Andrius Blaževičius

Born in Vilnius in 1985, Andrius studied culture, history and anthropology at Vilnius University. After a while, he switched to Film directing studies at Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy where he graduated with a Master's degree in 2011. His final short film TEN REASONS (2011) won 2 Lithuanian Film Academy awards. Blaževičius’ debut feature film THE SAINT (2016) premiered at Warsaw FF and Busan FF, won 6 awards and became one of the most appreciated Lithuanian independent films at the national box office with 47K admissions in total. His sophomore film RUNNER (2021) premiered at Karlovy Vary IFF with the main actress Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė being awarded as a Shooting Star by European Film Promotion. RUNNER received two Lithuanian Film Academy awards - for the main and the supporting actresses. Andrius occasionally serves as a jury member at international film festivals, moreover, he is being invited as a reader at Lithuanian Film Centre. Blaževičius has also been a member of the selection committee at Vilnius ISFF since 2010.

Speaking at:​ 

Leading with Intention in the Film Industry: A Path to Mental Well-being (with Sane Cinema, APA and ACE Producers)
Tuesday, July 3, 12:45 pm, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall

Klára Brachtlová

Klára Brachtlová has been the president of the Association of Commercial Television since the spring of 2023, where she represents the founding member of TV Nova, of which she is also the managing director. She currently holds the position of CME Chief External Affairs at the parent company CME. Her primary responsibility is to lead initiatives to build and support strategic partnerships and expand relationships with industry leaders. Prior to joining CME in January 2023, she was part of the Nova Group since 2007 and worked in various roles in finance, operations and later as Co-CEO.

Speaking at:

Current Opportunities for Film and Series Development in Central Europe Sunday, July 2, 5:30 pm in Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Atrium 

Gianluca Buttari

Gianluca Buttari is the Co-Owner and Marketing Director of Teodora Film, an Italian independent distribution company that has existed since 2000. He has been in the film distribution business for 17 years running the company together with two other partners. Teodora Film managed to win 4 Palmes d'Or, including the latest Anatomy of a Fall and Triangle of Sadness.

The Square, Irina Palm, Amour, and Son of Saul are some of the most successful titles he distributed through the years.

The Missing: The Innovations Innovators Need
Tuesday, July 4, 5:30 pm, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall

Cătălin Cristuțiu

Cătălin Cristuțiu has worked as an editor on over 80 feature films, shorts and TV series. He has edited the entire works of Radu Jude including the feature films Aferim!, which won the 2015 Berlinale Silver Bear for Best Director, and Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn, winner of the 2021 Golden Bear. Other notable editing works include California Dreamin’ Endless (Cristian Nemescu, 2007 Prix Un Certain Regard), If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle (Florin Şerban, 2010 Silver Bear) and Blue Boy by Manuel Abramovich, which won the 2019 Silver Bear Jury Prize (Short Film). In recent years, he has been focusing on films that use editing as a central means of artistic expression. Cristuțiu also works as a First Cut Lab consultant editor since 2020. 

Speaking at:

Helping Your Film to the International Market: Editing, PR and Marketing Before You Launch
Tuesday, July 4, 11 am, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall

Matthieu Darras

Matthieu Darras is the founder and CEO of Tatino Films. He designs film and talent development programs that are active worldwide, such as First Cut Lab, Pop Up Film Residency, or Full Circle Lab. He previously worked for various film festivals, notably Cannes, Venice, and San Sebastian, and was the artistic director of TorinoFilmLab. 

Speaking at:​ Helping Your Film to the International Market: Editing, PR and Marketing Before You Launch
Tuesday, July 4, 11 am, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall

Martin Dawson

Martin is the Deputy Head of the Unit for Audiovisual Industry and Media Support Programmes in the European Commission. He supports the HoU in the management and coordination of the Unit, focusing on the Media and Audiovisual Action Plan of December 2020, delivering support through the Creative Europe MEDIA programme, greening of the audiovisual industry and a Media Outlook on future trends. He recently contributed to the new European Media Freedom Act.

Previously, Martin was Deputy Head of the Unit for Knowledge Sharing in DG Connect, responsible for facilitating collaboration across the Directorate General. Before that, he had a varied career in European external relations and EU enlargement.

The European Media Industry Outlook: What Do Audiences Want?
Monday, July 3, 3 pm, Hotel Thermal Press & Meeting Room

Laurin Dietrich

Laurin Dietrich studied cultural anthropology, literature and communication in Berlin and Paris and worked for Paris-based international sales agent Celluloid Dreams in sales and acquisitions before partnering with Gordon Spragg and Michael Arnon at WOLF Consultants.

Launched in early 2010, WOLF is a boutique PR and marketing consulting firm specialising in independent cinema, both fiction and non-fiction, from pre-production right through launch in major international film festivals. What’s unique about WOLF is that they’re hands-on designers, marketing consultants and international publicists all rolled into one with an intimate knowledge of all the major festivals and markets. Through many years of experience working for sales agents and producers, they understand the demands of the market, allowing them to offer a fast, no-nonsense, creative service. In a fragmented industry, they’re there to help join the dots. Their expertise and flexibility will help producers and sales agents create an effective strategy from the earliest stages of a film project, tailored to each project’s specific needs, giving the film the best possible start on its way to find its audience.

Laurin has been a Marketing Consultant with ACE for years, as well as part of the selection committee for Coproduction Market at Berlinale. He is also as Head of Industry at Nordic Film Days Lübeck.

Speaking at:​ ​Helping Your Film to the International Market: Editing, PR and Marketing Before You Launch
Tuesday, July 4, 11 am, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall

Petr Dvořák

After graduating from university, Petr Dvořák gained business experience as a manager at hair care company Lybar. He then spent two years at the marketing department of Nestlé. His telecommunications career began in 2001, when he joined T-Mobile, holding various management positions for over 10 years. In 2008, he was appointed chief marketing officer. In 2012, Petr joined Vodafone as Vice-President for Non-Business Customers, becoming Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Czech Republic in 2018.

Current Opportunities for Film and Series Development in Central Europe Sunday, July 2, 5:30 pm in Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Atrium 

Samantha Faccio

Samantha Faccio has a background in international publishing (Penguin Group; Lonely Planet) and documentary production (Videomante). She moved to Tucker Film in 2013, where she currently works as General Coordinator on both film production and domestic distribution. She is the producer of the feature film The Angel in the Wall by Lorenzo Bianchini (Torino FF 2021), released in 2022. As a distributor, recent releases include Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Lee Chang-Dong, Wong Kar Wai and Ozu Yasujiro.

The Missing: The Innovations Innovators Need
Tuesday, July 4, 5:30 pm, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall

Michael Gubbins

Michael Gubbins is co-founder of the analysis and consultancy company SampoMedia and project leader of major creative cluster development in the West Midlands of the UK. He was chair of the Welsh film fund, Ffilm Cymru Wales until early 2019. Gubbins was editor of titles, including Screen International and Screen Daily, and Music Week in a 25-year career in newspapers and magazines. He writes influential reports on the changing media and cultural environment in Europe; and is a sought-after and experienced moderator, keynote speaker and organiser of conferences, think tanks and events around the world. In the last six years, Gubbins has worked in more than 30 countries with clients interested in the changing on-demand, always-on converged economy. He is an Honorary Visiting Fellow of the University of Exeter, a member of the West Midlands Film Bureau, and sits on the advisory boards of Power to the Pixel and Met Film School.

Hosting:

The Missing: The Innovations Innovators Need
Tuesday, July 4, 5:30 pm, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall

Louise Højgaard Johansen

Louise Højgaard Johansen is a Danish festival programmer and event organiser. While finishing her master’s degree in Film Studies from The University of Copenhagen, she started her festival career at the CPH PIX and went on to curate audience and industry events next to programming for more than 15 years. Her work has taken her from Copenhagen to Reykjavik and Athens, and today she has settled in Prague. She was a talent scout and head of international relations for MIDPOINT Institute, Nordic programmer for Prague IFF / Febiofest, and Director of Programming for Athens Intl. Children's Film Festival. She has also produced documentaries in her own company, from the 2011 breakthrough feature 'Grandma Lo-fi', to 'Last and First Men' in 2020. After becoming a mother, she continues her work for Athens ICFF, next to her work as a moderator of film talks for Cinergy Prague and Karlovy Vary IFF. She is a member of the Danish and European Film Academy, and Sane Cinema is her latest initiative.

Speaking at:​ Leading with Intention in the Film Industry: A Path to Mental Well-being (with Sane Cinema, APA and ACE Producers)
Tuesday, July 3, 12:45 pm, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall

Łukasz Kłuskiewicz

Director, Film Licensing and Co-Productions at Netflix

Łukasz joined Netflix in December 2018 to look after licensed local films and series for CEE and then Russia and CIS as well. His track record at Netflix includes 365 Days trilogy, To The Lake, Squared Love, Furioza and How I Fell in Love with a Gangster. Łukasz has 15+ years of experience in the TV and film industry in Poland and CEE markets. In the past he worked at TVP (Polish public broadcaster) where as a Head of Film and Drama Department TVP he supervised development and production of hit local series. At his time at Fox Networks Group as a Programming Manager Non-Scripted for Central Europe Łukasz developed and executed programming strategy for National Geographic channels.

Speaking at:

Current Opportunities for Film and Series Development in Central Europe Sunday, July 2, 5:30 pm in Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Atrium 

Anne Christine Knoth

Project Manager Features Eurimages, Council of Europe

Anne Christine Knoth is a project manager at Eurimages, where she is in charge of feature films. Eurimages is the cultural support fund of the Council of Europe. Established in 1989, it currently numbers 38 of the 46 member states of the Strasbourg-based Organisation, plus Canada as Associate member. Eurimages promotes independent filmmaking by providing financial support to feature-length films, animation and documentary films. In doing so, it encourages cooperation between professionals established in different countries.

Before joining Eurimages, Anne Christine worked for the continuous education programme “Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris” as Programme Coordinator. Organised jointly by German film school Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, French film school La Fémis and the British National Film and Television School, the Atelier programme is aimed primarily at up-and-coming film producers and distributors from Europe and beyond who intend to specialise in European co-productions.

Speaking at:

Refresh Eurimages: The Ideal Platform for Your Questions and Answers on International Film Co-productions
Tuesday July 3, 5 pm, Hotel Thermal Press & Meeting Room

Diana Lodderhose

Diana has been working in global film journalism since 2005. Before returning to Deadline in 2021 to focus on features for international film and television, she was previously International Reporter for the site. She is based in London and has frequently covered all the major film festivals and markets including Cannes, Berlin, AFM, Toronto and Sundance. Prior to joining Deadline, Diana was the UK correspondent for Variety and also covered film news and box office at Screen International.

Hosting:

• Current Opportunities for Film and Series Development in Central Europe
  Sunday, July 2, 5:30 pm, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Atrium
• Leading with Intention in the Film Industry: A Path to Mental Well-being (with Sane Cinema, APA and ACE Producers) Tuesday, July 3, 12:45 pm, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall
• AI in Storytelling: Unleashing Creativity, Confronting Challenges, and Legal Frontiers ​Tuesday, July 3, 12:45 pm, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall

Gerhard Maier

After working with the film and TV industry for over a decade, where he accompanied movies and series through their life cycles by writing press books, articles and reviews as well as editing two of Germany's largest point-of-sale entertainment publications, Gerhard Maier put his life-long obsession with TV series to better use by as part of the founding trio of Seriencamp, Germany's first festival dedicated exclusively to serial storytelling. As artistic director of the Seriencamp Festival and Seriencamp Conference, Gerhard is curating formats and programming. When he is not working on Seriencamp or curating for conferences like Reeperbahn Festival, he is a guest lecturer at film schools and training programs.

Speaking at:

AI in Storytelling: Unleashing Creativity, Confronting Challenges, and Legal Frontiers ​Tuesday, July 3, 12:45 pm, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall

Přemysl Martinek

Přemysl graduated from the Film Studies Department of the Faculty of Art at Charles University in Prague. He worked as a freelance journalist and during 2004 – 2008 as a Programme Director of IFF Febiofest Prague. Then he became Label Manager at Bontonfilm Distribution and later Managing Director of Film Distribution at Artcam. In 2015, he was elected Vice-Chairman of the Board at the Czech Film Fund and started to work as an Artistic Director of IFF Febiofest Bratislava in Slovakia. Today he is working as a freelance consultant for the production company Love.FRAME, the Audiovisual Producers' Association, the Czech Film Fund and the Center for Documentary Film in Jihlava.

Speaking at:

• Fund in the Time of Transformation, 3 pm
• Current Opportunities for Film and Series Development in Central Europe, 5:30 pm

Both taking place on Sunday, July 2, in Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Atrium

Marija Razgutė

Lithuanian film producer Marija Razgutė has been running a film production company M-Films since 2008. Meanwhile, she has produced 5 feature films as a major producer and 3 as a minority, as well as 10 short films (fiction, documentary and animation).

Slow - a sophomore feature film by Marija Kavtaradze - a Lithuanian, Swedish and Spanish co-production - won the Best Direction award at Sundance FF 2023. The previous production – the second feature film by Andrius Blaževičius – Runner was released in 2021 where the main actress Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė has been selected to the Shooting Stars 2021. Previously Nova Lituania by Karolis Kaupinis premiered at the Karlovy Vary IFF 2019, East of the West program, Summer Survivors by Marija Kavtaradze premiered at Toronto IFF 2018, the Discovery program, The Saint by Andrius Blaževičius premiered at Busan IFF 2016 and Warsaw IFF competition programs. All the latest three feature films awarded at the Best Film category by Lithuanian Film Awards in the years 2020, 2019 and 2017.

Also, Marija has been co-producing as a minority co-producer since 2016, now having films with Spain and France – Tres by Juanjo Giménez (Venice Days and TIFF 2021) & Trote by Xacio Baño (Locarno and San Sebastian 2018), Germany & Georgia – Otar’s Death by Ioseb “Soso” Bliadze (Karlovy Vary IFF 2021). Since 2011 Marija Razgutė is an active member of the Independent Producers Association of Lithuania, and a Board member since 2016. Marija is also a graduate of MAIA Workshops 2013-2014, EAVE Producers Workshop 2016, Producer on the Move 2020, and ACE Producers 2020. A member of the European Film Academy since 2015 and EWA Network since 2018, a host at Pop Up Film Residency Vilnius since 2020​

Speaking at:​ Leading with Intention in the Film Industry: A Path to Mental Well-being (with Sane Cinema, APA and ACE Producers)
Tuesday, July 3, 12:45 pm, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall

Tatjana Samopjan

Tatjana Samopjan is a sought-after speaker known for her deep dives into the art, craft, and soul of storytelling. Her original and impactful talks explore relationships between storytelling, science, technology, music, spirituality, social dynamics, philosophy, and real-life experience. Tatjana works as a creative consultant specialising in the development of TV series, films and documentaries. Her clients include many European broadcasters, streamers, production companies, development programs and funding institutions. Previous experience includes roles as head of development at Palladium Fiction and story editor at SVT Drama at Swedish Television. Tatjana is based in Stockholm but her workplace is the whole of Europe. As a member of several European advisory boards, Tatjana is involved in financing new projects. Her academic background is in languages and literature. Tatjana’s explorations of contemplative traditions have informed and deepened her way of working with storytellers.

Speaking at:

​​AI in Storytelling: Unleashing Creativity, Confronting Challenges, and Legal Frontiers ​Tuesday, July 3, 12:45 pm, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall

Ada Solomon

Ada Solomon is a Romanian producer, founder of Hi Film Productions and Micro Film. She has produced over 70 films such as: Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn (Radu Jude, 2021, Golden Bear Berlin), Aferim! (Radu Jude, 2015, Silver Bear Berlin) and Child’s Pose (Cãlin Peter Netzer, 2013, Golden Bear Berlin). She has worked with prestigious filmmakers such as Ivana Mladenovic, Alexandru Solomon, Razvan Radulescu, Federico Bondi, and Adriano Valerio and was executive producer for Maren Ade’s Toni Erdmann (2016). Solomon is the Executive President of EWA Network, Deputy Chairwoman of EFA, Romanian national coordinator of EAVE, ACE Network board member, founding member of the Alliance of Romanian Producers, member of the European Producers Club, and winner of EFA European Co-production Award – Prix Eurimages.

Leading with Intention in the Film Industry: A Path to Mental Well-being (with Sane Cinema, APA and ACE Producers) Tuesday, July 3, 12:45 pm, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall

Alexandru Solomon

Alexandru is a Romanian-based documentary filmmaker, producer and DoP. Teaching at UNArte in Bucharest and president of the One World Romania Association.

After starting as Director of Photography on fiction films in the 1990’s and working with other artists on experimental videos, Alexandru shifted towards documentaries. His long features - such as The Great Communist Bank Robbery (2004), Capitalism - our secret recipe (2010), or Tarzan’s Testicles (2017) - travelled worldwide to festivals or on television, covering political stories in hybrid, creative ways. His latest film, Arsenie. An Amazing Afterlife, is premiering in Karlovy Vary’s 2023 Proxima competition. In 2016 he published his monograph “Representations of Memory in Documentary Film”. 

Speaking at:​ Leading with Intention in the Film Industry: A Path to Mental Well-being (with Sane Cinema, APA and ACE Producers)
Tuesday, July 3, 12:45 pm, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall

Julia Schafdecker

Dr. Julia Schafdecker, attorney at the German law firm SKW Schwarz, advises national and international businesses, online platforms, and film production companies in Media & Entertainment as well as Digital Business. In the Media & Entertainment sector, Dr. Schafdecker focuses on accompanying and advising film and TV productions, in particular on issues of copyright law, personality rights, and licensing as well as contract law. In doing so, she offers comprehensive legal support both with regard to the content and structuring of film productions. Dr. Schafdecker has special expertise in music law, including multinational rights management by collecting societies.

In the field of Digital Business, Dr. Schafdecker advises and assists national and international companies in the Media and Digital Health sector in developing and implementing their business ideas with a focus on new digital strategies and the use of technologies like NFT and AI. In this context, she advises companies on implementing ideas aligned with digital regulations.

Speaking at:

AI in Storytelling: Unleashing Creativity, Confronting Challenges, and Legal Frontiers ​Tuesday, July 3, 12:45 pm, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall

Anna Smith

Anna Smith is a broadcaster and one of the UK’s top film critics.

She is the former President of the UK Critic’s Circle, the host of the Girls on Film podcast and a regular film critic for BBC News, Sky News, BBC Radio, Deadline Hollywood, Time Out, Metro, The Guardian, Sight & Sound, Empire and more.

She has spent over a decade interviewing major actors and directors on stage, on-screen and in print.

A former magazine editor, Anna decided to go freelance in 2000 and has since enjoyed stints as Acting Film Editor of both Time Out London and Metro UK Newspaper.

Girls on Film Podcast | Live from KVIFF
Monday, July 3, 11 am, KVIFF.TV Park

Vratislav Šlajer

Graduate of the Production Department at FAMU in Prague, film and television producer. He is a producer of feature, documentary and animated films at Bionaut, a company he founded in 1999. Winner of the International Emmy Awards 2020 for the series #martyisdead, the Czech Lion and the Czech Film Critics Award for the film Pouta (Walking Too Fast) and the Czech Lion for the series Mamon, Svět pod hlavou and #martyisdead.

Chairman of the Association of Producers in Audiovisual (APA), member of The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, EFA and the Czech Film and Television Academy. In 2002, he was awarded Producer on the Move at the Cannes Film Festival, the same year he became a member of the prestigious producer network ACE (Ateliers du Cinéma Europeén). He has produced the TV series Svět pod hlavou, Mamon, Dáma & Král, #martyisdead, Jitřní záře, Odznak Vysočina, the animated series Rosa & Dara, the feature films Pouta, My 2, Smradi, Kdopak by se vlka bál, Shoky & Morthy, PSH Neverending Story, etc. In August 2023, a loose sequel to #martyisdead called #annaismissing will premiere in cinemas.

Speaking at:

• APA: The Czech Audiovisual Industry in 2022 Review (Sunday, July 2, 4:15 pm)​
• Current Opportunities for Film and Series Development in Central Europe (Sunday, July 2, 5:30 pm)
  

Radim Špaček

Radim is a film, TV and theatre director and the vice-chairman of ARAS (Association of Directors, Writers and Dramaturgists). He studied acting at The Prague Conservatoire and then directing on Prague Film Academy (FAMU), where he finished his studies with his second film RAPID EYE MOVEMENT (Rychlé pohyby očí, 1998).

He directed several programs for the Czech public broadcaster – Artóza (2002-2004) on contemporary art, Etiketa (2004) on good manners, multicultural documentary series Kosmopolis (2005) or queer weekly show Q (2006), and also many documentaries and TV series.

Since 2003 he's been the Creative Director and organiser of the annual Prague Bollywood Festival.

His third feature film Walking Too Fast (Pouta, 2010) was awarded with 5 Czech Lion Awards and 5 Czech Film Critics Awards. Radim travelled to Afghanistan to work on documentaries, directed several films, theatre plays and TV series. 

Current Opportunities for Film and Series Development in Central Europe Sunday, July 2, 5:30 pm in Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Atrium 

Christine Vachon

Christine Vachon is an American film producer active in the American independent film sector.

Vachon and fellow New York producer Pamela Koffler currently run Killer Films, which was established in 1996. The company celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2005 and was honoured with a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Vachon's first feature Poison (written and directed by Academy Award nominee Todd Haynes) won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 1991. Since that initial success, Christine has worked on a number of noteworthy films. Through her enduring relationship with Todd, she has worked on every feature film of his to date, including Safe, Velvet Goldmine, Far From Heaven, and I'm Not There, which starred Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Julianne Moore, and Michelle Williams. Cate Blanchett received both Academy Award and SAG Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress, and the film was also nominated for 4 Independent Spirit Awards, notching a Best Supporting Actress win for Cate Blanchett.

In 2008, Vachon won an Emmy for her role as executive producer for the TV adaptation of Ira Glass's This American Life.

Master Class (KVIFF Talk) with Christine Vachon
Monday, July 3, Hotel Thermal Congress Hall

Daan Vermeulen

Daan Vermeulen is the Managing Director (one of two) at Dutch documentary film distributor Cinema Delicatessen.
Titles he worked on include Cesária Évora, Collective, The Mole Agent, The Cave, A Strange Love Affair with Ego, The Act of Killing, CITIZENFOUR, I Am Not Your Negro, Kedi, Maidan, Those Who Feel the Fire Burning, Weiner. He is a regular guest lecturer at the Netherlands Film Academy, has been a jury member at festivals like Docville and Docaviv, and is currently part of the Curator Board of the streaming platform Cinetree.

The Missing: The Innovations Innovators Need
Tuesday, July 4, 5:30 pm, Lázně I (Imperial Spa) Zander Hall