The Council of Europe, home of Eurimages, announces the three series co-production markets that have been selected to host the 2025 Series Co-Production Development Awards.

East Doc Platform (Czechia), CineLink Drama (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and TV Beats Co-Financing Market – Industry@Tallinn (Estonia), have been chosen by a panel of independent experts to present the awards valued at €50,000 each.

These partnerships are part of the 2023-2025 Pilot Programme for Series Co-Productions launched by the Council of Europe. The programme, an initiative separate from Eurimages, aims to empower independent producers and foster new relationships in the creation and production of high-quality series made as international co-productions.

The current structure of the Pilot Programme aims to explore and showcase through these awards diverse genres and geographic origins in serial storytelling and creativity. Following highly successful partnerships in 2024 with the events hosting these awards, the focus for 2025, as reflected in the selected events, shifts towards partnering with events that would enable supporting professionals specialised in docu-series or with wider coverage of smaller territories and emerging industries. As 2025 is the conclusion year for the current Programme, the increase in interest from new participating countries in the Programme—rising from 13 in 2023 to 18 currently—signals a positive outlook for its potential future, prospectively paving the way also for a revisited awards structure informed by these two years which include one-off experiences.

Only professional events dedicated to series co-productions taking place in countries participating in the Pilot Programme are eligible to submit their partnering application to present these awards.

Projects in development - which can be drama, docu-series, or animated series - must be presented within the framework of the selected co-production market by independent producers based in an Eurimages member state. A key criterion is the intention of involving at least one other independent production company from a different Eurimages member state in the future development and production of the series.

The Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award represents a significant advance in supporting independent production and enhancing linguistically and culturally diverse serial works. It aims to foster international collaboration by offering financial support for co-productions, facilitating independent producers' access to development funding, and laying the groundwork for future creative collaborations.

"We are very excited to be among the events that will host the Council of Europe's Series Co-Production Development Awards in 2025. This is a great opportunity for all producers coming to pitch their documentary series to East Doc Platform and we are looking forward to this co-operation.", Ivana Pauerová Miloševičová, Statutory Representative of the Institute of Documentary Film, East DOC Platform (Czechia)

“It is a great honor for us that the Council of Europe has recognized our longstanding efforts to develop, promote, and support the co-production of drama series in Southeast Europe through our flagship program, CineLink Drama. Over the years, independent producers have been vital for the expansion of this dynamic market, continually finding ways to collaborate. Their ambition has been a driving force for us, and we hope that this award will encourage other industry stakeholders to engage in co-productions of linguistically diverse series that will resonate with global audiences.”, Maša Marković, Head of Industry, Sarajevo Film Festival, CineLink Drama (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

“In a market where development funding is scarce and financing the concept and script phases often falls upon individuals or small production companies, already burdened with cashflow challenges, inflation and high interest rates, it means a lot to be able to focus properly on the very crucial part of the process. We thank Council of Europe for their partnership, entrusting this prestigious award to the TV Beats Co-Financing Market in 2025.”, Marge Liiske, Managing Director, Industry@Tallinn (Estonia)

The Council of Europe Pilot Programme for Series Co-Productions is currently supported by Flemish Minister of Media, Ministry of Media and Culture of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Government of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC), Ministry of Culture of Czechia, Ministry of Culture Estonia, Ministry of Culture of the Hellenic Republic, National Film Institute - Hungary, Screen Ireland, Lituanian Film Center, Luxembourg Film Fund, Netherlands Film Fund, Ministry of Culture of North Macedonia, Ministry of Culture of Norway, Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual - Portugal, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia and Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts of Spain.