You can register for the programs here.
May 31st:
11:00 Sales 101
This panel talk features a powerhouse of European distributors, including Stefano Picasso (Gorilla Film Distribution – Italy), Sadhbh Murphy (Network Ireland Television – Ireland), Sarah Dombrink (interfilm Berlin) and Grégoire Féron (Salaud-Morisset – France), to demystify the global short film business. Beyond market insights, this session offers a unique perspective on how to launch and sustain a similar venture within the CEE region. The discussion will explore the reality of the workload involved, the profitability of the sector, and how to effectively capitalize on the region’s untapped potential.
15:30 Fund Reform: Panel Discussion
This panel discussion brings together a group of young Hungarian producers to map out the shifting landscape of short and debut feature film financing. Beyond navigating the still evolving structural reforms, the conversation offers an honest, inside look at how these producers are preparing for the industry's future. Panelists will discuss their visions for their careers and the domestic film scene amidst ongoing systemic changes, highlighting the collaborative spirit and dialogue needed to shape the next chapter of Hungarian cinema.
June 1st:
15:00 From Shorts to Low Budget Features
This session explores the challenging leap from short filmmaking to a debut feature. Featuring Federico Fasulo (producer and director) and acclaimed Hungarian producer Juli Berkes (known for Gábor Reisz’s Venice Orizzonti winner Explanation for Everything and her long-term collaboration with Hajni Kis), the discussion provides practical insights into scaling up toward features. Federico will share his first-hand experience of developing his upcoming feature within the BDFF (Budapest Debut Film Forum) program. Panelists will dissect the differences in financing, the unique obstacles of feature-length production, and whether the gap between shorts and features is as wide as it seems.
19:00 To Whom It May Concern - A Wild Case Study (public)
This talk centres on a short film case study to explore how audience experience can be strategically designed through communication — from first impression to post-screening buzz. Using last year’s Fresh Meet WiP winner, Something Wild, directed by Zsuzsanna Konrád and winner of the main prize at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, we examine how to guide target audiences from awareness to genuine interest, using tools that capture attention, create FOMO, and encourage word of mouth. Beyond marketing, the discussion highlights how communication around a short film can become an organic extension of the story itself — a strategy long used by major film industries such as Hollywood.
Presentation starting on Monday, June 1 at 7:00 PM will be held in Hungarian, contrary to the original plans. The projected presentation slides are still expected to be in English, but we wanted to inform those in advance who might specifically be attending for an English-language program. We apologize that this change has only now become clear, and thank you for your understanding!
June 2nd:
16:00 WiP Pitch Forum & Award Ceremony (public)
Witness the official showcase of six promising international short films currently in production. This exciting pitch forum features a competitive presentation where filmmakers screen 3-minute clips from their works-in-progress, providing a first look at future festival hits.
The event concludes with the announcement of the Gaston Studio and Focus Fox awards, providing a total of €8,000 worth of post-production support. Additionally, the winning project will be offered a professional sales and distribution agreement courtesy of the Italian agency, Gorilla Film Distribution.
Selected Projects:
How I went to the dogs, along with Europe – Dir: Elizaveta Snagovskaia (Germany)
Privado – Dir: Richard Feliz (Germany/Norway)
Praxis – Dir: Katica Kozma (Hungary)
The Changing Room – Dir: Giacomo Esposito (United Kingdom)
Things I don't understand – Dir: Andrej Zelenec (Slovakia)
Fog – Dir: Katalin Blanka Bohl (Hungary, United Kingdom)
19:00 Closing party