21-09-2022

coco line-up 2022

    connecting cottbus, the East-West co-production market at the FilmFestival Cottbus, presents this year’s selection of projects in development and works in progress.

    On 9-11 November, the 24th edition of connecting cottbus (coco) will take place mainly on site with additional online components and we look forward to seeing you all again in Cottbus.

    This year, coco presents an exciting line-up of feature film projects from 16 countries from wider Eastern Europe, which will be pitched and compete for a variety of awards. The producers and directors will take part in the cocoLAB in-depth feedback sessions with industry experts, while all participants can join networking events and a focused framework program on current co-production topics.

    Recent connecting cottbus alumni projects released are KLONDIKE by Marina Er Gorbach (Ukraine/Turkey, Best Director Award at Sundance 2022), BUTTERFLY VISION by Maksym Nakonechnyi  (Ukraine/Croatia/Sweden/Czech Republic, Un Certain Regard 2022), WOMAN ON THE ROOF by Anna Jadowska (Poland/France/Sweden, Tribeca 2022), THE WORD by Beata Parkanová  (Czechia/Slovakia/Poland, Karlovy Vary Best Director Award 2022), VICTIM by Michal Blaško (Slovakia/Czech Republic/Germany, Venice Orizzonti 2022) and CARBON by Ion Borș (Moldova/Romania/Spain, San Sebastian 2022).

    The selection of cocoPITCH comprises debut work by upcoming filmmakers next to new film projects by award-winning directors. A highly diverse roster, a few common grounds include a struggle with socio-political realities (at the workplace, against the judicial system), the crisis in values when tradition and modernity intersect (an ancient burial ritual, buildings with a past, family roles challenged) or expectations on women and their bodies (and on one male pregnant body too). 

    This year’s cocoWIP line-up of works in progress features energetic tales of urbanity (both in period and contemporary settings), teenagers coming of age, unusual friendships and a lying husband.

    Producers, sales agents, commissioning editors and other industry representatives active in East-West European co-production can apply to attend as potential partners by 17 October.


    Selected cocoPITCH Projects 2022:

    ASPHALT | Greece, Slovenia | dir: Minos Nikolakakis 
    prod: Minos Nikolakakis, Vassilis Economou, Vicky Miha, Bostjan Virc | 
    Asphalt / asterisk* / Studio Virc

    BLACK BLOOD | Czech Republic | dir: Beata Parkanová
    prod: Ondřej Zach, Ozet Film

    DECONSTRUCTION | Bulgaria, Italy | dir: Pavel G. Vesnakov
    prod: Veselka Kirykova, Luigi Chimienti, Alessandro Amato | Red Carpet / Dispàrte

    Midpoint - coco Award (Midpoint Feature Launch)
    DOLPHIN | Poland | dir: Sonja Orlewicz-Zakrzewska 
    prod: Magdalena Sztorc | Before My Eyes

    FIRES | Montenegro, Italy, Serbia, Croatia | dir: Nikola Ljuca
    prod: Bojana Radulović, Manuela Buono, Nikolina Vučetić Zečević, Vanja Sremac | 
    Code Blue Production / Slingshot Films / Biberche / Terminal 3

    INHERITANCE | Ukraine | dir: Stanislav Bytiutskyi 
    prod: Valeria Sochyvets, Inna Lastochkina | Contemporary Ukrainian Cinema

    MARICEL | Cyprus, Greece | dir: Elias Demetriou 
    prod: Monica Nicolaidou, Maria Drandaki | Filmblades / Homemade Films

    THE ORIGIN OF THE WORLD | Hungary, Germany | dir: Borbála Nagy 
    prod: Petra Iványi, Margarita Amineva-Jester | Lupa Pictures / Voices Films

    RED | Romania | dir: Liviu Săndulescu 
    prod: Oana Iancu | The East Company Productions

    Special Pitch Award FilmFestival Cottbus
    SUPERMARKET | Bosnia and Herzegovina | dir: Nermin Hamzagić
    prod: Adis Djapo, Amra Bakšić Čamo | SCCA/pro.ba

    SPITE | Serbia | dir: Andrijana Stojković
    prod: Mirko Bojović | Baboon Production

    STATE | Ukraine | dir: Nikon Romanchenko
    prod: Vika Khomenko, Darya Bassel | Moon Man

    WASHED AND BURIED | Slovenia, Italy | dir: Martin Turk
    prod: Ida Weiss | Bela Film


    Selected cocoWIP Projects 2022:

    ALMOST ENTIRELY A SLIGHT DISASTER | Turkey | dir: Umut Subaşı 
    prod: Cemre Erül | Yunik Film

    BLAZING | Hungary | dir: Balázs Dudás 
    prod: Adam Farkas, Zoltán Mártonffy, Zsuzsanna Gyurin | CineSuper

    ERA | Kosovo, North Macedonia | dir: Parta Kelmendi 
    prod: Aferdita Saracini Kelmendi, Marija Dimitrova, Belma Bajrami | 
    Nam Creative / List Production / Company 21

    SEVENTH HEAVEN | Croatia | dir: Jasna Nanut 
    prod: Hrvoje Osvadić | Petnaesta Umjetnost

    WHEN YOU ARE 17 | Georgia, Germany | dir: Giorgi Mukhadze 
    prod: Giorgi Kobalia, Titus Kreyenberg | Terra Incognita Films / unafilm

    Transilvania Pitch Stop - coco Award 
    WHERE ELEPHANTS GO | Romania | dir: Gabi Virginia Șarga & Cătălin Rotaru 
    prod: Gabriela Suciu | Green Cat Film / Atelier de Film