Feature Launch, the MIDPOINT Institute’s initiative aimed at nurturing the talents of writers, directors, producers and emerging script consultants, is gearing up to embrace its cohort for 2024. Just like in previous years, the programme is actively seeking out rising stars who are in the process of crafting their initial or sophomore feature films, with a special emphasis on the region of Central and Eastern Europe.

Utilising a multi-stage project selection process to expand its support in order to help a greater number of projects, the programme will carefully choose approximately 20 projects from the pool of applications. The creative teams behind these selected projects will then receive in-depth online assessments conducted by seasoned professionals, including script consultants and producers.

Subsequently, nine projects in total will be handpicked to undergo an intensive four-module programme, which includes two residential and two online workshops, a project showcase and a subsequent follow-up workshop for producers. Throughout the Feature Launch programme, participants will have the opportunity to engage in close collaboration on script and project development. They will also gain access to financing, networking and co-production opportunities, affording them the chance to formulate and deliberate on funding, pitching, marketing and distribution strategies. Furthermore, producers will receive specialised training in company development.

Elsewhere, within the Script Consultancy Training, the developmental journey undertaken by Feature Launch projects serves as a foundation for instructing three aspiring script-consultant trainees, empowering them to enrich their future careers. These trainees actively participate in a dedicated online preparatory seminar and join Feature Launch participants in attending all workshops and the project showcase.

According to the plan, the Online Feedback Session will be held next January, and the Preparatory Seminar for Script-consultant Trainees will take place in February or March. The first residential workshop will run in March 2024 in the Czech Republic, with the first online one to follow in May, while the Feature Launch project showcase will happen in the context of the next Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The final online workshop will run next September, and in November, a Company Time workshop will be organised at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival for the participating producers, in partnership with Thessaloniki’s Agora and EAVE.

Regarding the awards for this edition, the projects will be eligible for both the Works in Development Award, valued at €10,000 and offered by Karlovy Vary and MIDPOINT, and the Eurimages Co-production Development Award, worth €20,000, which, for the first time, will be handed out by the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

The deadline for applications is 31 October. For more information, please click here. A separate call for the Script Consultancy Training programme will open on 14 September.