Redefining Boundaries: Creating Safe Spaces in the Audiovisual Industry - Insights from Intimacy Coordinators

In recent years, the role of the intimacy coordinator has become increasingly vital in the audio-visual industry, as they ensure that scenes involving physical and/or emotional intimacy are conducted with the utmost care and respect for all involved parties. As a relatively new position in the industry, it has faced growing skepticism. This panel focuses on sharing the experiences of industry professionals from three di!erent regions and professional environments, delving into the responsibilities and practices of intimacy coordinators and highlighting their contributions to fostering safe and supportive on-set environments. The discussion sheds light on how intimacy coordinators balance maintaining a production’s creative vision with providing actors with a secure environment in which to deliver their best work. Topics include the evolution of the role, best practices for coordinating intimate scenes, the importance of clear communication and consent, and the impact of intimacy coordination on both the creative process and the well-being of cast and crew.

SPEAKERS

VIRGINIJA VAREIKYTĖ
Intimacy Coordinator, Baltic Intimacy Professionals / LT

AMANDA BLUMENTHAL
Intimacy Coordinator and Founder of Intimacy Professionals Association, Intimacy Professionals Association / LT

MARKO MARČEC
Intimacy Coordinator, Intimacy Coordinators Serbia / RS

ANĐELA RAJIĆ NOVAKOVIĆ
Intimacy Coordinator, Intimacy Coordinators Serbia / RS

MODERATED BY

TIMKA GRIN
Casting director, T.G. Casting / BA

TIME

Monday, August 19, 2024
11:00 – 12:00 (CET)

LOCATION

Swissotel Sarajevo / CineLink Talks Conference Room

Virginija Vareikyte

Virginija is a certified Intimacy Coordinator for short films and TV series, working in both local and international productions. She aligns closely with directors' visions while adhering to the highest standards of intimacy coordination. She earned her certification through the exclusive IPA (Intimacy Professionals Association) and Nordic Intimacy Coordinators (NIC) program. As a member of Baltic Intimacy Professionals, Virginija coordinates educational programs about intimacy in the entertainment industry. In addition to her role as an Intimacy Coordinator, she is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, producer, and educator.

Amanda Blumenthal

Amanda Blumenthal is one of the founders of the field of intimacy coordination for film and TV, which aims to create safer spaces on set for cast and crew while also empowering bold and creative storytelling. Some of her IC credits include working on Euphoria (HBO), The White Lotus (HBO), and The L Word: Generation Q (Showtime). Amanda is the founder of an organization called Intimacy Professionals Association which provides SAG-AFTRA-accredited intimacy coordinator training to a global audience, educational workshops for the industry on topics related to intimacy work for the screen, and consulting for studios. She is a sought-after speaker in the field and has presented at the Sundance Film Festival, the American Film Market, the AFCI Cineposium event, and many more.

Marko Marcec

Marko Marčec was born and lives in Belgrade. He studied dramaturgy at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts and graduated in psychology from the Faculty of Media and Communications, where he also earned a master's degree in clinical psychology. Marko has experience working with children with special needs and has worked in the TV industry for the past three years. He writes short stories and is passionate about enhancing creativity, which is one of the aspects that attracted him to the role of intimacy coordinator. 

Andela Rajic Novakovic

Anđela Rajić Novaković, born on April 11, 1995, in Belgrade, graduated with a master's in acting from the Faculty of Contemporary Arts in 2018 and earned a degree in psychology from the Faculty of Media and Communications in 2024. She is currently pursuing a master's in clinical psychology. Anđela began her acting career with the play "When Someone Rings" at the National Theatre in Belgrade and has performed in various theater productions. She completed intimacy coordinator training on film sets with the first cohort in the Balkans, under the Balkan Association of Transactional Analysts (TAUS), and as a UN Women scholar. She is in her second year of psychotherapeutic education in transactional analysis and has been working as a psychologist at "Miloš Crnjanski" Primary School in Belgrade since 2024. 

Timka Grin

Timka Grin had an intense experience of working as a casting director on more than 50 features and short films, many of them awarded. Presently, her experience in TV productions is growing rapidly. Her most valuable lessons came through working with some great directors, just to mention a few: brothers Dardenne, Jean-Luc Godard, Danis Tanovic, Aida Begic, Jasmila Zbanic, Marco Bellocchio, Ursula Meier, Goran Kapetanović and many others.  Timka is President of International Casting Directors Association (ICDA); also a member of Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), European Film Academy (EFA) and Casting Society of America (CSA).

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