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Spotlight on the 2016 projects

Spotlight
  1. Feature Film Project
  2. Short Film Project
  3. TV series & special project
  4. Interactive Creations & Transmedia Project

Summary

A year after the Mifa Pitch sessions, here's news about the development of some of the projects presented.

Feature Film Project

Memoria

Memorias de un hombre en pijama

Project leader: Dream Team Concept
Director: Carlos Fernández
Spain and Croatia

What do you remember from this Mifa Pitch experience?
Above all, the opportunity to develop your network. In our case, we were able to get in contact with international distributors and a Croatian production company.

What’s your project’s current status?
We’re still in production and we’re waiting to sign the sales contract at the beginning of the year.

A few words about taking part in the Mifa Pitches?
I would encourage anyone with a project to visit Mifa as it’s a great way to meet international partners.

Short Film Project

soupe

La Soupe aux singes

Project leader: Alix Fizet
Director: Alix Fizet
France
Mifa Pitch Partner Prize 2016: Open Workshop Viborg Prize

What do you remember from this Mifa Pitch experience?
Taking part in the Pitch session enabled me to clarify my intentions about the screenplay and make an initial assessment on how the project was going. Up until then, I had been working alone at home and things were progressing slowly. Having to make a presentation to a panel of professionals gave me a boost. It’s very motivating (and stressful) to share your project and tell yourself that people are coming to listen to you. I really liked the spirit of these pitches, the diversity of the projects presented and the interest of the people for the sessions.
Being selected was also good for my confidence, I felt that the project inspired interest and that has made me want to get things together to make a great film.
The feedback I got about the film has helped me progress.

What’s your project’s current status?
When you’re making a film, you need to feel supported, and that’s what I’ve been feeling since June. Many people are helping me and I’m really happy about that. May and June were important months for the film as I was given help with the writing from CNC, I found a producer (Miyu Productions) and I pitched the project at Mifa!
I’ve been working full time on the project since October, thanks to two residences: one at Fontevraud abbey and the other at the Open Workshop. The end of the year will be taken up with writing and storyboarding. We’ve also just found out that the CNC is funding the development so the beginning of 2017 looks promising.

How has the partner prize helped in the development of your project?
Tim, the director of the Open Workshop in Viborg, has offered me a work time that is going to be extremely valuable. The principal of a residence is very important in the creation process, as I don’t have to think about anything but the project. It’s great to be able to focalise on just one thing. I arrived in Denmark a week ago and I’m going to be staying till the end of the year.

A few words about taking part in the Mifa Pitches?
I strongly recommend taking part in these sessions. They are a great way to show off your project and meet interesting people. It’s also a big challenge… When I found out I’d been selected, I was terrified at the thought of making a presentation, and at the same time super happy. I had to learn to manage my stress for the presentation. I grew from the experience and it boosted me for making the film.

soupe

Riga’s Lilac

Project leader: Lizete Upite
Director: Lizete Upite
Latvia
Mifa Pitch Partner Prize 2016 : Ciclic Prize

What do you remember from this Mifa Pitch experience?
I remember how scared and at the same time inspired and enthusiastic I was. The presentation takes you out of your comfort zone and gives you the chance to get feedback. I particularly liked the rehearsal sessions and the one to one meetings.

What’s your project’s current status?
The project is at the development stage. I’m working on the screenplay and storyboard. I will be in France in November, in residence with Ciclic, where I will continue to work.
In October, the project was presented at the Baltic Pitching Forum, in Lithuania, where it received the main prize: the possibility to take part in the European Short Pitch 2017 sessions, which will allow me to continue working on the screenplay and take part in a pitch session just before starting production in 2017.

How has the partner prize helped in the development of your project?
I was delighted to win the Ciclic prize as it has given me the opportunity to work in a creative atmosphere, with other people who are also developing projects. You often get stuck working at home alone on a project. This type of residence makes you realise that you’re not alone and that you can succeed. It’s very encouraging. I’m starting in a week’s time, and I’m going to work on the storyboard.

A few words about taking part in the Mifa Pitches?
I think the most important thing is the Festival’s atmosphere. You meet lots of different creatives, discover their projects and ideas and share skills and experiences. You’re never alone, there’s always someone to talk to. It’s great! I’d recommend it to anyone working on an independent project.

More info

TV series & special project

Urikito 3024

Urikito 3024

Project leader: Mélanie Duval
Director: Mélanie Duval
France

What do you remember from this Mifa Pitch experience?
To have to condense a 26x26 min epic of science-fiction into 5 minutes is already a challenge, and what better to meet it than having a deadline and a public? I remember the pouring rain on the day that was softened by the reception my project received. I remember the future partners I met after the pitch and the first words of what might become a long collaboration.
But what I remember the most is the number of people who came up to me after to say: "I’m so looking forward to seeing the show on the TV!" Whenever I have to work doubly hard to get something finished, I think of them, set my alarm for 5:00 am and off I go!

What’s your project’s current status?
Now that major writing work is just about finished (I’m putting the finishing touches on the screenplays of the first episodes), the next stage will be to present all this small lush world to broadcasters.

A few words about taking part in the Mifa Pitches?
All I have to say to people with projects is… just do it! It’s a great experience, and especially a unique possibility to show off your creativity to people from all over the world, and to realise that your project isn’t just a mad idea: there are people ready to follow you in the adventure!

More info
You’ll find the occasional drawing on my tumblr

Interactive Creations & Transmedia project

Chez Simone

Chez Simone

Project leader: ANoki / Xbo Films
Director : Alwa Deluze
France
Mifa pitch partner prize 2016: France Télévisions Nouvelles Écritures & Ina Prize

What do you remember from this Mifa Pitch experience?
It was extremely beneficial as it led to winning prizes and putting the project in the spotlight. We also got some particularly useful feedback and encouragement from professionals, which compensated for the often long and laborious creative period.

What’s your project’s current status?
The project is currently at the writing stage in co-development with France Télévisions Nouvelles Écritures. The next stages will be funding and making the pilot, followed by the production of the series. As far as the writing is concerned, we’re setting up partnerships to feed the economic content of the project and involve a complementary partner to France Télévisions in the dissemination and promotion of the programme.

How has the partner prize helped in the development of your project?
We’re working with France Télévisions for the writing. We’ve signed a co-development agreement and worked out a development strategy. We’re also going to be taking part in Forum Blanc 2017.

A few words about taking part in the Mifa Pitches?
Taking part in the Mifa Pitches could be an accelerator for a project. It’s definitely been the case for ours. However, it’s important to be well prepared, to present the project in other contexts, test it in front of different audiences to make sure that by the time you get to Mifa you’ve got a project that’s in line with the market and has a clear presentation.