Five European filmmakers traveled through the US for two weeks as part of the first edition of the Transatlantic Rising Stars Project – Film Strand. The three-year initiative was launched by the EU delegation in the United States. The participants visited Boston, the Berkshires, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C., where they connected with A24, Netflix, Cinetic Media, and Film Independent. Moonika Siimets, Sofia Exarchou, Mara Tamkovich, Guillermo Galoe, and Leonardo Van Dijl all emphasized the importance of sustainable relationships over market strategies. The program focused on mutual exchange. In August, the five selected films will screen at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington D.C.