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MIDPOINT Shorts 2020-2021

Shorts
Archive

Program dedicated to short fiction films in development. It is open to projects of professional or graduation short films coming mainly, but not exclusively, from Central and Eastern Europe and the wider Mediterranean area.

Organizational information

Dates and venues

Preparatory workshop
September 28-30, 2020; online

Workshop 1
October 18-23, 2020; online

Workshop 2
January 11-15, 2021; online


The program schedule and the form of the organization inevitably depend on the development of the coronavirus pandemic situation.

Who is it for?

  • teams of writers and/or directors and producers
  • projects of professional or graduation short films


Contact person

Sona Morgenthalova
Program Coordinator
sona.morgenthalova@midpoint-institute.eu

“The ideal program to explore, discover and nurture the future generation of European filmmakers.”

Alessandro Gropplero
WEMW Director

Projects

MIDPOINT Shorts selects teams of writers, directors and producers of short film projects. 

The selected projects go through a preparatory workshop followed by two regular workshops during which the participants focus on script and project development while also being able to gain deeper knowledge about other aspects of the industry. 

The whole program concludes with the project showcase within the prestigious When East Meets West Co-production Forum.

Asphalt

All of a sudden, roads start to crack up. Tyrannical asphalt constructor Mastrogiorgis puts the blame on Sokol, the sloppiest of workers, challenging him to step into his shoes. The roads' ...
Project detail

Boys of Summer

Leo, a low profile 16-year-old boy, hangs out with his two friends Dinos and Gina, in the empty touristy town of Ayia Napa during the winter of 1998. The three friends share moments together, maybe ...
Project detail

Feud

A headstrong, young journalist Tihana picks her car from the repair shop after a repetitive slash of her tires - this morning the newspapers printed her latest report on a corrupted law enforcement. ...
Project detail

Ice Crack

Teenage Alex is the only girl in a boys' ice-hockey team. Her dad Michal, who raised her alone, is the team's coach. He treats Alex like one of the players, both on the ice and at home. Alex herself ...
Project detail

Participants

Tutors

Head of Studies

Pavel Marek
Czech Republic  
Pavel Marek is a graduate of the Faculty of Computer Engineering, Technical University and the Directing Department at FAMU. He received a scholarship at the NFTS in the UK. During the communist era ...
Complete bio

Producer Tutor

Marija Razgute
Lithuania  
Complete bio

Pitching Tutor

Gabriele Brunnenmeyer
Germany  
Complete bio

Guest Tutors

Stefanie Abel Horowitz
United States  
Complete bio
Jeremy Comte
Canada  
Complete bio
Alessandro Gropplero
Italy  
Complete bio
Wouter Jansen
Austria  
Complete bio
Celine Held & Logan George
United States  
Complete bio

Methodology

The creative teams work in a small group under the guidance of an internationally renowned and experienced script consultant tutor.

Most of the selected projects usually are in the early stage of development either with a treatment or an early draft of the script, therefore the Preparatory online workshop and Workshop 1 are mainly focused on creative development and structural dramaturgy. During the first workshop, the participants also start working on their strategies together with the producer tutorWorkshop 2 serves as a platform to further advance the scripts, while it also incorporates distribution strategies into the development process and addresses the important matters connected to presentation skills and promotion. The whole program concludes with the project showcase within the prestigious When East Meets West co-production market. 

All three workshops consist of group work, plenary sessions, inspiring master classes and case studies which offer a deeper understanding of the creative aspects involved in the work, as well as insights into financing, sales, festival and distribution strategies.

There are also one-to-one meetings with guest tutors and international experts from different areas of the audiovisual industry to help the participants further develop their projects.

Tailor-made online consultations follow every workshop according to the need of each project.

Lectures

  • Lectures
    Lectures
    Lecture: Festival Strategy for Shorts in the Long Run
    Wouter Jansen
    January 13, 2021 | Online

    With plenty of film festivals out there and new ones popping up every day, it is easy to get lost trying to find the ones that suit your film (and you) best.

    When and where to start whilst working on your film, what festivals to screen at in the beginning and what choices should you make after having your premiere? How can you get the most out of your festival run? What are the possibilities for spreading and screening your film online? In this we will explain the best way to get your short film out into the world.

    Masterclass: Sometimes, I Think About Dying
    Stefanie Abel Horowitz
    January 12, 2021 | Online

    Fran is thinking about dying, but a man in the office might want to date her.

    A Short Journey Through Co-Production Markets
    Alessandro Gropplero
    October 23, 2020 | Online

    All around the year and all over the world there are hundreds of opportunities to pitch your film and find new financial and creative partners. No matter if it is a short or a feature or a documentary, it is always essential to plan in advance your strategy and combine carefully all the ingredients you can use to best introduce your project to the rest of the film industry.

    Masterclass: CAROLINE
    Celine Held & Logan George
    October 21, 2020 | Online

    In the middle of a Texas summer, plans for a babysitter fall through and six-year-old Caroline is left in charge of her two younger siblings.

    Caroline by Celine Held & Logan George premiered at Cannes Film Festival, Official Competition, where it was nominated for the Short Film Palme d'Or. Caroline went on to play at Telluride Film Festival, SXSW, Hamptons Film Festival, LA Film Festival, among many more. The film won awards at over 30 film festivals, and was shortlisted for Best Live Action Short Film at the 91st Academy Awards. The film stars Caroline Falk, Celine Held, Tam Jackson, Brooks Falk, and Sally Falk. Caroline was produced by Kara Durrett, with cinematography by Lowell A. Meyer, and was edited by Logan George.

    How To Pitch Your Film - 6 Questions for the Pitch
    Gabriele Brunnenmeyer
    October 21, 2020 | Online

    To 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.

    Masterclass: FAUVE
    Jeremy Comte
    October 20, 2020 | Online

    Set in a surface mine, two boys sink into a seemingly innocent power game with Mother Nature as the sole observer.

    A Canadian short film drama Fauve by Jeremy Comte premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018, where it won a Special Jury Prize in the short films program. It was selected in over 150 festivals and has won over 75 awards, including Toronto International Film Festival or 24FPS International Short Film Festival. It was also an Academy Award nominee for Best Live Action Short Film at the 91st Academy Awards. 

    Packaging a Short Film: Materials!
    Marija Razgute
    October 19, 2020 | Online

    Before a short film is ready for the screen the usual way of communicating it to the talents, partners or funds is providing them with your package of materials – treatment or script, logline or synopsis, intentions, budget, financing plan, distribution strategy and etc. The new loglines and synopsis of each group will be discussed throughout the lecture.

Funders

Partners