A delegation of 15 Czech film professionals will attend this week CineLink Industry Days at 22nd Sarajevo Film Festival as the Czech Republic is together with Slovakia this year’s partner of CineLink.
CineLink in cooperation with Czech Film Center will during the four days introduce Czech film industry and co-production opportunities to their Southeast European colleagues. According to Markéta Šantrochová, the head of Czech Film Center, „co-production between the Czech Republic and the regions of Southeast Europe is very desirable and also logical, in part due to our common historical experience. Ties already exist with Slovenia, Romania, Bugaria and Croatia, but I believe there is a great potential for further co-operation in film production and other sectors such as training or project development. CineLink presents very interesting projects and it will be great to help building new creative connections.“
CineLink will welcome representatives of various spheres of Czech film industry including producer Jiří Konečný experienced in co-production with Slovenia and Romania (Family Film, Aferim!), Julieta Sichel, co-producer of Pavo Marinković’s films Occupation, the 27th Picture and Ministry of Love, or Artemio Benki from Sirena Film, who has participated in several international productions (Marguerite, La Danseuse or Personal Shopper). Producer Jan Macola from Mimesis, also active in the field of international co-productions (The Way Out, We Are Never Alone) will also attend as well as Sylvie Leray, the managing director of Film Distribution Artcam. Miriam Ryndová, the head of East Doc Platform (important industry event dedicated to documentary films from East and Central Europe), and Barbora Struss, Katarína Tomková and Eliška Malečková from script development program MIDPOINT, along with Pavlína Kalandrová from Creative Europe Desk Czech Republic - MEDIA will represent Czech film institutions.
CineLink Country Partner initiative, started more than decade ago, helps to lay the foundation for long-term collaborations between Southeast Europe and the rest of the continent. Previous country partners have included Poland (2015), UK (2014), Germany (2013), France (2012), Switzerland (2011), Israel (2010), Sweden (2009), Ireland (2008), Cine Regio (2007), The Netherlands (2006), Germany (2005), Austria (2004).
Czech foot-print can be found also in the film program of Sarajevo Film Festival. In Your Dreams! (CZ, SK, BG 2016) by Petr Oukropec, premiered at Berlinale 2016, will be shown in Teen Arena section and animation feature film Pat & Mat (CZ 2016) in Children’s Programme. Two minority co-productions will be included in competition sections of the festival. Cinema, Mon Amour (RO, CZ 2015) will be screened at Documentary Film Competition and short animated film Superbia (HU, CZ, SK 2016) in Short Film Competition.
The 22nd Sarajevo Film Festival runs from August 12 through August 20, 2016. CineLink Industry Days run from August 20 through August 23, 2016.
