Cannes Sidebar Film Training Program Expands to Semaine de la Critique With Next Step Studio, First Edition Set in Indonesia
Continuing the concept launched by La Factory at the Directors’ Fortnight in 2013 , the initiative has helped nurture a wave of emerging filmmaking talent across the globe. From Taiwan to Chile, Lebanon to the Philippines, and Ceará in Brazil, more than 80 filmmakers have taken part in the program, with nearly 50 debut feature films subsequently produced. Among its alumni is Midi Z, whose feature Nina Wu premiered in Cannes Un Certain Regard, and Alireza Khatami, who debuted in Venice with Oblivion Verses . His latest feature, The Things You Kill , premiered at Sundance last year. Following Directors’ Factory Lebanon in 2017, Ahmad Ghossein made his feature debut with All This Victory , which was selected for Venice Critics’ Week in 2019, where it won the Grand Prize. Fellow Lebanese participant Mounia Akl also debuted at the Venice Film Festival with Costa Brava, Lebanon in 2021. Produced and financed locally, the program supports ...