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MARKET Greece

Balkan Fund initiative attracts interest

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Four Balkan filmmakers were given the thumbs up by the industry for their projects when they won the Balkan Fund Development Awards, handed out during the Thessaloniki Film Festival, November 18th to the 27th. Α Conversation with Serafim by Silviu Purcarete, producer Ozana Oancea - Libra Films (Romania); Asphyxiation, by Asli Ozge, producer Deniz Kunkut - DKFY (Turkey); Cum in the Rye, by Srdjan Dragojevic, script Dimitrije Vojnov - Delirium Films (Serbia & Montenegro); Welcome Aboard by Constantine Giannaris, producer Yorgos Likiardopoulos - Highway Productions (Greece); were all handed a €10,000 check and the assurance that they are worth being made into a film.
The four were chosen from 12 fiction film projects that were pitched to a jury at a workshop during the festival. These, in turn, were pre-selected from 50 applications to the Fund from the Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, FYROM, Greece, Romania, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovenia, Turkey).

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The Fund’s jury, this year headed by Gyula Gazdag, the Sundance Film Institute’s artistic director, is composed of active non-Balkan film professionals. Other impartial industry experts, like for example the head of co-production at Filmfour Peter Carlton, are also present to observe, judge or give advice.
“The most interesting part is not the awards, but providing these people with an opportunity to articulate their ideas and inspire them; to know what to do and how to do it next time they face decision makers…and how to present it” said Gazdag.
His words were echoed by Constantine Giannaris (From the Edge of the City, Hostage) a Greek director already acclaimed at home, who also walked away with an award from the Balkan Fund. “I can say that [the whole pitching process] was like if we were thrown to the lions, very intense, but valuable nevertheless; it’s more than essential that the Fund keeps working.” Giannaris said.

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