Project Pomegranate is an interdisciplinary collective founded by Edith (choreographer) and Lea (filmmaker), grounded in the belief in shared effort, collaboration, and collective authorship. The collective works at the intersection of dance and film, creating movement-based and narrative art that evokes reflection, empathy, and embodied experience.
At the heart of Project Pomegranate lies a strong sense of artistic responsibility. The collective understands art as a powerful social force - one that can create a sense of “us”, foster empathy, and highlight what we share rather than what separates us.
Working from a feminist and queer perspective, the collective is interested in giving voice to stories from the margins and beyond dominant narratives, and in engaging with socio-political thematic complexes through embodied and cinematic storytelling.
With the wish to break normative expectations and create space for new narratives in film, particularly around sexuality, intimacy, and the body, the collective resists neat narratives and definitive conclusions, favouring complexity, fluidity, multiplicity, and diverse identities and experiences.
Rooted in ethics of consent, collaboration, and respect, Project Pomegranate wishes to foster working processes that are non-hierarchical, collaborative, and grounded in exchange.
In addition to the artistic work, Project Pomegranate offers Intimacy Coordination for film and stage. We see this as part of a broader and necessary development within the industry - toward safer sets and rehearsal rooms, consensual working environments, and a culture of respect.
“Collaboration is about choosing the right people to work with and then trusting them implicitly. You don’t however have to agree about everything. Collaboration is sometimes about finding the right way to disagree.
In the gap between what you agree with and what you disagree with, is a place where you might find something new. It will most likely be something you recognize, but didn’t know that you knew. “ from Jonathan Bürrows book “A choreographers Handbook”
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Lea Bethke
Filmmaker / Intimacy Coordinator Lea is a Berlin-based filmmaker, director, writer and intimacy coordinator. She studied film studies at Freie Universität Berlin and founded her production company Sinnefilm in 2020. Her works include films and commissions for institutions such as c/o Berlin, Sasha Waltz & Guests, Flying Steps Academy and the Bode Museum, as well as collaborations with artists including Celina Bostic. Her dance short film Until The Moon Is Born In The West (2023), co-produced with Firmament, received multiple awards and festival screenings around the globe. She also co-wrote the feature film Last Trip by Ziad Kalthoum (Co-Production Market, Berlinale 2024) and is currently working on the Berlin documentary Malaka about the Filmkunstbar Fitzcarraldo in Kreuzberg. Lea is a trained intimacy coordinator with CINTIMA (SAG-AFTRA approved training) and is currently in mentorship with Yehuda Duenyas.
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Edith Buttingsrud Pedersen
Choreographer / Dancer / Intimacy Coordinator Edith is a Berlin-based Choreographer and dancer. She is co-founder of collective Company HAA. Her latest works include “Elefanten in Blutadern” 8+ at Schäxpir Festival 2023 in Linz, “Woyzeck” for Radu Stanca National Theatre, for which she and co-director Hunor von Horvath is nominated Best directing at UNITER Gala 2024.
And "Passion" for Contemporary Ballet Company Cisne Negro in Sao Paolo, premiered in May 2024 at Sesc Consolasao. Her first dance films were "In Venus" (2022) and "Os, Ingen" (2021). Both of witch has been nominated best experimental and shown at film festivals across the globe, Latest St. Kilda film fest in Melbourne. Further more Edith was granted “Peter, Ingrid og Ralph Hernöe`s Fond” honorary scholar as a acknowledgement for her work as a dance artist. Edith is trained intimacy coordinator with CINTIMA , SAG AFTRA approved training with mentor Yehuda Duenyas. KNOW MORE |
