Meet the CineLink Industry Days Jury

As the 23rd edition of CineLink Industry Days unfolds, we proudly continue our mission of supporting bold and original voices from the region through a comprehensive suite of programmes tailored to film development and postproduction. From early co-production market stages to advanced works-in-progress, CineLink offers a unique ecosystem for projects in every phase of their creative journey. A cornerstone of this ecosystem is the CineLink Awards, which provide essential financial and strategic support to help filmmakers bring their stories to life for audiences around the globe. This year's awards are backed by a robust network of partners and institutions dedicated to empowering emerging talents and fostering cross-border collaboration. We are honored to welcome an esteemed group of industry professionals and partners whose insights and expertise shape the path of emerging talent. Among the juries this year are representatives from Eurimages, the Council of Europe, ArteKino, Film Centers from across the region, international broadcasters, and leading festivals and distributors. Together, they will grant a range of prestigious prizes designed to elevate outstanding projects and connect them to international platforms. CineLink Industry Days continues to grow, thanks to the dedication of its partners and the trust of a film community committed to building the future of cinema together.

 

 

Sanja Jovanović is Program Policy and Planning Manager at the Film Centre of Montenegro. With degrees from Cetinje and the University of Leicester, she focuses on aligning national film policies with European standards. Her research explores gender equality and film education. She represents Montenegro in EURIMAGES and the European Audiovisual Observatory, and teaches Audiovisual Production at the University of Donja Gorica. Film Centre of Montenegro supports film production, international cooperation, and foreign shoots, and is a member of Eurimages, EFP, and other networks.

 

Behrooz Hashemian is a Paris-based filmmaker and producer with a background in documentary cinema. A graduate of Hunter College, he began his career with the Maysles brothers. He mentors emerging filmmakers in the Middle East and the Balkans and is a long-time collaborator with CineLink. Silkroad Productions, founded in 1999, develops feature films from the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Balkans.

 

Čedomir Kolar is an Oscar-winning producer known for No Man’s Land and Before the Rain. Educated in Belgrade and based in Paris, he co-founded A.S.A.P. Films in 2003. With over 30 feature films, he is a strong advocate of international co-productions and was awarded the Prix Eurimages in 2017. A.S.A.P. Films specializes in high-quality European and international co-productions.

 

Ivan Karl is Director of Film Center Serbia. A graduate in film production, he has held key roles in public broadcasting, FEST, and cultural affairs for Belgrade. He is the author of three books on film and FEST history. Film Center Serbia supports Serbian cinema through funding, co-productions, and international promotion.

 

Tamara Tatishvili heads the Hubert Bals Fund and MEDICI – The Film Funding Journey. She previously led the Georgian National Film Center and IFA-SC and has worked with the European Women’s Audiovisual Network. She is a frequent mentor and selection committee member for global film funds. The Hubert Bals Fund supports visionary filmmakers from underrepresented regions worldwide.

 

Rémi Burah is CEO of ArteKino Productions and President of the ArteKino Endowment Fund. He joined ARTE in 2001 after working in audiovisual finance and HAUT ET COURT. Under his leadership, ARTE has supported over 1,000 films and launched the online ArteKino Festival. ArteKino Productions co-produces innovative European and international cinema, supporting new talent and bold storytelling.

 

 

Mariusz Włodarski is a producer and founder of Lava Films. A graduate of the National Film School in Łódź, he began his career with Opus Film before producing Cannes-selected films such as The Here After and Sweat by Magnus von Horn. His credits also include The Harvesters, The Taste of Pho, Apples, and Never Gonna Snow Again. The Girl with the Needle premiered at Cannes 2024, became Denmark’s Oscar candidate for 2025, and was nominated for a Golden Globe. Mariusz is a member of AMPAS, EFA, and ACE Producers, and teaches at the Polish National Film School.

 

Michel Zana is Head of Distribution and a producer at Dulac Distribution, founded in 2003. With strong ties to Dulac Cinémas—a Paris-based network of six theatres—he helps champion international auteur cinema. Under his leadership, Dulac has released over 180 films, including The Turin Horse, Hannah Arendt, I Am Not Your Negro, Liberté, Gaza Mon Amour, and Feathers.

 

Gudny Hummelvoll has over thirty years of production experience ranging from feature-length films and television to documentary and short films. Her productions include BUDDY, Norway’s biggest box-office hit of 2001; MIRUSH (2006); LIMBO (2010); and PHOENIX (2018). Hummelvoll produced the three seasons of the series OCCUPIED (2015–2020) and co-produced the feature films THE GERMAN DOCTOR, which was selected for Un Certain Regard at the Festival de Cannes in 2013, and HELD FOR RANSOM (2019), CAPTAIN SABRETOOTH (2013), and NOTHING TO LAUGH ABOUT (2021), and the series HEADHUNTERS (2022). He recently produced the Netflix series BILLIONAIRE ISLAND for Rubicon TV. Hummelvoll is a board member of the European Producers Club.

 

Stefan Prohorov is the Expert for International Relations at the Bulgarian National Film Centre and Bulgaria’s representative at Eurimages. He is a cultural manager focused on arthouse cinema, audience development, and European co-productions. He has curated independent films at Sofia’s Cinema House and worked for Sofia International Film Festival.

 

 

Nataša Bučar is Managing Director of the Slovenian Film Centre. With a strong background in the Slovenian film industry, she previously led the Ljubljana International Film Festival and worked in film distribution at Cankarjev dom. She served as Director of the Festival of Slovenian Films and held key roles at the Slovenian Film Fund and Ministry of Culture. Since 2016, she has led the Slovenian Film Centre, reappointed in 2021. She is a board member of EFAD and a member of the European Film Academy.

 

Dr. Dita Rietuma is a film historian, critic, and director of the National Film Centre of Latvia since 2014. A long-time critic for Diena newspaper and professor at the Latvian Academy of Culture, she has authored six books on film history. She represents Latvia in EFP and EFAD, and is a European Film Academy member. Rietuma also founded the Latvian branch of FIPRESCI and plays a key role in shaping national film policy and international co-productions.

 

Aida Begić is a Sarajevo-born film director and professor at the Academy of Performing Arts. Her debut Snow won the Grand Prix at Cannes Critics’ Week, and Children of Sarajevo received a Jury Special Distinction in Un Certain Regard. Her films Never Leave Me and A Ballad won numerous international awards. All four of her features were Bosnia’s Oscar candidates. She is a member of AMPAS, EFA, UFRBiH, and SACD. Her company Film House produces acclaimed films with strong international co-productions.

 

 

Alex Traila is a European audiovisual policy expert with 15+ years in film and government affairs, holding a PhD in European audiovisual policy. He is Programme Manager for the Council of Europe’s Pilot Programme for Series Co-Productions, supporting high-quality international series co-productions. The Council of Europe, home of Eurimages, promotes human rights across 46 member states and fosters independent producers and cross-border partnerships.

 

Denis Leroy is Senior Director at Banijay Entertainment, specializing in sourcing and developing international scripted formats and literary IP. With 30+ years in French and global TV, including Gaumont and Warner Bros, he has led deals for adaptations like SKAM and Fleabag. He combines production and financing expertise with global partnership building. Banijay operates 130+ companies in 21 territories, delivering 17,000+ hours of content annually, including hits like Peaky Blinders and MasterChef.

 

Johanna Gårdare leads Drama and Film at SVT. Formerly head of Children & Youth, she drove a major digital shift that doubled young audience viewership. With a background in production across genres, she now leads a transformation in Swedish drama, aiming to innovate production with cheaper, more conceptual, and experimental approaches, reshaping drama for new generations.

 

 

Barbara Daljavec is a Slovenian TV and film producer with a background in Marketing Communication and Media Production Planning. She has participated in Sarajevo Talent Campus, Production Value, and MAIA Produces Workshop. At RTV Slovenia’s Drama Department, she handles project development and co-productions, alongside work in independent production. Her credits include Sisters (Clermont-Ferrand Grand Prix 2021), Block 5 (Locarno 2024), and Fantasy (Locarno 2025). RTV Slovenia is a public broadcaster providing radio, television, and related services.

 

Cia Edström leads TV Drama Vision, the international conference and co-financing market at Göteborg Film Festival. She is on the editorial team for Nostradamus, the festival’s annual industry report. Her background includes leadership at the Swedish Film Institute (2000–2006), focusing on training and industry networking, and heading the GFF’s international industry program from 2005 to 2022, overseeing Nordic Film Market, TV Drama Vision, and Nostradamus.

 

Katia Sol co-founded Oble in 2020, an independent drama-focused production and sales company based in Paris. She has expertise in sales, acquisitions, script development, and international co-production financing. Previously, she worked in international sales at Mediawan and Studiocanal. Katia has co-produced Helsinki Crimes for ITV Studios Finland and CMore, and serves as Executive Producer for the Winter Palace series (RTS, Netflix). She is a member of the European Producer Club (EPC).

 

 

Ivo is HBO Max editor for Adria and Central Europe, shaping local content strategy and curating regional programming. He also manages the platform presentation of HBO and Warner Bros. originals across EMEA, enhancing viewer experience. HBO Max streams top scripted shows, movies, documentaries, and iconic series globally.

 

Faruk began as assistant producer at TRT in 2008. Holding two master’s degrees (Business/Finance and MFA Filmmaking), he is Head of TRT Cinema and Coproductions. He produced 100+ programs and 10+ TV movies/series, launched Turkey’s major script market "12 Punto," and served as juror for International Emmy and Rose d’Or. Member of European Film Academy and EBU TV Committee (2025).

 

Petra is a senior in-house producer at The Post Republic with 15+ years’ experience in cinema and high-end TV. Starting as an editor, she now manages complex post-production workflows, oversees diverse project teams, and ensures smooth schedules to meet tight deadlines.

 

Dorota is a film curator and writer, leading TIFF’s Discovery programme for Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, Turkey, and Iran. Since 2013, she has selected films across TIFF sections and Cinematheque. Contributor to Vanity Fair and MUBI Notebook, she lectures at Harvard, Łódź Film School, and University of Toronto. Named a Future Leader in Film Programming by Screen International (2024).

 

Beatrice is Head of Acquisitions and Sales at Italian distributor Teodora Film with 20+ years’ experience. She sources feature films for distribution and co-production, with credits including Sentimental Value, Anatomy of a Fall, The Worst Person in the World, and Petite Maman. Inside Pictures and EAVE Puentes alumna and voting member of the European Film Academy.

 

 

 

Rob Williams is a content strategy executive with extensive experience in global film sales, acquisitions, and distribution. Currently a Content Strategy and Sales consultant at NEON, he previously spent 10 years as Senior VP of Content & Sales Strategy at Participant, leading global strategies for acclaimed films like All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, Green Book, Roma, and American Factory. He also held executive roles at Netflix and Lantica Studios.

 

Lizzie is a BAFTA and Emmy-winning documentary producer and Head of Documentary at Misfits Entertainment. Her recent credits include SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY, THE TERRITORY, LADY BOSS, and MERKEL. Misfits is known for the BAFTA-nominated MCQUEEN and Hulu hit THE CONTESTANT. Their 2024 film SUPER/MAN premiered at Sundance and sold to Warner for $15 million, winning multiple awards globally.

 

Faridah is a film programmer passionate about inclusivity in storytelling. She has worked with Outfest, California Film Institute, Athena Film Festival, SIFF, and more. She’s provided consultations on film/TV projects, taught film courses, and served as Director of Distribution for the virtual release of MR. SOUL!. Currently, she is a Senior Programmer at Tribeca Enterprises, which champions diverse voices through film, TV, music, and immersive storytelling.

The 31st Sarajevo Film Festival will be held from the 15th to the 22nd of August 2025.