MONTENEGRO FILM RENDEZVOUS BRINGS TOGETHER LEADING NAMES FROM THE EUROPEAN FILM INDUSTRY

Herceg Novi will once again become a meeting point for the international film industry as the third edition of Montenegro Film Rendezvous takes place from August 22 to 28, bringing together prominent filmmakers, producers and industry professionals from Montenegro, the region and across Europe.

Organized by the Film Centre of Montenegro, the international industry programme is being held as part of the 39th Herceg Novi Film Festival and will connect Montenegrin cinema with leading players from the European and regional audiovisual sector through masterclasses, workshops, panel discussions, pitching sessions and professional meetings.

The programme is designed to create opportunities for the development of new film projects, international cooperation and co-productions. Montenegrin projects in development and post-production will be presented through pitching sessions and one-on-one meetings with visiting producers, film funds and festival representatives.

“Over the past three years, Montenegro Film Rendezvous has grown from a three-day industry meeting into a seven-day programme. This is the best indication of how much interest has increased,” said Aleksandra Božović, Director of the Film Centre of Montenegro.

She noted that, alongside the traditional presentation of new Montenegrin projects, this year's edition will, for the first time, open cooperation with producers and filmmakers from Francophone countries. The programme will also feature a workshop for female filmmakers, while Montenegro's new membership in the RE-ACT initiative will bring the EAVE on Demand workshop to Herceg Novi.

According to Božović, the event will also provide an opportunity to present the latest amendments to Montenegro's Cinematography Law, which recently entered into force and are intended to make Montenegro a more competitive destination for international film productions.

This year's edition features several prominent names from the international film scene. Manuel Alberto Claro, one of Europe's most acclaimed cinematographers and a longtime collaborator of director Lars von Trier, will hold a masterclass dedicated to contemporary cinematic language and visual storytelling.

Nina Hartstone, the Oscar-winning sound editor known for her work on “Bohemian Rhapsody”, will discuss the creative process behind shaping cinematic sound.

Montenegrin documentary filmmakers Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić will also take part in the programme, presenting a case study on their award-winning documentary “The Mountain”, which was recognized at the Sundance Film Festival, and its journey from Sinjajevina to one of the world's most prestigious film festivals.

A special segment of the programme is dedicated to the MEDIA TV Series Programme, focusing on the development of scripted television series and regional co-productions. Panels and masterclasses will bring together representatives of regional broadcasters, telecommunications companies, production houses and European experts.

These sessions will be open to the public, offering filmmakers, students and other interested participants an opportunity to discuss the development and future of television content.

Supporting emerging talent and creating a more inclusive film industry will also be an important part of this year's programme.

The Female Filmmakers Workshop, organized by the Film Centre of Montenegro in partnership with the Embassy of France and the French Institute, is aimed at empowering women and increasing their representation in the film industry.

The programme will also feature the regional acting workshop ReActing+, a new module of the ReActing as a Star programme, supported by the British Council. The workshop will bring together talented young actors from across the region, providing opportunities for professional development, exchange of experience and networking.

In cooperation with the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), the New African Voices programme will also be presented, giving audiences an opportunity to discover projects in development as well as films by prominent directors and producers from Francophone countries.

As part of the RE-ACT programme, which Montenegro joined this year, the EAVE on Demand RE-ACT workshop will also be held during the event.

Montenegro Film Rendezvous will additionally feature several special film and publishing events, including a screening of the Greek-Montenegrin co-production “Life in a Beat”, the presentation of a Film Centre of Montenegro monograph and the Montenegrin premiere of the film “Black Trumpet”.

Montenegro Film Rendezvous is organized in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Media, the Municipality of Herceg Novi and JUK Herceg Fest, the producer of the Herceg Novi Film Festival – Montenegro Film Festival.

This year's edition is also being organized in cooperation with the Embassy of France in Montenegro, the French Institute in Montenegro, the British Council and the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).

Montenegro Film Rendezvous will be held from August 22 to 28, 2026, in Herceg Novi, as part of the 39th Herceg Novi Film Festival.

The event is positioning Montenegro not only as a destination for film audiences, but increasingly as a platform for international co-productions, industry networking and the development of new cinematic talent.