05/10/2021 - The upcoming edition of the co-production forum also marks the start of a new era, changing its traditional format and launching a Slate Market

After ten years based on a traditional physical format and one year entirely online, When East Meets West (WEMW) is introducing a new concept, based on a series of key elements: hybrid content and format, a Slate Market and company planning, along with curation and motivation.

Taking place from 24-28 January, WEMW will fully integrate on-site and online participants, thanks to a series of new initiatives meant to create a successful dialogue between the physical and virtual worlds. The first module of the next WEMW will run both on-site in Trieste and online, while a second module will be available only on the WEMW digital platform.

As always, the Co-Production Forum dedicated to documentaries and feature films in development from all over Europe and beyond is at the heart of the event. For the upcoming edition, a selection of projects and delegates will come from the 2022 East and West spotlight territories, Russia and the UK, Ireland, Canada and the USA.

With the deadline set on 30 October, producers from Europe, Canada, the USA and Latin America are eligible to apply with fiction feature or documentary film projects, with 20 of them to be selected (more information on the criteria can be found on www.wemw.it). Applicants will have the chance to virtually meet with the WEMW team on October 8, 15, 22, and 29 to discuss projects, share ideas or doubts. Get more information about the event and the submission process at info@wemw.it

Furthermore, WEMW will continue to select single projects in different phases of development and production, but it will broaden its perspective with the launch of the first edition of the WEMW Slate Market. This brand-new programme, run in close partnership with EAVE, will select companies that are developing a slate of A/V works and will offer them consultancies on company management and strategic planning, together with business-to-business exchanges with key players from different industry sectors.

Following the successful results of the previous edition, WEMW will organise once again tailor-made curated meetings with a series of WEMW Business Angels, handpicked in cooperation with EAVE and Eurodoc. All Co-Production Forum and Slate Market selected teams will receive advice on co-production, financing, marketing or distribution, according to the primary needs of their projects and slates. 

Film professionals from all over the world will have the opportunity to request an on-site accreditation by applying to one of the WEMW Inspirational Labs. These activities, run in collaboration with leading training programmes and international partners, are meant to stimulate participants to develop new content, explore new business models and discover new markets. The call for these mini-labs will open at the end of October and the final selection will be based on the applicants’ company profile and motivation letter. WEMW 2022 will grant physical access to the market venue only to the participants selected to one of these labs. All other film professionals will be offered the possibility to enjoy the rich programme of WEMW by requesting an online accreditation to access the new WEMW Digital Universe.

WEMW is organised once again by the FVG Audiovisual Fund in collaboration with the Trieste Film Festival, EAVE, Creative Europe Desk Italy and thanks to the support of Creative Europe - MEDIA Programme, MIC - Direzione Generale per il Cinema, CEI – Central European Initiative, Film Centre Serbia and the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.