Objave
CineLink Development Workshop During Slano Film Days wrapped up for 2025!
All projects benefitted from tailored mentorship and in-depth feedback throughout the workshop and are now set to continue their development at the CineLink Industry Days during the Sarajevo Film Festival in August
For the second year in a row, CineLink Workshop was integrated within Slano Film Days which is a unique event format that connects emerging filmmakers with prominent names from the world of film and the film industry.
For this edition, 13 projects from two strands of the Sarajevo Film Festival’s CineLink program, the CineLink Co-Production Market and CineLink Drama, took part in an intensive five-day workshop in Slano, Croatia, from June 16 to 20. For the second year in a row, CineLink Workshop was integrated within Slano Film Days which is a unique event format that connects emerging filmmakers with prominent names from the world of film and the film industry. Taking place from June 17 to 21, Slano Film Days offered a platform for filmmakers to exchange ideas, discuss the creative process, and forge new industry connections. Focusing on script and production value development for both films and series in development, this year’s CineLink Workshop included a curated series of one-on-one and group mentoring sessions with internationally recognized experts. This year’s CineLink selection showcased a compelling mix of promising new voices, debut feature and drama series creators, alongside experienced directors and writers whose previous works have earned acclaim on the international festival circuit.
A highlight of the workshop were the masterclasses delivered by Michel Franco, Emily Georges, and Juho Kuosmanen, who shared their insights on artistic development, storytelling, and working within the international co-production landscape with the feature film teams. For the series projects, Emmanuel Eckert and Anna Rhode led the session Connecting Stories to Markets: Sales Strategies for Emerging TV Drama, offering practical guidance on positioning and packaging projects for international buyers.
Eight feature films and five TV drama series were developed during the CineLink Workshop in Slano, highlighting the creative vitality and diversity of Southeast European storytelling. Among the selected films, presented at various stages of development, was a rich variety of genres, themes, and narrative styles. These included Agatha Candy, an intense thriller and the second feature by Andrei Tănase (Romania); Rain Country by Zeynep Köprülü (Turkey), a debut coming-of-age drama addressing the aftermath of teenage suicide; and Stone over Stone, the latest meditative work from Hilal Baydarov (Azerbaijan/Austria). Places Half Empty by Dorka Vermes (Hungary) explored a queer love story set against the backdrop of Orbán-era Hungary.
Other feature projects included Pogana, a period drama set on a Croatian island by David Kapac, co-director of The Uncle (Croatia); That Country, another period drama and debut feature by Yusuf Elbaşı (Turkey); The Shame of the Borbély Family, a powerful debut feature by Kálmán Nagy (Hungary), dealing with the lasting effects of violence; and Bright Gray by Miruna Minculescu (Romania/Bulgaria), a debut film about a woman fleeing her inner conflict by helping refugees affected by real-world war.
The TV drama selection reflected sharp societal insight and strong literary influences. Projects included Homeboyz (Montenegro), a comedy set in the world of local hip-hop culture; Southern Stream by Marko Popović (Bulgaria), a gripping political thriller; and Wonderful (Serbia), an intimate comedy about a woman attempting to transform her life in a provincial Balkan town, created by Vladimir Tagić, Isidora Veselinović, and Katarina Mitrović. Also featured were P.I.G.S. by Theo Papadoulakis (Greece), a social dramedy exploring southern European identity, and Red Water (Croatia), a compelling adaptation of Jurica Pavičić’s acclaimed novel, directed by Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović.
All projects benefitted from tailored mentorship and in-depth feedback throughout the workshop and are now set to continue their development at the CineLink Industry Days during the Sarajevo Film Festival in August.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Slano Film Days, the workshop fostered a collaborative and creatively charged atmosphere, offering filmmakers a space to deepen their stories and build lasting international partnerships.