This year marks the 10th anniversary of dok.incubator, a decade in which the film workshop worked with 159 documentaries and led many of them to awards at the world's top festivals. The latest 8 films developed in 2021 are now ready to be presented at the annual dok.incubator preview which will take place on Sunday, November 21 during IDFA, Amsterdam.

The films selected for the 2021 edition of dok.incubator deal with different themes, show various ways of storytelling and very different countries which the filmmakers come from, including Venezuela, Nordic countries, Spain or Eastern Europe. There is a story of a single mother, searching justice and safety for her kids (film Too Close), a personal documentary of an activist fighting for animal rights (film We Are Animals) or the life journey of a political prisoner and his family (film My Father’s Prison). That makes this year’s films a perfect representation of the diversity of both, documentaries, and today’s world.

The preview showcase takes place on Sunday, November 21 at 5 PM CET at the Netherlands Film Academy Amsterdam (by invitation only). All eight films presented at dok.incubator preview are ready to premiere soon and start their festival lives. Thanks to the success of previous dok.incubator films, the expectations are very high. Over the past 10 years the workshop has helped 12 films to get into Sundance competitions, 30 films were screened at IDFA and 5 were nominated for the European Film Award. "The workshop participants go from working on the cut to thinking through the complex journey of the film, which they've never done before. They're not only looking at the story, but also at the audience, marketing, and distribution. They go so much further, and when the film is finished, it can successfully make its way through the system," adds Andrea Prenghyová, the workshop founder and director.

That is also the case of three dok.incubator films which premiered in 2021 and were selected in this year’s IDFA festival sections. Don’t miss screenings of How to Kill a Cloud (awarded at Locarno festival), Reconciliation (awarded at CPH:DOX) and Intensive Live Unit (awarded at Karlovy Vary IFF).

Selected films for dok.incubator 2021 edition can be found here.

The shooting of the Slovenian part of the feature-length puppet stop motion animation (Un)Desirable Things, directed by Leon Vidmar, has started at the Viba Film Studio. The film crew has 108 days of shooting ahead of it, which is to take place from early January to mid-June 2022. Based on a literary work by the Czech writer Arnošt Goldflam, the screenplay was written by Kaja Jerneja Balog and Maja Križnik. 

In the Slovenian part of the film, we follow the daily routine of the grumpy widower Bogdan. One day, his routine gets interrupted by a sudden gust of wind that carries away his newspaper as he is overcome by nostalgia on his wife’s grave. Zarja, a playful girl from the neighbourhood, watches the event and encourages Bogdan to chase after it. As he hops awkwardly after the newspaper, the wind fills his coat and carries him on a fantastic journey, from which he returns visibly transformed, his face glowing and his steps light and playful.

The narrative, based on elements of magical realism, will be realised in the classic technique of puppet stop motion animation, just like the director’s debut Farewell (2016). The film’s complex production design was developed over eight months by seven production designers, while the puppets were handmade by Patricia Oritz Martínez. 

The Slovenian part of the film is produced by Kolja Saksida from the Zavod ZVVIKS production company from Ljubljana, with Deja Škerjanc as associate producer. Miloš Srdić is the director of photography; Julia Peguet the main animator; Ivana Bošnjak and Leon Vidmar the animators; while the art director is Patricia Ortiz Martínez. The film’s production designers include Mateja Rojc, Simon Hudolin – Salči, Marko Turkuš, Bine Skrt, Jaka Kramberger, Neža Mekota, and Anja Gruden. The main characters of the film will be voiced by the actors Niko Goršič, Maša Derganc Veselko, Blaž Šef, and Asja Kahrimanović Babnik. 

The feature film (Un)Desirable Things is a screen adaptation of the stories by the Czech writer Arnošt Goldflam, produced by four internationally renowned producers: MAUR film (Czechia), Artichoke (Slovakia), Zavod ZVVIKS (Slovenia), and Vivement Lundi! (France). It consists of four stories, filmed in four European countries by four directors: David Súkup (Czechia), Patrik Pašš (Slovakia), Leon Vidmar (Slovenia), and Jean-Claude Rozec (France).

The Slovenian co-producer is RTV Slovenija, and the project has already been supported by Creative Europe MEDIA, the Czech Film Fund, the Slovak Audiovisual Fund, the Slovenian Film Centre, Bretagne Cinéma, TVR Tempo, the Czech Television, Viba Film Studio Ljubljana, and Eurimages.

ONLINE INDUSTRY PANEL DISCUSSION SCANDI 2022 

Date: online 25. 1. 2022 - during the SCANDI festival in Slovakia and Czech republic 

Time: 3:30pm – 6:00pm 

Info:  The discussion will be divided into three parts, each part will last about 45 minutes and will be held in  English language. 

Topic: Production, co-production, distribution, festival representation and education in the field of  Scandinavian cinema, reflected on BEST PRACTISE of the film Margrete, Queen of the North.  Defining, researching and discussing how it is possible that Scandinavian cinema has such a strong  reach, high standard and such a solid film ecosystem.  

1. part – Production of Scandinavian films, their politics, meaning, effectiveness and CASE  STUDY of the film Margrete, Queen of the North and festival representation of Scandinavian movies 
   Panelists: Birgitte Skov, Lea Aevars, Ivan Hronec, Dominik Hronec 
   Time: 3:30pm – 4:15pm 

2. part – Models of Scandinavian, Slovak and Czech cinemas – BEST PRACTISE of  Scandinavian cinema in the field of audiovisual education and festival representation
   Panelists: Petter Mattsson, Pavel Bednařík, Ivan Hronec, Dominik Hronec 
   Time: 4:20h – 5:05h 

3. part – What is it that Scandinavian cinema, despite its quantitative and geographical  smallness, has an important place not only in the history but also in the present of world  cinema? How is it possible that they have such a well-established system approach at all  levels?  
   Panelists: Wendy Mitchell, Martin Kudláč, Ivan Hronec, Dominik Hronec 
   Time: 5:10pm – 5:55pm

Panelists: 
Wendy Mitchell – Nordic correspondent for Screen International and Nordic festival delegate for San  Sebastian International Film Festival 
Lea Aevars - festival director RVK Feminist Film Festival, Iceland  
Birgitte Skov – producer of the film MARGRETE, QUEEN OF THE NORTH  Petter Mattsson – International Department, Swedish Film Institute  
Pavel Bednařík – director, Association for Film and Audiovisual Education in the Czech Republic  Martin Kudláč - Freelance Film Journalist, Cineuropa 
Ivan Hronec – moderator, CEO, Film Europe  
Dominik Hronec – moderator, Creative Director, Film Europe

The ‘new generation’ of When East Meets West kicks off in less than two weeks, on January 24, with a unique hybrid format that for the first time will combine digital connections and real emotions.

After revealing the Co-Production Forum project selection, WEMW is happy to finally unveil the complete line-up of the four sections targeting films in post-production stage: Last Stop Trieste, This is IT, First Cut+ and First Cut Lab Trieste.

Now in its eight edition, Last Stop Trieste, the fine cut section run together with the Trieste Film Festival, will present 6 creative documentaries that were previously selected in one of the partner platforms: Ex Oriente Film, Docu Rough Cut Boutique, Balkan Discoveries, Baltic Sea Docs, ZagrebDox Pro. All films will be in the running for the HBO Europe Award (cash prize of 1.000 EUR), Flow Digital Cinema Award, and the First Hand Fund Distribution Award (“1.000 bucks for the project that promises to make its audience laugh, cry, fall in love and learn something”). 

For the fifth edition, When East Meets West and Trieste Film Festival will renew the partnership with Milano Film Network for the section exclusively dedicated to feature films produced or co-produced by Italian producers. For the first time the final line-up will also feature two titles coming from the WEMW 2022 spotlight territories. This is IT will present in total 10 films - 7 fiction and 3 documentaries - ready for festival premiere/international distribution, all of them competing for the prestigious Laser Film Award.

For the third consecutive year, WEMW is proud to host the international works in progress section First Cut+ and to introduce to more than 80 sales and festival programmers registered to the market, 8 promising titles from Belgium, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Ukraine.

Alongside the works in progress sections dedicated to films seeking international distribution and festival premiere, WEMW will co-organize the eighth edition of First Cut Lab Trieste, a consultancy programme designed for 3 feature films in editing phase from the focus countries of WEMW. The selected teams will be offered a creative framework to help them open up new perspectives and explore the full artistic potential of their films.

Last but not least, the ‘new generation’ of WEMW is also happy to announce the 5 companies selected for the first edition of the Slate Market & EAVE Consultancies programme, and the 44 participants from 27 different countries  - selected out of 112 applications -  who will be part of the 5 brand-new WEMW Inspirational Labs run in collaboration with CEE Animation Workshop, ESoDoc, Eurovod and MIDPOINT Institute, and meant to stimulate producers to differentiate their business models, discover new formats and explore new markets.

WEMW is moreover proud to highlight the massive presence of projects and professionals coming from the East & West 2022 country focus: Russia & Canada, Ireland, UK, USA. 

Over and above the professionals, projects and works in progress selected in the different sections of the WEMW programme, the successful partnership with ROSKINO, British Film Institute, Telefilm Canada, SODEC, CMPA, Ontario Creates and Screen Ireland, will allow a delegation from each country to join physically and virtually the WEMW Universe.

All documentaries and fiction feature films that will be presented at Last Stop Trieste, This is IT, First Cut+, First Cut Lab Trieste and the companies participating in the Slate Market are:

LAST STOP TRIESTE

ATONAL GLOW
director: Alexander Koridze
producer: Alexander Koridze
country: Georgia

BOTTLEMEN
director: Nemanja Vojinović
producers: Marija Stojnić, Nemanja Vojinović
countries: Serbia, Slovenia

DIARY OF A BRIDE OF CHRIST
director: Marta Smerechynska
producer: Natalia Libet
country: Ukraine

FRAGILE MEMORY 
director: Igor Ivanko
producers: Igor Ivanko, Maria Ponomarova, Alexandra Bratyshchenko
countries: Ukraine, Slovakia

THE BODY
director: Petra Seliškar
producers: Tamara Babun, Petra Seliškar
countries: Slovenia, Croatia, North Macedonia, France

TOO CLOSE
director: Botond Pusok
producer: Irina Malcea
country: Romania

This is ITA STEADY JOB
directors: Gianluca Matarrese, Mattia Colombo
producer: Giovanni Donfrancesco
countries: Italy, France

AFTER THE BRIDGE
directors: Davide Rizzo, Marzia Toscano
producers: Adam Selo, Olga Torrico, Christie Molia
countries: Italy, France

AN INVISIBLE ENEMY
directors: Riccardo Campagna, Federico Savonitto
producer: Federico Savonitto
country: Italy

BIRTH YEAR
director: Mikhail Mestetskiy
producers: Sergey Kornikhin, Simon Zakruzhniy
country: Russia

FALLING
director: Samuel Perriard
producers: Martin Rattini, Sarah Born
countries: Svizzera, Italy

IT'S RAINING             
director: Mino Capuano
producers: Girolamo Capuano, Andrea Rosasco
country: Italy

MARGINI
director: Niccolò Falsetti
producers: Alessandro Amato, Luigi Chimienti, Manetti bros 
country: Italy

THE MAN WITHOUT GUILT
director: Ivan Gergolet
producers: Miha Černec, Igor Prinčić, Boris T. Matić
countries: Slovenia, Italia, Croatia 

THE STORE
director: Amy-Ro Sköld
producers: Francesca Portalupi, Lovisa Charlier
countries: Sweden, Italy

WHITE ROAD
director: Ella Menzheeva
producers: Elena Glikman, Victoria Lupik
countries: Russia

FIRST CUT+A LOVE STORY
director: Mathieu Volpe
producer: Arnaud Dufeys
company: Replica Films
country: Belgium

CAMPER
directors: Łukasz Suchocki & Maciej Dydyński
producers: Łukasz Suchocki & Maciej Dydyński
company: Splotfilm
country: Poland

FUCKING BORNHOLM
director: Anna Kazejak 
producer: Marta Lewandowska
company: Friends With Benefits Studio
country: Poland

LUCKY GIRL
director: Marysia Nikitiuk
producers : Yanina Sokolova and Julia Sinkevych
company : Yanina Sokolova Production
country : Ukraine

MAMMALIA
director: Sebastian Mihăilescu
producers: Diana Păroiu & Ada Solomon
company: microFILM
country: Romania
co-producers: Ewa Puszczyńska (Extreme Emotions, Poland), Nina Frese (Pandora Film, Germany)

MEN OF DEEDS
director: Paul Negoescu
producer: Anamaria Antoci
company: Tangaj Production
country: Romania

SUMMER TO COME
director: György Mór Kárpáti
producer: Viktória Petrányi
company: Proton Cinema
country: Hungary
co-producer: Café Film (Hungary)

WHITE PLASTIC SKY
directors: Tibor Bánóczki and Sarolta Szabó
producers: József Fülöp and Orsolya Sipos
company: SALTO Films
country: Hungary
producer: Juraj  Krasnohorsky
company: Artichoke
country: Slovakia
co-producer: Viktória Petrányi (Proton Cinema)

SLATE MARKETA

chtung Panda!
producer: Jamila Wenske
country: Germany

Éclipse Film
producer: Julianna Ugrin
country: Hungary

Just a moment
producer: Dagne Vildziunaite
country: Lithuania

Kinocompany
producer: Ari Matikainen
country: Finland

Tico Film Company
producer: Sarah Pennacchi
country: Italy

FIRST CUT LAB TRIESTE

BIRTH YEAR
director: Mikhail Mestetskiy
producers: Sergey Kornikhin, Simon Zakruzhniy
country: Russia 

INVASIONS 
director: Sophie Jarvis
producer: Sara Blake 
Co-producers: Magali Gillon-Krizaj (Reign Films, Canada), Tyler Hagan (Experimental Forest Films, Canada), Michela Pini & Olga Lamontanara (Cinédokké, Switzerland)
countries of production: Canada, Switzerland

WHITE ROAD
director: Ella Menzheeva
producers: Elena Glikman, Victoria Lupik
countries: Russia    

HOW IS KATIA? Tells the story of a single mother, working hard as a paramedic to provide a better life and a home for her young daughter. A sudden turn of events makes Anna question her moral compass in a society where everyone has lost their own.

“I have always been deeply moved by stories with strong moral questions at their core - stories that push their characters to make complicated compromising choices. These stories help me better understand myself,” notes director Tynkevych.

The script was co-written by Christina Tynkevych and Serhiy Kastornykh. The main role is played by emerging actress Anastasia Karpenko. Anastasia has starred in numerous films, TV Series and short films in Ukraine.

HOW IS KATIA? is produced by Olha Matat and Vlad Dudko through Ukrainian production company Evos Film, supported by the Ukrainian State Film Agency for the production of the film. In 2021, How is Katia? won the proMOTION programme by the Ukrainian Institute, that aims to support the international promotion of Ukrainian films.

Christina Tynkevych graduated from the University of Arts and the University of Westminster (London, UK). Her first short documentary ‘Kraina’ was long-listed for the Oscars in 2017, it was followed by ‘Solatium’ (feature short) and ‘Generation 91’ (feature documentary), which went on to screen at festivals both in Europe and America.

HOW IS KATIA? participated in a number of markets and workshops including Midpoint Feature Launch, Thessaloniki Agora Co-Pro and WiP, EAVE, New Horizons Studio+ etc.

HOW IS KATIA? will premiere in 2022.

Production Information
Evos Film (Ukraine)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Credits
Director: Christina Tynkevych
Writer: Christina Tynkevych, Serhiy Kastornykh
Producer: Olha Matat, Vlad Dudko
DoP: Vladislav Voronin
Production Designer: Vlad Dudko
Sound Designer: Serhii Stepansky
Editor: Alex Shamin, Oleksand Chorny
Color: Vladislav Voronin