Exclusive: Female-focused training initiative, Circle, has revealed the roster of participants for the second edition of Circle Fiction Orbit in Montenegro, with mentors including award-winning directors Jasmila Žbanić and Pia Marais this year.
The event – taking place in the coastal resort of Herceg Novi in Montenegro from 24 November to 1 December – supports a diverse group of six imaginative projects with strong international potential.
Includes historical drama Tethys Ocean From Polish director Anna Gadowska, who made waves with her 2022 bank heist drama Woman on the roofand award-winning Slovenian director Barbara Zemlić will fade away, It follows a woman who discovers that her daughter is being sexually molested by a child in kindergarten. (Scroll down for full list of projects.)
Oscar-nominated Romanian producer Bianca Oana, whose credits include winning the Golden Bear at the Berlinale Don't touch me The Oscar-nominated doc CollectiveHe returned as Head of Studies for the second year.
Awana is joined by Romanian Editor and Sound Designer Dana Bonescu (Death of Mr. Lazarescu, 4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days); Dominique Wilensky, French producer and founder of the Director's Factory within the Directors' Fortnight in Cannes; South African director and artist based in Germany, Marais (Trans Amazonia) and Quo Vadis, Aida Academy Award and BAFTA nominee Zypanic, who also won the Golden Bear at the Berlinale Grbavica (2005).
“I am happy to see that CIRCLE Fiction Orbit will release its second edition, in the name of equality, solidarity and a more meaningful artificial environment,” said Program Director Biljana Totorov.
“As the first titles from our inaugural 2023 edition prepare for global premieres and festivals, we will gather in Montenegro to expand this space of community support and reflect together on the professional and personal challenges we all face today.”
Within the framework of the workshop, the drama of Herzegovina Novi Mare will be presented to the local audience Transamazonia.
The film, which had its world premiere in Locarno, stars Helena Zengel as a teenager whose sense of identity as a miracle healer alongside her missionary father in the Amazon jungle is shaken when she discovers a lie about the past while growing up in an indigenous community. He comes under threat from ruthless loggers.
The Circle Fiction Orbit meeting builds on Circle's Women Doc Accelerator, a year-round initiative open to projects and professionals at all stages. In its seventh year, the program has supported more than 80 directors and producers from 45 different countries.
This fantasy-focused initiative is co-financed by Creative Europe – MEDIA and organized under the auspices of Eurimages in partnership with the Film Center of Montenegro.
The full list of 2024 projects and participants is:
In the fog, follow the dots (Serbia)
Masha Nešković (Director) and Inna Bajraktarevic (Writer)
Produced by Karna Vucinic for NAKED (Serbia)
Slovenia will fade away
Barbara Zimlich (Director)
Produced by FILMSERVIS (Slovenia)
No Roots (Brazil)
Joana Oliveira (Director, Brazil/Germany)
Produced by Luana Milgaso for Bukaya Filmes and Anavilhana (Brazil).
Peekaboo (Türkiye, Germany)
Asem Turkmen (Director) and Nesra Gurbuz (Producer)
Produced by: Nesra Gurbuz for Monomit (Türkiye)
Tethys Ocean (Poland)
Anna Jadowska (director) and Maria Blecharska (producer)
Produced by Maria Blecharska for Blick Productions International (Poland)
Guest project:
Baptism of Silence (South Africa)
Kania Viljoen (Director) and Casey-Anne Depeven (Producer)
Produced by: Casey-Ann Diepeveen for Unusual Bones & Agile Films (South Africa)
