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Balkan Cinema at Berlinale 2024

2024-02-19 00:00:00

Some of the latest films from Macedonia, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, will be presented in the Berlinale programs and the Berlinale European Film Market (15 to 21 February 2024), bringing these new productions to the attention of film professionals, co-producers and festival selectors.

The North Macedonia Film Agency is present with its own stand at the European Film Market from 15 to 21 February 2024. This is of great importance for Macedonian cinema, considering that in the last 15 years efforts have been made for North Macedonia to provide its own promotional stand at EFM.

The Macedonian stand is positioned in a central location, in the Martin Gropius Bau, where the representatives from the Film Agency will present the latest developments in Macedonian cinema and are available for meetings for future co-production collaborations.

For this occasion, the Macedonian Film Agency has also prepared the an extensive catalog and promotional materials. It will also host a screening of Kill the Children First / Ubij gi prvo decata by Dimitar Orovchanec. The film is produced by Atanas Georgiev, Kornelija Ristovska and Dejan Iliev through DMF Films with Trice Films as executive producer.

In addition to the promotional stand, the Film Agency will also be present on the internet platform of the market, where all those who are unable to attend the physical edition of the market will be able to stream the films in a virtual format..

The Romanian Film Centre and Dacin Sara will be present at the EFM on the stand G1 (upper floor).

HOLY WEEK directed by Andrei Cohn, RO/CH 2024, 133`

Leiba lives with his wife Sura and their son Eli in a village located within a Romanian landscape so beautiful it could be a painting. The Jewish family runs the village inn, a meeting point for travellers and the village community at the end of the 19th century. At first glance, the people that eat and drink here are all alike. This is where they belong. But their table conversations reveal prejudices and racist sentiments. A little derision here, some underlying envy there, poisonous attributions. Nothing out of the ordinary, at least for now. Those who are close always tease each other. Holy Week is a free adaptation of the 1889 novella “An Easter Torch” by Romanian author Ion Luca Caragiale. For this, Andrei Cohn crafts a world illuminated by considerable cinematic and psychological nuance. His characters seem to inhabit this world as if they were living today, like the people right next door, caught up in their own lives. Even when the fuse of anti-Semitism has already been lit, Leiba and his wife make plans, argue or giggle with joy. Between Jewish Passover and Christian Easter, a bomb will explode.

SCRIPT: Andrei Cohn
PRODUCER: Anca Puiu
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Andrei Butică
EDITING: Andrei Iancu, Dana Bunescu
CAST: Doru Bem, Nicoleta Lefter, Ciprian Chiricheș, Mario Gheorghe Dinu, Ana Cioneta
INTERNATIONAL SALES: Shellac

Section: FORUM

Screening Schedule

15.02.2024 - Kino Arsenal 1 @ 19h (Press Screening)
17.02.2024 - Delphi Filmpalast @ 14:30 PREMIERE
18.02.2024 - Cubix 7 @ 16h
20.02.2024 - Kino Betonhalle@silent green @ 14:30
25.02.2024 - Delphi Filmpalast @ 15h

Montenegro is once again present at the European Film Market (EFM) held within the Berlin Film Festival this year. The Montenegrin stand (no.130) will be located in Marriott Hotel, as in previous years.

The Film Centre of Montenegro will showcase current Montenegrin cinema to numerous European film professionals, exhibitors, and accredited visitors of the market, both at its booth in the Marriott Hotel and on the virtual EFM platform.

At the EFM, the Film Centre of Montenegro provides information on current Montenegrin productions and co-productions, festivals, film locations, filming advantages in Montenegro and contacts. EFM facilitates participation in numerous seminars, webinars, presentations, lectures, meetings with current and potential partners, all aimed at networking and establishing new collaborations.

At the Montenegrin EFM booth, two catalogs will be presented: "Montenegrin Cinema 2024," offering an overview of current production, and "Film Destination Montenegro," covering a wide range of film locations, filming advantages in Montenegro, contacts of film professionals and companies, along with necessary service information.

Special attention will be given to promoting current film titles from Montenegro.

Representatives of the Centre will be available for meetings throughout the market days. For more information, please contact Marija Nikčević, advisor for international relations and promotion at FCM.

This year, Bulgaria is hosting a small reception: HAPPY HOUR 17th February, 6 pm @Stand #134 – MGB

Margarita Stoykova was selected as the youngest European Shooting Star.
"Bulgaria’s Margarita Stoykova astounds in Dyad; her debut performance showcases her fearlessness as an actor. She skillfully tackles the sensitive issues of a young woman growing up in a hostile environment. Balancing vulnerability and maturity, Stoykova portrays a multifaceted character exceptionally well. Initially appearing unsympathetic, her character gradually reveals layers of fragility. Stoykova`s rawness and bravery in exploring extremes signify her as a standout talent." – Jury

Slovenian Cinema at the European Film Market - For the nineteenth time, the Slovenian Film Centre – the central film institution in Slovenia – will present Slovenian films at a joint venue together with the Czech Film Fund and the Slovak Film Institute under the common trademark CEC-Central European Cinema at the European Film Market during Berlinale.

For this occasion, the Slovenian Film Centre has also prepared the new 2024 film guide.

On the third day of the festival, on 17 February at 12:50 in the Parliament Studio Observing by Janez Burger, produced by Staragara, which had its world premiere at the Black Nights festival in Tallinn in November 2023, will be screened at the market. The Sales Agent is Slingshot Films.

This drama-thriller is a Slovenian-Italian-Croatian coproduction.

Paramedic Lara was in the ambulance with inhumanly wounded comatose Kristjan. The next morning, she receives an SMS of a smiley face. Lara is not alone among the targeted receivers, who suddenly die or commit suicide.

The CEC Stand will be as usual a meeting point for the presentation of upcoming Slovenian films and also the promotion of the shooting locations and the cash rebate scheme.

Kiril Gjozev

Tags: Berlinale, European films, selection