In 2024 CineLink Industry Days selected eight of the most promising feature films in the development stage from Southeast Europe to participate in the CineLink Workshop (June 17–21) and the CineLink Co-Production Market (August 18–23). In the coming weeks, additional projects will be announced for presentation at the Sarajevo Film Festival as part of the CineLink Co-Production Market. The CineLink Team strives to improve production value by matching projects with various decision-makers in production, financing, distribution, and sales, as well as offering aid in script development through extensive sessions.
This year’s curated selection places a significant emphasis on the works of female authors and producers, who are portraying complex female characters while delving into themes ranging from motherhood, abortion, identity, and equality to empowerment. The selection features a blend of emerging voices who are presenting their first feature at the CineLink Co-Production Market and directors whose first features have had great success on the international festival circuit. We are pleased to have producers who had previously presented their projects as part of the CineLink Co-Production Market.
CineLink alumni producer Jelena Angelovski is bringing the directorial debut of experienced writer Staša Bajac, known for writing scripts for successful regional films and TV shows such as “The Group” (2019), “Humidity” (2016), and “Civil Servant” (2019). Another alumni producer, Genoveva Petrovits, is presenting a debut by Anna Gyimesi, whose short film “Affrikate” premiered in Sarajevo in 2022.
The line-up also features second films from directors who had notable success on the festival circuit: CineLink alumni producer Dragana Jovović has teamed up with Milica Tomović, winner of the Heart of Sarajevo at the Sarajevo Film Festival 2021 for “Celts” (CineLink Co-Production Market 2018, World Premiere Berlinale 2021). Nehir Tuna is bringing his second feature following his debut “Dormitory,” which premiered in the Horizons section of the Venice Film Festival in 2023. Matija Gluščević is now working on his second feature after “Have You Seen This Woman?” premiered in the International Critics’ Week at Venice in 2022. Keti Machavariani is presenting her second fiction feature after her debut “Salt White,” which premiered at Karlovy Vary in 2011. CineLink alumni producer Maria Kontogianni is producing the second feature of Asimina Proedrou, whose film “Behind the Haystack” premiered at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in 2022. Darko Sinko is also presenting a new project, following his debut “Inventory,” which premiered at San Sebastian as part of the New Directors selection in 2021.
