4 acclaimed script editors mentor the JSFL participants: Clare Downs, Jacques Akchoti, Thomas Hailer and Sari Azoulay Turgeman. HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION 13TH EDITION CATALOGUE 13TH EDITION PARTICIPANTS AND PROJECTS MENTORS JURY TEAM LAB FILMS PITCH TRAINER In 2012, after more than 20 years in distribution, Dominique Welinski founded DW, a production and consulting company. Since then, she curates and produces the Factory program at Director’s Fortnight in Cannes. She has produced or co-produced among others: Sanjeewa Pushpakumara Burning Birds; Alireza Khatami’s Oblivion Verses; Midi Z Road to Mandalay; John Tengrove The Wound; Suba Sivakumaran House of My Fathers and Yona Rozenkier The Dive and The Road to Eilat. DW is currently developing films in Sri Lanka, Israel, India and Greece. The pitch training is in courtesy of the Shuster Polakoff foundation. Dominique Welinski France Founding member of the script analysis team of the Creative Europe Producer Training Programme, EAVE, Clare has been with the JSFL since its inception in 2011 and in that context she mentored JSFL films such as The Kindergarten Teacher (Critics Week, Cannes 2014); The Accused (Venice, Toronto 2018); Murina (Camera d’Or, Directors’ Fortnight 2021); Cinema Sabaya (Israel’s Oscar submission 2022). She was Director of the Association of Independent Producers (1978-1980); Director of International Creative Affairs for The Ladd Company (1981-83); Producer of award-winning films - The Dress (1985) BAFTA best short; the feature High Season (1987) San Sebastian, Best Screenplay. A much sought-after consultant to various film funds and many international script workshops. Clare Downs UK Screenwriter and script consultant, Jacques has been an integral part of the Sam Spiegel International Film Lab since its inception in 2011. A graduate of NYU, he has worked with directors such as Bresson and Von Trier. He was involved with the development of award-winning films, many of which premiered at Cannes: A Screaming Man (Jury Prize, 2010 Cannes); Girls of the Sun (Cannes 2018); Raw (Cannes Critics Week 2016). A teacher of writing and directing at La Femis since 1988, Jacques has facilitated many international screenwriting and development workshops. Jacques Akchoti France Thomas Hailer is the Artistic Director of the Nordic Film Days, Lübeck. From 2008 to 2019 he was responsible for the program of the International Competition as Berlinale curator alongside the festival director. He has been working as a dramaturg and script consultant since 1995. As a freelance dramaturg, he supervised, among others, the film adaptation of A.S. Neill‘s classic children‘s book The Green Cloud as well as Bernd Sahling‘s German Film Award-winning feature film The Duds. His current projects include script consulting for Barbara Kronenberg‘s directorial debut Mission Ulja Funk which premiered at the Berlinale 2021. Thomas Hailer Germany Hagai Levi is a writer, director and producer who, among others, wrote and directed the adaptation of Scenes from a Marriage for HBO, in 2015 Levi won the Golden Globe award for best drama series as the co-creator and co-producer of the series The Affair (Showtime, 2014); he co-created, co-directed and co-produced the HBO series Our Boys which won the Israeli academy award for best series. In 2005, Levi created, co-produced and co-directed the Israeli TV series BiTipul, later adapted to the HBO's series In Treatment (2007-2010). Hagai Levi Israel Sari Azoulay Turgeman is a director, screenwriter and script doctor, born in Cannes, France. Her first feature film “Wait For Me״ had its world premiere in competition 1-2, at the 2022 Warsaw Film Festival. It won the Best International Film prize at the Colluseum International Film Festival, and at the Film Festival One Country One Film. In 2008, she founded her own company for script consulting services (Scriptlight.com) and developed her own screenwriting method, which she teaches in professional workshops and masterclasses. Sari works as an artistic consultant for the Israeli Film Funds and as a mentor in workshops worldwide. She developed, script edited and screen wrote series such as Fauda (seasons 2, 3 4, 5) . She script edited the films “The Cousin” and “The Testimony”, which both took part in the Venice film festival and more. Lately she began work on her next feature film. Sari Azoulay Turgeman Israel MENTORS 2025

Dea Kulumbegashvili 13TH EDITION CATALOGUE 13TH EDITION PARTICIPANTS AND PROJECTS MENTORS JURY TEAM LAB FILMS Director: Dea Kulumbegashvili 2017 Year of lab participation: 6 Lab edition: Country: Gorgia Producer: Rati Oneli Beginning In a sleepy provincial town, a Jehovah's Witness community is attacked by an extremist group. In the midst of this conflict, the familiar world of Yana, the wife of the community leader, slowly crumbles. Yana's inner discontent grows as she struggles to make sense of her desires. Lab edition: Toronto International Film Festival 2020 - FIPRESCI Prize San Sebastián International Film Festival 2020 - Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress New York Film Festival 2020 Busan International Film Festival 2020 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2020 Adelaide Film Festival 2020 - Best Feature Singapore International Film Festival 2020 - Best Director Jerusalem Film Festival 2021 Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film Lab 2017 - 2nd Prize Winner Synopsis 2020 Year of release: PITCH Trailer HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION

The Sam Spiegel International Film Lab (JSFL) supports bold storytellers, who look deeply into the human experience in search for their unique truth. FILM LAB SERIES LAB LABS NEWS LOAD ALL NEWS Hold Onto Me to represent Cyprus in the race to the Oscars Edition 14 of the Film Lab Concludes in Venice Production Bridge. And the winners are... "Children of the Monkey" wins 2 Awards in the Venice Orizzonti Competition "Tell Me Everything" Wins 10 Awards in the Israeli Academy Awards The JSFL supports story tellers whose voices need to be heard and creates opportunities for a multitude of stories to reach audiences. Since its launch in 2011, The Sam Spiegel International Film Lab has become a leading force in the development of groundbreaking feature films by some of the world’s most promising talents. In December 2021 the Sam Spiegel Series Lab was launched with the aim of creating a bridge between Israeli creators and international audiences. The Sam Spiegel Labs support bold storytellers, who look deeply into the human experience in search for their unique truth. AND IN THE PEOPLE WHO TELL THEM WE BELIEVE IN STORIES LABS TEAM The Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film School is the leading film school in Israel. It’s on the Hollywood Reporter list of 15 best global film schools for 7 years in a row, and was founded in 1989. The JSFS invests in young filmmakers telling the story of Israeli society with all its facets, placing the School as a hub for the flourishing Israeli cinema. Currently JSFS has 180 students enrolled in two tracks: the full track, a four-year program; and the screenwriting track, a two-year program. The School also runs a preparatory program for Arabic speakers from East Jerusalem, to ensure that this population has a chance to apply and learn at the School. Thus far, Sam Spiegel produces around 30 films a year and its graduates form the backbone of the Israeli cinema and television industry. Among the most prominent alumni are Golden Bear winner Nadav Lapid; “Shtisel” creator Yehonatan Indursky; and award-winning directors Rama Burshtein and Talya Lavie. ABOUT JSFS SCHOOL HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION

Shiri Nevo Friedenthal 13TH EDITION CATALOGUE 13TH EDITION PARTICIPANTS AND PROJECTS MENTORS JURY TEAM LAB FILMS Director: Shiri Nevo Friedenthal 2019 Year of lab participation: 8 Lab edition: Country: Israel Producer: Marek Rozenbaum All I Can Do Reut, a young prosecutor, takes over a sexual assault case, based on the sole testimony of Efrat - a rebellious yet fragile victim, who lives with her wild female partner. Reut is reluctant, but as the trial progresses and Efrat collapses, Reut learns the true nature of strength, love and sisterhood. Lab edition: Jerusalem Film Festival 2022 Synopsis 2022 Year of release: PITCH Trailer HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION

14TH EDITION CATALOGUE 14TH EDITION PROJECTS MENTORS JURY LAB FILMS TEAM PARTNERS Director: Netalie Braun 2021 Year of lab participation: 9 Lab edition: Country: Israel Producer: Adi Bar-Yossef Oxygen Anat eagerly awaits her son Ido’s release from the army and their planned trip abroad. When his release is canceled and he's being sent for the new war, she sets out on a journey to bring him home. Lab edition: Jerusalem Film Festival 2025 - Best Israeli Feature Film Mar del Plata Film Festival 2025 Synopsis 2025 Year of release: PITCH Trailer HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION

Mikko Myllylahti 13TH EDITION CATALOGUE 13TH EDITION PARTICIPANTS AND PROJECTS MENTORS JURY TEAM LAB FILMS Director: Mikko Myllylahti 2016 Year of lab participation: 5 Lab edition: Country: Finland Producer: Jussi Rantamaki The Woodcutter's Story Pepe the woodcutter's life in his idyllic Finnish village is torn apart over the course of a few days, but he is seemingly fine with it all. As though he knows some profound truth about existence. Lab edition: Cannes Film Festival 2022 - Gan Foundation Award for Distribution Helsinki International Film Festival 2022 BFI London Film Festival 2022 Torino Film Festival 2022 Sao Paulo International Film Festival 2022 Jussi Awards 2023 - Best Sound Design Synopsis 2022 Year of release: PITCH Trailer HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION

The Accident HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION HOME SERIES LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY ADVISORY BOARD PARTICIPANTS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FAQ

14TH EDITION CATALOGUE 14TH EDITION PROJECTS MENTORS JURY LAB FILMS TEAM PARTNERS Director: 2017 Year of lab participation: 6 Lab edition: Country: Israel Producer: Haim Mecklberg More Than I Deserve After a boy's mother refuses to help him prepare for his bar mitzvah, he forms a bond with a religious neighbour who volunteers to help him. Lab edition: Jerusalem Film Festival 2021 Warsaw Jewish Film Festival 2022 Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film Lab 2017 - 1st Prize Winner Synopsis 2021 Year of release: PITCH Trailer HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION

Each year, a jury consisting of worldwide film professionals chooses the awarded projects that will win production and development grants. In her 6.5 years at Netflix Sam has closely collaborated with producers and broadcasters across the whole of EMEA to build an extensive slate of co-productions. She has worked across all EMEA markets to bring local language library content to Netflix. In 2022 She became head of UK/IE content acquisitions and all content for Israel. She recently commissioned the first original Israeli series BROS as well as establishing deals with all local Israeli broadcasters and producers to bring the best local content to the Israel content slate. Previous to Netflix Sam worked at Sky for 6 years in production and before that as a script editor at the BBC. Sam Blanco Head of UK/IE Acquisitions and Israel Content, Netflix , UK Sandra Stern is the Vice Chairman of the Lionsgate Television Group, serving as a key member of the Company’s senior management team for nearly 20 years and helping to guide Lionsgate’s television business to record-breaking revenue growth during nearly every year of her tenure. Lionsgate Television is producing a robust slate of scripted series this year. Twelve of these series are already in their third seasons or later, including THE ROOKIE, GHOSTS, and the hit drama POWER BOOK III: RAISING KANAN. Upcoming series include Seth Rogen’s half-hour comedy THE STUDIO, as well as the thriller THE HUNTING WIVES and the highly anticipated SPARTACUS: HOUSE OF ASHUR. Stern has innovated deals for iconic Lionsgate series including MAD MEN (AMC), WEEDS (Showtime) and ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (Netflix). She also played a key role in Lionsgate’s acquisition of global entertainment platform eOne and in the investment in leading talent management & production company 3 Arts Entertainment. Sandra Stern Vice Chairman of the Lionsgate Television Group , USA Lauren worked all eight seasons on the original DEXTER for Showtime, graduating from staff writer to co-executive producer. She then developed, wrote and executive produced a pilot with Ryan Murphy, HBO’s OPEN (2014), starring Michelle Monaghan. Under a nine-year overall deal with CBS, she developed several pitches and sold nine pilots, including Netflix’s INSATIABLE (2018-19), starring Debby Ryan, which she show-ran for two seasons. Lauren’s broadcast credits include NBC’s E-RING, ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME, and CBS’s GOOD SAM. Lauren is currently developing a modern reboot of the classic nighttime 90’s soap opera, MELROSE PLACE, with several original cast members attached, in addition to several other projects, which range from procedural to edgy dramedy. Lauren Gussis American television writer and producer , USA JURY 2024 HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION 3RD EDITION SERIES CATALOGUE 3RD EDITION PARTICIPANTS AND PROJECTS JURY MENTORS TEAM

The Jerusalem Sam Spiegel International Film and Television labs team are Dana Blankstein Cohen , Mor Eldar and Johnny Doov HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION 13TH EDITION CATALOGUE 13TH EDITION PARTICIPANTS AND PROJECTS MENTORS JURY TEAM LAB FILMS Director of International Relations Cara Saposnik CFO Avi Mackhel Marketing manager Keren Ron Dar IT manager Tommy Kay Hammer JSFS TEAM HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ Dana Blankstein Cohen is the Executive Director of the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, a visionary cultural institution which prides itself on believing in the power of storytelling. As part of Blankstein Cohen’s vision for the diverse communities that make up the unique mosaic of Israeli life, Blankstein Cohen initiated a fast-track preparatory program for creators from East Jerusalem. In 2022 she spearheaded the launch of the new Series Lab in cooperation with Netflix, Paramount and Scripted Israel. Previously, the CEO of the Israeli Academy of Film and Television. As Executive Director of Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, Blankstein Cohen oversaw the school’s historic move to a multi-million-dollar campus in downtown Jerusalem where the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School is the anchor in the new Jerusalem Arts Campus. Dana Blankstein Cohen JSFS Executive Director Mor Eldar, is the director of the internationally renowned Sam Spiegel International Film and Series Lab, an initiative of the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School. Eldar began working at the Lev Cinema chain in 1998 where she established the events department while she was also the associate director of distribution. In 2000 she joined the newly formed YES Satellite television as an acquisition manager, and in 2005 returned to the Lev Cinema chain to be the Head of marketing and distribution. In 2008 she established and managed the Holon Cinematheque and then in 2009 returned as the head of the movie department and head commissioner of films at YES Satellite. She served as a jury member at the Jerusalem Film Festival and at the Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival. Mor Eldar Labs Director Johnny Doov is a Tel-Aviv based filmmaker, editor and producer. He served as producer for cinema events and festivals such as the Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival and Docaviv. His short films “Kiss Me”, “Countdown” and “I Met You on My Way to the Cemetery” screened at LGBTQ film festivals around the world, winning the grand prix at PiterKit Saint Petersburg, 2022. Short films Bug and Between Her, edited by Johnny, won awards at Palm Springs ShortFest and were shortlisted for the BAFTA student awards. Johnny Doov Labs Producer OUR TEAM

14TH EDITION CATALOGUE 14TH EDITION PROJECTS MENTORS JURY LAB FILMS TEAM PARTNERS Director: Dani Rosenberg 2013 Year of lab participation: 2 Lab edition: Country: Israel Producer: Chilik Michaeli The Vanishing Soldier Eighteen-year-old Israeli soldier flees back to his girlfriend in Tel Aviv only to discover that the military elite is convinced he was kidnapped in the fog of war. Lab edition: Locarno Film Festival 2023 Reykjavik International Film Festival 2023 Haifa International Film Festival 2023 - Best Film Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival 2023 Thessaloniki Film Festival 2023 Busan International Film Festival 2023 Israeli Film Academy Awards 2023 - Best Cinematography Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film Lab 2013 - 2nd Prize Winner Synopsis 2023 Year of release: PITCH Trailer HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION

Soft Hours 13TH EDITION CATALOGUE 13TH EDITION PARTICIPANTS AND PROJECTS MENTORS JURY TEAM LAB FILMS Soft Hours Filmmaker Anna Gyimesi Producer Barbara Janišová Feglová Production Company Hitchhiker Cinema Country Slovakia, Hungary Lab Edition 13 , 2025 SCENE PITCH SHORT SYNOPSIS “Soft Hours" is a drama about Ilona, a woman in her fifties whose adult son, Tóbiás, died during a family trip to Slovakia. Overwhelmed by her loss, she hires Leon, a young prostitute, to fill the void by replacing him. As Leon seeks a mother figure, they develop a suffocating mother-son intimacy that ultimately fails to resolve their elemental needs. The encounter finally forces Ilona to confront her own guilt and imperfection as a mother, allowing herself to grieve. DIRECTOR’S NOTE “Soft Hours” explores the taboos of motherhood in a deeply personal way, stemming from my own grappling with societal expectations, particularly women's roles and the cult of perfection. Though I may not be a mother, this story became urgently compelling as I confronted my own perceived imperfections of my life path. “Soft Hours” tackles not only the stigma of motherly grieving, but also the emotional journey of letting go of idealizations, and finding a new self beyond rigid societal constructs. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER Anna Gyimesi (b. 1985, Budapest) turned from medicine to filmmaking, graduating as a director from the University of Theater and Film Arts Budapest (2019) and Docnomads (2021). Her films explore taboo social issues focusing on motherhood, womanhood, and marginalization. These themes are already visible in her shorts “Affricate” and "Falling”, with the latter winning the Heart of Sarajevo (2023). She's also a doctoral researcher on fiction and documentary boundaries. Soft Hours is her debut feature. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER PRODUCER Barbara Janišová Feglová Barbara Janišová Feglová is a Slovak producer and founder of HITCHHIKER Cinema, a boutique company dedicated to auteur-driven films with strong social and political resonance. She has produced award-winning creative documentaries such as “A Hole in the Head”, “Lines”, and “Ms. President”. With a background in documentary cinema, she is now shifting her focus to fiction, championing bold, female-led storytelling. Her current slate includes “Soft Hours” by Anna Gyimesi, “This Room is Impossible to Eat" by Barbora Berezňáková, and the series “Child on Fire”. She also teaches at the Documentary Department of the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. PRODUCTION COMPANY PROFILE ○ HITCHHIKER Cinema, Bratislava / Slovakia ○ +421 905 858 808 ○ boruska@hitchhikercinema.sk PRODUCTION BUDGET ○ Total budget: 1,110,000 USD ○ Confirmed budget and source: 30,000 USD (KULTMINOR, Slovakia) LANGUAGE Hungarian, Slovak, English GENRE Drama Back To Participants HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION