Take a closer look at the Romanian documentary Too Close / Apropierea directed by Botond Püsök, which was selected for the 17th edition of Ex Oriente Film out of a record number of 107 submitted projects from 40 countries.
WARSAW: FNE has teamed up with the Brussels based team of the International Union of Cinemas (UNIC) to bring you regular updates on EU cinema policies that impact all industry professionals across Europe. Click here for FNE UNIC EU Cinema Policy Update.
Copyright enforcement
09/01: European Commission steps up protection of European intellectual property in global markets – European Commission
The European Commission published the latest report on protection and enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in third countries.
EU Digital Services Act (DSA)
07/01: EDiMA calls for a new Online Responsibility Framework - EDiMA
EDiMA, the voice of the leading internet companies and the most popular internet products in Europe, is calling on the European Commission to introduce a new Online Responsibility Framework. This framework will help internet companies to respond to the growing demands to do more to tackle illegal content online.
European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO)
10/01: European Audiovisual Observatory rings in its new Moroccan Presidency for 2020! - EAO
The Strasbourg-based Observatory is part of the Council of Europe and has been providing facts and figures on the film, television and video industries in Europe since 1992. The Observatory’s yearly rotating presidency changes every January. In 2019 the Presidency was held by Italy.
Digital taxation
18/12: Parliament keeps up pressure to tax digital economy more fairly – European Parliament
MEPs press EU to engage fully in international efforts to tax the digital economy, while still being prepared to act at EU level if global plans fail.
Sustainability
23/12: Circular economy – new action plan to increase recycling and reuse of products in the EU – European Commission
The new action plan is meant to speed up the EU’s transition towards a circular economy.
Council of the EU
27/12: The Programme of the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union adopted today – EU 2020 HR
Croatia took over the rotating Council Presidency from Finland on 1 January 2020. For the next six months, the country wants to focus on sustainable development, a networked economy, safety and positioning Europe as a global leader.
European Capital of Cultures
03/01: 2020 European Capitals of Culture: Rijeka and Galway – European Commission
As of 1 January 2020, Rijeka (Croatia) and Galway (Ireland) will hold the title of European Capital of Culture for one year.
Events
20-21 January: CULT Committee meeting, Brussels
22-23 January: ITRE Committee meeting, Brussels
22-23 January: IMCO Committee meeting, Brussels
4 February: European Audiovisual Observatory conference – “TV and film production in Europe – the state of independence?”, Brussels
10 February (TBC): Sixth European Commission copyright stakeholders’ dialogue, Brussels
18 February: Save the Date – UNIC conference at the European Parliament, Brussels
Czech-Irish-Polish-Slovak co-production feature Charlatan, directed by world-famous author Agnieszka Holland, will celebrate its world premiere in the Berlinale Special Gala section (Berlinale Palast) at Berlinale 2020.
Celebrated director Agnieszka Holland (Mr. Jones, Spoor, Burning Bush, In Darkness, Europa Europa) returns to Berlin with her brand-new biographical drama Charlatan, produced by Šárka Cimbalová, Kevan Van Thompson / Marlene Film Production (CZ), and co-produced by Film and Music Entertainment (IE), Madants (PL), Furia Film (SK), Czech Television (CZ), Barrandov Studio (CZ), Radio and Television of Slovakia (SK), CertiCon (CZ) and Magiclab (CZ).
Charlatan will celebrate its world premiere in the new section Berlinale Special Gala (curator: Carlo Chatrian). As a project in development, the film was also presented during Berlinale Co-production Market 2017.
ABOUT THE FILM
Holland tells a true story of Jan Mikolášek, a Czech healer and extraordinary man, who fights his own demons. Good and evil. Love and hate, cruelty and mercy, loyalty and betrayal. All in one person against a background of historical twists...
Read more about the production of the film HERE.
FUNDING
Charlatan was supported by the Czech Film Fund in both development and production stages (EUR 522 745), but also by Polish Film Institute, Slovak Audiovisual Fund, Prague Film Fund and in the Czech Film Fund's incentive programme as well.
New short film project by Mateusz Pacewicz, the writer of Polish international hit Corpus Christi, will be presented at When East Meets West, together with new projects by award-winning filmmakers: Estonian Madli Laane, Nikos Tseberopoulos from Greece and Serbian Svetislav Dragomirovic.
MIDPOINT Shorts, our leading program dedicated to script and project development of short films, will conclude in Trieste with its second workshop and a showcase followed by a networking platform.
The program is led by Czech director and script consultant Pavel Marek who is accompanied by Lithuanian producer tutor Marija Razgute.
The program of the final workshop (out of two in total) includes group meetings, individual consultations, lectures and pitching training.
The participants will have the unique opportunity to pitch their short film projects in front of the audience full of experts from the short film industry.
The project showcase of MIDPOINT Shorts will take place within When East Meets West co-production forum on Monday, January 20, 2020 from 15:00 to 16:00 in hotel Savoia.
For the accredited guests of WEMW.
Please bear in mind that the seating capacity is limited. In case of a serious interest, please reserve your seat by sending an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Following projects will be presented:
Team Building / Poland
Mateusz Pacewicz / writer, director
Ludka Kierczak / producer
Jungle.Law / Estonia
Madli Lääne / writer, director
Anneli Ahven / producer
Soul Food / Greece
Nikos Tseberopoulos / writer, director
Eleni Kossyfidou / producer
Tell No One / Serbia
Svetislav Dragomirovic / writer, director
Nevena Savic / producer
Click here for more information about the workshop and the program.
MIDPOINT Happy Hour at WEMW
You are warmly welcome to join us for a glass of wine on Monday, January 20 in Trieste and meet the faces of MIDPOINT! It will be the perfect opportunity to meet all the participants, tutors as well as the team.
MIDPOINT Happy Hour / Monday, January 20 / 16.30 - 17.30 at the Library of Hotel Savoia Excelsior Palace
Meet us!
MIDPOINT team is traveling to Trieste Film Festival and When East Meets West co-production forum, get in touch to schedule a meeting!
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., MIDPOINT Director
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., MIDPOINT Feature Launch & Shorts Program Coordinator
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., MIDPOINT Feature Launch Head of Studies This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., MIDPOINT TV Launch Program Coordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., MIDPOINT Program Coordinator
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., MIDPOINT Promotion
MIDPOINT Shorts 2019-2020 is realized with the support of Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic and Czech Film Fund. It is presented in cooperation with When East Meets West. MIDPOINT operates under the auspices of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.
At Rotterdam International Film Festival 2020, four Czech films and co-productions will be part of official selection. The documentary The Alchemical Furnace by Adam Ol'ha and Jan Daňhel will celebrate its world premiere in Deep Focus, along with Icelandic-Swedish-Czech co-production documentary The Vasulka Effect. Communism and the Net or the End of Representative Democracy, directed by Karel Vachek, will be screened in The Tyger Burns section and Mira Fornay will present her new drama Cook F**k Kill in Voices.
Czech films at Rotterdam IFF 2020
THE ALCHEMICAL FURNACE
DEEP FOCUS: Regained
World Premiere
Czech Republic, Slovak Republic 2020 / 117 min
Directed by: Jan Daňhel, Adam Oľha
Produced by: Jaromír Kallista, Jan Švankmajer / Athanor (CZ)
Co-produced by: Zuzana Mistríková, Ľubica Orechovská / PubRes (SK)
Jan Švankmajer at 85 years of age is one of the most prominent artists of European cinema. His work has inspired and guided generations of directors, and his work represents a sharp and merciless exploration of human nature which is entirely unique. Films such as Alice, Faust and Little Otik changed forever the image of stop-motion and opened a world of possibilities in terms of the representation of the inner self. Over three years, directors Adam Oľha and Jan Daňhel followed the life of Jan Švankmajer, from his collaboration with old friend and producer Jaromír Kallista to his memory of Eva Švankmajerová, his wife and creative partner, muse and inseparable other half of the director. Shot on various film formats, using found footage and with a touch of Czech humor, The Alchemical Furnace is an ode to creation and to companionship.
READ MORE ABOUT JAN ŠVANKMAJER'S INSECT
SCREENINGS
SUN 01/26 | 22:15 | Cinerama 7 (Press)
TUE 01/28 | 18:45 | Cinema 5
WED 01/29 | 10:45 | Pathé 6
THU 01/30 | 20:45 | LantarenVenster 3
SALES & FESTIVALS
Pavla Kallistová / Athanor
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+420 603 499 828
Ľubica Orechovská / PubRes
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+421 905 639 429
COMMUNISM AND THE NET OR THE END OF REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
THE TYGER BURNS
Czech Republic, Slovak Republic 2019 / 335 min
Directed by: Karel Vachek
Produced by: Mikuláš Novotný, Radim Procházka / Background Films (CZ)
Co-produced by: Atelier.doc (SK), Czech Television (CZ), UPP (CZ)
The six-hour essay in four parts examines the history of regimes and revolutions, leaders and martyrs, from a philosophical perspective. The collage of personal memories, staged scenes and archives of collective memory compares the Prague Spring to the Velvet Revolution and shows the exposure, conflict, crisis, and catharsis of the post-communist society. Democracy can be saved through creative laughter, dissolving the untouchability and hypertrophic egos of the representatives of state institutions. The Internet frees the society from representatives of the non-functional connecting link that prevents direct communication between citizens and institutions of power.
GET INSIDE THE MIND OF KAREL VACHEK
TRAILER
SCREENINGS
SAT 01/25 | 17:00 | LantarenVenster 4
SUN 01/26 | 09:30 | Cinerama 7
SALES & FESTIVALS
Mikuláš Novotný / Background Films
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+420 777 910 290
COOK F**K KILL
VOICES
Czech Republic, Slovak Republic 2019 / 116 min
Directed by: Mira Fornay
Produced by: Viktor Schwarcz / Cineart TV Prague (CZ), Mira Fornay / Mirafox (SK)
Co-produced by: Czech Television (CZ), Radio and Television Slovakia (SK), Synergia Film (CZ)
Jaroslav, a handsome and seemingly good-natured son, father and a decent husband, is, as a matter of fact, pathologically jealous of his wife Blanka. He is very much afraid that one day she would leave him together with their three children. Jaroslav and his family don´t hesitate to employ violence, deceit and terror against others, which ultimately leads to a family tragedy.
READ MORE ABOUT MIRA FORNAY
TRAILER
SCREENINGS
SUN 01/26 | 17:30 | LantarenVenster 3
MON 01/27 | 09:30 | Cinerama 6
TUE 01/28 | 22:30 | de Doelen Jurriaanse Zaal
SAT 02/01 | 09:00 | Pathé 2
SALES & FESTIVALS
Karina Korenblum / Cercamon
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+420 603 880 048
Czech co-productions at Rotterdam IFF 2020
THE VASULKA EFFECT
DEEP FOCUS: Regained
Iceland, Sweden, Czech Republic 2019 / 85 min
Directed by: Hrafnhildur Gunnarsdóttir
Produced by: Sagafilm (IS), Krumma Films (IS)
Co-produced by: Sveriges Television (SE), Produkce Radim Procházka (CZ), Česká televize (CZ), Bullitt Film (DK), Nonami AB (SE)
The life and work of pioneers of video art Steina and Woody Vasulka. Their history with video dates back to the late 60 ́s when they lived and worked in New York. Some have called them the grandparents of the “YouTube generation”, or “grandparents of video art”, seem forgotten by the art world. With humor and serenity, they are struggling with finances and how to leave their media archives to the world. We start to understand the major impact video had on art and society from the 60 ́s until now, a period referred to as the second renaissance, where media art contributed to the decentralization of art and corporate media. With only a handful of allies we see them being rediscovered by art collectors and museums.
SCREENINGS
THU 01/23 | 12:30 | LantarenVenster 4
SAT 01/25 | 21:30 | KINO 2
FRI 01/31 | 09:15 | Cinerama 4
SALES & FESTIVALS
Juno Films
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+1 (609) 933-1806
Czech Film Center operates as a division of the Czech Film Fund
BERLIN: Projects and producers from Romania, Poland, Croatia and Bulgaria have been selected for the Berlinale Co-Production Market (22-26 February 2020).
New short film project by Mateusz Pacewicz, the writer of Polish international hit Corpus Christi, will be presented at When East Meets West, together with new projects by award-winning filmmakers: Estonian Madli Laane, Nikos Tseberopoulos from Greece and Serbian Svetislav Dragomirovic.
MIDPOINT Shorts, our leading program dedicated to script and project development of short films, will conclude in Trieste with its second workshop and a showcase followed by a networking platform.
The program is led by Czech director and script consultant Pavel Marek who is accompanied by Lithuanian producer tutor Marija Razgute.
The program of the final workshop (out of two in total) includes group meetings, individual consultations, lectures and pitching training.
The participants will have the unique opportunity to pitch their short film projects in front of the audience full of experts from the short film industry.
The project showcase of MIDPOINT Shorts will take place within When East Meets West co-production forum on Monday, January 20, 2020 from 15:00 to 16:00 in hotel Savoia.
For the accredited guests of WEMW.
Please bear in mind that the seating capacity is limited. In case of a serious interest, please reserve your seat by sending an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Following projects will be presented:
Team Building / Poland
Mateusz Pacewicz / writer, director
Ludka Kierczak / producer
Jungle.Law / Estonia
Madli Lääne / writer, director
Anneli Ahven / producer
Soul Food / Greece
Nikos Tseberopoulos / writer, director
Eleni Kossyfidou / producer
Tell No One / Serbia
Svetislav Dragomirovic / writer, director
Nevena Savic / producer
Click here for more information about the workshop and the program.
MIDPOINT Happy Hour at WEMW
You are warmly welcome to join us for a glass of wine on Monday, January 20 in Trieste and meet the faces of MIDPOINT! It will be the perfect opportunity to meet all the participants, tutors as well as the team.
MIDPOINT Happy Hour / Monday, January 20 / 16.30 - 17.30 at the Library of Hotel Savoia Excelsior Palace
Meet us!
MIDPOINT team is traveling to Trieste Film Festival and When East Meets West co-production forum, get in touch to schedule a meeting!
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., MIDPOINT Director
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., MIDPOINT Feature Launch & Shorts Program Coordinator
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., MIDPOINT Feature Launch Head of Studies This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., MIDPOINT TV Launch Program Coordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., MIDPOINT Program Coordinator
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., MIDPOINT Promotion
MIDPOINT Shorts 2019-2020 is realized with the support of Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic and Czech Film Fund. It is presented in cooperation with When East Meets West. MIDPOINT operates under the auspices of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.
The program designed by When East Meets West in collaboration with MIDPOINT is announcing its first-ever participants.
MIDPOINT Cold Open targets independent producers, with a background in feature film producing, aspiring to shift to high quality television content and offers a diverse selection of participating countries.
The program runs within When East Meets West 2020 in Trieste, Italy and will be led by tutors Gabor Krigler (HU), Steve Matthews (UK), Nebojsa Taraba (HR) and Meinholf Zurhorst (DE).
For the 3-day workshop, 10 European producers have been selected.
And who are they?
Karin Berghammer / Austria
Claudia Schröter / Germany
Eva Blondiau / Germany
Johannes Jancke / Germany
Vasilis Chrysanthopoulos / Greece
Luigi Giuseppe Chimienti / Italy
Nadia Trevisan / Italy
Radu Stancu / Romania
Dragana Jovovic / Serbia
Natalia Libet / Ukraine
Within the program, two lectures will be open to When East Meets West guests:
Gabor Krigler: The Idea to Spawn a Thousand Stories (And How to Run With It)
Nebojsa Taraba: How to Switch from Sprint to Marathon
For more information about the program, its participants and lectures, click here.
MIDPOINT Cold Open is realized in partnership with When East Meets West. MIDPOINT operates under the auspices of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.
Czech cinema returns to the Oscars' red carpet! Daughter, directed by Daria Kashcheeva, produced by Zuzana Roháčová / FAMU and co-produced by MAUR film has been nominated for an Oscar in the category Animated Short Film.
Our Daughter is a dream of every parent. She is doing well and makes the parents happy. She grew up in the modest environment, but early on she confidently went to the world. In addition, her spiritual mother Daria Kascheeva is a great person and a talented filmmaker, which would make every producer happy. She gave birth to a remarkable film" said Martin Vandas, co-producer of the film.
Daugter's director, FAMU student Daria Kashcheeva, continues in a series of fantastic achievements. In the past months, Kashcheeva's film won the major prize at the world’s biggest animation film festival in Annecy, the student Oscar and it was also invited to more than 60 festivals all over the world, including Toronto IFF, Sundance IFF, Melbourne IFF or Tallinn BNFF.
Read more in the article HERE.
Check the TRAILER.
