The Works in Progress segment of Karlovy Vary's Eastern Promises Industry Days section, which took place online earlier this week, has announced its award winners. Two out of the eight projects (find the full list and the composition of the juries in this news story) received prizes, and we profile them below.

Works in Progress TRT Award (€10,000)

Wild Roots [+lee también:
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The first feature by writer-director Hajni Kis, whose 2016 short Beautiful Figure was nominated for the Student Oscars, is a semi-autobiographical story starring non-professionals. The lead character, Tibor, is an ex-con who works as a bouncer in a club, and is played by Gusztáv Dietz, a former MMA world champion and bodyguard. He has financial difficulties, and because of his vehement nature, he’s always in conflict with his surroundings. He and his daughter, Niki (11-year-old Zorka Horváth), who lives with her grandparents, have not seen each other for seven years. When Niki finds out that Tibor has been released from prison, she goes to find him.

The film is being co-produced by Julie Berkes and Balázs Zachar for Hungary's Proton Cinema, which again accessed the Hungarian National Film Institute's Incubator programme, through which it financed the 2014 Karlovy Vary title For Some Inexplicable Reason [+lee también:
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Post-production Development Award from UPP and Soundsquare

The Alleys - Bassel Ghandour (Jordan/Qatar/France/Saudi Arabia)
The directorial debut by Theeb [+lee también:
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Produced by Rula Nasser, of Amman-based Imaginarium Films, who says they raised the budget through a number of small regional funds in co-production countries, the film is picture-locked, and with this award it can be completed soon and ready for its premiere.