CineLink Industry Days at Sarajevo Film Festival
The most important co-production and development platform for Southeast European cinema, operating during the Sarajevo Film Festival in August, providing structured access to European financing and distribution for regional projects.
Overview
CineLink Industry Days is the co-production and development platform that operates during the Sarajevo Film Festival, widely recognized as the most important industry event for Southeast European cinema. Founded in 2003, CineLink serves filmmakers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, and the broader region, providing structured access to European co-production financing, distribution, and professional development.
The platform runs concurrently with the Sarajevo Film Festival in August, and its participants benefit from the full festival's cultural programming and networking environment alongside the dedicated industry activities. CineLink has been instrumental in connecting Southeast European filmmakers with the European co-production infrastructure that funds and distributes their work internationally.
CineLink's co-production market has facilitated partnerships between Southeast European producers and co-producers from major European markets including France, Germany, the UK, Austria, and the Netherlands. Films developed through CineLink have subsequently competed at Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and other major festivals.
Key Sections
- CineLink Co-Production Market -- structured co-production meetings between regional producers and international partners
- CineLink Drama -- a dedicated platform for television series and serial fiction
- CineLink Works in Progress -- presentations of films in post-production seeking distribution
- CineLink Talks -- panels and discussions on the European co-production landscape
- Docu Rough Cut Boutique -- documentary films in rough cut seeking editorial and distribution advice
What Filmmakers Should Know
CineLink accepts applications from producers and writer-directors with projects at various stages of development. The application process is competitive. Participation provides direct access to European co-producers and distributors who have a demonstrated interest in Southeast European cinema.
The Works in Progress screenings are particularly valuable for completed or near-completed films. Presenting a film at CineLink WIP generates genuine acquisition interest from European sales agents and distributors.
Festival History
CineLink was founded in 2003 alongside the growing international recognition of the Sarajevo Film Festival. The platform has grown steadily into the most important industry event for the Southeast European region.
See Also
For the Sarajevo Film Festival, see Sarajevo Film Festival. For European co-production, see Film Financing Guide.
