Siberian-born entrepreneur Arsen Tomsky is not your typical tech mogul. The CEO of the California-based technology company inDrive got his start far from Silicon Valley, when he designed a ride-hailing app in his native Yakutsk to compete with the cartels that controlled the local taxi industry.
One decade later, Tomsky launched the Alternativa Film Project, a non-profit initiative aimed at supporting emerging filmmakers from under-developed regions, particularly countries struggling with inequality, human rights issues and other societal ills.
The first edition, which wrapped with an award ceremony on Dec. 2 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, cast a spotlight on the cinema of Central Asia, with Tomsky underscoring his hopes that the initiative will become a “nomadic event” that has an impact around the world, “especially in countries where a lot of social injustice exists.”
With a focus on the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia, Alternativa Film Project head Liza Surganova said...
One decade later, Tomsky launched the Alternativa Film Project, a non-profit initiative aimed at supporting emerging filmmakers from under-developed regions, particularly countries struggling with inequality, human rights issues and other societal ills.
The first edition, which wrapped with an award ceremony on Dec. 2 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, cast a spotlight on the cinema of Central Asia, with Tomsky underscoring his hopes that the initiative will become a “nomadic event” that has an impact around the world, “especially in countries where a lot of social injustice exists.”
With a focus on the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia, Alternativa Film Project head Liza Surganova said...
- 12/11/2023
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
The first edition of the Alternativa Film Project wrapped with an award ceremony this weekend in Almaty, the cultural capital of Kazakhstan, with filmmakers from Central Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region being feted as part of a new initiative launched by the California-based tech company inDrive, best known for its ride-hailing app.
The event marked a successful close to what organizers hope will be an ongoing non-profit initiative aimed at supporting emerging filmmakers from under-developed film industries. Along with this weekend’s award ceremony, the Alternativa Film Project is developing a multi-pronged approach that includes training labs, public film screenings, pitching workshops and networking events.
The project’s emphasis is on movies that champion efforts to combat social injustice in the world. “We want to motivate talented filmmakers to create meaningful art, impactful art,” said inDrive CEO Arsen Tomsky.
In keeping with that focus, the awards — which were accompanied...
The event marked a successful close to what organizers hope will be an ongoing non-profit initiative aimed at supporting emerging filmmakers from under-developed film industries. Along with this weekend’s award ceremony, the Alternativa Film Project is developing a multi-pronged approach that includes training labs, public film screenings, pitching workshops and networking events.
The project’s emphasis is on movies that champion efforts to combat social injustice in the world. “We want to motivate talented filmmakers to create meaningful art, impactful art,” said inDrive CEO Arsen Tomsky.
In keeping with that focus, the awards — which were accompanied...
- 12/4/2023
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Nearly 150 documentaries set to screen at festival in South Korea.
South Korea’s Dmz International Documentary Film Festival (Dmz Docs) has overhauled its programme structure ahead of its 15th edition, which will open with Maite Alberdi’s The Eternal Memory.
A total of 147 documentaries, comprising 83 features and 64 shorts, from 54 countries will be screened at the festival from September 14-21 at cinemas in and around Goyang city, near the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, in Gyeonggi Province.
The programme, which previously included the Global Vision and Dmz Open Cinema sections, have been reorganised into three competition strands: International, Frontier and Korean.
South Korea’s Dmz International Documentary Film Festival (Dmz Docs) has overhauled its programme structure ahead of its 15th edition, which will open with Maite Alberdi’s The Eternal Memory.
A total of 147 documentaries, comprising 83 features and 64 shorts, from 54 countries will be screened at the festival from September 14-21 at cinemas in and around Goyang city, near the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, in Gyeonggi Province.
The programme, which previously included the Global Vision and Dmz Open Cinema sections, have been reorganised into three competition strands: International, Frontier and Korean.
- 8/24/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Film Independent has set 26 filmmakers from 15 nations to participate in the 2023 edition of their Global Media Makers LA Residency, which is being held in person this month.
A mentoring initiative and cultural exchange program that connects American filmmakers and industry pros with filmmakers spread across the globe, Gmm sees Fellows participate in filmmaking tracks focused on screenwriting, directing, creative development and documentary filmmaking, where they develop their current projects alongside a team of U.S. mentors.
The program, presented by Film Independent and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, further bolsters up-and-comers by providing access to master classes, industry sessions and field trips, as well as cultural engagement and networking opportunities.
This edition of Gmm is the eighth put on since 2016, and as always, the selection process was highly competitive, attracting a diverse pool of media makers, with the countries of Angola, Libya,...
A mentoring initiative and cultural exchange program that connects American filmmakers and industry pros with filmmakers spread across the globe, Gmm sees Fellows participate in filmmaking tracks focused on screenwriting, directing, creative development and documentary filmmaking, where they develop their current projects alongside a team of U.S. mentors.
The program, presented by Film Independent and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, further bolsters up-and-comers by providing access to master classes, industry sessions and field trips, as well as cultural engagement and networking opportunities.
This edition of Gmm is the eighth put on since 2016, and as always, the selection process was highly competitive, attracting a diverse pool of media makers, with the countries of Angola, Libya,...
- 6/5/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The UK documentary festival runs June 14-19.
The UK’s Sheffield DocFest (June 14-19) has unveiled the line-up for its 30th edition and includes new films from Chris Smith, Paul Sng, Julie Cohen, and Patrick Forbes.
The selection includes 37 world and 20 international premieres, with 52 countries featuring across the entire lineup.
Titles include the world premiere of Smith’s Wham! in the Rhythms strand which celebrates the iconic musical duo and will be released on Netflix later this year. The Fyre and Jim & Andy director will also deliver a masterclass.
Opening the festival is Sng’s documentary Tish about the trailblazing...
The UK’s Sheffield DocFest (June 14-19) has unveiled the line-up for its 30th edition and includes new films from Chris Smith, Paul Sng, Julie Cohen, and Patrick Forbes.
The selection includes 37 world and 20 international premieres, with 52 countries featuring across the entire lineup.
Titles include the world premiere of Smith’s Wham! in the Rhythms strand which celebrates the iconic musical duo and will be released on Netflix later this year. The Fyre and Jim & Andy director will also deliver a masterclass.
Opening the festival is Sng’s documentary Tish about the trailblazing...
- 5/10/2023
- by Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
Film Independent today announced the names of the 30 filmmakers, from 11 nations, selected to participate in its 2022 Global Media Makers LA Residency, taking place in person this month.
The filmmakers and projects chosen are Sumon Delwar (My Cousin), Ali El Arabi and Ahmed El Zoghby (The Legend of Zeinab and Noah), Prantik Basu (Dengue), Archana Borhade and Mangesh Joshi (Purjey (Parts)), Sriram Raja and Deyali Mukherjee (New Sweetness), Kushal Batunge (They Call Her Mafia), Gaby Zarazir and Michael Zarazir, Lamia Chraibi and Hicham Lasri (Meskoun), Anup Poudel and Abinash Bikram Shah (Elephants in the Fog), Rajan Kathet and Sunir Pandey (No Winter Holidays), Fizza Ali Meerza and Nabeel Qureshi (There Was a Boy), Suzannah Mirghani (Cotton Queen), Amjad Abu Alala and Mohamed Kordofani (Goodbye Julia), Lotfi Achour and Anissa Daoud (Red Path), Rashid Abdelhamid and Ismahane Lahmar (A Respectable Family), Sezen Kayhan and Beste Yamalıoğlu (Women with...
The filmmakers and projects chosen are Sumon Delwar (My Cousin), Ali El Arabi and Ahmed El Zoghby (The Legend of Zeinab and Noah), Prantik Basu (Dengue), Archana Borhade and Mangesh Joshi (Purjey (Parts)), Sriram Raja and Deyali Mukherjee (New Sweetness), Kushal Batunge (They Call Her Mafia), Gaby Zarazir and Michael Zarazir, Lamia Chraibi and Hicham Lasri (Meskoun), Anup Poudel and Abinash Bikram Shah (Elephants in the Fog), Rajan Kathet and Sunir Pandey (No Winter Holidays), Fizza Ali Meerza and Nabeel Qureshi (There Was a Boy), Suzannah Mirghani (Cotton Queen), Amjad Abu Alala and Mohamed Kordofani (Goodbye Julia), Lotfi Achour and Anissa Daoud (Red Path), Rashid Abdelhamid and Ismahane Lahmar (A Respectable Family), Sezen Kayhan and Beste Yamalıoğlu (Women with...
- 4/13/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Haf and Wip award winners also include The Way We Ad, I Come From Ikotun, Stonewalling and No Winter Holidays.
Oliver Chan’s Her Lullaby won the Haf Fiction Award for a Hong Kong project at the close of this year’s Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum, while The Catch, directed by India’s Rishi Chandna, took the Haf Fiction Award for a project from outside Hong Kong.
The Haf Documentary Awards went to The Way We Ad, to be directed by Hong Kong’s Bud-ming, and France-Hong Kong co-production I Come From Ikotun, to be directed by China’s Wang Bing.
Oliver Chan’s Her Lullaby won the Haf Fiction Award for a Hong Kong project at the close of this year’s Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum, while The Catch, directed by India’s Rishi Chandna, took the Haf Fiction Award for a project from outside Hong Kong.
The Haf Documentary Awards went to The Way We Ad, to be directed by Hong Kong’s Bud-ming, and France-Hong Kong co-production I Come From Ikotun, to be directed by China’s Wang Bing.
- 3/17/2021
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
“Her Lullaby” from Hong Kong and “The Catch” from India were the winners of the top fiction prizes at the 2021 edition of the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum.
A total of 17 cash and in-kind prizes worth a combined Hk$1,200,000 were awarded at the conclusion of the three day project market, which was operated in parallel with the FilMart rights market.
Haf returned to its regular March slot after the 2020 edition was first delayed until August, and then went wholly online. The 2021 round showcased a total of 48 projects, including 20 works-in-progress.
Organizers report that 2021 edition attracted 7% more registered participants than the first virtual edition last year, and an substantial 80% increase in the number of online meetings arranged between producers and industry professionals.
“Learning from last year’s experience, our team has worked hard to come up with a more efficient and user-friendly online platform, and I am encouraged to see the market’s enthusiastic response,...
A total of 17 cash and in-kind prizes worth a combined Hk$1,200,000 were awarded at the conclusion of the three day project market, which was operated in parallel with the FilMart rights market.
Haf returned to its regular March slot after the 2020 edition was first delayed until August, and then went wholly online. The 2021 round showcased a total of 48 projects, including 20 works-in-progress.
Organizers report that 2021 edition attracted 7% more registered participants than the first virtual edition last year, and an substantial 80% increase in the number of online meetings arranged between producers and industry professionals.
“Learning from last year’s experience, our team has worked hard to come up with a more efficient and user-friendly online platform, and I am encouraged to see the market’s enthusiastic response,...
- 3/17/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
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