We are happy to confirm 4 top experts just added to the Training Ground 2010’s program:

OLIVIER COTTE IN “SPECIAL EFFECTS ON MY BACKYARD”

Olivier Cotte (born June 20, 1963) is a French film director, writer, graphic novel author, and animation historian.

After studying music, ballet, fine arts and films, he worked 15 years in the industry as director, flame artist and director of special effects, with such people as Wim Wenders (Until the End of the World), Roman Polanski (Death and the Maiden), Costa-Gavras (Mad City), Bob Swaim (The Climb), Josiane Balasko (Un grand cri d’amour), Jaco van Dormael (The Eighth Day), Leos Carax (Pola X), and Matthieu Kassovitz (Assassin(s)).

As critic and historian Olivier Cotte is the author of several works about animated films, including a technical and historical encyclopedia about animation worldwide, monographs on film directors, and a book on Oscar-winning animated short films. He also has translated into French ‘The Animator’s Survival Kit’ by Richard Williams, written several technical works and over a hundred articles for magazines. He collaborates with numerous international animation festivals and cinematheques, and lectures at Gobelins (school of image), Ecole Supérieure de Réalisation Audiovisuelle, l’Eesa, Film Academy Baden-Wuerttemberg, Waide Somme, European Animation Master Class, Taiwan Film Center, Communication University of China, and others.

Olivier Cotte has directed many short films, mainly in animation, or mixing animation and live action.

He is also a writer and author of graphic novels.

ANTÓNIO PEDRO DE VASCONCELOS IN “ACTOR – DIRECTOR RELATION”

António Pedro de Vasconcelos is one of the Portuguese filmmakers more widely renown internationally
internationally. He has been directing and producing since the 60s.

Has achieved numerous awards worldwide with its vast work. Some of his films are “O Lugar do Morto”, “Os imortais” e “Call Girl” His latest film premiered this year in Portuguese theaters “A Bela e o Paparazzo”. Antonio produced films of prominent national authors, such as Manoel de Oliveira, António Reis and João Mário Grilo. He is also a film critic and also organized various congresses and published of literary works. Was president of the Portuguese Directors Association, Portuguese Association of Film and Audiovisual Secretariat of the National Audiovisual Program SCALE from European Union and the Council of Opinion of RTP.

NUNO FONSECA IN “FUNDRAISING”

Nuno Fonseca is a member of staff at the ICA, Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual IP, with advisory functions and project anagement in the areas of audiovisual politics, strategy and European affairs. He was vice-president of ICA between 2005 and 2007. Has developed work in the study and policies of funding in Europe. National representative in International bodies, including committees of the European Union. In its intense career he has been Deputy Secretary of State for Culture, Employee of Secretariat of the European Parliament (Luxembourg), the author of radio pieces and translator of works by authors such as Jean Monnet, Karl Popper,
among others. Has edited two publications on cinema.

JOÃO BOTELHO IN “BUILDING STORYBOARDS”

Joao Botelho is one of the most respected Portuguese directors. He started his career in the 70s. Its curriculum consists of about two
dozens of works exhibited and awarded internationally, particularly in s festivals in Venice, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, Belford, Figueira da Foz, among many others. He was honored twice the OCIC Prize. All his feature films were shown commercially in Portugal and some countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, England and Japan. Some of His films are “Conversa Acabada”, “Quem És Tu?”, “O Fatalista” and more recently “A Corte do Norte”. In April 2010 he will premier “Oh, Lisboa Meu Lar!” and he is in post production of “O filme do Desassossego. He was also distinguished with the Commendation of the Order of Infante for culture in 2005.