Sofia Meetings, the International Coproduction Market which takes place in Sofia, Bulgaria every year during Sofia International Film Festival, launched its 22nd edition this week. For five days between March 19-23, directors and producers have the chance to pitch their first, second or third feature-length projects. Industry professionals are also attending closed screenings of projects at various stages of post-production.

Sofia Meetings is an event, supported by Creative Europe MEDIA sub-program of the European Commission, EA Bulgarian National Film Center and Sofia Municipality. It has three separate modules:

Feature Films Pitching – presentation of first, second and third feature fiction film projects of the director, looking for co-producers, sales and distribution.

TV Series Pitching - presentation of projects for TV series looking for co-producers.
Works in Progress – a showcase of films at different stages of post-production to festival programmers, sales agents, distributors, exhibitors and international press.

Sofia Meetings also presents Industry program with various events - Industry Talks, Europa Distribution and Europa Cinemas Workshops, VR/Transmedia Hub presenting immersive interactive experiences and key speakers, panels, presentations and many informal events. As the Director of Sofia Meetings noted during the opening press conference, Sofia Meetings has been one of the first such events to showcase VR/XR technologies used in cinema. Other major topics that will be covered by Sofia Meetings include a panel on how to co-produce on the Balkans, a workshop on successful casting practices for local actors, how art cinema can reach the public and the development of the audience, how to secure financing and the role of co-productions; etc.

More than 250 industry executives – producers, distributors, representatives of the film markets, sales companies, film funds, TV buyers and other film professionals from different parts of the world, as well as representatives of the key film festivals and directors come together in Sofia to discover new projects and films.

The Creative Europe MEDIA Program Office in Bulgaria is organizing two events within the framework of Sofia Meetings, together with the French Institute of Bulgaria and Media Research Hub - a platform for media and consumer research.

The first one is titled Talk: Artificial Intelligence and Cinema: Navigating Opportunities and Threats in the Film Industry. It will explore how generative AI enhances the creative process by offering innovative tools for storytelling, visual effects, and pre-visualization, thus fostering a more unified and efficient production pipeline. This technology serves as a powerful asset for filmmakers, writers, designers, and producers, enabling them to push the boundaries of imagination and collaboration.

The second event is called Interactive Demonstrations & Workshop: it includes live demonstrations of generative AI tools used in filmmaking, such as scriptwriting software, AI-based visual effects generators, or AI-assisted editing tools. This can give the audience a tangible understanding of the technology. The workshop will ensure participants can experiment with generative AI tools, allowing them to experience firsthand the opportunities and challenges involved. The two international guests are Alex Glas: a visionary entrepreneur and cultural innovator dedicated to blending technology and culture. And Hadrien Ozil - a tech consultant and product strategist, he designs and implements cutting-edge tech solutions for the cultural industries.