Five Projects Selected for Southeast European Female Filmmakers Support Program

Five film projects have been selected for this year’s Female Filmmakers Support Program, picked by the Uniqa See Future Foundation, in cooperation with the Sarajevo Film Festival and Slano Film Days.

Launched in 2024, the initiative “supports and empowers women filmmakers from the six Southeast European countries where Uniqa Insurance Group operates, namely Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, and Bulgaria.” Its goal is to “strengthen the presence and visibility of women in the regional film industry, offering financial support, mentorship, and opportunities for professional development.”

The projects were selected for their “strong artistic vision, originality, and commitment to telling compelling stories,” organizers said. LThey will receive tailored financial and professional support, helping them move forward in production and post-production.”

Said Mirsad Purivatra, director of Slano Film Days: “By backing their creative journeys, we’re helping shape a more inclusive and dynamic future for cinema in our region.”

Jovan Marjanović, director of the Sarajevo Film Festival, added: “We are able to act strategically and address – and hopefully correct – some of the systemic imbalances in film funding. In particular, this initiative will provide dedicated support to films and projects predominantly created by women authors. Sarajevo Film Festival has always stood for gender equality in cinema, and we are proud to contribute to that goal through such a concrete and meaningful project.”

Here is a look at the five selected film projects.

The Possessed
(feature)
Director: Ena Sendijarević (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Production: SCCA/pro.ba (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Studio Ruba (the Netherlands)

Air in a Bottle
(feature)
Director: Aida Begić (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Production: This and That Productions (Serbia)

Embryo
(feature)
Director: Maša Šarović (Montenegro)
Production: KINO d.o.o. (Montenegro)

The Last Nomads
(documentary)
Director: Biljana Tutorov (Serbia)
Production: WAKE UP FILMS (Serbia)

Confessions of a Female Gamer
(documentary)
Director: Dolya Gavanski
Production: Agitprop (Bulgaria), Thea Films (Bulgaria)