Our network of film industry hosts enables us to prepare a residency literally anywhere in the world. That’s why we are called the Pop Up Film Residency! Thanks to our amazing hosts – producers Konstantinos Kontovrakis and Yorgos Karnavas, co-founders of Heretic and Heretic Outreach; we have tailored our first residency in Athens for our resident-on-demand, Israeli director Yona Rezenkier.

During the three-week-long stay, Yona will develop his third feature films Wild Animals in close co-operation with Heretic team. The story of Wild Animals depicts an elderly man who managed to escape the extermination camps and is secretly raising his two granddaughters, Ruth and Naomi, deep in the woods.

Yona’s debut feature The Dive premiered in Locarno competition in 2018, whereas the Israeli director who was present in Cannes Film Festival with two shorts: The Sign, co-directed with Eleonora Veninova and presented at the Directors’ Fortnight as part of the SEE Factory, and Parparim presented in the Cannes Film Festival Official Competition. His second feature film Decompression is in pre-production.

Moreover, in Athens, Yona will consult Wild Animals with two experienced mentors – scriptwriter and script consultant Katerina Kaklamani to shape the story and characters; and production designer and art director Pinleopi Valti to explore the universe of the film.

Sounds like Yona will spent some quality time in Athens – thank you Konstantinos and the Heretic Team for your great work and support!