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
