We are back again, bringing you a selection of the most exciting projects currently in the making by filmmakers from wider Eastern Europe. Since coco was established in 1999, over half of the projects presented have been completed, with almost 70 percent of those premiering at an A-list festival.
Recent premieres have included U ARE THE UNIVERSE by Pavlo Ostrikov (Toronto 2024), BIKECHESS by Assel Aushakimova (Best International Narrative Feature, Tribeca 2024) and THE EDITORIAL OFFICE by Roman Bondarchuk (Berlinale 2024). We are also thrilled to see many alumni return to have their internationally co-produced films screened at the FilmFestival Cottbus, including WATERDROP (dir. Robert Budina), WHEN YOU ARE 17 (dir. Giorgi Mukhadze), WET MONDAY (dir. Justyna Mytnik) and FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE (dir. Ivan Marinović).
The projects in our 2024 line-up originate from 13 countries. The cocoPITCH selection (projects in development) features a mix of debut features and new work by established filmmakers, and more than half are helmed by female directors. The varied protagonists wrestle with questions of identity, family obligations and societal expectations, corruption, addiction, and a little cannibalism on the side. Stylistically, there are intimate dramas, a heist film, literary adaptation, a period tragicomedy, horror and slow-burn thrillers.
Our cocoWIP selection of works in progress comprises black comedies, satire and coming-of-age drama, taking us into the universe of offbeat slackers, black metal musicians and disillusioned Gen Z.
All projects compete for a variety of awards. The filmmakers take part in cocoLAB in-depth feedback sessions with industry experts, while all participants can join networking events and a framework programme on current co-production topics.
Producers, sales agents, commissioning editors and other industry representatives active in East-West European co-production can apply to attend without a project until 7 October.
cocoPITCH Projects 2024
A LONG-AWAITED VACATION | Romania | dir: Bogdan Theodor Olteanu
prod: Ana Voicu | Tangaj Production
BEAR HUG | Greece, Poland | dir: Alexandros Skouras
prod: Lina Yannopoulou & Eleni Oulani, Argonauts Productions | Kasia Kuczyńska, Haka Films
BOBA | North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia | dir: Darijan Pejovski
prod: Tomi Salkovski, Skopje Film Studio | Miroslav Mogorović, Art & Popcorn | Aleš Pavlin, Perfo
DO ME BAD | Poland | dir: Maria Wider
prod: Mirosław Bork & Magdalena Nowacka-Flakiewicz, MWM MEDIA
Midpoint - coco Award (Midpoint Feature Launch)
ELI AND THEM | Czech Republic | dir: Petr Pylypčuk
prod: Kryštof Burda, Perfilm
FAMILY FEELING | Lithuania | dir: Kamile Milašiūtė
prod: Klementina Remeikaite, Afterschool Production
GOLDEN LEGGINGS | Ukraine | dir: Arkadii Nepytaliuk
prod: Regina Maryanovska Davidzon & Oleksiy Gladushevskyy, Real Pictures
NO SALVATION COMING | Czech Republic | dir: Vojtěch Strakatý
prod: Ondřej Lukeš, Beginner's Mind
NOTHING IS NEEDED | Poland | dir: Beata Dzianowicz
prod: Zbigniew Domagalski & Anna Gutowska, WFDiF
SUMMER BLUES | Latvia, Germany | dir: Anna Ansone
prod: Alise Gelze, White Picture | Claus Herzog-Reichel, Filmfaust
Special Pitch Award FilmFestival Cottbus
THE HUNTERS AND THE HUNTED | Ukraine | dir: Anna Buryachkova
prod: Natalia Libet & Olha Beskhmelnytsina, 2Brave Productions |
Rinskje Raap & Reinier Selen, Rinkel Film
THE MAIN COURSE | Czech Republic | dir: Viktorie Novotná
prod: Jakub Jíra & Kryštof Zelenka, Shore Points
VESTIGE | Kosovo | dir: Rita Krasniqi
prod: Jon Gojani, Kot Productions
cocoWIP Projects 2024
DUMP OF UNTITLED PIECES | Turkey | dir: Melik Kuru
prod: Hilal Şenel, Hafif Film | Fahriye Ismayilova, Parda Film
EVERYTHING THAT'S WRONG WITH YOU | Slovenia, Germany, Serbia | dir: Urša Menart
prod: Katja Lenarčič & Danijel Hočevar, Vertigo | Alexander Wadouh & Roxana Richters,
Chromosom Film | Dimče Stojanovski & Stefan Orlandić, Living Pictures
GIRL IN THE NIGHT | Slovenia | dir: Luka Marčetić
prod: Andraž Jerič, Temporama
THE SWAN SONG OF FEDOR OZEROV | Belarus, Lithuania | dir: Yuri Semashko
prod: Leonid Kalitenya, Belarusian Filmmakers Network | Kestutis Drazdauskas, ArtBox |
Yuri Semashko, Singo
THREE WEEKS UNDER THE SEA | Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland | dir: Martin Kuba
prod: Miloš Lochman, Karel Chvojka & Kristina Husová, Moloko Film | Zuzana Mistríková &
Lubica Orchechovská, PubRes | Karolina Galuba & Małgorzata Małysa, Furia Film
WOLVES | Switzerland | dir: Jonas Ulrich
prod: Nicole Ulrich, Philipp Ritler & Jonas Ulrich, Dynamic Frame
