Former IFC Films president Arianna Bocco, Berlinale managing director Mariette Rissenbeek and the British Film Institute’s head of industry and international policy Agnieszka Moody are set as keynote speakers for the upcoming Locarno Film Festival’s StepIN think tank on the most pressing issues in the indie film industry.
The Swiss fest’s unique event, now at its 11th edition, will explore various aspects of this year’s timely theme, which is “What’s the Deal With Independent Cinema?”
A select group of European and international industry players — distributors, exhibitors, producers, sales agents, film institutions, financiers, streaming platforms, broadcasters and film festival and markets reps — will be participating in closed working sessions to exchange thoughts on practices and business models and propose new ideas and strategies.
The themes of this year’s four StepIN roundtables are: the theatrical battlefield between independents, majors and streamers; how to protect the “biodiversity...
The Swiss fest’s unique event, now at its 11th edition, will explore various aspects of this year’s timely theme, which is “What’s the Deal With Independent Cinema?”
A select group of European and international industry players — distributors, exhibitors, producers, sales agents, film institutions, financiers, streaming platforms, broadcasters and film festival and markets reps — will be participating in closed working sessions to exchange thoughts on practices and business models and propose new ideas and strategies.
The themes of this year’s four StepIN roundtables are: the theatrical battlefield between independents, majors and streamers; how to protect the “biodiversity...
- 7/24/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
“They don’t see you, they don’t hear you” said one panellist.
The Cannes Film Festival was criticised for not being inclusive enough during a diversity panel session at the UK Pavilion yesterday (22 May).
Yolonda Brinkley, the founder and executive director of Diversity In Cannes, an initiative to promote inclusion in Cannes, called out the festival for only programming one film from a Black female director in competition in the event’s 75-year history, the French-Senegalese director Mati Diop’s 2019 title Atlantics.
Brinkley formed Diversity In Cannes after she attended the festival for the first time in 2009, and found...
The Cannes Film Festival was criticised for not being inclusive enough during a diversity panel session at the UK Pavilion yesterday (22 May).
Yolonda Brinkley, the founder and executive director of Diversity In Cannes, an initiative to promote inclusion in Cannes, called out the festival for only programming one film from a Black female director in competition in the event’s 75-year history, the French-Senegalese director Mati Diop’s 2019 title Atlantics.
Brinkley formed Diversity In Cannes after she attended the festival for the first time in 2009, and found...
- 5/23/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
BFI’s head of inclusion Melanie Hoyes will chair the panel.
Melanie Hoyes, head of inclusion at the British Film Institute (BFI), will moderate a panel tackling the impact of diversity schemes as part of a series of talks taking place during the Cannes Film Festival at the UK Pavilion.
The talk, titled ‘Just another diversity scheme?’, is taking place on Sunday May 22 (14:00-15:00), with a line-up featuring Yolonda Brinkley, founder/executive director, Diversity in Cannes; Tamara Dawit, vice president, inclusion and growth, Canada Media Fund; Marcello Paolillo, project manager, Stepin & U3, Locarno Film Festival; Matthijs Wouter Knol,...
Melanie Hoyes, head of inclusion at the British Film Institute (BFI), will moderate a panel tackling the impact of diversity schemes as part of a series of talks taking place during the Cannes Film Festival at the UK Pavilion.
The talk, titled ‘Just another diversity scheme?’, is taking place on Sunday May 22 (14:00-15:00), with a line-up featuring Yolonda Brinkley, founder/executive director, Diversity in Cannes; Tamara Dawit, vice president, inclusion and growth, Canada Media Fund; Marcello Paolillo, project manager, Stepin & U3, Locarno Film Festival; Matthijs Wouter Knol,...
- 5/21/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
BFI’s head of inclusion Melanie Hoyes will chair the panel.
Melanie Hoyes, head of inclusion at the British Film Institute (BFI), will moderate a panel tackling the impact of diversity schemes as part of a series of talks talking place during Cannes at the UK Pavilion.
The talk, titled ‘Just another diversity scheme?’, is taking place on Sunday May 22 (14:00-15:00), with a line-up featuring Yolonda Brinkley, founder/executive director, Diversity in Cannes; Tamara Dawit, vice president, inclusion and growth, Canada Media Fund; Marcello Paolillo, project manager, Stepin & U3, Locarno Film Festival; Matthijs Wouter Knol, CEO/ director of...
Melanie Hoyes, head of inclusion at the British Film Institute (BFI), will moderate a panel tackling the impact of diversity schemes as part of a series of talks talking place during Cannes at the UK Pavilion.
The talk, titled ‘Just another diversity scheme?’, is taking place on Sunday May 22 (14:00-15:00), with a line-up featuring Yolonda Brinkley, founder/executive director, Diversity in Cannes; Tamara Dawit, vice president, inclusion and growth, Canada Media Fund; Marcello Paolillo, project manager, Stepin & U3, Locarno Film Festival; Matthijs Wouter Knol, CEO/ director of...
- 5/21/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Tel-Aviv-based Cinephil, the sales company behind triple-Oscar nominated “Flee,” has snapped up world rights, excluding U.S., to Italian director Nicolò Bassetti’s transgender-themed doc “Into My Name,” which is executive-produced by Elliot Page.
UTA Independent Film Group will be handling North American rights.
The buzzy doc, which world-premieres at the Berlin Film Festival in the Panorama Documentary section, stems from Bassetti’s personal experience with the gender transition of his child, Matteo.
“Into My Name” provides an intimate look at the universal challenges of gender transition by observing a tight-knit group of trans friends in the central Italian city of Bologna.
Cinephil managing director Olivier Tournaud in a statement said that he was “immediately taken” by Bassetti’s “sensitive and relatable exploration of the many facets of gender and even more so the love letter from a father to his son.”
“Into My Name is timely and spotlights voices...
UTA Independent Film Group will be handling North American rights.
The buzzy doc, which world-premieres at the Berlin Film Festival in the Panorama Documentary section, stems from Bassetti’s personal experience with the gender transition of his child, Matteo.
“Into My Name” provides an intimate look at the universal challenges of gender transition by observing a tight-knit group of trans friends in the central Italian city of Bologna.
Cinephil managing director Olivier Tournaud in a statement said that he was “immediately taken” by Bassetti’s “sensitive and relatable exploration of the many facets of gender and even more so the love letter from a father to his son.”
“Into My Name is timely and spotlights voices...
- 2/11/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Actor, producer and activist Elliot Page has boarded 2022 Berlin Film Festival title Into My Name (Nel Mio Nome), directed by Italian filmmaker Nicolò Bassetti, as an executive producer.
The film, which premieres in Berlin’s Panorama program, is a feature documentary telling a coming-of-age story of four friends who share important turning points in their lives and in their gender transitions. The project is rooted in director Bassetti’s own experience with the transition of his son Matteo.
The protagonists of the doc are Nico, Leo, Andrea and Raff, a tight-knit group of friends in Bologna, Italy, all of whom start their gender journey from a female to a male identity at different times in their lives.
It is produced by Bassetti’s company Nuovi Paesaggi Urbani and Lucia Nicolai and Marcello Paolillo’s Art of Panic. Support came from the Regione Emilia Romagna film production fund. There is no sales agent attached.
The film, which premieres in Berlin’s Panorama program, is a feature documentary telling a coming-of-age story of four friends who share important turning points in their lives and in their gender transitions. The project is rooted in director Bassetti’s own experience with the transition of his son Matteo.
The protagonists of the doc are Nico, Leo, Andrea and Raff, a tight-knit group of friends in Bologna, Italy, all of whom start their gender journey from a female to a male identity at different times in their lives.
It is produced by Bassetti’s company Nuovi Paesaggi Urbani and Lucia Nicolai and Marcello Paolillo’s Art of Panic. Support came from the Regione Emilia Romagna film production fund. There is no sales agent attached.
- 1/17/2022
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Elliot Page has boarded Berlin-bound transgender-themed doc “Nel Mio Nome” (“Into My Name”) by Italian director and producer Nicolò Bassetti as its executive producer.
The doc, which will world premiere during the upcoming Berlin Film Festival in the Panorama Dokumente section, stems from Bassetti’s personal experience with the gender transition of his child, Matteo.
“Into My Name” provides an intimate look at the universal challenges of gender transition by observing the transition within a tight-knit group of friends in the central Italian city of Bologna.
The doc’s characters, Nico, Leo, Andrea, and Raff — whose ages span from their mid-20s to mid-30s — come from different parts of Italy, and start their gender transition from a female to a male identity at different times in their lives. Day by day, they boldly face all the obstacles of a strictly binary world. To achieve a fulfilling and dignified life is a matter of survival.
The doc, which will world premiere during the upcoming Berlin Film Festival in the Panorama Dokumente section, stems from Bassetti’s personal experience with the gender transition of his child, Matteo.
“Into My Name” provides an intimate look at the universal challenges of gender transition by observing the transition within a tight-knit group of friends in the central Italian city of Bologna.
The doc’s characters, Nico, Leo, Andrea, and Raff — whose ages span from their mid-20s to mid-30s — come from different parts of Italy, and start their gender transition from a female to a male identity at different times in their lives. Day by day, they boldly face all the obstacles of a strictly binary world. To achieve a fulfilling and dignified life is a matter of survival.
- 1/17/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Sweden is sending Ronnie Sandahl’s Tigers to this year’s International Oscar race.
The film is a coming-of-age drama about the world of professional sports, telling the true story of 16-year-old football prodigy Martin Bengtsson (played by Erik Enge).
It was written and directed by Ronnie Sandahl, based on Martin Bengtsson’s autobiographical novel In the Shadow of San Siro. The project was produced by produced by Piodor Gustafsson in co-production with Lucia Nicolai, Marcello Paolillo and Birgitte Skov.
Tigers was voted Best film in the Flash Forward section at Busan International Film Festival last year. It also picked up awards for Best Emerging International Actor (Erik Enge) and Best Emerging Italian Actor (Antonio Bannò) at Alice nella città, the independent and parallel section dedicated to films for children and youth at the Rome International Film Festival.
“I could not be more happy, proud or grateful. This is a great honour.
The film is a coming-of-age drama about the world of professional sports, telling the true story of 16-year-old football prodigy Martin Bengtsson (played by Erik Enge).
It was written and directed by Ronnie Sandahl, based on Martin Bengtsson’s autobiographical novel In the Shadow of San Siro. The project was produced by produced by Piodor Gustafsson in co-production with Lucia Nicolai, Marcello Paolillo and Birgitte Skov.
Tigers was voted Best film in the Flash Forward section at Busan International Film Festival last year. It also picked up awards for Best Emerging International Actor (Erik Enge) and Best Emerging Italian Actor (Antonio Bannò) at Alice nella città, the independent and parallel section dedicated to films for children and youth at the Rome International Film Festival.
“I could not be more happy, proud or grateful. This is a great honour.
- 10/21/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
The Locarno Film Festival’s annual StepIN think tank dedicated to pressing issues faced by the independent film community saw a select group of mostly European industry executives thrash out some of the root causes that can make the film industry a toxic environment to work in and discuss ideas for positive practices that can hopefully prompt some change.
“The film industry is a particularly demanding environment, obsessed with success and dominated by external and internal pressures, dynamics of power, constant risk and financial instability,” said StepIn project manager Marcello Paolillo in his welcome speech.
“Inevitably, all of these elements have an impact on the mental health of its workers — which, paradoxically, also risks compromising their performance, and blocking their creativity, in an industry that thrives on it,” he noted.
Both Paolillo and introductory speaker Diego Hangartner, who is coach and founding director of the Zurich-based Institute of Mental Balance and Universal Ethics,...
“The film industry is a particularly demanding environment, obsessed with success and dominated by external and internal pressures, dynamics of power, constant risk and financial instability,” said StepIn project manager Marcello Paolillo in his welcome speech.
“Inevitably, all of these elements have an impact on the mental health of its workers — which, paradoxically, also risks compromising their performance, and blocking their creativity, in an industry that thrives on it,” he noted.
Both Paolillo and introductory speaker Diego Hangartner, who is coach and founding director of the Zurich-based Institute of Mental Balance and Universal Ethics,...
- 8/7/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The Locarno Film Festival’s StepIn think tank on the state of the film industry is taking a humanistic tack this year by choosing to zero in on issues crucial to a healthy workplace such as gender equality, diversity representation, inclusion and economic fairness.
The Swiss fest’s initiative that sees mostly European execs from different industry sectors convene in the lakeside town to share experiences and thoughts on the independent film community’s most pressing issues for its upcoming 9th edition is taking a post lockdown pause from strictly business matters, such as the future of theatrical.
Instead, on Aug. 5 a selected group of some 30 key participants – fewer than usual due to Covid restrictions – will thrash out some of the root causes that can make the film industry a toxic environment and try to come up with ideas for positive practices that can prompt some change.
Industry participants will include producer Laurence Lascary,...
The Swiss fest’s initiative that sees mostly European execs from different industry sectors convene in the lakeside town to share experiences and thoughts on the independent film community’s most pressing issues for its upcoming 9th edition is taking a post lockdown pause from strictly business matters, such as the future of theatrical.
Instead, on Aug. 5 a selected group of some 30 key participants – fewer than usual due to Covid restrictions – will thrash out some of the root causes that can make the film industry a toxic environment and try to come up with ideas for positive practices that can prompt some change.
Industry participants will include producer Laurence Lascary,...
- 8/2/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The Locarno Film Festival’s unique StepIn industry think tank, which is going online this year due to the pandemic, will delve into the future of the theatrical experience, production, film festivals and markets.
A high-caliber roster of industry executives has been recruited for the sessions, which aim to provide food for thought and a sharp picture of the post-pandemic landscape.
The three sessions — moderated by Variety journalists and hosted by the Variety Streaming Room platform — will stream Aug. 5, 6 and 7.
Speakers include Brazilian producer Rodrigo Teixeira; U.S. writer, director and actor Kasi Lemmons (“Harriet”); Elissa Federoff, president of distribution at U.S. outfit Neon; Daniel Battsek, director of the U.K.’s publicly owned Film4; Venice Film Festival director Alberto Barbera; Marche du Cannes executive director Jérôme Paillard; Sundance Film Festival director Tabitha Jackson, and many more.
“It’s common knowledge that the current [coronavirus] situation — though extraordinary — has been...
A high-caliber roster of industry executives has been recruited for the sessions, which aim to provide food for thought and a sharp picture of the post-pandemic landscape.
The three sessions — moderated by Variety journalists and hosted by the Variety Streaming Room platform — will stream Aug. 5, 6 and 7.
Speakers include Brazilian producer Rodrigo Teixeira; U.S. writer, director and actor Kasi Lemmons (“Harriet”); Elissa Federoff, president of distribution at U.S. outfit Neon; Daniel Battsek, director of the U.K.’s publicly owned Film4; Venice Film Festival director Alberto Barbera; Marche du Cannes executive director Jérôme Paillard; Sundance Film Festival director Tabitha Jackson, and many more.
“It’s common knowledge that the current [coronavirus] situation — though extraordinary — has been...
- 7/27/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
As streaming giants continue to upend the global film business scenario it’s getting tougher for indie cinema to survive, both as an art form and as entertainment. But smart new strategies are being devised to mount productions that stay true to the indie ethos, and the thrill of theatrical isn’t gone yet.
In broad terms those were the main takeaways from the Locarno fest’s unique StepIn think tank, where the overall theme was “What Are We Afraid Of?” and 40-plus mostly European indie players convened to share experiences and exchange thoughts for practical solutions to navigate the onslaught of streaming platforms and the digital era at large.
“Agility” emerged as the keyword during the opening session when French producer Rita Dagher, one of the three keynote speakers, recounted how she packaged Jean-Stephane Sauvaire-directed “A Prayer Before Dawn,” which she described as a mix of: “French director, English material,...
In broad terms those were the main takeaways from the Locarno fest’s unique StepIn think tank, where the overall theme was “What Are We Afraid Of?” and 40-plus mostly European indie players convened to share experiences and exchange thoughts for practical solutions to navigate the onslaught of streaming platforms and the digital era at large.
“Agility” emerged as the keyword during the opening session when French producer Rita Dagher, one of the three keynote speakers, recounted how she packaged Jean-Stephane Sauvaire-directed “A Prayer Before Dawn,” which she described as a mix of: “French director, English material,...
- 8/12/2019
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The Locarno Film Festival has recruited prominent French indie producer Rita Dagher along with Amazon Studios’ former head of distribution Bob Berney, and CAA agent Maren Olson as keynote speakers for its annual StepIn think tank, which will thrash out some of the most pressing issues preoccupying the independent film community.
“What Are We Afraid Of?” is the overall theme — following “Brave New World” last year — of this year’s sessions of the informal initiative. It will see 40-plus mostly European key players convene to share experiences and exchange thoughts for practical solutions and strategies to contend with the challenges posed by streaming platforms and the digital era at large.
The biggest underlying fear is “whether independent filmmaking will continue to be relevant in the future, both as an art form and as entertainment,” as StepIn project manager Marcello Paolillo puts it. “What does the future hold for production and theatrical distribution of independent product,...
“What Are We Afraid Of?” is the overall theme — following “Brave New World” last year — of this year’s sessions of the informal initiative. It will see 40-plus mostly European key players convene to share experiences and exchange thoughts for practical solutions and strategies to contend with the challenges posed by streaming platforms and the digital era at large.
The biggest underlying fear is “whether independent filmmaking will continue to be relevant in the future, both as an art form and as entertainment,” as StepIn project manager Marcello Paolillo puts it. “What does the future hold for production and theatrical distribution of independent product,...
- 7/31/2019
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
24 young cinema industry professionals under the age of 30 will attend new think tank event.
The Locarno Film Festival’s industry office Locarno Pro has unveiled a new initiative, bannered U30, aimed at fostering exchange between film professionals under the age of 30 around key issues facing the cinema industry and strategies for the future.
The inaugural edition, running August 9-11, at the same time as other Locarno Pro events, will explore the theme of “The Audience of The Future”.
Discussions will take place across four sessions tackling the theatrical experience, the relationship between theatrical distribution and the platforms, connecting with audiences...
The Locarno Film Festival’s industry office Locarno Pro has unveiled a new initiative, bannered U30, aimed at fostering exchange between film professionals under the age of 30 around key issues facing the cinema industry and strategies for the future.
The inaugural edition, running August 9-11, at the same time as other Locarno Pro events, will explore the theme of “The Audience of The Future”.
Discussions will take place across four sessions tackling the theatrical experience, the relationship between theatrical distribution and the platforms, connecting with audiences...
- 6/27/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
24 young cinema industry professionals under the age of 30 will attend new think tank event.
The Locarno Film Festival’s industry office Locarno Pro has unveiled a new initiative, bannered U30, aimed at fostering exchange between film professionals under the age of 30 around key issues facing the cinema industry and strategies for the future.
The inaugural edition, running August 9-11, at the same time as other Locarno Pro events, will explore the theme of “The Audience of The Future”.
Discussions will take place across four sessions tackling the theatrical experience, the relationship between theatrical distribution and the platforms, connecting with audiences...
The Locarno Film Festival’s industry office Locarno Pro has unveiled a new initiative, bannered U30, aimed at fostering exchange between film professionals under the age of 30 around key issues facing the cinema industry and strategies for the future.
The inaugural edition, running August 9-11, at the same time as other Locarno Pro events, will explore the theme of “The Audience of The Future”.
Discussions will take place across four sessions tackling the theatrical experience, the relationship between theatrical distribution and the platforms, connecting with audiences...
- 6/27/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
France-Finland co-production A Girl’s Room takes €20,000 Eurimages Co-Production Development Award.
The 2018 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has named the winners of its Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event awards after a week of presentations and meetings.
More than 400 delegates attended this year’s event.
In the festival’s Baltic Event Co-Production Market, which featured 16 projects, France-Finland feature A Girl’s Room, from director Aino Suni and producers Sébastien Aubert and Ulla Simonen, won the €20,000 Eurimages Co-Production Development Award.
The Cannes Marché du Film Producers’ Network Award, which comes with free accreditations to next year’s edition of Cannes, went to...
The 2018 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has named the winners of its Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event awards after a week of presentations and meetings.
More than 400 delegates attended this year’s event.
In the festival’s Baltic Event Co-Production Market, which featured 16 projects, France-Finland feature A Girl’s Room, from director Aino Suni and producers Sébastien Aubert and Ulla Simonen, won the €20,000 Eurimages Co-Production Development Award.
The Cannes Marché du Film Producers’ Network Award, which comes with free accreditations to next year’s edition of Cannes, went to...
- 11/30/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Having disrupted film financing and distribution models, global streaming platforms are now subverting storytelling preconceptions.
That, in short, is latest shakeup prompted by the ongoing seismic shift and one of challenges that European indie-film industry executives will be thrashing out during this year’s StepIn think tank, titled Brave New World, Aug. 2 at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.
Now its sixth edition, StepIn is an informal event at which top execs share their experiences, get inspired and brainstorm new ideas. Similar to last year, the core of the conversation will be the future of independent production and the theatrical experience in the digital age.
But, as StepIn project manager Marcello Paolillo points out, aside from changes brought about in the business by technology, box-office results over the past couple of years paint a picture that undermines basic tenets that have been assumed for decades, “revealing audience segments that have...
That, in short, is latest shakeup prompted by the ongoing seismic shift and one of challenges that European indie-film industry executives will be thrashing out during this year’s StepIn think tank, titled Brave New World, Aug. 2 at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.
Now its sixth edition, StepIn is an informal event at which top execs share their experiences, get inspired and brainstorm new ideas. Similar to last year, the core of the conversation will be the future of independent production and the theatrical experience in the digital age.
But, as StepIn project manager Marcello Paolillo points out, aside from changes brought about in the business by technology, box-office results over the past couple of years paint a picture that undermines basic tenets that have been assumed for decades, “revealing audience segments that have...
- 7/25/2018
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Doc explores the theft of Banksy’s controversial mural in the West Bank.
Elle Driver has boarded world sales on Italian filmmaker Marco Proserpio’s The Man Who Stole Banksy, exploring the debate around the commercial sale of removed street art through the fate of a mural created by the elusive artist in the West Bank in 2007.
Known as Donkey Documents (pictured above) and depicting an Israeli soldier checking a donkey’s ID at a checkpoint, the mural at the heart of the documentary is among a series of protest works painted by Bansky on Israel’s controversial separation wall since 2005.
It unexpectedly provoked the ire of people in Bethlehem, however, when it appeared on a section of the wall there overnight. They complained it seemed to compare Palestinians to donkeys.
In the middle of the furore a local taxi driver had the section cut out of the wall and put the entire slab of concrete...
Elle Driver has boarded world sales on Italian filmmaker Marco Proserpio’s The Man Who Stole Banksy, exploring the debate around the commercial sale of removed street art through the fate of a mural created by the elusive artist in the West Bank in 2007.
Known as Donkey Documents (pictured above) and depicting an Israeli soldier checking a donkey’s ID at a checkpoint, the mural at the heart of the documentary is among a series of protest works painted by Bansky on Israel’s controversial separation wall since 2005.
It unexpectedly provoked the ire of people in Bethlehem, however, when it appeared on a section of the wall there overnight. They complained it seemed to compare Palestinians to donkeys.
In the middle of the furore a local taxi driver had the section cut out of the wall and put the entire slab of concrete...
- 5/15/2017
- ScreenDaily
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