First Cut+ is a program launched in 2020 for boosting the promotion & audience engagement strategies of feature films that previously took part in a First Cut Lab workshop.

First Cut+ operates twice a year, working in close cooperation with two dynamic and well-established film industry platforms: When East Meets West and Karlovy Vary IFF’s Eastern Promises. Each year a portfolio of 16 feature films is promoted: 8 films during the winter session at Trieste’s When East Meets West, and 8 films during the summer session at Karlovy Vary IFF’s Eastern Promises Industry Days.

Participating projects benefit from lectures and individual mentoring consultations on promotion, marketing, PR & press, festivals, and sales strategy from various film industry consultants.This is followed by a works-in-progress organised under the ‘First Cut+’ label, open to selected decision makers (sales agents & distributors, festivals’ programmers, etc). 

 At the 2023 winter session, an international jury composed by Esra Demirkiran (TRT), Stefan Ivančić (Locarno Film Festival), Daniel Vadocky (Pluto Films) will deliver the TRT Prize to one of the films – a cash award of 5 000 Euros sponsored by the Turkish public broadcaster.

Have a look at the complete line-up of the winter session of First Cut+ HERE!