Five near-ready doc projects will be presented August 16 during the CineLink Industry Days of the 32nd Sarajevo FF. Industry Days marks the final staging post in the three-module series that kicked off at Sofia in May 2026. Organised by CineLink and the Balkan Documentary Center, Docu Rough Cut Boutique is a platform dedicated to documentary projects at an advanced phase of the editing process.
Throughout the three-module series, expert advice is given to rights holders, as is access to decision-makers who can have significantly help projects to move forward during their final stage.
Before the May kick-off, Sarajevo FF doc supremo Rada Šešić commented: “We were surprised by how many documentary films are being produced in our region, despite several countries closing off financing opportunities for independent, free-spirited creative documentaries. We received a large number of applications, but remained faithful to our boutique concept, believing that focusing on a small number of chosen works in progress would provide high-quality, in-depth mentorship and hands-on work that could elevate the final results. In our 17th edition, we have chosen five very promising works, mainly by new talents entering the European documentary scene, with their exciting and fresh gaze on the dramatic changes in today’s world. We are witnessing the resilience of documentary cinema again. Several projects bravely challenge the reconceptualization of human connections as a vital value of everyday living.”
Martichka Bozhilova of the Balkan Documentary Center added: “In the turbulent times we live in, independent voices in documentary film from the region are more needed than ever. Despite the rapidly changing film industry and technological challenges, Docu Rough Cut Boutique continues to stand behind brave and talented directors and editors to bring their projects to successful realization. This year, we are presenting five wonderful documentary film projects to the international film scene that showcase local talent in the most convincing way. I hope for fruitful work and strong industry interest by the end of our workshop.”
The 2026 projects are (scroll down for prizes):
- BALKAN MAESTRO by Altinaï Petrovitch Njegosh & François Fleury (Montenegro, France). 70 mins. Following the death of his father, French conductor Marc Korovitch arrives in Montenegro to lead the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra and reconnect with his roots, preparing Don Giovanni in a country standing on the threshold of the European Union. Producers: Altinaï Petrovitch Njegosh, Dominique Welinski, Frédéric Chaudier. Production companies: Bienvenue Production, AIE AIE AIE FILMS
- KINDA by Peter Akar, Rita Balogh (Hungary). 90 mins. A raw, immersive coming-of-age documentary co-created with charismatic Gen Z teens over six turbulent years. Blending self-shot and observational footage, it captures identity crises, depression, and fleeting joy as the young people search for meaning in a world that is changing faster than they can keep up. A raw, immersive coming-of-age documentary co-created with charismatic Gen Z teens over six turbulent years. Blending self-shot and observational footage, it captures identity crises, depression, and fleeting joy as the young people search for meaning in a world that is changing faster than they can keep up. Producer: Rita Balogh. Production company: Other Films
- NO OFFENCE by Lucija Marčec (Croatia, Czech Republic). 70 mins. Does discrimination ever change or does it only change its victims? Producers: Ida Barac, Ema Mikolaci. Production company: Academy of Dramatic Art. Co-pro company: Lonely Production
- WHERE SHALL WE GO? by Maria Cheresheva, Georgi Totev (Bulgaria) 75 mins. A disillusioned Jewish peace activist retreats to her home in rural Bulgaria, finding an unlikely lifeline in a long distance friendship with a Gazan woman fighting to keep her family alive. Producers: Svetoslav Draganov, Georgi Totev. Production companies: Cineaste Maudit, LENS2LENS.
- WOMEN OF AKBELEN FOREST by Selen Çatalyürekli (Turkey) 80-90 mins. In a village on the edge of an expanding coal mine in southwest Türkiye, five rural women – olive farmers and housewives – transform from neighbours into forest defenders, public spokespersons, legal defendants, hunger strikers, and village chiefs, as their collective struggle reshapes both their lives and the landscape around them. Producer: Zeyneb Gültekin. Production companies: Surela Film, Smoke & Mirrors Foundation.
Prizes up for grabs, which will be handed out August 17, are:
- Avanpost Award: €20,000 in kind
- HBO Award: €2,000
- DOK Leipzig Preview Award: An invitation to participate in DOK Preview International at DOK Leipzig 2026, a presentation platform showcasing creative documentary projects seeking gap financing, sales and distribution partners, and festival premiere opportunities.
- Movies that Matter Award: Includes accreditation, travel, and accommodation for one representative of the film (director or producer) to attend the Movies that Matter Festival. During the festival, the selected participant will take part in a tailor-made one-on-one programme designed to foster networking and professional connections.JURY
- Jury members are Eugen Kelemen, AVANPOST; Carmina Orozco Lopez, DOK Leipzig; Eric Seleky, Movies that Matter; Hanka Kastelicova, HBO
Additionally, the East Doc Caravan Award is presented by the Institute of Documentary Film, granting the winning film a slot in East Doc Caravan, IDF’s curated festival distribution initiative for outstanding documentary films from Central and Eastern Europe. The selected film will receive tailored festival strategy support, submissions to relevant international festivals, and promotion through the East Doc Caravan network and its online video library, helping maximise its international festival exposure and reach.
