19/12/2024 - Among the 21 projects are the new efforts by Davide Maldi, Milica Tomović, Gregor Božič, Sonia Liza Kenterman and Aistė Žegulytė

The 15th edition of the Trieste Film Festival's co-production forum, When East Meets West (WEMW), has unveiled the projects chosen for the event scheduled to take place from 20-23 January.

Twenty-one projects from 14 countries have been picked, comprising ten creative documentaries, nine live-action features and two animated short films. They were selected from a pool of 500 submissions and will be presented, many for their initial unveiling, to over 550 on-site decision makers and industry professionals from around the globe. Continuing the revised format introduced in 2023, the market focuses on spotlight territories, this year exploring the vibrant production scenes of the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and the Benelux (Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands), with the main goal to facilitate new creative and business exchanges with all of these spotlight territories.

WEMW’s line-up showcases a diverse array of voices and styles. As in previous editions, the selection features first-time directors whose short films or documentaries have screened at major festivals, such as Leila Basma (Sea Salt), Paul Vincent de Lestrade (A Good Boy) and Davide Maldi (The Young Observant [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Davide Maldi
film profile]). Alongside these emerging talents are experienced auteurs like Milica Tomović (Celts [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Milica Tomovic
film profile]), Gregor Božič (Stories from the Chestnut Woods [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]), Aistė Žegulytė (Animus Animalis [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Aistė Žegulytė
film profile]), Sonia Liza Kenterman (Tailor [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Sonia Liza Kenterman
film profile]), Vallo Toomla (Pretenders [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) and Martin Pav (Wolves at the Borders [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]).

All 21 projects will have the opportunity to compete for two €5,000 cash prizes: the Film Center Serbia Development Award and the CICLIC WEMW Award (granted by the French Centre-Val de Loire region). Thanks to a strong and reliable network of partners, the WEMW Co-Production Forum will also feature a series of other major awards, including the EAVE Producers Workshop scholarship, the Marché du Film Producers Network badges, the DAE Talent Development Prize in collaboration with the EFM, the Taskovski #DocsConnect Training Award, the Pop Up Film Residency Award and the brand-new GoGo25 Residency Award. Moreover, all female-identifying directors will be eligible for the EWA Network's Award for Equality & Inclusion, valued at €500 and including one year of EWA Network membership.

Here is the complete selection of 2025 WEMW projects:

Amerika - Davide Maldi (Italy)
Producer: Ring Film

Beatrice - Vallo Toomla (Estonia/Italy/Lithuania/Latvia)
Producers: Stellar Film, Kino Produzioni, Just A Moment, White Picture

Berliner - Anna Khazaradze (Georgia/Germany) (documentary)
Producers: 1991 Productions, Ma.ja.de. Filmproduktion

Better Than Gold - Leen Michiels (Belgium) (documentary)
Producer: Krater Films

Big Women - Milica Tomović (Serbia)
Producers: Big Time Production, Non-Aligned Films

Biodestructors - Aistė Žegulytė (Lithuania/France/Latvia) (documentary)
Producers: Studio Uljana Kim, To Be Continued, Studio Locomotive

Glowing - Martin Pav (Czech Republic) (documentary)
Producer: Frame Films

Helter Skelter - Paul Vincent de Lestrade (Belgium)
Producer: Need Productions

Klára Is Here - Dávid Csicskár (Hungary)
Producer: Filmfabriq

Laí Huí (Back & Forth) – Recording the Field Along the New Silk Road - Antoine Prum (Luxembourg/Germany/Georgia/Romania) (documentary)
Producers: Paul Thiltges Distributions, Kurhaus Production, Natura Film, MicroFILM

Nearby Faraway - Sonia Liza Kenterman (Greece/Luxembourg/Germany)
Producers: BYRD, Deal Productions, Elemag Pictures

Now You See It - Alessandro Leonardi (UK) (documentary)
Producer: Open Citadel

Running with Beasts - Leila Basma (Czech Republic/Lebanon)
Producers: Other Stories, Spotless Mind Films

Salvatierra - Gabriele Licchelli, Santiago Raphael Priego (Italy/Mexico) (documentary)
Producers: Epica Film, MFC Madrefoca Cine, La Cabra Lagarto, Broga Doite Film

Schrödinger - Sergo Kibus (Estonia/France) (short animation)
Producers: Rebel Frame, Black Boat Pictures

Soma - Miklos Keleti (Belgium/Estonia/Netherlands)
Producers: Velvet Films, Amrion, Volya Films

Tales of Fruits and Monsters - Gregor Božič (Slovenia/France)
Producers: NOSOROGI, Bocalupo Films

Twisted - Martina Sarritzu, Giorgia Malatrasi (Italy) (short animation)
Producers: Rodaggio, Tesla

Under the Yellow Sky - Marina Nazarenko (Estonia/Ukraine/Latvia) (documentary)
Producers: Undi Tead Ou, Cinema Sound Productions, Fenixfilm Ltd

War Fever - Ineke Smits (Netherlands/France) (documentary)
Producers: Volya Films, Cinéphage Productions

Zone I Myths - Daria Yurkevich (Germany/Poland/Ukraine/France) (documentary)
Producers: Doppelplusultra Filmproduktion, Studio Agart, UP UA Studio, Arturomio