09/07/2024 - Featuring acclaimed names as members of its jury, the platform also offers master classes, panels and screenings for participants and attending guests

The jury members for this year's edition of 12 Punto

The international jury members for 12 Punto, Turkey's largest script-development and co-production platform, organised by TRT for the sixth time, have been announced. During the programme, which is being held from 7-14 July with the participation of cinema professionals from 29 different countries, a slew of leading figures in world cinema will come together.

The jury comprises award-winning veteran actor Ghassan Massoud, Cambodian documentary director and producer Rithy Panh, Oscar-winning Polish director Paweł Pawlikowski, internationally acclaimed film producer Cat Villiers, and Egyptian film critic, programmer and president of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), Ahmed Shawky.

Three projects selected by the international jury members from among the 12 finalist projects (see the news) will receive the TRT Co-Production Award, three will receive the TRT Pre-Buy Award, and six will be granted the TRT Project Development Award. Projects that win the TRT Short Film Production Award as part of 12 Punto will develop their scripts with leading directors and screenwriters in Turkish cinema.

The 12 Punto master classes and panels programme offers a diverse range of sessions aimed at filmmakers, producers and industry professionals. Running from 9-12 July, all of the sessions will be held at Sinema Feriye.

On Tuesday 9 July, the programme begins with a master class on "Intellectual Property Rights from the Producer’s Perspective", led by producer and lawyer Burhan Gün. This will be followed by an insightful interview with Wim Vanacker, member of the selection committee for the Official Short Film Competition of the Cannes Film Festival, where he will discuss festival and distribution strategies in the short-film industry.

The sessions on Wednesday 10 July feature a variety of topics crucial for filmmakers. Pitching consultant and producer Stefano Tealdi will host a master class on "How to Make an Effective Pitch". Following this, a panel on co-production and financing in film development will take place, featuring industry experts Tamara Tatishvili (head of the Hubert Bals Fund at IFFR), French producer Guillaume de Seille (Arizona Films) and Romanian producer Anamaria Antoci (Tangaj Production). The day's events also include a presentation by Holly Daniel, director of the Red Sea Souk at the Red Sea Film Festival, focusing on the Saudi industry platform. Additionally, attendees can enjoy screenings and Q&A sessions for the documentary A Fidai Film with director Kamal Aljafari and the drama Wajib [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], directed by Annemarie Jacir, both at Feriye Bahçesi.

The programme continues on Thursday 11 July with more engaging sessions. The day starts with a panel on designing effective festival strategies, featuring senior festival programmer and curator Teresa Cavina, FIPRESCI president and festival programmer Ahmed Shawky, and head of the Official Selection at the Sarajevo Film Festival Elma Tataragić. This is followed by a presentation on the Hubert Bals Fund by Tamara Tatishvili. Evening screenings include Mediterranean Fever [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] with director Maha Haj and 3000 Nights [+see also:
trailer
film profile] with helmer Mai Masri, both at Feriye Bahçesi.

Finally, on Friday 12 July, the programme features a panel on "Championing Filmmakers: Film Funds and Film Centres in the Region", with the participation of Athena Kartalou, managing director of the Greek Film Centre; Peter Todorov, executive director of the Bulgarian National Film Center; Blerta Zeqiri, director of the Kosovo Cinematography Center; Aleksandra Božović, managing director of the Film Centre of Montenegro; and Nataša Bučar, managing director of the Slovenian Film Centre. The line-up concludes with two master classes held by two of the jury members: one on "The Art of Acting" with Ghassan Massoud, moderated by Ahmed Shawky, and another on "The Art of Directing" with Rithy Panh.