2024 U.S. in Progress: Filmmakers & Producers Present Selected Featured Films – Live in Wrocław!

At the American Film Festival in Wrocław, teams behind the projects selected for the U.S. in Progress—a festival industry event—pitched their films to potential buyers, film festival programmers, and Poland-based post-production companies. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Ula Śniegowska, the event acts as a matchmaking platform — think tinder-like linking between Polish post-production talent with American indie producers. Last year’s edition proved highly fruitful: several selections went on to make waves in the 2024 film festival circuit. We began the year with India Donaldson’s critical darling Good One preeming at Sundance and Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight, where Tyler Taormina also screened Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point. Meanwhile, Cutter Hodierne’s Cold Wallet and Anu Vaila’s We Strangers were launched at SXSW, and Sarah Friedland’s Familiar Touch played like gangbusters in Venice, winning not one, not two, but three awards: Lion of the Future award for Best Debut, Best Director and the Best Actress awards.

This year, the outlook is similarly optimistic, with seven out of nine teams present to pitch their nearly-complete films. These projects are expected to follow in last year’s footsteps, aiming to get the final touch-ups before true picture lock and trying to nab premium film festival berths. Here are the projects and teams in attendance.

Filmmaker Joseph Marconi and producer Lysette Urus were on-hand to present Baby Love which features Kiana Madeira as Rhiannon “Baby Love” – an MMA fighter dealing with turmoil and trauma.

Tristan Scott-Behrends was in the house to present Katarina Zhu’s Bunnylovr – the director toplines the project as a Rebecca – a personal assistant and cam girl navigating both online and offline relationships.

Producers Jacob Agger and Sarah Winshall showcased another very original work by Amanda Kramer in By Design – about a woman (Juliette Lewis) who swaps bodies with a chair.

Producer Luke Arreguin and filmmaker Pete Ohs were on hand to showcase Erupcja – an American indie film shot in Poland — about what happens when two women reconnect in Warsaw, Poland, as a volcano erupts.

Filmmaker Sabrina Greco and producer Abbie Jones give us Rayna (Blu Hunt) six weeks after a major mishap in Lockjaw.

Producers Matthew Romanski and Ryan Martin Brown accompanied filmmaker Paula González-Nasser showcasing The Scout – which looks at one facet of the movie-making business via Sofia (not ph) – played by Mimi Davila.

Miles Levin works from a short film template and own experiences for Under the Lights – produced by Vanishing Angle’s Natalie Metzger and starring Pearce Joza.