First Cut Lab Slovakia announced the selected projects

Taking place online, the 2021 First Cut Lab Slovakia will consult two feature-length Slovak projects: The Nightsiren by Tereza Nvotová (prod. BFILM) and Power by Mátyás Prikler (prod. MPhilms). The workshops will be followed by a webinar, details will be announced later.

The Nightsiren will be the sophomore fiction feature by Tereza Nvotová, who`s debut Filthy (2017) premiered at the IFF Rotterdam. The Nightsiren is a story of a young woman who returns to her native village in the mountains, searching for answers about her troubled childhood. As she tries to uncover the long-buried truth, dark ancient legends seem to come to life, the local villagers begin to believe she is a witch.

Drama with the elements of political thriller Power is, again, a second fiction feature by its director. Moreover, Mátyás Prikler`s debut Fine, Thanks (2012) also premiered at the IFF Rotterdam. At an informal hunt, a boy is accidentally killed. One of the politicians involved is the hot candidate for the important international post of Water Commissioner, who is expected to find a solution to the increasing water shortage across Europe and elsewhere in the world. As the investigation proceeds, the agent Steiner tasked mainly with burying the case, starts to learn the true nature of power and its fallout.

The selected project will receive expert feedbacks from three international film industry advisors, as well as tailor-made advice from consultant editors. The discussions are moderated by editorial consultant Wim Vanacker.

Advisers for The Nightsiren:
Maria Drandaki (Greece) – Producer for Homemade Films
Suzy Gillett (United Kingdom/Morocco) – Teacher at ESAV Marrakech & Barbican Center / iFeature Lab Producer
Myriam Sassine (Lebanon) – Producer for Abbout Productions

Consultant editor: Benjamin Mirguet (France)

Advisers for Power:
Frédéric Corvez (France) – Founder of URBAN GROUP
Stefan Ivančić (Serbia) – Director, producer & programmer
Dorotha Lech (Poland/Canada/United States/Estonia) – Independent Curator & Programmer for Toronto International Film Festival & Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival

Consultant editor: Matthieu Taponier (France/United Stated)

First Cut Lab Slovakia is organised by Tatino Films and Pop Up Films, with the financial support of the Slovak Audiovisual Fund.

published: 15.02.2021
updated: 17.06.2021