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MIDPOINT Shorts 2021-2022

Shorts
Archive

Take your short-film idea and make it a reality.

Projects

Five promising short-film projects

Creative teams work in a group under the guidance of internationally renowned tutors.

APRIL 1989

A few months before the velvet revolution in the Czechoslovakia two teenage boys try to flee and emigrate to the west. With one desire to join the French legion and continue practicing their one and ...
Project detail

Night Shift

Strait-laced cadet Yasin is assigned to his first shift guarding the Cypriot coastline from ‘outsiders’. Yasin is excited to be mentored by Gokhan; an exceptional veteran of the border patrol. ...
Project detail

Rites

A twelve-year-old Michal was born with a cleft lip. He feels inadequate because of his deformed face. His only friend Ondra convinces him to join a street gang to finally break free from a position ...
Project detail

The Annunciation

Maria is a single career-driven woman in her mid 30s. A leading IT-firm is offering her an attractive position which, though, means no personal life. Before accepting the offer she needs to see the ...
Project detail

Wedding, Berlin

Ramle and Yazur plan a big traditional Palestinian wedding for their daughter, Bissan, who was born and raised in Berlin. Omar, who is Bissan’s husband to be, has dreamt of this night for the past ...
Project detail

Participants

The next generation of talented film professionals

Tutors

Inspirational professionals with passion for sharing experience

Build on the solid foundations of traditional script analysis, MIDPOINT Shorts brings experts from the short-film industry to the service of your stories.

 

Head of Studies & Group Leader

Pavel Marek is a globetrotter – born in India, early childhood in the USA, now a writer and director of Czech features, shorts and docs, and professor of directing at FAMU Prague.

As Head of Studies, Pavel oversees the methodology of the program, ensures participants' needs are met, and guarantees the practical value and industry impact of the training you receive.

As Group Leader, Pavel also oversees the development of all projects from the beginning of the program through graduation.

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

The Producer Tutor makes sure each project develops effective promotional materials and realistic budgets and schedules.

Marija Razgute
Lithuania  
Complete bio

Pitching Tutor

The Pitching Tutor helps participants prepare the presentation of their projects, not only for the program's final pitching session but for any eventuality.

Stefano Tealdi
Italy  
Complete bio

Guest Tutors

Guest Tutors include established professionals who usually attend one of the two workshops to share their expertise.

Sameh Alaa
Egypt  
Complete bio
Alessandro Gropplero
Italy  
Complete bio
Wouter Jansen
Austria  
Complete bio
Balint Kenyeres
Hungary  
Complete bio
Ben Vandendaele
Belgium  
Complete bio

Structure

Comprehensive project-development program for short-film projects

Five creative teams work together in a small group under the guidance of an internationally renowned and experienced script consultant. During the workshop, they gain a deeper understanding of their creative tasks and insight into financing, sales, festival and distribution strategies.

  • Online Kick-off
    September 29–October 1, 2021 | online

    Participants become acquainted with tutors, with one another, and with the methodology they'll use during the workshop. They begin work on their scripts and set up the group's dynamics.

  • Workshop 1: Script Development & Project Packaging
    October 18–22, 2021 | online

    This workshop focuses primarily on creative development and dramaturgy. Participants also begin working on promotional materials and production strategies with the Producer Tutor. They also meet Guest Tutors from the short-film industry through special lectures and inspiring masterclasses.

    Lectures
    A Short Journey Through Co-Production Markets
    Alessandro Gropplero
    October 22, 2021, 10:00 a.m. | 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 you are developing a short or a feature, nor if it is a physical or a virtual presentation, it is always essential to plan your strategy and combine carefully all the ingredients you can use to best introduce your project.

    Packaging a Short Film: Materials!
    Marija Razgute
    October 19, 2021, 12:00 p.m. | 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.

    Creative Talk
    Ben Vandendaele
    October 21, 2021, 2:00 p.m. | online

    Creative talk with a versatile producer, sales agent and distributor, Ben Vandendaele, about the short film industry and both traditional and alternative ways of distribution.

    Masterclass: THE HISTORY OF AVIATION
    Balint Kenyeres
    October 20, 2021, 4 p.m. | online

    Normandy, 1905. The picnic is over; the upper middle class party prepare to go home. They are waiting for just one last photograph, but someone is still missing from the group…

  • All participants
    Online Consultations
  • Workshop 2: Industry Insights & Project Showcase
    January 20-26, 2022 | Trieste, Italy

    This workshop serves as a platform to develop scripts further, while also incorporating distribution strategies and addressing presentation skills and promotional materials. The entire program concludes with a project showcase within the When East Meets West Co-Production Forum, plus one-on-one meetings with important decision-makers within the industry.

    Lectures
    Pitch or Perish
    Stefano Tealdi
    January 7, 2022, 10:00 a.m. | Online

    Public and on-line presentations of new projects and professional talent have become widespread and filmmakers and producers must master the skills of verbally presenting themselves and thier new proposals in brief. The plenary examines what the pitch means for the various players attending a public forum, a one-to-one meeting or an on-line pitch, what it implies at different levels and how to structure and handle it.

    Masterclass: I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face
    Sameh Alaa
    January 24, 2022, 10:30 - 12:00 a. m. | Savoia Excelsior Palace / Trieste, Italy

    Masterclass by Egyptian filmmaker Sameh Alaa, mostly about his short film I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face awarded by Palme d´Or at the 2020 Cannes Film Festival (and many other awards).

    Festival Strategy for Shorts in the Long Run
    Wouter Jansen
    January 25, 2022, 9:30 - 11:00 a. m. | Savoia Excelsior Palace / Trieste, Italy

    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.

  • All participants
    Follow-up Online Consultations
    Spring 2022 | online

Successful Shorts

Selection of our successful alumni

References

A motivational experience that elevates your project

Funders

General Partners

In collaboration with

Contact

Did we forget something? Don't hesitate to ask

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