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Promote new young talents of European cinema

Joanna Gallardo, European project Manager, Nisi - Masa

1. Can you briefly present the Nisi Masa association?

NISI MASA is a European network of associations operating in 23 countries. They are run by young professionals, students and volunteers who share a common passion: the European cinema.
Our goals are:
- Discovering and promoting new film talent - Develop cross-cultural cinema projects, - Encourage the European awareness through cinema - Create a platform of collaboration for young European filmmakers

Our main activities:

- Organizing writing and filmmaking workshops,
- Organizing of conferences and seminars on filmmaking
- The promotion of short films (projections, DVD making...)
- Publishing of books and a daily magazine during European cinema festivals.


2. When did you started receiving European funds and what type of funding did you benefit from?



NISI MASA benefits from EU funds since 2003, mostly from the Youth in Action Programme. For three or four years now, we also receive funding under the MEDIA and Citizenship Programme. Finally, the Council of Europe helps us regularly for some projects.


3. What can you tell us about the “Istanbul Express\" project, which will begin on September 20?




To summarize, “Istanbul Express” is an ambitious project that combines all the elements that are the hallmark of NISI MASA: Filmmaking on a European issue – the multilingualism-by young Europeans within an original framework. The filmmakers take the train and cross the whole of Europe in three different journeys, to join Istanbul (Turkey) for a week of events (screenings of films made, conferences, parties...)


4. Finally, can you share with us your experience of European project Management? What were the main difficulties you encountered and what advice would give to other people with similar projects?



First of all, a strong idea cannot easily be replaced. Projects are sometimes proposeed just to bring together different countries, different people, without reflecting a strong concept that can bring them together or in any case on which they can exchange. Then, you need good partners with whom you can agree. The preparation and communication phase are crucial. We can cope with different working environments because of different cultures. One must know how to remain flexible, diplomat, and find a common language and a common ground! First English then ... This may be the main difficulty of a European project: the different ways to organize the project, to work together. At the same time, these differences enrich a project. The European framework makes it possible to take the best from each country and dispose of greater choice in the proposals ... For the rest, it’s really not that different from the implementation of a wide national project. We just work in a broader geographical context...