Ex-Sundance CEO's Open Cities Unveils 11 Projects From Lisbon Lab
Summary
Joana Vicente and Jason Kliot's tech-backed accelerator, with partners including Google and Luma AI, plans a second cohort in spring 2027.
"Open Cities, the film accelerator and production company led by former Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente and producer Jason Kliot, has revealed the 11 feature projects in its first cohort, Deadline reported Wednesday. After virtual sessions, the filmmakers completed an in-person residency in Lisbon from Nov. 2 to Nov. 10 and pitched to financiers, producers and distributors. The company plans to keep supporting selected projects toward financing and production, and a second accelerator is set for spring 2027.
The slate includes Benjamin Dickinson's The Diamond Eye, produced by Ted Hope; Sophie Barthes' untitled project with Anne Carey; Georgi M. Unkovski's The Trash King from North Macedonia; Christian Goue's Fever (U.K., Ivory Coast); Christina Kallas' When the Movies Died; and Dana Stevens' The Pink House, produced by Amy Robinson. Partners include Google, Luma AI, Beeble, Cinelytic and Wonder Studios. ""What we are building is not simply a place to explore new technology,"" Vicente said. Hope said the program was ""the first time I got to be in the room where it happened."" Yahoo Entertainment also carried the report."
