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Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award of €50,000 to be Granted at CineLink Drama 2025

The Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award offers a unique opportunity for Southeast European producers to gain recognition and access to crucial market exposure while aligning with European standards of excellence in drama series production

The Sarajevo Film Festival, through its industry platform CineLink Industry Days, continues its longstanding commitment to fostering regional talent and advancing the drama series landscape with the prestigious Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award, providing €50,000 to selected projects during CineLink Drama.

The Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Awards are part of a broader Pilot Programme for Series Co-Productions, supported by 19 ministries and national agencies from 18 countries, including the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Pilot Programme For Series Co-Productions is designed to support high-quality drama series structured as international co-productions, empowering independent producers and fostering new relationships across borders. Through the CineLink Drama platform, the Sarajevo Film Festival has played a pioneering role in developing the regional TV series sector. Launched in 2016, CineLink Drama addressed the lack of structured financing for drama series in the Former Yugoslav territories, creating a crucial space for collaboration between local talents and industry leaders. The initiative has since expanded to encompass the broader Southeast Europe region, supporting and promoting regional storytelling on an international stage.

In recognition of these efforts, Maša Marković, Head of Industry at the Sarajevo Film Festival, said: "It is a great honor for us that the Council of Europe has recognized our longstanding efforts to develop, promote, and support the co-production of drama series in Southeast Europe through our flagship program, CineLink Drama. Over the years, independent producers have been vital for the expansion of this dynamic market, continually finding ways to collaborate. Their ambition has been a driving force for us, and we hope that this award will encourage other industry stakeholders to engage in co-productions of linguistically diverse series that will resonate with global audiences."

The program’s objectives are to create flexible financing mechanisms, nurture independent storytelling, and ensure that culturally and linguistically diverse series circulate widely across the region and beyond. The Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award offer a unique opportunity for Southeast European producers to gain recognition and access to crucial market exposure while aligning with European standards of excellence in drama series production.

CineLink Drama participants benefit from workshops, public pitching sessions, and one-on-one meetings with key decision-makers, ensuring that selected projects receive the support needed to transition from development to production.

Notable CineLink Drama released series include: The Last Socialist Artefact (Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Finland, CineLink Drama 2017, winner of Series Mania’s Best International Series 2021), Operation Sabre (Serbia, Bulgaria, CineLink Drama 2019, Canneseries - Best Interpretation Award 2024, Beta Film), Silence (Croatia, Germany, Ukraine, CineLink Drama 2016, Beta Film), Snow (Austria, CineLink Drama 2019, Berlinale Series Market 2023, Beta), and Hollow (Bosnia and Herzegovina, CineLink Drama 2016, winner of 6 Heart of TV Series Awards, including Best Drama Series in 2023).

CineLink Drama Call for Entries is now open, the submission deadline for projects is February 21, 2025.