The third edition of MEDIA PLAY featured the first Docu Pitching Session of the festival, curated by Martichka Bozhilova (Agitprop) and supported by DocuNOVA, a United Group channel.

The session spotlighted four powerful documentary projects: Forbidden Aunt by Bojana Novakovic – an intimate look at Balkan identity through family secrets; Death Café by Mariana Sabeva & Viktoria Mitreva – exploring modern rituals around loss and grief; The Forest Glade by Oksana Savoskina – uncovering the legacy of post war trauma in Ukraine; and SubBalcans by Sergiu Scobioala – a road doc tracing the cultural contradictions of the region.

Forbidden Aunt sees filmmaker Bojana Novakovic traveling from Hollywood to rural Serbia to explore the life of the eccentric, tormented aunt she was never allowed to know, she is forced to face secrets about the women in her family and about herself as well. The result is a morbidly comedic, soap-operatic portrait of survival of four generations of Balkan women. The film is a co-production between Svetlana Bojankovic and Sense Productions. Svetlana Bojankovic is an independent production company run by Bojana Novakovic, a producer and filmmaker with extensive experience in film and TV. Sense Productions, founded by a trio of EAVE producers, is a prominent production company known for its commitment to high-quality cinema and international collaborations. Sense is best known for its latest project, HOW I LEARNED TO FLY (Leto kada sam naučila da letim), which has garnered over 20 awards at domestic and international festivals.

Death Café by Mariana Sabeva & Viktoria Mitreva is a reflection on the death of the author's ever absent-father, weaving her story of love and loss with the observation of three regulars of Death Café, a place where strangers talk about death in what becomes a celebration of our finite lives. A cinematic essay full of sensitivity and humor, Death Café is the liveliest film about death you could see. The project is produced by Portokal which is an independent production company, supporting emerging talent and established filmmakers in the development, production and distribution of their author-driven films. “We place great value in solid development and international collaborations, and work closely with writers-directors to ensure that their distinct voices and aesthetic visions come to life. Most recently, we completed Andrey Paounov’s debut feature, January (2021, 110’, BG/PT/LUX), which premiered in competition at Tallinn Black Nights 2021, and Yana Titova’s second film, Dyad, which opened in Warsaw IFF in 2023. In 2024 Portokal co-produced two international minority co-productions: Those Who Whistle After Dark by Zeynep Yorgancioglu and Sea of Glass by Alexis Alexiou, both currently in post-production.” The company currently has three features and two documentaries in development.

The Forest Glade by Oksana Savoskina focuses on the rehabilitation center by the same name which has been a haven for Ukrainian defenders and veterans, a place where battle-scarred souls find solace, strength, and the chance to heal. The documentary shares the harrowing and hopeful stories of those who pass through its doors. Since 2022, the full-scale invasion has brought an influx of wounded soldiers, both physically and emotionally. Providing therapy, weekend dances, and personalized treatment, “Forest Glade” offers refuge. But with just three weeks per patient before they return to war or civilian life, can she truly heal a nation at war? filmDOUGH Productions UG, founded in 2022 by filmmaker Loránd Balázs Imre, is a Berlin-based independent production company creating socially-engaged documentaries and compelling branded video content. Its mission is to address critical contemporary issues through impactful storytelling. Notable credits include award-winning documentaries such as I'm People, I Am Nobody (DOCNYC selection) and See Me: Kübra (Voice of America production).

SubBalcans by Sergiu Scobioala is an eight-episode documentary series that follows Romanian artist Bean MC and the band Subcarpați on a transformative journey across the Balkans in search of musical inspiration. Blending observational storytelling with a cinematic approach, the series explores the traditional folk music, instruments, and cultural identities of eight Balkan countries. Through deep artistic collaborations with local musicians, the project documents the creation of an original music album that unites ancient rhythms with modern sounds, revealing the shared heritage and creative power of the region. Realitatea Film is an independent Moldovan production company affiliated with Realitatea Media Group, one of the leading media groups in the country. It focuses on high-quality feature films, documentaries, and TV formats that explore social themes, national identity, and contemporary issues. Realitatea Film has produced, through co-production, the feature films The Power of Probability (2022) and The Prince from Bubuieci (2025), and currently has several TV series and documentary films in production.