Global Media Makers Residency
Film Independent has partnered with the U.S. Department of State, that the first Global Media Makers (GMM) Residency to engage Ukrainian filmmakers will be held January 16-22, during the 15th Edition of When East Meets West in Trieste, Italy. The residency is presented in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Institute, When East Meets West (WEMW), and the European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE).
“We are thrilled to partner with EAVE and WEMW to bring our communities together in an effort to support an incredible group of filmmakers from Ukraine, who are developing compelling stories with a global reach,” said María Raquel Bozzi, Senior Director of Education and International Programs at Film Independent, “The mission of our organizations and our commitment to supporting new independent voices from around the world are perfectly aligned.”
Kristina Trapp, EAVE CEO, added, “We are excited to launch this first partnership. The residency will offer eight amazing producer-director teams and their projects from Ukraine a perfect package: top notch tutoring from the GMM mentors, shared sessions with EAVE SLATE and EAVE IMPACT THINK TANK, and plenty of networking opportunities at the vibrant WEMW market.”
This intensive week-long residency will serve sixteen talented filmmakers, creative producers, and writer-director teams, with fiction and documentary feature film projects in early development, exploring a wide array of issues of social importance from their country.
Leading this residency are U.S. mentors Mollye Asher ("Nomadland"), Ruth Atkinson (Script Consultant), Karin Chien ("Bitterroot"), Caroline Libresco ("Food and Country"), Alix Madigan ("Winter’s Bone"), Avril Speaks ("Jinn"), and Alejandro Valdes-Rochin ("Menudo: Forever Young"). These industry professionals will provide an overview of independent film best practices in the United States, while exploring their relevance in the Ukrainian and European context. Mentors will also delve into development strategies for the projects participating in the program.
“Over the past years the concrete support to the Ukrainian film industry has been one of the key priorities of When East Meets West,” said Alessandro Gropplero, WEMW Director. “Therefore, today we are so happy to expand our mission and goals, and we are delighted to be part of the first GMM Residency in Europe, as we are sure that all these talented Ukrainian selected teams will get precious feedback, meaningful perspectives, as well as new beneficial connections during our market.”
UKRAINIAN SELECTED TALENT
Director Serhii Zeinalov and producer Diana Nazaruk for "533 Days - Separated by The Bridge"; Writer/Director Sabina Asadova and Writer/Director/Producer Mira Oyetoro for "Between Strange Borders"; Director Snizhana Gusarevych and Producer Anya Perepelytsia for "Flowers On Marsovo"; Writer/Director Oleksandr Roshchyn and Viktor Shevchenko for "Mamayi"; Writer/Director Marysia Nikitiuk and Producer Alyona Kaporina for "Noah"; Director Nikon Romanchenko and Producer Julia Sinkevych for "Reconstruction"; Writer/Director Alina Panasenko and Producer Lyuba Knorozok for "Skein"; Writer/Director Nadia Parfan and Producer Anastasiia Kanarova for "The Amateur".