The Azerbaijan Union of Filmmakers, in cooperation with the French Institute in Azerbaijan and the Embassy of France in Azerbaijan, announces the international “East–West Kino Lab” feature-length film project development program.
The aim of the program is to support both emerging and experienced Azerbaijani filmmakers in developing their fiction film projects in line with international standards, and to prepare them for international platforms through professional mentorship and training. Selected participants will have the opportunity to structure and strengthen their projects, bringing them to a presentation-ready stage. Through masterclasses and one-on-one mentoring sessions, the chosen projects will receive professional support during both the development and pitching phases. In addition, participants will have valuable networking opportunities with international film professionals.
Applications are open to Azerbaijani producers and directors applying as a team with a feature-length film project currently in development (the screenwriter of a selected project may join the program as an observer). The director must hold the rights to the project (the consent of the screenwriter is required). As the working language of the program is English, the participating team (director and producer) must have proficiency in English (at least one team member), and all application materials must be submitted in English.
This is a one-week development program designed for filmmakers working on a feature-length fiction film project that already has a logline, synopsis, and treatment. During the training, participants will take part in intensive sessions and one-on-one meetings aimed at developing their logline, synopsis, and treatment.
Applicants must submit all required materials in ENGLISH in a single PDF file (named after the applicant) to [email protected] with the subject line “East–West KinoLab.”
Required Materials:
- Logline
- Synopsis (200–300 words)
- Motivation letter
- Director’s biography and filmography
- Producer’s biography and filmography
- Director’s statement – 3-minutes video (in English)
- Treatment (maximum 5 pages)
- Pitch deck (if available)
The training sessions will be led by director and screenwriter Orkhan Aghazadeh and producer Jules Grange.
Orkhan Aghazadeh is a graduate of the London Film School. His short fiction film The Chairs and his feature-length docu-fiction film The Return of the Projectionist have been screened at numerous international film festivals and have received various awards. His feature-length fiction project The Prisoner became one of the first Azerbaijani projects selected for the prestigious Cinéfondation Résidence program at the Cannes Film Festival.
Jules Grange is a producer and Director of Finance and Administration at KIDAM (France). He has extensive experience in the production and financing of both documentary and fiction film projects and is also one of the producers of Orkhan Aghazadeh’s feature-length documentary The Return of the Projectionist.
The deadline is March 5. The training sessions will take place from April 8 to 14. The projects selected as winners during the pitching session will receive technical, financial, and organizational support for their further development.
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