Strip your script. STRIP YOUR SCRIPT. MAKE IT BETTER. WE WILL IT TAKE WORLDWIDE 12 BEST CCE SCRIPTS DEVELOPED WITHIN XV SCRIPTEAST Dear Friends, After what has been a truly difficult year for the film business in Europe, we are finally ALMOST HAPPY MARIJA’S SILENCE seeing light at the end of the tunnel. As of now, production is ramping up, cinemas are Ewa Podgórska, Sebastian Wasiński Dāvis Sīmanis opening up again across the continent, and film festivals and markets are again taking POLAND place with the physical presence of film lovers, critics, buyers and sellers, and filmmak- AN ENEMY MISS KEBAB ers. The XV ScripTeast edition has so far only happened online since the writers joined the Teresa Zofia Czepiec, Kamila Czul, Natalia Koryncka-Gruz program in October last year, but we are so happy to be able to welcome them in person Maciej Sobieszczański POLAND POLAND to this year’s Cannes . A SENSITIVE MAN THE BORDER We are delighted to present 12 scripts covering a multitude of different , illus- Eryk Lenartowicz, Yvette Underwood trating the diversity of scripts emerging from the region. They include various forms of Tomas Klein, Kateřina Traburová, POLAND, AUSTRALIA , such as culture clash, psychological, immigration, ensemble, and historical, as Lucie Vaňková well as different kinds of comedy and comedy- covering , crime, THE CASE OF E.E. coming-of-age and ecological themes. GROUND ZERO Paweł Grajnert, Maja Costa, The ScripTeast Artistic Board will present the Krzysztof Kieslowski ScripTeast Award Sandra Buchta 2021 at a ceremony during the Festival to the best script amongst these 12 projects. Zhanna Ozirna POLAND UKRAINE While we are celebrating the 15th edition this year with 45 completed films thus far, we are also commemorating what would have been Kieslowski’s 80th birthday, who passed INCIDENT THE WHITE MARE away much too early in 1996. Tomasz Wolski, Katarzyna Tybinka Teodor Kuhn SLOVAKIA As always, we owe thanks and gratitude to great Creative Advisors who have helped the POLAND writers during the program with their expertise and experience, to the Heads of Studies; Christian Routh and Tom Abrams, and to all partners without whom this program would LEARN TO CRY THE ELEVATOR not be possible. Denijal Hasanović Aleksandar Spasov, Miglena Dimova BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA BULGARIA Violetta Kamińska, Izabela Wójcik, Dariusz Jabłoński

2 XV SCRIPTEAST ALMOST HAPPY ALMOST HAPPY

EWA PODGÓRSKA Ewa is a , and journalist. In a happy marriage, no one will hear you scream. Polish critics recognized her „as a part of the New SEBASTIAN WASIŃSKI Wave in Polish cinema”. Her full-length documen- Ewa and Igor are a young married The key dramatic moment of the film is tary debut “Diagnosis” was premiered at IDFA in POLAND Amsterdam and shown on three continents. The couple. They are settling into their new also a bold subversion of as the nominated “Diagnosis” for „dream” apartment. When Ewa finds story transforms from to drama. „Best Documentary”. Ewa herself received a nomi- out she is pregnant, she hides it from nation for the Krzysztof Krauze Prize for “Director of her husband and secretly decides to Terrified, Ewa runs into the forest, the Year 2019” by the Polish Directors’ Guild, as well have an abortion. This is forbidden but quickly realizes that running away as a nomination for ELBE DOK for “Best Debut from in Poland, so she confides in a girl- makes no sense. She goes back to the Central Europe”. She is a graduate of the National friend who helps her arrange an illegal car and returns home where a cruel Film School in Lodz, the University of Lodz and Wajda School. She is a member of the European Film procedure. Following instructions, Ewa game begins. Ewa wants to leave. Igor Academy. blindfolds herself and is driven by an wants Ewa to stay and give birth to unseen stranger to a doctor who will his child. Neither wants to step down. Two-time scholarship holder of the Polish Film help her. Eventually, Ewa is tied to her husband Institute. His debut screenplay for the with a rope. The brand new „dream” “There will be no other end of the world” was admit- When Ewa is blindfolded, the screen is apartment has become a battlefield ted to the Torino Film Lab workshops. The script completely blank. where neither side can win. has a producer and is currently in development. A graduate of the Faculty of Journalism and Political Science at the University of Warsaw and screen- The drive is so long that Ewa loses her writing at the Academy of Film and Television, also a bearings and the car finally stops in a one-year course in writing at StoryLab. pro. Author remote area. Removing her blindfold of many advertising campaigns for the largest Ewa discovers it is her husband Igor companies in Poland. Winner of the “Creative of the who has been driving her. She has Year” Award. He supports the organization “Open been betrayed. Cages”, which helps farm animals.

4 5 XV SCRIPTEAST AN ENEMY AN ENEMY

Teresa Zofia Czepiec born in Belgium, Polish film TERESA ZOFIA CZEPIEC In modern uncertain times, a 9-year-old rebel girl (Sara) travels alone from Poland director, screenwriter and storyboard artist. By to Belgium, desperately searching for her birth mother, who left her wanting to find MACIEJ SOBIESZCZAŃSKI means of film she tells stories of people living in her own place in life. conflict between what is individual and social. Her POLAND experimental documentary “SUPERUNIT”, has been The 9-year-old Sara arrives in Belgium after all. Relieved, she makes her vow shown at over 90 festivals around the world and has from Poland, stowed away in the luggage never to leave her daughter alone again. won many prestigious awards. Thanks to the win at compartment of a bus. Authorities who But Joanna is burdened by a dark secret the “It’s All True” festival, the film was on an Oscar preliminary list and nominated for Cinema Eye captured her learn that she has arrived and knows that some wounds cannot Honors Award. She studied architecture, visual arts to search for her mother (Joanna), who be healed. Sara – on the other hand – (Le Fresnoy, ) and film directing (Krzysztof abruptly left Poland and has not been in remains determined that love will finally Kieślowski Film School, Poland). Currently, she is contact ever since. When the immigration prevail. preparing her feature film debut “An enemy”. staff finally locate Joanna, Sara learns that her mother has a new family now. An Enemy begins as a survival story, Maciej Sobieszczański has many international turns into a combination of drama and awards to his name, including the Think: The Award The subsequent clash between the thriller, and finally a tale about uncondi- at Berlinale 2015. His last film, The Reconciliation, child’s expectations and the harsh reality tional love. received an award in the First Look section of the turns out to be incredibly painful, but Locarno International Film Festival and an award Sara is nonetheless determined to fight for Best Directing at the Montreal IFF in 2017. The script Brother won The XIV Krzysztof Kieślowski for her mother’s love, whatever it takes. ScripTeast award in 2020, Script Wars (Mazovia Film She provokes and rages at her mother’s Institution 2019), and the Polish Film Institute Script new family and those around her and Competition (2020). ends up endangering both herself and others. Under intense pressure, Joanna finally admits that she did abandon Sara

6 7 XV SCRIPTEAST A SENSITIVE MAN A SENSITIVE MAN

TOMAS KLEIN Tomas Klein studied directing at the Film and TV The twelve-year-old Elias and his family have been travelling across Europe as nomadic actors, but this School of Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. lifestyle is killing Mom and she must return to Czechia for treatment. While his mother is in hospital, KATEŘINA TRABUROVÁ His student films were screened worldwide, in- Elias’s father is wrongly accused of murder. Elias, Dad and Baby Brother go on the run. They must evade LUCIE VAŇKOVÁ cluding Retriever presented in the Cinéfondation a vigilante biker gang and other cruel inhabitants of the region in order to survive. section of the Cannes FF. He worked as 2AD on The Eliáš (12), Mom (35), Dad (55) and Baby Broth- actor he took him for, but also a coward, alco- CZECH REPUBLIC Wolf from the Royal Vineyard Street, which he later er (1) return to Czechia after years of travels holic and liar... finished after Jan Němec passed away. The film through Europe as nomadic actors was awarded with the Special Jury Award at Karlovy hoping to settle down and start a normal life. The family crosses paths with local girl Světla- Vary FF and presented at the Rotterdam FF. Instead of an idyllic homecoming, they are na, who is trying to escape from her despotic greeted by Mom’s father, Grandpa GraperR, lover BISON, the chief of the militia, and marry While studying at the Production Department at in his filthy flat, where he is awaiting death. her true love Kájin. Eliáš abandons Dad to his FAMU, Kateřina Traburová produced The Collision own devices and tries to save Světlana from Bi- by Šimon Štefanides, nominated for BAFTA Awards Exhausted Mom collapses. When Dad takes 2017 and Czech Student Lion Award 2017. She her to the hospital, Eliáš is afraid of the old man son. They eventually steal a boat and row away works regularly with the documentarist Francesco and locks him in his room. When Dad returns for down the river, taking Baby Brother with them. Montagner. them in the morning, Graper is dead. The local Bison and his biker militia chase after them and militia are already on the scene. They want to ar- they are hopelessly outnumbered. Lucie Vaňková is a scriptwriter graduated from rest Dad for having possibly murdered Graper. At the very last moment Eliáš watches Dad rush FAMU scriptwriting department. She wrote scripts Eliáš, Baby Brother and Dad manage to escape to their rescue, leading Bison and the militia for the comedy series Fire Station Telecí. At pres- and go on the run as wanted criminals. away so that his children, Světlana and Kájin can ent, she is preparing a historical comedy series This sets them on a crazy journey where they, escape. Eliáš appreciates his father’s heroism, Zdeňka, a Daughter of the Nation supported by the disguised as women, try to reach Mom in the gives him a second chance, and eventually Czech Film Fund. hospital. Along the way, they encounter local helps him escape the hopeless situation. When weirdos, and are pulled into the dark stories they finally reunite with their mother, Mom is of their lives. Eliáš refuses to speak and deals awestruck that the children are fine, and Eliáš with the ruin and decay everywhere around him has even started talking! The family is com- through his imagination. Over time, he realizes plete. Still crazy, but happy at least – given the that his father is not the charismatic, idealistic circumstances.

8 9 XV SCRIPTEAST GROUND ZERO GROUND ZERO ZHANNA OZIRNA Zhanna Ozirna is a director and a screenwriter. Marina (33), a researcher of mono-industrial towns, decides to live in the reality She is an alumna of the 2020 Berlinale Talents. The that, so far, she has studied only in theory. But she is not aware of how easily she UKRAINE development of her feature debut Ground Zero was can be absorbed by the object of her research. supported by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation. The project was presented within the framework of such Marina, a 33-year-old Ukrainian woman, ty. Marina gradually loses her objectivity co-production markets as Cinemart (IFF Rotterdam), lives in Paris and writes her PhD at the t o w a r d s t h e c h a r i s m a t i c y o u n g m a n . TIFF, Bridges Industry Day (Bozar) and Boat Meeting Sorbonne University about mono-in- (Molodist KIFF), where it received a Jury Special dustrial towns – settlements built for the But the deeper she digs, the more she Mention. Her last short film The Adult (2020) needs of one factory. realizes how much the truth of this land was presented in the special programme “The State of a New Generation” within the 2020 Internationale is hidden and flooded. Her mission as Kurzfilmtage Winterthur. During 2020, she took part She is offered a dream job and goes a researcher is to find its ground zero. in Pustnik Screenwriter’s Residence, Script Lab of back to her native Ukrainian monotown And when she reveals new controversial interfilm Berlin, Terrarium Residence, and the script to make a new step in her research. facts about past events and the soldier doctoring educational program Script Lab Film Ave. She hasn’t been there for 25 years, but himself, she becomes a threat for the b e l i e v e s t h a t h e r o r i g i n i s a “ V I P p a s s ” . whole town. There, she meets Roman, an excavator driver from the iron ore mining factory, She faces a very difficult personal the Kombinat. Locals know he is a grand- choice: to ruin the life flow of the man son of the Hero of the Soviet Union, a she’s fallen in love with or to overstep her soldier whose bones were recently found own beliefs. in the floodplains among the remnants of a World War II battle.

He has an orphanage background and criminal past, but this story makes him honoured, a decent member of the socie-

10 11 XV SCRIPTEAST INCIDENT INCIDENT

TOMASZ WOLSKI Tomasz Wolski is a graduate of the documentary The killing of a dog connects the fates of three people, and ‒ as everyone tries to avoid course & international program EKRAN+ at the Wajda taking the blame ‒ events spin out of control, resulting in the disaster of a famous pia- KATARZYNA TYBINKA School. He is a PhD student in the Film and TV Direc- nist’s concert, the breakdown of an apparently ideal family, and a tragic death. tion Department at the Lodz Film School, participant POLAND of Berlinale Talents and Berlin Today Awards. Member After years of creative impotence and personal game of rivalry. The fact that they are both of the Society of Polish Filmmakers, Guild of Polish struggles, Pawel Weiss (50), a talented pianist, is overachieving policemen doesn’t make it easier. Documentary Directors and European Film Academy. preparing for the most important performance In an attempt to prove his father’s negligence, Director of two shorts films: Daughter (2015) awarded of his life. But a seemingly minor accident, Wierzchowski sets out to investigate the acci- at Angers Premiers Plan (Grand Prix and public when his teenage daughter runs over a dog, will dent, neglecting other duties. The consequenc- award) and A Problem. Director, editor and DOP of 13 disrupt his preparations – and the life of another es are tragic. documentaries such as An Ordinary Country (2020), family. Festival (2017), and Doctors (2011), awarded, among Stępińska investigates the events of the night others, at the Los Angeles Film Festival, Palm Springs Magda Stępińska (40) is totally absorbed by the Pola was injured and discovers the truth about Film Festival, Nancy – Aye Aye Film Festival, Evora – swimming career of her 16-year-old daughter, her daughter. It’s far from the ideal she im- FIKE, Vision du Reel, and Bydgoszcz – Camerimage. Pola, but completely unaware of the secret life agined. Even harder to accept is the lesson she her daughter is leading. One night, Pola takes has to learn about herself and her relationship Katarzyna Tybinka is a co-writer of the award-win- an evening off from training and sneaks out of with her husband. The accident forces them ning second and third seasons of HBO’s The Border the house for a party. While driving a scooter, both to face an unresolved issue from many (Wataha, 2017-2019). Earlier, she spent 4 years on the she runs into a dead dog lying on the shoulder of years ago. writing team of one of the most successful procedural the street and hits a tree. She lands in intensive dramas in Poland – Prawo Agaty (TVN, 2012-2015), care, in a coma. Pianist Weiss tries to protect his daughter from running the show for several seasons. Born in Cracow, the burden of responsibility, both legal and she spent several years in the UK before coming The owner of the hit dog is Wojciech Wier- emotional. But, as his concert draws near, the back to Poland. She graduated from Adam Mickiew- zchowski (35). The animal escaped a few days question arises – is he protecting her, or him- icz University in Poznań, majoring in Linguistics, and earlier. Wierzchowski blames his father, who self? Tangled up in a chain of secrets and lies, he completed a Screenwriting Course at the Film School is staying with him temporarily, for letting the will get one more chance to save his relationship in Lodz. She turned to writing after a career in translat- dog get loose. Ever since Wojciech’s childhood, with his only child – but that may mean losing his ing, film journalism, and script editing. father and son have been playing a constant last chance to come back on stage.

12 13 XV SCRIPTEAST LEARN TO CRY LEARN TO CRY

DENIJAL HASANOVIĆ Denijal Hasanović is a film director and screenwriter. After a Syrian refugee couple’s baby is shot dead during their journey to Poland, the He received his MA in Film Directing from the Polish grieving parents plan a macabre suicide pact, but the fate intervenes. National Film School in Lodz. His graduation film BOSNIA List aka The Letter, had its premiere at the 52nd Dalia, Nadim, and their baby, Rima, are being them down, they are still determined to & HERZEGOVINA Berlinale and was awarded the CivisEurope award in illegally smuggled into Poland from Syria, continue with their suicide pact. But the Brussels for the Best European Fiction. The Letter but in a shoot-out, Rima is shot dead in her police are already at the Refugee Centre, has been sold and distributed in more than 18 coun- mother’s arms. so they can’t return Jasmina to her mother. tries worldwide. His debut long feature Catalina was During a failed attempt to dump the baby at screened in Competition 1-2 at the 33rd Warsaw IFF. Days later, Dalia and Nadim are in a Warsaw a hospital, Dalia suffers a panic attack and At Eurocine 2018, in Colombia, Catalina was award- Refugee Centre and Rima’s first birthday fears for Jasmina’s safety. ed the “Premio Pelicula de Verdad” for the Best Film. is approaching. They want to celebrate the event with a surrogate, and Dalia’s sister After this, Nadim has a change of heart. allows them to “borrow” her baby, named He wants to surrender. Dalia refuses. They Jasmina, out of compassion. made a promise – to die as Rima had died. ONLY THEN CAN RIMA FORGIVE THEM. But In the city, with Jasmina, they rent a car and what about Jasmina? Dalia wants to use the manage to illegally acquire a gun through gun to force Robert to take the baby back Robert, a security guard at the Centre. to her mother, while she and Nadim keep his Now their true plan is revealed: after the family hostage. It’s the only way Dalia, in her celebration of Rima’s first birthday, they’ll traumatized state, can be sure of Jasmina’s return Jasmina to the sister and then kill safe return to her sister. Unable to change themselves. They want to die as Rima did – her mind, Nadim concedes, and they ap- from a gunshot. proach Robert’s family home with the gun, but Dalia is in for a surprise. As they wait for the birthday cake to be prepared, an incident with hooligans leads to Dalia and Nadim becoming terrorist suspects. With the police trying to track

14 15 XV SCRIPTEAST MARIJA’S SILENCE MARIJA’S SILENCE DĀVIS SĪMANIS The director and scriptwriter Dāvis Sīmanis, with A powerful historical drama based on the true story of Marija Leiko, a famous ac- a PhD in Arts, is a Latvian filmmaker and theorist. tress who, late in her career, has to decide between fame and love for her grand- LATVIA He has directed historical feature films, poetic child, between her ideals and the lies of Stalin’s totalitarian regime. documentary films, as well as cross-genre features that have participated in various major festivals. His Marija’s Silence is a historical drama betray her, she is arrested, the theatre is docu-fiction Escaping (2014) premiered inter- based on the true life of the German wiped out and the baby is kidnapped by nationally at IDFA 2014 and is still screened at film silent movie star and theatre actress KGB. In spite of being confronted with the festivals worldwide. Escaping Riga tells the story of Marija Leiko. ruthless reality, Marija cannot betray her two world-class 20th century geniuses: the British ideals and admit to crimes she has not philosopher Sir Isaiah Berlin and the Russian film Late in her fading career, Marija is forced committed. director . Previously, he received to flee Nazi because of her the Award for the Best Debut (“Version. LNO”, 2006), the FIPRESCI Award (“Valkyrie Limited”, 2009) at the socialist sentiments. Marija is tricked into She is destined to play her life’s most Latvian National Film Festival , and travelling to Stalin’s Russia in search of tragic role – an innocent victim destroyed the Grand Prix Award at the Vilnius Documentary her daughter, only to discover that the along with her fellow actors and hun- Film Festival (The Chronicles of the Last Temple, daughter has died giving birth to a little dreds of thousands other Soviet citizens. 2013). girl. Having a motherless baby on her hands and being offered a new career in Soviet theatre, Marija decides to stay in red-terror torn Russia.

Using her desire to be on the stage again and her growing love for the baby, KGB catches Marija in a spider web of regime’s intrigues. Only later does she start to realize the true nature of Stalin’s repres- sions, but it’s too late. Marija’s friends

16 17 XV SCRIPTEAST MISS KEBAB MISS KEBAB

KAMILA CZUL Kamila Czul is an English teacher, interpreter, and writer. A young immigrant teacher, struggling to survive in a rough school and faced with isolation, Grew up in Kozy in the south of Poland, since 2008 addictions, child abuse and rampant poverty experienced by her students, meets one child in NATALIA KORYNCKA-GRUZ has been living and working in Leeds, West Yorkshire. desperate need of help. She faces a choice – should she act and suffer unknown consequenc- She worked as a teacher, Public Service Interpreter, es, or stand by and let the gears of the system grind? POLAND and translator for the Police, Social Services, and the Ministry of Justice. Winner of two Chartered Institute Miss Kebab is a young Polish teacher, a the class, and Miss Kebab is instantly hit of Linguistics awards. Her debut novel Miss Kebab was relatively fresh immigrant to Leeds. When with a hunch that something is seriously published in Poland in 2018. Currently, she works as she gets a job in a nearby High School, the wrong. Rosa barely speaks and does not a Specialist Study Skills Tutor, providing support for reality hits her hard – the wage is measly, engage, and seems to be under constant University students with Specific Learning Difficulties and the job is nothing like she expected. Her supervision from a group of men. such as dyslexia and dyspraxia. class comprises all the troublemakers, im- migrants, truants and non-achievers. Faced Meanwhile, the students unexpectedly grow The director, producer, and screenwriter Natalia with multigenerational poverty, drug use, closer in the enjoyment of working on a Koryncka-Gruz has a degree in Polish Philology from teenage pregnancies and child prostitution, project together. When yet another stranger the Warsaw University and Film Directing from the Film School in Lodz. For her graduation film 1-1 she received Miss Kebab struggles to adjust and find her picks Rosa up from school, Miss Kebab 18 awards at international film festivals, including the feet in the school system. When Miss Kebab goes to the Police. When the day of the Grand Prix Bilbao, 5 Prizes Oberhausen, and Special asks the principal, Chicken, for a raise, she Ofsted visit comes, Rosa fails to turn up at Award-Turin. She is the author of many documentaries, is given a condition – her class need to school. Miss Kebab goes to her house, only including A About Krzysztof Kieślowski, receive a positive review during the next to find the entire family has disappeared. A and TV plays. For her feature film Amok she received Ofsted visit. When the visit is announced, colleague makes Miss Kebab realise it was the Best Debut Award at the Film Festival in Gdynia. Chicken sets her the task of preparing the probably her Police report that caused that Her feature Warsaw by Night was shown at many Christmas play. to happen. We are left with a feeling that international film festivals. A Minor Genocide –had an even though Miss Kebab has failed to help international opening at the Triest Film Festival and was This proves to be a nearly impossible task, Rosa, her attempts to reach the kids on a awarded at the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards as the students are not keen to cooperate, human level have had some impact and, (Silver Prize), Accolade Global Film Festival, and Calcut- and Miss Kebab struggles to keep order whatever happens, they all came out of this ta Film Festival. amongst constant fights and defiance. A experience closer and stronger. new student, a Slovak Roma girl, Rosa, joins

18 19 XV SCRIPTEAST THE BORDER THE BORDER

ERYK LENARTOWICZ Eryk Lenartowicz, born 1993, is a Polish/Australian The last city left on Earth, encircled by a malevolent forest inhabited by a creature that filmmaker. He holds a directing diploma from the feeds off human sacrifices. Population is strictly controlled in The City and death is the YVETTE UNDERWOOD Gdynia Film School (Poland) and an MA in film directing penalty for breaking the rules. Matylda discovers that she is pregnant after an awkward and screenwriting from the Australian Film, Television one-night stand with Vincent, forcing them to flee the absurdly overpopulated city into POLAND, AUSTRALIA and Radio School. Having been engaged in the theatre the forest. from a young age, Eryk takes on an unordinary and interdisciplinary approach to films. His previous short An ecological . Humanity is re- that the creature is a government hoax. films have screened at numerous international film fes- duced to the last city left on Earth, absurdly In order to avoid punishment for falling tivals, his latest short Dots had its world premiere at the overpopulated, the size of Manhattan. It is pregnant with her second child, Matylda is (Cinéfondation). Eryk is currently completely encircled by a malevolent forest forced to confront her situation and ques- developing several projects, including his debut feature inhabited by a mysterious creature that tion the value of life. film The Border, supported by Screen Australia and feeds off human sacrifices. selected to the Torino Film Lab Next and ScripTeast. A Pursued by the authorities, Matylda and member of the Polish Film Academy and the Australian In order for The City to survive, it adheres Vincent decide to escape The City and risk Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. to grotesquely strict rules. Once you reach entering the mysterious forest that sur- the age of 65, you will be sacrificed, there rounds it. As they cross the border into the Yvette Underwood graduated from the National Art is no room for old people. Suicide, also unknown, they are confronted by the much School studying Fine Arts. Coming from a fashion known as Self-Sacrifice, is a highly praised anticipated creature, who reveals the true background, she achieved a full scholarship to Parsons act rewarded with cigarettes, a true rarity, nature of their world to them. Design School in NYC before moving into film media. to the family of the deceased. There is a Yvette worked on many short films and music videos strict one-child policy, anyone who breaks in alternating roles of production designer, costumes, this rule is banished. Matylda (32), a shy and producer, and script supervisor; including Dots (dir. lonely government worker searching for Eryk Lenartowicz). Since then, Yvette has independent- connection, unexpectedly falls pregnant ly been working as a writer, developing The Twelve, a after an awkward one-night stand with high-end television series based in Australia, as well as Vincent (31). Vincent is an adorable yet par- the feature film The Border. anoid propaganda artist who works in the higher ranks of The City and is convinced

20 21 XV SCRIPTEAST THE CASE OF E.E. THE CASE OF E.E. Paweł Grajnert is a writer and filmmaker whose films PAWEŁ GRAJNERT In 1908 Breslau/Wrocław, Erna, an introverted teenager, discovers that she can interact have premiered at the Venice FF, the Whitney Museum with ghosts. This immediately attracts the interest of the adults around her – and of a MAJA COSTA of American Art and Gdynia FF, he holds an MFA in film directing from Columbia University, New York. Winner of young scientist with whom she falls in love. Helped by the ghosts, Erna learns how to SANDRA BUCHTA the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Foundation prize for excel- break free from the adults and comes out of her invisibility. lence in science-focused screenwriting, his writing has POLAND also been recognized by the Academy Nicholl Fellowships 1908: Breslau/Wrocław is a melting pot of cul- séance, this unleashes Erna’s telekinetic pow- in Screenwriting Competition. His feature-length docu- tures, beliefs and disciplines. During a dinner ers and shocks the adults. Erna’s father wants mentary about the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, Behold This at the Eltzner house, Erna (15), an introspective to regain control over his daughter who is un- Day of Blood and Honor, premiered at the 2020 B#Side teenager and middle child of five, sees an settling the whole family. He entrusts the care War FF in Venice. apparition of her dead grandfather. Her Polish of Erna to Artur, for her to be examined, despite mother, Nina, a former actress, believes that his wife’s protests. Erna is closer to Artur than Maja Costa studied screenwriting at DFFB in Berlin and, as Erna has psychic powers. When her husband, ever before. Only when the young scientist a scholarship holder from SKY Italia, she is an alumna of Friedrich, a Prussian manufacturer, is out of ultimately betrays her trust, does Erna realise the international TV Showrunner Incubator “Serial Eyes”. She works as a trilingual freelance screenwriter/direc- town, Nina convinces Erna to lead séances she has been exploited because of her talent. tor with European production companies like Palomar, with the help of the occultist, Frommer. Erna Broken-hearted, Erna is tempted to withdraw Constantin Film, and Komplizen Film. Two of the series discovers her gift, acting as an intermediary from reality to the realm of ghosts, and stops she developed in writers’ room were awarded with the between the realm of apparitions and the real eating. As a last resort, her parents send Erna prestigious Grimme Prize. world around her. She also discovers what is to the countryside to stay with her aunt in the scarier than those ghosts – the desires of the old Eltzner’s country house. Gertrude, an inde- Sandra Buchta is a screenwriter. Her first feature script adults who summon them, like her mother’s pendent woman, encourages Erna’s creative The Lecture, based on a story by Nobel prize-winning grief over an unresolved love affair. When talents, showing her how to weave – and how Olga Tokarczuk, was developed with ScripTeast and Erna meets the doctorate student Artur, she to make her own decisions. Erna understands received Special Mention of the Krzysztof Kieślowski mistakes his scientific interest for affection that, in order to break free from the adults, she ScripTeast Award 2018. She has worked on award-winning documentaries and shorts e.g. Lucky Seven by Claudia and falls in love. Artur, an ambitious brain has to reconcile with her own ghost, Pola. Erna Heindel (Gold Mikeldi Bilbao). Since 2019, she develops researcher, seeks advice from psychoanalyst embraces her womanhood and finds her true feature films and TV series as a story consultant for Bon Dr. Vogel to find out more about Erna’s visions. place in the world. Voyage Films. When Pola, a ghost who knows all about Erna’s feelings for Artur, provokes Erna during a

22 23 XV SCRIPTEAST THE ELEVATOR THE ELEVATOR

ALEKSANDAR SPASOV Aleksandar Spasov is a Bulgarian screenwriter. He During summer holidays, Peter (9) has to confront the reality that his beloved grandpa is holds a BA in Screenwriting from Chapman University, fading away. Supported by his friends, Peter stumbles on a magical gate to the Afterlife MIGLENA DIMOVA CA. Since 2015, Aleksandar forms part of the writing guarded by a ghost, and in confronting the challenges there, he comes to accept that staff of the TV series Stolen Life. In 2017, he helped with Grandpa’s time is nearly over. BULGARIA the production of the documentary Invisible Strings, that later won the PLANET award at the 2018 Barcelona International Environmental Film Festival (FICMA). In Peter, a precocious boy of 9, loves nothing ther’s condition gets worse. The kids learn 2018, the writing staff of the series Stolen Life won more than to spend his summer breaks that the ghost boy’s name was Todor and the “Best TV Script” award at MEDIAMIXX. In 2020, at his grandparents’ house. Unfortunate- that he lived in an orphanage nearby some Aleksandar won government funding from the National ly, soon after his arrival, Peter notices decades ago. They manage to steal some Film Center to write the screenplay for his project The something suspicious: Grandpa goes to candy from the Witch’s apartment and start Elevator. bed too early, easily tires and talks less than preparing for a battle with Todor. When usual. Grandpa senses Peter’s unease and they get to the Gate again, the kids have to Miglena Dimova is a scriptwriter and script supervisor. prepares a riddle in rhyme, hoping it will overcome various magical obstacles and She has a bachelor’s degree in Acting and a master’s help him overcome his fears. Peter, along confront Todor himself. They manage to degree in Directing from New Bulgarian University. with his summertime friends, set out to defeat him and Peter closes the Gate. Sadly, Miglena is the creator of the TV show The Challenge. She has also written several short films: The Blue solve the riddle. The riddle takes Peter to when Peter gets back home, he finds out Zone (2012), Carousel (2016), Insomnia (2018). In 2017, an abandoned building and a woman whom that his grandpa’s condition has worsened. Miglena won government funding from the National Film many call “the Witch”. She gives him a box Center to write the screenplay for her project Mother. of candy in different colors and after Peter Peter goes to the Witch for answers. After She won several awards: Best short screenplay at the takes a RED candy, he is transported to a speaking to her, he realizes that closing Festival of Theatre and Film Arts “Nevena Kokanova” for mystical place with a black Gate. The Gate the Gate might have been a mistake. Peter the short film Pause in 2014; special diploma of Summer is calling the name “Peter”. He tries to peek opens the Gate again and helps the boy Scriptwriting Base, Gabrovci in 2016 and special diplo- inside, but the ghost of a boy stops him. ghost Todor to go through it. On the next ma of Summer Scriptwriting Base, Bozhentsi in 2017 day, Peter summons the strength to say and 2018. In 2020, she also won government funding Peter realizes that the Gate might be a por- goodbye to his Grandfather, hoping they will from the National Film Center to write the screenplay for her project The Elevator. tal to the Afterlife and maybe it was calling be together again in his next adventure. his grandfather, also named Peter. He de- cides to close the Gate before his grandfa-

24 25 XV SCRIPTEAST THE WHITE MARE THE WHITE MARE

TEODOR KUHN Teodor is a director and screenwriter. He graduated After social service threatens to take her little sister away, a cheeky girl from a poor from VŠMU Bratislava where he was also briefly family gets the money to save her by becoming a front for a local mobster. SLOVAKIA teaching during his PhD course. His short films won several awards and his debut feature By a Sharp Nikola (19) has made a decision to leave her and decides to gain custody. For this, she Knife was premiered at Shanghai IFF and award- family. Her drinker father Jozef (55) has seldom needs to show proof of legal employment at ed Best Directing at Cottbus. Apart from being a shown her any praise, and her little sister the upcoming custody hearing. Dragan refuses filmmaker, Teodor is involved in an environmental Bubka (12), while loving, has been a burden. to provide it, for it might draw attention. What’s NGO and also leads an NGO that builds concrete But when the social service threatens to take more, Nikola learns that his praise and gifts skateparks. Bubka away and Jozef is unable to remedy served a hidden purpose. To easily sell her, the situation, Nikola makes one last sacrifice along with the company, in a final deal. Nikola and starts providing for the whole family. The doesn’t break down. Refusing to be sold, she region is jobless, but through a common ac- takes the company hostage and blocks Dra- quaintance, Nikola grabs the attention of Dra- gan’s access. The final deal can’t go on without gan (45), a local Italian mobster. She becomes her. Nikola wants to blackmail Dragan, but a dummy owner in one of his companies, or in makes a mistake that leads the police to her local parlance: his “white mare”. trail. To save herself, she needs to personally With her new income, Nikola is able to solve the oversee the final deal; a dangerous job for two problems pinpointed by the social service. that – if they get caught – could send both to Her father Jozef, inspired by this, tries to stop prison for years. The only one who can help is drinking. But Nikola can’t make herself forgive her father. For Nikola, it’s hard to even ask him. him after years of abuse and following a big But losing one daughter, Jozef doesn’t want to argument, she finally moves out ‒ leaving him lose the other. He gladly grabs the opportunity and Bubka on their own. Thus, Nikola becomes to redeem himself. With his help, Nikola man- closer with Dragan. Intrigued by the attention ages to both avoid the police and complete the and praise her own father could never give final deal. Dragan allows her to quit the dummy her, Nikola becomes Dragan’s lover. Yet, back company and lets her go. She is then able to at home, Jozef relapses and social services win Bubka’s custody – but only by cooperating remove Bubka to foster care. Nikola realizes with her father. Nikola and Bubka return home she wants Bubka with her more than anything together and give their father one last chance. 26 27 XV SCRIPTEAST SCRIPTEAST IN THE EYES OF THE HEADS OF STUDIES SCRIPTEAST IN THE EYES OF THE HEADS OF STUDIES XV SCRIPTEAST

In the white-knuckle roller-coaster ride that is European audio-visual development and training support it is no mean feat to have survived and prospered over fifteen consecutive SCRIPTEAST IN THE EYES years, and it is to the enormous credit of the core Film Foun- dation team: Dariusz Jabłoński, Violetta Kamińska and Izabela Wójcik, that they have negotiated this journey so successfully OF THE HEADS OF STUDIES as an independent company. Their long-term commitment to the scheme has ensured that it has now become a prestigious It would be incorrect to say there were no screenwriting work- industry brand. Alongside many other sponsors, the role of shops in Europe before ScripTeast, but as someone who has Creative Europe’s MEDIA program has been a crucial element in been a part of many of them in the last 30 years, I can confi- securing the ScripTeast legacy, and they are to be congratulat- dently say there have been, and still are, none like it. Start with a ed on their ongoing support, as development is such a difficult group of super-talented filmmakers, add their promising scripts, business to put precise short term accounting figures on, but mix in a Sundance-like cast of professional advisors, set your they have had the wisdom to understand the scheme’s long- workshops at the Berlin and Cannes Film festivals and you have term economic and cultural benefits. The abundance of good the recipe for a delicious film development confection unlike films that have emerged over the years in a region of Europe that any other. There’s even a cherry on top called the Kieślowski continues to face enormous economic problems is the most Award going to the most promising script of the year. But Scrip- obvious result of the scheme’s success, but there has also been Teast isn’t a contest, it’s a collaboration. One that has resulted in a less visible but vital result in fostering working partnerships dozens of produced feature films, transnational friendships, and and friendships across the continent. the emergence of the most remarkable writers and directors I It has been an enormous privilege for me to have shared this re- have ever been privileged to work with. Fifteen years now, and markable journey, with so many inspiring memories of commit- counting. Not one of which would have happened without the ted and passionate participants and advisors, and the endless Herculean efforts of the team of Foundation , pleasure of working alongside the Fundation/Apple team and Apple Film , PFI, Creative Europe and other visionary sponsors. I Mr. Fun, a.k.a. Prof. Tom Abrams. Long may it continue. am honored to be a part of their enduring mission to support film development and look forward to a taste of the next 15 years. CHRISTIAN ROUTH TOM ABRAMS

28 29 CREATIVE ADVISORS AND SPECIAL GUESTS

XV SCRIPTEAST CREATIVE ADVISORS AND SPECIAL GUESTS XV SCRIPTEAST

Claas Danielsen, David Magee, David Matamoros, David Parfitt, Teresa Hoefert de Turégano. CREATIVE SPECIALAND ADVISORS GUESTS Francesca Breccia, Mathieu Delaunay, ,XV Clémence Lavigne, Lori Lozinski, Lee Magiday, Brigitta Manthey, Yves Marmion, Clémence Michalon, Jan Miller, Manuel Monzón, Alexandre Moreau, Jeremy Pikser.

31 30 31 XV SCRIPTEAST ARTISTIC BOARD XV SCRIPTEAST XV SCRIPTEAST THE KRZYSZTOF ARTISTIC BOARD KIEŚLOWSKI THE KRZYSZTOF KIEŚLOWSKI SCRIPTEAST AWARD SCRIPTEAST Doreen Boonekamp Sandy Lieberson AWARD Simon Perry Antonio Saura Manfred Schmidt The Krzysztof Kieślowski ScripTeast Award for the Best Eastern European Script is a prize given to the author/s of the best script of each edition. It is cho- sen by Artistic Board and handed over during Cannes Film Festival. Through decision to choose one winning script is in hands of the Artistic Board members: Doreen Boonekamp, Sandy Lieberson, Antonio Saura, Manfred Schmidt, Simon Perry and ScripTeast’s Heads of Studies: Tom Abrams and Christian Routh. The Award also means 10.000 Euros money prize to be spent on further work on the project.

33 32 33 XV SCRIPTEAST THE WINNERS THE WINNERS XV SCRIPTEAST THE KRZYSZTOF KIEŚLOWSKI 2021 THE WINNERS SCRIPTEAST AWARD ?? ?

THE HOUSE THE WOMB THE THE DAY OF THE THE THE AMERICAN ÁGA WHEN THE SORRY AFRIKA FOREVER BROTHER Zuzana Benedek JAPANESE CHOCOLATE PROSECUTOR APARTMENTS MUTE CHICK Simeon TREES FALL POLAND Maya HOLD YOUR Maciej Liova Fliegauf Ventsislavov, Vitkova Sobieszczański, DOG Jacek Iglika Martins Bartek Evita Nausova, Marysia Kuba PEACE SLOVAKIA Milko -Kosev Grzegorz Bławut Triffonova Slisans Konopka, Viktor Taus Nikitiuk Czekaj Ioan Lazarov BULGARIA Ivan Puda POLAND BULGARIA LATVIA Przemysław CZECH UKRAINE POLAND Antoci BULGARIA Marinović POLAND Nowakowski REPUBLIC MONTENEGRO POLAND 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

34 35 BIG SCRIPTEAST 1 FAMILY 18 COUNTRIES 15 YEARS OF 259 EXPERIENCE SCRIPTWRITERS

CELEBRATING 15 173 MOVIES PRODUCTION IN CREATIVE YEARS FILMS45 PRODUCED PROJECTS ADVISORS 36 11 6537 CREATIVE ADVISORS OF ALL EDITIONS CREATIVE ADVISORS OF ALL EDITIONS TOM ABRAMS LARS HERMANN JEAN-LUC ORMIERES PETER WEBBER SCOTT ALEXANDER GORDY HOFFMAN ANDERS OSTERGAARD PETER ZAWREL TRYGVE ALLISTER BEN HOPKINS ROMAN PAUL PETR ZELENKA DAVID AUKIN PHIL HUGHES TOBIAS PAUSINGER DENNIS BARTOK ROBERT JONES MARK PEPLOE MARC BASCHET MACIEJ KARPIŃSKI UDAYAN PRASAD MARTINA BLEIS CEDOMIR KOLAR JAMES RAGAN ANDREW BIRKIN ERAN KOLIRIN JASON RESNICK PADDY BREATHNACH GIANLUCA LEONCINI LUCAS ROSANT FRED BREINERSDORFER JOELLE LEVIE ALEXANDRA ROSSI GABRIELE BRUNNENMEYER EVERETT LEWIS DONATO ROTUNNO MARC CARO BERND LICHTENBERG CHRISTIAN ROUTH CHRIS COLLINS SANDY LIEBERSON MAREK ROZENBAUM JENS DAHL BARRE LUCIUS ANTONIO SAURA CATHERINE DUSSART MIGUEL MACHALSKI MICHAEL SCHIFFER LICIA EMINENTI DAVID MATAMOROS GEORGE SLUIZER JONATHAN ENGLISH PETER MEDAK MARTIN STELLMAN LISELOTT FORSMAN JAN MILLER ULA STÖCKL WILLIAM FORSYTHE ROBERT PAUL MILLER ANTONIN SVOBODA PAUL FRASER ENZO MONTELEONE MICHAEL TAYLOR GYULA GAZDAG LYNDA MYLES CHRISTOPH THOKE MADLEEN GORRIS PIERS NIGHTINGALE ALLISTER TRYGVE NEASA HARDIMAN MARK O’HALLORAN WIEBKE VON CAROLSFELD MONTE HELLMAN THADDEUS O’SULLIVAN BRIAN WARD 38 39 I SCRIPTEAST 2006—2007

Darek Błaszczyk, Poland Eliza Borkowska, Piotr Borkowski, Poland Borislav Chouchkov, Dimitar Kotzev, Bulgaria Maciej Dutkiewicz, Poland Jacek Gąsiorowski, Poland Gábor Krigler, Hungary Katrin Laur, Estonia TILT RUN TO GROUND THE HOUSE Zuzana Liová, Slovakia Written by (previously “Rundown”) Written and directed by 2011; New Voices/New Visions Balázs Lovas, Hungary BORISLAV CHOUCHKOV ZUZANA LIOVA Grand Jury Prize, Łukasz Maciejewski, Poland and DIMITAR KOTZEV Written by Palm Springs International Directed BALÁZS LOVAS World premiere at Film Festival, 2012; 5 other Vedrana Nemeš, Slovenia by VIKTOR CHOUCHKOV Directed by 61st Berlinale awards and 12 nominations Peeter Tammisto, Estonia (Bulgaria) ZSOMBOR DYGA Hardi Volmer, Estonia World premiere at 61st Selected as the Bulgarian Best Editing, Hungarian Berlinal; Anonimul Trophy, entry for the Best Foreign Film Week Anonimul International Language Film, 84th Academy Independent Film Festival, Awards; Best Debut Feature, 2011; Audience Award - Best Raindance IFF, UK; Best Edit- ing Award, Woodstock Film Slovak Film, Bratislava Festival and one other award International Film Festival,

40 41 II SCRIPTEAST 2007—2008

Antra Cilinska, Latvia Lauris Gundars, Latvia Jan Cvitkovic, Slovenia Marin Damyanov, Juliana Stoyanova, Bulgaria Kinga Dębska, Poland Krisztina Esztergalyos, Hungary Benedek Fliegauf, Hungary Ioana Joca, Romania ARCHEO THE CORPSE THE WITNESS WOMB Jean Sterian, Romania Written and directed by COLLECTOR Written by Written and directed Igor Likar, Slovenia JAN CVITKOVIČ (Slovenia) MITKO PANOV by BENEDEK FLIEGAUF Renita Lintrop, Estonia Written by and WLADYSLAW (Hungary) Mitko Panov, Władysław Best International Feature Marin Damianov PASIKOWSKI (Poland), Film, Feature Film; Competition, and JULIANA STOYANOVA Directed by MITKO PANOV Junior Jury Award Pasikowski, Poland 12th IFFI; International Film Directed – “Environment Is Quality Tomasz Szafrański , Poland Festival; Innsbruck, Austria; by DIMITAR DIMITROV World premiere at Geneva of Life” Prize Xawery Żuławski, Poland Vesna Award; Best live-action (Bulgaria) International Film Festival film, 14th Festival of Slovenian Nominations: Golden Leopard, Film Vesna Award, Best director; Best Screenwriter Award, Locarno International Film 14th Festival of Slovenian Film; 33rd Golden Rose Bulgarian Festival German Film Vesna Award, Best Cinematog- Feature Film Festival, 2015 Award,”Best Feature Film” raphy; 14th Festival of Slovenian Film

42 43 III SCRIPTEAST 2008—2009

Ioan Antoci, Romania Elvis Bosnjak, Croatia Igor Mirkovic, Croatia Saulius Drunga, Judit Elek, Hungary Laszlo Berger, Hungary Daniel Erdelyi, Hungary Andrzej Gołda, Poland Maria Graczyk, Poland RETRACE A FRIEND OF MINE NIGHT BOATS THE JAPANESE DOG Artchil Khetagouri, Romania Written by JUDIT ELEK Written and directed Written and directed by IGOR Written by IOAN ANTOCI Ileana Stanculescu, Romania and LASZLO BERGER, by MART KIVASTIK (Estonia) MIRKOVIC (Croatia) Directed by TUDOR CRISTIAN Mart Kivastik, Estonia Directed by JUDIT ELEK JURGIU (Romania) (Hungary) Nominations: Heave(i)n Esto- Celebrate Age Best Film, Andrej Kosak, Slovenia nian Film Award, 15th Tallinn Bombay; International Film Gopo Award, Best Actor in a Izabela Szylko, Poland Best Film, Louisville Black Nights Film Festival Festival, 2012; Golden Arena, Leading Role, International Film Festival, Pula Film Festival 2012 Romania, 2014; Competition 2012 1-2 Award, Warsaw Interna- Nominations: Best Film, Napoli tional Film Festival; Romanian Film Festival, 2013 entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at 87th and other 4 other awards

44 45 IV SCRIPTEAST 2009—2010

Ana Agopian, Romania Iulia Rugina, Romania Zuzana Belková, Slovakia Jacek Piotr Bławut, Poland Kristina Buozyte, Lithuania Bruno Samper, Lithuania BREAKING VANISHING RADIOGRAM THE THE DAY Gabor Ferenczi, Hungary NEWS WAVES (a.k.a. “Gramophone”) JUDGEMENT OF CHOCOLATE Can Togay, Hungary Written and directed by Written by Written and directed Written by JACEK PIOTR Rouzie Hassanova, Bulgaria Written by IULIA ROUZIE HASSANOVA K R I S T I N A B U O Ž Y T E by STEFAN KOMAN- BŁAWUT and ANNA RUGINA, OANA (Bulgaria) Irena Hejdová, Czech Republic Directed by ONICHIMOWSKA RASUCEANU DAREV (Bulgaria) Directed by JACEK PIOTR KRISTINA BUOŽYTE Stephan Komandarev, Bulgaria and ANA AGOPIAN, Audience Award for Best BŁAWUT (Poland) (Lithuania) directed by IULIA Film, Sofia IFF, 2018 Best Film, Golden Marin Damyanov, Bulgaria The Krzysztof Kieslowski Rose Bulgarian RUGINA. ScripTeast Award, Cannes Maciej Pieprzyca, Poland Best Film, The Jameson Nominations: Golden Feature Film Festival, 2010; International Young Dublin Anchor Award for Best Hanna Slak, Slovenia Best starting perfor- 2014; Best Actor, Audience Film Festival International Film Film, Haifa IFF, 2017; Teachers award mance at Karlovy Vary Golden Rose Bul- Janis Vingris, Latvia Emerging Filmmaker Nominations: Golden Festival, 2013; Best garian Feature Film IFF 2017 Award for Best Film, Claw Award, Gdynia Film Maciej Wszelaki, Poland Screenplay, Fantastic Nominations: Crystal Minneapolis; St. Paul In- Festival, 2014 Festival, 2018; Golden Fest, Texas, 2012; Best Globe for Best Film, ternational Film Festival, Goats, International Young Director, Fantastic Fest, Audience Film Festival, Karlovy Vary IFF, 2017; 2018; Golden Barge for Nominations: Grand Texas, 2012; ‘East of the 2018; Main competition, Prize Trieste for Best Best Film, Vukovar Film Prix, Warsaw Interna- Youth and Cinema Debut west’ special mention, Feature Film, Trieste Festival, 2018 tional Film Festival, Film Festival, Koszalin, Karlovy Vary FF, 2018 2014 2018

46 47 V SCRIPTEAST 2010—2011

Andrzej Bart, Poland Réka Divinyi, Hungary Gábor Herendir, Hungary Wojciech Kasperski, Poland Andres Keil, Jaak Kilmi, Estonia CAR PARK FATHER NIGHTLIFE THE PROSECUTOR WARSAW Natalia Koryncka-Gruz, Poland THE DEFENDER Marek Modzelewski, Poland Written by BENCE Written and directed Written by DAMJAN THE FATHER BY NIGHT Damjan Kozole, Slovenia & Croatia MIKLAUZIČ & FER- by ARTUR URBAŃSKI KOZOLE, ONGJEN AND HIS SON Ognjen Sviličić, Slovenia & Croatia ENC LENGYEL (Poland) SVILICIC previously What’s Between Us (previous title “False Bence Miklauzič, Hungary Directed by Złoty Szczeniak, Best Directed by DAMJAN Witness”) Ferenc Lengyel, Hungary BENCE MIKLAUZIČ Male Leading role, KOZOLE (Slovenia) Written by (Hungary) FAF, 2015; Jantar NATALIA KORYNC- Alexandra M. Păun, Romania Written and directed by Award for Best Sound, Best Director Karlovy IGLIKA TRIFFONOVA KA-GRUZ, MAREK Andrea Sedláčková, Czech Republic Nominations: Golden Youth and Cinema Vary International Film (Bulgaria) MODZELEWSKI Laura Siváková, Slovakia Spike, Valladolid Debut Film Festival, Festival 2016 International Film Koszalin, 2015 The Krzysztof Kieslowski Directed by Biba Bohinska, Slovakia Festival, 2014; Free ScripTeast Award, Cannes NATALIA KORYNC- Iglika Triffonova, Bulgaria Spirit Award, Warsaw Nominations: Main 2011; Best Director, Best KA-GRUZ Cinematography, Best Artur Urbański, Poland International Film competition, Youth Festival and Cinema Debut Score, Best Editing, Best Polish Film Festival Film Festival, Koszalin, Supporting Actor, Bulgar- in Los Angeles, Best 2015 ian Film Awards, 2016 and Score Music Award other 5 awards (2015)

48 49 VI SCRIPTEAST 2011—2012

Gabriel Dettre, Hungary George Dorobantu, Romania Darek Gajewski, Poland Kristina Goda, Hungary Réka Divinyi, Hungary Anna Fifikova, Slovakia Michal Kollár, Slovakia Rafał Kapeliński, Poland Blaz Kutin, Slovenia HOME GUARDS RED CAPTAIN THIRST Rolanda Rebrek, Slovenia Written and directed by Written by ANNA FIFKOVA (previous title “Step Counter”) Paweł Sala, Poland KRISZTINA GODA (Hungary) and MICHAL KOLLAR Simon Szabo, Hungary written and directed Svetla Tsotsorkova, Bulgaria Best Actor, Hungarian Film Directed by MICHAL KOLLAR by SVETLA TSOTSORKOVA Week, 2016 (Czech Republic) Marcin Wrona, Poland European Discovery of the Katarzyna Bonda, Poland Nominations: Best Editing, Biggest ever domestic open- Year – EFA nomination; Best Hungarian Film Week, 2016; ing in Slovakia. The film is on Fiction Film – Crossing Europe Intercontinental Prize for Best the list of TOP20 of the Slovak Film Festival 2016; Special Picture, World Premieres Film box office Jury Award – Minsk Interna- Festival tional Film Festival 2015 Best Cinematography and BestDebut Golden Rose 2015

50 51 VII SCRIPTEAST 2012—2013

Borislav Chouchkov, Bulgaria Viktor Chouchkov Jr., Bulgaria Mart Kivastik, Estonia Stephan Komandarev, Bulgaria Emil Spahiyski, Bulgaria Bartosz Konopka, Poland Przemysław Nowakowski,Poland Nadejda Koseva, Bulgaria Bojan Vuletić, Serbia 18% GRAY THE MUTE PAINTED BIRD IRINA Václav Marhoul, Czech Republic Written by ZACHARY Written by BARTOSZ Written and directed by VÁCLAV (a.k.a. “The Year Of The Kuker”) Małgorzata Piłacińska, Poland KARABASHLIEV, YANA KONOPKA and PRZEMYSLAW MARHOUL (Czech Republic) Xandra Popescu, Romania BORISSOVA NOWAKOWSKI, NADEJDA KOSEVA, BOJAN The film was selected to play in VULETIĆ Bulgaria / Serbia Wiktoria Szymańska, Poland competition at the 76th Venice Directed by VIKTOR Directed by BARTOSZ International Film Festival; Katarína Uhrová, Slovakia CHOUCHKOV KONOPKA (Poland) Best Debut Film at Cottbus 2019 Toronto International Film Film Festival of Young East András B. Vágvölgyi, Hungary Festival ( Special Presentations) Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, The Krzysztof Kieslowski European Cinema; Golden Rose Adi Voicu, Romania screened in the Dare strand North Macedonia, Serbia ScripTeast Award, Cannes Award & Award of the Union of at the 63rd BFI London Film 2013; for Best Bulgarian Filmmakers at Gold- Festival; selected as the Czech Cinematography, Gdynia FF, en Rose Bulgarian Feature Film entry for the Best International 2018 Nominations: Golden Festival; Golden Owl Award and Feature Film at the 92nd Acade- Lions for Best Film, Gdynia two other awards my Awards FF 2018

52 53 VIII SCRIPTEAST 2013—2014 IN PRODUCTION Paweł Ferdek, Poland Arkadiusz Milcarz, Poland Zoltán Jancsó, Hungary Matevž Luzar, Slovenia AGUNG Pavo Marinković, Croatia Written by PAWEŁ FERDEK, Ignas Miškinis, Lithuania ARKADIUSZ MILCARZ, Saulius Drunga, Lithuania Poland Evita Naušová, Czech Republic Viktor Tauš, Czech Republic KING’S SHIFT MINISTRY AURORA BOREALIS Éva Pataki, Hungary Written by SAULIUS DRUNGA, OF LOVE (a.k.a. “Born in Secrecy”) IN PRODUCTION Márta Mészáros, Hungary IGNAS MIŠKINIS, directed by Written by MÁRTA MÉSZÁROS, Suzana Tratnik, Slovenia IGNAS MIŠKINIS (Lithuania) Written and directed by JANCSÓ ZOLTÁN, PATAKI ÉVA Maja Weiss, Slovenia PAVO MARINKOVIĆ (Croatia) Shown at Goa IFF, Festival des Directed by MÁRTA Agnieszka Trzos, Poland MÉSZÁROS (Hungary) Films du Monde, Vilnius IFF Platinium Remi Award for Best Jarosław Kamiński, Poland and other festivals Film, WorldFest Houston, 2017 Audience choice Award for Best CALL ME Andreea Valean, Romania Narrative Foreign-Language Feature, Chicago IFF, 2018 Spe- Valeri Yordanov, Bulgaria cial Recognition, Closing Night SHAKESPEARE Film, Stony Brook Film Festival, 2018; Nominations: Best Sound, Written by VALERI YORDANOV, Hungarian Film Week, 2017 Bulgaria

54 55 IX SCRIPTEAST 2014—2015

Ioan Antoci, Romania Dorka Gergely, Hungary Árpád Bogdán, Hungary Piotr Głowacki, Poland Antonina Gugała, Poland Christian Iftime, Romania Anca Buja, Romania Anna Jadowska, Poland Petr Kolečko, Czech Republic MARITA THE MAN WITH WILD ROSES MASARYK Julius Sevcik, Czech Republic Written by ANCA BUJA THE MAGIC BOX Written and directed by Written by: Bodo Kox, Poland and CRISTI IFTIME ANNA JADOWSKA (Poland) ALEX KOENIGSMARK, PETR Milko Lazarow, Simeon Directed by CRISTI IFTIME Written and directed by KOLECKO, JULIUS SEVCIK Ventsislavov, Bulgaria (Romania) BODO KOX (Poland) Best Film of the 27th Film Fes- Directed by JULIUS SEVCIK tival Cottbus; Golden Tapes (Czech Republic) Katrin Maimik, Andres FEDEORA Award, Karlovy Vary Asteroid Award Trieste award for best domestic film Maimik, Estonia IFF, 2017 Science+Fiction Festival 2017; released in Polish cinemas in World premiere at 67th Best Score Polish Film 2017 9-th edition; Stockholm BERLINALE; 14 Czech Film Matej Minac, Czech Republic Nominations: East of West Festival 2017 Impact Award 2017 Award Nominations (2017) Agda Pain, Slovakia Award, Karlovy Vary IFF, 2017 IN PRODUCTION Martin Repka, Slovakia Young Talent Award, Hamburg Film Festival, 2017 JOURNEY TO FELLINI

Written by MATEJ MINTAJ, Czech Republic

56 57 Feature Film, Best Cinematog- & Awards Macao, 2018; Special raphy, Best Director, Bulgarian Jury Award, International Film ÁGA Feature Film Festival, 2018; Festival of India, 2018; Audi- GENESIS THE MAN WHO Grand Prix for Best Film, Ca- ence Award for Best Feature, (previous title “Nanook”) bourg Romantic Film Festival, Ljubljana International Film; Written and directed by LOOKS LIKE ME 2018; Best Film at Cairo Inter- Festival, 2018; Special Jury ÁRPÁD BOGDÁN (Hungary) World premiere: national Film Festival, 2018; Award for International Fea- Written and directed by Berlinale 2018 Golden Raven for Best Film ture Film Competition, Malatya 68-th Berlinale IFF Panorama KATRIN MAIMIK and ANDRES and Special Jury Prize, Chu- International Film Festival, Special Jury Award for Best MAIMIK (Estonia) Written by MILKO LAZAROV kotka International Arctic Film 2018; Award Film, Sofia IFF and SIMEON VENTSISLAVOV Festival, 2018; Best Director for Best Film, Sarajevo Film Award, Eurasian International Festival, 2018; NDR Director’s Directed by MILKO LAZAROV Film Festival, 2018; Grand Prix Award for Best Director,Schw- (Bulgaria) for Best Movie, Farj Interna- erin Art Of Film Festival, 2018; tional Film Festival, 2018; Best Green Spike & Pilar Miró The Krzysztof Kieslowski Film, Free Zone Film Festival, Award for Best New Director, ScripTeast Award, Cannes 2018; Best Technical Contribu- Valladolid International Film 2015; Golden Rose for Best tion, International Film Festival Festival, 2018

58 59 X SCRIPTEAST 2015—2016

Rusudan Chkonia, Irek Grzyb, Poland Jan Hryniak, Poland Robert Sieradzki, Poland Teodora Markova, Bulgaria of the Year, 2018 A PICTURE INVISIBLE LETTERS WHEN THE Nominations: Best Marysia Nikitiuk, Ukraine First Feature Award Tereza Oľhová, Slovakia and Panorama Audi- Written by WITH YUKI FROM TREES FALL ence Award, Berlin Michal Kollar, Slovakia KRISTUPAS International Film Written by SABOLIUS, Kirsten Peters, Poland ANTARCTICA Written and directed Festival, 2018; New LACHEZAR IGNAS JONVAS Greg Zglinski, Poland by MARYSIA NIKITIUK Talent Grand Prix, CPH AVRAMOV and Written by TEODORA (Ukraine) PIX, 2018; Best Fea- Kristupas Sabolius, Lithuania DIMITER Directed by IGNAS MARKOVA, GEORGI ture Film at Neuchâtel STOYANOVICH JONVAS (Lithuania, Ignas Jonynas, Lithuania IVANOV, NEVENA The Krzysztof Kies- International Fan- Latvia, Ukraine, ) KERTOVA lowski ScripTeast tastic Film Festival, Adina Sadeanu, Romania Directed by Award, Cannes 2016; 2018; Golden Duke for LACHEZAR Dimitar Stoyanovich, Bulgaria Directed by Silver Peacock for National Competition AVRAMOV Lachezar Avramov, Bulgaria STANISLAV Best Actress, Inter- Program, Odessa (Bulgaria) DONCHEV (Bulgaria) national Film Festival Paweł Wendorff, Poland International Film Fes- of India, 2018; Golden tival, 2018; Ukrainian Karolina Lech, Poland Duke for Best Acting, Film Critics Awards for Odessa International Best Actress, 2018; Film Festival, 2018; Discoveries section at Ukrainian Film Critics Warsaw International Award for Discovery Film Festival, 2018

60 61 XI SCRIPTEAST XII SCRIPTEAST IN PRODUCTION IN PRODUCTION 2016—2017 IN PRODUCTION 2017—2018

Ádám Császi, Hungary Arkadiusz Biedrzycki, Poland Iván Szabó, Hungary Bartłomiej Konarski, Poland Kuba Czekaj, Poland Sandra Buchta, Poland Svetoslav Draganov, Bulgaria Kasia Adamik, Poland Bogomil Dimitrov, Bulgaria Piotr Domalewski, Poland THE LAST AFRIKA Nikolai Lavreniuk, Belarus WATERFALL CEO Sasha (Oleksandra) Siarhei Kalasouski, Belarus Lavrenchuk, Ukraine TRAIN FROM MAYA VITKOVA SVETOSLAV DRAGANOV Bulgaria Anna Kazejak, Poland Bulgaria Matej Mináč, Czech Republic PRAGUE Przemek Nowakowski, Poland David Mináč, Czech Republic

Kristina Majova (Duffkova), Czech Republic Tomasz Mielnik, Poland MATEJ MINÁČ, Zuzana Špidlová, Czech Republic András Salamon, Hungary DAVID MINÁČ Maris Martinsons, Latvia Michal Samir, Czech Republic Czech Republic THE SLEEPING Cristian Pascariu, Romania Rati Tsiteladze, Georgia Bohdana Smyrnova, Ukraine Nino Varsimashvili, Georgia BEAST George Varsimashvili, Georgia Aidi Vallik, Estonia Agnieszka Zwiefka, Poland Maya Vitkova, Bulgaria AIDI VALLIK Estonia

62 63 XIII SCRIPTEAST XIV SCRIPTEAST 2018—2019 IN PRODUCTION 2019—2020

Adina Dulcu, Romania Elżbieta Benkowska, Poland Lena Góra, Poland Jacek Piotr Bławut, Poland Olga Chajdas, Poland STILLBORN Gergely Fonyo, Hungary Diana Groó, Hungary Eliška Kováříková, Czech Republic Written by LENA GÓRA IN PRODUCTION Barbora Námerová, and OLGA CHAJDAS Štěpán Altrichter, Czech Republic Tereza Nvotová, Slovakia Poland Pavo Marinković, Croatia Ivan Marinović, Montenegro Teodora Markova, Bulgaria Rusudan Pirveli, Georgia Georgi Ivanov, Bulgaria Zuzanna Solakiewicz, Poland Nevena Kertova, Bulgaria Zornitsa Sophia, Bulgaria THE NIGHTSIREN Maciej Sobieszczański, Poland LOVABLE Miglena Dimova, Bulgaria Grzegorz Puda, Poland Ivars Tontegode, Latvia Written by BARBORA NAM- Written by EROVA, TEREZA NVOTOVA Darko Štante, Slovenia STANISLAVS TOKA- Rene Turtledove, Latvia Slovakia Vlastimir Sudar, Serbia LOVS, WALDEMAR Vardan Tozija, North Macedonia Yana Titova, Bulgaria KALINOVSKI Darijan Pejovski, North Macedonia Stanislavs Tokalovs, Latvia Latvia Michał Walczak, Poland FOREVER HOLD Waldemar Kalinovski, Latvia Maria Wojtyszko, Poland YOUR PEACE

Written by IVAN MARINOVIC Montenegro

64 65 THE INDEPENDENT FILM FOUNDATION SCRIPTEAST

ScripTeast is a master programme designed for the best from Central and Eastern Europe. It aims to provide assistance in the development of the script as The Independent Film Foundation was established in 1999 to promote creativity and the production of films of high artistic value, and to create opportunities for artistic well as broadening the writers’ knowledge of the demands of international production. and professional development of filmmakers. The founder of the Independent Film Foundation is Dariusz Jabłoński, director and producer. The authors of the 10-12 selected scripts are invited for a year-long programme consisting of: Foundation is led by Violetta Kamińska, General Manager of ScripTeast and Izabela Wójcik, General Manager of the Eagles. Besides Foundation, they carry on wide international production activities through their companies: Apple Film 01. stationary lab based on one-to-one meetings Production and Message Film. All three are members of Polish and European Film with Creative Advisors in Poland, Academies. Since its inception the Foundation has managed the Polish Film Acade- 02. a mid-term evaluation session during Berlinale, my Awards Eagles. It was the initiative of the Foundation to establish the Polish Film Academy in 2003, whose members are all active Polish filmmakers. Members of the 03. final session during Cannes Film Festival, academy grant the Eagles awards in a two-stage vote, supervised by PwC. where the ScripTeast Award bearing the name The Foundation was also the initiator and organizer of the Polish-Czech-Slovak Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival and the Central European Cinema during the of legendary director and scriptwriter Berlin Film Festival. Krzysztof Kieślowski, is given to the best script, 04. two online follow-up consultation sessions. The Independent Film Foundation also co-organizes international meetings and conferences, of which the most important project was an Audiovisual Training Forum in Warsaw, co-organized with CARTOON and funded by the European Union and The first session in Poland is dedicated to seeing a script from the multiple perspec- United International Pictures. tives of creative advisors and initiating contacts between the best writers in the region. The sessions during Berlinale and Cannes Film Festival are focused on trends in world Since 2006 the Foundation has run ScripTeast – an annual program for experienced cinema at festivals, an extension of contacts and international promotion of scripts and writers, whose mission is to help writers of Eastern and Central Europe overcome their authors and an industry presentation. obstacles they encounter and promote their screenplays among the world’s best producers. The program is the result of a five-year long cooperation with Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute within Central European Scriptwriters Lab. Application deadline: July 31-st, each year

66 67 Krzysztof Kieslowski, our great master, ORGANIZED BY patron, friend would have turned 80 now. He was one of the world’s most influential art-house filmmakers. Initially worked on documentaries and some tv productions. In the mid-70s, Kieslowski started directing feature films. His first films were influenced WITH THE SUPPORT OF by the social realism of his documentaries.

„Everyone wants to change the world whenever they make the effort to do something. I don’t think I ever believed the world could be changed in the literal sense IN PARTNERSHIP WITH of the phrase. I thought the world could be described.”

PATRONAGE OF KRZYSZTOF KIESLOWSKI

68 INDEPENDENT FILM FOUNDATION

Marii Kazimiery 23E 01-670 Warsaw, Poland phone: +48 22 851 84 40 mobile +48 501 299 276 [email protected]

www.scripteast.pl www.facebook.com/scripteast STRIP YOUR SCRIPT. MAKE IT BETTER. WE WILL IT TAKE WORLDWIDE www.instagram.com/script_east