A professional script- and project-development program for creative teams and aspiring script consultants who believe in the importance of teamwork.
MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2023
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Benefits
An exquisite experience
The program targets creative teams with feature films in development & aspiring script consultants coming primarily from Central and Eastern Europe.
As the first film & series development platform in Europe, MIDPOINT Institute introduces within the Feature Launch program a multi-stage project selection process in order to be able to support more emerging talents.
From the applications, we will select approx. 20 projects, of which their creative teams will receive a detailed online assessment from two experienced professionals (script consultants and producers).
Based on this assessment, 9 projects will be selected for the Feature Launch 2023 program.
For teams of writers, 1st or 2nd time directors and producers
- move your feature film project to the next level
- create a financing, marketing, sales, distribution or pitching strategy for your project
- work with some of the most established European and international creators and professionals who are willing to lay the cards out on the table (good or bad)
- get unique professional international feedback from our tutors and your peers
- explore the current film industry landscape and trends
- pitch it & network at Karlovy Vary IFF
For script-consultant trainees
- get unique experience, possibility to work on real projects
- take advantage of safe environment & thorough guidance of an experienced mentor
- enhance your script editing and communication skills
- learn to give constructive feedback
- master your analytic craft of writing script reports for film funds, cultural & other funding organizations
- learn how to present yourself as a script consultant
- pitch yourself & network at Karlovy Vary IFF
Structure
Comprehensive program combining various formats
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Team with projectsOnline Feedback SessionJanuary 2023 | online
From all applications, the reading committee will select approximately 20 projects whose creative teams will receive a detailed online assessment from experienced professionals (script consultants and producers). After this session, the final 9 projects will be selected for the MIDPOINT Feature Launch program.
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Script-consultant traineesOnline Preparatory Seminar for Script Consultant TraineesFebruary 27-28, 2023 | online
Online seminar exclusively for 3 selected script consultant trainees that will prepare them for further work with Feature Launch projects alongside the group leaders.
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All ParticipantsWorkshop 1March 3-10, 2023 | Bratislava, SlovakiaTEAMS WITH PROJECTS
This workshop focuses primarily on creative development and dramaturgy while also introducing greater knowledge about other aspects of the industry, such as financing and market positioning.
SCRIPT-CONSULTANT TRAINEESEach trainee is assigned to one of the three groups, and works closely with the group leader and the participants on the development of their scripts. Trainees also meet regularly with their mentor to review their learning progress.
Through this process, the trainees are acquainted with the script and development aspects of developing a film project, enhance their communication skills during the creative process and, most importantly, learn how to give constructive feedback to the creative teams to help them move forward in their development.
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All ParticipantsWorkshop 2May 1-5, 2023 | online
Online individual consultations, group work, lectures focused on script/treatment development, financing and presentation skills.
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All ParticipantsWorkshop 3June 28 - July 5, 2023 | Prague and Karlovy Vary, Czech RepublicTEAMS WITH PROJECTS
This workshop serves as a platform to further advance the scripts, while also incorporating intensive and critical training about how to present and promote projects. This workshop is immediately followed by the Works in development - Feature Launch project showcase at the Karlovy Vary IFF, where all nine selected projects are presented to an audience of industry decision makers, including funders, sales agents, producers and festival programmers. One-on-one meetings and further networking follow the presentations.
The program's awards are handed out at this event.
SCRIPT-CONSULTANT TRAINEESThe trainees continue to observe the various stages of the development of the projects, through the final presentation at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. They are present at the pitching training and rehearsals and also prepare their own presentations, as they'll pitch themselves as industry professionals during the KVIFF pitching forum.
Networking opportunities at the event may help them in their future careers.
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All ParticipantsWorkshop 4October 30 - November 3, 2023 | online
Individual consultations, group works, master classes, lectures focused on marketing and distribution strategies including new formats.
Company Time
Follow-up workshop for producers
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ProducersCompany TimeJanuary 19-24, 2024 | Trieste, Italy / in collaboration with EAVE
This follow-up workshop offers participating producers support in the areas of company sustainability and strategic business planning. This training is designed and co-organized with our partner EAVE.
The workshop is led by Juliane Schulze, a strategic creative economy expert in business, finance, investment and sustainability, who advises European and international audiovisual companies as well as funding institutions and business agencies. Over four days, participants will sharpen their competitive advantage and enhance the viability of their businesses. Feedback rounds and individual mentoring sessions will offer direct support to tackle challenges they are facing as film professionals in an ever-changing marketplace.
In addition, this workshop is run in collaboration with the Trieste FF and within the frame of When East Meets West, which brings participants further networking opportunities through its industry program.
Projects
Nine promising feature film projects
Participating projects are divided into 3 groups of 3, and development within each group is overseen by both a group leader and a script-consultant trainee.
The Boy Who Saw In The Dark
Jacob, a 13 year-old boy, is being raised as the 'perfect son' for his blind parents. Along with numerous duties, he is their 'eyes' to the outside world in the small town of early 2000's Latvia. ...
Excavators
Klió is on summer holiday back home in Cyprus, when the remains of her grandmother Melpo—who has been missing since the Turkish invasion that divided the island in 1974—are unexpectedly exhumed. ...
God Break Down the Door
Bob (18) is an overweight boy of a simple nature who comes from a strongly religious family and lives within the safe routine of Christian values. As a reward, yet against his will, his parents send ...
Flight from Kabul
ZIBAA (30), a successful Afghan filmmaker and head of the National Film Fund recently got engaged to SAMIR (29), the love of her life. Her end-of-summer wedding plans are horribly destroyed when ...
Paperplanes
Nefeli (30), still living with her parents, is devastated to find out of their divorce. She decides to run away and accidentally bumps into a stranger, Harry (30), who's enjoying a beer before ...
The Portuguese House
One morning, FERNANDO wakes to find his wife has vanished. When he learns she has left Spain to return to Serbia, his world falls apart and he leaves home. While travelling, he meets a gardener on ...
Shadow Play
A young Icelandic woman named Freyja is consumed by anguish after her newborn child disappears. Disillusioned with the lack of progress from the police and townspeople, she takes matters into her ...
Soft Hours
Ilona, in her late fifties, is a music teacher in a suburban primary school in Budapest. Her son, Tóbiás, who went missing ten years ago, links her unbreakably to her ex-husband, Dénes. When Dénes ...
whatever, lol
It’s all about coming-of-(r)age. whatever, lol follows two hectic days of three teenage girls* full of enthusiasm and rage. Too different, or not different enough, Johnny, Romi and Alex try to enjoy ...
Participants
The next generation of European film professionals
Script Consultant Trainees
Company Time - Guest Producers
Tutors
Inspirational professionals with a passion for sharing their experience
To ensure the most comprehensive approach to training, Feature Launch works with established and respected names from all over the European industry.
Producer Mentor
The Producer Mentor oversees the development of all projects, advises them during the process regarding production and budgetary issues, and guides them through the European industry landscape.
Danijel Hocevar
Slovenia
Film producer and CEO of Vertigo, a Ljubljana (Slovenia)-based production company with a distinctive track record and extensive working experience on international co-productions incl. the ...
Complete bio
Group Leaders
The Group Leaders oversee the development of projects in their group from the very beginning of the program through graduation. They also coach the script-consultant trainee assigned to their group.
Pavel Jech
Czech Republic
Pavel Jech co-founded MIDPOINT in 2010 and has been active ever since as a group leader and speaker in its various ...
Complete bio
Pavel Marek
Czech Republic
Pavel Marek is a graduate of the Faculty of Computer Engineering, Technical University and the Directing Department at ...
Complete bio
Ivo Trajkov
Czech Republic / North Macedonia
Ivo Trajkov is a director, producer, film editor, screenwriter and story editor. He was born in Skopje, Macedonia and ...
Complete bio
Script-consultant Trainee Mentor
The Script-consultant Trainee Mentor co-creates the training for the script-consultant trainees, ensuring that this training is implemented organically into the group work and that the collaborative set-up simulates a real-life industry environment. He meets regularly with the trainees, providing feedback and support.
Gyula Gazdag
United States
Gyula Gazdag is a director of film, theatre, and television productions. He has served as the Artistic Director of the Sundance Director‘s Lab since 1997. He was a creative advisor at the Binger ...
Complete bio
Pitching Tutor
The Pitching Tutor prepares participants to present themselves and their projects, in general and for the final pitching session of the program.
Producer Tutor
Katarina Tomkova ensures each team develops effective promotional materials and positions their project in an international context.
Guest Tutors
These established professionals are usually present at at least one of the workshops to share their expertise.
Experts
Company Time Tutor
Juliane Schulze leads the follow-up workshop for producer participants, mentoring them in company sustainability and strategic business planning.
Awards
Works In Development Award
A joint financial award of MIDPOINT Institute, Barrandov Studio and the Karlovy Vary IFF of 10,000 EUR for the best project of the Feature Launch 2023 program underlines the aim of the program itself – help emerging talents from Central and Eastern Europe to develop their film projects.
Awarded project: Flight from Kabul
connecting cottbus Award
A selected project from MIDPOINT Feature Launch will be given the opportunity to present itself during the pitching event within the connecting cottbus co-production market. Participation will include individual consultations from international film professionals and one-on-one meetings with potential partners.
Awarded project: Excavators
Rotterdam Lab Award
One producer will be handpicked to participate in the professional training program for producers, Rotterdam Lab, which takes place during the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Awarded producer: Tomas Pertold (project God Break Down the Door)
Successful films
Selection of our successful alumni
Vera, Dreams of the Sea
Vera is a middle-aged sign language interpreter, whose life is disrupted by her husband's suicide who has to face the raw reality of going against the deep-seated gender issues of our times.
Status:
realised
MIDPOINT participants involved:
Doruntina Basha, Kaltrina Krasniqi
Developed at:
MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2014
Genre:
Drama
Borders of Love
Hana and Peter have created the world they longed for. They are young, successful and people envy them. They have built a successful company that shall soon provide them for the rest of their lives. Yet somewhere along the way, they got “lost”. Facing a relationship crisis, they decide to open up their marriage. They are allowed to do whatever they please, on the condition of being honest to one another. They define a new set of rules that on the outside seems like the pure freedom, but internally are slowly destroying them.
Status:
realised
MIDPOINT participants involved:
Radovan Sibrt, Tomasz Winski
Developed at:
MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2017
Genre:
Drama
Erasing Frank
1983. Frank, an angry kid from the streets with "no future". The state banned their music because their words are political. Frank escapes to a psychiatric ward where Hanna, a young enemy of the system, joins him.
Status:
realised
MIDPOINT participants involved:
Gabor Fabricius, Miklos Havas
Developed at:
MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2018
Genre:
Drama
How is Katia?
Anna is a 35-year-old single mother, working hard to provide a better future for her daughter Katia. A sudden turn of events makes Anna question her moral compass in a society where everyone has lost their own.
Status:
realised
MIDPOINT participants involved:
Veronika Stepanchuk, Christina Tynkevych
Developed at:
MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2019
Genre:
Drama
Leave No Traces
In 1983, communist Poland is shaken by the case of high school student Grzegorz Przemyk, who is beaten to death by police. The only witness of the beating becomes the number one enemy of the state.
Status:
realised
MIDPOINT participants involved:
Jan P. Matuszynski
Developed at:
MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2018
Genre:
Drama
Zana
Dark and haunting psychological drama about the collision of modern day faith healers and post-war trauma of survivors in Kosovo.
Status:
realised
MIDPOINT participants involved:
Casey Cooper Johnson, Antoneta Kastrati
Developed at:
MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2017, MIDPOINT Editing Room 2019
Genre:
Drama, mystery, thriller
Inventory
Boris Robič is, as we like to say, an ordinary man. One evening he gets brutally attacked at his home. The police arrives, and open the investigation. There are no suspects, and it seems that no one could possibly be interested in shooting Boris. The police eventually suspend the investigation, convinced that the shooting was a mere coincidence. Riddled with doubt, he starts investigating on his own. While searching for the potential perpetrators, we follow a tragicomic path of a man who discovers that more people hate him than he would ever have thought possible and that the perceptions that he has of his own life are nothing but illusions.
Status:
realised
MIDPOINT participants involved:
Vlado Bulajic, Darko Sinko
Developed at:
MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2017
Genre:
Drama
References
Huge motivation boost and way to move your project to the next level
Being part of Feature Launch for us has been an incredible boost for the project. We’ve received input that has been so valuable to both the script and the process, and come further than we ever could have without our tutors and group members, in just a few months!
Eliza Jones
Producer, Feature Launch 2022 Alumna
This program has been great for me, as a director working on his debut. It has helped me to be more strict and demanding of my own work and more confident about it at the same time. You gain a large extended family who are all invested and rooting for your film to be the best version of it.
Armands Zacs
Director, Feature Launch 2022 Alumnus
Feature Launch helped to recreate our story by fulfilling our characters and shaping our film into a much more consistent and interesting project. For me personally, it was an amazing journey full of talented and openhearted people that opened up a passion for scriptwriting in me!
Natalie Golovchenko
Writer, Feature Launch 2022 Alumna
By giving me the opportunity to learn and take part in the development process of different feature films, the program has allowed me to grow as a script consultant in ways I would have never imagined. I now feel more confident to accompany writers on their development journeys.
Alizee Musson
Script Consultant Trainee, Feature Launch 2022 Alumna
FAQs
You may ask...
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Can I apply with an animation or documentary film project?
Sadly, Feature Launch does not work with animation or documentary projects, as these require a different set of skills and addresses a different market.
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Can I apply without a writer OR director OR producer in the team?
You can't. All these creative roles have to be present in your team. One person could represent more than one role (writer/director OR director/producer, etc.), or there could be two people representing one role (2x writer OR 2x producer, etc.). In any case, the team must consist of 2-3 people.
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I'm not European, can I apply?
Feature Launch is specifically designed for European writers, as we'd like to address the demand for training coming particularly from this territory. The main focus is put on the region of Central and Eastern Europe. However, projects with a strong co-production potential or already attached partners/team members from this region can be accepted as well. In case you are still not sure about your eligibility, please contact the program coordinator Sona Morgenthalova.
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I'm not fluent in English, can I still apply?
Sadly, no. As the entire training runs in English, and during the working days you'll be asked to write directly in English, we require an intermediate level of these language skills. This simply means: your grammar doesn't have to be perfect, but you need to talk/write fluently and have the vocabulary to do so.
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Once selected, how much time should I allocate to the training?
Quite honestly – a lot. Feature Launch is an intensive training, and apart from the assignments and work done during all residential and online workshops, it operates with a system of tasks and deadlines in between these modules. So clear that calendar up a bit.
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Does MIDPOINT Institute offer scholarships?
It does. However, these are only partial, cannot be allocated to all participants, and their granting therefore considers various criteria. We HIGHLY recommend applying to a local supporting organization (national or local funds, ministries of culture or education, professional associations, etc.) at the same time you're applying to MIDPOINT Feature Launch. You can always withdraw your application if not selected, but as the processing time of this support can be rather long, it might be quite late to do this once we confirm you're in.
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Can I send you the application materials via e-mail?
We only accept applications submitted through our Visitor Page. Firstly, that way you can be sure your e-mail doesn't end up in junk, and secondly, all submitted materials are distributed to the selection committee via the Visitor Page (please see the 'Application' section).
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