Spring is here, and we at connecting cottbus are eager to hear what the creative cinematic voices from the wider Eastern Europe have been working on these past months.
The 27th edition of East-West co-production market connecting cottbus (coco) is now accepting project submissions. Taking place on-site in Cottbus, while keeping some online features to remain inclusive, coco is the longest-established platform for filmmakers of the wider area of Eastern Europe.
Taking place during FilmFestival Cottbus on 5-7 November 2025, coco will present 13 projects in development (cocoPITCH) and 6 works in progress (cocoWIP), all of which compete for a variety of sponsored awards. A framework programme will take up trends and challenges of the current production landscape.
Since 1999, well over half of the projects presented at coco have been realised. Recent alumni festival successes include THE SWAN SONG OF FEDOR OZEROV by Yuri Semashko (Lithuania/Germany), which screened as part of this year’s Berlinale Forum. In 2024, SMARAGDA by Emilios Avraam (Cyprus) premiered in competition in Tallinn and HONEYMOON by Zhanna Ozirna (Ukraine) in Venice. INK WASH by Sarra Tsorakidis (Romania/Greece/Denmark) and U ARE THE UNIVERSE by Pavlo Ostrikov (Ukraine/ Belgium) were both presented at Toronto's Discovery section, whereas Assel Aushakimova’s BIKECHESS (France/Kazakhstan/Norway) won Best International Film at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Producers can submit feature film projects in development (fiction only) for the cocoPITCH section until 16 July 2025, projects in production or post-production for cocoWIP until 21 August 2025. All projects have to originate in or relate to wider Eastern Europe and be suitable for East-West co-production.
Producers, sales agents, commissioning editors and other industry representatives can apply to attend without a project until 2 October 2025.
The selection will be announced by mid-September 2025 along with more details on the programme of our co-production market.
CONTACT
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