Workshop: My First Script

12-16/11 | Müller Hall

CLOSED FOR PUBLIC

The workshop is conceived as active individual engagement in a screenwriting project, mentored by two expert script doctors. Based on the entries from all over the world submitted to our open call for participation, our selection committee has chosen six screenwriting projects by filmmakers, authors, or co-authors of short, documentary, or animated films, currently working on their first draft for a feature film screenplay.

 Script Doctors:

Antonio Nuić

He is a writer and director. He graduated in film and TV directing from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb, where he has been working as a professor since 2013. He directed one of the stories in a feature-length anthology film Sex, Booze and Short Fuse (2004), after which he went on to write and direct All for Free (2005), Donkey (2009), and Life Is a Trumpet (2015). He is a commissioning editor at Zagreb Film Festival, as well as a member of the Croatian Film Directors’ Guild Board of Directors.

Pjer Žalica

pjer-zalica-1

Born in Sarajevo in 1964. He is the dean of the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo, where he teaches directing. He is one of the partner at Regresh production company. He wrote and directed a number of TV series, commercials, videos, stage plays, short films, documentaries (Mostar Sevdah Reunion, Rob) and three feature fiction films (Fuse, Days and Hours, Orchestra). He is a member of the European Film Academy and the Sarajevo Film Center’s Supervisory Board.

Hungary

Lupus, Balazs Simonyi

Synopsis
Anna and Istvan are living an ordinary, happy life with their 10-year-old daughter, Gabi. After some strange symptoms, they learn that Gabi has a serious autoimmune disease – lupus. Like a wolf, it breaks in, attacks her organs and devours her step by step. The everyday life of the terminally ill girl is pure suffering and the parents are helpless. The mother will have to choose between a life without dignity and a merciful death. Can killing be justified by infinite love? What is life when there is no reason to continue? Based on a true story.

Project status
In development. The project received support for script development from the Hungarian Film Fund.

Romania

Comrade Dona, Filip Columbeanu

Synopsis
In 1978, Romanian-born painter and emerging artist Doina Bumbea left Italy for an exposition in Tokyo. She was never seen again. In 2004, one of the few American defectors held captive in North Korea managed to break through. His story about a European woman named Dona who loved to paint and who was forcefully married to another American defector came to light. This is the story of Doina Bumbea, a strong independent spirit, who has to learn to survive through one of the world’s most oppressive regimes. The film will be directed by Igor Cobileanski and produced by Alien Film, Romania.

Project status
In development. The project received support for script development by Romanian Film Fond.

Georgia

The Empty House, Nino Varsimashvili

Synopsis
12-year-old Nino is growing up in post-Soviet Georgia during the civil war of the early 90s. She has a profound love for writing. Her poetic inspiration began with the longing for her father. After 7 years of absence, her father, an influential figure in the criminal world, returns from prison and her family is finally complete. But the house slowly turns into a battlefield and begins to crumble around her. Confronted with a reality bitter beyond her imagination, Nino is forced to examine her notions of family, fatherhood and love.

Project status
The project is in advanced development. It won the Eurimages Award at TIFF, Special Mention at Locarno and was selected at Cannes Cinéfondation Residence and Berlinale Co-Production Market.

Montenegro

The Shot, Jovana Bojović

Synopsis
Ana is a teenager living with her engineer father, mother, who is a post office clerk and her younger sister, a handball player. When her father’s old and senile mother moves in with them, the family dynamics changes. Ana blames her grandmother for her love problems and she is convinced all her troubles would go away if the grandma died. The three women in the family become accomplices to a crime.

Project status
In development. The project received support for script development from the Film Centre of Montenegro.

Croatia

Seven Heaven, Jasna Nanut

Synopsis
Vanja has no idea his wife is about to leave him. After the split, Vanja rents an apartment and hopes Ema will return, but, she meets a charming and married Nino. When his wife Ksenija suspects something is going on, Nino breaks things off with Ema, and she is left to finalize her divorce with Vanja.

Project status
In development. The project received support for script development and project development by Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC).

Croatiia

The First Week of August, Filip Mojzeš

Synopsis
An upper middle class family, Vesna, Boris and their son David are spending their vacation at an elite resort on one of the Adriatic islands. The relationship between architects and business partners Vesna and Boris is on the rocks because of signs of her infidelity, which undoubtedly affects David, a very energetic and rebellious boy. After a series of David’s tantrums, his mother completely loses control and brutally beats him. Taking advantage of the situation, David finds himself in the position of power. Yet, manipulating the guilt of his parents will ultimately lead to his own breakdown.

Project status
In development. The project received support for script development by Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC).