About
FEST Forward is an international co-production market and a networking platform focusing on South-East European cinema with aims to enhance European co-productions with this region. Next edition will take place in Belgrade, February 27th - March 1st 2022, during Belgrade International Film Festival.
Program information
FEST Forward selects up to 10 feature fiction projects in development. Projects must have a connection to South East in subject or production context. The projects will be pitched by the team of two representatives, director and producer, to an audience of potential coproducers, commissioning editors, sales agents, distributors, representatives of film funds and financiers.
During the preparation period Prep Your Pitch, selected project representatives will take part in an intensive one-day-training program with an international expert. FEST Forward PITCH will take place on the following day and each team will have 15 minutes to present their film project. One-to-one meetings will be held during the third day, between the representatives of the projects and potential partners, and as well on the Wrap Up representatives will receive individually tailored consultancy and advice from experts in the fields of script development, financing strategies and funding, sales and marketing.
Within Funding News Panel discussions, will explore recent topics around the European film industry and with Case Study update how to develop and present project for the international market today.
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.
Eligibility
Submissions are open for feature fiction film projects, with attached producer, at any stage of development, with a connection to South East Europe in subject or production context. Eligible countries / Eligible projects: Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy, Ukraine and/or project connected in the subject to these countries.
Deadlines
The deadline for submitting projects is January 25th 2022 (midnight GMT). Projects must be submitted by using the Application form. The applications must include full information and documents requested within the application form. By applying to #FESTforward, applicants agree to #FESTforward regulations. In addition, applicants agree that their contact data as provided in the Application Form will be published in the catalogue, participants guide and on the #FESTforwad web site.
The projects will be selected by the selection committee composed of film industry professionals.
Information about the decision of the selection committee will be announced until February 5th 2022. If a project is selected, FEST Forward will invite two members of the team (director and producer) to publicly present the project during the FEST Forward. It is obligatory for the selected project representatives to take part in the preparation and to be available during the whole event February 27th - March 1st 2022.