The Film Center of Montenegro and the UNIQA SEE FUTURE foundation signed an agreement to join the "Support Program for Female Filmmakers" at a press conference held in Podgorica. The program titled "Support Program for Female Filmmakers" was launched by the UNIQA SEE FUTURE foundation in collaboration with the Sarajevo Film Festival and Slano Film Days. With this step, the Film Center of Montenegro provides additional support to female filmmakers in the region, enabling them better conditions for the development and realization of projects.
The program aims to support and empower women in film from six countries where UNIQA operates in Southeast Europe: Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania, and Montenegro. The program's goal is to increase the representation of women in the regional film industry and to provide financial and professional support through the CineLink Industry training and Skills Program.
The value of the "Support Program for Female Filmmakers" is 150,000 euros for the year 2025. The program has also been approved for the next two years.
“We are very happy and proud to have launched this very important and commendable project for Female Filmmakers together with the Sarajevo Film Festival and Slano Film Days, which fully aligns with the values of the UNIQA SEE FUTURE foundation. An additional boost came from the Film Center of Montenegro, which also recognized this special project, and I am confident that together we will enable talented authors to showcase their talent and love for creating new films. In both the film industry and the business environment, we promote and advocate for diversity and equality, and by supporting this project, we want to provide an opportunity for talented female authors to realize their potential, as well as to positively impact the entire community by their example. We eagerly look forward to seeing where this project will take us and what inspiring stories will be told,” said Petra Šolman, manager of the UNIQA SEE FUTURE foundation.
“In support of this significant partnership, through which Montenegrin authors will receive concrete support for career development, professional mentorship, and opportunities to apply for funding for production and post-production, comes the decision of the Film Center of Montenegro to open a competition this year for the first time, for co-financing the development of scripts and project development led by women. In this way, we will ensure continuity in production, but also increase the quantity and quality of projects whose authors are women,” said Aleksandra Božović, director of the Film Center of Montenegro.
“The great interest in the 'Support Program for Female Filmmakers' confirms how needed such an initiative was for the regional film industry. The inclusion of the Film Center of Montenegro further strengthens this platform and enables an even greater number of talented female authors access to financial support, professional development, and networking. This program not only provides crucial financial backing but also opens doors to international opportunities, skill development, and career enhancement for female filmmakers from Southeast Europe. Through such initiatives, we are collectively building a more inclusive and diverse film scene, allowing authentic voices to tell their stories, reach audiences, and leave a lasting mark through art,” said Mirsad Purivatra, founder and director of Slano Film Days.
This partnership further strengthens the network of support for female filmmakers in the region, ensuring them better visibility, education, and access to resources necessary for creating and distributing films.