Be Happy, or Else
Elders
Two original scripted series projects are the joint winners of the Hypewriter Competition 2023. The jury, consisting of Ana Bižić, Alexandra Dubovska, Jan Maxa, Péter Kolosi and Bence Trunkó, decided that the three projects: Be Happy, or Else (Chin Van Tran, Vietnam and Eric Romero, Spain) and Elders (Andrej Žgank and Eva Kučera Šmon, Slovenia). The creators of the two entries were selected from more than 200 submissions.
The unfortunate rise and fall of a country boy
The main prize-winning concept based on a true story of Zolika, a young but unlucky guy living in the countryside who makes a living as a living as a minimum-wage factory worker. Zolika awakens one day to find out he has won half a billion forints in the lottery. He can have whatever he wants – cars, women, the entire world is at his disposal. Everyone is looking for his favours, and he finally receives a long-awaited recognition from his single mother. Can money, however, truly change everything? Is it possible for Zolika to get rid of his past? The answer is shocking: two years later he was working for minimum wage in the old factory again.
The international jury chose the best of the nine presented ideas from among the 300 previously submitted. Based on the decision of the jury, which included Péter Kolosi, Deputy CEO and Program Director of RTL, Boris Bezic, Creative Director of Paprika Studios Slovenia, Victoria Yarmoshchuk, CEO of the Ukrainian FILM.UA Group, and Bence Trunkó, Creative Director of Paprika Studios, the winning concept received a grand prize of 10,000 euros, as well as the opportunity to make a professionally produced pilot, which can be later seen on the platforms of RTL.
A special prize was awarded in addition to the main prize for Renátó Olasz’s concept (The Unfortunate Rise And Fall Of A Country Boy): the opportunity to participate in the TV Beats workshop of Hypewriter’s Estonian partner, the a-category Black Nights Film Festival. Suzana Kokalj, the creator of the award-winning Minervas idea, was given the opportunity to present herself at the prestigious international program in Estonia.
Finalists
The unfortunate
rise and fall
of a country boy
/ Winner
– Renátó Olasz, Panni Szurdi (Hungary)
ALIBI
– Bodgan Barbulescu, Iulian Stanciu, Radu Barbulescu (Romania)
BE HAPPY OR ELSE
– Chinh Van Tran (Vietnam), Eric Romero (Spain)
COSMIC GIRL
– Adama Grevoz (France), Claudio Esposito (Italy), Daniela De Francesco (Italy)
DEBORA
– Stefano Balossi (Italy)
ELDERS
– Andrej Žgank, Eva Kučera Šmon (Slovenia)
ERA
– Aiste Ptakauske (Latvia)
SMALL TIME JUSTICE
– Dániel Hamvas, András Szőke (Hungary)
THE CONQUEROR OF GREAT SPACES
– Levente Nagy Borús (Hungary)
Jury
Péter
Kolosi
Péter Kolosi is the Deputy CEO and the Director of Programming at RTL Hungary. In 1994 he graduated with a Doctor of Law from Eötvös Loránd University and two years later with a television presenter director degree from the University of Theatre and Film Arts in Budapest. In 2007 he received his DLA. Kolosi launched his professional career in 1994 as a reporter, senior editor, and presenter on several programmes at Magyar Televízió. Since 1997 he has been lecturing at the University of Theatre and Film Arts and started to work for RTL when it launched its first channel in Hungary, RTL Klub. Kolosi joined the tv station as the editor-in-chief and presenter of the daily infotainment show Fókusz and he is Director of Programming since 2001. He has been the Deputy CEO at RTL Hungary since 2015.
Alexandra
Dubovska
She started her career after graduation in 1993 as a production manage at film production company Charlie’s. In 2003, she joined TV Joj as head of dubbing and subsequently became production director at the same broadcaster. In 2011, she moved to TV Markíza, where she became the chief producer. She was responsible for the production of successful series such Horná Dolná (Middle of Nowhere), Sestričky (Nurses), as well as the audience hits Oteckovia (Dear Daddies), Pán profesor (The Teacher), Druhá šanca (DOC) and Výnimočná Nikol (HIP). She is also behind the strong formats Tvoja tvár znie povedome (Your Face Sounds Familiar) and Extrémne premeny Slovensko (Extreme Makeover Slovakia). This year, Markíza has launched five brand-new successful projects under her umbrella, namely the daily family series Mama na prenájom (Mom for Rent) and, in prime-time, the first period series Dunaj, k vašim službám (Danube, At Your Service), the drama series Klamstvo (Liar), the entertainment show Možné je všetko! (Anything Goes) and the business reality show Jama levova (Dragons‘ Den). As of July 2023, she was promoted to the position of Director of the Production Centre, in which she is responsible for the production of feature series, reality and entertainment formats , including external productions, as well as for the activities of the casting department.
Bence
Trunkó
Bence Trunkó is a member of the Board and the Chief Creative Officer at Paprika Studios. As CCO of the company, Trunkó oversees the scripted development and adaptation in all of the Paprika regions. After graduating from the University of Theatre and Film Arts in Hungary with a degree in broadcasting, he started out as scriptwriter, working as a freelance creative for various broadcasters before gaining experience as a writer for the stage, feature films, TV, and radio shows. He worked with major advertising and creative agencies and published several books about the TV business. His current job includes setting up, controlling, and supporting the international creative divisions within the company. Besides his corporate responsibilities, he still creates, writes, and pitches scripted concepts for major networks in the region. ln the past few years, he also has been acting as show runner in Slovenia, Slovakia, and in the Czech Republic for flagship drama series for the CME Network.
Ana
Bižić
Ana Bižić graduated from the Public Relations and Media Studies program and has been with RTL Croatia since the very beginning, for 20 years now. She began her career as part of the Sales team, but after assuming various roles within the Sales department, Ana made a significant professional transition in 2018. She shifted from the role of Deputy Sales Director to the Program department. In addition to her numerous responsibilities and duties within the Program department, from 2019 she assumed responsibility for the Program and Production department. Currently, she holds the position of Program Director at RTL Croatia.
Jan
Maxa
Since 2012, Jan has led the Content division of Czech TV, a public broadcaster, with editorial responsibility for all non-news and sports content. In 2020 he became also responsible for all new media activities of Czech TV – web, mobile and smart TV. As of October 2023, Jan will focus on new media as the director of the new Digital Services division of Czech TV. In content development, he oversaw a group of 15 creative producers and approximately 500 projects in development in genres such as drama, entertainment, factual and documentary, arts and children’s programs. The team is responsible both for in-house development and editorial support of running shows, as well as commissioning from independent producers. In addition, the development team also manages co-production of cinema projects and international co-productions and presales. Czech TV consistently keeps a market share around 30% with high viewer satisfaction and regularly co-produces with ARTE and broadcasters in Austria, Germany and Slovakia. In new media, Jan runs a team of editors and product managers, responsible for the creation and upkeep of Czech TV’s web, smart TV and mobile products, including the corporate website, news and sports websites, the video player and archive, and specialist websites such as the kids’ web, the arts web or the educational portal. Czech TV’s digital content has achieved high viewership in the Czech Republic and international acclaim. Previously, Jan worked as Content Development Director at CME Group, in print media and in information technology consulting.