The CineLink Work in Progress section of the Sarajevo Film Festival is dedicated to presenting a wide selection of films currently entering their post-production phase and set to be released in the next few months. This year, the section invited nine feature-length films — seven fictions and two documentaries — hailing from South-Eastern Europe and the MENA region. Ulbolsyn, Vera Dreams of the Sea [+lire aussi :
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interview : Kaltrina Krasniqi
fiche film], and Moon, 66 Questions [+lire aussi :
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interview : Jacqueline Lentzou
fiche film] shared the awards, worth €95,000, as the overall winners of the section (read the news). The movies were screened online during the CineLink Industry Days.

We offer here a detailed presentation of the winning projects, as chosen by the international jury comprising Elise Jalladeau (Thessaloniki International Film Festival), Petra Kader-Göbel (The Post Republic), Vanja Kaludjerčić (International Film Festival Rotterdam), Tobias  Pausinger (The Match Factory), and Esra Demirkiran (Turkish National Radio Television).

TRT Award (€25,000, cash)

Ulbolsyn - Adilkhan Yerzhanov (Kazakhstan/France)

The upcoming film by well-known Kazakh filmmaker Adilkhan Yerzhanov (A Dark-Dark Man [+lire aussi :
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Post Republic Award (€50,000, in kind)

Vera Dreams of The Sea [+lire aussi :
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interview : Kaltrina Krasniqi
fiche film] - Kaltrina Krasniqi (Kosovo/North Macedonia/Albania)

This debut feature-length fiction film by Kosovan filmmaker Kaltrina Krasniqi focuses on 64-year-old sign language interpreter Vera. She is married to Fatmir, a retired judge, and they are trying to sell their village house to support their daughter Sara, who is also a single mother to one. After an unexpected turn of events concerning the house, Fatmir commits suicide, and Vera finds herself alone, negotiating her daughter’s future and dealing with the criminal underworld. The film, produced by Shkumbin Istref of Kosovar company Isstra Creative Factory, in co-production with Ognen Antov for North Macedonia’s Dream Factory and Albania’s Dionis Papadhimitri (Papadhimitri Film Production), is currently seeking funds to complete post-production as well as potential partners.

CineLink Iridium Award (€20,000, in kind)

Moon, 66 Questions [+lire aussi :
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interview : Jacqueline Lentzou
fiche film] – Jacqueline Lentzou (Greece/France)

This debut feature-length drama from Greek writer-director Jacqueline Lentzou focuses on Artemis, the only child of divorced parents, who returns to take care of her father Paris after years of absence when his health collapses from an unknown disease. Without really knowing her father, Artemis transforms from caretaker to loving daughter as she tries to learn more about Paris. The film is produced by Fenia Cossovitsa of Greek outfit Blonde, in co-production with Fiorella Moretti for France’s Luxbox Films. It is currently looking for post-production funds, gap financing, and festival premieres, with Luxbox handling world sales.