Directors' Factory 2023

As the new Fortnight, the Factory becomes the Directors' Factory !

This program aims at the emergence of new talents on the international scene by allowing three newly formed pairs (a regional director associated with an international director) to co-direct a film.

After the Balkans in 2019, the Directors' Fortnight, Bando a Parte and DW associate this year for a program of films with North Portugal Factory. This Factory is supported by the Portuguese institutions (ICA, RTP, FILMAPORTO,  Câmara Municipal do Porto, Câmara Municipal do Guimarães, Agência da Curta Metragem, Curtas Vila do Conde ISFF, Olho de Vidro) and Cine for the French side.

The six selected directors bring also feature films projects and will profit from their presence at the Fortnight to pitch these projects to the professionals  (producers, distributors and sellers)

The 3 short films will be screened at the Théâtre Croisette, on Wednesday May 17, day of the opening of the 55th edition of Directors’ Fortnight.

THE PAIRS 2023 : 

ANDRE GUIOMAR (Portugal) & MYA KAPLAN (Israël)
MARIO MACEDO (Portugal) & DORNAZ HAJIHA (Iran)
MARIANA BARTOLO (Portugal) & GUILLERMO GARCIA LOPEZ (Espagne)

ESPINHO / L'ÉCHARDE / THORN

15 min

writers-directors : Andre Guiomar (Portugal) & Mya Kaplan (Israel)

cast : Miguel Ribeiro - Téo; Ricardo Vaz Trindade - Padre João; Catarina Lacerda - Maria

Téo, a lunar teenager, meets the new priest of his rural village, who just returned from Mozambique. As the two get closer, they develop a spiritual bond immersed in attraction.

MARIA

13 min

writers-directors : Mario Macedo (Portugal) and Dornaz Hajiha (Iran)

cast : Ângela Marques - Maria ; Cristina Cunha - Rosário; Gustavo Sumpta - Porfírio ; Júlia Valente - Carolina; Manuel Nabais - David.

Maria spends her days working at her step family’s noisy metal factory. Crushed by the violence of men, she also must take care of her both depressive sister-in-law and niece. A revolution starts boiling inside her.

AS GAIVOTAS CORTAM O CEU / LES MOUETTES DÉVORENT LE CIEL / SEAGULLS CUT THROUGH THE SKY

17 min

writers-directors : Mariana Bártolo (Portugal) & Guillermo García López (Spain)

cast : Sandra Salomé - Clara; Constança Carvalho Homem - Raquel; Maria Gil - Sónia

Dense atmosphere of change and union strikes in Porto's harbor. Clara, owner of a fishermen's bar threatened by closure, finds in the arms of Raquel, waitress on cruise ships, the only shelter to express her fears and contradictions.