Council of Europe to Award €50,000 Development Grant at CineLink Drama 2025 in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Sarajevo Film Festival’s CineLink Drama platform will host the Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award in 2025, offering €50,000 to support high-quality drama series in Southeast Europe. The initiative underscores the festival’s dedication to advancing the regional TV landscape while promoting cross-border collaboration.
The award is part of the Council of Europe’s Pilot Programme for Series Co-Productions, involving 19 ministries and national agencies from 18 countries, including the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This program seeks to empower independent producers, facilitate cross-border collaborations, and promote diverse storytelling that resonates globally.
CineLink Drama has been pivotal in addressing the financing challenges for regional drama productions since its inception in 2016. Initially targeting the Former Yugoslav territories, it has since expanded to encompass the entire Southeast Europe region. Its efforts have led to internationally recognized productions such as The Last Socialist Artefact (winner of Series Mania’s Best International Series 2021) and Operation Sabre (Canneseries Best Interpretation Award 2024).
Maša Marković, Head of Industry at the Sarajevo Film Festival, highlighted the significance of this collaboration: “It is a great honor for us that the Council of Europe has recognized our longstanding efforts to develop, promote, and support the co-production of drama series in Southeast Europe through our flagship program, CineLink Drama.”
The program supports participants with workshops, public pitching sessions, and access to decision-makers to help projects transition from development to production. Notable works like Silence, Snow, and Hollow have showcased the success of this platform.
The CineLink Drama Call for Entries is now open, with submissions closing on February 21, 2025. The awards ceremony will take place during CineLink Industry Days at the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival, solidifying the event's role in shaping the regional drama series industry.
The initiative offers Southeast European producers an opportunity for global market exposure and alignment with European production standards, marking a new chapter in the evolution of the regional TV industry.