INTERACTION: DOCUCONNECT BALKANS – REGIONAL DOCUMENTARY CO-PRODUCTION LAB
Interaction: DocuConnect Balkans is a five-day programme supporting emerging filmmakers from the Western Balkans in the development of creative documentary projects. The programme brings together six director-producer teams and ten regional and European experts. Through individual consultations with experienced film professionals, participants work on strengthening the creative and production aspects of their documentary projects, exchange experiences, and build professional connections across the region and beyond. Projects are represented by teams consisting of a director and a producer.
In addition to mentoring, the programme includes lectures. Through the joint networking programme, participants will have the opportunity to meet and connect with international guests, lecturers, and participants from other Interaction programmes. A public panel discussion will bring together regional and international documentary film professionals to explore opportunities for collaboration, co-production, and the exchange of experience across the Western Balkans. Participants will also have the opportunity to attend short documentary screenings as part of the Interaction Festival.
At the end of the programme, all six teams will present their projects to regional and international film professionals and accredited programme participants during the final pitching session. One selected project will receive an award aimed at supporting its further development or production, recognising its strong potential for regional collaboration and co-production.
The selected projects will be featured in the Interaction: DocuConnect Balkans online catalogue. Upon completion of the programme, participants will also become part of the Interaction Alumni Network, which connects more than 500 film professionals from around the world.
The 2026 edition of the programme will take place from 21 to 25 August 2026. The programme is open to short and feature-length documentary films, regardless of the project’s current stage (development, production, or rough cut).
Interaction: DocuConnect Balkans is co-funded by the Western Balkans Fund and the European Union as part of the WBF–EU Joint Action and is implemented by IFC Filmart in partnership with FusionACT Centre (Albania), Association for Visual Culture VIZART (Bosnia and Herzegovina), KINEMATIKA Skopje (North Macedonia), and NGO Montenegro Film Festival / Underhill Festival (Montenegro).
Participation in the programme is free of charge.
KEY DATES – 2026.
Opening Date: 15 July
Submission Deadline: 27 July
Notification Date: by early August
Event Date: 21 – 25 August