AlbaSCRIPT+

PitchBALKAN

B2B Meetings

Panels

BALKAN FILM MARKET | 2nd Edition

The Balkan Film Market (BFM) is a regional film industry event in the form of a marketplace for the film business with main focus in production and distribution deals.

BFM’18 will take place on 3 - 7 October 2018 in Tirana, Albania. BFM’18 is a five-day annual event brings together audio-visual agencies and professionals from European and Balkan to develop, pitch, finance, sell and network. The event is open for professionals interested in the regional production and includes producers, writers, directors, distributors, acquisition, financiers, development executives, festival directors, film commissioners, etc.

Every year at the Balkan Film Market official program includes workshops, pitching and professional discussions of issues and concerns, as well as new trends and perspectives of regional development. Beside the official program BFM invites all entitles that share common values and interest to come up with their own programming and use the platform to share their experiences in favour of enhancing the regional production output and cooperation. Balkan Film Market remains focused first and foremost on Balkan stories for Balkan audiences.

UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF EURIMAGES

Eurimages renewals its patronage for the second edition of the Balkan Film Market, at its 151st Board of Management Meeting in Montreal.

Eurimages is the cultural support fund of the Council of Europe. Established in 1989, it currently numbers 37 member states plus Canada as Associate member.

Eurimages promotes independent filmmaking by providing financial support to feature-length films, animation and documentary films. In doing so, it encourages co-operation between professionals established in different countries.

Eurimages has five support schemes:

The Sekretariat sits in Strasbourg and is headed by Mr. Roberto Olla. The president of Eurimages is Mrs. Catherine Trautmann.

The Eurimages Board of Management meets 4 times per year in different venues of the member countries and allocates a yearly envelope of 25 million euros to the following 5 support schemes: Film co-production, Theatrical distribution, Exhibition, Promotion and Gender equality

Since its creation in 1988, has supported 1962 co-production films for an overall total amount of about 574 million euros.

EUROPEAN FILM PROMOTION (EFP) - PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE

Dear PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE,

Thanks to the new partnership between BALKAN FILM MARKET (BFM) and EUROPEAN FILM PROMOTION (EFP), we are pleased to inform that the participants of PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE, who are interested in cooperation with the regional film industry are invited to attend the BFM 2018 that takes place 3 – 7 October 2018 in Tirana, Albania. 

BFM is an industry event that brings together funding agencies and audio-visual professionals from European and Balkan countries to share stories, foster professional relations and strengthen marketing efforts of local productions. BFM ultimate goal is to boost co-production and distribution in this rich and diverse region with yet untapped potential.

BFM will provide accreditation and two nights of accommodation to PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE participants that will attend BFM 2018. 

MIBACT - Direzione Generale CINEMA

MIBACT reconfirms its strategic co-operation with Balkan Film Market (BFM). 

Evaluating the performance of the First Edition of BFM, MIBACT –Italian Ministry of Culture has decided to be one of the main partners even of the Second Edition of this important regional activity.

The Italian film industry is interested in cinematic developments in the Balkan region, appreciating the ever-increasing potential of the industry in this region. The Balkan Film Market serves as a communication bridge between film industry professionals identifying different partners in Italy ranging from ANICA, Luce, Roma Lazio Film Commission, Apulia Film Commission, Mia Market and this partner’s circle is constantly expanding with the tendency to create the boost of Italian-Balkans co-productions. 

SEE CINEMA NETWORK

Balkan Film Market 2018 will host in Tirana the work meeting of SEE Cinema Network General Assembly, that will discuss the support of 18 selected feature film projects.
The South Eastern Europe Cinema Network (SEE CINEMA NETWORK) was established as a joint international film institution with participating public agencies of eleven regional countries in 2000.
The Greek Film Center hosts the secretariat of the network dealing with the partner organizations and managing the work with the films supported by the network. The General Assembly meets in June in one of the member countries and in November during Thessaloniki International Film Festival.

SEE Cinema Network, has so far supported:

• Development of 91 feature films
• Production of 63 short fiction films

SEE CINEMA NETWORK is made of representatives of:

• Albanian National Center of Cinematography
• Bulgarian National Film Center
• Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture
• Film Center Serbia
• Film Centre of Montenegro
• Greek Film Centre
• Kosova Cinematography Center
• Macedonian Film Agency
• Romanian Film Centre

SEE CINEMA NETWORK encourages collaboration between its member states and supports: 

• Development of feature films
• Production of short films

ALBASCRIPT PLUS 2018

AlbaScript Plus is an intensive script developing experience that goes beyond the traditional academic workshops that assist regional authors to overcome occurring problems with a prime goal to have a better script that communicates effectively across the cultures.

The submission call is open to narrative feature and short screenplays from the filmmakersresiding in the wider Balkan region or others that have a story of significant Balkan relevance.

Albascript Plus relies heavily on personal work with accomplished mentors and it lends the opportunity to have the updated draft review by the mentor of choice.

Albascript Plus 2018 takes place 3 - 7 October 2018 in Tirana, Albania. The accommodations are tucked amidst a quiet retreat only minutes away from the beauty of the newly designed Scanderbeg Square.

Albascript Plus, as an integral part of Balkan Film Market environment, is only the first stop in our lasting cooperation. We remain partners for the long haul, and you are invited back to Pitch Balkan and attend the other industry events as the film develops further.

Albascript Plus 2018 is designed first and foremost to help the authors to embolden their vision. In return is required the finished projects grant on-screen recognition and also credit the script mentor.

YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS, AS WE GROW TOGETHER

PITCH BALKAN 2018

Do you have a story that echoes a local, national or a cultural issue of regional relevance? Are you daring to find your authentic voice and bring a refreshing perspective? Has it been hard to find support elsewhere, beside your own country, because your story is too small or too local and does not communicate well beyond the borders? Don’t let any of the above stop you. Pitch Balkan is here and looking for stories that challenge the status quo, break the taboos and defy the comfort of clichés?

To embolden the Balkan production and encourage the cooperation between the regional filmmakers, as well as give a bust to Balkan staged stories, by attracting projects to be shot in the region, BFM is pleased to announce a call for projects to present at Pitch Balkan during the Balkan Film Market that takes place 3 - 7 October 2018 in Tirana, Albania.

This pitching opportunity is open to Regional or European filmmakers developing the first or second feature film or documentary to be shoot in the Balkan region that have already received at least 10% of the budget by a funding body.

Pitch Balkan 2018 is designed first and foremost to help the authors to embolden their vision. In return is required the finished projects grant on-screen recognition and also credit the script mentor.

YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS, AS WE GROW TOGETHER

BALKAN MINORITY CO-PRODUCTIONS FUNDING

Partnering through minority co-production funding has become the driving force for the co-productions among Balkan countries. 

Partnering through minority co-production funding has become the driving force for the co-productions among Balkan countries.

BFM offers prime visibility for the projects that compete or have benefited from such funding schemes. It is a great venue for each of the projects to network and exploit the presence of the representatives of international funding bodies and European production companies in attendance.

BFM is an opportunity for all Balkan film Institutions to make their granting decisions in an open minority co-productions pitch with the participation of the Balkan projects that have applied to co-produce with their respective countries.

The ultimate goal for BFM is to become the talent scouting ground the Balkan authors and projects.