Editor

Hungarian director Béla Tarr will back in Espinho to head a two-week long film directing workshop. This initiative is organized by FEST – Cultural Association, the entity responsible for FEST – New Directors | New films Festival, in Espinho (Portugal). The workshop will take place between the 26th of February and the 11th of March 2018.

With a limited and exclusive access, the workshop will allow all participants to develop different skills in terms of script development, writing process, film production and direction. Throughout the period of the activity all participants will produce one short film, with the aid of the Hungarian master’s experience and perspective. Not obeying a logic of right or wrong, the workshop will be guided by the unique mind-set of Béla Tarr, who will share his personal background and artistic vision in order to lead the participants in the construction of a short film.   

Béla Tarr is an Hungarian filmmaker, widely regarded as one of the most influential authors of the last 30 years. He began producing amateur cinema at the age of 16, before his work began catching the attention of the Bela Balazs Studios, which helped to finance his first feature “Family Nest”, in 1979. Nominated for several awards in different parts of the world, he won many of the most important recognitions around the planet, up until he announced his retirement as a filmmaker in 2012, only a year after winning the coveted Golden Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival and the Fipresci awards in Berlin and Palm Springs, all with "The Turin Horse”. In 2016, Béla Tarr announced he would also retire from the world of education. This return to teaching represents a rare opportunity to collaborate with what is often regarded as the ultimate figure of the “Slow Cinema” school of filmmaking.   
   
All those interested can apply through our website, by submitting their portfolio and a motivational letter. Only 12 candidates will be chosen for the workshop, with Béla Tarr himself making the triage of candidates. The price of participation is 1599 euros.