Latest news with #CPH:Forum
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sex-Selective Abortions in Armenia, Moldova's Healthcare System, Infertility in Georgia, and More Explored at CPH:DOX
Eight high impact film projects from Eastern Europe took center stage at CPH:Forum, the industry platform of Copenhagen's CPH:DOX international documentary film festival, this week. Emerging filmmakers from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine pitched their films to industry representatives, including Arte, IDFA and the Whickers Fund. More from Variety 'Parade: Queer Acts of Love & Resistance' to Lead Hot Docs Lineup, Featuring 35 World Premieres 'Undercover: Exposing the Far Right' Director on the Future of Political Doc Programming: 'Selection of Films at Some Festivals Is Becoming Weaker' Janus Metz on 'Rescue' and Saving Migrants in the Mediterranean With Co-Director Sine Plambech and Doctors Without Borders (EXCLUSIVE) It marked the culmination of a six-month training program under Change, founded by IMS (International Media Support) in partnership with CPH:DOX, EAVE (the European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs), and the Danish Film School, to support underrepresented filmmakers from the region in accessing the global market. This year's selection explores themes of war, national identity, patriarchy and activism, with budgets ranging from €92,000 ($99,000) to €329,000 ($356,000). The pitches are followed by one-to-one meetings with industry decision-makers over the next couple of days. Variety spoke to the teams in Copenhagen – some projects are not highlighted here due their sensitive nature. 'Leave Easy Come Back Safe' (Belarus) by Sasha Kulak and Masha Maroz examines Belarusian identity through two young artists – one in exile, the other still in the country – while documenting the cultural heritage of the remote Polesia region. The film follows three characters – a traditional beekeeper, a healer and a priest attempting to save a dilapidated church – and features archival material dating back to the 1930s. 'Through our film, we aim not only to document and preserve the unique traditions and culture of the region but also to reflect on our own cultural and national identity. We want to showcase this unknown cultural archipelago to the world and to people within our own country,' producer Julia Shaginurova told Variety. 'My Name Is Enough' (Armenia) by Ani Grigoryan and Marina Arzumanova explores sex-selective abortions in a remote Armenian village. Ashkhen, the protagonist, awaits the results of an ultrasound that will determine the fate of her unborn child while neighbors and relatives turn to ancient folk traditions to predict the baby's sex. 'Hearing how many girls never had the chance to live, and how women were forced to undergo illegal and unsafe abortions – makes us ask: 'What if that were me?'' said producer Ani Ordyan. The documentary interweaves the stories of other women across different generations, shedding light on the societal pressures that force illegal abortions. 'Missing in Action' (Ukraine) by Marharyta Melnychuk and Kateryna Holovko follows Natalia, a former border guard searching for her missing brother, a combat medic who disappeared in Donetsk in 2023. Supporting her brother's daughters and her elderly mother, Natalia takes a job far from home that provides financial stability. Determined to find purpose, she pursues a master's degree in psychology, and uses her experience to help others searching for missing loved ones. 'More than 60,000 people, both civilians and soldiers, are missing in Ukraine. This is the population of a town. Natalia's story is just one of thousands,' producer Aliona Kachkan said. 'Import/Export MD' (Moldova) by Max T. Ciorbă and produced by Sergiu Scobioala of Realitatea Film exposes Moldova's struggling healthcare system, where doctors faced with low wages are forced to seek opportunities abroad. Featuring intertwining narratives of doctors and patients, the film also includes a group of doctors-turned-comedians who use humor to highlight the absurdities of the system. 'We want to make a film that lets doctors tell their story, and sheds light on the challenges both doctors and patients face in our country,' said Ciorbă. 'Whispers of Womanhood' (Georgia) by Rati Tsiteladze and produced by Olga Slusareva follows Tsiteladze's sister Dea, who has spent more than a decade navigating infertility in Georgia, a society where motherhood defines a woman's worth. The film captures her personal and poetic journey through medical interventions, ancient rituals, and the loss of her newborn child due to medical negligence. When Dea considers adoption, her husband's traditional beliefs create a rift, and she seeks solace with other women facing similar struggles. As she secretly explores IVF despite the Church's opposition, her journey shifts from the pursuit of motherhood to a search for self-discovery. 'Through Dea's raw honesty, we aim to break this silence and offer a voice to countless women who suffer quietly,' producer Olga Slusareva said. 'This film is not just about infertility, it's an exploration of human nature, identity, grief and societal roles.' Tsiteladze and Slusareva's previous documentary, 'A Song Without Home,' about a transgender woman seeking a new life in Austria after being locked away by her parents for years in Georgia, was presented at CPH:Forum in 2023 and is set for release later this year. 'Entr'actes' (Ukraine/Belgium) by Yuriy Shylov follows charismatic 73-year-old Olena, who leads an amateur theater troupe for the elderly amid war. Despite air raids and her declining health, she writes a play based on her experiences and her son's frontline service. Guided by young director Serhii, the troupe prepares for an amateur theater festival, which could be their final performance. 'This is a film that carries a sense of irony,' Shylov said. 'For these characters, humor is a way to endure and resist violence.' Attending the Change pitches for the first time, Alice Burgin, who took on the role of head of industry at leading Swiss doc festival Visions du Réel last year, was impressed: 'This program brings home the urgency that so many filmmakers are facing – working to tell powerful and important stories in environments that are not always conducive to hearing their truths,' she said. 'Perhaps this pitch can offer these projects another pathway to financing that resonates with European values while reminding us of the importance of ensuring local stories continue to be heard.' CPH:Forum runs in Copenhagen until March 27. Best of Variety The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Janus Metz on ‘Rescue' and Saving Migrants in the Mediterranean With Partner Sine Plambech and Doctors Without Borders (EXCLUSIVE)
Danish filmmaker Janus Metz ('Borg vs McEnroe,' 'Armadillo'), most recently attached to Season 2 of 'Star Wars' series 'Andor,' has his mind and heart fully-immersed these days not in a galaxy far, far away, but in real-life stories of human beings, risking their lives in the Mediterranean, in hope of a better life in Europe. With his observational doc 'Rescue,' selected for CPH:DOX's co-production and co-financing showcase CPH:Forum in Copenhagen, the director has teamed up with his life partner Sine Plambech, a renowned anthropologist, filmmaker and migrant researcher. After a series of landmark documentaries on marriage and sex work between Thailand and Denmark including the Zurich Golden Eye winner 'Heartbound' (2018), the duo is currently documenting the human tragedy and political game playing out in the Mediterranean, from the viewpoint of the search and rescue vessel Geo Barents, operated by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (Médecins sans Frontières). More from Variety Chicago's Doc10 Lineup Includes Sundance Hits 'The Perfect Neighbor' and 'Predators' (EXCLUSIVE) Sundance Documentary 'Predators,' an Exposé of 'To Catch a Predator,' Sells to MTV Documentary Films 'Tesla Files' Documentary Aims to Expose Inner-Workings of Tesla and Question Elon Musk's Political Ambition (EXCLUSIVE) Thanks to unprecedented access to the MSF vessel for a full year, the filmmakers have been following at close range a group of rescuers – mostly women – as they save migrants and refugees, while navigating the opposition from armed militias, coast guards and the EU agenda of financing North African countries to stop migration at the source. The story is told from the points of view of MSF head of rescuers Claire, one of the rescuers Nesma, and Yemen-born refugee Hani. Metz and Plambech are following Hani's fate, as he gets separated from his wife and children – kidnapped in front of him by a Libyan militia – and tries to reunite with them. Speaking exclusively to Variety ahead of their pitch at CPH:Forum on March 26, Metz, Plambech and producer Andreas Møl Dalsgaard of Elk Film ('The Lost Leonardo,' 'As the Tide Comes In') spoke about the extraordinary humanitarian work of MSF rescuers, today's EU migration policy that tends to fuel criminal activities around the Mediterranean and abuse of human rights, but also of the emotional toll of saving distressed human beings out at sea. 'As a migration researcher, I have followed many heartfelt stories over the years, but the situation around the Mediterranean is unique in its urgency,' says Plambech, who has been on two rescue missions aboard the Geo Barents since April 2024. 'Witnessing people being rescued, the intimate human connection with them, is something I have never experienced before and I will never forget that feeling.' 'I cried a lot,' admits Metz, who himself has attended one rescue mission. 'When you're on the boat, you meet those people face to face. It's like…I'm me, you're you and I'm saving your life. That's all I can do. I don't know what your destiny will be, if you will be sent back or not, but there's an immense feeling of gratitude and respect at that very moment. It's hugely emotional. Then next to you are rescuers who also do their best to hold their emotions, but act like firemen or paramedics. They have to cope.' Dalsgaard's company gave the crew access to debriefing sessions and psychological support to help them navigate those difficult emotions. 'Witnessing first-hand those tragic situations of migrants at sea is traumatizing. You can't walk away untouched,' Dalsgaard says. Describing the MSF rescue operations aboard the Geo Barents, Plambech says the vessel, which can fit up to 600 people, has a team of around 24 rescuers and doctors, on top of crew members. 'They have been at sea for eight years and rescued around 12,000 people, witnessing all kinds of tragedies, but also magic moments, like babies being born.' However, the MSF's humanitarian mission at sea is almost untenable due to today's political context, say the filmmakers, who continue to document the situation as it evolves. 'It's been a very dramatic year, as the political situation in Europe, especially in Italy, has obstructed their work,' explains Dalsgaard, referring to the implementation by Giorgia Meloni's government of the Piantedosi Decree in 2023, which has forced the Geo Barents to do one rescue mission at a time, forcing it to navigate to and back from distant ports instead of assisting people in distress. 'The vessel has experienced various detention orders and fines for rescuing more than one boat at a time. It's been very very difficult. At the same time, with EU migration funding to Libya or Tunisia, we've seen criminality developing, with militias taking migrants hostage to make money. Some of them are forced to do the journeys across the Mediterranean multiple times and are being held hostage multiple times. All this complex dynamic plays out in the film,' says Dalsgaard. Summarizing the filmmakers' vision, the producer says: 'The goal of our film is to showcase and reveal from a human perspective how this criminal system plays out and its effects on people, the rescuers who are the witnesses, and the migrants, obviously the victims.' 'We're documenting the consequences of the EU migration politics,' adds Metz. 'We don't come up with a million-dollar answer to a million-dollar question, but we say: we must do better than this. It is corrupting our souls, as we're literally creating a killing zone for migrants from North African territories in the Mediterranean.' Quizzed about their next steps with their shooting schedule, Plambech and Metz say they will most probably do one more rescue mission in the spring, expand the portrait of Hani and his family, and further document the migration issue from a Libyan perspective, with support from local journalists, to have a full overview of 'the increasing constraints on humanitarian operations in the Mediterranean.' Dalsgaard says he expects the film to move into production following the CPH:Forum pitch. The film is being produced by Dalsgaard with Sofie Husum Johannesen, in co-production with Italy's Fluid Produzioni, with backing from the Danish Film Institute's development support, the Danish Art Foundation, Politiken Foundation and Creative Media. Broadcasters on board so far include DR, VPRO, SVT and NRK. 'We have space for one more co-producer and are negotiating with sales agents,' Dalsgaard says. 'Rescue' is among 30 international documentaries in late development or production selected for Copenhagen's CPH:Forum running March 24 to 27. Best of Variety The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
CPH:Roughcut Filmmakers Talk Ukraine, OnlyFans, Migrant Hunter in Bulgaria, Stav Shaffir, Herding Tradition Under Threat (EXCLUSIVE)
The brand new CPH:Roughcut showcase, with five outstanding European documentary projects looking for distribution, sales and festival platforms, will be pitched Monday at Copenhagen's documentary financing and co-production event CPH:Forum. The highly-curated slate encompasses a wide variety of themes, from the genesis and rise of far-right ideology, monetized online sexual content, the impact of war in Ukraine, violence against nature and women in Montenegro, to the downfall of the Labor Party and extremists' rise to power in Israel. All stories, told through fascinating portraits of individuals, are co-productions between two to four countries, spearheaded by top producers including Oscar-nominated Kirstine Barfod ('The Cave,' 'Black Snow') and Emilie Blezat ('Grace Jones – Bloodlight & Bambi'). Two of the titles in rough cut stage are earlier winners of the CPH:DOX Eurimages Development award: 'The Last Nomads' and 'Four Brothers.' More from Variety How Gunnar Hall Jensen Had the Guts to Complete His Documentary About His Son After the Young Man's Death (EXCLUSIVE) Imagine Making Documentary About U.S. Men's Soccer Team Historic Run at 1994 World Cup (EXCLUSIVE) Leading Documentary Festival Hot Docs Names Diana Sanchez as Executive Director Variety caught up with the five teams of filmmakers ahead of their pitches in Copenhagen. 'The Sinner' by multi-awarded director/producer Boris Despodov ('Corridor #8',' 'Twice Upon a Time in the West') is a thought-provoking film about former Bulgarian boxer-turned-vigilante and migrant hunter Petar Nizamov and his journey into the battle of good and evil during the rise of the far-right in Europe. In his attempt 'to interrogate the delicate, thin line between righteousness and sin, salvation and damnation, heroism and monstrosity,' Despodov has divided his work into five chapters: A Merchant, A Guardian, A Hunter, A Representative, and A Samaritan. 'This is an intimate portrait of a man steeped in his own mythology, but that portrait has many nuances and is not afraid to show both the good and bad aspects of his contradictory personality, as well as the complexity of the circumstances that shape a society on the margins of the EU,' says Despodov, who followed his protagonist for seven years. 'We have witnessed political topics being oversimplified for years, and opposing sides, in this case the far right, often dehumanized in an attempt to make a moral point. This is the insight into the genesis of a personality and how social and political circumstances influence the formation of a person on the far right,' he adds. Key backers and partners to Despodov and his Blockbuster Arthouse outfit were Germany's Robert Bosch Foundation as well as co-producers Nina Frese from Germany's major arthouse banner Pandora Film, Milos Ljubomirovic from Serbia's Servia Film ('North Pole') and editor/producer Dragan von Petrovic. Winner of the CPH:DOX Eurimages Development Award 2019, 'Four Brothers' (working title) is the anticipated sophomore documentary by Pieter-Jan De Pue after 'The Land of the Enlightened' for which he won best cinematography in Sundance 2016. Here, the filmmaker has captured the impact of war on individuals and families, through the story of four orphan brothers originally from the Donetsk village of Mariinka in Eastern Ukraine, as they navigate the intricate emotions of loss and hope. With the younger brother living in America, and two others on opposite ends of the political spectrum, the film offers contrasting perspectives on the conflict in Ukraine, enriched by a testimony of female resilience through the voices of supporting characters Natasha and Angela. 'The outbreak of the full-scale Russian invasion obviously had a great impact on all characters and the practical continuation of the filming,' says De Pue, who started shooting in 2017, three years after his first encounter with some of the brothers in Mariinka while working on the short film 'Girls and Honey' (Visions du Réel entry, 2017). De Pue, who helped evacuate one of the brothers to Belgium, says the constant during that chaotic time was the fighting, over an 11 year-stretch, of two of the brothers. Bart Van Langendonck of Belgium's Savage Film is producing with Emilie Blezat and David Dusa, co-founders of Stockholm-based Dark Riviera, in co-production with Belgium's Naoko Films, the Netherlands' Submarine and Germany's Beetz Brothers, with co-financing from broadcasters SVT, NRK, DR, ZDF/Arte, VRT, VPRO, RTBF among others. 'Virtual Girfriends,' which dives into the unchartered world of the paid adult content platform OnlyFans, is Czech director Barbora Chalupová and producer Pavla Klimešová's latest urgent film about the internet and its impact on society, after their successful 'Caught in the Net,' about child abuse online, which premiered at CPH:DOX in 2020. 'Five years later, our new documentary film reveals a totally different internet landscape. Now, adult women are taking control, recognizing the financial potential of their bodies,' says Chalupová, who first came across OnlyFans during COVID 'when it experienced a massive surge both in demand and supply.' The observational doc shot over one year, is an unfiltered portrait of three main protagonists: Rosalinda (25) and Tinix (30), found through a workshop for newcomers on OnlyFans, organized by established adult content creator Inked Dory (30). 'Through these characters, the film asks whether it is really that easy to succeed [on OnlyFans] and what's the cost,' explains Chalupová, who carefully crafted her work in full agreement with the protagonists and OnyFans, taking on board all ethical issues. 'Our main protagonists are well aware that the illusion of relationships, virtual sex, and intimacy can be monetized in the most efficient way ever. No pimps, no fear, clean, safe home-office style. Basically, fair-trade porn. But how does all of this change us and our approach to intimacy? And what impacts do these prepaid virtual relationships have on real ones? That's what I wanted to explore with our film,' says the filmmaker. The Czech film produced by Helium Film with co-producer Super Film in Slovakia, will be delivered in April. 'Our goal [at CPH:Forum] is to connect with potential sales agents, distributors, and festival programmers, who recognize the film's relevance and want to help us bring it to a global audience,' says Klimešová. Produced by Oscar-nominated Kirstine Barfod, 'The Alarmist' is a fly-on-the wall and archive-driven film turning on Stav Shaffir, the youngest woman ever elected to the Israeli Parliament. 'Through her story, the film offers insight into what caused the downfall of the left wing and the early legitimization of the extremists who are now in government in Israel,' reads the logline. Cannes Critics' Week selected for his short film '2 Minutes,' filmmaker Jacob Tschernia, who initiated the project, says being a Dane was probably an asset when he first approached Shaffir and started filming her in 2019. 'Shaffir had a lot of affection for Scandinavia, where she had hitchhiked in her early 20s and was a huge fan of [the TV drama] 'Borgen.' She admires many things about Denmark, not least its welfare state,' says the director, who then asked Israeli filmmaker Tomer Slutzky (Bronca!' 'Jews by Choice') to join in. Both were inspired by Bennett Miller's 'Moneyball' as they wanted 'something with both an intimate and at times epic feel.' 'What we wanted to show in the film is how Stav Shaffir tried to address the way the media was largely treating the [far-right] Jewish Power Party like it was just another political party, and how it helped normalize them in the eyes of the public,' say the co-directors, adding: 'What is shocking is to see how fringe they [The Jewish Power Party] were politically, when we started following Shaffir, and how they ended up in some of the most powerful positions in Israel, controlling the police, the economy of the West Bank etc. That seemed far-fetched to imagine at the time.' The film is produced by Denmark's Drive Studios and Barfod's U.S.-based Nordland Pictures, with backing from the Danish Film Institute, SVT and Jewish Story Partners. Winner of the CPH:DOX Eurimages Development Award 2022, 'The Last Nomads' is set in the pristine mountains of Montenegro, where a semi-nomadic mother Gara and her daughter Nada defend their herding tradition and their land from becoming a NATO military training ground. The story of violence against women echoes the violence against nature. For his doc feature debut, filmmaker Petar Glomazić, who himself has roots in the herding tradition from Montenegro, teamed up with award-winning Biljana Tutorov ('When Pigs Come'). 'First, Petar came with the desire to make a film about the communities of the Sinjajevina mountain,' Tutorov tells Variety. It was meant to be an anthropological film documenting this ancient and rare form of transhumance, and the life in the shepherds' summer settlements in this incredible highland, which has been protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1977.' 'I was going to produce the film, but when the militarization of the pasturelands became a real threat, we both mobilized to help the community understand their rights, organize, and connect with various international organizations. At that time (in 2019) we met Gara and Nada and quickly connected with their personal story,' says Tutorov, who saw the potential to make 'a piece of cinema that went beyond activism' and agreed to co-direct with Glomazić. 'For me, this story encompassing everything I'm interested in: feminism, ecology, the psychological aspect, political context, philosophical dimensions, and an epic quality,' she says, adding: 'We couldn't help but connect their intimate drama to the context of patriarchy, which is largely responsible for the militarization of the world, the arms industry, and the perpetuation of violence against women. Unfortunately, both subjects are of great relevance at this very moment.' Shot on-site for more than 200 days in an immersive filmmaking style, 'The Last Nomads' was edited by the filmmakers with a pedigree team, including British George Cragg (Oscar nominated 'Collective') and the Dardenne brothers' long-time collaborator Marie-Hélène Dozo during development. The film is produced by Tutorov's Wake Up Films in Serbia, in co-production with Les Films de l'oeil sauvage in France, Ardor Films, Cvinger Film in Slovenia and Stenola Productions in Belgium. 'We still have a gap and a space for another strategic partner and financier to join and help us wrap the film,' says Tutorov. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025
