American Film Festival's Films In Progress

I am looking forward to serving on the jury of GiP, the first industry event devoted solely to U.S. indie films in Europe, The American Film Festival in Wroclaw, Poland is hosting the first "Gotham In Progress", a European industry showcase for U.S. indies in final production stages. Out of the 11 projects, selected from 39 applications, 7 will be presented in full at closed industry screenings.

The second edition of American Film Festival is the only ongoing Polish film event focused on American cinema and offers narrative and documentary competition sections with Audience Awards of $10,000 and $5,000 respectively. Retrospectives of Todd Solondz, Terrence Malick and Joe Swanberg will also take place during the event.

And I get to be on the jury in this city, once named Breslau, the jewel in the crown of the Prussian Empire who won it from the Hapsburg Empire, and which returned to Poland after the war. It is also the home of the largest film festival in Poland, its sister festival New Horizons. Both are associated with the largest distributor in Poland, Gutek.

Among the selected films are GRAND STREET by Lex Sidon, STONES IN THE SUN by Patricia Benoit (Selected for the 2007 Sundance Screenwriters & Directors Lab and Winner of the Time Warner Storytelling Award) from the producer of CIRCUMSTANCE, Karin Chien, and WHEN THE WORLD'S ON FIRE by James Clauer (short "The Aluminum Fowl" was in Directors Fortnight in Cannes) produced by John Maringouin (BIG RIVER MAN).

Four other projects will be promoted and presented as 30 minute-long trailers.

The films will benefit from a special gathering of 30 European distributors, sales agents, producers and fest programmers to consider investing finishing funds as well as their customary services. Some of the buyers that confirmed their presence at the event are: HanWay. Memento, LevelK, Artificial Eye, the Works, Soda Pictures, Imagine Film, Bankside Films, Reel Suspects and Haut et Court. Programmers from a few key festivals are also expected at GiP.

A jury of industry professionals will chose one film of the 7 to be awarded a post-production package consisting of a digital master (DCP) and subtitling and post services, provided by AFF sponsors, XDC and Studio L’Equipe, respectively. In addition, sound and graphics for opening and closing credits donated by Mactari France and Poland’s Alvernia Studios. Total post services value is $60,000.

Gotham in Progress is an initiative of New York and Paris-based Black Rabbit Films and New Horizons Association. The latter produces Poland’s largest annual international film fest, New Horizons IFF as well as its little sister event, the American Film Festival.

Selected projects:
• NOW, FORAGER, dir. Jason Cortlund & Julia Halperin, prod. Jason Cortlund (Now Forager)
• NOT WAVING BUT DROWNING, dir. Devyn Waitt, prod. Nicole Emanuele (White Horse Pictures LLC)
• GRAND STREET, dir. Lex Sidon, prod. Chris Marsch & Darren Goldberg (Atlantic Pictures)
• STONES IN THE SUN, dir. Patricia Benoit, prod. Karin Chien (Lotbo Films)
• TAN LINES, dir. Tim Kirkman, prod. Gill Holland (Tan Lines LLC / The Group Entertainment)
• WHEN THE WORLD'S ON FIRE, dir. James Clauer, prod. John Maringouin (Nomadic Independence)
• SUN DON'T SHINE, dir. Amy Seimetz, prod. Kim Sherman (Sun Don’t Shine LLC).
• I’M NOT ME, dir. Zak Mulligan, Rodrigo Lopresti, prod. Hans Eric Hollstien
• PERCIVAL'S BIG NIGHT by William Sullivan – produced by Caitlyn Coady (New Percy Productions)
• BIRDS OF A FEATHER by Anthony Meidl – produced by Anthony Meidl (Meta Films / Intrepid Entertainment)
• NANCY, PLEASE by Andrew Semans – produced by Vinay Singh

American Film Festival
aff AT snh.org.pl
www.americanfilmfestival.pl