The glitz of the 78th Cannes Film Festival shone a little brighter this year with the unveiling of a brand-new celebration of cinematic excellence: the Adriatic Film and TV Awards. These honors aim to spotlight the most compelling achievements in film and television across the territories of the former Yugoslavia — a region long known for its rich storytelling traditions and emerging talent.
Unveiled at the world’s most prestigious film gathering, the Adriatic Film and TV Awards are already shaping up to be a cultural milestone. The inaugural awards ceremony is set to take place from October 24 to 26, 2025, in the breathtaking setting of Porto Montenegro, Tivat. The luxury marina and residential village, known for blending Adriatic charm with world-class amenities, serves as the event’s main partner.
Behind the scenes, a new force is taking shape: the Adriatic Film and TV Academy. This body, currently in formation, will oversee the awards, drawing from a network of over 500 regional film and television professionals. Many of them are veterans of the now-retired Heart of Sarajevo Awards for TV Series, which previously formed the core of regional television honors.
The Academy will function under the umbrella of the Network of Festivals in the Adriatic Region — a powerhouse alliance uniting six of the region’s leading film festivals, including the Sarajevo Film Festival, Zagreb Film Festival, and Belgrade’s Auteur Film Festival.
In a significant expansion, the Adriatic Film and TV Awards will not only honor outstanding television but will now also celebrate achievements in film, a move that reflects the evolving media landscape of Southeast Europe. Voting opens in June 2025, with nominations to be announced during the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival in August.
But these awards aren’t just about trophies — they promise to be a regional gathering of creative minds. The event will offer a high-profile platform for networking, collaboration, and the global promotion of Adriatic talent. Expect red carpets, industry forums, curated screenings, and plenty of star power.
At the heart of the event is Porto Montenegro, which is fast becoming a cultural and creative hotspot in the Adriatic. Its recent launch of Porto Montenegro Studios — a cutting-edge production complex developed with the Puccini Floating Academy — signals a strong commitment to fostering content creation in the region. The studios link up with a global network of renowned music and film institutions, providing both local and international creators with world-class facilities.
Porto Montenegro’s partnership with the awards is a natural extension of its cultural ambitions. Already home to new MCF CineGrand cinemas and dynamic venues like the Tivat Cultural Centre, the destination is positioning itself as a new epicenter for the entertainment industry in Southeast Europe.
The synergy between the Adriatic Film and TV Awards and the Network of Festivals in the Adriatic Region underscores a strategic vision: to elevate regional talent, cultivate cross-border collaboration, and shine an international spotlight on the creative brilliance of the Balkans.
With its debut in Cannes and a glittering inaugural ceremony on the horizon, the Adriatic Film and TV Awards are poised to become a major fixture on the global entertainment calendar — a celebration of stories that resonate across borders, and a toast to the region’s brightest stars.
