EAST-WEST TALENT LAB

EAST-WEST TALENT LAB

As of 2014 the goEast programme of training and support for young filmmakers runs under a new name. The East-West Talent Lab is defined by new priority areas but continues to focus on improving levels of networking among young filmmakers, artists and film students from the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and from Germany. The programme encompasses into the following four areas: Screen, Meet, Learn, and Present.
Screen: Eleven entries are presented in the new competition for experimental film and video art. These works are competing for the Open Frame Award of 5,000 euros. The additional Emerging Artists film programme offers a survey of contemporary German experimental film and video art.
Meet: Numerous events offer participants opportunities for communication, exchange of ideas, and networking. Participants are brought together with industry professionals, encouraged to pitch their project concepts and look for co-production partners.
Learn: The professional skills training programme encompasses panel discussions, lectures, workshops and master classes. For example, the Kubrick producer Jan Harlan, goEast Jury president in 2014, offers practical tips on the subject of “Making Films With No Money”. Matthias Müller, professor of experimental film and juror for the Open Frame Award, discusses in his lecture “Sitting On the Fence” potential presentation venues for experimental films and video art. The panel discussion “Funding for Short Films, Documentaries and Video Art” provides information on possible sources of funding in Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Germany. Cathy de Haan leads two workshops devoted respectively to pitching and project development.
Present: Sixteen participants in the East-West Talent Lab pitch to an audience and specialist jury their new project concepts in the areas of short fiction and documentary as well as experimental film and video art. The upcoming talents come from countries including Azerbaijan, Germany, Georgia, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine. The goEast Development Award worth 3,500 euros goes to the best project concept.