One of the highlights of the recent Sofia International Film Festival was a session of second films pitching as part of the Sofia Meetings.

Twelve projects were invited to the event, which was attended by such decision-makers as Renate Roginas from Eurimages, The Coproduction Office's Philippe Bober, Pandora Film's Karl Baumgartner, Bavaria Film's Tobias Pausinger and Fortissimo Film Sales' Esther Bannenberg.

The major European co-production markets were also represented; Sonja Moerkens from the Berlinale Co-production Market and Bianca Taal from Cinemart-Rotterdam.

Most of the projects presented were Eastern-European, the exceptions being the French production Leaving Together by director Kamen Kalev which producer Cedomir Kolar called "perfectly balanced in its minimalistic way", and Dom Rotheroe's home movie style Exhibit A from the UK.

Koktebel director Alexei Popogrebski presented his new project, Simple Things as well as his Koktebel co-director Boris Khlebnikov's new film, Across The River.

Last year's Sofia Film Fest winner Kornel Mundruczo presented his work in progress Delta, while Jagoda In The Supermarket director Dusan Milic presented his new project Gucha - The Love Fair, a love story climaxing at the trumpet festival in the Serbian town of Gucha.

This year's Berlinale short film Golden Bear winner, Romanian director Cristi Puiu presented his ambitious new, six-film project, Six Stories From The Bucharest Suburbs.

A joint production of Germany's Icon Film and Relations and local producers from six Central and Eastern-European countries was also presented. The Generation project is a compilation of six short films presented by six young filmmakers, Kornel Mundruczo (Hungary), Cristian Mungiu (Romania), Stefan Arsenijevic (Serbia), Jasmila Zbanic (Bosnia & Herzegovina), Mait Laas (Estonia) and Nadezhda Kosseva (Bulgaria). The omnibus film is to be premiered at next year's Berlinale.