The goal of the Studio is to provide young filmmakers the knowledge about the workings of the international film industry. During the 3-day workshops the participants will take part in classes on pitching, international promotion, festival strategy and world film sales. All sessions will be run by foreign experts: producers, festival programmers and sales agents. The workshops will also allow the participants the work on specific film projects.
"We have created the NEW HORIZONS Studio in order to create space for young film professionals within the festival," said Joanna Łapińska, Artistic Director of the ERA NEW HORIZONS IFF. "Most of all, it should allow the participants to talk, look for inspiration and expand the boundaries of their film language. We hope that the Studio will support them in defining their own artistic and professional identity and drawing a path for themselves in the film industry. The knowledge and thoughts exchange as well as the meetings opportunities provided by the workshops should help with that.
The NEW HORIZONS Studio focuses mostly on master classes run by famous directors, script writers and directors of photography. During the seminars a selection of films will also be shown and analyzed. The Studio will also provide an opportunity for the participants to exchange their thoughts and experiences with five slightly more established colleagues - directors invited to Wroclaw from 5 different countries. Each of these five directors will represent a different tradition of filmmaking and a different vision of filmmaking.
According to Łapińska, the new initiative by the ERA NEW HORIZONS IFF addresses a very current debate on the international presence of Polish cinema. Polish artists will only have a chance to make a mark in the international film industry if they know how it operates and are willing to open up to it.
In the first year 30 participants will be selected to take part in the NEW HORIZONS Studio. All classes will be led in English. Submission forms for the workshops are available on the festival's website: www.enh.pl. The submission deadline is April 30.
