by Ponta Lopud
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by Ponta Lopud
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After already announcing the hosts of the masterclasses, Ruben Östlund and Edward Norton, who will deliver lectures and workshops for directors and actors, as well as Urszula Pontikos, who will lead specialized programs for female cinematographers, the Ponta Lopud Festival’s roster of guests, positioning itself as a creative cultural hub for film industry professionals, is now complete.
These distinguished figures from the world of film art are returning to Lopud for the second or even third time. As a special guest participating in a conversation with Ruben Östlund as part of the director’s masterclass, is Philippe Bober, the founder of Coproduction Office, a company responsible for producing all of Östlund’s films, including the Palme d’Or winner TRIANGLE OF SADNESS.
Brian Swardstrom, a talent agent with thirty years of experience and a partner at United Talented Agency, where he represents actors such as Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Michael Douglas, and many others, along with Peter Spears, an Oscar-winning producer of NOMADLAND, will deliver a lecture entitled “The US model of talent agency work and the basics of US indie production”.
Michel Franco, an acclaimed Mexican director, screenwriter, and producer, and now a friend of the Ponta Lopud Festival, will give a special lecture titled “Money is not the most important element to make a film”. He will also moderate an acting masterclass. Returning as a moderator for a masterclass geared towards directors is another familiar face, Pawel Pawlikowski, the Polish director and Oscar winner, who led directing masterclasses during the Festival’s inaugural edition. Serbian director and film producer Ognjen Glavonić, a participant in the first Ponta Lopud Festival, will also return.
Finnish director and screenwriter Juho Kuosmanen will deliver a lecture titled “Director’s fear of the new project”, while the executive producers of TRIANGLE OF SADNESS, Giorgos Karnavas and Konstantinos Kontovrakis, as well as the Oscar-winning producer of NOMADLAND, Mollye Asher, will give a lecture on “Independent Films and Co-productions.”
Renowned Hungarian director and screenwriter Lili Horvát will moderate two masterclasses, one for actors and one for female cinematographers. Joining her as a collaborator in the cinematographers’ masterclass is BAFTA-winning British cinematographer Nina Kellgren.
The masterclasses and lectures are exclusively intended for invited participants, based on their contributions to the art of filmmaking. However, all film art enthusiasts will have the opportunity to enjoy screenings of classics directed by or starring guests of this year’s Festival, which will take place on the beach of the RMH Lopud Lafodia Resort & Wellness.
The following films will be screened: two by Ruben Östlund: FORCE MAJEURE and TRIANGLE OF SADNESS, Michel Franco’s AFTER LUCIA, Juho Kuosmanen’s THE HAPPIEST DAY IN THE LIFE OF OLLI MÄKI and THE PAINTED VEIL, a drama directed by John Curran and starring Edward Norton.
Östlund’s FORCE MAJEURE is a witty portrayal of the male role in contemporary family life, following a young Swedish family, whose foundations are shaken by an unexpected incident during their vacation in the French Alps. TRIANGLE OF SADNESS is a scathing and incisive satire on class roles and the vulgarity of extreme wealth, which brought Ruben Östlund the Palme d’Or, four major European film awards, and three Oscar nominations.
Michel Franco directed and wrote the screenplay for AFTER LUCIA, a film that follows Robert and his daughter Alejandra as they embark on a new life in the capital city of Mexico after a family tragedy. Unfortunately, a series of unfortunate events leads to dire consequences.
THE HAPPIEST DAY IN THE LIFE OF OLLI MÄKI is a film inspired by a true story, depicting a Finnish boxer who, at the beginning of his professional career, gets the opportunity to face the reigning world champion in the featherweight category. Despite experiencing a tough defeat, he claims it to be the best day of his life.
THE PAINTED VEIL is a romantic and psychologically nuanced tale of love, betrayal, and forgiveness, following a married couple amidst turbulent historical events. Alongside Edward Norton, the film is starring Naomi Watts.
Tickets for film screenings on the beach of the RMH Lopud Lafodia Resort & Wellness, as well as boat transfer tickets, can be purchased through the www.ulaznice.hr system or directly via the link ulaznice.hr/r/Ponta-Lopud.