New Russian cinema will be in the spotlight at this year's Filmfest Cottbus (November 4-8) and the Connecting Cottbus market forum (November 4-5).

The festival focus will feature programmes of contemporary young Russian cinema and leading productions of the past decade. There will also be showcases of video art and co-productions made with Russia, and a spotlight on New Petersburg Cinema.

Meanwhile, the new MEDIA member states - Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovak Republic, and the Czech Republic - will be the focus of the first day of Connecting Cottbus when producers from these countries will be invited to pitch selected projects with European potential.

On the second day, roundtable discussions will provide an overview of the Russian market, and a pitching session will concentrate on projects from the CIS states and projects seeking partners there.