17/09/2025 - A record 16 countries are represented in this year’s line-up, spanning genres from neo-noir and satirical sci-fi to vampire romance and queer drama

Director Roman Przylipiak, who is taking part in cocoPITCH with Helmet (© Mateusz Nasternak)

The 27th edition of connecting cottbus (coco), the East-West co-production market, will take place from 5-7 November during the FilmFestival Cottbus. Since its creation in 1999, coco has grown into one of the most important networking and project development hubs for Eastern European filmmakers, with over half of the projects presented reaching completion and nearly 70% of those premiering at A-list festivals.

The 2025 line-up brings together 16 countries, with the cocoPITCH strand showcasing projects in development and cocoWIP presenting works in progress. cocoPITCH offers a dynamic mix of debut features and fresh works by established filmmakers such as Darya Zhuk, Assel Aushakimova and Tonia Noyabrova. More than half of the selected projects are directed by women, and their stories traverse a wide spectrum of genres and tones: from neo-noir, coming-of-age drama and magical realism to satirical sci-fi, queer narratives, vampire romance and character studies featuring a ruthless debt collector, an underwater archaeologist, a solitary food courier, and even a hungry bear.

cocoWIP features new movies by directors including Tonia Mishiali, Claudiu Mitcu and Nikola Ljuca. Genres range from political thriller to elevated sci-fi and intimate dramas, while the protagonists include a mathematician with a radical self-help method, a disillusioned wife in communist Romania, misfits with superpowers, ex-activists struggling in the corporate world, and fractured families navigating love and memory.

All selected projects will vie for several awards and benefit from cocoLAB, which offers in-depth feedback from seasoned industry professionals. Alongside the pitching and work-in-progress sessions, participants will engage in networking activities and discussions addressing current co-production challenges and opportunities across Europe.

Industry representatives such as producers, sales agents and commissioning editors interested in East-West collaborations can apply to attend the market without a project until 2 October.

Here is the complete selection of the 27th coco East-West co-production market:

cocoPITCH

Astana Internet Stars – Assel Aushakimova (Kazakhstan) - Special Pitch Award FilmFestival Cottbus
Producers: Dana Sabitova, Assel Aushakimova (24 FPS)

Bekki – Aygul Bakanova (Kyrgyzstan)
Producers: Chingiz Narynov (Citylab Production), Aida Usonova (Kyrgyz National Film Studio)

Attention Whores – Alica Bednáriková (Czech Republic/Slovakia)
Producers: Valeria Borkovcová, Tomáš Hrubý (nutprodukce), Jakub Viktorín (nutprodukcia)

Some Good News – László Csuja (Hungary)
Producer: Anna Szijártó (Cinesuper)

Radioamateur – Tomasz Habowski (Poland) - Midpoint coco Award
Producer: Marta Szarzyńska (Watchout Studio)

Beginners – Birutė Kapustinskaitė (Lithuania)
Producers: Rūta Petronytė, Justinas Pocius (Smart Casual)

Lava Love – Steve Krikris (Greece/Iceland)
Producers: Stelios Mavrodontis, Nicholas Alavanos (Filmiki Productions), Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson (Zik Zak Filmworks)

The Inspector’s Debt – Teodora Markova (Bulgaria/Latvia)
Producers: Martin Markov, Kristina Despotova (Mirrormind), Uldis Cekulis (VFS Films)

I’ll Wait for You Last Summer – Tonia Noyabrova (Germany/Sweden)
Producers: Sophie Cocco, Jochen Laube, Fabian Maubach (Sommerhaus Filmproduktion), Jonas Kellagher (CommonGround Pictures)

Helmet – Roman Przylipiak (Poland)
Producer: Aneta Dobies (House Media Company)

Purgatory – Žiga Virc (Slovenia/Austria/Greece)
Producers: Iza Strehar, Žiga Virc (Lilit), Rok Biček (Zwinger Film), Minos Nikolakakis (Asphalt)

Saros – Ozan Yoleri (Turkey)
Producers: Ilgım Coşar (Monday Film), Alara Hamamcıoğlu Bayraktar, Sinan Kesova (Vigo Film)

Exactly What It Seems – Darya Zhuk (USA/Poland/Estonia/Netherlands)
Producers: Veta Krechetova, Darya Zhuk (TurnstyleTV), Dariusz Jabłoński, Izabela Wójcik (Apple Film Production), Ivo Felt, Volia Chajkouskaya (Allfilm), Max De Wolf (Topkapi Films)

cocoWIP

The Champion – Bohdan Karásek (Czech Republic)
Producer: Ondřej Lukeš (Beginner’s Mind)

Rattlesnakes – Nikola Ljuca (Serbia/Slovenia/Croatia/North Macedonia/Greece/Bosnia and Herzegovina/Montenegro)
Producers: Nikolina Vucetic (Biberche Productions), Ales Pavlin, Andres Stritof (Perfo Production), Damir Teresak, Ana Grbac (Maxima Film), Tomi Salkovski (Skopje Film), Yorgos Tsourgiannis (Horsefly Films), Zoran Maksimovic (Palchica Productions), Djordje Vojvodic (Bitter Frames Production)

Monarch – Dan Radu Mihai (Romania/Czech Republic/France)
Producers: Livia Rădulescu (Redwood Productions), Paul-Razvan Macovei, Tudor Hermeneanu (Armadillo Productions), Pătru Păunescu, Dan Radu Mihai (Dash Film), Julietta Sichel (8Heads Productions), Simon PR Bewick (Tajine Studio)

The Lion at My Back – Tonia Mishiali (Cyprus/Luxembourg/Greece)
Producers: Tonia Mishiali (Bark Like A Cat Films), Katarzyna Ozga, Nicolas Steil (Iris Productions), Marinos Charalambous, Vladimir Subotic (Avaton Films)

What God Thinks About Animals – Claudiu Mitcu (Romania)
Producers: Claudiu Mitcu (Parada Film), Alina Tarbă (We Are Basca)

Swaps – Gjorce Stavreski (North Macedonia/Czech Republic/Bosnia and Herzegovina/Bulgaria)
Producers: Gjorce Stavreski, Ivana Shekutkoska (Fragment Film), Alžběta Janáčková (Silk Films), Nikolina Vucetic (Palchica Productions), Angel Apostolski (Push Pull Production)