Locarno’s Match Me! Producers and Highlights

Anybody wanting indicators that movie manufacturing is alive and kicking in some elements of the world – and never solely the obvious – want go no additional than Locarno’s Match Me!

A networking occasion, expanded this yr from 24 to 32 producers and fortified by the first-time presence of France, Match Me! focuses on rising producers. 

That includes new initiatives from tracked auteurs – Lithuania’s Ignas Jonynas, India’s Payal Kapadia and Mexico’s Francisco Vargas – and winners at Cannes, San Sebastian and different main meets, many producers look solely a title or two from full emergence. 

If the fulsome slates of some producers are something to go by – DR’s Leticia Brea, Estonia’s Tallifornia and Kask Movies, as an illustration – manufacturing is a going concern in nations outdoors conventional manufacturing facilities. (Distribution, whether or not to platforms or in theaters, could also be one other matter).

Out of necessity or ambition, producers are scaling up, pushing ever extra into style and reaching out to manufacturing companions and expertise from world wide. Some producers produce extra international than home administrators.

A quick drill-down on the producers, corporations, initiatives and productions at this yr’s Match Me!:

Dominican Republic

Leticia Brea, Menos es Más Producciones

It says a lot in regards to the pulling energy and ambitions of Dominican Republic that Menos es Mas can lead produce a movie by celebrated Mexican auteur Francisco Vargas – “Fronteras,” now in submit. Ronni Castillo’s “Au revoir” shot in France, and Leticia Tonos’ Caribbean sci-fi survival drama, lensed at DR’s Pinewood Studios. Morocco Operation.will partly movie in Morocco. A powerful, outward-looking slate. 

Alexandra Santana, Minervas Productions

At present growing “With out a Title,” the corporate’s first characteristic directed by DR-based Venezuelan Valeria Valentina.  Turning on Marcela, a schizophrenic mom who believes her situation prevents her from being a superb mom, the movie was chosen, it was chosen for Cannes 2020 La Fabrique and has secured Ibermedia growth funding. 

Estonia

Andreas Kask, Nafta Movies

Adventurously delving into spy thrillers (“Daybreak of Struggle”) and a medieval detective movie trilogy, begun with “Melchior the Apothecary.” Upcoming movies from Nafta, the place Kask works as a producer an head of growth, embody “Serafima and Bogdan,” a sect-themed darkish thriller from Karlovy fluctuate winner Veiko Õunpuu (“The Temptation of St. Tony”).

Tōnu Hiielaid, Tallifornia

Tallis-based, and launched three years in the past with the ambition of creating 10 options in 5 years, with three launched and 6 a minimum of on the way in which, together with  Rain Rannu’s “Jailbreak,” half dwell motion half going down in an actual playable pc recreation. Tallifornia additionally handles a private-sector movie fund, aiming to put money into 15 options from Tallifornia and third events. An organization which resides as much as its title.

France

Thomas Hakim, Petit Chaos

Based in 2018 by Hakim and Julien Graff, Petit Chaos hit the bottom operating with its first characteristic, “A Night time of Understanding Nothing,” from India’s Payal Kapadia, which world premiered at 2021’s Administrators’ Fortnight successful Cannes’ greatest documentary Œil d’Or. He’s at Locarno with Kapadia’s follow-up,”All We Think about as Gentle,” a collective dream-layered drama about two girls, “Ikimanuka,” from Rwandan Samuel Ishimwe, a Berlin Silver Bear winner for brief “Imfura,” and Pablo Dury’s “Animals.” A extremely cosmopolitan slate.

Elsa Klugheit, Jonas Movies

Having produced the Texas and New Mexico-set doc options “Southern Belle” and “Seekers,” and “Tan,” a tackle modern Iran, upcoming initiatives from Jonas Movies embody “The Island,” impressed by director Hong-kai Liang’s one yr of army service in Taiwan. Additionally on Jonas Movies’ Locarno lineup: “The Greatest Half,” the characteristic debut as a director of “Name My Agent!” and “Stalk” author Victor Rodenbach.

Charlotte Vande Vyvre, Balade Sauvage Productions

Arrange in 2016 by Vande Vyvre and Francesca Betteni-Barnes, Balade Sauvage’s Match Me! slate is led by “Justice of the Peace,” the projected characteristic movie debut of France’s Pierre Mazingarbe, director of a sequence of typically fantasy-laced comedic shorts (“Grub,” “Moonkup”), wherein an excellent and badass prosecutor transfers to a courtroom whose clerk is her extremely estranged mom. Additionally coming to Locarno, “La Sarramauca,” from Sarah Lasry (“Spell on You”).

Italy

Francesca Delise, Illmatic Movie Group

“Sadly it’s getting very troublesome to distribute theatrically internationally,” says Delise. So Illmatic, a production-sales home, is preventing again “working an increasing number of with broadcasters and platforms” and “specializing in style movies that are extra placeable commercially-speaking.” Little surprise then that its prime Match Me! Play can be darkish fantasy thriller “Resvrgis,” Francesco Carnesecchi’s follow-up to “La Partita,” a Netflix worldwide pick-up. Additionally speaking up Daniele Mariani’s debut characteristic “Tony Marasco,” a comedy.

Luca Marino, Indaco Movie

Having snagged two David di Donatello quick movie awards – for 2018’s “Bismillah” and 2020’s Timo’s Winter,” Marino hails into Locarno with Mario Vitale’s “twenty first Century,” a couple of father’s film effort to save lots of his household from the decline of the West. It follows up Vitale’s 2021 “The Aphid and the Ant,” screened on Sky Cinema, Amazon and RAI.

Raffaella Pontarelli, Amarena Movie  

“Our enterprise mannequin relies on growing initiatives and distributing them worldwide,” says Pontarelli, at Amarena, a production-sales combo. Weighing in as its largest Locarno guess: Francesco Romano’s late ‘80s-set “The White Home” (“La casa Bianca”), based mostly on true occasions and a brief story by Armando Iovino in regards to the relationship between a lonely lady and Camorra boss whom she hides. 

Latvia

Dominiks Jarmakovičs, Studio Locomotive.

Behind Signe Baumane’s Annecy winner “My Love Affair with Marriage” and Riga Fest laureate “The 12 months Earlier than the Struggle.” After 2019 “Izmisums”(“Despair”), Jamakovics is reteaming with director Kārlis Lesiņš and producer Roberts Vinovskis on “The Legend of Latvian Wolf,” a doc characteristic in regards to the extraordinary life odyssey from humble immigrant to Mexican wrestling tremendous star.

Alise Rogule, Mima Movies

Rogule began out as a commercials producer after which diversified into movie manufacturing, founding Mima Movies, which produced Lise Zarina’ “Close by” (2019,) which scored a greatest screenplay award on the Latvian Nationwide Movie Pageant. Specializing in experimental low-budget films, Rogule secured funding from the Latvian Nationwide Movie Heart for Mima Movies’ subsequent characteristic, on which Rogule goals to search out new collaborators at this Locarno’ Match Me! version.

Lithuania

Rūta Jekentaitė, Baltic Productions,

Based by Jekentaitė and Martynas Mickėna, Baltic Productions upcoming initiatives embody the third characteristic from Baltics star director Ignas Jonynas (“The Gambler,” “Invisible”). His “Border Wall,” facilities on the daddy of an autistic daughter who activates an area smuggling clan. Additionally dropped at Locarno a doc “Roberta,” director Elena Kairyte’s characteristic debut, in regards to the now grown up XYZ era.

Rūta Petronyte, Kreatûra

“Lithuanian cinema is experiencing a renaissance, particularly with younger administrators with completely different aesthetics, attitudes and values,” notes Petronyte. Specializing in Lithuanian expertise and worldwide co-production, Kreatûra goals to experience this wave. At Locarno, Petronyte can be pushing “Ship,” an artwork doc about Lithuanian Algirdas Stravinskas a star choreographer who labored within the Soviet Union,

Philippines

April Batican, Epicmedia

Epicmedia is presently finalising the following characteristic from celebrated Filipino director Lav Diaz, a 2014 Locarno Golden Leopard winner with “From What’s Earlier than.” The brand new movie is a political thriller turning on police brutality towards drug gangs turns into typical within the warfare towards medicine. Batican has now joined up with director Carlo Enciso Catu on “Maintain My Gaze” which is presently underneath growth.

Sari Dalena, Kino Arts

“We’re trying to develop Filipino sci-fi and unique animation which is underrepresented,” say director-producer Dalena and producer-editor Keith Sicat at Kino Arts. True to their phrase, their lead Locarno venture is “Eve” (“Ewa”), set in a way forward for intergalactic migrant staff, as a scientist marooned on a hostile world struggles to reconnect together with her baby who’s lightyears away. Venture honors Filipino migrant moms, “and the way the bond of affection with their kids can’t be damaged by time or house.”

Geo Lomuntad, Venture 8 Initiatives

Manila-based, Venture 8 Initiatives slate presently soak up Netflix’ title “Cuddle Climate,” “Kitty K7” and “Fan Woman.” It’s co-producing director Janos Victoria’s characteristic, “Kodokushi,” developed with assist from Skills Tokyo and the Torino Movie Lab. In growth, “Boldstar” and “Iti Mapukpukaw.”

Poland

Kuba Kosma, Serce

Having produced “All Our Fears,” a giant winner at this yr’s Polish Movie Awards,  Kosma is presently growing Netflix characteristic “Luigi,” co-produced by Italy’s Disparte. Impressed by true occasions, the story turns sister Emilia and mobster Luigi, and their contrasting non secular religion.

Marta Lewandowska, Buddies With Advantages Studios

Buddies With Advantages’ current work contains Netflix unique “Erotica 2022,” the tales of 5 girls, all with an erotic ingredient; and “Fucking Borhnolm,” a mid-age relationship disaster drama set on Denmark Bornholm’ island. Lewandowska can be backing Flip Jan Rymsza (“A Remaining Lower for Orson,” “Mosquito State”) on the event of his subsequent venture, “Object Permanence.”

David Szurmiej, Studio Agart

Scoring on the Warsaw Movie Pageant with “Robert Mitchum is Useless” and doc “100 Voices: A Journey House” and now growing lockdown comedy, “Oy Gevalt!,”  “Finches,” about Zoya’s relationship together with her painter’ grandmother; and “There Will Be No Different Ending,” a household reconciliation drama.

Portugal

Justin Amorim, Promenade

Producer-director Amorim (“Leviano”) hits Match Me! with one of many occasion’s largest and best-financed slates: Six titles, with most of their budgets coated., starting from style (“We Reside in Worry,” Pedro Henrique) to romcom (“Lovefool,” Hermano Moreira) and doc options. Amorim’s key venture: “Dreaming of Lions,” by Paolo Marinou-Blanco, a heartfelt darkish comedy about euthanasia, straddling Lisbon and Belgium, arrange already as a four-way worldwide co-production.  

Daniel Pereira, The Stone and the Plot

A manufacturing home, but in addition basic movie distributor and ebook writer. At Locarno with a singular animated characteristic, “049,” a couple of man who arrives in a metropolis in Asia to die however is revived – momentarily – by an opportunity encounter with a lady he thought he misplaced 5 many years earlier than. António Nuno Júnior (“Contextual Portraits 999”) and illustrator-graphic artist Rui Rasquinho direct.

Mafalda Rebelo, Cimbalino Filmes

Profitable the Ziff Youth Award at Zinebi with “Our Land, Our Altar,” Rebelo has in submit “50/50,” a doc characteristic she directed on {couples} balancing elevating kids and work; in growth, the autism-themed “Normality,” by André Guitar, and seven-part sequence “Rio Grande,” a migration story, turning on a pair from Alentejo who strikes to the Lisbon suburbs in quest of a greater life.

Spain

Nati Escobar Gutiérrez, Galapagos Media

Based in 2016 by two younger veterans – Escobar, a world gross sales exec at Lolafilms and producer Pau Calpe, who labored with Elías Querejeta, Galápagos will arrive at Match Me! with “Purgatory,” a brand new venture by Agusti Villalonga – information by any measure – and “Sea Males,” wherein a cab driver accompanies her dying fisherman father for one final journey to the Gran Sol fishing grounds off the English coast, themselves nearing extinction. 

Carmen Pérez, Du Cardelin Studio

Zaragoza-based, “telling tales that excite us as a result of their authenticity and fact,” Du Cardelin is close to submit on “Manolo Kabezabolo,” a rollicking portrait of the wild, irreverent and terribly resilient punk singer, and “Calle Varsovia,” from José Alberto Andrés Lacasta, the portrait of Spanish Civil Struggle exile in search of, after many years of political wrestle, to clarify her life in 1999 to her uncomprehending kids. 

Raquel Pedreira, Almaina Producciones

With lengthy expertise in brief movie manufacturing, Pedreira and accomplice David Moreno’s first characteristic venture, Eva San’s debut “Casa de fieras,” has gone from strength-to-strength, being chosen for the extremely choose ECAM Incubator 2021 program with Saiz that includes this mat as certainly one of 10 Spanish Administrators on the Rise. A “vivid portrait of childhood and kids’s actuality coping mechanisms,” say Pedreira and Moreno, it activates Pablo, 6, who invents after which loses an imaginary pal.   

Taiwan

Celine Kao, Unique Movies

Representing Unique Movies and specializing in female-centric tales in Asia, Kao’s lead Match Me! title is “The Horse,” exec produced by prime Taiwanese editor Yi-Tzu Lan (“The Murderer”). The story of a mourning daughter’s halting reconnection with life, Yi-Tzu Lan’s characteristic debut is a brand new expertise growth lab fave, chosen at Skills Tokyo, the Produire au Sud Workshop, TAICCA x Ties That Bind Workshop, and TAICCA x Focus Asia 2022.

Shee Heng Kuek, Aview Pictures

Based in 2016 by Sheeheng Kuek and now specializing in worldwide co-production, Shee Heng Kuek’s prime Match Me! is the buzzy “Malice.” In it, a captain units out along with his son and younger international boy to catch the enormous swordfish whose chase led to an accident which killed his son.

Alice You, Flash Ahead Leisure  

Producer of main fest titles – Cannes Un Sure Regard’s “Moneyboys” (2021); “Suburban Birds,” at Locarno’s 2018 Cineasti de Presente – Alice You hails into Locarno with “Moms in Transit,” a drama set as Russia invades Ukraine and fogeys in Taiwan search their doubtlessly stateless new child.

U.Okay.

Sorcha Bacon, Attempt Laborious Movies

Bafta nominated and a champion of character-led tales and marginalised voices, she says, Attempt Laborious is presently growing a slate of characteristic movies with companions together with BBC Movies (Claire Fowler’s “Procession”), Film4 (Lotje Sodderland’s “In Between”) and The Bureau (“Dry Stone,” to be directed by Charlie Manton). Current credit soak up shorts corresponding to Kate Stonehill’s “Mom” (2020) and this yr’s “Pram Snatcher” by Theo Krekis.

Fawzia Mahmood, NW Footage

Mahmood, whose first characteristic as a producer, “Acta Non Verba”, premiered at Locarno in 2017, is growing with BBC Movie an upcoming characteristic from author, director, musician and Turner Prize-winning artist, Imran Perretta. Moonspun Movies government produces. At her London-based firm NW Footage, Fawzia is presently growing a world slate of initiatives that, she says, reduce throughout style, platform, finances degree and borders.

Zadoc Nava, Stray Canine Movies

A brand new child on the block, arrange in 2022, however growing a number of options together with “The Far Mountains,” a nuanced coming-of-age story with an allegorical undertow as a mirrored image of the little/no future state of Iran’s younger which has already attracted spectacular worldwide backing. To be helmed by Iranian artist-turned-writer-director Mitra Tabrizian, whose characteristic debut, 2017’s “Gholam,” met with high praise.