FIRST LOOK
Creativity Media First Look Award
Mother Vera by Cécile Embleton and Alys Tomlinson, produced by Laura Shacham (She Makes Productions)
Jury statement: “From the opening moments of this film, we were immediately drawn to the strikingly photographed stark portrait of a fascinating nun in Belarus who makes a journey to France. We congratulate filmmakers Cécile Embleton and Alys Tomlinson and wish them the best with this new film, Mother Vera.”
Jannuzzi Smith Award
No Ifs Or Buts by Sarah Lewis, produced by Sarah Lewis (Felt Culture), co-produced by DoBeDo
Le Film Français Award
No Ifs Or Buts by Sarah Lewis, produced by Sarah Lewis (Felt Culture), co-produced by DoBeDo
ALLIANCE 4 DEVELOPMENT
Alphapanda Market Breakout Award
Pas Ta Maman by Michèle Flury, produced by Felix Schreiber from Sommerhaus Filmproduktion (Germany)
Jury statement: “The Alphapanda Market Breakout Award goes to a film that will certainly move audiences just like it has moved us, a brutal yet playful tale, that uses contrasting genres to explore a current and important topic, abuse against women and what it means to be sexualised, victimised, and to fight back. We were very touched by the pitch and can’t wait to see this film on a big screen.”
Script consultancy residency at DreamAgo, offered by the Valais Film Commission
La P’tite (The Young One) directed by Despina Athanassiadis, produced by Quentin Daniel (Wombat Films, France)
MIDPOINT Consulting Award
WHO/MAN directed by Lorenz Merz, produced by Michela Pini (8horses, Switzerland)
Ticino Film Commission Residence Award
Objet a by Ann Oren, produced by Kristof Gerega, Sophie Ahrens and Fabian Altenried (Schuldenberg Films, Germany)
HERITAGE ONLINE RESTORATION CONTEST
Mulher de verdade (1954) by Alberto Cavalcanti
From August 4 to 6, the 12th edition of First Look presented six UK works-in-progress to an audience of sales agents, buyers, programmers and representatives from post-production support funds, thanks to a partnership with British Film Institute (BFI), using funds from the National Lottery.
Alliance 4 Development is possible thanks to partnerships with CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée), France; FFA (Filmförderungsanstalt), Germany; DGCA-MiC (Direzione Generale Cinema e Audiovisivo del Ministero della Cultura), Italy; ÖFI (Österreichisches Filminstitut), Austria; the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) / MEDIA Desk Suisse, Switzerland. A4D is also made possible by contributions from Eurimages, which promotes and sponsors one of the initiative’s networking events, and from the European Producers Club, which offers consultancy on the various issues covered.
The Heritage Online Restoration Contest is a yearly open call for applications for international classic and library films in need of complete or partial restoration. The Restoration Contest, launched for the first time in 2023, was open to feature films from all over the world that premiered in 2009 or before. This contest is possible thanks to a collaboration with Cinegrell, the winning film of the Heritage Online contest will then be the recipient of a complete, world-class restoration service. Submissions for the next edition of the context will open February 2024.
