CineLink 2010
A press conference organized by the Sarajevo Film Festival on the occasion of the recent success of two CineLink’s projects at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival – Honey, a film by Semih Kaplanoglu (recipient of Berlin’s Golden Bear) and If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle, the work of Florin Serban (recipient of the Silver Berlin Bear), was held on Thursday, 4 March 2010 at the Meeting Point Cinema.
This was also an opportunity to analyze this great success, as well as all the achievements made so far by the Sarajevo Film Festival, and to present the goals that stand before us in the future. The press conference began with an address by the directors of the winning films: Florin Serban and Semih Kaplanoglu, who joined the press conference via video-link.
In his speech, the director of Romanian film If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle, Florin Serban pointed out that, from the very onset, CineLink had faith in his debut film. Thanks to CineLink workshops, the If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle project attracted the attention of the industry, and for that reason, Serban said: “Though the film was born in Romania, it grew up in Sarajevo. Without CineLink, we would not be here right now.”
Also addressing CineLink with words of gratitude was the director of Honey, Semih Kaplanoglu. He especially pointed out CineLink’s contribution to the development of the screenplay and the international presentation of this project. “The Heart of Sarajevo will continue to beat through Honey” said Kaplanoglu.
Also addressing those present at the press conference were Sarajevo Film Festival Director Mirsad Purivatra, the Festival’s Creative Director Izeta Građević, CineLink Manager Amra Bakšić Čamo, the selector of SFF’s Competition Programme Elma Tataragić and the manager of the Festival’s Industry Section Jovan Marjanović.
Izeta Građević recalled the very beginnings of the Festival in 1995, when a small team of enthusiasts set itself goals that have remained the Festival’s guiding force in its growth and development, and allowed it to flourish into one of the most significant scenes for the development and promotion of independent original film in South-Eastern Europe.
Amra Bakšič Čamo reminded us that CineLink was established in 2003 with the aim of stimulating and developing the cinematography of this region. In its eight years, this project has managed to grow into a renowned co-production market, whose development programme today includes a total of sixteen countries. CineLink has become a key meeting point of film professionals from the region, Europe and the entire world. Attesting to are the two awards its projects received at this year’s Berlinale. Amra Bakšić Čamo then especially emphasized the cooperation that exists between CineLink and Sarajevo Film Festival’s Feature Competition Programme, which was also the topic of Elma Tataragić’s address.
Selector Tataragić spoke about the increasingly noticeable growth and development of the film industries of countries in South East Europe, and their role on the European and world film scene. „Through its projects, the Sarajevo Film Festival promotes regional authors and projects that shift the boundaries of the language of film, and change the aesthetic of the art of film” said Tataragić.
Jovan Marjanović pointed out that “our main goal in the near future is to become a platform for the development of new business models on the basis of possibilities that new digital technologies and new media can offer us”.
The press conference ended with a reminder that the call for applications for CineLink 2010 remains open until 10 March.
