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UNIQA SEE FUTURE Foundation, in cooperation with Sarajevo Film Festival and Slano Film Days, launched a programme to support female filmmakers
The “Female Filmmakers Support Programme” aims to support and empower women in film from the six countries where UNIQA operates in South East Europe
UNIQA has launched a special support programme for women film artists within its UNIQA SEE FUTURE Foundation in cooperation with the Sarajevo Film Festival and Slano Film Days. The programme called "Female Filmmakers Support Programme" aims to support and empower women in film from six countries where UNIQA operates in Southeast Europe: Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania and Montenegro.
The objectives of the Female Filmmakers Support Programme are to develop and support women in the film industry from South East Europe in the production of independent film, to increase the representation and diversity of women in the regional film industry, to facilitate networking, skills development and funding opportunities for women in film.
Female Filmmakers Support Programme (FFSP) supported by the UNIQA SEE FUTURE Foundation, is designed to support and promote women filmmakers in Southeast Europe by providing financial assistance for the production of their film projects, as well as to support the development of their careers through CineLink Industry Training and Skills Programme.
The value of the Female Filmmakers Support Programme is EUR 150,000 for 2025. The Programme is approved for the next two years.
The initiative on the Female Filmmakers Support Programme was presented at this year's 30th Sarajevo Film Festival.
“Our partnership with Sarajevo Film Festival and Slano Film Days on this Project is of great value to our Foundation. In addition to promoting diversity and advancing equality within the film industry, our goal is to inspire and empower young female filmmakers to follow their passions. The filmmaking industry holds immense power in shaping public opinion and influencing how we perceive the world. It's crucial that we hear more stories told from a female point of view, as this not only enriches our understanding of life but also makes our experiences more meaningful and mindful. With this project, we want to encourage them to leverage their talents to educate, inform, and share their unique perspectives, fostering a more inclusive and impactful world for all of us," said Adel Bahtanović, president of UNIQA SEE region.
"Our long-term goal through Slano Film Days is to support the development of young talents' careers in the region. In addition to our regular program, we have launched a one-month residency for project development, and as a third step, in cooperation with UNIQA SEE FUTURE Foundation, we created the Female Filmmakers Support Programme, aimed at supporting female filmmakers in development and postproduction. This initiative reflects our commitment to promote women in the film industry and provide them with the financial and career development support. Our region is rich in talent, as evidenced by the participation in Slano Film Days, with 25 directors to date, 16 of whom were women and 9 men," said Mirsad Purivatra, author of the concept and director of Slano Film Days.
"The Female Filmmakers Support Programme reflects the Sarajevo Film Festival's commitment to advancing gender equality, both within the Festival and in regional cinema. The Sarajevo Film Festival serves as a key platform for initiatives shaping the film industry, with a clear vision of achieving gender balance and promoting diversity and inclusivity in cinematic art," stated Jovan Marjanović, Director of the Sarajevo Film Festival.
The call for the "Female Filmmakers Support Programme" is open to female directors or co-directors and at least one other key associate (screenwriter, director of photography, composer, editor) who identifies as a woman. Although the Foundation focuses on six countries (Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania and Montenegro), it is also possible for a person from other countries to apply, provided that they have a producer or co-producer coming from one of the aforementioned countries. In this way, co-production and cooperation are actively promoted as they enable the inclusion of projects and talents outside the Foundation's core focus countries. By involving producers and co-producers from the countries of the region, the programme not only expands the reach and diversity of applications, but also encourages international cooperation and strengthens the network of film professionals. Through this approach, the Foundation contributes to strengthening the regional film industry and linking it to global trends.
The call for applications is open until 19 February 2025.
You can apply via the this LINK:
More information on the website: https://www.uniqa-ffsp.com/