07/11/2025 - Teodora Markova’s project has collected two prizes in the cocoPITCH section, while Nikola Ljuca’s work in progress took home the main award from cocoWIP

The jury with director Teodora Markova and producers Kristina Despotova and Martin Markov, of the project The Inspector's Debt (© Jerzy Wypych)

The 27th edition of the East-West co-production market connecting cottbus (coco) took place from 5-7 November, once again alongside the FilmFestival Cottbus (4-9 November). This year’s event brought together 13 projects in development under the cocoPITCH banner and six works in progress in cocoWIP, fostering a vibrant environment for co-production and networking between Eastern and Western Europe.

The top honour in the cocoPITCH category, the Audience Award for Best Pitch, was voted on by all attending industry participants and was accompanied by a €1,500 cash prize. The prize went to the Bulgarian project The Inspector’s Debt, directed by Teodora Markova. The project also impressed the jury, which granted it the Avanpost Award, providing up to €15,000 in in-kind post-production services. The jury, composed of Marianne Ostrat (Alexandra Film), Elisa Pirir (Stær) and Tommaso Priante (Luminalia), highlighted, “The filmmakers have made a smart and close observation regarding a recent shift in society and how women are perceived. They are expressing their concern about the erosion of empathy through a unique character and a moving story.”

The Croatian Audiovisual Centre’s HAVC Project Development Award, worth €5,000, went to the Kazakh project Astana Internet Stars, directed and produced by Assel Aushakimova, and co-produced by Dana Sabitova (24 FPS). The jury praised the filmmakers “for the determination and braveness to bring to the international screen a genuine and rebellious portrait of a conservative society”.

The Producers Network Award, granting complimentary accreditation for the Producers Network at the Marché du Film at Cannes 2026, was given to Valeria Borkovcová from nutprodukce (Czech Republic), the producer of Attention Whores by Alica Bednáriková. A new honour was introduced this year: the Phont Dynamic Subtitling Award, providing up to €1,000 in expressive and inclusive subtitling services for a project’s social-media campaign. It was awarded to Exactly What It Seems by Darya Zhuk, produced by Volia Chajkouskaya (Allfilm, Estonia) and Veta Krechetova (TurnstyleTV, USA). The MIDPOINT Consulting Awards were presented to three cocoPITCH projects, each receiving in-depth script consultancy: Astana Internet Stars, Attention Whores and Saros. The winners were announced by MIDPOINT’s programme coordinator, Soňa Morgenthalová.

In the cocoWIP section, the jury, composed of Alexandra Cruz (The Yellow Affair), Yianna Sarri (Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center), Lukáš Moudrý (Studio Beep) and Robert Wunsch (D-Facto Motion), honoured two standout projects. The main D-Facto Motion WIP Award, consisting of €35,000 in post-production services and €1,000 for expenses, went to Is the Sky Blue? by Serbian director Nikola Ljuca. The jury stated, “The project touched us with its strong and deeply moving characters, a well-crafted script, and a powerful story told in a unique and engaging way. It also tackles a socially relevant topic that feels both timely and important”.

The Studio Beep Sound Post-Production Award, worth €6,000 in in-kind services, was presented to The Lion at My Back, directed and co-produced by Tonia Mishiali. The jury praised the film “for its strong creative vision, very personal approach and deep humanity”.

Here is the full list of award winners at the 27th connecting cottbus:

cocoPITCH

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

Avanpost Award
The Inspector’s Debt – Teodora Markova

HAVC Project Development Award
Astana Internet Stars – Assel Aushakimova (Kazakhstan)
Producers: Dana Sabitova, Assel Aushakimova (24 FPS)

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

Phont Dynamic Subtitling Award
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)

MIDPOINT Consulting Awards
Astana Internet Stars – Assel Aushakimova

Attention Whores – Alica Bednáriková

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

cocoWIP

D-Facto Motion WIP Award
Is the Sky Blue? – 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)

Studio Beep Sound Post-Production Award
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)