Berlin Workshop December 2023
January 30, 2025
Berlin Workshop February 2025
February 3, 2025
Workshops 2023-2024
CLOSE UP
Thrilled to Conclude our 2nd Workshop in Izmir with Incredible Progress on our Projects!
We are pleased to conclude our second workshop, which took place in Izmir, Turkey, from February 29 to March 06, as an integral component of our Close Up initiative. The week was characterized by a dynamic atmosphere, marked by creativity, collaboration, and an abundance of energy. We were excited to meet our filmmakers in person for the first time after an inspirational week-long online workshop between 20-26 November 2023. Main focal of the 2nd workshop was developing storytelling of visual material, narrative & dramaturgy.
Our amazing team of mentors – Bruni Burres, John Appel, Gitte Hansen and Nino Kirtadze – worked closely with their group of filmmakers to reconstruct the narrative and visual approach of each project. After the filmmakers shared with the group their intentions and how they would like to further develop their films, they received group and one-on-one consultancy sessions from the mentors. During these sessions, the filmmakers further analysed the film’s themes, story, style, and cinematic form. They worked on selections of scenes from their material and started developing an outline for the script.
Throughout the workshop, our filmmakers engaged in Editing Sessions led by Audrey Maurion, Giles Gardner, Joelle Alexis, and Phil Jandaly. These sessions provided invaluable guidance, helping our filmmakers navigate the creative challenges of their projects.
We also had the opportunity to screen Jude Chehab’s award-winning film “Q” (Close Up Alumni 2020-2021), followed by an insightful Q&A session moderated by our mentor Nino Kirtadze. Jude shared her personal challenges on the journey as a filmmaker, offering valuable insights into the world of documentary filmmaking.
Renowned industry expert Alex Szalat delivered a comprehensive Case Study lecture on project financing, covering essential topics such as fundraising strategies and budgeting essentials. Meanwhile, mentor Gitte Hansen provided valuable guidance on navigating through production information and available funds, offering invaluable support to our filmmakers.
In the final days of the workshop, all 13 filmmakers presented their work-in-progress to the group, receiving constructive feedback from mentors, our Executive Director Sigal Yehuda, industry expert Alex Szalat, and guest filmmaker Jude Chehab. It was incredibly inspiring to witness the artistic breakthroughs and creativity showcased by each project.
As we wrap up this workshop, filmmakers are equipped with concrete assignments to further develop their projects and refine their work-in-progress material. With continued feedback and support from their mentors, they will proceed their journey throughout March, April, and May.
We’re eagerly anticipating our 3rd Close Up Workshop & Final Pitching, scheduled to take place in Tbilisi, Georgia. It’s been an absolute pleasure to be surrounded by such a talented and dedicated group of emerging filmmakers with their passion and creativity!
Thrilled to Conclude our 2nd Workshop in Izmir with Incredible Progress on our Projects!
We are pleased to conclude our second workshop, which took place in Izmir, Turkey, from February 29 to March 06, as an integral component of our Close Up initiative. The week was characterized by a dynamic atmosphere, marked by creativity, collaboration, and an abundance of energy. We were excited to meet our filmmakers in person for the first time after an inspirational week-long online workshop between 20-26 November 2023. Main focal of the 2nd workshop was developing storytelling of visual material, narrative & dramaturgy.
Our amazing team of mentors – Bruni Burres, John Appel, Gitte Hansen and Nino Kirtadze – worked closely with their group of filmmakers to reconstruct the narrative and visual approach of each project. After the filmmakers shared with the group their intentions and how they would like to further develop their films, they received group and one-on-one consultancy sessions from the mentors. During these sessions, the filmmakers further analysed the film’s themes, story, style, and cinematic form. They worked on selections of scenes from their material and started developing an outline for the script.
Throughout the workshop, our filmmakers engaged in Editing Sessions led by Audrey Maurion, Giles Gardner, Joelle Alexis, and Phil Jandaly. These sessions provided invaluable guidance, helping our filmmakers navigate the creative challenges of their projects.
We also had the opportunity to screen Jude Chehab’s award-winning film “Q” (Close Up Alumni 2020-2021), followed by an insightful Q&A session moderated by our mentor Nino Kirtadze. Jude shared her personal challenges on the journey as a filmmaker, offering valuable insights into the world of documentary filmmaking.
Renowned industry expert Alex Szalat delivered a comprehensive Case Study lecture on project financing, covering essential topics such as fundraising strategies and budgeting essentials. Meanwhile, mentor Gitte Hansen provided valuable guidance on navigating through production information and available funds, offering invaluable support to our filmmakers.
In the final days of the workshop, all 13 filmmakers presented their work-in-progress to the group, receiving constructive feedback from mentors, our Executive Director Sigal Yehuda, industry expert Alex Szalat, and guest filmmaker Jude Chehab. It was incredibly inspiring to witness the artistic breakthroughs and creativity showcased by each project.
As we wrap up this workshop, filmmakers are equipped with concrete assignments to further develop their projects and refine their work-in-progress material. With continued feedback and support from their mentors, they will proceed their journey throughout March, April, and May.
We’re eagerly anticipating our 3rd Close Up Workshop & Final Pitching, scheduled to take place in Tbilisi, Georgia. It’s been an absolute pleasure to be surrounded by such a talented and dedicated group of emerging filmmakers with their passion and creativity!
The Close Up Third Workshop & Pitching forum successfully ended! We had a wonderfully busy, energizing and inspiring week between 3-9 June 2024 in Tbilisi, Georgia!
We feel honored and privileged to be supporting such a talented, courageous and passionate group of emerging filmmakers! This year, we presented 13 unique and powerful projects.
We started our workshop with an intensive training session on pitching facilitated by Margje De Koning – the Artistic Director of Movies that Matter Film Festival. Each filmmaker presented their projects to the entire group and received feedback on their verbal pitches & teasers from Margje de Koning, Executive Director Sigal Yehuda & Close Up mentors Bruni Burres, John Appel, Gitte Hansen and Nino Kirtadze. Alongside pitching simulations the filmmakers had one on one meetings with Margje and Close Up mentors.
The Close Up Pitching Forum took place on 7th June, moderated by our dearest friend and colleague Margje de Koning. Each filmmaker pitched their project in front of 10 esteemed panel members!
This year’s invited panel members included: Adriek van Nieuwenhuyzen – Head of the Industry office of IDFA, Alex Szalat – Head of Doc’s Up Fund, Basil Tsiokos – Senior Programmer at the Sundance Film Festival, Ian LoCascio – Programming Coordinator at The Jacob Burns Film Center, Jane Ray – Artistic Director at The Whickers, Jess Gormley – Executive Producer at The Guardian, Lianne Llewellyn – Head of Development at IEFTA, Lucie Kon – Commissioning Editor at BBC Storyville, Michael Stütz – head of Panorama at the Berlinale , and Sophie Chegaray – Commissioning Editor for documentaries at France Televisions.
Alongside providing the much-needed professional support and infrastructure to emerging filmmakers from our region, Close Up Founding Partners – Sigal Yehuda, Ahmet Boyacioglu, Bruni Burres, John Appel and Vincent Melilli – are fully committed to maintaining the independent space for independent filmmakers to continue their urgent work.
CLOSE UP AWARD CEREMONY
On 8th June, our filmmakers met with the panel members in round tables to discuss their projects in depth and consider possible support and collaboration. We ended our Third Workshop & Pitching Forum with our Award Ceremony and each filmmaker received the Close Up Diploma for successfully completing the program and for the incredible progress they have achieved in the past 7-months since the beginning of the Close Up program in November 2023!
After presenting the Close Up Diplomas, we announced the winners of 8 wonderful awards made available from our wonderful partners, Docs Up Fund presented by Founder Alex Szalat Awarded two projects in a total of €3000, each with €1,500 development grant and consultancy services, A Rhino’s Tale by Meital Zvieli and Our Feminine Wars by Zaina Erahim. The Whickers presented by Artistic Director Jane Ray provided a £3,000 development grant to How to Talk to Lydia by Rusudan Gaprinashvili. International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA) presented by Head of Development & Partnership Lianne Llewellyn provided a €2,000 development grant to More Than a Father by Ali Haider. International Documentary Association (IDA) Artist Awards presented by Keisha Knight provided a total of $5000, $2500 to Your Honour by Bircan Birol and $2500 to My Mother’s Tale by Mizgin Mujde Arslan. The Jacob Burns Film Center presented by Ian LoCascio provided – four week residency fellowships that includes 500$ weekly stipend as well as accommodation and travel to Strange Sea by Lala Aliyeva and I Fell in Love with a Dead Woman by Anahit Ghazaryan.
The role of international independent organizations such as Close Up has a vital significance for supporting filmmakers in their fight for justice, equality, freedom of expression and independence. These days more than ever we must remind ourselves of our shared values and continue to fight for equality, justice, a pluralist and open society that respects its people regardless of their religion, ethnicity, nation state or gender orientation.
