Berliner. Synopsis. Director s note. Marian Crisan, born on the 8th of September, 1976, in Salonta, West

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1 Berliner Synopsis A corrupted politician from Bucharest arrives in a small town somewhere in Transylvania. Trying to escape justice he will run for the EU parliament. His chameleonic strategy is to live together with a common family from town, showing the voters that he is a people s man, a normal human being like everybody else. Director s note Elections in small towns can sometimes be as passionate as running for the US president. I found Romanian politics on this scale to be funny, but in the same time telling some truths about election psychology and schemes everywhere in the world. In the last decades, we had elections that were both ridiculous and tragic, candidates were crying live on TV, candidates moving from villas to small apartments to show they are normal, candidates jumping from airplanes to show they are courageous, candidates that were jailed just after elections and so on. I am coming from a small town and seeing politicians acting like normal people is funny. I am imagining the meeting of two strangers from totally different worlds. The high profile corrupted politician and the provincial common Romanian guy that works on a tractor. The film will be treated as a black comedy. Original title: Berliner Genre: comedy Screenwriters: Marian Crisan, Gabriel Andronache Director: Marian Crisan Producer: Marian Crisan Production company: Rova Film Language: Romanian Country: Romania Budget: EUR Financing in place: EUR Goals at BE: co-producers, sales agent, funds Director Marian Crisan, born on the 8th of September, 1976, in Salonta, West Romania. He received his bachelor s degree in Film and TV Directing at UNATC Bucharest in He directed the short films Family Portrait (2006), Amateur (2007) and Megatron (2008). The latter, Megatron, won the Palme d OR for Best Short Film at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, 61th edition. In 2010, his first feature film Morgen won the Special Jury Prize at the 63rd Edition of the Locarno Film Festival and was the Romanian entry for the 84th Academy Awards. In 2012, his second feature film Rocker was premiered at the 60th edition of San Sebastian IFF. 14

2 Co-Production Market Romania Producer Marian Crisan acted as a producer for the feature film Orizont (premiere at 19th edition of Tallinn Black Nights FF), as associate producer for Morgen - feature film 2010 (Special Jury Prize Locarno 2010) and the short films Portret de Familie (Best Romanian Short, UCIN, 2007), Amateur (Best short at Festival de Cinema Independent L Alternativa Barcelona 2008), documentaries, music videos and commercials as well. Production company ROVA FILM co-produced the feature film Orizont (premiere at 19th edition of Tallinn Black Nights FF) and the short films Portret de Familie (Best Romanian Short, UCIN, 2007), Amateur (Best short at Festival de Cinema Independent L Alternativa Barcelona 2008), documentaries, music videos and commercials as well. Representative at BE: Marian Crisan, producer and director Contact Rova Film Jean Steriadi 30-38, M 10, sc J, ap 131, sector 3, Bucuresti, Romania Contact Person / Position: Marian Crisan / Producer, director Phone: office@rovafilm.ro 15

3 Baby Jane Synopsis Jonna, 19, is a small town girl. She graduates from school and leaves the town the very same evening. Jonna arrives in the city and enjoys her newly found freedom until one night a drunken man attacks her. Piki, 30, a woman with intense dark eyes, comes to her rescue. They fall deeply in love and promise they will walk together in freshly fallen snow. But autumn comes, and the lovely dreams fade in the rain. Piki keeps refusing to leave the apartment in daylight. Jonna is working hard to pay the bills, but the money just isn t enough. Piki comes up with a plan to sell phone sex, and with the added bonus of lingerie with a female scent, they have a very good business plan. The lovers are happy again but there s a snake in paradise; Piki s ex-girlfriend Bossa seems to be around a lot more than necessary. When Jonna rises to challenge Bossa s position, Piki and Jonna get into a fight. Piki gets severely injured and doesn t want to see Jonna again. An era of loneliness begins, with Piki and Jonna now only working together as friends. But it doesn t take long until the bitter memories rise from the silence. Piki says things to hurt Jonna, and Jonna leaves once and for all. Original title: Baby Jane Genre: drama Screenwriters: Veera Tyhtilä, Katja Gauriloff Director: Katja Gauriloff Producer: Joonas Berghäll, Satu Majava Production company: Oktober Oy Language: Finnish Country: Finland Budget: EUR Financing in place: EUR Partners attached: Izabela Igel / Alter Ego Pictures, Dutch co-production company, Danish co-production company Goals at BE: to secure funding, co-production companies and an international distributor Jonna now has a new life living with a man. Their life looks perfect, but Jonna is unhappy. Then one night Piki calls; she is not doing well, just keeps hiding in her apartment. Jonna makes the last attempts to save her, but Piki is already too deep down. Piki decides she wants to die. And Jonna will have to help her. With everything Piki needs in place, Jonna delivers Piki s last letter to Bossa, triggering a final twist in the control that Piki has over the lives of these two women now bound together with Piki s wish for their freedom. Director s note Baby Jane is a film about falling in love and using power. It raises questions about what is genuine love and whether we are capable of it. I m interested in how our personal fears, choices and actions affect other people. On the other hand, it is a question of how far we can carry responsibility for the life and choices of another person. Can you save another person, and at what cost? I see the film as a play of light and shadow also visually. The genre courts with a spirit of film noir and is 16

4 Co-Production Market / EAVE Finland passionate, strongly dark-toned, even suggestive. The film contains many opposites, starting from the stark differences between the characters and the two different worlds that are entwined in a dreamlike way. I have always been intrigued by contrasts and multiple layers in film, aspects that I have been working on already with my previous films. Representatives at BE: Joonas Berghäll, producer Satu Majava, producer Katja Gauriloff, director Director Katja Gauriloff is a film director, screenwriter and a co-owner of the Oktober production company. Her latest documentary Canned Dreams was premiered at Berlinale in The film has been screened at various festivals around the world, for example in London BFI Film Festival, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Silver Docs AFI (USA), CPH:DOX Copenhagen and Planete Doc Review, Poland. Producer Joonas Berghäll works as a producer at his own production company Oktober and has been involved in film making since His film as a director and producer, Steam of Life, was nominated for Oscars as a Finnish candidate and for the European Film Award in 2010 and since then has won fifteen international film awards. In 2010 the Central Organization of Finnish Film Producers awarded Joonas Berghäll as the film producer of the year. Joonas has been part of several international producer workshops, for example Producers on the Move, Cannes Production company Oktober is a Finnish production company, which was established in During its existence Oktober has gained a reputation as a creative production house producing quality documentary and fiction films focusing on cutting edge social issues that evoke both strong feelings and deep thoughts. Oktober has developed a wide network with both national and international connections through the co-production and distribution of its films. Contact Oktober Oy Orvokkitie 15 B, Helsinki, Finland Contact Person / Position: Joonas Berghäll / Producer Phone: joonas@oktober.fi 17

5 The Boy with the Dog Synopsis Ten-year-old Zigis lives with his family in a house on the bank of a river in Riga, Latvia. The Second World War has begun, but Zigis s childhood is as carefree as before; he goes to school and plays with his friends and his trusted companion, his dog Džeris. In 1941, Latvia is occupied by the German army. Repressions begin against the Jews. Žanis, Zigis s father, works at the Luftwaffe factory in Riga to which Jews are taken every day from the ghetto. An enthusiastic and fearless adventurer, he thinks of a way to save the Jews working at the factory but condemned to a certain death. In the yard of his house, he digs a bunker to hide them. Žanis s decision changes the lives of Zigis and his mother Johanna. Hiding Jews is punishable by death and even young Zigis would not be spared. By helping the Jews, Žanis has robbed the simple familial happiness that Zigis so wishes for. In time, Zigis understands his father s humanity and this experience changes him from a careless and dreamy boy to a mature adolescent who is fully aware of the cruelty of war. The film is a story of growing up against the background of the tragic events of the 20th century. Original title: Puika ar suni Genre: coming-of-age Screenwriters: Davis Simanis, Matiss Gricmanis Director: Davis Simanis Producer: Gints Grube, Antra Gaile Production company: Mistrus Media Language: Latvian, Russian, German Country: Latvia Budget: EUR Financing in place: EUR Goals at BE: finding co-production partners Director s note The idea of the film is based on the incompatibility of three radically different worlds. One is the world of Zigis s isolated childhood, in which he has found his only real partner in conversation the dog Džeris as well as his mute girlfriend Silvija. Into this world of children s imagination gradually steal the father s secrets, the realisation that there is something completely wrong with the order of this world as well as the spite of early adolescence to do something special. The second is the dangerous world of Žanis Lipke. Lipke encounters death in a quite direct way and its danger defines his life. He sacrifices the individual for the common good, which he may not have fully understood. The third world is the one created by violent and stupid power that individuals, including Latvians, have become besotted with to such an extent that they can justify the extermination of other people. Moreover, in this world there are not only the wicked who humiliate and kill or who preach vile ideological stupidities but also those that in the absurd survival situation of war simply do not see what is going on around them. Every clash / drawing closer situation of these quite different worlds 18

6 Co-Production Market Latvia reveals a little more of how it is possible to overcome fear, sacrifice oneself and rise above one s simple self-preservation instinct. This conflict also tells us a very personal story of a child s growing up, which is condensed in both intensity and time by the surrounding, real historical events. It is little Zigis s story and his observations in the world of grown-ups that offers the possibility of making this film. Representatives at BE: Gints Grube, producer Antra Gaile, producer Davis Simanis, director Director Davis Simanis, PhD Arts, is a Latvian filmmaker and theorist. He has directed a number of poetic documentary films as well as cross-genre features that have participated in a number of major festivals. His recent films include docu-fiction Escaping Riga (2014) and his first fiction feature My Peaceful Place of Exile, which tells a tragic story about the fate of a remote mental institution in the times of I World War. Producers Since 1998, Gints Grube has been scriptwriter, director and producer for more than 10 documentaries. His latest production is fiction feature Chronicles of Melanie by Viesturs Kairišs that is a co-production with Inland Films (Finland) and 8 Heads Productions (Czech Republic). Since 2012, Antra Gaile has gained profound experience in the production of creative and historical documentaries, including production of six short documentaries about Riga by well-known European directors. Production company Film production company Mistrus Media was established in 2000 and has since become one of the leading film production companies in Latvia. Mistrus Media is a producer of documentaries, TV projects, and feature fiction films as well as provider of filming and location services. Contact Mistrus Media Blaumana street 11/13 13, Riga, LV 1011, Latvia Contact Person / Position: Gints Grube / Producer Phone: gints.grube@mistrusmedia.lv 19

7 Compatibility Synopsis In the span of twenty-four hours, as the death of one will become the hope for life for another, in a few taxi cabs in Sofia the fates of people, victims of the decline of a suffering nation, collide. Director s note Lack of spirituality, poverty, an ever-growing inequality and a sense of social failure those things have become commonplace in Bulgaria. For huge groups of people the dreams of a respectable life have been replaced by a struggle for day-to-day survival. More territories are turning into ghettos when it comes to social behaviour and human relations. A huge portion of the people feel betrayed, cheated and ruined. The honest representation and understanding of our life is the first condition for transforming it, the single prerequisite for effective action. And the only way to find hope. Original title: Savmestimost Genre: drama Screenwriters: Simeon Ventsislavov, Stephan Komandarev Director: Stephan Komandarev Producer: Stephan Komandarev, Katya Trichkova Production company: Argo film Language: Bulgarian Country: Bulgaria Budget: EUR Financing in place: EUR Partners attached: Bulgarian National Film Centre Goals at BE: We are currently looking for a minority co-producer and world sales. The cab drivers are our characters, they are often the most accurate witnesses of reality. Some of them are forced into the role of therapists, some are saviours, some aggressors, others are victims. They are part of the real world, not the fictitious reality the media presents. Our other characters are the cab drivers clients the different faces of Bulgarian society. The Compatibility project can be described as a realistic drama dominated by emotionally intense moments but with the occasional break for a smile and some humour. Same as in life. Director Stephan Komandarev is a Bulgarian director, producer and scriptwriter, who has a number of award-wining feature and documentaries films such as: The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner (It was the first Bulgarian film Shortlisted for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscar Academy Award 2010), and the most worldwide theatrically released Bulgarian film ever it was distributed in 93 countries, won 35 awards from international film festivals, out of which 1/3 were audience awards); The Town of Badante Woman (2009, 20

8 Co-Production Market Bulgaria documentary), Alphabet of Hope (2003, documentary), Bread over the Fence (2002, documentary). His last feature film The Judgment won 10 awards from international film festivals and is the Bulgaria s entry in the foreign-language film category of the Academy Awards He currently works on two documentaries and two feature films. He is 2011 EAVE graduate and Member of European Film Academy, Bulgarian Film Directors Association and Bulgarian Film Producers Association. (Romania), co-production between France, Romania and Bulgaria, with the support of EURIMAGES. Representative at BE: Katya Trichkova, producer Producer Katya Trichkova graduated with a master s degree in Law and Film and TV directing. In 2009, she became a founder and manager of production company Contrast Films. Since 2011, she has also been working as a freelance producer/consultant for other Bulgarian production companies, such as Argo Film (founded by Bulgarian director Stephan Komandarev), Chouchkov brothers, Izograph, Cineaste Maudit Productions and others. In 2011, she participated in Sarajevo Talent Campus and Kyoto Filmmakers Lab. In 2015, she attended EAVE and EURODOC. Her recent credits include The Judgment that won 10 awards from international film festivals and is the Bulgaria s entry in the foreign-language film category of the Academy Awards 2016 and Chain short fiction film, director Eicke Bettinga (Germany). Co-production with France and Germany, selected in more than 20 international film festivals. Production company Argo Film Ltd. is an independent film production company based in Sofia. It was founded by Stephan Komandarev in 2001 for the production of feature and documentary film projects aimed at the national and international markets. The company has produced and co-produced several feature and documentaries films, some of them as European co-productions. The last two features are: The Judgment (2014), director Stephan Komandarev co-production between Bulgaria, Germany, Croatia and Macedonia, with the support of EURIMAGES, Bulgaria s entry in the foreign-language film category of the Academy Awards 2016; and Dogs (in post-production), director Bogdan Mirica Contact Argo film Yantra Str. No 5B, 1124 Sofia, Bulgaria Contact Person / Position: Katya Trichkova / Producer Phone: ; argofilm@abv.bg 21

9 Dark Christ Synopsis An aged and shabby art dealer, Olavi, is planning to retire. In a prestigious auction house he stumbles across an old painting that he suspects is more valuable than his colleagues have priced it. At the same time, his daughter, whom he hasn t met for years, asks him to help her with her teen-age son Olavi s grandson. Olavi, addicted to art and dealing it, decides to show for the last time to himself, his colleagues and his estranged family that he can make it. He begins proving that the painting, Dark Christ, is much more valuable than originally claimed. With the help of his grandson Otto, Olavi finds proof of the originality of the Dark Christ. Olavi bids for the painting successfully but in the process of finding the money to pay for it he ends up violating the newly built trust to his daughter. Meanwhile the auction house starts to suspect that they ve done a bad deal by selling the painting to Olavi. Olavi needs to find money for the painting, to prevent the auction house to sabotage his deal and to win back the trust of his daughter and grandson. Original title: Tumma Kristus Genre: drama Screenwriter: Anna Heinämaa Director: Klaus Härö Producers: Kai Nordberg & Kaarle Aho Production company: Making Movies Oy Language: Finnish Country: Finland Budget: EUR Financing in place: EUR Partners attached: Finnish Film Foundation, Creative Europe Goals at BE: finding co-producers and sales agents Director s note To me Dark Christ is a piece of classic storytelling. It is a crusade of an old man; a last attempt to reach the dreams of a person who has not quite fulfilled his ambition in life. And of course Olavi, our main character, does not reach his goal. He does not get the money for his retirement. He feels like he has lost the game and he dies. But actually he has made it. He has found his treasure and leaves it to his family. And more importantly, by doing this he finds a way back to the hearts of his daughter and his grandson. He wins his family back after his death. It is a very emotional story, a kind of story I like. And there s a clear moral in it. It shows that people should have dreams and ambitions and passion, but the most important thing is our relation to our fam- 22

10 Co-Production Market Finland ily and friends. And, when you re reaching to the stars you may find something more valuable as long as you keep an open mind. Director Klaus Härö is one of the most internationally praised Finnish directors. He has directed 5 feature films and they have been festival hits as well as audience and critics favourites both in Finland and Sweden. He received the Ingmar Bergman Award in Sweden 2005 for his film Mother of Mine. His first feature film Elina won Crystal Bear in Berlinale Kinderfilmfest His latest film The Fencer is the Finnish entry for Oscars Producer Kaarle Aho was born in Helsinki in He has MA degree from the University of Helsinki and he is an EAVE-graduate 1999 and EU- RODOC-graduate He has worked as a producer and shareholder in Making Movies since 1998 and produced eight feature films and over 40 documentary films. Production company Making Movies Oy (Ltd.) is a Finnish film production company based in Helsinki. Established in 1996 the company produces and co-produces fiction and documentary films for international market. The managers, founding members and shareholders of Making Movies are Kai Nordberg and Kaarle Aho. Since 1996 Making Movies has produced 8 feature films and more than 40 documentary and short films and TV-dramas. The films produced by Making Movies have been distributed in more than 40 countries worldwide. In spring 2015, Making Movies released Klaus Härö s (the winner of the Crystal Bear award in Berlinale 2003 and the Ingmar Bergman prize in Sweden 2005) new feature film The Fencer (Finnish Oscar nominee for 2016). Other feature films by Making Movies include Petri Kotwica s Rat King (Shanghai, Tribeca 2012) and Black Ice (Berlinale competition 2008) as well as Jan Forsström s The Princess of Egypt (Mannheim-Heidelberg Competition 2013). The documentaries produced or co-produced by Making Movies include many award-winning films like Happiness (Sundance Documentary competition 2014, world rights sold to Universal Pictures), and A Decent Factory (IDFA 2004) by Thomas Balmés, In the Dark (2004) by Sergey Dvortsevoy, Love & Engineering (Tribeca, Hotdocs, Visions du Réel, Karlovy Vary, Sarajevo 2014) by Tonislav Hristov and Look of Silence (Venice, Toronto 2014, Berlinale 2015) by Joshua Oppenheimer. Representative at BE: Kaarle Aho, producer Contact Making Movies Oy Torkkelinkatu 3, Helsinki, Finland Contact Person / Position: Kaarle Aho / Producer Phone: kaarle.aho@mamo.fi 23

11 Erik Stoneheart Synopsis Erik Stoneheart tells a story of nine-year-old Erik, who believes that he has a stone for a heart. This is also how he explains to himself that he does not mind that his parents have no time for him, he is bullied at school or that he actually does not have any real friends. As Erik s family moves into an old inherited villa and they are forcing out the previous tenants, Erik is confronted by 10-year-old Maria. She promises to make Erik s life a living hell. As an attempt to defeat Erik, Maria goes to look for her mother, a marine biologist, who had disappeared two years ago, that she believes is kidnapped by pirates. Erik follows her and together they end up on a fantastical journey on a cruise boat to the In-Between-World and Erik learns how hard it really is to wear a heart of stone. Original title: Erik Kivisüda Genre: family Screenwriters: Andris Feldmanis and Livia Ulman Director: Ilmar Raag Producer: Evelin Soosaar-Penttilä Production company: Amrion Ltd. Language: Estonian Country: Estonia Budget: EUR Financing in place: EUR Partners attached: TBC Goals at BE: finding co-producers, sales agent Director s note I have felt awkward in front of some children movies that don t remind me anything I used to like as a child. What I liked, was when the adventure was a real adventure and when the magic was also real. Yet, at the same time I preferred stories about children. Today, as a grownup, I can recognise the very same elements in this project. However, today I need also something more. As for a grown-up, children films offer a unique opportunity to talk about the most serious matters in simple terms and without escapism. Erik Stoneheart has it all for me. So I would try to push the limits of fantasy from the visual side, to play with exaggeration, but from the other side, it should be the film that starts as comedy of pranks and develops to a study of our deeply hidden desires. Director Ilmar Raag is the writer and director of the most successful film ever made in Estonia The Class (Amrion 2007), which was sold to 91 countries, has been shortlisted for the national Oscar nomination, won 25 awards from 70 festivals. Ilmar s features include Une Estonienne à Paris with the legendary 24

12 Co-Production Market Estonia French actress Jeanne Moreau in main role (premiered at Locarno Film Festival in August 2012), I Won t Come Back (international premiere at Tribeca IFF in April 2014). Representatives at BE: Evelin Soosaar-Penttilä, producer Ilmar Raag, director Producer Evelin Soosaar-Penttilä graduated from Media Business School MEGA master in Since then she gained experience in Film & Music Entertainment in London, Matila Röhr Productions in Helsinki, Egoli Tossell Film in Berlin and Rovio Animation Studios. She has produced dozens of commercials and her award winning short films Mai and Legend of the Mighty Soap have travelled the world of festivals. Her first feature film Zero Point (Allfilm 2014) was the most popular local film in 2014 and was also developed into TV series and crossmedia project. She is currently in post-production with a comedy Classreunion produced together with Kristian Taska. Production company Amrion was established in 2003 by Riina Sildos, the former head of the Estonian Film Foundation, national representative of EAVE and member of ACE and EFA, to produce high quality feature films and documentaries for local and international cinema and TV markets. Since then Amrion has produced four documentary films Wounds of Afghanistan (2005), Is the Best Enough (2005), Lieutenant, Von and the Manor of Leetse (2006), Viru. The Embassy of Freedom (2013) and eight feature films. The box office hits Mat the Cat (2005), The Class (2007) and I Was Here (Estonia, Finland 2008). The youth drama I Was Here was a real box office hit, being based on an popular novel and turned into a transmedia project. Both these projects were submitted as national nominations for the foreign language Oscar. These films were followed by The Poll Diaries (2010, Germany-Austria-Estonia) and Hella W (2011, Finland-Estonia). In 2012, Une Estonienne a Paris premiered at Locarno FF international competition programme. The latest productions include features by Ilmar Raag Kertu. Love is Blind (2013 Estonia, nominated for 2014 European Film Academy shortlist), I Won t Come Back and short film Pink Cardigan (2014 Estonia). Contact Amrion Ltd. Nurme 45, 11616, Tallinn, Estonia Contact Person / Position: Evelin Soosaar-Penttilä / Producer Telephone: info@amrion.ee 25

13 From Grace Synopsis Frank is a notoriously violent fixer in the criminal underworld. Emotionally scarred, he has given up any hope of a normal life when one day gangster boss Markus hires him to help out in a family matter: he wants Frank to terrorize his little sister Malin. Taking sides with the weak for once, Frank is forced to flee the city with Malin and her daughter Anna, with Markus in pursuit. On a derelict farm, Frank starts a new life with Malin and Anna. Slowly Frank is becoming a good man, and his dream of having a family is re-awakened. But when Markus men appear at the farm, Frank is forced to make a violent response, driving the attackers away. Knowing Markus and his posse will be back for revenge, Frank hides the girls in a safe house and makes his way to the city. There he unleashes the ultraviolence of his past in a climactic confrontation with Markus. Although Frank redeems himself by emerging victoriously from the fight with Markus, his dream of a normal life is still far from being fulfilled. Original title: Nådeløs Genre: action/drama Screenwriter: Arild Østin Ommundsen Director: Arild Østin Ommundsen Producer: Gary Cranner Production company: Chezville Language: Norwegian Country: Norway Budget: EUR Financing in place: EUR Partners attached: Filmkraft Rogaland, Norwegian Film Institute Goals at BE: finding co-producers, distribution, international sales Director s note I am intrigued by the idea of the emotional awakening of Frank, an awakening that is put under heavy pressure as the plot thickens. For me this is story is about how difficult it can be for us humans to open up for the things we need the most, and how the past has a strong grip on each and every one of us. I have chosen the genre, character and setting to set the audience up for an emotionally climactic ending. As the film comes towards the end, I want to have them rooting for Frank to do bad things for all the right reasons. With From Grace I want to reach an international audience with a story that works on a genre level as well on an emotional level. From Grace is an action-thriller, but the film will also have a strong emotional focus. I worked within a similar genre with my last feature It s Only Make Believe, but this film leans more towards the action genre. 26

14 Co-Production Market Norway It is natural for me to compare From Grace with Clint Eastwood s Unforgiven, David Cronenberg s A History of Violence, and to a certain extent Andrew Dominik s Killing Them Softly. Director Arild Østin Ommundsen debuted with the independent comedy hit Mongoland in He followed with surf drama Monsterthursday, which appeared in competition at Sundance in It s Only Make Believe (2013) was nominated for ten national film awards and confirmed his standing as one of the most interesting auteurs in Scandinavia. in development includes five projects, all of which have received development grants from regional film funds and/or the Norwegian Film Institute. Representative at BE: Gary Cranner, producer Producer Gary Cranner. My first feature film as a producer was It s Only Make Believe (2013), it garnered ten national film award nominations (three wins) and was shortlisted to represent Norway at the Oscars. I see myself as a storyteller. My years of working in different parts of the film industry, and specifically as a film editor, has given me in-depth knowledge of technical, practical and creative aspects of the filmmaking process. This is a huge asset in my daily work as a producer. I focus on creating teams based on good personal chemistry, but I am also aware of my role as a leader. Currently I am building a roster of Norwegian auteurs that I intend to establish long-term relationships with. Production company Our first feature It s Only Make Believe (2013) garnered ten national film award nominations (three wins) and was shortlisted to represent Norway at the Oscars. We encourage our collaborators to explore the freedom smaller crews, longer shooting periods, natural lighting and creative use of post-production can provide. By tailoring the method in which each film is developed, shot and edited, to the inherent nature of each project and the people involved, we believe we can produce exciting films in new and better ways. Our slate of projects Contact Chezville Pedersgata 110, 4014 Stavanger, Norway Contact Person / Position: Gary Cranner / CEO Phone: gary@chezville.no 27

15 Motherland Synopsis Told through the inquisitive eyes of 12-year-old, Tadas, Motherland is a coming of age story about a young boy who discovers the complicated underside of freedom and growing up One year after the fall of the iron curtain, Tadas mother, Viktorija returns to Lithuania with her American-born son and daughter to try to reclaim her father s beautiful estate. Her old lover escorts the family through the crumbling country, but when they find her land occupied by several impoverished families, the group must consider how far they are willing to go to keep their dreams intact. Director s note Every summer of my youth, my parents sent me to Lithuania. All of my most significant childhood memories happened here; my first kiss was in Lithuania, my first fist-fight, my first taste of alcohol. These may seem like the common summer misadventures of an adolescent boy, but the setting is the most significant part. To me, Lithuania was a magical land even before I ever stepped foot in the country. Original title: Tevyne Musu Genre: drama Screenwriter: Tomas Vengris Director: Tomas Vengris Producer: Uljana Kim Production company: Studio Uljana Kim Language: Lithuanian, English Country: Lithuania Budget: EUR Financing in place: EUR (for the development) Partners attached: Locomotive Productions (Latvia) Goals at BE: finding co-producers, funding, sales agents, distributors Like many children of the Lithuanian diaspora, I felt born in exile. I was raised on stories and songs of this mythical land. However, when I crossed the Atlantic to visit my parents birthplace, I was faced with the reality; a small country struggling with the complex problems of independence and autonomy. I saw the crumbling towns, the corruption, the poverty but I also saw a proud people trying to pull together and move forward. In many ways, my adolescence felt mirrored in Lithuania s struggles and reconciling my expectations of this country with the reality was a significant part of my development as a person. This is a film about identity, about freedom, and about learning who you are and who you want to be as such it is a universal film and a story that can touch any person in any part of the world. However, sometimes it takes a certain place at a certain time to shed light on the most basic human truths. I believe this is a story that could not be told anywhere else at any other time. 28

16 Co-Production Market Lithuania Director Tomas Vengris grew up the son of Lithuanian immigrants in Washington, DC. He received a BA in Political Science from Columbia University in New York and his M.F.A at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, CA. In 2013, his short film, Kalifornija, was a national finalist in the U.S. Student Academy Awards. His most recent short film, Squirrel, premiered in the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival. Tomas currently works as an Editor / Director in Austin, TX. He has worked under several internationally acclaimed writer/directors, including Terrence Malick, Kelly Reichardt, and Lena Dunham. won a number of LT Film Academy Awards and The Gambler (Ignas Jonynas, 2013, San Sebastian New Directors). Representatives at BE Uljana Kim, producer Tomas Vengris, director Producer Uljana Kim graduated from the Institute of Cinematography in Moscow (VGIK) in 1993 and is a film critic by education. She began her career in the cinema being the executive producer of the documentary Spring by Valdas Navasaitis, which won the best short film prize in Cinema du Reel 1997 Paris and the main prize in Oberhausen She founded Studio Uljana Kim in 1997 and has since produced eight feature films and six documentaries. Since 2004, she has headed the project Lithuanian Film Promotion and Information Agency ( From 2007 to 2014 she was the substitute of Lithuanian representative on the Board of Council of Europe EURIMAGES. Production company Studio Uljana Kim is a leading company in Lithuania for producing full length features. Since its foundation in 1997 eight feature films and six documentaries have been produced by the company. Half of them were premiered at the most important international film festivals and others were successful at the domestic box office. The feature films include Kiemas (Valdas Navasaitis, 1999, Cannes Directors Fortnight), The Lease (Kristijonas Vildziunas, 2002, Venice Upstream), You am I (Kristijonas Vildziunas, 2006, Cannes Un Certain Regard), Perpetuum Mobile (Valdas Navasaitis, 2008, Rotterdam Bright Future), Back to Your Arms (Kristijonas Vildziunas, 2010, which Contact Studio Uljana Kim Antakalnio 94-25, LT10202 Vilnius, Lithuania Contact Person / Position: Uljana Kim / Producer Phone: kim@lfc.lt 29

17 North Pole Synopsis When General Umberto Nobile s 1928 expedition to the North Pole in the airship Italia ends in a disastrous crash, nine men face the thin line between cowardice and bravery as they struggle for survival on the hostile pack ice. In the biggest international sea-and-air rescue mission in history, which also claims the life of famed Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, nine countries Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Soviet Union, Germany, Sweden and USA race against time and the melting ice to save the stranded crew. Directors note The dramatic true tale of the airship Italia is one of the most compelling topics a director could dream about: a quest of epic dimensions, yet at the same time an intimate ensemble piece. To us as directors, it is important to stage the film in such a way that the unique scenery go hand in hand and intertwine with the psychological narrative. Original title: North Pole Genre: action-adventure survival drama Screenwriters: Alfredo Bini, Annelie Wheeler, Teresina Moscatiello Directors: Simone Orlandini & Teresina Moscatiello Producers: Simone Orlandini, Teresina Moscatiello, Sebastian Leutner Production company: The Chimney Pot Sverige AB / Rebis Film GmbH Language: English, Italian, French, German, Russian Country: Sweden Budget: EUR Financing in place: approx. 60 % Partners attached: Galaxy Studios Group Goals at BE: looking for co-production partners from Russia or East Europe, sales & distribution partners The struggle of man against nature is one of the main motifs linking the visual and narrative layers of the film. A true story of heroism and human endurance, set among the spectacular visuals of the treacherous Arctic landscape. Directors Simone Orlandini & Teresina Moscatiello. Orlandini is an Italian film director, writer and producer. He studied drama, arts and music studies at the University of Bologna and worked intimately with the late Italian producer Alfredo Bini for many years. He has directed a number of feature films, e. g. Up & Down, Samurai, Fabbrica (starring Lina Sastri, three time winner of the Italian David Di Donatello Award), Jezbelle s Road, The Same Love and Waiting. Moscatiello is a German-Italian director, producer and author. Her directing credits include the theatrical documentaries Civilians on the Battlefield and Lychener 64, and the docudrama Odyssee der Kinder 30

18 Co-Production Market Sweden for German television. She co-authored the feature film Waiting and her screenplay War Extras is slated for production in Producer Sebastian Leutner, Head of Art & Entertainment Germany joined the Chimney Group in 2013 to establish a strong connection for Chimney s feature film business from Scandinavia to the German market. He is Chimney s executive producer for the project development of North Pole, in close cooperation with Rebis and potential co-producers. Representatives at BE: Simone Orlandini, producer & director Daniel Caltagirone, producer & lead actor His credits include: White God, Flying Home, Pettson & Findus, The Physician, Hugo, Game of Thrones. Production company Chimney, founded in Stockholm in 1994, is Scandinavia s leading fullservice production house and offers content creation, co-production & post-production services. Chimney Group s Art & Entertainment department, led by Group Head Fredrik Zander, co-develops, produces and post-produces several feature film & TV programs each year. Worldwide, Chimney annually works on more than 6,000 films distributed in more than 60 countries, as well as on approx commercials per year. Rebis Film was founded in 2011 by splitting off the feature division of sister company Sinafilm (active since 2007). Current projects include North Pole, Moscatiello s War Extras, Franco Battiato s Handel (starring Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Rampling), and Orlandini s Dante s Inferno. The company is in final post-production for the feature Waiting, directed by Orlandini (world sales: Adriana Chiesa Enterprises), starring British actor Gary Lewis (Gangs of New York). Rebis Film also holds the rights to a vast classic film catalogue (e. g. Pasolini s Accatone and Mamma Roma, Edipo Rex, Bolognini s Bell Antonio). Contact The Chimney Pot Sverige AB Skeppsbron 38, Stockholm, Sweden Contact Person / Position: Simone Orlandini & Teresina Moscatiello / Producers (Rebis Film GmbH) Phone: t.m@rebisfilm.com, s.o@rebisfilm.com 31

19 Otto the Barbarian Synopsis Otto the Barbarian presents the story of a 17-year-old boy facing the death of his girl-friend, Laura. This tragic event, ruled by the police as a suicide, leads also to a social ser-vice investigation led by Costin. He is puzzled by Otto s lack of showing grief and pur-sues a closer relation with the rebellious adolescent. Otto seems to be trapped in the void space left by Laura, caught in a vicious circle created by his parents, his demented old grandpa, his shallow band members and the video diary made by Laura. In all this, an isle of peace seems to be Laura s mother whom he visits regularly and with whom he has a very close relationship. As Costin becomes a confident, Otto s inner world unfolds revealing piece by piece the puzzle of his personality and his relation with Laura, as well as the secret of her suicide. Costin challenges Otto s beliefs and his way of thinking and, during the investigation, Ot-to is forced to face his own feelings and guilt. Original title: Otto Barbarul Genre: drama, coming of age Screenwriter: Ruxandra Ghitescu Director: Ruxandra Ghitescu Producer: Iuliana Tarnovetchi Production Company: Alien Film Language: Romanian Country: Romania Budget: EUR Financing in place: EUR (5 000 EUR - CNC Romanian Development Fund, EUR - Alien Film, EUR Media - Sub-Programme, Development Single Project Development Grant) Partners attached: not for the moment Goals at BE: looking for co-production partners, script development workshops Otto the Barbarian kills the dragon and kisses the girl! this is what Otto shouts right at the beginning of the film. But what if the dragon already ate the girl? Director s note Otto is 17 years old and he is starting from an idealistic view of life, challenging the future, ready to overcome obstacles in order to gain the prize the girl. The film narrative begins when Otto seems to have lost the prize and from here the story unveils almost like an analysis, an investigation following Otto s character and his adjustment to this loss. The story addresses the theme of adolescence and the romantic death, the suicide as an alternative of failing at living. Starting from a news article about a young punk vocalist, Otto, named the Barbarian, the story came as a reflection on my own experience growing up. After long discussions with Otto the fictive story of my main character and the suicide of his girlfriend came into shape. 32

20 Co-Production Market Romania I am interested in presenting Otto as a very cryptic character. A handheld camera will follow Otto around almost as if documenting his life keeping the constant impression of reality and presence. The off framing, uneasy, long shots will increase the tension while visceral camera handheld shots will transmit the empathy with the main character s hidden feelings. I aim to push the end of a shot to the edge of understanding of the functionality of the cut, stressing the viewer in being caught in the moment, not being able to trick time. The tone will be that of a mystery film. Costin s constant enquiries will add tension as the puzzle pieces come together. I aim to keep a perspective view on Otto and his environment, a non-judgmental view of the character presenting all the data and then leave the viewer peek inside the story and judge according to their own personal experience. Director Ruxandra Ghitescu is a visual artist and filmmaker born on 21st July 1981 in Constanta, Romania. She graduated the Media Art School, Hochschule für Gestaltung in Karlsruhe, Germany. Over the past years she directed short films selected in international film festivals like Sofia, Cottbus, Transilvania, Lago, Tofifest and others. Ruxandra was a participant at Sarajevo Talents and Berlinale Talents in 2015 and her recent projects include the filmic adaptation for The Days of the King (dir. Radu Gabrea, 2015) and Uruguay (dir. Jessus del Cerro, 2015), currently in pre-production, where she is involved as co-writer. Producer Iuliana Tarnovetchi studied Psychology and entered the film business while she was still a student. Since then she has advanced through the ranks of film business by working on numerous foreign productions shot in Romania and local productions, which were highly appreciated both by the public and by the professionals, some of which awarded in prestigious festivals. In 2011, she established a new company, Alien Film, which is now developing and producing projects in all areas of the cinematographic industry. Production s company Alien Film is a well-established production company located in Bucharest, Romania, offering complete services in development, production and post-production for short and feature films, documentaries and commercials. The company s portfolio includes films that have travelled in the international festival circuit such as the short film The Flavors Collection by Igor Cobileanski, which was selected, among others, at Locarno, Clermont Ferrand and Busan in 2013, Cottbus and Cairo in Alien Film in partnership with Just a moment from Lithuania also realized the first Romanian - Lithuanian co-production for the feature film Do You Love Me, directed by Lina Luzyte, followed by the co-production between the two companies for the feature film in post-production Eastern Business, a dark comedy by Igor Cobileanski soon to be presented in festivals. Representatives at BE: Alexandra Buzas, executive producer Ruxandra Ghitescu, writer/director Contact Alien Film 20, Arhiereul Calist, , Bucharest, Romania Contact Person / Position: Alexandra Buzas / Executive Producer Phone: alexandra.buzas@gmail.com 33

21 A Somewhat Better Ending Synopsis After the sudden death of Cathrin, his Norwegian girlfriend, Beks (45), an immigrant, returns to a small village in Bosnia seeking peace and quiet. He meets Alma (18). Despite the age difference he falls for her and agrees to help her. She is being forced into a marriage. Beks can help by taking her away when he leaves. This angers some in Alma s community. Beks is telling this story to a psychiatrist in Oslo. The more he explains what happened with Alma the less the story makes sense. It turns out that Alma died 30 years ago when Beks was 15. He did try and help her back then but failed. She lives on in his memory throughout years of drugs, denial and self-destruction. Beks is going through a nervous breakdown caused by his girlfriend s illness. Attempting to escape the catastrophic present he revisits his traumatic past and the unresolved issues he d been carrying for all this time. Cathrin is not dead even though he is convinced she is. She survived her cancer treatment and is recovering. After Beks faces the truth about his past he is ready to take responsibility for his present and begins mending his relationship with Cathrin. This is a descent into the unstable reality of an unreliable narrator. Events from 30 years ago happen simultaneously with events from 3 months ago. The truth about what happened portrays a man who has spent his adult life fleeing his past. He finally faces the truth. And survives it. Original title: Ljepši kraj Genre: modern-day drama with reality twists Screenwriter: Marjan Alčevski Director: Miha Knific Producer: Siniša Juričič Production company: Nukleus film Language: Bosnian, Croatian, Norwegian, English Country: Croatia Budget: EUR Financing in place: EUR Goals at BE: co-producers, financiers, sales Director s note We are all strangers. Especially strangers to ourselves, since we keep adhering to society s rules, norms and requirements, which bend our perception of what is real and what is an imposed reality. Our hero, Beks, makes no exception. That is why I want to show through my artistic vision of A Somewhat Better Ending the two different poles as mixed as they are. I wish to depict the main character as a person divided in two a man who has been searching for himself ever since he departed his beloved country Bosnia, and a man who is actually searching and longing for his youth Bosnia in its pre-war years. This film isn t a post-war drama. It is rather an indistinct journey through the subconscious of the main character, his memories, imagination and illusions. I m trying to show that for the lost ones, imagination and memories enrich their lives. In the film I d like to show that not only realistic events create our lives. That s only one part of it. The film 34

22 Co-Production Market Croatia will evolve from a realistic film to an intimate diary of a schizophrenic person. After all, each and everyone of us has their his/her own truth. Director Miha Knific (born in 1976 in Kranj, Slovenia) graduated in Sculpturing from the Ljubljana Academy for Fine Arts and is postgraduate in Film on the Kungliga Konsthogskolan (Royal College of Arts) in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2007, Miha made the move from conceptual artist to film director with his debut film Let Me Sleep (Noč/En Natt) and has been an active filmmaker ever since. Miha focuses primarily on human stories and in his movies research extreme situations and their outcomes. Representatives at BE: Vanja Sremac, junior producer Miha Knific, director Producer Siniša Juričič founded Nukleus Film Croatia in 2003, sister company Nukleus Film Slovenia in 2012 and service/co-productions company Jaako dobra produkcija (JDP) in He is a participant on the 2015 Inside Pictures programme. Siniša s films have been selected for festivals including Cannes, Berlin, Sundance and Toronto, and his network of partners and collaborators extends throughout Europe and the USA. In 2014, he won the European Film Award for best short for the film Chicken by Una Gunjak. Production company Nukleus Film was established in Zagreb, Croatia in Over the years, it grew into a company with a strong regional and international network of partners and a portfolio of 13 completed films that have been presented at key festival and TV stations world-wide. In 2012, our outpost Nukleus Film Slovenia was founded, followed by Jaako dobra produckija, in 2013, a Zagreb-based company specialized in international co-productions. We are members of the EFA, ACE Producers Network, EURODOC, EAVE and a regular attendant of forums and co-production markets in Cannes, Berlin and Rotterdam. We are members of the Croatian Producers Association and former participants of Producers on the Move (2012) and Producers Lab Toronto (2013). Contact Nukleus Film Dalmatinska 8, Zagreb, Croatia Contact Person / Position: Vanja Sremac / Junior Produecr Phone: vanja@nukleus-film.hr 35