The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival's Promises industry strand has announced the winners of its project showcase, which brings emerging film and series projects to industry figures for development support. This year's edition featured 38 projects across several programmes, including the established Works in Development strand and the inaugural Book-To-Screen initiative aimed at securing adaptation deals for books. The awards matter because they provide cash and industry backing to help early-stage European projects reach co-production and eventual production.

The main prize, the Eurimages Co-production Development Award, went to Selamlik (Sweden, Denmark), directed by Jerry Carlsson, which the jury praised as a timely story about a love story made impossible by war. A special Eurimages award of the same value was also given to the Ukrainian project Reminiscence, directed by Anastasia Tykha, recognised for its female-led creative team and themes of loss and survival. Both awards carry a 20,000-euro cash prize for further development, sponsored by the Eurimages fund. The festival concludes on Sunday.