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  • THE WITNESS

    II edition

    Krzysztof Kieślowski ScripTeast Special Mention 2008

    THE WITNESS

    Bebek is a junior officer at the International Crime Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, also known as The Hague Tribunal of Justice. He is young, ambitious, and in his own view, underestimated. Spending too much time in the copy-room, the bottom of the career ladder, he dreams of a life more exciting and a post at The World Court.
    Nikola Radin – alas, the General -is a high ranking former officer at the Yugoslav Federal Army. When the wars in Yugoslavia started, he resigned his post and withdrew to his ancestral village near the Adriatic. Loosing his family, career and wealth he has found peace of mind in his native place, doing odd jobs, scribbling poetry and hunting – living the life of a recluse and a ‘hermit’.
    Professor Van Saar is a judge at the Hague tribunal. After three decades of dedicated service to international justice, struck by a terminal disease, he is forced to retire. Before the inevitable happens, he wants to complete his last assignment, a four year trial of alleged war criminal, Miro Antic. Van Saar believes that only General Radin’s testimony can terminate the process and put Antic behind bars.
    But coming with one excuse or other, the officials of the ex-Yugoslav country repeatedly fail to extradite General Radin, claiming that he is either in poor health or that he can not be located. Facing his close end, Judge Van Saar acts beyond the books: he sends his junior employee Bebek on a mission to track down The General and bring him over to The Hague. Little that he knows that no one in the ex country wants The General to testify in The Hague. The moment Bebek encounters the mysterious General, a legion of armed local militias move on a manhunt. For two days and two nights Bebek and The General will run for their lives. Across the (Dinara) mountains and down to the (Adriatic) sea, they will fend off the militias while making a bond of loyalty, trust and ultimately friendship.
    Wounded, before he dies, The General succeeds to guide Bebek out of the predicament. Bebek saves his life but not his life’s outlook. The General’s poetry under his shoulder, he will return to The Hague a new man.

    Poland

    Mitko Panov

    Mitko Panov studied Directing at the Polish National School for Film, TV & Theatre in Lodz. In 1988 he moved to the USA. Since 2004 he lives in Switzerland.
    For his films he received a number of international awards among which the Golden Palm for best short film in Cannes 1991, a special jury award at the Clermont Ferrand film festival, 2000 and a Best Balkan (short) Film Award at Drama Greece, 2000, to name a few.
    His works were aired on major television networks including : Canal +, France 3, Channel 4, ARTE, ZDF, PBS, ARD/BR, 3 Sat, B-92, Arts & Entertainment etc.
    From 1991 on, Panov taught directing at the New York University Graduate Film Department, The German State School for Film and TV in Munich (H.F.F. ) and is a funding member of the New York Film Academy. He is an Associate Professor in film directing and production at the University of Texas at Austin.
    Panov is recipient of a number of grants and fellowships including the Rockefeller Fellowship for US Film and Media artists, the Guggenheim Fellowship for distinguished artists and scholars and the Sundance (Soros) Documentary Film Grant.

    Poland

    Władysław Pasikowski

    Born in Łódz on June 16, 1959. One of the most successful Polish film directors.
    Between 1978-1983, he pursued cultural studies at Łódz University, majoring in film studies. Next, between 1983-1988, he studied at the Direction Faculty in the famed Łódz Film School..
    Awards for his work include:
    Award for his directorial Debut and the Special Award to “Kroll” at the Polish Feature Film Festival in Gdynia 1991
    Gold Duck Award to “Psy” for Direction at the same festival in 1993 and Award for Best Direction at the Action and Adventure Film Festival in Velenciennes in 1994
    Best Direction Award “Ostatnia krew Psy 2” at Valenciennes 1995
    Best Direction “Słodko Gorzki” at the Polish FFF in Gdynia 1996

    Udayan Prasad

    “ScripTeast is the programme all the advisors wish they could have attended at the start of their careers. It would have saved all that stumbling around in the dark looking for the key that stimulates the imagination so much more effectively.”

    BAFTA nominated, director of “My Son the Fanatic”, “The Yellow Hankerchief” and ”Opa!”, 5th edition ScripTeast creative advisor, UK

    Tom Abrams

    “ScripTeast’s top-notch team of professional advisors, each year’s talented group of participants, and venues in Poland, Germany and France continue to make it the very best development workshop in the world today.”

    ScripTeast Head of Studies, Associate Professor – Screenwriting and Production at School of Cinematic Arts, USC, screenwriter and director, author of the script for the Oscar-nominated film “Shoeshine”, USA

    Scott Alexander

    “ScripTeast is a fascinating mix of cultures, political ideas, and voices. I learned a lot, and I think the participants learned a lot more. If only they served vodka!”

    Golden Globe awarded author of “The People vs. Larry Flynt” and “Ed Wood” with two Oscars, 5th edition ScripTeast creative advisor, USA