Ukraine, Female Filmmakers in Focus at Sarajevo’s CineLink Program

Now in its 20th year, it scouts and nurtures new talent from southeastern Europe to take their films to the international market.

When the Sarajevo Film Festival was launched, back in 1995, it was in defiance. Founded during the siege of the city during the Bosnian War, the festival stood as a symbol of the power and resilience of cinema even in the face of violence and war.

In 2002, when the fest launched its CineLink program, it was amidst a mood of hope, a hope for a better future for the film industry in the former Yugoslavia and or the entire region of Southeastern Europe.

What started as a modest co-production market to encourage production with and between filmmakers in the region has now, two decades on, expanded to include a rich and diverse program of conferences, panels, talks and masterclasses.

The heart of the Sarajevo Film Festival’s industry program, CineLink now plays an essential role in scouting for new talents from the region, mentoring and supporting them in their creative development through programs like Talents Sarajevo,

a branch of Berlin’s Berlinale Talents program, showcasing their student and short films, and, through participation in the CineLink co-production market, linking them up with potential investors and co-producers to help launch their international careers.