6Th Industry Days

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ONLINE th 6Bratislava, Industry March 29 – 30, Days 2021 When preparing last year’s festival, it didn’t even Lumiére Cinema) for their kind support for the occur to us that we would have to cancel it. online version of Industry Days, and for their And when doing so, hardly could we have help presenting new Slovak works in progress. anticipated that it wouldn’t even take place in Although we can’t currently watch films at 2021 either. Slovak cinemas closed down last cinemas, we can still talk about them, imag- autumn, and we still don’t know when public ine them, and look forward to their future screenings will restart. Cinema distribution screenings. Whether in a screening hall or at as we knew it has been suspended, but film a computer - good projects always receive production continues. We are happy that the recognition, even if presented from a different pandemic hasn’t stopped Slovak filmmakers continent. Let’s look forward to when we from developing their projects, and we are can watch them again at cinemas. Some of thankful to the main financial partners of them, hopefully, at next year’s Febiofest in Slovak film industry (Slovak Audiovisual Fund Bratislava, offline, live, and together with and RTVS) for supporting filmmakers through many other viewers. these difficult times. We would also like to thank the Slovak Audiovisual Fund and our Ondrej Starinský partners (Slovak Film Institute, Midpoint and Artistic director Foreword

3 Industry Jury...... 5

Works in Progress Architekt drsnej poetiky / Rough Poetry Architect (Documentary – completed)...... 8 Dir. Ladislav Kaboš / EDIT Studio

Interiéry / Insides (Documentary – in development)...... 9 Dir. Paula Ďurinová / Guča

Matka noci / Mother of the Night (Fiction – in development)...... 10 Dir. Peter Czikrai / KFS production

Moc / Power (Fiction – in post-production)...... 11 Dir. Mátyás Prikler / MPhilms

One More Question (Documentary – in production)...... 12 Dir. Mira Erdevički / PubRes

Potlesk / Applause (Fiction – in production)...... 13 Dir. Juraj Lehotský / Arytmia

Potopa / Flood (Fiction – in development)...... 14 Table of content Dir. Martin Gonda / Silverart Samorast / Chicken (Fiction (short) – in production)...... 15 Dir. Peter Hoferica / FTF VŠMU

Šťastný človek / A Happy Man (Documentary – in production)...... 16 Dir. Soňa Gyárfáš Lutherová / AZYL Production

Strigov (Documentary (short) – in post-production)...... 17 Dir. Barbora Berezňáková / Známa firma

Zošalieť / Unbalanced (Fiction – in production)...... 18 Dir. Zuzana Piussi / Ultrafilm

Works in Progress Tutor...... 19

Partner Initiatives...... 21

Successful projects previously presented at Industry Days...... 22 Industry Jury Industry Jury

Industry Jury Industry Jury

Bernd Buder Hugo Rosák Renata Santoro Born 1964 in Berlin (West), studied political sci- Hugo Rosak is the Head of Industry Office at Since 2010 Film Researcher and Head of ence at the Free University of Berlin. 1996-2005 the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Programming at Giornate degli Autori, the program director of the Berliner Filmkunsthaus Its KVIFF Eastern Promises platform focuses independent section of the Venice Film Festi- Babylon art film theatre. Curatorial activities on curating and promoting film projects – at val, after working in its communication office for various film festivals (Turkish Film Week various stages of development or produc- for five years (since 2006). Lecturer in Berlin Berlin, goEast Film Festival, dokumentArt Neu- tion – from Central & Eastern Europe and the and Cannes for the ScripTeast Program. In brandenburg, Prishtina FilmFestival). Since 1996 Middle East. Over 40 projects from the region 2008 appointed by the Italian Ministry of he has been associated with the FilmFestival are annually introduced to industry experts Culture and the Province of Rome as supervi- Cottbus in various positions – research, press from around the world. Hugo is also involved sor of the “100+1. One hundred films and one spokesman, curator – and from 2011-2014 he in the Midpoint Institute’s Feature Launch country, Italy”. The project aimed to preserve headed its co-production market connecting program, and collaborated as a consultant and promote Italian film heritage, especially cottbus, and has been its programme director for the First Cut Lab editing program. He has in schools, encouraging films’ use as a tool to since 2015. In 2021, he will also be responsible previously worked with innovation design, teach Italian history. for the Jewish Film Festival Berlin & Branden- intercultural management, as well training In 2006 and 2007, artistic director and coordi- burg programme. Buder also programmes and development, but is most happy giving nator of the Special effects section at Castelli competitions of the European film festival his heart to arthouse film. Animati, an International Film Festival for ani- Cinedays in Skopje, and works as programme mation and new technologies. consultant for the Berlinale section Forum. He also works as a film journalist and lecturer, and Member of the European Film Academy. is a member of the European Film Academy.

Jury Industry

6 Works in Progress Selected projects SYNOPSIS ABOUT THE DIRECTOR An old man fails to recognise his own face in Ladislav Kaboš, director, screenwriter, cine- the mirror. He suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. matographer, photographer, 1978 graduated Little by little, his memories get washed away. MgA. from FAMU. In 1980 debuted with Chil- One day he decides to tell the story of his dren Looking at Us, which was awarded second life to his reflection in the mirror. The man is prize in Varna in 1981. After his social documen- Hans Broos – an important representative of taries Starina and Carnival in Sebechleby in modern Brazilian architecture, Carpathian 1983, the communist government prohibited German by origin, born in Slovakia. The mirror him from working on his next project because to which he confesses acts as a reflection of of the films’ critical portrayals. In 1993 he his own memories. founded MEDIA FILM. He’s currently working on his own documentary film projects as well DIRECTOR’S NOTE as shooting films for Czech and Slovak televi- Architekt drsnej poetiky I intend to base the project’s visual con- sion stations. He has received many awards cept – elaborated in “docudrama” style – on for his films. Rough Poetry Architect graphically and artistically composed shots, Slovakia – Czech Republic – Brazil | colour | 70 min. stylization, and thoughtfully-used archive ABOUT THE PRODUCER docudrama | completed material. The faces of witnesses of past & PRODUCTION COMPANY events will appear in mirrors as reflections Darina Smržová, FAMU graduate, Prague. director & screenplay: Ladislav Kaboš and reflected images – we aim to emphasize Editor, producer, and teacher at VŠMU in dop: Martin Šec the futility and transient nature of individual Bratislava. EDIT Studio prioritises the production of challenging – mainly historic – documenta- editors: Michal Kondrla, Darina Smržová memory, as well as the unretainable nature of truth. We likewise project historical scenes ries that necessitate time-intensive research of producer: Darina Smržová (EDIT Studio, SK) onto the walls and surfaces of Broos’s brutalist archive materials and people, followed by years co-producers: Tibor Horváth (RTVS, SK), Michael Kaboš (KABOS Film & Media, CZ), architecture in order to create a feeling of of preparation and production. Such specifica- Pedro Rosa (Embaúba Produções, BR) uncertainty. tion makes this studio’s position within Slovakia both unique and exceptional. The studio pro- support: Slovak Audiovisual Fund duced the feature-length documentaries The estimated budget: € 175 000 Whole World Is a Narrow Bridge (2010), The Final Mission (2014), and The Oath (2017), all directed expected release: 2021 by Dušan Hudec.

CONTACT EDIT Studio www.editstudio.sk [email protected] Ladislav Darina +421 2 654 21 698 Kaboš Smržová

8 SYNOPSIS ABOUT THE DIRECTOR Anxiety is the unspeakable elephant in the Paula Ďurinová (based in Berlin and Slovakia) room. In mutual sharing between a group of graduated from Documentary Filmmaking at strangers, the triggers of life in modern capi- the class of Olga Sommerová, Academy of Arts talism are exposed. Can our own vulnerability in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. She participated in be used as a radical act? The answer arises IDFAcademy (2017) and Summer School of Eth- as we follow several characters in two parallel nographic Filmmaking in Czech Republic (2013). realities: the reality of the personally-experi- Ďurinová has produced and directed short enced outside world shifts to a utopian space documentary films in Bosnia and Herzego- – a designed incubator where angst can safely vina, Georgia, Moldova, Czech Republic and be revealed. During the pandemic, the con- Slovakia, and has collaborated with arts and cept of intimacy in the urban environment is human-rights institutions and collectives. In being tested more than ever. Insides leads us 2010, she co-founded the Living Documentary Interiéry / Insides to realize our own body both individually and platform. She is currently studying Experimental Slovakia – Czech Republic – Germany | colour | 80 min. as part of the collective societal body. Film at the UDK – Berlin University of the Arts. documentary | in development DIRECTOR’S NOTE ABOUT THE PRODUCER director & screenplay: Paula Ďurinová Insides derives from my personal experi- & PRODUCTION COMPANY Matej Sotník co-founded and leads Slovak dop: Petra Hermanová ence with anxiety and various therapeutic processes, during which I observed my own distribution company Film Expanded, which producer: Matej Sotník (Guča, SK) concept of individualism breaking down. primarily focuses on creative documentaries. co-producers: Michal Kráčmer (Analog Vision, CZ), In collaboration with several female artists He studied audiovisual studies at the Academy Jana Cisar (Jana Cisar Filmproduktion, DE) and researchers, we design and facilitate of Performing Arts in Bratislava with an intern- group meetings. These allow the group of ship at the Department of Documentary Film workshops & forums : Dox In Vitro 2020 initial strangers to become vulnerable with at FAMU. He co-founded the alternative Doc- support: Slovak Audiovisual Fund each other and gradually create a strong umentary on Wheels distribution platform, and estimated budget: € 120 000 bond, while we follow their everyday lives. the VIRUSfilm production company. He leads The film’s narrative structure is inspired by my the film section of the monthly Kapitál mag- principal photography: 10/2021 – 04/2022 own panic attack experience. I observed the azine. As an executive and creative producer expected release: 11/2022 development of panic attacks and noticed he closely cooperates with the production a dramatic curve in anticipation of the attack, company Guča, which has produced several the fearful powerlessness itself, and the sub- internationally successful documentaries such sequent come down. as White on White (dir. Viera Čákanyová, main prize winner at Ji.hlava IDFF 2020).

CONTACT Guča [email protected]

+421 903 875 877 Paula Matej Ďurinová Sotník

9 SYNOPSIS ABOUT THE DIRECTOR On her ninth birthday, Lucia disappears with- Peter studied film and television direct- out trace. Her unexpected return to her mother ing at VŠMU, and subsequently worked as and village community a year later is inter- a copywriter. He is now a recognized director preted as a miracle from God. But a series of of commercials and short films. His filmogra- unexplained incidents raises questions about phy includes M Is for Malnutrition (2013), a short the nature of Lucia’s disappearance, and her horror film created for the second anthology subsequent strange behaviour. Her mother ABCs of Death 2; Good Night (2013), a mid- slowly becomes the focus of an intense con- length horror which premiered at the biggest flict between the concerned community and US horror festival ScreamFest LA; and And… her only daughter. (2013), a short horror film which won silver at the worldwide Bloody Cuts – Who’s There Film DIRECTOR’S NOTE Challenge 2013. Matka noci / Mother of the Night Mother of the Night observes the Slovak witch Slovakia – Czech Republic – Latvia | colour | 120 min. concept through genre film. While the witch ABOUT THE PRODUCER fiction | horror, psychological drama, lyrical thriller | in development myth metaphorically represents an extreme & PRODUCTION COMPANY side of society, it also poses the question: what KFS production was established by Michal director: Peter Czikrai is the root of evil? Kollár, a producer with two decades’ film business experience. His feature The House screenplay: Peter Balko By respecting traditions and contemporary (dir. Zuzana Liová) premiered at the 2011 Ber- dop: Matej Šomrák anthropological and ethnological research, linale and returned Slovak film to the map of editor I aim to deliver insights into this phenomenon : Lucie Haladová world cinema. Kollár has produced 12 feature in Slovakia. The dramatic horror-changing psy- films and TV series by Czech, Slovak, Finnish producers: Jana Kluková (KFS production, SK), Michal Kollár (KFS production, SK) cho-drama enthrals me in terms of story, as and Polish directors. He is an EAVE, ACE and co producers well as the opportunity to develop a strong - : Andrea Shaffer (Mindset Pictures, CZ), Producer on the Move 2011 participant, and emotional appeal to audiences, embrac- Guna Stahovska (Mojo Raiser, LV) received training on the Midpoint and Scrip- ing tension and consternation – all through workshops & forums Teast programmes. KFS producer Jana Kluková : MIDPOINT Intensive SK 2019 modern film language. has been involved in film and TV since 2012, support: Slovak Audiovisual Fund and is the co-founder of Slovakia’s first VOD estimated budget : € 1 200 000 platform for Czech-Slovak films. expected release: 11/2022

CONTACT KFS production www.kfsproduction.com [email protected] Peter Jana +421 948 629 990 Czikrai Kluková

10 SYNOPSIS ABOUT THE DIRECTOR Somewhere on the border between two Central Born in Bratislava in 1982, Mátyás Prikler grad- European countries, a boy is accidently killed uated from the Academy of Performing Arts during an unlicensed hunt. One of the politi- in Bratislava, where he studied film direction cians involved is the leading candidate for the under the guidance of Stanislav Párnický. key international post of Water Commissioner, Between 2005 and 2006, he studied at the tasked with finding a solution for European Hungarian Film Academy in Budapest where water shortages. The government hires secret he attended classes by János Szász and Attila agent Steiner to hush up the scandal. Yet the Janisch. His short film Thanks, Fine (2009) was more he investigates, the more embroiled he screened as part of the Cinéfondation section becomes in the dilemmas of power and its use. at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. His first fea- How much can be uncovered about the truth ture-length movie Fine, Thanks premiered at and its protagonists? Is the truth hidden in the IFF Rotterdam in January 2013. His company Moc / Power events or consequences? MPhilms produced the feature film Slovakia Slovakia – Hungary – Czech Republic | colour | 100 min. 2.0 (2014), comprising 10 short films by 10 fiction | political thriller | in post-production DIRECTOR’S NOTE directors. He also produced Jaro Vojtek’s last Power deals with politics and power in con- film (Children, 2014) and is the minority co-pro- director: Mátyás Prikler temporary Western democracy. The story of ducer of Mirage by Szabolcs Hajdu (2014). screenplay: Marek Leščák, Mátyás Prikler an unfortunate incident whereby a high-rank- ing politician inadvertently kills somebody ABOUT THE PRODUCER dop: Gergely Pálos reveals the hidden machinery of political & PRODUCTION COMPANY editor: Matej Beneš power, and its mechanisms of self-protection. MPhilms is a Slovak film company established in 2005. It produces mainly feature producers: Zora Jaurová (MPhilms, SK), Mátyás Prikler (MPhilms, SK) It also questions the true identity of political figures, and the stories behind their public per- and documentary arthouse films, as well as co-producers: Viktória Petrányi (Proton Cinema, HU), Petr Oukropec (Negativ, CZ), sonas. The film confronts the question of truth socially-focused smaller film and interdisciplin- Pavel Strnad (Negativ, CZ), RTVS (SK) in public life – its various forms, seeking, and ary projects. The company has two producing workshops & forums: Holland Film Meeting 2015, Les Arcs Co-Production Village concealment. partners – Zora Jaurová and Mátyás Prikler. 2015, ACE 2016, KVIFF Pitch & Feedback 2017 MPhilms is also involved in educational activities, creative workshops, and trainings for support: Slovak Audiovisual Fund, Minority Culture Fund (SK), young people. Hungarian National Film Fund, Eurimages, Czech Film Fund, Creative Europe – Media filmography: Paradise on Earth (2019), estimated budget: € 1 590 000 Ex-Prime Ministers (2018), Mirage (2014), Children (2014), Slovakia 2.0 (2014), Fine, expected release: 2021 Thanks (2013)

CONTACT MPhilms www.mphilms.sk [email protected] Mátyás Zora +421 904 646 261 Prikler Jaurová

11 SYNOPSIS ABOUT THE DIRECTOR One More Question is a film with three protag- Mira Erdevički is an award-winning documen- onists: Ondrej Olah, Denisa Ganon, and Peter tary maker, director and writer. Her debut Toták. They represent a generation of Roma feature-length documentary Black and White children who emigrated to the United Kingdom in Colour (1999) was the first Czech film to in the 1990s and early 2000s. They were given secure a broadcast on BBC Storyville and chances in England that they had been denied won numerous awards. Mira subsequently in their native lands – Slovakia and the Czech created a number of documentaries for Euro- Republic – and now they are educated and pean broadcasters, mainly BBC and Arte, such confident Europeans. But Brexit and the world- as Somewhere Better (2003), The Man with wide pandemic have intervened in their lives. an Opera House in His Living Room (2003), We observe the consequences very closely, Sevdah: The Bridge that Survived (2005), and One More Question through the eyes of the film’s protagonists. Tito’s Ghosts (2008). Slovakia – Great Britain – Czech Republic | colour | 90 min. DIRECTOR’S NOTE ABOUT THE PRODUCER documentary | in production This film has developed over the past 4 years. & PRODUCTION COMPANY First, it was constructed by capturing carefully Zuzana Mistríková is the executive director director & screenplay: Mira Erdevički selected situations with a hand-held camera. of PubRes, a Creative Industries Consultancy and Film Production & Distribution Company, dop: Denisa Buranová, Artur Conka The pandemic meant this approach had to be stopped, so I came up with the new concept as well as the president of the Slovak Inde- editor: Krasimira Velitchkova of using iPhones and GoPro cameras to record pendent Producers Association. Together producers: Zuzana Mistríková (PubRes, SK), Ľubica Orechovská (PubRes, SK) the protagonists’ lives with intimate access, with Ľubica Orechovská, she has co-produced several films starting Ondřej Trojan’s Identity co-producers: Lucie Wenigerová (Spring Pictures, GB), Martin Juza (Krutart, CZ), and an opportunity to reveal the commu- Card (2010). Since then, she has produced or RTVS (SK), Czech Television (CZ) nity from the inside. The iPhone material has quickly become the core of the film, while the co-produced more than twenty feature films workshops & forums: DOK Leipzig Co-Pro Market 2019 crew-generated footage will be available for and TV projects, including a documentary on support: Slovak Audiovisual Fund, Czech Film Fund, Minority Culture Fund (SK), flashbacks to the pre-Covid era. Jan Švankmajer The Alchemical Furnace (dir. Adam Oľha, Jan Daňhel, 2020), The Painted BFI/Doc Society, Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage (GB) Understanding the characters’ predicament Bird (dir. Václav Marhoul, 2019), and Insect (dir. estimated budget: € 281 000 should emerge from actuality, observing their Jan Švankmajer, 2018). expected release: Spring 2022 real-life situations. I like the camera to keep moving, always probing. I like to use composed Lucie Wenigerova is a Bafta-nominated film music to fill out the emotion of the scenes, and and TV producer. She’s most recently worked leave enough space for music to resonate, as associate producer on the latest film by enriching but not overwhelming the intimate Sally Potter, The Roads Not Taken, starring portraits I am seeking to create. Javier Bardem and Elle Fanning, which pre- CONTACT miered at the 2020 Berlinale Competition. PubRes Her previous credits include Strawberry Fields www.pubres.sk (dir. Frances Lea, 2011) and the Mist series for [email protected] Mira Zuzana Lucie Channel Five. Lucie is a long-standing member +421 2 526 34 203 Erdevički Mistríková Wenigerová of the European producers’ ACE network.

12 SYNOPSIS ABOUT THE DIRECTOR Matúš is a talented musician left alone with Juraj’s documentary Blind Loves (2008) pre- his stepbrother, Dávid, after the passing of miered at the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs his adoptive mother. While Dávid takes what section in Cannes, winning a C.I.C.A.E Art life gives him, Matúš feels frustrated by his Cinema Award, followed by a fruitful festival failed ambitions and feels like the tables have career. His feature debut Miracle (2013) pre- turned when he unexpectedly bumps into miered at Karlovy Vary IFF and received the his old schoolmate Albert. But unlike Dávid, Special Jury Mention. The film continued at who has found happiness in a senior’s home, Toronto IFF and many other festivals. Nina Matúš cannot find joy despite his success in the (2017), Juraj’s next feature, again premiered “better world”. He slowly realizes that happi- at Karlovy Vary IFF, with a North American pre- ness is a state of mind hidden in small things, miere at Toronto IFF. It received awards at two and that the life we live is also about those A-list festivals: Warsaw FF (FIPRESCI Award) and Potlesk / Applause we live for. Cairo IFF (Bronze Pyramid). Slovakia – Poland – Czech Republic | colour | 90 min. fiction | drama | in production DIRECTOR’S NOTE ABOUT THE PRODUCER Applause is a film that will explore the “small- & PRODUCTION COMPANY director: Juraj Lehotský ness” of us all: how we all need to feel complete, Newly-established Arytmia combines the creative and production experience of estab- screenplay: Timotej Križka, Juraj Lehotský how we define ourselves as unique, and how we evaluate our “victories“. The film should be lished director Juraj Lehotský with Michaela dop: Timotej Križka shot in a natural, authentic visual style, with Jelenek – who has a long track record of editor: Radoslav Dúbravský characters based on the observed world. It is production management and executive production. For the Applause project, the team producers: Juraj Lehotský (Arytmia, SK), Michaela Jelenek (Arytmia, SK) built on the aesthetics of my previous films, where the main character is an “ordinary was joined by Katarína Tomková as delegate delegate producer: Katarína Tomková (kaleidoscope, SK) person”, and told in a dynamic, captivating producer and co-producer. co producers - : RTVS (SK), Izabela Igel (Harine Films, PL), Tomáš Weinreb (Black form where the thin line between sadness and Balance, CZ) laughter will offer something new to viewers. workshops & forums: Les Arcs Works in Progress 2021 support: Slovak Audiovisual Fund, Polish Film Institute, Czech Film Fund estimated budget: € 1 300 000 expected release: 2021

CONTACT Arytmia www.arytmiafilm.sk [email protected] Juraj Katarína +421 908 281 407 Lehotský Tomková

13 SYNOPSIS ABOUT THE DIRECTOR The fate of Mara’s home village is sealed by Martin Gonda is a graduate of the Film and a new dam project. She longs to leave the Television Faculty of the Academy of Per- countryside to study in town, but her father forming Arts in Bratislava, where he received – a Ruthenian farmer – keeps her tied to the his Master’s degree in Film and TV Directing. family land, which he defends despite the end He spent several months at the production approaching. Mara finds herself at the heart company Atelier de Film in Bucharest via the of a village community which is plagued by Erasmus Internship Programme, working as failing infrastructure, hidden terrors of the an assistant producer on various projects, authorities, and the incoming flood. and as the head of programming at Arka- dia ShortFest in Romania. His short film Pura DIRECTOR’S NOTE Vida screened at Cinéfondation in Cannes in For me, Flood has always been a story about 2019. He is currently working on his debut fea- Potopa / Flood the end of the world: the extinction of small ture Flood. Slovakia | colour | 90 min. communities, the eradication of a culture and fiction | drama | in development way of life, the loss of identity and traditions, ABOUT THE PRODUCER of home and well-established systems of coex- & PRODUCTION COMPANY director: Martin Gonda istence. During my research for Flood, I was Silverart is a film production company man- aged by Katarína Krnáčová, an EAVE graduate screenplay: Martin Gonda, Dominika Udvorková, Martin Šuster fascinated by the fates of families and individ- uals who couldn’t give up their way of life – or and Producers on the Move participant. She dop: Oliver Záhlava refused to do so. The decision to fight for their produced Little Harbour (dir. Iveta Grófová, producers: Katarína Krnáčová (Silverart, SK), Tomáš Gič (Silverart, SK) homes and land – which had been built and 2017), the Crystal Bear-winner at Berlinale, cultivated by their ancestors for generations and is currently producing Flood by Martin workshops & forums : Connecting Cottbus cocoPITCH 2020, Sources 2 Script – and keep their identity, meant them defying Gonda. After the family film Summer Rebels Development Workshop 2020, Pop Up Film Residency 2020 the authorities and stubbornly embarking on (dir. Martina Saková, 2020), Silverart’s current support: Slovak Audiovisual Fund, Minority Culture Fund (SK) a forlorn battle. slate includes the road-movie Stand Up (dir. estimated budget: € 861 300 Juraj Bohuš; the first Slovak film shot green), the Czech co-production Saving the One Who principal photography: 06/2022 Was Dead by Václav Kadrnka, and the Serbian expected release : 09/2023 co-production children’s film How I Learned to Fly (dir. Radivoje Adrić). Katarína Krnáčová is also developing a high-end TV series with Slovak public broadcasting.

CONTACT Silverart www.silverartfilm.sk [email protected] Martin Katarína Tomáš +421 905 384 615 Gonda Krnáčová Gič

14 SYNOPSIS ABOUT THE DIRECTOR Juraj returns home to tell his parents some- Peter Hoferica (23) was born in Martin, Slova- thing important. But as soon as he opens the kia and is currently in his fourth year of film door, he finds out his parents are divorcing. At directing studies at the Film and TV Faculty first, he considers himself old enough to get of Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. through this, but the longer he stays home, He has directed some music videos, commer- the more he starts panicking. Suddenly he has cials, and currently his first comedy TV series. to figure out who his parents are, and who he is himself. ABOUT THE PRODUCER & PRODUC- TION COMPANY DIRECTOR’S NOTE The Film and Television Faculty of the Academy Tragicomedy with the main character directly of Performing Arts in Bratislava is the oldest speaking to the camera Fleabag style. Humour and most prestigious film school in Slovakia. Samorast / Chicken and drama are mixed with fast pacing and It provides education to especially gifted stu- Slovakia | colour | 17 min. extensive contrasts such as between Juraj and dents, further develops their talent and artistic fiction | tragicomedy | in production other characters, and Juraj talking to camera. abilities, and leads them to a deepening of their individual personal expression. In this way director & screenplay: Peter Hoferica it contributes to audio-visual developments and promotes awareness of the nation’s high dop: Jaro Kuchárik cultural level. editor: Laura Čagalová producers: Academy of Performing Arts – Film and TV Faculty (SK) support: Slovak Audiovisual Fund estimated budget: € 8 300 expected release: 08/2021

CONTACT Academy of Performing Arts – Film and TV Faculty Alexandra Gabrižová www.vsmu.sk | [email protected] Peter +421 2 593 03 577 Hoferica

15 SYNOPSIS ABOUT THE DIRECTOR A Happy Man tells the intimate story of Soňa Gyárfáš Lutherová is a social and visual a strong and unique person and his family. anthropologist, documentary filmmaker, The film encourages viewers to consider alter- and author. She works as a researcher at the natives in existential interactions that may Institute of Ethnology and Social Anthropol- concern all of us. ogy of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. She has authored numerous academic papers Czech girl “R” emigrated to Sweden with her and chapters in monographs. She has writ- Slovak husband Ivan ten years ago. They ten a children’s fiction book about human had two children and made a new home diversity. As a filmmaker, she debuted with abroad. R realizes that she doesn’t feel good the anthropological documentary Flooded as a woman. She wants to change gender and (2017) at domestic and international festivals. take the name Marvin instead. It’s an intimate Currently, she is directing an anthropological story of Marvin’s personal transformation as time-lapse documentary A Happy Man. Šťastný človek / A Happy Man a partner, immigrant, writer of erotic novels, Slovakia – Czech Republic | colour | 90 min. and activist. Transition is not only physical social documentary | in production ABOUT THE PRODUCER change but also a fundamental transforma- Peter Veverka graduated from the Film and TV tion of one’s own perception. director & screenplay: Soňa Gyárfáš Lutherová Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in dop: Noro Hudec DIRECTOR’S NOTE Bratislava and from the American Film Insti- tute. He worked as a creative executive and editor: Peter Harum I intend to challenge preconceived ideas producer for LA-based production company about intimate questions and peel back the producers: Maroš Hečko (AZYL Production, SK), Peter Veverka (AZYL Point Road, under a deal with 20th Century Fox subtle layers, and by so doing present viewers Production, SK) Studios. In 2018 he commenced a partnership with an empathetic viewpoint – without judg- with the Slovak production company AZYL co-producers: Filip Čermák (Company F, CZ), HBO Europe ment or scandal. working on developing European content workshops & forums: Agora Docs in Progress 2020, Dox In Vitro 2020 The time-lapse documentary is being shot over aimed at a global audience. His latest films support: Slovak Audiovisual Fund three years. Observational material is supple- were Amnesty (2019) by Jonáš Karásek and mented by selfie videos, archival photographs, One of These Days (2020) by Bastian Günther. estimated budget: € 220 000 and video footage. We will also project the expected release AZYL Production began as a major producer : Autumn 2022 imaginative world of Marvin’s novels into his of Slovak short films from 2005-2012. After the everyday life (through commentary). The visual success of their first feature film The Candi- portrayal is vivid yet sensitive. We go beyond date (dir. Jonáš Karásek, 2013), they expanded the “surface” of events and people by aiming into producing theatrical features, docu- to capture the authentic behaviour and situ- mentaries, as well as TV and online content. ations in protagonists’ lives. AZYL focuses on working with debut and sec- CONTACT ond-time directors. AZYL Production www.azyl.sk [email protected] Soňa Gyárfáš Peter +421 911 101 416 Lutherová Veverka

16 SYNOPSIS ABOUT THE DIRECTOR “All of life is a preparation for death“ After completing studies at the Academy of - Cicero - Performing Arts in Bratislava, the New York Film Academy and the Bellas Artes in UPV, Valen- Death, so present in our lives in a very new cia, Barbora Berezňáková works as a freelance context now. A short documentary film of filmmaker and artist. In addition to documen- a traditional Ruthenian funeral made as a way tary films, she also creates video installations of coping with the loss of a beloved person, and video animations. Barbora is the direc- an ancestor. The slow disappearance of the tor of the transmedia interactive projects Ask old world. The last hand-in-hand, the coffin at home 68/89 devoted to inter-generational lid closed. The silence. Grey hair, crossing the dialogue. Her feature debut Never Happened chest in quiet prayer. Steam rising from the premiered at Warsaw Film Festival in 2019 in mouth. An empty chair. White flowers on white which she explores a personal experience snow. Secret coins under the pillow, closed eye- against the background of political events. Strigov lids, whispers and cries. Slovakia | black-and-white | 8 min. documentary | in post-production The last way up. To the roots. To infinity. ABOUT THE PRODUCER & PRODUCTION COMPANY director, screenplay, dop & editor: Barbora Berezňáková DIRECTOR’S NOTE Známa firma is the creative platform/pro- This short documentary/experimental film duction company of director and producer producer: Eva Pavlovičová (Známa firma, SK) depicts an intimate perspective, a surreal Barbora Berezňáková. She works with various reflection of death and life through a poetic collaborators, such as the long-time coopera- support: Slovak Audiovisual Fund lens of the rarely captured moment of tion with associate producer Eva Pavlovičová. estimated budget: € 8 000 a relative‘s funeral. The film is a fond farewell Eva Pavlovičová was drawn into the film expected release: 01/2022 to the vanishing world of traditional Ruthenian industry by Kinečko magazine where she was community in the hills of eastern Slovakia. Met- producer and editor. She then produced and aphorically, a farewell to the personal worlds distributed challenging films at various dif- which are fading with the death of each of ferent film companies. In 2019 she started our ancestors. her PhD. studies at Comenius University in Visually highly subjective, the dream-like Bratislava with a focus on film and its public black and white imagery brings viewers into value. She currently produces challenging the world of memory and an intercutting of cinema and transmedia projects. past and present.

CONTACT Známa firma [email protected]

+421 903 212 363 Barbora Eva Berezňáková Pavlovičová

17 SYNOPSIS ABOUT THE DIRECTOR A story of 45-year-old Nada and her 10-year- Slovak director, documentary filmmaker, pro- old daughter. Following her divorce, Nada has ducer, and actress. She graduated from the decided to start living again and better – to Department of Directing at the Film and Tele- feel calmer and be more successful. But an vision Faculty of the Academy of Performing unexpected source of frustration for Nada Arts in Bratislava. From 1992 to 2000, she comes in the form of a local mentally ill person worked with the Stoka theatre company, and living in the flat above hers. With the author- then the SKRAT theatre project. She has been ities, neighbours, and relatives of the sick making films since 2003 when she graduated person not seeing Nada’s situation as worthy in documentary filmmaking from Bratislava of resolution, it looks like she’s stuck. Nada Film Academy. begins to develop mental problems herself, and picks out the old neighbour as her target... ABOUT THE PRODUCER Zošalieť / Unbalanced & PRODUCTION COMPANY Slovakia – Czech Republic | colour | 85 min. DIRECTOR’S NOTE Vít Janeček, director, writer and producer, asso- fiction | social tragicomedy | in production At the intimate level, the film will explore ciate professor at FAMU. He graduated from the world of a lonely woman who smiles and the School of Philosophy of the Charles Uni- director: Zuzana Piussi looks balanced from the outside, but behind versity in Prague (Film Studies) and from FAMU (Non-fiction). His creative interest comprises screenplay: Ingrid Hrubaničová this mask conceals herself and her problems. How can she support and be a role model for considering the transversal aspects of real- dop: Martin Štrba her child? The film raises the following key ity – science, politics, society, and thought. producer: Vít Janeček (VIRUSfilm, SK / D1film, CZ) questions at the social level: how to relate Together with his wife, renowned Slovak direc- to external disturbances that impact homes tor and producer Zuzana Piussi, they formed support : Slovak Audiovisual Fund, Czech Film Fund that result from bad institutional decisions or D1film production in Prague in 2015 and VIRUS- estimated budget: € 320 000 the social/personal/mental status of neigh- film in Bratislava in 2019. Since 2015 they have expected release: 03/2022 bours? How long can you live under stress focused on producing socially-themed films. He without losing confidence in justice, politics, has produced over ten full-length documen- institutions, the state, and yourself? What is taries and co-produced several fiction films, the boundary between acting in a professional including full length The Monk (by The Maw and personal capacity? Naing, 2014, CZ/MM).

CONTACT VIRUSfilm D1film www.virusfilm.sk www.D1film.com [email protected] [email protected] Zuzana Vít +421 951 490 550 +420 603 164 232 Piussi Janeček

18 Works in Progress Tutor

In cooperation with Michaela Sabo MIDPOINT Institute Michaela studied at VŠMU (Slovakia), DAMU MIDPOINT Institute is an international audio- broadcasters and financiers and its graduates (Czech Republic) and UCLA (Los Angeles). In visual training and networking institution have proven to become an important ele- 2014, Michaela moved to Berlin to be part organizing a wide range of programs focused ment in both their local and the international of the Serial Eyes program, an intensive on script and project development, post-pro- audiovisual ecosystem. Throughout the year, 8-month postgraduate course on TV writing duction and the education of aspiring script numerous programs are organized – as regu- and show running based in Berlin. Michaela consultants and development executives. lar or one-off events. found her network during the studies and is Its programs are dedicated to both short and currently living in Berlin. Michaela was part of THE OFFERED PROGRAMS ARE DIVIDED feature narrative films and limited or ongo- AS FOLLOWS: the EPI European TV Drama Series Lab in the ing series. year 2013. • Feature-length films: MIDPOINT Feature MIDPOINT’s main mission is to support writers, Launch, MIDPOINT Editing Room Apart from her own work as a freelance writer directors and producers from Central and East- • Short-length films: MIDPOINT Shorts and creative producer (five TV series already ern Europe. Thanks to strong partnerships with aired, several feature film and TV series proj- • Series: MIDPOINT TV Launch, MIDPOINT international co-production markets, film and ects in different stages of development or Writers’ Room, MIDPOINT Cold Open series festivals, training programs, national production), Michaela is also working as • Tailored programs MIDPOINT Intensive film funds and further audiovisual decision a pitching trainer (Sarajevo Film Festival, Serial are designed to serve the needs of local makers, MIDPOINT Institute represents a front- Eyes – DFFB, Series Mania – Writers Campus, professionals. gate to European film and television industry. MIDPOINT workshops, Odessa International With its earnest focus on emerging filmmakers • Conceived in 2010, MIDPOINT Institute Film festival, Antalya Film Forum, Tallinn Black from the CEE region, MIDPOINT prides itself as is supported by Creative Europe - MEDIA Nights, etc.). an efficient talent incubator. sub-programme of the European Union, Czech Film Fund, Ministry of Culture Czech Projects developed within MIDPOINT Insti- Republic, Slovak Audiovisual Fund and oper- tute are presented at the most established ates under the auspices of the Academy of professional industry platforms, accepted to Performing Arts in Prague. the leading international festivals, commis- sioned and developed by significant European Tutor Progress in Works

20 DAE The Documentary Association of Europe was founded during the Berlinale in February POP UP FILM RESIDENCY 2020. It is primarily a member’s network made Pop Up Film Residency intends to bring the up of professionals working in the non-fiction best of what artistic residencies usually offer, film industry with the goal of strengthening together with a truly individualized mentorship and growing their networks, creating an abun- program. Each residency is unique, specific to dance of opportunities and protecting their the needs of the project, and as a matter of interests on a pan-European and interna- fact only hosts one resident at a time. tional level.

DOK.INCUBATOR SOFA Dok.incubator, an international documentary School of Film Agents invites young film agents rough-cut workshop, provides six-months of for a workshop training to Wroclaw, Poland. individual tutoring by top internationally-ac- The program’s special quality is its unique tive editors, producers and distributors. For six target group: upcoming film professionals Partner initiatives months, the workshop inspires teams of eight From Central and Eastern Europe, Germany, selected films from all over the world, each Greece, Central Asia and the republics of represented by three team members (pro- Caucasus. SOFA doesn’t aim to educate film ducer, director, editor). directors or producers. SOFA supports culture promoters, mediators, and catalysers with unique film/cinema project ideas for the local and international audience in their country of origin – in all possible creative shapes.

Divoké bytosti / Wild Beasts Po sezóne / Off Season SK – CZ | dir. Marta Prokopová, Michal Blaško SK | dir. Andrea Kalinová | prod. Archimera | ID 2018 prod. Super film (SK), MAUR film (CZ) | ID 2017 WP: IFF Cinematik Piešťany 2018 Successful projects previously IP: Uppsala Short FF 2020 Raj na zemi / Paradise on Earth Dobrá smrť / The Good Death SK | dir. Jaro Vojtek | prod. Mphilms | ID 2018 SK – CZ – FR – DE – AT | dir. Tomáš Krupa | prod. presented at Industry Days WP: Ji.hlava IDFF 2019 HAILSTONE | ID 2017 | WP: Ji.hlava IDFF 2018 Out of films presented at Industry Days (ID) Works in Progress since Skutok sa stal / Never Happened 2016, 26 have been completed and many enjoyed a successful Hluché dni / Silent Days SK – CZ | dir. Barbora Berezňáková | prod. LEON festival and distribution run. SK – CZ | dir. Pavol Pekarčík | prod. partizanfilm | ID 2017 Productions | ID 2018 | IP: Warsaw FF 2019 WP: Karlovy Vary IFF 2019

22 ONLINE th Bratislava,6 Industry March 29 – 30, Days 2021

project selection: Rastislav Steranka, Ondrej Starinský, Tomáš Hudák

catalogue compiled by: Tomáš Hudák, Monika Lošťáková

graphic design: Milan Stolár, www.intuitio.studio

proofreading: Darren Chastney

industry days crew: Rastislav Steranka, Ondrej Starinský, Tomáš Hudák, Peter Dubecký, Ľubica Orechovská, Monika Lošťáková, Diana Švihlová, Boris Šlapeta, Štefan Jurča, Zita Hosszúová, Michal Peržel, Barbara Sigmundová, Zuzana Kizáková

special thanks: Barbora Struss, Braňo Rozbora

with a financial organized by patrtner : : support of: