The FilmFestival Cottbus is one of the leading international festivals of Eastern European Film.

Bernd Buder, Programme Director of the FilmFestival Cottbus (left) introduced the protagonists of the documentary to the audience.

In the documentary film "The Lonely Long-Distance Runners - Four Media Stories from the Balkans", initiated and financed by the KAS Media Programme, journalists and media managers talk about their work in Albania, Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia.

The protagonists answered the audience's numerous questions after the screening.

Premiere of the documentary film "The Lonely Long Distance Runners - Four Media Stories from the Balkans".

Hendrik Sittig, Head of the KAS Media Programme welcomed the audience.

Media freedom in South Eastern Europe is under pressure repeatedly. Journalists are confronted with many challenges in their daily work. Investigative reporters in particular are exposed to threats or are arbitrarily sued. In addition, journalists in Southeast Europe have to deal with political and economic dependencies in the small Southeast European media markets, poor working conditions and low salaries. Journalists in Southeast Europe need high motivation, strong idealism and endurance.

In the documentary film "The Lonely Long-Distance Runners - Four Media Stories from the Balkans", initiated and financed by the KAS Media Programme and produced by AgitProp from Sofia, journalists and media managers talk about their work in Albania, Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia. The film impressively shows how they deal with organised crime, corruption, political pressure and administrative barriers.

Jelena Zorić from Serbia, Diana Oncioiu, Vlad Stoicescu and Ovidiu Vanghele from Romania, Aleksandra Bogdani from Albania and Andon Baltakov from Bulgaria give profound insights into their lives as journalists. Once again it becomes clear: journalism is not a profession, but a vocation. The film opens up a new way of conveying the topic of journalism and media in Southeast Europe - authentic, closer, more emotional.

Information about the film and the protagonists as well as the premiere in Cottbus can be found in the attached info kit and at:

https://www.filmfestivalcottbus.de/de/festival/programm2022/movie/2261.html