The 26th edition of the East-West co-production market, connecting cottbus (coco), unfolded from 6-8 November, coinciding with the 34th FilmFestival Cottbus, running from 5-10 November. The event featured 13 projects in development in the cocoPITCH category and an additional six works in progress in cocoWIP.

The primary accolade in the cocoPITCH category was the Audience Award for Best Pitch, determined by votes from all industry participants present at the event. The gong, accompanied by a €1,500 cash prize, was bestowed upon the Polish project Do Me Bad, directed by Maria Wider and produced by Izabela Łopuch from Spirit Animal and Mirosław Bork from MWM Media. The Do Me Bad team also received one of the MIDPOINT Consulting Awards, granting them comprehensive script consultancy. The jury stated, “We recognise a project that impressed us with its innovative vision and resonant narrative, promising a profound impact with audiences.”

The cocoPITCH jury for this year consisted of Marija Dimitrova from List Production, Per Damgaard Hansen from Paloma Productions and Marie Kloos from MUBI. Together, they deliberated on three awards. The Avanpost Pitch Packaging Award, through which Romanian post-production company Avanpost pledged in-kind services valued at up to €15,000, was given to Latvian project Summer Blues, directed by Anna Ansone and produced by Alise Gelze from White Picture and Claus Herzog-Reichel of filmfaust. The jury noted, “The award goes to a project that presented a compelling and vibrant story, inviting us into an evocative and relatable world.”

The HAVC Project Development Award, a €5,000 cash prize, was bestowed upon Golden Leggings by director Arkadii Nepytaliuk and producers Regina Maryanovska Davidzon and Oleksiy Gladushevskyy from Real Pictures (Ukraine). The jury expressed, “We chose this project for its unique approach and heartfelt narrative that has the potential to resonate deeply with audiences.”

The recipient of the Producers Network Award, which includes complimentary accreditation to the Producers Network at the Marché du Film at Cannes 2025, was Krystof Burda of Perfilm (Czech Republic) for the project Eli and Them, directed by Petr Pylypcuk.

The MIDPOINT Consulting Award was also granted to two additional cocoPITCH projects, each receiving comprehensive script consultancy: Bear Hug, directed by Alexandros Skouras and produced by Eleni Oulani from Argonauts Productions (Greece) in collaboration with Kasia Kuczyńska from Haka Films (Poland), and No Salvation Coming, directed by Vojtěch Strakatý and produced by Ondřej Lukeš from Beginner's Mind (Czech Republic).

The jury for the cocoWIP competition, comprising Claire Lasolle (FID Marseille), Olimpia Pont-Chafer (EWIP Cologne/TorinoFilmLab), Lukáš Moudrý and Jan Syruček (Studio Beep), along with Waheed Zamani and Robert Wunsch from D-Facto Motion, presented two awards to the works in progress. The Slovenian project Girl in the Night, presented by director Luka Marčetić and producers Andraž Jerič and Jerca Jerič from Temporama, secured the main D-Facto Motion WIP Award, which includes €35,000 in services and an additional €5,000 for expenses. The jury was “enchanted by a film that uses a powerful setup, with shadowy figures and unclear shapes, to create mysterious characters and spark curiosity. We see the sarcastic potential and emotional depth and we want to see more of it.”

The Studio Beep Sound Post-Production Award, comprising €6,000 in services, was awarded to another Slovenian project, Everything That’s Wrong with You presented by director Urša Menart and producer Katja Lenarčič from Vertigo. The jury commented, “This film explores contemporary themes, creating a captivating setting that brings us close to the characters. With careful detail, it portrays the main characters' relationships, delving deeply into the bonds of family and friendship.”

Here is the full list of award winners at the 26th connecting cottbus:

cocoPITCH

cocoPITCH Audience Award
Do Me Bad - Maria Wider (Poland)
Producers: Izabela Łopuch (Spirit Animal), Mirosław Bork (MWM Media)

Avanpost Pitch Packaging Award
Summer Blues - Anna Ansone (Latvia/Germany)
Producer: Alise Gelze (White Picture), Claus Herzog-Reichel (filmfaust)

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

Producers Network Award
Krystof Burda of Perfilm - Eli and Them (Czech Republic)

MIDPOINT Consulting Award
Bear Hug - Alexandros Skouras (Greece)
Producers: Eleni Oulani (Argonauts Productions), Kasia Kuczyńska (Haka Films)

Do Me Bad - Maria Wider (Poland)
Producers: Izabela Łopuch (Spirit Animal), Mirosław Bork (MWM Media)

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

cocoWIP

D-Facto Motion WIP Award
Girl in the Night - Luka Marčetić (Slovenia)
Producers: Andraž Jerič, Jerca Jerič (Temporama)

Studio Beep Sound Post-Production Award
Everything That’s Wrong with You - Urša Menart (Slovenia/Germany/Serbia)
Producers: Katja Lenarčič (Vertigo), Alexander Wadouh, Roxana Richters (Chromosom Film), Dimče Stojanovski, Stefan Orlandić (Living Pictures)