The main focus was on how to position a debut feature project so that it can find its way across Europe. This year again, the event is hosted by Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design.
The lead mentor of the day, producer Siniša Juričić – a key figure in Croatian, Slovenian and regional co-productions – provided a clear framework for the work. Juričić’s overall goal is to help talented filmmakers from the region make their projects competitive in an international context.
His recurring message was simple: five minutes of pitch time is not too short if every sentence serves a function. The core of the story, the visual concept, the production schedule, and the specific partners the project is seeking should all be clearly articulated. His concise pitch guideline can be useful for any filmmaker: don’t repeat yourself, avoid speaking in generalities, and make sure your body language supports what you are saying.
After each presentation, participants summarized one another’s projects, since this is the best way to see how clearly a pitch comes across from the outside.
Naturally, discussions also covered financing: where to seek development funding, when co-production is justified, and how to begin building professional relationships. Perhaps Juričić’s most practical piece of advice was this: never work for free.
The first day was therefore not only about presentations, but about intensive, structured collective thinking, in which participants actively analyzed and constructively critiqued each other’s concepts, and about how a good idea can become an internationally viable debut feature.
