A professional script- and project-development program for creative teams and aspiring script consultants who believe in the importance of teamwork
MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2022

Projects
Nine promising feature film projects
Participating projects are divided into 3 groups of 3, and development within each group is overseen by both a group leader and a script-consultant trainee.
A Flower is Not a Flower
ALL MY FRIENDS SOON WILL BE DEAD
Dolphin
My Best Friend’s Baby
My name is Lily
Side by Side
Twentyseven
The First Week of August
You Better BE
Participants
The next generation of European film professionals
Script Consultant Trainees
Tutors
Inspirational professionals with a passion for sharing their experience
To ensure the most comprehensive approach to training, Feature Launch works with established and respected names from all over the European industry.
We have not yet completed the list of tutors for this edition. But you can get a notion of our network of experts from the list of tutors in the previous edition.
Producer Mentor
Danijel Hocevar
Group Leaders
The Group Leaders oversee the development of projects in their group from the very beginning of the of the program through graduation. They also coach the script-consultant trainee trainee assigned to their group.

Pavel Jech

Pavel Marek

Ivo Trajkov
Script-consultant Trainee Mentor
The Script-consultant Trainee Mentor co-creates the training for the script-consultant trainees, ensuring that this training is implemented organically into the group work and that the collaborative set-up simulates a real-life industry environment. He meets regularly with the trainees, providing feedback and support.
Gyula Gazdag
Pitching Tutor
The Pitching Tutor prepares participants to present themselves and their projects, in general and for the final pitching session of the program.
Guest Tutors
These established professionals are usually present at at least one of the workshops to share their expertise.
Awards
KVIFF & MIDPOINT Development Award
A joint financial award of MIDPOINT and the Karlovy Vary IFF of 10,000 EUR for the best project of the Feature Launch 2022 program underlines the aim of the program itself – help emerging talents from Central and Eastern Europe to develop their film projects.
Awarded project: My Best Friend´s Baby
connecting cottbus Award
A selected project from MIDPOINT Feature Launch will be given the opportunity to present itself during the pitching event within the connecting cottbus co-production market. Participation will include individual consultations from international film professionals and one-on-one meetings with potential partners.
Awarded project: Dolphin
Rotterdam Lab Award
One producer will be handpicked to participate in the professional training program for producers, Rotterdam Lab, which takes place during the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Awarded producer: Magdalena Sztorc
Structure
Comprehensive program combining various formats
The nine creative teams, split into three groups, work under the guidance of internationally renowned and experienced tutors and in close collaboration with script-consultant trainees, who are involved in all parts of the program.
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Script-consultant TraineesPreparatory SeminarMarch 10-11, 2022 | Prague, Czech Republic
Script-consultant trainees are briefed and given some introductory training by their mentor. The aim is to become acquainted with the mentor, the group leaders and the projects, and to learn the fundamentals of script consultancy.
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All participantsWorkshop 1March 11-17, 2022 | Prague, Czech RepublicTEAMS WITH PROJECTS
This workshop focuses primarily on creative development and dramaturgy while also introducing greater knowledge about other aspects of the industry, such as financing and market positioning.
Tailor-made online consultations follow the workshop according to the needs of each project.
SCRIPT-CONSULTANT TRAINEESThe trainees are trained by both their mentor, who supervises their entire learning process, and Feature Launch tutors, who help them understand the different approaches and strategies they use while developing feature-film projects. Each trainee is assigned to one of the three groups, and works closely with their mentor and the participants on the development of their scripts. Trainees also meet regularly with their mentor to review their learning progress.
Through this process, the trainees are acquainted with the script and development aspects of developing a film project, enhance their communication skills during the creative process and, most important, learn how to give constructive feedback to the creative teams to help them move forward in their development.
LecturesProject Development – A View of the ProducerDanijel Hocevar
March 13, 4:30 p.m. | Prague, Czech RepublicWhat is the (right) role of the producer during project development? How to discuss the creative and other aspects of the project with your writer and director? How to convey a common vision of the future film and how to develop the same creative idea and avoid possible different views, approaches and sometimes even disagreements?
These are just a few questions each producer is addressing when developing the main idea of the project together with the director (and writer) during the development, usually the most creative process for the whole creative team. Part of the lecture will also be dedicated to the main characteristics of the development financing from the European perspective.
Masterclass with Olmo Omerzu and Jiri KonecnyJiri Konecny, Olmo Omerzu
March 15, 4:30 p.m. | Prague, Czech RepublicSlovenian director Olmo Omerzu, based in Prague, and Czech producer Jiri Konecny will talk about their long-term collaboration which started already on Omerzu's 2012 student film A Night Too Young, and continued not only throughout his next features (Family Film, Winter Flies, Bird Atlas), but also on his short (The Last Day of Patriarchy). How are mutual decisions made, what challenges does the director-producer relationship stand against and how long-term trust is built - will be discussed on specific examples of their film careers.
Moderated by Katarina Tomkova.Gift Service: How to “Sell” a Film ProjectKatarina Tomkova
March 16, 4:30 p.m. | Prague, Czech RepublicWhat written materials do we need on the long route of producing a film, who should be preparing them, and in which phase of the film's creation do we use them? Addressing all the do's and don'ts in a film package, Katarina's lecture will prepare the creative teams for the presentation and positioning of their project in an international context.
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All participantsWorkshop 2May 3-6, 2022 | Online
Online individual consultations, group work, lectures focused on script/treatment development (writing a new step outline or other assignments given by group leaders with respect to the project), financing plan, production financing plan. Individual consultations serve the purpose of the tutors to consult every project individually in the interim process between the workshops, giving their feedback and notes. The group work enables to incorporate feedbacks also from the fellow participants.
LecturesHow to Pitch Your Film - 6 Questions for the PitchGabriele Brunnenmeyer
May 6, 2022, 2:00 p.m. | onlineTo pitch your project means to know everything about your project, to be aware of its strengths as well as of its weaknesses. The lecture will introduce in the essential elements of a pitch and underline the possibilities to include your specific vision in the presentation. A focus will be put on the elements that help writers, directors and producers to analyze the status quo of the project and to find a language to promote your current story to decision makers.
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All participantsWorkshop 3June 30 - July 7, 2022 | Prague and Karlovy Vary, Czech RepublicTEAMS WITH PROJECTS
This workshop serves as a platform to further advance the scripts, while also incorporating marketing and sales strategies into the development process. It also includes intensive and critical training about how to present and promote projects, including the basics of business development and sustainability. This workshop is immediately followed by the Works in development - Feature Launch project showcase at the Karlovy Vary IFF, where all ninevselected projects are presented to an audience of industry decision makers, including funders, sales agents, producers and festival programmers. One-on-one meetings and further networking follow the presentations.
The program's awards are handed out at this event.
SCRIPT-CONSULTANT TRAINEESThe trainees continue to observe the various stages of the development of the projects, through the final presentation at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. They are present at the pitching training and rehearsals and also prepare their own presentations, as they'll pitch themselves as industry professionals during the KVIFF pitching forum.
Networking opportunities at the event may help them in their future careers.
LecturesProduction Sustainability & Climate ContentJuly 4, 17:00 – 18:00 CET | KVIFF.TV Park, Karlovy Vary, Czech RepublicThe Earth is our only location – so what are the best filmmaking practices in order to protect our planet? The film industry has a unique power to set trends, motivate and positively influence mainstream audiences towards more sustainable behaviour. This unique potential should be used to its fullest given the current climate crisis. This seminar, created in cooperation between the Audiovisual Producers' Association, MIDPOINT Institute and TV Nova, will offer both “Sustainability in Cinema 101” as well as best practices on how to approach the topic already at the development stage.
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All participantsWorkshop 4November 22-25, 2022 | online
Individual consultations, group works, master classes, lectures focused on marketing and distribution strategies including new formats (new opportunities for cross-media promotion and distribution particularly exploring the options of digital and social platforms), introduction to the company development training, individual consultations with script consultants and producer tutor.
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ProducersCompany TimeJanuary 2023 | Trieste, Italy
This follow-up workshop offers participating producers support in the areas of company sustainability and strategic business planning. This training is designed and co-organized with our partner EAVE.
The workshop is led by Linda Beath, an expert on project financing and strategic business planning who advises both European and international producers. Her areas of expertise also include public policy and new business models relating to digital media.
Over four days, participants will enhance their entrepreneurial skills, analyze their own companies, and receive feedback from both Linda and renowned experts from the industry, who have experience working both inside and outside Central and Eastern Europe.
In addtion, this workshop is run in collaboration with the Trieste FF and within the frame of When East Meets West, which brings participants further networking opportunities through its industry program.
After the workshop, participants have the opportunity to follow up with an expert online, to discuss the individual strategy for their company further.
Successful films
Selection of our successful alumni
References
Huge motivation boost and way to move you project to the next level
Contact
Did we forget something? Don't hesitate to ask

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