For the third year in a row, First Cut+ is aiming to boost the promotion and audience engagement strategies of European feature films. Launched in close co-operation with two renowned film industry platforms, Trieste’s When East Meets West (WEMW) and the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival’s Eastern Promises Industry Days, the first session of the programme will run during the imminent WEMW (24-28 January – see the news).

As at the previous editions, the complete First Cut+ portfolio consists of 16 feature-length fiction films that are currently in post-production, most of which hail from countries with a low production capacity. There will be a special focus on Central and Eastern European projects. Half of the titles are featured at the Trieste workshop, while the rest will be included in the session held during the upcoming Eastern Promises Industry Days.

Half of the projects participating in First Cut+ at Trieste’s WEMW are by debuting filmmakers. Italian-Belgian documentarian Mathieu Volpe (Une jeunesse italienne [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Mathieu Volpe
fiche film]) will participate with his debut drama, A Love Story; Polish cinematographers Łukasz Suchocki and Maciej Dydynski delve into their debut feature with the road movie Camper, which they are also producing; Anna Kazejak (The Word [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film]) is making her third feature film, Fucking Bornholm [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Anna Kazejak
fiche film], which is the other Polish work in the selection; and Ukrainian writer-director Marysia Nikitiuk, well-known for her debut feature, When the Trees Fall [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Marysia Nikitiuk
fiche film], will be presenting her upcoming drama Lucky Girl [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Marysia Nikitiuk
fiche film].

Romania is also well represented, with two films in the selection: documentarian Sebastian Mihăilescu (You Are Ceauşescu to Me [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film]) is bringing along his debut fiction film, Mammalia [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film], which centres on "a man who goes searching for manhood"; while successful writer-director Paul Negoescu (The Story of a Summer Lover [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film]) explores toxic masculinity in his upcoming feature Men of Deeds [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Paul Negoescu
fiche film].

Hungary is featured with two films as well: the second feature by György Mór Kárpáti (Guerilla [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film]), Summer to Come, focuses on teenage suicide; and White Plastic Sky [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Tibor Bánóczki, Sarolta Sz…
fiche film], the first feature by directorial duo Tibor Bánóczki and Sarolta Szabó, is a dystopian story that blends science fiction with animation.

The participants will partake in four days of consultations with established professionals on topics such as promotion, marketing, press, trailer making, festival launch and sales strategy. The advisors for this session will be marketing specialist Boris Pugnet (of Tiramisù), digital marketing specialist Joanna Solecka (Alphapanda), press specialist Wendy Mitchell, senior executive at Heretic Ioanna Stais, and head of First Cut+ and former Pyramide International festival manager Ilaria Gomarasca, who will handle international sales and festival strategies. Furthermore, Romanian editor Catalin Cristuțiu will be an advisor on what excerpts to choose in order to give a film the best launch possible.

The projects will also be screened in a work-in-progress session as part of the WEMW activities, which will be open to a select group of decision makers, including festival programmers, international sales agents and buyers, among others.

Here is the complete list of the projects selected for the First Cut+ winter 2022 session:

Une jeunesse italienne [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Mathieu Volpe
fiche film] - Mathieu Volpe (Belgium)
Producer: Arnaud Dufeys (Replica Films)

Camper - Łukasz Suchocki, Maciej Dydyński (Poland)
Producers: Łukasz Suchocki, Maciej Dydyński (Splotfilm)

Fucking Bornholm [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Anna Kazejak
fiche film] - Anna Kazejak (Poland)
Producer: Marta Lewandowska (Friends With Benefits Studio)

Lucky Girl [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Marysia Nikitiuk
fiche film] - Marysia Nikitiuk (Ukraine)
Producers: Yanina Sokolova, Julia Sinkevych (Yanina Sokolova Production)

Mammalia [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film] - Sebastian Mihăilescu (Romania/Poland/Germany)
Producers: Diana Păroiu, Ada Solomon (microFILM)
Co-producers: Ewa Puszczyńska (Extreme Emotions, Poland), Nina Frese (Pandora Film, Germany)

Men of Deeds [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Paul Negoescu
fiche film] - Paul Negoescu (Romania/Bulgaria)
Producer: Anamaria Antoci (Tangaj Production, Papillon Film, Romania)
Co-producers: Poli Angelova (Screening Emotions, Bulgaria), Avanpost Production (Romania)

Summer to Come - György Mór Kárpáti (Hungary)
Producer: Viktória Petrányi (Proton Cinema)
Co-production company: Café Film

White Plastic Sky [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Tibor Bánóczki, Sarolta Sz…
fiche film] – Tibor Bánóczki, Sarolta Szabó (Hungary/Slovakia)
Producers: József Fülöp, Orsolya Sipos (SALTO Films), Juraj Krasnohorsky (Artichoke)
Co-producer: Viktória Petrányi (Proton Cinema)