CO-PRODUCTION MARKET From CineLink to competition Two previous CineLink projects are in competition at Sarajevo Film Festival this year – Daybreak, which has its world premiere here, and Hostages, which premiered at Berlinale in February. We talked to their creators. DAYBREAK participated in CineLink Co-Production Market in 2014 and will now have its world premiere in competition at Sarajevo Film Festival. It’s the debut feature by Albanian director Gentian Koçi who is also the writer and producer of the film, and a co-production with Greece. What did participating in CineLink mean for your project? – For me it was the first time I participated in a co- production market with a project. I had a lot of meetings with producers who were interested, and also with sales agents, but in 2014 I was more focused on producing the film than on selling it. After CineLink, Graal Films became my co-producer in Greece. I wanted to make this film in a very intimate way, not with a big crew, and we decided to make it with just two producers. – CineLink really opened doors for me. It helped me not just for the first project, but also to get contacts for my next projects. The name of CineLink has got me visibility and helped when I applied to get funds internationally and in Albania. We later got money from Eurimages, Albanian National Centre of Cinematography, Greek Film Center and others. I think CineLink is the right place to start a film project. This is your world premiere – what are your expectations, and how will it be shown afterwards in Albania and beyond? – I am very curious, I hope the audience likes it… We are thinking of showing the film after one or two months in Albania, in theaters and in festivals, and after that in Greece. But we also have confirmations for other festivals, which I can’t talk about yet, so we’ll see. Wide Management is selling the film. Are you working on any new projects now? – I’m working on a new story now, I just am starting to think about and write it. But now my mind is focused on Sarajevo Film Festival… It’s a very important festival. I really hope to present my next film at CineLink – it’s my strategy now! CINE LINK INDUSTRY DAYS MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2017
