18/08/2021 - A Piece of Sky by Michael Koch was also awarded at the third edition of the programme during KVIFF Eastern Promises

The third edition of First Cut+, which aims to boost the competitiveness and marketability of feature films that previously participated in the First Cut Lab, has wrapped and announced its award winners. Running online as part of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival’s Eastern Promises, First Cut+ featured eight participating films (see the news) that are currently in post-production.

The winner of the First Cut+ Award is The Hatcher, the feature debut by Polish writer-director Grzegorz Molda, which revolves around a troubled youth and his hope for a fresh start (read the news). The project will be receiving extra marketing-related consultations by four First Cut+ mentors: Alexis Hamaide (L’Avventura Studio), Michael Arnon and Laurin Dietrich (WOLF Consultants) and Boris Pugnet (Tiramisu). Co-penned by Molda and Monika Powalisz, The Hatcher is being produced by Izabela Igel for Warsaw-based Harine Films.

Furthermore, The Hatcher also snatched the SUB-TI Award, which consists of subtitling services, as was decided by a jury that also comprised Federico Spoletti, co-founder and managing director of SUB-TI and founder of FRED Film Radio.

A Piece of Sky [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Michael Koch
film profile], the sophomore feature film by Swiss actor-screenwriter-director Michael Koch, won the First Cut+ TRT Award, which comes with a €5,000 cash prize. The film, set in a remote mountain village where a couple tries to preserve their love (see the news), is a Swiss-German co-production by Christof Neracher for Zurich’s hugofilm with Pandora Filmproduktion.

It is worth noting that two projects from this First Cut+ session have already snagged deals with international sales agents: A Piece of Sky is handled by Polish firm New Europe Film Sales, while Valeria Is Getting Married [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Michal Vinik (Israel/Ukraine) is handled by German outfit m-appeal.

Here are the winners of First Cut+ KVIFF Eastern Promises 2021:

First Cut+ Award
The Hatcher – Grzegorz Mołda (Poland)
Main producer: Izabela Igel (Harine Films)
Co-producers: TVP SA, Polish Film Institute

TRT Award
A Piece of Sky [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Michael Koch
film profile] – Michael Koch (Switzerland/Germany)
Main producer: Christof Neracher (hugofilm features)
Co-producer: Pandora Filmproduktion

SUB-TI Award
The Hatcher – Grzegorz Mołda