Zar Amir Ebrahimi’s Directorial Debut Selected for Goteborg’s First Nordic Gateway Competition (EXCLUSIVE)

As a follower with a keen interest in cinema and a soft spot for stories that resonate deeply, I am thrilled to see these five compelling projects vying for financing at the Göteborg Film Festival’s Nordic Gateway curated program. Having had my fair share of life experiences, I can empathize with the struggles portrayed in some of these stories.

The directorial first-time venture of Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who won best actress at Cannes for “Holy Spider”, is one of five projects in the funding phase that will be presented during the Nordic Gateway curated program at the Göteborg Film Festival – a new initiative.

As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that five remarkable films from Germany, Macedonia, Canada, and Kosovo are competing for the Tint Post-Production Award worth SEK 400,000 ($36,500). This prestigious honor will be bestowed upon one of them on January 30, 2025, during the Göteborg festival’s industry sidebar, Nordic Film Market, which takes place from January 29-31.

Through Nordic Gateway, we’re unveiling a fresh dimension in the Nordic Film Market, providing an environment where international projects can collaborate with Nordic industry experts. In the current difficult financing landscape, establishing significant connections and alliances is crucial to bring compelling narratives to life on the big screen,” expressed Josef Kullengård, Head of Industry at the Göteborg Film Festival.

Each project was strategically chosen, working alongside a national organization or funding body, considering its distinctive artistic merit, innovative financing model, global potential, and commitment to collaboration within the Nordic region.

I’m thrilled to share that my project, “Honour of Persia,” has been shortlisted for the Moin Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein. As the writer, director, and star of this drama, I’m proud to be working on it under the guidance of Mohammad Farokhmanesh from Brave New Work. This esteemed Hamburg-based production company is renowned for their 2017 Cannes Critics Week animation hit, “Teheran Taboo,” which featured my work as well. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this exciting collaboration!

In her first foray into filmmaking, the Iranian-born actor based in Paris returns to a deeply personal and traumatic event from her past – when in 2006, she was compelled to leave her homeland due to a private video of hers being exposed publicly. Two years ago, during an interview with EbMaster in Göteborg where she served as jury member, she expressed that it wasn’t until this creative process that she truly understood the extent of her trauma and felt able to acknowledge it.

In the image, “an acclaimed young actress from Iranian television, finds her life crumbling when an explicit video reveals her personal secrets to the world, igniting a relentless pursuit. Struggling under the pressures of religious rules and societal hypocrisy, she fights tenaciously to uphold her dignity against a harsh and inhumane legal system. On the edge of hopelessness, Ava faces a tough decision: submit to oppression or reshape her future on a journey for liberty and authenticity,” is the synopsis.

As a cinephile, I’m excited to share that the upcoming film I’m involved with is being jointly produced by Alambic Production, Ebrahimi’s French production house, and Profile Pictures, the Danish company behind “Holy Spider.” It’s a collaboration I’m really looking forward to!

The narrative revolves around Olivia, a 27-year-old polar bear researcher, who joins a team of scientists in an Arctic hamlet and becomes increasingly captivated by their investigation into human hibernation.

This collaborative production between True Content Entertainment (Norway), Manna Film (Denmark), and Volya Films (Netherlands) has thus far secured backing from the Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF). The filming is scheduled to commence in early 2026.

The film ‘Bleach’ (‘Zbardhje’), directed by Kosovar filmmaker Kaltrina Krasniqi, is her second feature following her debut ‘Vera Dreams of the Sea’, which premiered at Venice Horizons in 2021. The script for this project was written by Doruntina Basha and refined as part of the Torino Film Lab 2022. It has garnered recognition in several development categories, such as the Hubert Bals Fund (IFFR) in 2022, Arras Days at the Arras Film Festival 2021, and Thessaloniki’s Agora industry days earlier this month.

The narrative revolves around Fatime, a housekeeper residing on Prishtina’s outskirts, who captivates Elvira, the agency leader. Before long, she is caring for Elvira’s liposuction recovery at an opulent seaside resort. However, when a mishap fractures their delicate connection, Fatime discerns that their supposed friendship was merely a facade, influenced by class differences.

Ares Shporta from Vera Films in Kosovo announced that the film project they’re working on will be a collaborative effort with Slingshot Films of Italy, Family Affair Films from the Netherlands, Code Blue Production in Montenegro, and Dream Factory Macedonia from North Macedonia. The main filming is scheduled for 2025.

In Gothenburg, together with the Midpoint Institute, Germany’s “Grammatik” will make its debut as a directorial project by Berlin-based Popo Fan, a prominent queer filmmaker and activist from mainland China. This heartfelt production draws inspiration from Popo’s personal experiences and follows the romantic tale of a Chinese student and a Syrian refugee, both studying at a language school in Hamburg.

Julia Collen is working on projects for Fünferfilm, best known for her production work on the 2017 film “Drift,” which was showcased at the Venice Critics Week.

I’m excited to share that I’m supporting “Dance Me to the End of Love,” the newest film by seasoned director Philippe Lesage, which is being presented with Quebec’s promotion agency Sodec. As a supporter, I’m proud to be part of this production led by Galilé Marion-Gauvin from Productions l’unité centrale.

Each year, more than 500 professional sign up for Göteborg’s Nordic Film Market, the prime industry showcase for Nordic films in development and post-production looking for co-financing, distribution and festival platforms. Göteborg”s other popular industry event, TV Drama Vision, unspools Jan. 28-29, 2025.

2024-11-27 12:47

Zar Amir Ebrahimi’s Directorial Debut Selected for Goteborg’s First Nordic Gateway Competition (EXCLUSIVE)

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