Karlovy Vary International Film Festival’s Eastern Promises, the prestigious film market and industry section, concluded with great success this year. The event served as a platform to bridge the gap between talented filmmakers and their potential partners, festivals, and audiences. With a curated selection of projects from various regions, KVIFF Eastern Promises celebrated the artistic value and diversity of feature films and documentaries. Let’s explore all the KVIFF 2023 winners and their outstanding contributions to the film industry.
Works in Progress
Under the Works in Progress program, eleven feature and documentary projects from Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, and North Africa were presented. The jury, including respected professionals from the film industry, selected the following winners:
- “I’m Not Everything I Want to Be” (Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Austria): Directed by Klára Tasovská and produced by Klára Tasovská and Lukáš Kokeš, this film captivated the jury with its exploration of personal freedom and its relevance in today’s world. The project was awarded the Works in Progress Post-production Development Award.
- “Tasty” (Lithuania, Estonia): Directed by Egle Vertelyte and produced by Lukas Trimonis, “Tasty” stood out for its critical approach to today’s world, using culinary comedy to shed light on the exaggerated packaging of daily life and social media. The film received the Works in Progress TRT Award.
- “Bikechess” (Kazakhstan, France, Norway): Directed by Assel Aushakimova and produced by Antoine Simkine, Almagul Tleukhanova, and Christian Fredrik Martin, “Bikechess” offered a fresh perspective on the ethics of journalism. The jury praised the film for its comedic portrayal of the absurdity to which the state can go to hide deeper issues. The project was honored with the Works in Progress Karlovy Vary IFF Award.
Works in Development – Feature Launch:
Flight from Kabul wins the MIDPOINT Feature Launch Works in Development Award at KVIFF 2023 Eastern Promises.The Works in Development program, in collaboration with MIDPOINT, When East Meets West, and Trieste Film Festival, showcased eight projects that underwent development and mentoring within the Feature Launch program. The jury recognized one special project with the following award:
“Flight from Kabul” (Slovak Republic): Directed and written by Sahraa Karimi and produced by Wanda Adamík Hrycová, “Flight from Kabul” impressed the jury with its bold vision, political audaciousness, and enterprising storytelling. The film explores a people and place seldom seen on screen, highlighting the struggles faced by those let down by Western politicians. The project received a 10,000 EUR cash prize for further development.
First Cut+ Works in Progress:
First Cut+ is a program aimed at boosting the competitiveness and marketability of feature films. Out of the 16 fiction feature films in the post-production stage, the jury recognized the exceptional effort of one project:
“Allen Sunshine” (Canada, USA): Directed by Harley Chamandy and produced by Chantal Chamandy, “Allen Sunshine” stood out for its sensitive portrayal of genuine friendship, the journey towards solitude following a loss, and its minimalist yet the deeply impactful approach to storytelling and cinematography. The project was awarded the TRT First Cut+ Award.
Other Awards:
Connecting Cottbus Award:
The film “Excavators” from Cyprus, directed by Argyro Nicolaou and produced by Constantinos Nikiforou and Minos Papas, has won the Connecting Cottbus Award. This award allows the project to pitch at Connecting Cottbus, a co-production market for East-West collaborations during the Film Festival Cottbus. “Excavators” is a captivating story about intergenerational trauma and how we deal with the scars of the past.
Rotterdam Lab Award:
The winner of the Rotterdam Lab Award is Tomáš Pertold, the producer of the film “God Break Down the Door” from the Czech Republic. This award allows the winner to participate in the Rotterdam Lab, a professional training program for producers held during the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
