Edward Norton, one of the most celebrated actors today, will hold lectures and workshops for actors, and Ula Pontikos, a multiple award-winning director of photography, will hold professional programs for female cinematographers.
Edward Norton is one of the most respected actors of his generation. He has starred in over 50 films, produced 13, written 5 and directed 2. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards (for Primal Fear, American History X & Birdman), 3 Screen Actors Guild Awards, 2 BAFTAs, 2 Golden Globes and has won a Golden Globe, an Emmy, an Obie and many other awards for his performances and productions. His leading masterclass will be attended by all participants of the Ponta Lopud Festival, whereas in the subsequent days, he will be working only with participants in the “Acting” category.
“I’ve been making films for 30 years and the large majority of what I’ve learned about the craft and art has come from talking to older filmmakers about the details of their experiences. We make films for audiences, yes. But we need each other to really learn the trade and I absolutely love the idea of a film festival for filmmakers”, said Edward Norton on the occasion of his participation in the third Ponta Lopud Festival.
As part of the Ponta Lopud Festival, professional programs exclusively for female cinematographers will be held for the second year in a row. The contribution to gender equality in the film industry is an integral part of the Ponta Lopud Festival philosophy. Therefore, in cooperation with the Croatian Audiovisual Centre and regional film centres from Slovenia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, theoretical and practical work will be organized with one of the globally renowned DOP’s. Three participants will be honing their skills with Ula Pontikos, a member of the British Society of Cinematographers and the Executives Branch of the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences in professional programs for female cinematographers. Just like Edward Norton, Ula Pontikos will include participants from all three categories in her leading masterclass, after which she will focus only on female cinematographers, both through theoretical and practical work.
Ula Pontikos graduated from the prestigious National Film and Television School (NFTS) in London, which awarded her the annual Sue Gibson BSC award in 2022 for her work on the TV series Russian Doll. Her work on the last season brought her nominations for both an Emmy and an ASC (American Society of Cinematographers) Award. Ula shot her first feature film, Weekend, in 2011, and was chosen as a Breakthrough Talent of 2012 by the BBC Film. Since then, she has gone on to shoot films including Lilting, for which she won the 2014 Sundance World Cinema Cinematography Award, and Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool, nominated for three BAFTAs.
