At the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, European Film Promotion and the festival will curate Future Frames, a showcase of short films by students and recent graduates of European film schools, which is accompanied by a program of promotion and industry networking activities. Variety, Future Frames’ media partner, profiles the 10 young filmmakers.
“We Beg to Differ”
Courtesy of EFP
Ruairi Bradley
“We Beg to Differ”
IADT – Institute of Art, Design and Technology
Ireland
The Belfast-born Bradley is particularly interested in stories about community, identity and connection. “We Beg to Differ” is a creative documentary that immerses audiences into the underground community of “differs,” a group of people who have found healing through their dangerous and illegal motor sports hobby as they navigate personal struggles both on and off the road. Bradley is developing a feature project based on the short and one of its main characters.
“Dog and Wolf”
Courtesy of EFP
Terézia Halamová
“Dog and Wolf”
FAMU, Prague
Czech Republic
Slovak-born filmmaker Halamová’s films are connected by themes of loneliness, growing up and exploring intimacy. She likes to work with non-actors and is interested in the plasticity of interpersonal relationships. Her upcoming feature project, “The Hour Between Dog and Wolf,” expands the themes of this prize-winning short, which follows a 20-something male stripper who eventually decides that he wants more than his current hedonistic lifestyle.
“Greek Apricots”
Courtesy of Academy of Dramatic Art, University of Zagreb
Jan Krevatin
“Greek Apricots”
Academy of Dramatic Art, University of Zagreb
Slovenia
A Slovenian studying in Croatia, Krevatin’s evocative, multi-lingual drama “Greek Apricots” looks at language, loneliness and identity through the prism of the connection between a late-night gas station cashier and a North Macedonian long-distance truck driver. With another year to go for his M.A. degree, Krevatin is developing another short about the fragility of human connection.
“January”
Courtesy of EFP
Jetske Lieber
“January”
Netherlands Film Academy
The Netherlands
Although Lieber has dabbled in acting, they much prefer being on the director’s side of the camera. Their sweet LGBTQ-interest graduation film, “January,” follows a university student recovering from a breakup with his boyfriend and epitomizes their interest in reading between the lines, awkwardness, sincere attempts at connection and the beauty of failure and love. Lieber is developing a feature drama that follows a dysfunctional family over three seasons.
“Fish River Anthology”
Courtesy of EFP
Veera Lamminpää
“Fish River Anthology”
ELO Film School, Alto University
Finland
An animator as well as writer-director, Lamminpää makes works that are fresh, original and distinctive. The existential supermarket musical “Fish River Anthology” shows off her imagination and stop-motion talents. Her portfolio includes several award-winning short films, television screenwriting and commercial film productions. She’s developing a feature project, “Summer of the Moth,” that will combine stop-motion and puppetry with live action. When not working, she enjoys gardening or relaxing in the sauna.
“Son of Happiness”
Courtesy of EFP
Dominik Mirecki
“Son of Happiness”
Warsaw Film School
Poland
An actor as well as writer-director, Mirecki continues to work on both sides of the camera. The pilot episode for the Netflix series “Tell Me” marked his first helming project. His Warsaw Film School short “Son of Happiness” is a tender drama about a protective single father and his Down Syndrome son, whose dream is to be an actor. Mirecki’s next project will be a short film about moral dilemmas, desperation and the limits of decency.
“Karaokiss”
Courtesy of EFP
Mila Ryngaert
“Karaokiss”
IAD – Institut des Arts de Diffusion
Belgium
Ryngaert’s graduation project is a quirky LGBTQ-interest musical set in a karaoke bar, which grew out of a collaboration with composer Ludovic Bauloye. She is developing a documentary about a theater troupe whose works question the boundaries between madness and normality. She also works as an assistant director.
“Skin on Skin”
Courtesy of Nico Schrenk
Simon Schneckenburger
“Skin on Skin”
Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
Germany
Schneckenburger’s graduation short “Skin on Skin” is a raw, graphic and disturbing work. Set in an abattoir, it examines the uneven power dynamics in a queer love story between an exploited Eastern European worker and a brutal security guard. It has nabbed numerous prizes, including the audience award winner for medium-length shorts at the Max Ophüls fest. The writer-director is currently developing a feature about a male friendship destroyed by manic-depressive illness as well as a miniseries.
“Dissection of an Incoherence in Crisis”
Courtesy of EFP
Nausica Serra
“Dissection of an Incoherence in Crisis”
ESCAC, Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya
Spain
Barcelona-born Serra joins the ranks of Catalan directors to watch with an amusing, naturalistic, sharply observed portrait of a family on a summer glamping holiday. The clinical, but tongue-in-cheek title reveals the ways in which unconscious parental behavior may be absorbed and modeled by children. Serra’s interest in human psychology will provide the basis for her next short project, “Perspectives of Self.”
“1-10”
Courtesy of EFP
Sinan Taner
“1:10”
ZHdk
Switzerland
A Swiss filmmaker of Turkish heritage, Taner based his graduation work “1:10” on events from his childhood. Boasting offbeat shot angles and a remarkable number of extras, it highlights the interplay of the individual vs. the collective while exploring themes of racism, classism and masculinity within the microcosm of a school sports day. The busy Taner is in post on a number of projects including a feature-length doc about people in a retirement home and several shorts. He is also developing a feature that examines different visions of society’s future.
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