysical reality.

MAKSIM DROZDOV drozdovmaksim@mail.ru Heaven Reality (in production), Технологии Перехода (in production), Канал Снов (in production), Hampi (2016), Он и Она (2015).

DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS — OBSERVERS

AMONG THE LAKES Portrait AZ 58’ DIR.: Intigam Hajili PROD.: Nilufer Hajili (Memmedova) COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: Yosun Films

The life of a lonely person and his struggle with this life. A dissident of Azerbaijan National Liberation Movement in the beginning of last century, the hero is now unemployed and away from his family in an independent country.

INTIGAM HAJILI hajiliintiham@gmail.com Started his career as a film critic (2004-2008), worked as executive producer of Road (2012) short film. Now he is teaching cinema lessons in Baku. Among the lakes is his first feature-length documentary film.

39

DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS — OBSERVERS

TOWARDS THE MIRACLE Portrait BY 80’ DIR.: Ekaterina Markovets PROD.: Viktoryia Kolchyna COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: Amodei Production Studio

40

Sasha Avdevich is a social media phenomenon in Belarus. He turned out to be in a wheelchair after a bike accident, but now is a TV-star and a charismatic blogger. He can only confess to his best friend Vasya that his media image of a ‘leader in a wheelchair’ is fictional.

EKATERINA MARKOVETS sevastianova.tv@gmail.com Documentary Двое на Лысой горе (2010) about the life of former convicts and alcoholics in the Orthodox monastery. Road-movie 200 000 абаротov about a journey of a cheerful fellow in a wheelchair to the Baltic sea.

DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS — OBSERVERS

THE AMERICAN DREAM Portrait RU 52 / 80’ DIR.: Andrey Ananin PROD.: Vlad Ketkovich COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: Ethnofond

The American Dream is a project about life in the Russian village, a story about fighting for your dream and overcoming insurmountable obstacles.

ANDREY ANANIN ananinandrey@gmail.com Studied at the Moscow State University at the Faculty of Law, in 2013 he entered the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography at the documentary films department.

41

DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS — OBSERVERS

WHITE MAMA

Portrait RU 110’ DIR.: Zosya Rodkevich, Evgenia Ostanina PROD.: Max Tuula, Maria Gavrilova, Alexander Rastorguev, Ilya Malkin, Olga Volodina, Pavel Kostomarov COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: Chbk film, Marx Film, Black and White Production

42

A family chronicle filmed by the parents and children in their fight for love.

ZOSYA RODKEVICH, EVGENIA OSTANINA studio@marxfilm.com Zosya’s first full-length film My Friend Boris Nemtsov (2016) was named Best Documentary at the Krakow FF and participated in the Jihlava IDFF and other film festivals. Evgenia participated in several famous Russian documentary projects as an editor, including The Term (2014) and Kiev/Moscow (2015).

Project is represented by the PRODUCER ALEXANDER RASTORGUEV rastorhueff@yandex.ru His films were entered into various international film festivals and have been awarded at DOK Leipzig, Cinema de Reel, IDFA and other festivals. Latest films: Kiev/Moscow.(2015) by Elena Khoreva and My Friend Boris Nemtsov (2016) by Zosya Rodkevich.

EASTERN EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS @ BALTIC SEA DOCS 2017 43

PROVINCIAL TOWN OF E

HOME GAMES

Doc. RU 52 / 80’ DIR.: Dmitry Bogolyubov PROD.: Vlad Ketkovich COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: Ethnofund

Doc. UA/FR 80’ DIR.: Alisa Kovalenko PROD.: Stéphane Siohan COMING: 2017 PROD. COMP.: East Roads Films, Studio Garmata Film

DMITRY BOGOLYUBOV DIRECTOR d.bogolubov@gmail.com

ALISA KOVALENKO DIRECTOR alisafrom@gmail.com

VLAD KETKOVICH PRODUCER ethnofund@mail.ru

STÉPHANE SIOHAN PRODUCER stephane@east-roads.com

Baltic Sea Docs is an international project market and networking event for documentary filmmakers from the Baltic Sea region, the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and projects from Western European countries addressing this region. The forum takes place in Riga every September and is an important meeting point for filmmakers from Eastern and Western European countries, bringing together over 100 professionals annually. It is organised by the National Film Centre of Latvia and the European

Documentary Network, and receives support from Creative Europe/Media programme.

2017 marks the beginning of a collaboration between Artdocfest and the BSD. Thanks to the reach of Artdocfest, the number of applications from Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus increased. Four of BSD’s 25 selected projects will participate in their forum with the support of Artdocfest.

BAIKAL POACH-BUSTERS

BABUSHKA. LOST IN TRANSITION

Further information on these projects is made available at www.balticseadocs.lv

44

Doc. RU 72’ DIR.: Anna Moiseenko PROD.: Alexey Sochnev, Ksenia Gapchenko, Elena Shalkina COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: Cineminers

Doc. BY 52/72’ DIR.: Alexander Mihalkovich PROD.: Volia Chajkouskaya COMING: 2018 PROD. COMP.: Volia Films

ANNA MOISEENKO DIRECTOR noticia.alegre@gmail.com

ALEXANDER MIHALKOVIC DIRECTOR mihalkovich@gmail.com

ELENA SHALKINA PRODUCER / D.O.P. shalkina@mail.ru

VOLIA CHAJKOUSKAYA PRODUCER chajkouskaya@gmail.com

BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB

45 The BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB is an educational and networking platform that aims to create a better engagement between the different disciplines within filmmaking. In 2017 the LAB tackles two topics by way of exploring the professional relationships between film directors and voice-over artists and between directors and music composers. An intensive seminar for animated film directors and voice actors mainly focuses on new talent and includes individual and group workshops lead by the acclaimed

animation filmmaker and graphic designer Edmunds Jansons and London-based voice artist and acting coach Dian Perry.

BALTIC FILM TALENT LAB for directors and composers features a public lecture by the film music critic and researcher Thor Joachim Haga, case studies of real-world examples of creative approach to scoring film, and a special meet-up Baltic directors and composers that are open to and wish to explore new ways of working together.

08.09

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

13:00 – 18:00

13:00 – 14:30

CHARACTER DESIGN FOR ANIMATION. EDMUNDS JANSONS

TALK: CONTEMPORARY FILM SCORE. THOR JOACHIM HAGA

ART ACADEMY OF LATVIA

CAFE FILM NOIR

09.09

15:00 – 17:00 SATURDAY

CREATING CHARACTER VOICES FOR ANIMATION I DIAN PERRY ART ACADEMY OF LATVIA

10.09

SUNDAY

CREATING CHARACTER VOICES FOR ANIMATION II DIAN PERRY

18:00 – 19:30

CASE STUDY SESSION PIGTAIL AND MR. SLEEPLESSNESS

CAFE FILM NOIR

18:30 – 20:00

BALTIC FILM MUSIC HUB

CAFE FILM NOIR

10:00 – 17:00

ART ACADEMY OF LATVIA

FILM MUSIC CASE STUDY SESSION

CAFE FILM NOIR

10:00 - 17:00

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16.09

CHARACTER DESIGN FOR ANIMATION 47

EDMUNDS JANSONS

is an award winning animated film director and graphic designer.

His films for the studio Atom Art have been screened all over the world and loved dearly here in Latvia to sold-out theatres.

Participants are to discover and learn to analyse diverse animation film characters based on their narrative function, design, sound, movement and other qualities. In a handson training participants experiment with references to classical film imagery, design elements and free expression in creating memorable characters for animated film.

CREATING CHARACTER VOICES FOR ANIMATION 48

DIAN PERRY

is an American voice artist and educator based in London. Working with voice for nearly 20 years, Dian has run character voice and animation workshops at A1 Vox Studios, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, CSVPA in Cambridge, CPA Studios, The Court Theatre Training Company and The VoiceOver Network.

This 2-day workshop explores ways in which to bring characters to life. Some of the topics covered within the workshop include the main elements of a character voice, archetypes and why they are vital to character work, how to create a character voice from an image, improvisation, the importance of physicality in vocal performance, techniques to increase vocal versatility, creating character voices from impressions and working with animation scripts.

CASE STUDY SESSION PIGTAIL AND MR. SLEEPLESSNESS To continue the discussion on how the director and the actor/voice talent co-operate in character development for an animation film, director Edmunds Jansons invites us behind the scenes of his latest

animation film Pigtail and Mr. Sleeplessness produced by Atom Art Studio. The case study is followed up by an industry Q&A session moderated by Dian Perry, a voiceover coach from London.

49

BALTIC FILM MUSIC HUB There are only some brave examples of Baltic film score that stand out, but there are so many talented composers and directors eager to find the right sound of the story! It is only a matter of the right moment and the right place for them to meet. And it is only natural for such a meeting to take place during the RIGA IFF when the capital of Latvia is most

crowded with film-makers and various industry representatives. Alongside to the Baltic Film Music Hub public lecture and case studies open to wider audience, the meeting happens as a closed session for a newly-founded network of talents who share their portfolios and aspirations for collaboration in this platform.

TALK: CONTEMPORARY FILM SCORE

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THOR JOACHIM HAGA Thor is a staff writer at the film site montages.no and host and editor of celluloidtunes.no - Norway’s first and only webcast about film music. He’s also a freelance journalist for international film music publications, including LA-based Film Score Monthly. He is currently working to establish the first Nordic film music festival. The two part lecture by Thor looks at the contemporary trends in international mainstream film music, as well as gives a closer look at the status quo of the Norwegian/Nordic film music scene.

CASE STUDY SESSION: MUSIC IN FILM Discussion on the creative process of writing an original film score, interrogation of both sides involved - director and composer.

The case study session moderated by Thor Joachim Haga sheds light upon different ap-

proaches and methods to find the common language in the process working on a film score as well as the different usages of music as a tool for storytelling.

KRISHA

FIRSTBORN

LIFE WITHOUT GABRIELLA FERRI

HOODY BOY PRODUCTIONS, USA, 2015

LOCOMOTIVE PRODUCTIONS, LV, 2017

Directed by EDWARD SHULTS

Directed by AIK KARAPETIAN

Directed by OLGA and PRIIT PARN

Scored by BRIAN MCOMBER

Scored by ANDRIS DZENĪTIS

Scored by ERKKI-SVEN TUUR

EESTI JOONISFILM, EE, 2008

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RIGA IFF ZIP MEETING

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION,

52 Every year the RIGA IFF ZIP-MEETING focuses on a different field within the industry to focus on and provide the time and space for an intensive yet informal networking session. This year in collaboration with the National Film Centre of Latvia, Lithuanian Film Centre and Esto-

09.09

nian Film Institute we have called upon the location managers and scouts from the Baltics. During the meeting the Baltic professionals share their experience and increase the potential of creating bigger and better international projects with the three Baltic states collaborating.

SATURDAY

11:00 – 13:00

14:00 – 17:30

LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION! PRESENTATION + DISCUSSION. SHOOTING SITES IN THE BALTICS

LOCATION TOUR + NETWORKING

CAFE FILM NOIR

JANTARNIJ BEREG IN JŪRMALA CITY

RIGA IFF CRITICS MEETING 53 RIGA IFF CRITICS MEETING is a meetup and discussion platform for practicing Latvian film critics as well as students and enthusiasts. In 2017, in collaboration with Creative Europe Desk Latvia, MEDIA Office and British Council in Latvia the MEETING has invited the prominent

13.09

WEDNESDAY

British film critic and reviewer Neil Young for two talks – one targeted at professional film critics and those interested in the craft and one for educators that covers topics of audiovisual literacy in the age of ‘fake news’.

14.09

THURSDAY

16:00 – 19:00

14:00 – 15:30

TEN FILM CRITICS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD

FILM IN THE CLASSROOM

CAFE FILM NOIR

CAFE FILM NOIR

NEIL YOUNG Neil Young is a film-critic and curator/ programmer. His reviews and festival reports appear regularly in The Hollywood Reporter, Sight & Sound, Tribune (London), MUBI Notebook and other international outlets. Formerly director of the Bradford International Film Festival (2011-15), he works as a consultant advising several European film-festivals.

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TEN FILM CRITICS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD Ten individuals from various epochs and nationalities are profiled as a way to show the crucial importance of film criticism both in terms of the progression of the cinematic art-form and also as an honourable, vital and stimulating craft in its own right.

After the lecture Neil Young will participate in a round-table discussion about the topics raised in the talk and his own personal experiences. He will address practical and theoretical aspects of working as a film critic nowadays.

BERGALA AND BEYOND: FILM IN THE CLASSROOM In an age when young people are bombarded as never before by visual information, much of it biased or even propagandistic in nature, visual literacy has never been more crucial. Young takes as his guide the French essayist/filmmaker Alain Bergala, whose

2002 book The Cinema Hypothesis was last year translated into English for the first time.

This seminal text on film-education among children is used as a launching-off point for a wider discussion of the subject.

SHORT RIGA: COMING SOON SESSIONS 55 In 2017 the SHORT RIGA Baltic Student Competition programme has grown into a session for coming-soon projects from the Baltics – an opportunity for young Baltic filmmakers to present their projects to a panel of international experts

14.09

THURSDAY

right before their films hit the screens.

The experts give their feedback on the crafts and advise on the best ways to add finishing touches to the production as well as insight on how to best position the works in the short film festival circuit.

15.09

14:00 – 18:00

10:00 – 14:00

SHORT FILM PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

SHORT FILM PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

KINO BIZE

KINO BIZE

FRIDAY

THE EXPERTS

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PETER MURDMAA Director and founder of ShortEst Estonian short Film agency

ALEXEI DMITRIEV A Russian filmmaker and film curator who has been to almost every short film festival in Europe

NIK POWELL Producer and Director of National Film and Television School in the UK

SONORA BROKA Film programmer, Creative Director of RIGA IFF, Latvia

NIV FUX Director of the Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival (TSFF), considered to be the largest student film festival in the world

ULO PIKKOV Internationally renowned Esotinan filmmaker, producer and film scholar

SHORT RIGA: COMING SOON SESSIONS

LAST STOP IS THE MOON Animation, Experimental, PL/LT, 8’39’’ DIR.: Birute Sodeikaite PROD.: Justyna Rucinska, Wojtek Leszczynski, Anna Mroczek, Agne Adomene COMING: 2017 PROD. COMP.: Likaon, Art shot

A story of a girl who is trying to deal with her illness. Imagining the illness as a Lion and herself as a Unicorn she goes through the different stages of acceptance.

BIRUTE SODEIKAITE BIRUTE SODEIKAITE is a puppet animation director, puppet and scenography artist, animator. An alumni of The Arts University Bournemouth, UK. With practice at the greatest puppet animation studios in Europe (Aardman, UK, Nukufilm, EE, Se-Ma-For, PL). This is her debut film as a puppet film director.

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SHORT RIGA: COMING SOON SESSIONS

NOTES FROM INSOMNIA Fiction, Experimental, LV, 11’44’’ DIR.: Antons Barons PROD.: Mārcis Jansons COMING: 2017 PROD. COMP.: Latvian Academy of Culture

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Strange, that slumber comes at dawn.

ANTONS BARONS After graduation from Riga School of Design and Art Antons had worked at the theater as a projectionist.

After finding his real passion - moving image he started his film studies in audiovisual arts production, later on moving to film directing in 2016.

SHORT RIGA: COMING SOON SESSIONS

SAND COWBOY Fiction, LV, 26’ DIR.: Marta Martinsone PROD.: Daiga Livčāne COMING: 2017 PROD. COMP.: Latvian Academy of Culture

Billy Joe lives in a small town and his biggest dream is to become a famous country musician.

All he wants is to participate in the Bauska Country Festival, forgetting about the needs of his girlfriend and reality as such.

MARTA MARTINSONE Marta has studied theater directing and has directed several plays in Dirty Deal Teatro and Ģertrūdes ielas teātris. She’s interested in the symbiosis of theater and cinema, as well as the relative relevance of reality and the genre of art.

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SHORT RIGA: COMING SOON SESSIONS

YANA

Fiction, LT, 30’ DIR.: Saule Bliuvaite PROD.: Vitalijus Gylys COMING: 2017 PROD. COMP.: Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre

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The main character of the film Jana slept with her sister’s husband - her sister throws her out of the apartment where she has been allowed to live.

SAULE BLIUVAITE After finishing highschool Saule studied journalism for a year and then, in 2014, she started film directing studies in Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.

In the last year Saule created short film Life is beautiful which was screened in the Vilnius international film festival.

SHORT RIGA: COMING SOON SESSIONS

THE YEARNING

Fiction, EE/LT, 30’ DIR.: Cesar Reyna COMING: 2017 PROD.: Johannes Magnus Aule PROD. COMP.: Baltic Film, Media, Arts and Communication School, Cesar Reyna

An overwhelmed single mother who lives with her blind son must keep her feelings for him back until a mysterious young guy arrives at their home to live with them.

CESAR REYNA Cesar has studied Philosophy at Central University of Venezuela and a BA in Audiovisual Media in Filmmaking at Baltic Film and Media School in Tallinn.

While living in Venezuela, he worked as a producer, camera-man and editor.

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SHORT RIGA: COMING SOON SESSIONS

THE LAST DAY

Fiction, LT, TBC DIR.: Klaudija Matvejevaite PROD.: TBC COMING: 2017 PROD. COMP.: Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre

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What would you do if you knew your day of death?

KLAUDIJA MATVEJEVAITE Born in Vilnius, 1995. 2002-2014 went to the National M K Ciurlionis School of Arts (Fine Arts department, Graphic Arts class). Since 2014 is a student of the Film Directing course in the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Currently working as director and casting director in film and TV.

SHORT RIGA: COMING SOON SESSIONS

PINOKIO

Fiction, LV, 17’ DIR: Elita Kļavina PROD.: Latvian Academy of Culture COMING: 2017 PROD. COMP.: Latvian Academy of Culture

Actor/mother confronted by agonizing decision.

ELITA KĻAVIŅA Elita Kļaviņa is a Latvian actress and a former journalist.

She has worked for Jaunais Rīgas Teātris and has taken part in several films.

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SHORT RIGA

THE WIP 16.09 12:00 – 14:00 KINO BIZE

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The WIP is an informal conversation platform for short film directors, producers, screenwriters, festival programmers, distributors, buyers and other interested parties that wish to come together and discuss their future plans and find out what’s in the works in the world of shorts. Baltic filmmakers, SHORT RIGA International Competition participants and other festival guests take the floor to present their shorts-in-

progress expecting valuable feedback from the experts and film professionals present at the festival as well as each other. The aim of the meet-up on the last Saturday of the RIGA IFF is to create and facilitate the grounds for an exchange of knowledge and experience and to foster new creative partnerships. The event is open for attendance to anyone involved with film.

SHOULD YOU WISH TO DISCUSS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RIGA IFF NEXT YEAR AND USE A SPACE LIKE THIS IN OUR CATALOGUE TO TALK TO OUR AUDIENCE ABOUT YOUR FESTIVAL/EVENT/ ORGANISATION/ETC DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US: INFO@RIGAIFF.LV

NOTES