GAIFF Pro has presented its program and official selection for 2026.
11-07-2026 17:33 Armenia Culture
«Golden Apricot» Yerevan International Film Festival's co-production and financing platform, GAIFF Pro Industry, has presented its 2026 program and official selection, bringing together bold and promising projects from a new generation of filmmakers from Western Asia and other countries.
This year's GAIFF Pro co-production market, conducted in collaboration with DOCA Georgia, includes 17 selected projects, 12 of which are in the development stage, while 5 are in post-production (Work-in-Progress). The program features filmmakers and producers from over 14 countries. The selected projects represent Armenia, Iran, Georgia, Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, with co-producers participating from France, Belgium, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the USA.
GAIFF Pro also presents the fourth edition of the Short Cuts Nest initiative, a market dedicated to Armenian and diaspora short film projects. The initiative aims to promote the development of Armenian short cinema, enhance its role in the international film industry, and support the emergence of new cinematic voices. The selected teams will participate in a professional mentoring program and present their projects for the special Equipment Prize established by Kinoket Productions.
In 2026, GAIFF Pro received a large number of applications from various countries in Western Asia. The selection was made by an independent committee composed of experienced international experts.
This year's international jury includes recognized professionals in the field: Ove Rishoy Jensen, a consultant for documentary projects at Nordisk Film & TV Fond; Nadya Tenstedt, head of the DOK Industry program at DOK Leipzig; multiple award-winning Mongolian director Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir from the Venice Film Festival; Victor Eden, CEO and producer of Cinephage; award-winning documentarian and president of Documentary Association Georgia Salome Jashi; Iranian-Armenian filmmaker Anahit Abad; French producer Olivier Berlemont; and Armenian director and producer Inna Sahakyan.
For the second time, GAIFF Pro will host an exclusive Casting Workshop in the region, led by three of Europe's most sought-after casting directors: Maurilio Mangano, Hermina Fatjola, and Harika Uygur. For three days, they will work with 16 professional actors selected from Armenia, Georgia, Iran, and the diaspora, presenting the specifics of international auditions and practical skills that will help actors in the international film industry.
The casting-focused program will also feature David Zitzlsperger, CEO of Denkungsart GmbH, who will present topics on the development of digital infrastructures in the film industry and innovative solutions. He is the creator of the Filmmakers System and Filmmakers Europe platforms, which are among the largest casting platforms in Europe.
GAIFF Pro also announces the selected participants of the AI Track program, conducted in collaboration with Lumiverse and in partnership with Magnific AI, highlighting the growing role of artificial intelligence in contemporary film production.
GAIFF Pro Industry director Nare Leone Ter-Gabrielyan, presenting the 2026 program, notes:
«GAIFF Pro 2026 invites its guests and accredited participants into the diverse world of cinema, where traditional production approaches intertwine with innovative, expanded, and immersive technologies, emphasizing responsible, ethical, and forward-looking storytelling. Over the course of a week, participants will have the opportunity to engage in practical workshops, masterclasses, and case studies that encompass the entire filmmaking process, from script development and project presentations to international co-production, cinematography, acting, distribution, marketing, and the creation of music and visual content using artificial intelligence tools.»
This year, GAIFF Pro, in collaboration with the Armenian Cinematographers Guild, also presents a special program dedicated to the art of cinematography, which will be available to all accredited film professionals. It includes intensive workshops and masterclasses led by some of the most renowned cinematographers in contemporary cinema.
The program will feature six-time Oscar nominee French cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, double Oscar nominee Irish cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, one of the most famous Iranian cinematographers Mahmoud Kalari, as well as public relations expert and founder of FRAN consulting company Francesca Zerenge, who will present strategies for the international promotion of auteur cinema and professional visibility.
GAIFF Pro 2026 will take place within the framework of the «Golden Apricot» Yerevan International Film Festival, continuing to shape one of the most important professional film platforms in the region, where the best practices of film production, co-production, education, new technologies, and international collaboration meet.
* This text was automatically translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
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