The well-known director Mirsad Purivatra defined the initiative as “a logical step” in the efforts of attracting “funding for film in new markets, outside the Eurimages/Creative Europe territories.” He added that “after 20 successful years, during which the Sarajevo IFF became a major international event, it is time to start bringing the region’s talent to the global arena.”

As the main operator of the fund, the festival says it has already assured 400,000 EUR for the next two years. The first call, which will be announced by the end of the year, will be open for feature film projects from Southeast Europe and/or from the Middle East, North Africa, the Americas, India and East Asia. The Major European partner of the fund is the new Creative Europe Media programme. Among the global partners at the moment are the Doha Film Institute, Mexican IMCINE and Indian NFDC. Others are expected to join.

The fund will support up to eight feature films with up to 60,000 EUR per project as soft loans and will try to stimulate complementary cooperation between public and private money.