FEST Forward is an international co-production market and a networking platform focusing on South-East European cinema seeking to enhance European co-productions within this region. The next edition will take place in Belgrade, February 27th - March 1st 2022, during the Belgrade International Film Festival.
Program information
FEST Forward selects up to 10 feature fiction projects in development. The projects must have a connection with SEE - either in subject or production context. The projects will be pitched by a team of two representatives, i.e. director and producer, to an audience of potential coproducers, commissioning editors, sales agents, distributors, representatives of film funds and financiers.
Eligibility
Submissions are open for feature fiction film projects, with a designated producer, at any stage of development, and having a connection to South East Europe in subject or in production context. Eligible countries / Eligable projects: Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy, Ukraine and/or a project connected in the subject to these countries.
Deadlines
The deadline for submitting the projects is January 25th 2022 (midnight GMT). The projects must be submitted by using the online application form. The projects will be selected by the selection committee composed of film industry professionals. Informations about the decision of the Selection Committee will be provided not leter then February 5th 2022. Should a project be selected, FEST Forward will invite two members of the team (director and producer) to publicly present the project during FEST Forward. It is obligatory for the selected project representatives to take part in the preparations and to be available during the whole event February 27th - March 1st 2022.
Awards
The international jury of film industry professionals will vote for the awards during the pitching session. Selected projects will compete for the:
*FEST Forward Best Pitch Award: Cash prize of €5.000 towards development of a FEST Forward project.
*SFC Project Development Award: Cash prize of €3.000 hosted by the Slovenian Film Centre (SFC) towards the further development of a FEST forward project.
*FCM Co-Development award: Cash prize of €1.500 hosted by the Film Centre of Montenegro (FCM) towards co-development of a FEST Forward project.