26/11/2024 - The fourth edition of the event is unlocking creativity with leading industry speakers, new TV projects, interactive workshops and a series of awards

With the fourth edition of NEM Zagreb fast approaching, organisers have unveiled the full agenda for the event, which will take place from 10-12 December at the Esplanade Zagreb Hotel. Designed to foster connections between Central and Eastern European (CEE) content creators, particularly from low-production-capacity countries, and their counterparts from high-production-capacity regions, NEM Zagreb promises to be a dynamic platform for industry professionals.

One of the key components of NEM Zagreb 2024 is the NEM Awards, a competition recognising outstanding content from the CEE. This year, over 260 submissions were received across three categories: the Best Pre-development Project Award (powered by HAVC), the Council of Europe Series Co-production Development Award, and the Best Finished TV Series in the CEE Award. Twelve projects will compete for the Best Pre-development Project Award, while eight projects from other markets and five contenders for the Co-production Development Award, which offers a €50,000 prize, will also be presented.

In addition to the awards, NEM Zagreb will host a range of thought-provoking panel discussions. Topics will include strategic partnerships, the importance of public broadcasters, the role of music in TV and film, and effective casting practices. Noel Curran, director general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), will lead the panel “Public Broadcasters: A Fight Worth Fighting For”, emphasising the increasing need for strong public service media and the transformation it requires to remain relevant in today’s diverse and competitive media landscape.

The European Producers Club will also share exclusive insights. Dariusz Jablonski, CEO of Apple Film Production, will reflect on his 30-year career and the evolution of European independent production during a keynote Q&A session. Other notable speakers include Nicholas Hooper, composer for several Harry Potter [+see also:
trailer
film profile] films, and Teresa Fernández-Valdés, the first Spanish woman to receive the Médaille d’Honneur for her significant contributions to the TV industry.

NEM Zagreb 2024 will offer opportunities for attendees to enhance their screenwriting, production, and networking skills through masterclasses led by renowned industry figures. John Altman, a celebrated film composer, orchestrator, and saxophonist, will explore the intricacies of balancing creativity with the political aspects of media work. Larry Bass, founder and CEO of ShinAwiL, will provide insights on building sustainable businesses in an ever-evolving industry. Additionally, Teodora Markova and Teresa Fernández-Valdés will lead a session on the differences between showrunning in Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe as part of the Creative Europe – MEDIA – European Showrunner Think Tank.

In the lead-up to the event, several workshops tailored for producers and top students will take place, alongside a “Script Surgery” session for the finalists of the Best Pre-Development Project Award. These interactive workshops aim to provide targeted feedback and foster deeper industry connections. Nina Obuljen Koržinek, the minister of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, will officially open the event, reinforcing the importance of NEM Zagreb as a hub for the exchange of ideas and collaboration within the TV and film industries.

Organised by Mediavision and co-funded by the European Union through the Creative Europe – MEDIA sub-programme, NEM Zagreb 2024 promises to be an essential event for anyone invested in the future of television and film in Europe. For more details about the event and registration, visit the official NEM Zagreb 2024 website.

Here are the top 10 finalists for the Best Finished TV Series in the CEE Award:

17 Threads (Cosmote TV-OTE SA)
The Bay of Spies (Telewizja Polska - TVP)
Daughter of the Nation [+see also:
series review
trailer
series profile] (Canal+ Czech Republic)
Extractors (Keshet International/Voyo)
I Know Your Soul (BH Telecom)
In Her Car (StarLight Films)
The Thaw [+see also:
series review
series profile] - (TVN Warner Bros. Discovery)
V Effect (Firefly Productions/Telekom Srbija)
We're on it, comrades! - (Czech Television/ZDF Studios)
The Wilder - (ERT S.A. Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation)