Held within the 21st Ji.hlava IDFF, the Institute of Documentary Film launches the second session of the yearlong international workshop Ex Oriente Film devoted to developing and supporting creative documentaries from Central and Eastern Europe. This year's 15th edition will welcome fifteen leading experts that will share their experiences and expertise with filmmakers from Central and Eastern Europe within the Ex Oriente Film workshop, as well as in the open programme for Ji.hlava guests. The diverse open programme is full of masterclasses, lectures, and case studies devoted to all aspects of documentary production, co-production and distribution.
In cooperation with the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival, Ex Oriente Film will present two masterclasses by intriguing and inspiring directors. The award-winning Austrian director Andreas Horvath will present his latest controversial documentary Helmut Berger, Actor on October 25th at 17:00. The film centres on the relationship between the director and past celebrity Helmut Berger, and is an insightful commentary on the documentary medium. The screening of the film will be followed by a moderated discussion with the director.
The second masterclass will be presented by Dmitrii Kalashnikov on October 26th at 18:30 and will focus on his found-footage film The Road Movie. This feature documentary paints a portrait of Russia from a unique and unlikely perspective and is composed exclusively of footage from dashboard cameras filmed while on the road. The screening of The Road Movie will precede the discussion with the director.
Another highlight of the Ex Oriente Film open programme is a case study presented by Diana El Jeiroudi and Orwa Nyrabia. Berlin-based Syrian producers/directors will discuss their experiences managing the independent production company No Nation Films and the non-profit DOX BOX, aimed at supporting and empowering the documentary film scene from the Arab World.
Visitors of Ji.hlava IDFF with press and industry passes can also look forward to other parts of the Ex Oriente Film open programme including a lecture on sound design by Danish sound designer Peter Albrechtsen; a lecture on form & structure in documentary film by experienced film editor Yael Bitton; a talk on creating a project identity and branding by marketing specialist Daniel Saltzwedel; a “Production Tour of Europe” devoted to funding, TV slots, and sales companies; an introduction to budgeting by French producer Christine Camdessus; a lecture on understanding international sales by Maëlle Guenegues (CAT&Docs), and a 2 part talk on the legal aspects of co-production by German attorney-at-law Stefan Rüll.
The open programme closes with a lecture by Czech investigative journalist Saša Uhlová. In her latest work, she goes undercover to reveal working conditions in minimum wage jobs around the Czech Republic. This became the basis for the documentary Limits of Work that is part of the docu-series Czech Journal and will be screening during the festival. During her lecture she will reveal some of her methodological approaches to investigative journalism.
In addition to participating in the Ex Oriente Film open programme, the above experts will be providing guidance and support to the 12 Ex Oriente Film projects during the weeklong workshop. Joining them will be the workshop lead tutors for the 2nd session - Norwegian producer Kristine Ann Skaret, Head of Studies at the European Documentary Network Mikael Opstrup, director/producer Filip Remunda, and director/script developer Ivana Pauerová Miloševićová.
All events within the Ex Oriente Film programme except for the masterclasses will take place in Gustav Mahler Hotel (Křížová 4) in Jihlava.
Find the detailed times & location for the open programme here.
