Alumni News: Spring 2017

Following it’s premiere at last year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival, Uzma Hasan’s (Class of 2010, UK) feature FIRSTBORN has been released globally on Netflix and is available to stream now. Read more.

Linda Krukle’s (Class of 2016, Latvia) feature MAGIC KIMONO will premiere in Japan in June. The film is a co-production between Linda’s company KrukFilms and Japan’s Loaded Films – marking it as the first ever Japanese-Baltic co-production. You can find more info at the feature’s Facebook page and on Screen Daily

Current IP participant Davide Nardini (Class of 2017, Italy) and Palomar have announced their partnership with Entertainment One on GADDAFI. This new series is being developed by Italy’s Roberto Saviano, one of the most sought-after talents on the burgeoning European TV scene. Read more.

SON OF SOFIA, produced by current participant Giorgos Karnavas (Class of 2017, Greece) has won the award for “Best Film” in the International Narrative Feature Competition at Tribeca Film Festival. The film is Elina Psykou’s second feature. Her debut, THE ETERNAL RETURN OF ANTONIS PARASKEVAS, premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2013 and, later that same year, Psykou was named one of the 10 European directors to watch by “Variety.” Read more.

In April, Nahrein Kemp (Class of 2007, UK) spearheaded the “Returnships” initiative with Film London. Funded and supported by HETV Fund at Creative Skillset, this new scheme tackles the barriers that exist for highly skilled professionals wanting to return to work after a parental career break. Read More.

Maria Tsigka (Class of 2015, Greece) founded FICTION PARK, a new production company in Germany, with producer Markus Halberschmidt. Dedicated to producing original Film and TV content with enduring value, FICTION PARK has already several projects in development. Under this new label Maria is further excited to be co-producing a film together with Patrick Fischer (Class of 2015, Germany) co-participant at Inside Pictures 2015. For those interested in finding out more about Maria’s new endeavor and discussing potential co-operations feel free to contact her at: [email protected]

Krista Wegener (Class of 2007, US) has started a new position as SVP Sales and Distribution with Participant Media, a role that will see her implementing overall sales and distribution strategies for Participant’s content (including its 75-plus film library), and collaborate with distributors and sales agents on executing international social impact campaigns. Read more.

As of the end of July, Greg Ruback (Class of 2016, UK) will move to Los Angeles following his promotion to Vice President, Worldwide Marketing Business & Legal Affairs at Paramount Pictures.