The Vice-President of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Minister of Culture and Information Maja Gojković, the Minister of Culture of the Republic of North Macedonia Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojčevska and the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Albania Elve Margariti signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation in the Field of Film and Audiovisual Activities in the West Balkans, announced the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia.
The Ministers of Culture signed the Memorandum with the intention of strengthening and expanding cooperation and mutual understanding in the field of film and audio-visual activities, with the aim of encouraging the cultural, sustainable and economic development of the region, especially through investments in the film and audio-visual sector and the employment of artists and film professionals in the Western Balkans.
The goal of this Memorandum is to create conditions for facilitating, expanding and deepening cooperation in the field of cinematography and other audiovisual activities, as well as cinematographic co-productions. The signatory states have expressed their willingness to determine the possibilities of further strengthening cooperation in the field of production, promotion and public screening of film and other audiovisual works in the region, encouraging co-production cooperation in the field of film and other audiovisual production and encouraging applications for film incentives, within the framework of co-production achievements. The goal of the Memorandum is also to strengthen cooperation between institutions and other relevant actors operating in the field of film in the Western Balkans, the organization of joint projects and events in the field of filmmaking, which primarily means co-production meetings and expert thematic film workshops, as well as the promotion of regional artists and experts in the field of film and networking of artists and film workers of the Western Balkans.
The memorandum envisages that the signatories will advocate for an increase in the number of co-production projects in the field of film art and audiovisual activities, through which cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding and respect will be promoted.
The Memorandum signing ceremony was attended by the leaders of Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania, President Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski and Prime Minister Edi Rama, as well as the Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazović and the Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Zoran Tegeltija.