I love working for and learning from the documentary film industry because it allows me to connect with creative humans, activism, collective thinking and what’s going on our planet. Although sometimes it is very challenging and even consuming in the course of witnessing heartbreaking crises, I also learn how to support others with the help of awareness and contribute to our collective recovery by releasing from the atomizing effect of the status quo. The individual support I have given in the documentary society brings me closer to my self-agency, integrity and authenticity as a creative human. – Zeynep Güzel

MakeCoProDox Forum is a forum whose main goal is to develop a strategic plan to increase documentary film co-production between the Balkan countries. The Forum welcomes representatives from 12 regional film agencies, documentary and industry professionals, and 11 projects in different stages of production selected through an open call.

Moderators & mentors:

• Helle Hansen (Former Film Commissioner documentary at Norwegian & Danish Institute)
• Zeynep Güzel (Documentary Association of Europe)
• Brigid O’Shea (Documentary Association of Europe)

The first documentary film co-production forum took place within the 10th edition of the Creative Documentary Film Festival MakeDox in 2019, and this year its 5th edition will be held.

Our objective with this project is to establish a new alliance sector in the Balkan region for the first time, as the only way to amortize the consequences of the crisis. Within the sessions we will present the problems that regional countries are facing, and try to find possible ways of overcoming them, while emphasizing their not specific regulations dedicated to supporting the development and production of documentary films. 

“It is hard not to be in love with MakeDox. The location, the films, and the people. After nine years as a Film Commissioners for documentaries in Denmark and Norway, it makes sense to share knowledge, and I am happy to learn more about the way Balkan is doing things. I am also moderating a network of key persons from the Balkan film agencies and centers and it is a privilege being together with a group who wants to exchange, innovate and work for the best conditions for filmmakers and films in the future.” – Helle Hansen, Moderator

The 5th edition of the MakeCoProDox Forum will be held from 21 to 23 August, in Skopje. 

The Forum is organized & supported by: MakeDox, North Macedonia Film Agency, MEDIA desk MK, Greek Film Center, Vardar Film, DAE & Youth Cultural Center Skopje.