The second annual edition of First Cut+, the programme that aims to boost the competitiveness and marketability of feature films that previously participated in the First Cut Lab (FCL), is all set to continue during the upcoming Karlovy Vary International Film Festival’s Eastern Promises Industry Days (see the news). This edition will take place online during the summer, and at the end of it, a works-in-progress session will be presented on 3 August during the online edition of Eastern Promises.

The complete portfolio of First Cut+ consists of 16 feature-length fiction films that are currently in post-production and hail from countries with a low production capacity (for at least 75% of the films). There is also a special focus on Central and Eastern European projects. The first session has already run during Trieste’s When East Meets West (see the news) and featured eight more projects.

Slovak director-producer Mátyás Prikler (Fine, Thanks [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]) is coming along to First Cut+ at KVIFF Eastern Promises with his sophomore effort, the political thriller Power [+leggi anche:
recensione
scheda film], produced by Zora Jaurová and Prikler for MPhilms. Latvian documentarian Uģis Olte (Liberation Day [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]) is presenting his first fiction effort, Upurga [+leggi anche:
intervista: Uģis Olte
scheda film], which is set in a wild forest where a rafting instructor is fighting to find his missing clients, produced by Uldis Cekulis (VFS FILMS). Swiss actor-screenwriter-director Michael Koch is presenting his second feature, A Piece of Sky [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Michael Koch
scheda film], which is set in a remote mountain village where a couple tries to preserve their love (see the news), produced by Christof Neracher for Zurich’s hugofilm.

Five years after his debut feature, Blue Bicycle [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], Turkish filmmaker Ümit Köreken returns with his sophomore fiction film, A Hope, about an actor who tries to keep his troubled past hidden from his wife, produced by Nursen Çetin Köreken (Drama Yapım Film Medya). Finally, Israeli director-screenwriter Michal Vinik (Blush [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
scheda film]) is invited to attend with Valeria Is Getting Married [+leggi anche:
recensione
scheda film], which follows a Ukrainian woman who goes to Israel to marry someone she met online, produced by Ayelet Kait and Amir Harel (LAMA FILMS).

As for the first-time filmmakers, the selection includes Polish helmer Grzegorz Mołda with The Hatcher, a film that revolves around a troubled youngster and his hope for a fresh start, produced by Izabela Igel (Harine Films) (see the news); Croatian filmmakers Dušan Zorić and Matija Gluščević with their debut feature, Have You Seen this Woman? [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Dušan Zorić e Matija Glušč…
scheda film], about a middle-aged woman who tries to escape from her skin, produced by Čarna Vučinić (Non-Aligned Films); and Dutch director Martijn de Jong with Narcosis [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
scheda film], about a woman who can communicate with the spirit world and who is looking for her husband, produced by Trent (OAK Motion Pictures).

Over the course of its four days, the event offers three days of consultations with established film-industry experts on promotion, marketing, press, trailer-making, festival launches and sales strategy. The confirmed advisors will be marketing specialist Boris Pugnet, digital marketing specialist for L’Avventura Studio Alexis Hamaide, international publicists and PR specialists for WOLF Laurin Dietrich and Michael Arnon, senior executive at Heretic Outreach Ioanna Stais, and head of First Cut+ and former Pyramide International festival manager Ilaria Gomarasca, who will handle festival strategies. Furthermore, Romanian editor Catalin Cristuțiu will be tutoring the attendees on what excerpts are best to choose for the launch of the film.

The eight projects selected for the Karlovy Vary session of First Cut+ are as follows:

A Hope – Ümit Köreken (Turkey/Germany/Slovenia)
Main producer: Nursen Çetin Köreken (Drama Yapım Film Medya)
Co-producers: Lightburst Pictures, Perfo.d.o.o

A Piece of Sky [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Michael Koch
scheda film] – Michael Koch (Switzerland/Germany)
Main producer: Christof Neracher (hugofilm features)
Co-producer: Pandora Filmproduktion

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

Have You Seen this Woman? [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Dušan Zorić e Matija Glušč…
scheda film] – Dušan Zorić, Matija Gluščević (Serbia/Croatia)
Main producer: Čarna Vučinić (Non-Aligned Films)

Narcosis [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
scheda film] – Martijn de Jong (Netherlands)
Main producer: Trent (OAK Motion Pictures)

Power [+leggi anche:
recensione
scheda film] – Mátyás Prikler (Slovakia/Hungary/Czech Republic)
Main producers: Zora Jaurová, Mátyás Prikler (Mphilms)
Co-producers: Proton Cinema, Negativ

Upurga [+leggi anche:
intervista: Uģis Olte
scheda film] – Uģis Olte (Latvia)
Main producer: Uldis Cekulis (VFS FILMS)
Co-producer: Raitis Ābele

Valeria Is Getting Married [+leggi anche:
recensione
scheda film] - Michal Vinik (Israel/Ukraine)
Main producer: Ayelet Kait, Amir Harel (LAMA FILMS)
Co-producer: Vladimir Yatsenko (ForeFilms)