• A Love of Boluomi

    Malaysia/ Taiwan

  • Amanda and Caio

    Brazil

  • Nuna

    Peru

  • One Summer Day

    Myanmar

  • Hawa Hawaii

    Kenya

  • Renaissance

    Mali

  • Shock Labor

    Cuba

  • The Bridge

    Egypt

  • The Sovereign

    South Africa

  • The Maiden's Pond

    Lebanon

  • Lau Kek-Huat

    Director

    Lau Kek-Huat is Malaysian but works in Taiwan where he has directed several award-winning short films and documentaries. His latest short Nia’s Door won the Best Short Award in Busan and competed in Clermont-Ferrand. Selected for the Tokyo and Berlinale Talent Campus, Lau’s first feature project A Love of Boluomi won a CNC award at the Golden Horse Festival.

     

    SYNOPSIS

    “A Love of Boluomi is partly based on a true story: my grandfather was a member of the Malaysian Communist Party and fought for independence, but was forgotten by my family and country.”

    A man is mysteriously born from a tropical fruit, the Boluomi; a third-generation Chinese Malaysian falls in love with an illegal Filipino worker. When her identity is revealed, it breaks a historical taboo. This sheds light on Malaysia’s history, showing the younger generations how to love and fight for their dreams.

    Stefano Centini, Hummingbird Production (Taiwan/Malaysia)

    PRODUCTION

    Hummingbird Production has been based in Kuala Lumpur and Taipei since 2011. Originally founded by Stefano Centini and Lau Kek-Huat, the company focuses on finding new authors with interesting points of view, combining artistic expression and sociological insights. In 2016, Hummingbird released the feature documentary Absent Without Leave, directed by Lau Kek-Huat, which became the first Malaysia-themed documentary to be released in Taiwan, and won an Audience Award at Singapore International Film Festival.

    Fiction / Drama / 100’ / Colour / HD

    Produced by

    Stefano Centini, Hummingbird Production (Taiwan/Malaysia)

    Shooting locations

    Taiwan, Thailand

    Estimated budget

    649,557 euros

    Funding in place

    46,950 euros (Talents Tokyo Project and CNC)

    Research partners

    Sales agents and distributors, television broadcasters, producers outside Taiwan and France

    Actual status

    In development (fourth draft of the script, funding)

    Contact

    Director

    Lau Kek-Huat: darllau27@gmail.com - Phone: +886983856522

    Producer

    Hummingbird Production/ Stefano Centini: stefano.cn267@gmail.com - Phone: +886970648340 - Website: https://laukekhuat.com/

    Co-producer

    Acrobates Films/ Claire Lajoumard: info@acrobatesfilms.fr - Phone: +33-(0)182833535 - Website: http://www.acrobatesfilms.fr/en/
     

  • Daniel Ribeiro

    Director

    Daniel Ribeiro was born in São Paulo, in 1982 and studied Cinema at the University of São Paulo. His shorts have been screened at over 180 festivals and received 115 awards, including the Crystal Bear. His first feature, The Way He Looks, premiered at the Berlinale, and won the FIPRESCI Prize and Teddy Award. The film was selected as the Brazilian entry for the 2015 Oscars.

     

    SYNOPSIS

    The film portrays the day-to-day conflicts of a young transgender couple in a big city. When faced with new challenges, they start considering that maybe their love is not meant to last forever.

    Amanda and Caio have dated since high school. They are now facing new challenges, and their relationship is at a crossroads. Amanda's horizons expand when she starts law school, which opens her up to new people and possibilities. Meanwhile, Caio turns 18 and finally begins a long-awaited hormonal treatment. When his mother finds out, old family issues come up and he decides to move out.

    Diana Almeida – Lacuna Filmes (Brazil)

    PRODUCTION

    Lacuna Filmes is a production company based in São Paulo, since 2006. Among its productions are YOU, ME AND HIM and I DON’T WANT TO GO BACK ALONE, which together have received more than 115 awards, including the Crystal Bear at the 58th Berlinale. In 2014, THE WAY HE LOOKS premiered at the 64th Berlinale, and received the Fipresci Prize and the Teddy Award. The film was also the Brazilian official entry for the Oscars 2015. In 2017, TWO IRENES premiered at the 67th Berlinale.

    Fiction / Drama / 90’/ Colour / 2:35

    Second feature film
    Produced by

    Diana Almeida – Lacuna Filmes (Brazil)

    Shooting locations

    São Paulo (Brazil)

    Estimated budget

    1,146,170.32 euros

    Funding in place

    946,170 euros (Brazilian Federal Fund (FSA) - PRODECINE 5 & PRODAV 7)

    Research partners

    Festivals and distributors worldwide

    Actual status

    Preparation (casting and locations, third draft of the script)

    Contact

    Director

    Daniel Ribeiro : international@lacunafilmes.com.br - Phone :  +55 11 3293 4328

    Producer

    Lacuna Filmes/ Diana Almeida: international@lacunafilmes.com.br - Phone: +55 11 3293 4328 - Website: www.lacunafilmes.com.br

    Co-producer

    Arizona Films/ Guillaume de Seille - Website: www.arizonafilms.net

  • Jimy Carhuas

    Director

    Jimy Carhuas (Ikaro) comes from Andahuaylas in the Peruvian Andes. When he was a child, he was told many stories by his father and grandparents, which have inspired Nuna – The Last Myth of the Wamani. He is an animator, and has founded the company Origami Studio. He has managed the post-production of films and documentaries, and directed the short films The Fox and the Moon and Going Further.

    SYNOPSIS

    Nuna is a film about innocence, love and pity, which are essential in the Andean world vision. It is a story which introduces us to Andean spirits and beliefs, while revealing the deepest feelings of our main characters.

    In this Andean town, it is always winter and children are disappearing. Yaku, a scissor dancer’s apprentice, must travel to the Andean spiritual world to rescue his younger brother. Meanwhile, his grandfather, the scissor dancer Arístides, will do whatever it takes to free Amaru, the powerful weather spirit, but it could fall into the wrong hands.

     

    Diego Lopez Mobilia - Origami Studio (Peru)

    PRODUCTION

    Origami Studio, which was founded in Peru in 2009, produces animated content and VFX in addition to providing post-production services in the fields of film, TV, advertising and education. It has worked on Peruvian features and released several short films. Its main project, Nuna – The Last Myth of the Wamani, has won awards in Peru, Argentina, Chile, France, Spain and Venezuela.

    Animation / Adventure, fantasy / 90’/ Colour / DCP

    First feature film
    Produced by

    Diego Lopez Mobilia - Origami Studio (Peru)

    Shooting locations

    Peru

    Estimated budget

    6,000,000 euros

    Funding in place

    461,000 euros (Peruvian Ministry of Culture; Origami Studio)

    Research partners

    Co-producers (worldwide) and sales agents (worldwide)

    Actual status

    In pre-production (sixth draft of script, trailer, story board 80% completed and animatic 30% completed)

    Contact

    Director

    Jimy Carhuas : ikaro@nuna-film.com - Phone : +51 997695151

    Producer

    Origami Studio/ Diego Lopez Mobilia : diego@nuna-film.com - Vimeo channel : https://vimeo.com/origamistudio
     

  • Zay Yar Aung (We Ra)

    Director

    We Ra is an independent filmmaker from Myanmar. His film experience extends from underground initiatives and screenings in Yangon at the time of military rule to film workshops abroad. He is an alumnus of Busan IFF’s Asian Film Academy 2013 and Berlinale’s Talents Tokyo 2014. We Ra participated in the Locarno Open Doors Lab 2016 to develop his first feature One Summer Day.

    SYNOPSIS

    No true freedom has been achieved; we live in a semblance of democracy. We must make a radical choice, otherwise our future will remain bleak and Myanmar will close its doors to the world again.

    Dr San, who is seven months pregnant, must journey through Myanmar's countryside to retrieve her teenage brother Ko Si from a far-flung military camp, after he disappeared during a recruitment drive in their village.

    Aiess Alonso - Green Age Film (Myanmar)

    PRODUCTION

    Green Age Film is a Yangon-based film company founded in 2013 by filmmaker We Ra. Its mission is to make films that tell stories of an unknown Myanmar. It supports and provides basic funding and other resources to young filmmakers with the goal of fostering the new wave of independent Myanmar cinema.

    Fiction / Drama / 90’/ Colour / 4K Digital Cinema, Dolby 5.1

    First feature film
    Produced by

    Aiess Alonso - Green Age Film (Myanmar)

    Shooting locations

    Karen State (Myanmar)

    Estimated budget

    192,800 euros

    Funding in place

    28,141 euros (Green Age Film, Hanoi IFF 2016 Project Market)

    Research partners

    Co-producers, sales agents and distributors (in Europe and the USA)

    Actual status

    In development (first draft of the script)

    Contact

    Director

    Zay Yar Aung (We Ra): wera@greenagefilm.com - Phone: +95 95017517 / +95 9765017517

    Producer

    Green Age Film/ Aiess Alonso: aiessalonso@greenagefilm.com - Phone: +959794164865 - Website: https://www.greenagefilm.com

  • Amirah Tajdin

    Director

    Amirah Tajdin is a Kenyan artist and filmmaker. She has written and directed numerous visual pieces. Her short films Fluorescent Sin (2011) and His To Keep (2013), have played at over 20 film festivals around the world. Her most recent co-directed short, Marea de Tierra (2015) premiered at the Cannes Director’s Fortnight and screened at Sundance Film Festival in 2016. She currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East, directing freelance commercial and writing her first feature film.

     

    SYNOPSIS

    A Muslim drag queen uses the dying art of Swahili orchestral music and lyrics – taarab – to mend a deeply fractured relationship with his mother.

    Hamedi, a Swahili wedding singer who performs in drag, has a deeply fractured relationship with his mother who has never accepted his life choices. The film is set in Mombasa, Kenya, and takes place over seven days during which Hamedi goes home to be by his mother’s side because she is dying. In trying to break through to her, he decides use the language he knows best, love songs.

    Wafa Tajdin - Seven Thirty Films (Kenya)

    PRODUCTION

    Founded by Kenyan sisters Wafa Tajdin and Amirah Tajdin, Seven Thirty Films is more than just a production house. Drawing from their diverse background, the Tajdin sisters set up the company in 2011 to tell African stories from an African perspective inspired by a globally nomadic experience, for both regional and international audiences.

    Fiction / Drama / 90’ / Colour

    First feature film
    Produced by

    Wafa Tajdin - Seven Thirty Films (Kenya)

    Shooting locations

    Mombasa (Kenya)

    Estimated budget

    700,000 euros

    Funding in place

    9,000 euros (own funds)

    Research partners

    Sales agents, co-producers, distributors and equity partners (in Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Canada and the USA)

    Actual status

    In development (fifth draft of the script)

    Contact

    Director

    Amirah Tajdin: amirah@seventhirtyfilms.com - Phone: +971 52 964 3374 / +254 787 332086 - Website: www.amirahtajdin.com

    Producer

    Seven Thirty Films/ Wafa Tajdin: wafa@seventhirtyfilms.com - Phone: +971 55 106 5514

    Co-producers

    Urucu Media/ Elias Ribeiro: er@urucumedia.com
 - Phone: +27 718 44 54 35 - Website: www.urucumedia.com
    DW/ Dominique Welinski: dwelinski@gmail.com
 - Phone: +33 607 788136 - Cinando: https://cinando.com/en/People/ welinski_dominique_85249/Detail

    Kepler Film/ Derk-Jan Warrink: derkjan@keplerfilm.com
 - Phone: +31 6 5243 7509 - Website: www.keplerfilm.com


  • Andrey S. Diarra

    Director

    After graduating in 2012 with a Master’s degree in creative documentary production, Andrey S. Diarra directed and produced his first feature-length documentary Hamou-Béya (Sand Fishers), which received international acclaim. He also produces institutional films for NGOs in Mali.

    SYNOPSIS

    For generations, Sub-Saharan Africans were considered illiterate and cut off from their written history. This film shows another side of Africa, based on written records.

    During the colonial era, thousands of manuscripts were hidden in Timbuktu before being destroyed or damaged by the weather. Kader, a native of the city, has always been aware of the race against time in saving these historical relics. He decides to do what he can to save this cultural heritage secreted away by families. The preservation and translation of these works dating back to the 11th century sheds light on African history and values.

    Awa Traore - DS Productions (Mali)

    PRODUCTION

    DS Production has been based in Bamako, Mali, since it was founded in 2009. It specialises in producing creative documentaries and institutional films. It has recently expanded its production activities to fiction films, and has produced around 10 cinematographic works.

    Documentary / 75’

    Second feature film
    Produced by

    Awa Traore - DS Productions (Mali)

    Shooting locations

    Mali

    Estimated budget

    66,969 euros

    Funding in place

    20,819 euros (Alter-Ciné foundation, own funds)

    Research partners

    Co-producers (in France, Canada, and the Netherlands)

    Actual status

    In pre-production

    Contact

    Director

    Andrey S. Diarra: sadasfor1@yahoo.fr - Phone: +223 76427484
     

    Producer

    DS Productions/ Awa Traore: renaissancemanuscrits@gmail.com / dsproductions.ml@gmail.com - Phone: +223 76 94 60 50 / +223 66 56 89 80
     
     

  • Marcos Diaz Sosa

    Director

    Marcos Díaz Sosa is a Cuban film director and playwright. At the age of 17 he directed Fractal, a 60-minute documentary which won an award at the fifth Muestra Joven in Cuba. He recently completed the short film Natural Phenomena (officially selected to Guadalajara). He has worked with the State Theatre of Jena, Germany, and co-directed the play Bad Taste at the Offene Welt Internationales Festival, Ludwigshafen, Germany, 2015.

     

     

    SYNOPSIS

    This parody combines Soviet realist dramas and American musicals, using The Wizard of Oz to question the Cuban people’s notion of “homeland” compared to the concept of “home” imposed by the government.

    In 1988, in Cuba, a country woman escapes her frustrating reality by becoming a competitive shooter. After miscarrying during a game, she lets herself be carried away by a tornado. She is found at a private luxury resort, and recognised as a sports celebrity. After several days of all her fantasies seeming to come true, she realises that there is no place like home and tries to find the way back to her dull but lovely farm.

    María Carla Del Rio - Marinca Filmes (Cuba)

    PRODUCTION

    Marinca Filmes is a new independent production company that was founded in August 2015, in Havana, Cuba. Managed by Maria Carla del Rio, it focuses on authentic stories that make strong cinematic statements, and provides production services to other companies. Most recently, it produced the short film Natural Phenomena by Marcos Diaz Sosa.
     

    Fiction / Black humour, drama / 90’/ Colour / 4K

    First feature film
    Produced by

    María Carla Del Rio - Marinca Filmes (Cuba)

    Shooting locations

    Cuba

    Estimated budget

    480,000 euros

    Funding in place

    141,818 euros (Tribeca Latin Fund, Ibermedia, Marinca Filmes and Producciones de la 5ta Avenida, Estudio ST and Jenova Pro (industry investments)

    Research partners

    Sales agents, distributors and co-producers (US, Germany, France, Netherlands, Latin America)

    Actual status

    In development (third version of the script)

    Contact

    Director

    Marcos Diaz Sosa: marcosdiazsosa@gmail.com - Phone: +535 3331861

    Producer

    Marinca Filmes/ Maria Carla del Rio: marinka31@gmail.com - Phone: +49 117 4648359 / +535 2813997

    Co-producers

     
    Producciones de la 5TA AVENIDA/ Claudia Calviño: claudia@la5taavenida.com - Phone: +537 8300116 / +53 52938942
    Gema Films/ Gema Juarez Allen: gema@gemafilms.com - Phone: +54 11 4966 0110 / +54 911 4163 4724 - Website: www.gemafilms.com
     
     

  • Hala Lotfy

    Director

    Hala Lotfy is an Egyptian director and producer. In 2011, she was chosen by Charlotte Rampling to receive the Katrin Cartlidge Foundation Award. Her first film Coming Forth by Day won many awards including the FIPRESCI prize, and Hala was named Best Director from the Arab World. The film joined the Greatest 100 Arab Films list drawn up by Dubai IFF.

     

     

    SYNOPSIS

    This film is the second part of a trilogy about women trying to find their way living in Egypt. By telling this story, I want to pay homage to all the youngsters who have lost their lives in the last six years, and the mothers who survived them.

    In a blink of an eye, she lost her son for the most absurd reason: a hole in a bridge. She is the only one who believes that he could still be alive. In the course of one night, she endures the cruellest of fates that this city can deliver; in the morning, she must find the strength to carry on.

    Mohamed Samir, Hassala Films/ DayDream Art Production (Egypt)

    PRODUCTION

    Hassala Films is an independent production collective based in Cairo. It was formed by a group of independent artists with the same views on working with low budgets to produce feature debut projects.
    DayDream Art Production is an Egyptian company. It produces films that deal with social issues and adopt courageous artistic approaches with the goal of reaching out to international markets.

    Fiction / Drama / 90’/ Colour / HD

    Second feature film
    Produced by

    Mohamed Samir, Hassala Films/ DayDream Art Production (Egypt)

    Shooting locations

    Cairo (Egypt)

    Estimated budget

    800,000 euros

    Funding in place

    46,680 euros (Hubert Bals Fund, AFAC Fund, Dubai Film Connection Award, Sanad Fund)

    Research partners

    International sales agents

    Actual status

    In pre-production (financing)

    Contact

    Director

    Hala Lotfy: hala_lotfy@hotmail.com - Phone: +201227418314

    Producers

    Hassala Films et DayDream Art Production/ Mohamed Samir: hala_lotfy@hotmail.com / daydream.artproduction@gmail.com - Phone: +20 1227418314 / +33 7 86 89 58 71 - Website: www.ddartproduction.com

    Co-producers

    Gloria Films/ Laurent Lavolé: ll@gloriafilms.fr - Phone: + 33 1 42 21 42 11 - Website: www.gloriafilms.fr
    Dutch Mountain Film/ Wilant Boekelman: wilant@dutchmountainfilm.nl - Phone: +31 020 688 18 43 - Website: www.dutchmountainfilm.nl
     

  • Wim Steytler

    Director

    Wim Steytler is an innovative commercials director, winning a YDE Award at the Cannes Lions festival for his directorial debut and directing commercials around the world. His recent short film premiered in competition at Clermont-Ferrand and his debut screenplay The Sovereign was selected for Realness – A Pan African Screenwriter’s Residency in 2016, as well as EAVE Producer’s Workshop in 2017.

    SYNOPSIS

    In a world gripped by paranoia and fanaticism, an isolated farmer finds himself entangled in a toxic triangle with lethal consequences.

    An ostracized and troubled South African farmer forms a co-dependent friendship with a mesmerizing French couple, who he later discovers are manipulative narcissists belonging to a Doomsday cult. When the farmer confronts their escalating extreme behavior, he is thrown into a violent killing spree. A manhunt follows and he has to protect his estranged community from a delusional, global-terror plot.

     

    Cait Pansegrouw, Urucu Media (South Africa)

    PRODUCTION

    Urucu Media is an independent South African film production company based in Cape Town. We are author-driven and actively partner with the new generation of South African filmmakers who strive to tell local stories that are bold and authentic. Our films resonate with domestic audiences and international viewers alike, having screened at Sundance, Berlinale, Tribeca, Rio and Durban, among other festivals. We also initiated Realness, A Pan African Screenwriter’s Residency Programme for emerging filmmakers, which is currently in its second year.

    Fiction (inspired by true events) / Thriller / 90’/ Colour / Digital

    First feature film
    Produced by

    Cait Pansegrouw, Urucu Media (South Africa)

    Shooting locations

    Sutherland (South Africa)

    Estimated budget

    1,000,000 euros

    Funding in place

    260,000 euros (Realness, Department of Trade and Industry, South Africa (Tax Rebate))

    Research partners

    Co-producers, sales agents, broadcasters, distributors (France, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands)

    Actual status

    In development (fourth version of the script)

    Contact

    Director

    Wim Steytler: wimsteytler@gmail.com - Phone: +27 82 373 9864

    Producer

    Urucu Media/ Cait Pansegrouw: cp@urucumedia.com - Phone: +27 83 395 0088 - Website: www.urucumedia.com

    Co-producer

    Picture Tree/ Gary King: gary@picturetree.co.za - Phone: +27 (0) 82 557 4713 - Website: www.picturetree.co.za

  • Bassem Breche


    Director

    Born in Lebanon in 1978, Bassem Breche began his career acting in Lebanon and the UK with Blind Flight (2003) and Hamburg Cell (2004), before moving into writing and directing. Since 2007, Breche has directed three short films: Both (2007), Ziu (2013) and Free Range (2014) premiering at Cannes’ Critics week. As a scriptwriter, he has written several web series and films, including Shankaboot (International Digital Emmy Award, 2011). Breche founded and directs Scenario Beirut, a screenwriter collective in Beirut.

    SYNOPSIS

    Moving forward often means letting go of the past and becoming someone new, creating comfort for the time that remains. For two women connected by loss and pain, verbal communication is impossible, apologies are not available, and forgiveness is not an option.

    The Maiden’s Pond tells the story of two women trying to maintain and negotiate their lives with and against each other. Salma has survived past troubles by letting go of any attachments, including those to her daughter. But the past still has a hold on Salma, and her daughter returns to her – defeated, divorced and pregnant.

    Jana Wehbe - The Attic (Lebanon)

    PRODUCTION

    The Attic is an innovative production company that produces films by talented young directors. Based in Beirut, The Attic was founded in 2009. It aims to play a key role in supporting the present and future of Middle Eastern cinema by showcasing exceptional and uncompromising content. The Attic produced Elie Kamal’s short films 21⁄2 (2010), which received a FIPRESCI Prize at the Dubai International Film Festival in 2010, as well as Talej (2012) and Revoltango (2014), along with a series of corporate projects.

    Fiction / Drama / 90’/ Colour / DCP

    First feature film
    Produced by

    Jana Wehbe - The Attic (Lebanon)

    Shooting locations

    Lebanon

    Estimated budget

    580,000 euros

    Funding in place

    65,220 euros (Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, ART Award from the Dubai Film Connection and Doha Film Institute)

    Research partners

    Partners in Switzerland, Poland and the Netherlands

    Actual status

    In pre-production (third draft of the script)

    Contact

    Director

    Bassem Breche
: bbreish@gmail.com - Phone: +9613154409


    Producer

    The Attic/ Jana Wehbe: jana@theatticproductions.com - Phone: +961 1 494956 / +961 70 963855 / +33 7 51 03 52 81 (Cannes)

Official partners

Sponsor

And contribution of