Synopsis
THE RUSSIAN INDUSTRIAL CITY OF KARABASH, ONCE KNOWN AS THE DIRTIEST PLACE ON EARTH, IS TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO THE CLEANEST CITY IN THE WORLD AS A MODERN SHOWCASE. OVER A PERIOD OF SIX YEARS, THE FILM OBSERVES HOW THE INHABITANTS OF KARABASH, INFLUENCED BY DIFFERENT WORLD VIEWS, BELIEVE IN THE FACTORY AND THE PROMISED CHANGES, BUT IN THE PROCESS SUPPRESS THE REAL PROBLEMS.
Synopsis
THE RUSSIAN INDUSTRIAL CITY OF KARABASH, ONCE KNOWN AS THE DIRTIEST PLACE ON EARTH, IS TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO THE CLEANEST CITY IN THE WORLD AS A MODERN SHOWCASE. OVER A PERIOD OF SIX YEARS, THE FILM OBSERVES HOW THE INHABITANTS OF KARABASH, INFLUENCED BY DIFFERENT WORLD VIEWS, BELIEVE IN THE FACTORY AND THE PROMISED CHANGES, BUT IN THE PROCESS SUPPRESS THE REAL PROBLEMS.
Stage of Production
Olga Delane has been researching and shooting in Karabash since May 2017. Doppelplusultra joined the project during the research phase in early 2019.
The research and shooting costs from May 2017 to October 2019 were financed with funds from the Robert Bosch cross-border scholarship, along with own investments and deferrals from Doppelplusultra and Olga Delane. A co-production was agreed with the Polish production company Arkana Studio.In January 2020, € 30 000 was acquired through the German-Polish Film Fund.
The project won the IDFA Forum Award for a Pitch at the East European Platform 2020 in Prague. During the development phase until July 2021, the key events in the transformation of Karabash will be shot.
For example, the inauguration of the new adventure shopping centre in May 2020.
Release is planned for the end of 2024.
Stage of Production
Olga Delane has been researching and shooting in Karabash since May 2017. Doppelplusultra joined the project during the research phase in early 2019.
The research and shooting costs from May 2017 to October 2019 were financed with funds from the Robert Bosch cross-border scholarship, along with own investments and deferrals from Doppelplusultra and Olga Delane. A co-production was agreed with the Polish production company Arkana Studio.In January 2020, € 30 000 was acquired through the German-Polish Film Fund.
The project won the IDFA Forum Award for a Pitch at the East European Platform 2020 in Prague. During the development phase until July 2021, the key events in the transformation of Karabash will be shot.
For example, the inauguration of the new adventure shopping centre in May 2020.
Release is planned for the end of 2024.
Director’s Motivation
Sometimes we all want to escape and the idea of escaping to an island seems very attractive.
When I first heard about Gavdos, I experienced a personal and creative crisis. I am Russian and by 2014, relations between Russia and Europe had improved, the visa was more of a formality, but then came the Ukraine crisis in 2014…
Well, the nightmare of my childhood was back. Once again I saw how easily the people of Europe and Russia were divided. So much hatred from both sides.
The idea of a utopian community is so beautiful … and it’s so easy to “sell”. It is just very difficult to keep a utopian society alive.
The same on Gavdos I was soon to discover that the same mechanisms apply on the small island as in the larger world…
It seems to me that the same conflicts arise everywhere, where people come together. Even in a place of chosen exile that is necessary for so many inhabitants living in war zones today. My film is intended to help us reflect on today’s crisis and perhaps, in the best case scenario, I hope it will lead to personal reflection and life solutions.
Director’s Motivation
Sometimes we all want to escape and the idea of escaping to an island seems very attractive.
When I first heard about Gavdos, I experienced a personal and creative crisis. I am Russian and by 2014, relations between Russia and Europe had improved, the visa was more of a formality, but then came the Ukraine crisis in 2014…
Well, the nightmare of my childhood was back. Once again I saw how easily the people of Europe and Russia were divided. So much hatred from both sides.
The idea of a utopian community is so beautiful … and it’s so easy to “sell”. It is just very difficult to keep a utopian society alive.
The same on Gavdos I was soon to discover that the same mechanisms apply on the small island as in the larger world…
It seems to me that the same conflicts arise everywhere, where people come together. Even in a place of chosen exile that is necessary for so many inhabitants living in war zones today. My film is intended to help us reflect on today’s crisis and perhaps, in the best case scenario, I hope it will lead to personal reflection and life solutions.
Olga Delane
Olga Delane, is a photographer, editor and director. After successfully training as a fashion designer and photographer, she made several photo and research trips to Russia in the 2010s.
There, she shot her first film, Endstation Krasnokamensk, which was funded by the DEFA Foundation.
Her feature documentary Siberian Love (2016) was a little indie hit in Germany. It was screened more than 300 times in German cinemas and is still running on German TV. It also achieved international success at renowned festivals like IDFA, and was sold in more than 10 territories.
Her last documentary Dorotchka was nominated for a Lola, the most important German Short Film Award.
Filmography
2022 Welcome to New Karabash (90 min) – Documentary in development
2018 Dorotchka (30 min) Short Documentary – IDFA Short Film competition, nominated for the Lola German Film Award
2016 Siberian Love – Documentary (90 min) – IDFA and 20 other international festivals
2013 Endstation Krasnokamensk (90min)- Documentary co-directed with Marianne Kapfer
Olga Delane
Olga Delane, is a photographer, editor and director. After successfully training as a fashion designer and photographer, she made several photo and research trips to Russia in the 2010s.
There, she shot her first film, Endstation Krasnokamensk, which was funded by the DEFA Foundation.
Her feature documentary Siberian Love (2016) was a little indie hit in Germany. It was screened more than 300 times in German cinemas and is still running on German TV. It also achieved international success at renowned festivals like IDFA, and was sold in more than 10 territories.
Her last documentary Dorotchka was nominated for a Lola, the most important German Short Film Award.
Filmography
2022 Welcome to New Karabash (90 min) – Documentary in development
2018 Dorotchka (30 min) Short Documentary – IDFA Short Film competition, nominated for the Lola German Film Award
2016 Siberian Love – Documentary (90 min) – IDFA and 20 other international festivals
2013 Endstation Krasnokamensk (90min)- Documentary co-directed with Marianne Kapfer
Fact Sheet
Genre:
Creative documentary
Length: 93 Min.
Director:
Olga Delane
Script:
Dmitri Vologdin
Olga Delane
Calle Overweg
Editor:
Daria Danilova
Producers:
Frank Müller
Doppelplusultra Filmproduktion
Country of Production:
Germany
Country of Shooting:
Russia
Stage of Production:
End of development
Language:
Russian
Budget:
360.000,00 €
In Place
230.000,00 €
Funded by:
MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg
Robert Bosch Stiftung
Deutsch-Polnischer Filmfonds
Release:
November 2024
Fact Sheet
Director:
Olga Delane
Length: 93 Min.
Script:
Calle Overweg
Olga Delane
Editor:
Daria Danilova
Producers:
Frank Müller
Doppelplusultra Filmproduktion
Country of Production:
Germany
Country of Shooting:
Russia
Stage of Production:
End of development
Language:
Russian
Budget:
360.000,00 €
In Place
230.000,00 €
Funded by:
MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg
Robert Bosch Stiftung
Deutsch-Polnischer Filmfonds
Release:
November 2024
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