After the first edition in Bratislava in May 2021, the Pop Up Film Residency Visegrad presents its new cohort for the 2nd edition that will take place in Budapest in June 2022.
The program offers a 3-week-long creative environment to 4 resident filmmakers from the Visegrad countries working on their feature film projects together with international mentors.
Participants are selected through partnerships with leading film events in each country: the New Horizons Studio+ in Poland, the Karlovy Vary IFF’s Eastern Promises Industry Platform in the Czech Republic, the Febiofest Bratislava IFF’s Bratislava Industry Days (co-organized by the Slovak Film Institute) in Slovakia, and the Friss Hús’ Budapest Debut Film Forum in Hungary.
The Pop Up Film Residency Visegrad rotates each year in a different country, and residents from this edition will be able to take part in the 10th Friss Hús Film Festival running 2.-8. June 2022. Mentors will include script consultant Éva Zabezsinszkij, who notably worked with Hungarian filmmakers Balint Kenyeres, László Nemes, and Kornél Mundruczó.
The participants of the Pop Up Film Residency Visegrad 2022 are:
Magda Chmielewska with Mira’s Fire (Poland)
Producer: Lixi Frank
Mira’s Fire revolves around teenage firefighter Mira, who has just lost her mother. As she mourns her loss, Mira witnesses a terrible water shortage in her village due to a series of decisions made by the municipality. Decided to expose those responsible, Mira puts her family in danger but also discovers her own power.
Anna Gyimesi with Bearwoman (Hungary)
Producer: Ábel Kocsó
(photo by Zsófia Sivák)
Orsolya, a young woman from a village in Transylvania, decides to go into the forest after she was raped. Miraculously, a bear keeps her warm, and she returns to the village wearing the bear’s fur. Years pass and Orsolya becomes an activist against marital violence. A documentary team follows her fight and investigates on her past.
Šimon Holý with Thinking David (Czech Republic)
Producers: Pavla Klimešová and Jan Syruček
Can you be gay and Jewish at the same time? Thinking David is the portrait of a boy who has to conquer his biggest enemy: his own fear. The movie is an intense trip from the initial questioning of sexuality, through the uncertain coming out.
The 3rd feature film project by 28 year-old Šimon Holý.
Gregor Valentovič with Twentyseven (Slovakia)
Producer: Zora Jaurová
Twentyseven is a film about the early-life crisis of the late twenties. David is 27, he is gay and is facing the finality of having to grow up. With that comes the realisation that happiness is not to be pursued, and that home is just a state of mind.
The Pop Up Film Residency Visegrad is organised with the financial support of the International Visegrad Fund.