Телесто

On June 2, 2015 there were announced the finalists of the Berlin International Film Festival’s special programme Berlinale Residency. Ella Manzheeva has become the first ever Russian winner and, with her new project Tachal, produced by Elena Glickman and Victoria Lupik, will be amongst the three invited filmmakers.

Application to the programme is open to all those who have participated in the Berlinale Co-Production Market or already directed a feature-length film which screened in the official selection of a renowned international film festival. The debut of Ella Manzheeva’s ‘The Gulls’ in the Forum programme of the Berlinale presented Ella with the opportunity to take her new project to the Berlinale Residency.

A jury – made up of Jens Beiküfner (German Federal Foreign Office), Teresa Hoefert de Turegano (Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg), Karsten Stöter (Rohfilm, Berlin) and Thomas Hailer (Berlinale curator) – has selected three filmmakers and their feature film projects.

Over the course of three months (from September 1 to November 30, 2015) the young cinematographers will be working on their new scripts with the help of renown script consultants from the Nipkow Programm and the best Western experts.

The programme provides the authors with the opportunity to develop their potential and find their audience. The participants each receive a monthly grant of 1500 euro. The attached producers commit themselves to participating in a workshop in Berlin from November 20 to 22, 2015 and to present the project at the Berlinale Co-Production Market in February 2016.

Berlinale Director Dieter Kosslick comments: “With the support of the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and the Federal Foreign Office, the Berlinale Residency creatively and purposefully extends the initiatives offered by the Berlinale to international filmmakers. They will be given concrete assistance and make valuable contacts for developing and marketing their projects.”

Участники Berlinale Residency 2015:

Daniel Borgman, New Zealand / Denmark: Across the Fields
Producer: Katja Adomeit (Adomeit Film, Denmark)

Fernando Eimbcke, Mexico: Diary of an Elephant
Producer: Christian Valdelièvre (Cinepantera, Mexico)

Ella Manzheeva, Russia: Tachal
Producers: Victoria Lupik (Anniko Films, Russia) and Elena Glikman (Telesto Film Company, Russia)

Ella Manzheeva shared her impressions with ProfiCinema:

«The script for ‘Tachal’ was developed in the script lab of the Kultbyuro Educational Center. I have dreamt of participating in the Residency ever since I first heard of it ar the Berlinale Talents 2013. This is a big honour and a great start for our project. And, of course, a milestone in the history of Kalmyk cinema. I am anticipating interesting work, the results of which shall be presented at the 2016 Berlinale Co-Production Market».

Producer Elena Glickman noted that the Berlinale Residency will contribute to the future success of the project:
“The Berlinale Residency is the result of ‘The Gulls’ participating at the Berlin Film Festival. It is an amazing programme for only the most talented ones, the dream of any director and producer. This makes our new project the focus of the world cinema, large festivals and distributors».

Producer Victoria Lupik also expressed optimism about the project’s prospects:
"Participation in the Berlinale Residency is a great honour, success and responsibility for us. It is an opportunity to work intensively on the project with the participation of top European experts, and afterward present it at the Berlinale Co-Production Market where partners and financial support can be found. An opportunity to lay a solid foundation for the production of the film and the organisation of the box office run.”

In a workshop towards the end of the Residency, the producers of the chosen projects will also receive concrete feedback from experienced industry professionals as well as assistance in preparing their projects for the international market. In February 2016, the filmmakers will return to Berlin to present their projects with their producers to potential co-producers and financiers at the Berlinale Co-Production Market.

The Berlinale Residency is an initiative of the Berlin International Film Festival. It is supported by the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and the German Federal Foreign Office.

The Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg supports the Berlinale Residency within the scope of its Berlin 24/7 programme, which offers work fellowships in the German film capital to international filmmakers.