Docu Rough Cut Boutique 2026

Created and organized by Sarajevo Film Festival – CineLink Industry Days and Balkan Documentary Center, Docu Rough Cut Boutique is a platform dedicated to documentary projects in the advanced phase of the editing process. Selected are five projects from the region of South-East Europe and the Caucasus that will participate in three working modules: Sofia (May 2026), Online module (July 2026) and Sarajevo (August 2026).

“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.” – Rada Šešić, Sarajevo Film Festival.

“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.” – Martichka Bozhilova, Balkan Documentary Center.

BALKAN MAESTRO

Directors: Altinaï Petrovitch Njegosh, François Fleury

Producers: Altinaï Petrovitch Njegosh, Dominique Chaudier

Editor: Luka Đikanović

Production companies: AJ AJ AJ Films

Co-production company: Bienvenue Productions

Countries: Montenegro, France

French maestro Marc Korovitch takes over Montenegro National Orchestra and reconnect with his roots. On the eve of the country’s entry into the European Union, he dreams of conducting Don Giovanni.

KIND OF ADULTS

Directors: Rita Balogh, Peter Akar

Producer: Rita Balogh

Editor: Zsófia Érdi

Production company: Other Films Kft.

Countries: Hungary

Co-created with GenZ teens over 6 years from high school graduation, this raw doc blends self-shot and observational footage as they search for an adult self, facing identity crisis, depression, love.

NO OFFENCE

Director: Lucija Marčec

Producers: Ida Barač, Ema Mikolaci

Co-producer: Michal Sikora

Editor: Petra Šobak

Production company: Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb

Co-production company: Lonely Production

Countries: Croatia, Czech Republic

Does the discrimination ever change or does it only change its victims?

RANA

Directors: Maria Cheresheva, Georgi Totev

Producers: Maria Cheresheva, Georgi Totev

Editors: Georgi Totev, Ivo Mitrev

Production company: LENS2LENS

Country: Bulgaria

Two women, a Palestinian in Gaza and a Bulgarian Jew, defy history through a 12-year friendship that becomes an urgent mission of survival and quiet resistance during the 2023 war.

WOMEN OF AKBELEN FOREST

Director: Selen Çatalyürekli

Producer: Zeyneb Gültekin

Editors: Yeşim Tatlıhan Tuncel, Selen Çatalyürekli

Production company: Nar Film

Co-production companies: Surela Film, Smoke & Mirrors Foundation

Country: Türkiye, Netherlands

In southwest Turkey, village women lead a defiant stand against coal mining threatening their forest, homes and future, transforming themselves as they fight for land and life.

Del din kærlighed
Tue Steen Müller
Tue Steen Müller

Müller, Tue Steen
Documentary Consultant and Critic, DENMARK

Worked with documentary films for more than 20 years at the Danish Film Board, as press officer, festival representative and film consultant/commissioner. Co-founder of Balticum Film and TV Festival, Filmkontakt Nord, Documentary of the EU and EDN (European Documentary Network).
Awards: 2004 the Danish Roos Prize for his contribution to the Danish and European documentary culture. 2006 an award for promoting Portuguese documentaries. 2014 he received the EDN Award “for an outstanding contribution to the development of the European documentary culture”. 2016 The Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania. 2019 a Big Stamp at the 15th edition of ZagrebDox. 2021 receipt of the highest state decoration, Order of the Three Stars, Fourth Class, for the significant contribution to the development and promotion of Latvian documentary cinema outside Latvia. In 2022 he received an honorary award at DocsBarcelona’s 25th edition having served as organizer and programmer since the start of the festival.
From 1996 until 2005 he was the first director of EDN (European Documentary Network). From 2006 a freelance consultant and teacher in workshops like Ex Oriente, DocsBarcelona, Archidoc, Documentary Campus, Storydoc, Baltic Sea Forum, Black Sea DocStories, Caucadoc, CinéDOC Tbilisi, Docudays Kiev, Dealing With the Past Sarajevo FF as well as programme consultant for the festivals Magnificent7 in Belgrade, DOCSBarcelona, Verzio Budapest, Message2Man in St. Petersburg and DOKLeipzig. Teaches at the Zelig Documentary School in Bolzano Italy.

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