Director’s Debut: Case Study of the Worldwide Success

It is popular belief that films made in CIS territories (unless it be Russia) have quite a slim chance for success. Directors’ debuts account for most deplorable facts in this respect. Given their total disbelief at the idea of quality festival products to be produced in our region, Europe and America don’t believe in cooperation prospects with CIS countries. However, they are wrong. One of the examples to illustrate the statement is Harmony Lessons, a tripartite coproduction (Kazakhstan, Germany and France). The film success story has been showcased by its producer Anna Katchko at today’s international conference Film Business: Challenges, Features, Opportunities in the course of KYIV MEDIA WEEK 2014.

According to Anna Katchko who has been engaged in producing and consulting in Kazakhstan since 2008, the period of 2008-2009  was actually a prelude to the film business development in that country. “It was in 2011 that we together with Kazakhfilm announced a tender for films by local directors to fit the international coproduction. Having received nearly 100 applications we agreed that they were to be judged by more than 30 European experts specially arriving in Kazakhstan: producers, festival selectors and directors, heads of TV channels”, - Anna recounts. 8 projects were primarily selected to be presented at the open pitching session. It is worth noting that nearly all the project authors were young people. As a result the experts voted (almost unanimously) for Lessons of Harmony which was thus co-financed financing by the government.

Then came the highlights of the story, i.e. the project promotion towards Europe so as to seek co-funding there. Anna admits that making a start was extremely arduous. All and any film funds denied the producers requests for six months running. They either would not trust them or were simply scared to back up a project from Kazakhstan - a place unheard of. The situation changed when the producers managed to show a part of the footage  in Sarajevo  in the course of work in progress program where Post Republic, a German company, awarded  the film with its prize – full postproduction funding. Within a week’s time from that the producers got the financial backing confirmation from the Berlinale World Cinema Fund which usually provides support for 4 projects twice a year. “Despite its quite moderate amount in terms of money, the support as such is of great importance for the future of  any  project by a young director whereas the fund is operated  by selectors for Berlinale”, - Anna proceeds with her story.   

The Berlinale selectors saw the film in rough cut at Eurasia-2012 film festival with CNC (a French film fund) supporting it by the year end. It was in January 2013 that the producers were invited to take part in the Berlinale main competition where the film got the Silver Bear award. With nearly 110-115 festival invitations received  by now the producers selected about 40 of them where in most cases the film won prestigious awards. The film has been in wide release in 10 countries including – quite recently – France.  

Although the film screenings (both, at festivals and in cinema theaters) have not brought in a lot of money as compared to, say, blockbusters, Emir Baigazin, its director, finds it much easier to get funding for his next project.

Please follow KYIV MEDIA WEEK news on our website, Facebook and Twitter.