Professional script and project development program designed to foster diversity in storytelling and provide crucial support to filmmakers in the realm of queer narratives.
MIDPOINT Intensive Queer 2024
Features
Previous Edition
Projects
Berlin-Budapest
Bianka, a polyamorous trans woman, is navigating life in Berlin after gender reassignment surgery. Her sister Luca, who has been estranged since Bianka missed their mom's funeral in Hungary, arrives ...
Euro Pop Bubble
Over a spring weekend in Prague, FRED (22), a disenfranchised musician, is caught off guard when he falls for MATTY (23), an upbeat singer. Their blossoming romance challenges Fred's ideas about ...
Girls in Uniform
In the spring of 1914, the recently orphaned Manuela (15) arrives to an all-girls boarding school for future soldiers’ mothers of the Prussian empire. Bold, but still new to the standards of the ...
The Face of a Woman
Wedding planner Monika (50) suddenly faces an incurable disease, shattering her seemingly perfect life. Realizing the finite nature of life, her path intertwines with Šimon (25), a cabaret ...
Participants
Tutors
Inspirational professionals with a passion for sharing their experience
Group Leader
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.
Sullivan Le Postec
France
Sullivan Le Postec poured his years of experience as an activist in Lyon, where he helped organize the Pride march and ...
Complete bio
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 ...
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.
Structure
A unique experience
Selected feature film projects undergo a two-workshop program that enables them to work closely on the script and project development, and provides them with financing, networking, and co-production opportunities.
MIDPOINT Intensive Queer will now partially run concurrently with the MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2024 program, thereby enhancing networking opportunities and capitalizing on the presence of tutors and experts attending the events.
-
Workshop 1March 4-10, 2024 | Brno, Czech Republic
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.
Lectures
From me to we: My journey as a queer storytellerSullivan Le Postec
Wednesday, March 6, 12:00 | Brno, Czech RepublicI created the series “Les Engagés” as a tribute to my years as an LGBT activist in Lyon – and to explore my conflicted feelings about that exhilarating but exhausting time in my life. It started as a very personal story, going as far as recreating my own coming-out in the first season. But the show was also the first, and for a long time, the only, French LGBT series. Those circumstances pushed me to evolve the series into including more diverse characters and stories, and to reflect on how to do that best.
-
Online consultationsMay 2024 | online
-
Workshop 2June 26 – July 3, 2024 | Prague and Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
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 project showcase at the Karlovy Vary IFF, where all 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.
Awards
Eurimages Co-production Development Award
For the first time, Karlovy Vary IFF will host the Eurimages Co-production Development Award of 20,000 EUR for one of the projects in development presented within their Eastern Promises Industry Days.
MIDPOINT Intensive Queer 2024 projects are also eligible to compete for this award, which will be granted based on the
project´s artistic quality and its prospects of remaining a European co-production.
Detailed description of the award.
Fee and how to apply
Fee
1200 EUR
The fee includes accommodation, board, and tuition during the residential workshop, and the industry accreditation for the Karlovy Vary IFF. Travel costs are NOT included.
OPEN CALL
NOVEMBER 6, 2024
Who can apply?
- Creative teams of writers and/or directors and producers (2-3 participants per team)
- Projects featuring LGBTQ+ characters and/or themes central to the story
Application requirements
To apply for the program, please create an account on the MIDPOINT Visitor Page and follow the instructions within the submission form, where you can also find detailed information about application materials.
The application materials consist of:
-
Basic information about the project
-
One Page Synopsis
-
Treatment
-
Selected scene
-
Motivation video
-
Author´s statement
-
Preliminary financing plan
-
Producer´s statement
-
Production company profile
-
Previous work of the director
-
Photos and professional biographies of all team members
-
Moodboard (optional)
Please note that a detailed description of the requested materials can be found on the submission form!
Gallery
References
Huge motivation boost and way to move your project to the next level
MIDPOINT is an excellent space for creative collaboration and engaging with fellow peers regarding stories. It's a space where it makes you not only think critically about your own project, but that of others, which in turn sharpens your knowledge and skillset for understanding the core principles of story structure and character development. It's also really fun! I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at the 2023 MIDPOINT Institute and already can't wait to apply for the next round.
Taras Lesiuk
Writer, Director / Intensive Queer 2023
It was not a program, it was a "dream come true" story! The best program in Europe!
Drago Bago
Writer, Producer / Intensive Queer 2023
Participating in the MIDPOINT Queer Intensive was a life affirming opportunity! Screenwriting and filmmaking can feel very isolating and it was a true joy to get to spend this time connecting with other artists and storytellers.
Annick Sheedy McLellan
Writer, Producer / Intensive Queer 2023
I love the group sessions. It is an experience that makes me feel criticism can be delivered in such a positive and loving way, totally inspired!
Popo Fan
Writer, Director / Intensive Queer 2023
FAQs
You may ask
-
I am just a writer/director and do not have a producer attached to the project yet. Can I apply?
Unfortunately, no. The crucial part of the training leans in strengthening teamwork and building a strong creative team, which is why - the writer, director and producer must always participate together.
-
As a producer, why am I required to participate? Do I need to participate actively?
Yes, exactly. We are aiming for producers who are used to (or want to start) being a part of the creative process, to know the project better, to understand it better to develop it better.
-
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.
Want to be informed? Subscribe to our newsletter
Subscribe
Contact
Did we forget something? Don't hesitate to ask!
Funders
Partners
