CentEast Market celebrates its 15th edition at the Warsaw Film Festival with the screenings of new Polish films, selected projects in various stages of production and post-production, a programme for documentary filmmakers and workshops for young Polish filmmakers and critics.
"CentEast was initiated as a Polish-Russian joint venture back in 2005. And we are still friends with my Russian partner, Mr Gindilis, and the man who did the matchmaking, Mr Medvedev. Our friendship is still stronger than politics" – said general manager of the Warsaw Film Foundation Stefan Laudyn. "The beginnings were very modest. In 2000 we organised the first edition of Warsaw Screenings, showing a couple of new Polish films with English subtitles to a handful of festival programmers, who attended the Warsaw Film Festival. It worked. Years later Mr Kitanov told me that our little event inspired him to launch Sofia Meetings, which became one of the top events for film professionals in the region. At some point we introduced presentations of works-in-progress from the region. Again it went well. At some point the Ukrainian film Tribe, launched at CentEast, landed at Cannes. This is how the steel was tempered. This year’s CentEast will be quite modest. The funding decision was made only 16th September. But we hope the future will be bright. Welcome to Warsaw!"
THE PROGRAMME OF 15th CENTEAST MARKET:
Warsaw Screenings - 35th presentations of the newest Polish films (including co-productions) with international potential, to international sales agents, distributors and festival programmers.
Warsaw Works-In-Progress - presentations of selected projects in various stages of production and post-production
New Talents | Wajda School - presentation of the most interesting projects of the students of the Wajda School.
Doc Lab Poland – a programme for documentary filmmakers (directors and producers) who have already produced their first film. Organized by the Ślesicki Foundation.
Warsaw Next – 9th workshops for young Polish filmmakers, who have at least one short film to their credit; meetings with professionals from Poland and abroad, lectures, participation in CentEast Market.
FIPRESCI Warsaw Critics Project - 14th workshops for young and aspiring Eastern European journalists and film critics, organized in collaboration with the International Federation of Film Critics (FIRPESCI). Tutored by Amber Wilkinson i Tommaso Tocci.
Open Workshop "The Art of Film Editing" - 16th edition of an event for everyone interested in editing, organized with Polish Film Editors Association.
Presentation "Possibilities of cooperation on the Chinese market" - delegation of the Shanghai International Film Festival will talk about the prospects of cooperation with China.
CentEast Market is organized by the Warsaw Film Foundation, and the main partner is Polish Film Institute.
