20/09/2024 - A variety of projects hailing from 13 countries will be featured at the upcoming market and presented in the cocoPITCH and cocoWIP sections

Marjorie Bendeck, head of the connecting cottbus East-West Co-Production Market, at last year's cocoPITCH opening (© Jerzy Wypych)

The 26th edition of connecting cottbus (coco), the East-West co-production market, is set to showcase a diverse array of projects from 6-8 November, as part of the FilmFestival Cottbus. Since its founding in 1999, coco has become a prominent platform for Eastern European filmmakers, with over half of the projects presented successfully completed, and nearly 70% of those premiering at prestigious A-list festivals.

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Recent coco projects that have garnered international attention include U Are the Universe [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Pavlo Ostrikov
film profile] by Pavlo Ostrikov (Toronto 2024), Bikechess [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Assel Aushakimova (Best International Narrative Feature at Tribeca 2024), and The Editorial Office [+see also:
film review
interview: Roman Bondarchuk
film profile] by Roman Bondarchuk (Berlinale 2024). In addition, several alumni have returned to FilmFestival Cottbus with their co-produced works, such as Waterdrop [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Robert Budina, When You Are 17 by Giorgi Mukhadze, Wet Monday by Justyna Mytnik, and Forever Hold Your Peace [+see also:
film review
interview: Ivan Marinović
film profile] by Ivan Marinović.

The 2024 coco line-up features projects from 13 countries. The cocoPITCH selection, highlighting projects in development, offers a range of debut features alongside new works from established filmmakers. Notably, more than half of the selected projects are directed by women. These films tackle complex themes like identity, family responsibilities, societal pressures, corruption, addiction, and even cannibalism. Stylistically, the collection spans intimate dramas, heist films, literary adaptations, period tragicomedies, horror, and slow-burn thrillers.

The cocoWIP (Works in Progress) selection includes dark comedies, satires, and coming-of-age dramas, exploring stories about offbeat slackers, black metal musicians, and disillusioned members of Generation Z.

All selected projects will compete for a range of awards and benefit from cocoLAB, which provides in-depth feedback sessions from industry experts. Participants will also have the chance to attend networking events and panel discussions on current trends in East-West European co-production.

Industry professionals such as producers, sales agents, and commissioning editors involved in East-West co-productions can apply to attend the event without a project until 7 October.

Here is the complete selection of the 26th coco East-West Co-Production Market:

cocoPITCH

A Long-Awaited Vacation - Bogdan Theodor Olteanu (Romania)
Producer: Ana Voicu (Tangaj Production)

Bear Hug - Alexandros Skouras (Greece/Poland)
Producers: Lina Yannopoulou, Eleni Oulani (Argonauts Productions), Kasia Kuczyńska (Haka Films)

Boba - Darijan Pejovski (North Macedonia/Serbia/Slovenia)
Producers: Tomi Salkovski (Skopje Film Studio), Miroslav Mogorović (Art & Popcorn), Aleš Pavlin (Perfo)

Do Me Bad - Maria Wider (Poland)
Producers: Mirosław Bork, Magdalena Nowacka-Flakiewicz (MWM MEDIA)

Eli and Them - Petr Pylypčuk (Czech Republic) - Midpoint - coco Award (Midpoint Feature Launch)
Producer: Kryštof Burda (Perfilm)

Family Feeling - Kamile Milašiūtė (Lithuania)
Producer: Klementina Remeikaite (Afterschool Production)

Golden Leggings - Arkadii Nepytaliuk (Ukraine)
Producers: Regina Maryanovska Davidzon, Oleksiy Gladushevskyy (Real Pictures)

The Hunters and the Hunted - Anna Buryachkova (Ukraine/Netherlands) - Special Pitch Award FilmFestival Cottbus
Producers: Natalia Libet, Olha Beskhmelnytsina (2Brave Productions), Rinskje Raap, Reinier Selen (Rinkel Film)

The Main Course - Viktorie Novotná (Czech Republic)
Producers: Jakub Jíra, Kryštof Zelenka (Shore Points)

No Salvation Coming - Vojtěch Strakatý (Czech Republic)
Producer: Ondřej Lukeš (Beginner's Mind)

Nothing Is Needed - Beata Dzianowicz (Poland)
Producers: Zbigniew Domagalski, Anna Gutowska (WFDiF)

Summer Blues - Anna Ansone (Latvia/Germany)
Producers: Alise Gelze (White Picture), Claus Herzog-Reichel (Filmfaust)

Vestige - Rita Krasniqi (Kosovo)
Producer: Jon Gojani (Kot Productions)

cocoWIP

Dump of Untitled Pieces - Melik Kuru (Turkey)
Producers: Hilal Şenel (Hafif Film), Fahriye Ismayilova (Parda Film)

Everything That's Wrong With You - Urša Menart (Slovenia/Germany/Serbia)
Producers: Katja Lenarčič, Danijel Hočevar (Vertigo), Alexander Wadouh, Roxana Richters (Chromosom Film), Dimče Stojanovski, Stefan Orlandić (Living Pictures)

Girl in the Night - Luka Marčetić (Slovenia)
Producer: Andraž Jerič (Temporama)

The Swan Song of Fedor Ozerov - Yuri Semashko (Belarus/Lithuania)
Producers: Leonid Kalitenya (Belarusian Filmmakers Network), Kestutis Drazdauskas (ArtBox), Yuri Semashko (Singo)

Three Weeks Under the Sea - Martin Kuba (Czech Republic/Slovakia/Poland)
Producers: Miloš Lochman, Karel Chvojka, Kristina Husová (Moloko Film), Zuzana Mistríková, Lubica Orchechovská (PubRes), Karolina Galuba, Małgorzata Małysa (Furia Film)

Wolves - Jonas Ulrich (Switzerland)
Producers: Nicole Ulrich, Philipp Ritler, Jonas Ulrich (Dynamic Frame)