The third edition of MEDIA PLAY took place at the InterContinental Sofia last week with a content-rich opening day spotlighting evolving market dynamics, regional cooperation, and emerging documentary voices.

One of the first day’s highlights was the panel Series Co-Production: Regional Offers and International Expectations, moderated by Hristo Hadjitanev. The session brought together local producers and a representative of one of the major European distributors to discuss balancing local relevance with global viability. The panel discussion featured Annа Rohde, Beta Film (Germany), Goran Stanković and Vladimir Tagić from This and That Productions (Serbia) and Lillo Petrov, Overlock Entertainment (Bulgaria).

Vladimir Tagić offered a gripping account of how their ambitious series Operation Sabre about the 2003 assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić came to life.

“We started working on Operation Sabre in 2019. That was the moment when we made our previous show that was like a coming-of-age story about young people and so on. And it was our personal story, so it was pretty well received. The national broadcaster was really happy with us. The project began almost by accident during a casual 2019 conversation with the head of the national television RTS. We were drinking rakija when he mentioned his dream to make a show about Đinđić," Tagić recalled. "At that moment, it seemed straightforward."

What began as a casual conversation turned into a complex four-year project.

The team quickly realized the sensitivity of their subject matter.

"People who participated in those events are still alive, still active, still in power," Tagić explained. This forced them to work discreetly: "We worked in the shadows...the public knew about this project after it was already finished." The project faced numerous obstacles, including waning support from their national broadcaster. Salvation came through Bulgarian producer Martichka Bozhilova, whose involvement provided crucial support.

"That was the moment when Martichka managed to enter the project and got the funds from the Bulgarian side," Tagić said, calling it a turning point.

A central theme of the discussion was the importance of authentic, locally rooted narratives. Tagić emphasized this when discussing regional storytelling: "I feel like it really comes down to the authenticity of each society. That always seems to be the thing that communicates the best." He cautioned against imitation, noting that Balkan stories resonate most when they embrace their unique perspectives.

Anna Rohde of Beta Film echoed this sentiment when discussing what makes projects stand out. "Everyone is looking for a good story, well told," she stated. Rohde particularly praised the script structure of Operation Sabre, saying, "You can see the vision of the script...it's not the what is happening that is interesting, it's the how."

Bulgarian producer Lillo Petrov talked about adapting his mother's (Teodora Dimova) novel into a television series, a project that tackled difficult family dynamics in post-communist Bulgaria.

"The novel is based on the 90s, in the beginning of the 2000s. And it's still the same thing," Petrov observed, highlighting the story's continued relevance.

He shared the challenges of convincing broadcasters to take on such weighty material, particularly Nova TV, which typically focused on reality programming. "They know they have that social responsibility," Petrov said of Nova's decision to air the series. "We wanted to start a discussion in our society."

The panel also explored the value of international collaborations. Anna Rohde noted that while co-productions aren't mandatory, they bring significant benefits. "The idea of co-production is that you're working in a team, and a team is always better than alone," she said.

Tagić added practical insights from their experience, pointing to the participation of Bulgarian actors in their Serbian production. "We have a great sound designer who is a guy from here...and also some actors who were great who speak Serbian really well," he said, highlighting how regional partnerships can enhance projects.

As the discussion turned to future projects, the Serbian filmmakers hinted at new directions. "Maybe a rom-com next," Tagić joked, suggesting a desire to explore lighter material after years immersed in political drama. Meanwhile, Petrov revealed he is developing a crime series about the communist regime's involvement with the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, another ambitious historical project.

The panel closed with practical advice for new filmmakers. Anna Rohde emphasized the importance of strong scripts: "You can really read how much time, dedication, authenticity, what is in there." She advised creators to focus on their vision rather than chasing trends.

Vladimir Tagić offered a final thought on the creative process: "The key thing is to find the people who believe in your project in the moment when everything seems to be falling apart."

The discussion underscored how Balkan creators are producing compelling television by embracing their unique histories and perspectives, while navigating the challenges of funding and production through innovation and regional collaboration.