The Film Center of Montenegro successfully presented Montenegrin cinematography at the prestigious FOCUS market. This leading international event in the field of film and television production was held on 10 and 11 December at the Business Design Center in London.
"Presence at such an international event, which gathers thousands of film professionals from over 80 countries, represents an exceptional opportunity for the promotion of Montenegrin film potential and the establishment of new partnerships. I am especially pleased that the Film Center of Montenegro, after its first participation in 2019, is again part of this prestigious event. The interest shown by international productions in our locations and production possibilities confirms the importance of our presence at such events," said the director of FCCG. Aleksandra Božović.
FOCUS market this year brought together thousands of film industry professionals from over 80 countries. The event featured more than 60 panel discussions and presentations with 170 expert speakers, and topics included case studies of landmark projects such as "Gladiator 2," "Conclave," "Nosferatu" and "Lord of The Rings: Rings of Power." Special attention was paid to key industry issues, such as funding, legal issues, sustainability, flexible working, artificial intelligence and new markets.
The study visit to London was organized with the support of the British Council in Montenegro, within the long-term cooperation with the United Kingdom. "We are grateful to the British Council for their constant support and the opportunity to improve cooperation with the British film industry through such study visits. We are convinced that these meetings will result in concrete projects and further strengthening of ties between our two cinematographies," emphasized Božović.
During the visit, meetings were held with the organization "Into Film", which deals with film education for young people, as well as with the British Film Institute (BFI), a leading institution in the development and preservation of the British film industry.
Referring to the cooperation with the organization "Into film", director Božović pointed out: "The exchange of experiences with British colleagues who deal with film education of young people is valuable for the development of similar programs in Montenegro." Their model of work with elementary schools and approach to film education are an excellent example of how we can improve film culture among the youngest and inspire future filmmakers."
Particularly significant was the visit to the "Framestore" studio, the largest production company in Europe specializing in visual effects and computer animation, known for its work on works such as the film "Interstellar".
Through numerous meetings with British film professionals, opportunities for cooperation and exchange of experiences were discussed. The focus is on potential co-productions, training programs and knowledge exchange between the two countries, as well as attracting British productions to realize their projects in Montenegro. As the representatives of the Film Center of Montenegro pointed out, these experiences and contacts will further strengthen the Montenegrin film industry and its position on the global stage.
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