SESSION OVERVIEW & DETAILS
1. PANEL: Balkan Collective Management Landscape
• Duration: 45-60 minutes
• Format: Introduction followed by a moderated round-table
• Overview:
This panel will provide a regional overview of the collective management landscape in the Balkans region, focusing on performers’ CMOs that are not part of SCAPR community yet, setting the stage with a brief presentation and continuing with a round-table discussion. Participating CMOs will be asked to present their organisation and showcase best practices.
• Speaker (Introductory Presentation) and Panel Moderator
Uroš Rožič
Uroš Rožič is a seasoned legal expert with over 25 years of diverse professional experience across the public and private sectors. Currently serving as Head of Legal at AIPA, the Slovenian Collective Management Organisation for audiovisual authors, performers, and producers, he brings deep expertise in intellectual property, corporate, tax, and IT regulation.
With a strong foundation in copyright and related rights law, Uroš has played a central role in drafting key legislation in Slovenia and beyond. He notably chaired the Drafting Committee on IP Law responsible for transposing EU Directives into the Slovenian legal system and contributed to legal reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina aligned with EU standards.
Over the past decade, he has distinguished himself in the field of IP law, particularly through national IP strategy development and EU Directives implementation.
Previously, he served as State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Slovenia, where he oversaw policy-making and supervised the Market Inspection and the Slovene Intellectual Property Office (SIPO). In addition to extensive legal practice, he has acted as a VAT consultant and trainer since 1999 and has led numerous project management initiatives to successful outcomes.
• Round-table Panelists:
Lirak Çelaj – VAPIK
Education:
– Master’s in Film Directing, University “Hasan Prishtina” (2014–2018)
– Bachelor’s in Acting, University of Pristina (1991–1995)
Experience:
– Operational Director, VAPIK (2021–Present)
– Deputy Minister for European Integration (2018–2020)
– Deputy Minister of Justice, Government of Kosovo (2015–2017)
– Chairman, PDK Prishtina Branch (2013–2019)
– Director, National Theater of Pristina (1999–2002)
– Co-founder & Co-director, ODA Theatre (2003–2015)
– Member of the Assembly, Municipality of Pristina (2013–2017)
– Senior Political Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister (2008–2011)
Artistic Work:
Accomplished actor, director, playwright, and screenwriter, with notable contributions to film, TV series, and theater productions.
Kiril Gjozev – AZAS
Kiril Gjozev is a graduated economist M.A in Creative and Cultural industries and Assistant Professor at the International University Europa Prima Skopje. Kiril is a consultant in the field of economy, copyright and creative industries, co-founder and president of UMPACI – Union of Macedonian Profesionnal Associations in the Creative Industries, Founder and President of the Regional Film Fund ”Balkan Cinema Cities”, Secretary General of the Association for Protection of Copyright and related rights AZAS Skopje, as well as Vice-President of the Association for Creative Industries – ACI within the Chamber of Commerce of North Macedonia,
He works as a consultant and manager for realization of projects and events in the creative industries field, account manager in domestic and European co-productions, lecturer at workshops for preparation and development of business plans, jury member at several festivals and film markets, as well as a consultant to several international companies in the field of film (Bankside, Premium Films, Premier Studio, East West Filmdistribution, etc.), consultant in the field of innovative entrepreneurship and online business models.
He is a member of several international and domestic organizations. As Secretary General of AZAS, he actively works on the advancement of the rights of authors, performers and producers in North Macedonia and takes an active part as a panelist and speaker at many international and regional conferences and seminars on copyrights. He is the author of the Strategy for development of creative cultural industries in the Republic of Macedonia (Macedonian way of creating support for development of the Creative Industries) (2018), and he is also the author and organizer of the first three editions of the Creative Industries Expo.
Aleksandar Ristovski – ZIPP
Aleksandar Ristovski is a Macedonian singer, songwriter, and performer.
– He has released 9 solo albums, spanning from 2002 to 2022
– Author of over 400 songs for various artists
– Executive producer of about 200 phonograms
– 30 years active in the collective societies and fighter for fair exercise of copyright and related rights.
– President of ZIPP – Neighbouring Rights Macedonian CMO
– President of The Society of Authors of Musical Works of the Republic of Macedonia – ZAMD Shpato
– President, member of General Assembly and part of Board of Directors of ZAMP (Collecting royalties society of Macedonia)
– From 2021, part of the legendary Macedonian band MIZAR
Zejid Šoto – AIS
I have more than 24 years of working experience in different areas. In healthcare industry, as CEO, founder, business developer, more than 10 years. I have founded and developed 2 private health care companies in Sarajevo.
Beside my experience in healthcare market of Bosnia and Herzegovina and region I also worked in trading sector, media market industry, showbiz.
Together with my working professional career there is also my music career.
I finished primary music school in 1992 and I am playing 2 music instruments (accordion, piano) in a level needed for composing and songs producing. I started my music education in 1988 and also singing carreer.
I had chance to perform in world famous venues (Royal Albert Hall), with world famous artists like: Yusuf Islam, Sami Yusuf, Zain Bhikha, Outlandish, Maher Zain, Mesut Kurtis and many others. I published 3 albums of Islamic spiritual music and several music singles.
I am working also as a TV presenter and host for some specialized programs for different TV channels.
I am President of Board of AIS since May 2024.
