Czech State Cinematography Fund announced production grants for eleven documentaries with major Czech participation on 25 July 2017.

They act as agents to the industry and as ambassadors to the audience. Regardless of how film agents are introduced, their aim is one: bringing film and audience together.

Turning an idea into a film is a long way and even longer to reach an audience. Who is following that road? Directors, screenwriters, producers, actors, sound engineers and many more. But what makes their work possible at all? And, how does the film eventually reach not only great festivals but, most importantly, the viewer? This is a specialty of film agents, the participants of the SOFA workshop.

 SOFA exactly stands for
- a professional workshop for up-and-coming film professionals who support, finance and promote film culture in the country of their origin
- creating a dialogue between the film industry and the audience
- turning ideas into innovative projects
- providing consultations with professionals
- establishing international cooperation
- helping in finding financial support for projects’ development and implementation

 For all above reasons SOFA – School of Film Agents has established a tailor-made workshop for “agents“ – the ambassadors of film culture. It is this year being held from August 27 to September 1 for the 5thtime (and for the 1st time in Polish capital Warsaw).

 Who are this year’s participants and what kind of projects do they bring with them?

 * Agnieszka Sękowska, Poland → Producer’s MAP (Mentoring Action Plan)
A mentorship programme dedicated to emerging producers that guides them through film festivals and trainings fitted to their career profile and projects.

 * Nikolai Lavreniuk, Belarus → Belarusian Film Promotion Centre
Promotion Centre that empowers the Belarusian film industry and makes it more visible on the global cinema map.

 * Liina Maria Lepik, Estonia → Tallinn Film Wonderland
Initiated by the Estonian producers, film hub with region’s biggest studio complex situated on the territory of a historical cotton factory.

 * Nino Chichua, Georgia → Film/TV Production Cost Calculator for Georgia
An online tool for international producers that estimates budgets when considering filming in Georgia.

 * Angelos Tsaousis, Greece → DocRepublic
A documentary film centre that aims at creating platform for expressing ideas, initiating public dialogue and making social changes through film.

 * Gitit Wainer, Israel → Cine-Reflection – Films as a Reflection of Life
A first Israeli project presented at SOFAorganizes educating film programmes for the local youth.

 * Tara Karajica, Serbia → Fade to Her – Center for Women in Film
Creating an institution that focuses on supporting women in the Serbian film industry.

5thSOFA workshop in 2017 and 2018

The workshop will consist of two parts. The first one will be held in Warsaw, Poland between 27 August and 1 September 2017. The second one in Tbilisi, Georgia (22 – 28 April 2018). Being assisted by experienced film industry professionals the participants will focus in Warsaw on developing their projects that give structural support to the local film industry. The period between Warsaw and Tbilisi will be dedicated to implementing gained knowledge and experience into action. The final part in Georgia will concentrate on follow-ups as well as on lectures on aspects of financing and promotion.

The list of participants and their projects were announced by SOFA director Nikolaj Nikitin featuring Tara Karajica (this year’s SOFA participant from Serbia) assisted by SOFA’s Greece advisor Amanda Livanou, SOFA’s friend Katrin Kissa from Tallinn at Miroslav Mogorović’s (producer, programme director of the European Film Festival Palić and SOFA mentor) European Film Festival Palić on 20 July 2017.

SOFA – School of Film Agents is a joint project of Filmplus gUG (Cologne), Institute for Democratic Changes (Tbilisi) and Takes Film (Tbilisi), funded by German Federal Foreign Office and Creative Europe – MEDIA Programme of the European Union. The 2017 Georgian workshop was funded also by Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia, Tbilisi City Hall, Georgia National Film Centre and Film in Georgia. The 2017 Polish workshop will be also funded by: Polish Film Institute, Foundation of Polish-German Cooperation and Mazovia Warsaw Film Commission. The organisers wish to thank also the other partners: Meeting Point Vilnius, Karlovy Vary IFF, European Film Festival Palić, Goethe-Institut, Mozinet, EAVE and Israel Film Fund.

SOFA School of Film Agents, 
Nikolaj Nikitin, c/o Filmplus gUG, Venloer Straße 214, 50823 Köln, Germany

Press Contact:
oliver bernau pr, Oliver Bernau, mobile +49 176 2020 2909, email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.joinsofa.org/
www.facebook.com/SchoolofFilmAgents/

We already know the selection results for the Short Film Competition of the 42nd Polish Film Festival.

The Short Film Competition was created as a combination of two earlier competitions held as part of the Gdynia Festival – the Short Film Competition and the Young Cinema Competition. Films that have been qualified for the competition have been made by four film schools, a theatre academy and numerous producers, including those debuting as part of the “30 minutes” project implemented by the Munk Studio of the Polish Filmmakers Association.

SHORT FILM COMPETITION OF THE 42ND POLISH FILM FESTIVAL:

• 60 Kilos of Nothing, directing: Piotr Domalewski, production: Munk Studio of the Polish Filmmakers Association, executive producer: Silver Frame
• Badylok, directing: Karolina Kłapkowska, production: Silesian University in Katowice, Krzysztof Kieślowski Radio and Television Faculty
• Play-Off, directing: Tomasz Gąssowski, production: Munk Studio of the Polish Filmmakers Association, executive producer: Odeon Film Studio
• Casting, directing: Katarzyna Iskra, production: Gdynia Film School
• F63.9, directing: Jarosław Sztandera, production: Munk Studio of the Polish Filmmakers Association, executive producer: Absolut Media
• Dregs, directing: Kordian Kądziela, production: Silesian University in Katowice, Krzysztof Kieślowski Radio and Television Faculty
• Heimat, directing: Emi Buchwald, production: Łódź Film School
• Me and My Father, directing: Aleksander Pietrzak, production: Munk Studio of the Polish Filmmakers Association, executive producer: Aurum Film
• Jerry, directing: Roman Przylipiak, production: Munk Studio of the Polish Filmmakers Association, executive producer: Haka Films
• Stone Bread, directing: Sandeep Balhara, Klaudiusz Chrostowski, Taras Dron, Nastazja Gonera, Daniel Howlid, Kamil Krukowski, Robin Lipo, Aleksandra Maciejczyk, Justyna Mytnik, Eugeniusz Pankov, Joanna Satanowska, Marcin Strauchold, Maciej Rotowski, Mo Tan, production: Łódź Film School
• Time to go, directing: Grzegorz Mołda, production: Gdynia Film School
• Short distance, directing: Giovanni Pierangeli, production: Łódź Film School
• Lev, directing: Tymur Jaszczenko, production: Munk Studio of the Polish Filmmakers Association, executive producer: MKK Film Service
• Silence of the Polish Lambs, directing: Maciej Stuhr, production: Akademia Teatralna im. A. Zelwerowicza w Warszawie
• The Best Fireworks Ever, directing: Aleksandra Terpińska, production: Munk Studio of the Polish Filmmakers Association
• My Name Is Julita, directing: Filip Dzierżawski, production: Munk Studio of the Polish Filmmakers Association, executive producer: Rubber Room Films
• Nothing New Under the Sun, directing: Damian Kocur, production: Silesian University in Katowice, Krzysztof Kieślowski Radio and Television Faculty
• Pars pro toto, directing: Katarzyna Łęcka, production: Munk Studio of the Polish Filmmakers Association
• Pola, directing: Edyta Rembała, production: Gdynia Film School
• Wasteland, directing: Jakub Michnikowski, production: Łódź Film School
• Spitsbergen, directing: Michał Szcześniak, production: Munk Studio of the Polish Filmmakers Association, executive producer: 34Film!
• Total Harmony, directing: Roman Jarosz, production: Munk Studio of the Polish Filmmakers Association, executive producer: Alter Ego Pictures
• Sweet Home Czyżewo, directing: Jakub Radej, production: Silesian University in Katowice, Krzysztof Kieślowski Radio and Television Faculty
• W grudniu po południu, directing: Filip Bojarski, production: Łódź Film School
• Liberation, directing: Veronica Andersson, production: Warsaw Film School
• The Frog King, directing: Arek Biedrzycki, production: Silesian University in Katowice, Krzysztof Kieślowski Radio and Television Faculty

The 42nd Polish Film Festival will be held from 18th to 23rd September 2017.

More on the competition films

The Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Polish Film Festival, Pomeranian Film Foundation & Gdynia Film School have announced the 3rd edition of the Common Baltic Short Film Contest, centred around the universal theme of the Baltic Sea region.  

The organisers invite participants to engage in creative pursuits and answering the questions: how has the Baltic Sea region been changing in terms of arts, society, politics and economy? Is there a common identity shared by the countries from the Baltic Sea region? Does the Baltic Sea unite or perhaps divide the nations living at its coasts?

The authors of four best films will be awarded a video camera each and an invitation to the Polish Film Festival.

The contest is open to all participants, both professionals and amateurs aged 18 and over from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany and Poland. Films one to five minutes long may be submitted.  Films may be submitted by no later than 11 August 2017 via an online submission form available on the Adam Mickiewicz Institute website. 

More information, the submission form and terms & conditions available at: 
http://culture.pl/en/article/common-baltic-short-film-contest-3rd-edition
or HERE. 

The eighth edition of New Horizons Studio+ will take place 5-8 August during the 17th

T-Mobile New Horizons International Film Festival (3-13 August 2017).

New Horizons Studio+, organized by the New Horizons Association and Creative Europe Desk Polska, involves four days of workshops and lectures on various aspects related to the promotion and development of projects. Its main task is to provide young professionals with knowledge about the international film market, as well as to help them in determining their career paths.

New Horizons Studio+ is introducing a lot of innovations this year.

We are proud to announce that we have a wonderful new partner: EAVE. This is one of the leading professional training, project development and networking organization in Europe, and is also the organizer of the EAVE Producers Workshop and the EAVE Marketing Workshop.

The British Council will also be a partner this year. A special guest from the United Kingdom will give a lecture as part of Creativity Talks.

We are happy to continue working with the London Film Academy, one of our long-time partners.

Our partnership with the Romanian Institute of Culture, German Films and the Austrian Cultural Forum also provides invaluable support.

This year's lineup of lecturers includes the following outstanding experts: David Pope (London Film Academy); Alya Belgaroui(EAVE), sales agent representing Wild Bunch; Aranka Matits (EAVE), representing Featurette; Mark Lautman from Intermission Film; Raquel Cabrera from The Film Agency; Jakub Duszyńskifrom Gutek Film; and Jan Naszewski from New Europe Film Sales.

Media partners include Film & TV Kamera, Film Pro and Film New Europe.

Having changed its format this year, Studio New Horizons+ will be for director-producer pairs who are developing their first or second feature film. There will be 10 participants from Poland and 10 from Hungary, Austria, Germany, Romania, and the United Kingdom.

Below is a full list of selected participants and projects. Heartfelt congratulations to everyone!

Bailout, Folks! 
Marek Lechki    
Maciej Kubicki

Fisheye              
Michał Szcześniak
Ewa Turczańska

Glorious Empire             
Matt Szymanowski
Agnieszka Wasiak

Najmro
Mateusz Rakowicz
Kuba Kosma

The Sybil            
Zuzanna Solakiewicz
Marta Golba

Ego Ego (Germany)       
Leonie Minor
Zora Rux

The Fall (UK)
Weronika Tofilska
Chris Hees

Impromptu (Hungary)
Zoltán Nagy     
Gábor Osváth

October (Romania)
Cristian Pascariu      
Cristiana Mitea

Queens (Austria)
Stefan Bohun   
David Bohun 

The awards of the 64th Pula Film Festival were presented today.

The Grand Golden Arena for Best Festival Film was presented to the film A Brief Excursion, directed by Igor Bezinović, by the production house Studio Pangolin, produced by Igor Bezinović. The Golden Gate of Pula, the Festival's audience award, was presented to the film ZG80, directed by Igor Šeregi, by the production house Kinoteka, produced by Ljubo Zdjelarević.

The list of all award winners and photographs from the award ceremony can be found at http://www.pulafilmfestival.hr/en/nagrade-64-pulskog-filmskog-festivala.