Baltic Event Co-Production Market
Dawn Chorus
World War III has been going on for 70 years. The Soloist, a lonely traumatized by military service man with a supernatural gift to reproduce the past with sound, goes on a journey together with the Teacher, who asks him to create a memory that never existed – her dead son’s return from war.
World War III has been going on for 70 years. The Soloist, a lonely traumatized by military service 35-year old man with a supernatural gift to recognize and reproduce people's memories with sound, goes on a journey together with the Teacher, a 55-year old woman from a village, who asks him to create a memory that never existed – her dead son’s return from war. Her persistence blends with his desperate desire to recollect his own memories. Together, they embark on a journey to fulfill their needs while overcoming the obstacles of the war-torn world.
Director's note:
Dawn Chorus depicts the consequences of what we all fear now – World War III. With the help of the dystopian setting, it is possible to convey ideas that are balanced for both Ukraine and the entire world. Ideas of family restoration, preservation of memory, mutual assistance, importance of an individual in history. It is about how one can find courage to stop being a prisoner of the past and start living here and now.
Dawn Chorus is a dystopian black-and-white survival drama wrapped in road movie form. The journey of a man and a woman makes them confront the cruel war-torn world.
The story has a parable form and builds with chapters. That’s how we bring Dawn Chorus closer to a myth. That’s why the main characters do not have names, but are referred to according to their social role: the Soloist, the Teacher, and so on. The same with locations. This form gives us an understanding that such a story can happen anywhere and with anyone.
Producers' note:
This is going to be my second collaboration with Mykola Zasieiev. In 2021, together we premiered our short “Phase” at the 50th Molodist IFF in Kyiv; and then received the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation’s grant to develop a script for Mykola’s first fiction feature “Dawn Chorus”. In addition to the genre and unique characters Mykola has created, there is a setting of locations and events, which, actually, could be shot in different countries. The locations include forests, rivers, abounded facilities and plants, where the stories of the road trip might be constructed. Moreover, actors from different countries can be invited since the world got messed up after the war, and people speak different languages/accents trying to find the way of communication with and without guns.
The budget is roughly around 1.3 mln euro while the financial plan is conceived as a 5-country coproduction between Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and France. Emphasis will be placed on multi-source financing and on securing of the stability of the project in terms of possible externalities. In each country, financing will primarily be drawn from two sources – the national film fund and a television broadcaster except for Ukraine. Ukrainian financing will be provided through additional funding like World Cinema Fund, etc. We are also planning to apply for financing with Eurimages. The collaboration between the 5 co-producing countries will, thus, work not only in terms of financing of the project, but also in terms of the composition of the creative and production teams. Like for sound design, cinematographer, set-designer, editor, locations and acting already mentioned.
Graduated from Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts (Filmmaking) in 2017. While still a student, he started working with provident Ukrainian TV and film production studios as a scriptwriter, 1st AD, and acting coach. He has also made several student works released at the local film festivals. Phase, his short fiction debut, premiered at Molodist IFF in Kyiv in May 2021, and since, has been in numerous film festivals. Dawn Chorus is his upcoming feature debute.
1AD, TV-series «Mysteries», for «Ukraine» chanel (2018) 1AD, TV-series «Post Office», Film.ua (2018) Director, screenwriter short film «Phase» (2021)
Vitalii was born in Kyiv, on 27 August 1973. Gained solid experience in producing ads and movies for more than 25 years. Started his career in service production with Bates Saatchi & Saatchi in 1993. Joined «ESSE Production House» as an Executive Producer in 1998 and became the CEO in 2006. Produced 23 feature films and documentaries since 2010.
Forever-Forever, 2023, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28480219/reference/ Erik Stoneheart, 2022, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20247118/reference/ Stop-Zemlia, 2021, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14028890/reference/ Partenonas, 2019, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10767802/reference/ Anna, 2019, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9842732/reference/
Natalia Libet has gained experience in co-production, investment, and finance while working for international companies. Natalia has had annual audits with Big 4, and obtained an MBA in the U.S. She is a winner of the 2000 Edmund Muskie/Freedom Support Act Graduate Fellowship Award, a member of European and Ukrainian Film Academies, and an alumna of EURODOC 2021.
Forever-Forever, 2023, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28480219/reference/ Do You Love Me?, 2022, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21482550/reference/ Stop-Zemlia, 2021 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14028890/reference/ Parthenon, 2019 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10767802/reference/
Oleksii Zgonik was born in Dnipro city, Ukraine. Producer with more than 15 years of experience in film production. Graduated from Kyiv International University, a Master in International Law (2005).
Forever Forever, 2023, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28480219/reference/ Do you love me?, 2022, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21482550/reference/ Stop-Zemlia, 2021, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14028890/reference/ Anna, 2019, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9842732/reference/ Optics, 2022, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20769458/reference/
Marija Razgutė, a Lithuanian film producer has been running M-Films since 2008 – now one of the most active companies in Lithuania, working internationally and focused on feature films. Razgutė has been producing several most important Lithuanian film talents like Vytautas Katkus, Andrius Blaževičius, Karolis Kaupinis, and Marija Kavtaradze whose Slow was a Sundance FF 2023 title and Best Direction award winner. Marija is a proud member of ACE Producers Network.
Vitalii was born in Kyiv, on 27 August 1973. Gained solid experience in producing ads and movies for more than 25 years. Started his career in service production with Bates Saatchi & Saatchi in 1993. Joined «ESSE Production House» as an Executive Producer in 1998 and became the CEO in 2006. Produced 23 feature films and documentaries since 2010.
Forever-Forever, 2023, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28480219/reference/ Erik Stoneheart, 2022, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20247118/reference/ Stop-Zemlia, 2021, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14028890/reference/ Partenonas, 2019, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10767802/reference/ Anna, 2019, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9842732/reference/
Ilia Volynets-Trifonov was born in Odessa in 2013. He is studying to be a documentary film director at the Kyiv National University of Theater, Film, and Television. His career in the Ukrainian film industry began as a script supervisor and editor. Trifonov made his screenwriting debut with the short film Phase (co-written with Mykola Zaseev), which premiered at the Molodist Film Festival in 2021. Dawn Chorus is the first script for a full-length feature film.
DIGITAL RELIGION (DGTL RLGN) LLC is a film production company working with digital projects, music and corporate videos. The company also produces documentaries and debut fiction films.