The Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) commemorates its 30th anniversary, a journey that the British Council has proudly supported from the outset. Our collaborative efforts have elevated the festival to a premier event in Southeastern Europe and broadened its impact on the regional cinematographic landscape.
As a pivotal segment of SFF, CineLink Industry Days stands as the cornerstone for film professionals in Southeast Europe. It has been instrumental in nurturing co-production and is now a distinguished business forum, drawing European professionals eager to discover talent, co-production opportunities, and insights into the region’s industry growth. Offering continuous training and access to vast networks, CineLink Industry Days empowers local and regional film and TV talent.
Since its inaugural UK delegation in 2014, CineLink Industry Days has evolved significantly, mirroring the dynamic shifts in the industry and global landscape. The focus on the British audio-visual sector is revitalized in 2024, reflecting CID’s responsiveness to changing industry trends. This year’s UK delegation, a collaboration between the British Film Institute and the British Council, exemplifies this progress and the adaptability of CID.
This initiative is both innovative and experimental, uniting emerging talents and seasoned UK producers at the Sarajevo Film Festival, fostering a melting pot of creativity and experience.
The UK delegation showcases a rich tapestry of perspectives and artistic expressions. Each delegate brings their own unique insights and creative flair, enhancing the potential for innovative collaborations within the region.
This year’s CineLink is dedicated to discovering and fostering co-production opportunities between the Southeast European (SEE) region and the UK. This initiative is bolstered by the BFI’s Global Screen Fund, which aims to nurture partnerships between British and Southeast European creatives. Such collaborations are expected to spur a fusion of ideas and methodologies, culminating in groundbreaking audiovisual projects with global appeal.
Engagement with the UK delegation promises significant advantages for the SEE audio-visual sector. It offers local artists a window into international practices and benchmarks, thereby refining their skills and expanding their creative vistas. Additionally, it paves the way for enduring professional ties and networks, unlocking doors to ongoing collaborations and cultural dialogues.
A key feature of the CineLink Days is the industry panel discussion titled “Co-Producing with the UK.” This session is designed to delve into the prospects of co-production between UK and regional producers. The panel will serve as a platform for dialogue on cooperative ventures, funding mechanisms, and the sharing of creative assets, further cementing the bond between the UK and SEE audio-visual sectors.
UK guests at CineLink this year:
Emilie Jouffroy (Elation Pictures) set up Elation Pictures together with Kamilla Kristiane Hodøl, and was selected by the British Film Institute as one of the foremost new production companies in the UK in the context of their 2016 Vision Awards. Elation Pictures credits include award-winning shorts such as EDMOND (Winner BAFTA Best Animation, BIFA Best Short Film, and Sundance Best Animation), MANOMAN (BAFTA and BIFA nominated, Official Selection at Cannes Cinefondation, Sundance and SXSW) and DIAGNOSIS (Short of the Week and Vimeo Staff Pick).
Farah Abushwesha (Rocliffe) set up Rocliffe in 2000 by producer to champion emerging writing and directing talent, and develop diverse stories with an international outlook. Rocliffe is a recipient of the 2020 BFI Vision Award, with a vibrant slate of films and TV Series in development, and runs the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition in partnership with BAFTA.
Nefeli Zygopoulou (I Made It) is a Greek-British filmmaker and academic. She's a Canada Media Producer's Association, International Co-production Accelerator Program Alumni. She produced and co-wrote I Made it Film's Chasing Robert Barker, and produced and executive produced Awfully Deep.
Carl Schoenfeld (Schoenfeld Film) has over three decades' producing experience in the film and TV industries, laying the groundwork for fresh approaches across filmmaking procedures, financing and talent development. He is a BAFTA voting member and consultant producer at Swiss film production intelligence start-up Largo.ai. Carl founded ScreenTalk Oxfordshire and teaches Screenwriting for the British Film Institute and at the University of Oxford, where he also leads creative communities of artists and researchers.
Dan Dixon (Snafu Pictures) co-founded Snafu Pictures in 2020 and works as an EP across a slate of productions. Dan has produced a range of creative content; from highly successful and multi-award-winning live-action shorts to full CG animation for TV drama, games and advertising. His shorts (The Stomach, Clanker Man and Urn) have been selected for over 200 festivals worldwide and featured on sites like Will Ferrell’s Funny Or Die and Shudder.
Samir Mehanović (Paradiso Films), Bosnian and British BAFTA and IDFA award-winning film director, producer, and screenwriter. In 2005 he completed an MA in Film and TV at the Edinburgh College of Art. In 2017 Samir was nominated for the UK BAFTAs and received the Grand Prix Award at the 22nd International Short Film Festival in Drama, Greece 2016 - both for the short film 'Mouth of Hell'. He won the [1] IDFA Special Jury Award for the documentary 'The Fog of Srebrenica' and also the BAFTA SCOTLAND award for the short film 'The Way We Played'.
Tidža Karup (Wild Swim) Tidža is a creatively-led producer based in London. She is a 2023 Producing Alumna from the UK’s National Film & Television School (NFTS). She works as a Development & Production Executive at Wild Swim Films (How To Have Sex, Tuesday, Bring Them Down). Previously, she produced promo shoots and campaigns for broadcasters like NBCUniversal, Viaplay and Viacom
Xavier Henry-Rashid (Film Republic) has worked in various festival positions, from previewing for Sheffield Doc/Fest, in sponsorship for Sundance London/AEG and the East End Film Festival, and in management as programmer and Executive Director of Raindance Film Festival where he also ran the year-round training programme. Film Republic launched in 2012 at the Rotterdam Film Festival, and has worked with auteurs such as Pirjo Honkasalo, a plethora of emerging directors and Oscar entries, as well as both debut and revered production outfits such as Ulrich Seidl Filmproduktion.
Natalie Campbell-Reid works as Executive Assistant – Business Development and Acquisitions at Together Films. She is the force behind forging meaningful connections and nurturing partnerships that propel mission of Together Films forward. Natalie and Together continue to champion impactful storytelling and serve the vibrant filmmaking community with passion and purpose.