Ex Oriente Film - 3rd Workshop Session
October 22 - 24, 2008
East European Forum
October 22 - 27, 2008
Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival
October 24 - 29, 2008
East Silver Documentary Market
October 24 - 29, 2008
Documentary films at 2008 East Silver - Projects attended past editions of the East European Forum / Ex Oriente Film:
BAHRTALO! GOOD LUCK! (Bahrtalo! Jó szerencsét!)
Hungary 2008, 60 min
Director: Robert Lakatos
Producer: Muhi András - Inforg Productions
Script: Robert Lakatos
Director of photography: Réder György
Sound: Várhegyi Rudolf, Csaba Tamás, Komlódi Gábor
Music: Szászcsávás Band
Sales: Taskovski Films
Format: 35 mm
How to hit the Jackpot? This question is not a simple one to answer for anybody. But it's even harder to solve for the two friends in this neo-realistic comedy: the "big hat" Gypsy and his Hungarian buddy - both of them Transylvanians. Many times they don't succeed, but when they do, their success doesn't last long. Yet they know something not a lot of us know: how to enjoy life.
In 2005, the film was pitched at the East European Forum; in 2006, it was presented at Docu Talents from the East.
BLIND LOVES (Slepé lásky)
Slovakia 2008, 77 min
Director: Juraj Lehotský
Producer: Marko Škop - Artileria s.r.o.
Script: Marek Leščák, Juraj Lehotský
Director of photography: Juraj Chlpík
Sales: AUTLOOK Filmsales GbR
Format: 35 mm
Blind Loves is a film about love between blind people. Love can be soft, love can be silly, love can be blind at times... To find one´s place in this world is not an easy thing to do for people with good sight, but how much more difficult it can get for somobedy who is blind? The „view" of blind persons is often pure and essential, and very often witty. It uncovers new dimensions of the meaning of happiness.
Juraj Lehotský and Marko Škop developed the film during Ex Oriente Film 2006, under the working title "Searching".
BYE BYE SHANGHAI (Bye Bye Shanghai)
Czech Republic, Argentina 2008, 109 min
Director: Jana Boková
Producer: Jiří Konečný - endorfilm s.r.o.
Script: Jana Boková
Director of photography: Jiří Zykmund
Sound: Miro Gabor, Václav Flegl, Juraj Mravec
Music: Peta Korman Novák
Format: Digibeta PAL
Distinguished Czech documentarist Jana Boková, who lives in Argentina, decided for her latest film to find out exactly what the word "exile" means. Her first stop is Prague where, after a period of 40 years, she meets up with a friend, the philosopher Václav Bělohradský. Their joint recollections of leaving Prague, at that time occupied by forces of Soviet Union, are deftly woven into high-quality archive footage. She also conducts a frank interview in Prague with the lightly intoxicated Vlasta Třešňák, who remembers his torture during the endless interrogations by the state secret police and the need to choose between prison and emigration. This highly personal film examins the lives of several Czech emigrés, including the director herself, considers the various aspects of emigration and reaches the conclusion that, once a person has been uprooted, he can never cultivate his native roots again.
In 2006, Jana Boková presented her project Waiting in Buenos Aires, a portrait of the city of her exile, at the East European Forum. In the meantime, she made Bye Bye Shanghai that was featured at the 2007 Docu Talents from the East under the working title Exotic Home Prague.
CZECH RAPUBLIC (Česká RAPublika)
Czech Republic 2008, 93 min
Director: Pavel Abrahám
Producer: Martin Pošta - FRESH FILMS s.r.o.
Script: Pavel Abrahám, Tomáš Bojar
Director of photography: Vladan Vála
Editing: Šimon Špidla
Sound: Lukáš Moudrý
Music: PSH, Indy & Wich, Supercroo
Format: 35 mm
Czech RAPublic is the first feature film dedicated to Czech rap. James Cole, Hugo Toxxx and Orion on the stage, but primarily off it. Three prominent Czech rappers, ten pieces, ten lively - and even enlivening - film situations. Introducing a garrulous professor of linguistics, cheeky children from a Roma ghetto in Karviná, a curious photographer, a strict registry clerk, accidental passers-by of Prague or the "almighty" Hana Hegerová; further more the members of a classic music trio, basic school students from the Prague South City, representatives of the association Word and Voice and even the saviour of the Czech language, Josef Jungmann himself. Hip hop on the way from its narrow subcultural ghetto to the world. Citizens of the Czech RAPublic and the Czech Republic come together for a common "freestyle".
The project attended the 2006 Ex Oriente Film workshop.
DURBAN POISON (Durban Poison)
Czech Republic, South Africa 2007, 70 min
Director: Deon Maas, Michael Lee, Keith Jones
Producer: Jefe Brown - Peligroso Productions
Script: Deon Maas, Michael Lee, Keith Jones
Director of photography: Gary Griffin
Music: Skwatta Kamp, Socalled, Madala Kunene, AMU, Fuzigish
Format: Digibeta PAL
The Stable Theatre was the first independent black theatre in South Africa, founded in the racially and culturally mixed city of Durban. Its most famous product is Broadway playwright and pop star Mbongeni Ngema, a controversial figure tainted by scandal and accusations of racism. In an attempt to return to his roots, Ngema begins work on an ambitious new musical designed to tell the Stable's history. Unseen fault lines are crossed, and corruption, fraud and politics threaten to engulf the project. At the same time, the film's producer Deon Maas unexpectedly becomes a reality TV celebrity and decides to use his new public notoriety to investigate the situation. As the musical collapses and the theatre itself slides into failure, the film becomes a road movie through the minefield of contemporary South African politics and a search for the deeper problems at the heart of the Stable Theatre's collapse.
The project was pitched at the 2004 East European Forum.
A GHETTO CALLED BALUTY (Ghetto jménem Baluty)
Czech Republic 2007, 87 min
Director: Pavel Štingl
Producer: Ondřej Zima, Pavel Štingl - K2 s.r.o., Yeti Films Sp. z o.o., Evolution Films s.r.o.
Script: Pavel Štingl
Director of photography: Miroslav Janek
Editing: Tonička Janková
Sound: Michael Míček, Daniel Němec
New inhabitants live today in the same flats, houses and streets that many years ago saw Jewish citizens fight for their everyday survival. Before WWII, Baluty was a feared neighbourhood filled with thieves. Following the occupation of Poland, a Jewish ghetto was established here by the Nazis, in which 200,000 Jews awaited their death, including Jewish prisoners from five Czech transports arriving in Lodz from Autumn 1941. The lifestyle of today's inhabitants of this working-class part of the industrial city of Lodz is affected by poverty, alcoholism and unemployment. Baluty of the past and present have a lot in common. Images capturing the afflicted area at various time periods are accompanied by interviews with former and current inhabitants as well as unique photographs by Henryk Ross depicting times long gone.
The project was pitched at the 2007 East European Forum.
KITES (Latawce)
Poland 2008, 79 min
Director: Beata Dzianowicz
Producer: Krzysztof Kopczyński - Eureka Media
Script: Beata Dzianowicz
Director of photography: Jacek Petrycki
Sound: Jaroslaw Roszyk
Music: Arturs Maskats
Format: Digibeta PAL
In 2006, at the Art School in Kabul, a film course "Kabul - My City" was held. Students were given cameras and professional help from a young polish director by the name of Jacek Szaranski. The students came up with the ideas for their films and the style in which they would show Kabul. They focused their lenses on their closest surroundings - neighbors' children, ubiquitous kites and themselves. "Kites" has become a record of the present day Kabul from the perspective of an Afghan teenager. It also became a story about how a film passion is awakened, the difficulty of asking questions and the courage of hearing answers.
Under the working title Learning to Watch, the project attended the 2004 Ex Oriente Film workshop.
KLUCIS. THE DECONSTRUCTION OF AN ARTIST (Klucis. Nepareizais latvietis)
Latvia 2008, 89 min
Director: Peteris Krilovs
Producer: Uldis Cekulis - Vides FIlmu Studija
Script: Peteris Bankovskis
Director of photography: Andris Prieditis
Sound: Andris Barons
Music: Arturs Maskats
Format: 35 mm
The life of artist Gustav Klucis, one of the foremost representatives of early 20th century Russian avant-garde art. The film reflects the tragedy of a whole nation during the years of Stalin's repression. It is a story about boundless ambitions, hope, love and the artist's responsibility that continues to haunt him long after his death.
Director Peteris Krilovs and producer Uldis Cekulis developed the project at the 2005 Ex Oriente Film workshop; in 2006 it was presented at Docu Talents from the East.
LOST WORLD (Letűnt világ)
Hungary 2008, 20 min
Director: Gyula Nemes
Producer: Sari Volanen - YLE
Script: Gyula Nemes
Director of photography: Balázs Dobóczi
Sound: Gyula Nemes, Rudolf Várhegyi
Music: Ludwig van Beethoven, Dunakeszi Trailway Band
Sales: Magyar Filmúnió
Format: 35 mm
The life, demolition and reconstruction of the Kopaszi dam between 1998 and 2007. A mostly black & white 35mm documentary shot over ten years in a forgotten landscape in the center of Budapest. People living in houseboats and wooden houses, struggling against flood, snow and investors who want them to evict. The second part of The Dike of Transience.
The project participated in the 2005 Ex Oriente Film workshop.
MY FATHER GULAG (Moj otec Gulag)
Slovakia 2008, 63 min
Director: František Palonder
Producer: Patrik Pašš - Trigon Production
Script: Peter Juščák, František Palonder
Director of photography: Vladimir Biskupic
Sound: Igor Vrabec
Music: Marcel Palonder
Format: Betacam SP
None of his names is his real one. He never met his father, he doesn`t know whether he is a child of love or violence. He doesn`t even know his homeland. This documentary is a story of Jan Antal who was born 57 years ago in a Russian gulag to a wrongfully deported Slovak mother. This is the first time he has traveled to where he was born and spent the first three years of his life. He reached the end of the world with one question: "Did you know my father?"
The project participated in the 2005 Ex Oriente Film workshop.
ON THE SKY, ON EARTH (Na niebie, na Zemi)
Poland 2007, 65 min
Director: Maciej Cuske
Producer: Agniezska Janowska - Centrala Sp. Z o.o.
Script: Maciej Cuske
Director of photography: Radek Ladczuk
Sound: Anna Dymek, Zofia Golebiowska
Sales: Krakow Film Foundation
Format: 35 mm
A group of supernatural phenomena aficionados come to the small town of Wylatowo (Takeoffville). Just like every year they expect extraordinary signs to appear in the field of grain. One of the investigators has almost been kidnapped by an UFO. Yet he doesn't give up and he tries at any cost to prove that extraterrestrials existence.
The project was featured at the 2007 East European Forum.
STONE SILENCE (Kamienna Cisza)
Poland 2007, 51 min
Director:Krzysztof Kopczyński
Producer: Krzysztof Kopczyński - Eureka Media
Script: Krzysztof Kopczyński
Director of photography: Jacek Petrycki , P.S.C. Hanna Polak
Sound: Jarosław Roszyk, Jafar Panahi
Music: Krzysztof Knittel
Format: DigiBeta
In April 2005, the world heard the news of a 29 year-old northern Afghanistan woman who had been publicly stoned for adultery in the village of Spingul. Her name was Amina. The story of this powerful documentary begins five years before the aforementioned event broke over international media waves causing a stir on news programs and talk shows. It follows Amina who was given away by her family to be married to Muhammad. This engrossing film chronicles her affair, trial and punishment with piercing candour. Amina died, but no one pleaded guilty.
In 2005, the project was pitched at the East European Forum.
To find out more about these and other films presented at EEF/ExOr Film, please visit our Pitching Results section.
Documentary films at 2008 East Silver - Filmmakers are past participants of the East European Forum / Ex Oriente:
ABOVE PAVEMENTS (Ponad chodnikami) - Poland 2008, 24 min
Director: Piotr Stasik (The Last Day of Summer, Ex Oriente Film 2008)
Producer: Piotr Stasik - Paladino Film Group
CORRIDOR #8 (Corridor #8) - Bulgaria 2008, 74 min [photo1]
Director: Boris Despodov
Producer: Martichka Bozhilova - AGITPROP (Georgi and the Butterflies - East European Forum 2002, US 4 REVISITED - Ex Oriente Film 2004, A.C. Stephen Confidential - Ex Oriente Film 2006)
A CUPBOARD (Kredens) - Poland 2007, 27 min
Director: Jacob Dammas (Kopan - Ex Oriente Film 2006)
Producer: Joanna Skalska - Andrzej Wajda Master School of Film Directing
DIVORCE ALBANIAN STYLE (Razvod Po Albanski) - Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, Finland 2007, 66 min [photo2]
Director: Adela Peeva (Whose Is This Song? - East European Forum 2003)
Producer: Adela Peeva - Adela Peeva Ltd.
GLASS PAINTINGS (Skleněné obrazy) - Slovakia 2008, 26 min
Director: Lubor Dohnal
Producer: Marko Škop - Artileria, s.r.o. (Blind Loves - Ex Oriente Film 2006)
GRANDPA AND GRANDMA (Gyveno senelis ir bobute) - Lithuania 2007, 30 min
Director: Giedre Beinoriute (Windbreak - Ex Oriente Film 2004)
Producer: Valdas Navasaitis - VG Studio
GUGARA (Gugara) - Poland 2007, 70 min [photo3]
Director: Andrzej Dybczak, Jacek Naglowski (The Last Day of Summer, Ex Oriente Film 2008)
Producer: Agniezska Janowska - Centrala Sp. Z o.o.
I LOVE POLAND (Kocham Polskę) - Poland 2008, 55 min
Director: Maria Zmarz-Koczanowicz (Between Hopes and Fears - Ex Oriente Film 2005), Joanna Slawinska
Producer: Agnieszka Traczewska - Studio Filmowe Largo
IF IT HAPPENS (A gdyby tak sie stalo) - Poland 2007, 40 min
Director: Marcel Lozinski
Producer: Wojciech Szcudlo - Studio filmowe Kalejdoskop (Memory of the World - East European Forum 2003)
KITTY, KITTY (Kitty, Kitty) - Poland 2008, 28 min
Director: Pawel Lozinski (Chemistry - East European Forum 2007)
Producer: Pawel Lozinski - Pawel Lozinski Produkcja Filmow
NAZIS AND BLONDES (Fritsud ja Blondiinid) - Estonia 2008, 58min
Director: Arbo Tammiksaar
Producer: Jaak Kilmi - Kuukulgur Film (The Art of Selling - Ex Oriente Film 2004, Black-and-White Window - East European Forum 2007)
THE REVOLUTION THAT WASN'T (Revolutsioon, mida ei olnud) - Estonia 2008, 58 min
Director: Aliona Polunina
Producer: Jaak Kilmi - Kuukulgur Film (The Art of Selling - Ex Oriente Film 2004, Black-and-White Window - East European Forum 2007)
TAKE IT JEASY! (Ježíš je normální!, www.jezisjenormalni.cz ) - Czech Republic 2008, 70 min
Director: Tereza Nvotová
Producer: Pepe Rafaj - Jacket Bros. (Noah's Rainbow, Ex Oriente Film 2008)
THREE MEN AND A FISH POND (Par dzimteniti) - Latvia 2008, 52 min
Director: Mára Maskalána, Laila Pakalnina
Producer: Uldis Cekulis - Vides FIlmu Studija (Klucis. The Deconstruction of an Artist - Ex Oriente Film 2005)