HBO Europe is strengthening its production activities in Central Europe, cementing its position as a leading quality drama producer in the region, the broadcaster announced in a press release.

Ana Balentovic has been appointed Development Executive, HBO Adria, with a remit of identifying and developing local talent and projects from Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro. Reporting into Johnathan Young (VP Original Programming, HBO Central Europe) and Steve Matthews (VP and Executive Producer, Drama Development, HBO Europe), Balentovic will seek quality original series that reflect the HBO brand whilst having resonance with local audiences.

Balentovic brings extensive TV fiction development experience to the newly-created role, having led writers’ rooms across South East Europe as Head of Development for talent incubator ContentLAB & Factory, and as a Producer of various primetime fiction series at RTL Croatia.

Balentovic will be attending Sarajevo Film Festival (August 11-18) to meet industry and talent as part of a strong HBO Europe presence. Continuing the company’s strategy of nurturing local talent, Steve Matthews will be leading sessions on writing for series in the MIDPOINT TV workshop, part of the festival’s TV strand CineLink Drama. An HBO Europe-sponsored prize will be awarded to the most promising project to emerge from the year-long MIDPOINT program.

Hanka Kastelicova, HBO Europe’s VP and Executive Producer, Documentaries, will mentor emerging filmmakers in the festival’s Docu Rough Cut Boutique, with an HBO Adria award for the most promising work-in-progress documentary. In addition, two HBO Europe documentaries have been selected to screen In Competition: Ultra, a film by Balázs Simonyi, following four ordinary athletes tested to their limits in an extreme 246km marathon; and fresh from its Audience Award win at Transilvania International Film Festival, Andrei Dascalescu’s Planeta Petrila, about an ex-miner who uses art and the absurd to keep the history of a small mining-town alive.

“Central Europe is rich in storytelling and talent, and having embedded ourselves in the local industries over the past few years we’re looking forward to the next phase of production in the region,” says Antony Root, EVP, Original Programming and Production, HBO Europe. “Ana’s appointment reflects our continued commitment to discovering new and original voices, and our wider ambition to expand the breadth and range of programming across our Central European territories.”

The concerted drive into Adria follows HBO Europe’s success with original production in Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania, where the company has been producing original series and documentaries since 2010. Four hit series from the region return to HBO Europe this fall: second seasons of Wataha/The Pack (Poland), Umbre/Shadows (Romania) and As Po Usi/Head Over Heels (Czech Republic), and the third season of In Terapia/In Treatment (Hungary). The dramas will premiere day-and-date across HBO Europe.

In 2016 HBO Europe expanded its production activities into Scandinavia and Spain.