AGP Executive Report

Nations League Spotlight: Scotland’s new era under Sebastien Pocognoli kicks off in Ljubljana as writers preview Slovenia vs Scotland, with Slovenia’s boss Boštjan Cesar urging his side to stay compact and punish chances, while Scotland are missing key names including Scott McTominay and Kieran Tierney. Swiss Drama: Switzerland lose Breel Embolo and captain Granit Xhaka from the squad after fresh reporting tied to fake COVID-19 documents, adding more uncertainty to the Nations League build-up. Football Finance Fallout: Manchester City face Premier League scrutiny after being found guilty of breaching financial fair play rules, with supporters and clubs watching what comes next. Arts & Culture: A new travelling exhibition, “Under the Skin of a Puppet: Theatre puppet in X-Ray,” opens in Ljubljana, letting visitors explore how theatre puppets work beneath the surface. Film Journalism Training: GoCritic! selects 10 participants for workshops in film journalism and criticism across Animation Festival Network partners, with outputs planned for Cineuropa and Zippy Frames. Weekend Picks (Cyprus): A guide to “weekend warrior” plans in Cyprus mixes sailing, BEONIX electronic nights, and ballet under the stars.

Film & TV: Astra Film Festival has unveiled its 2026 competition lineup in Sibiu (17–25 Oct), with four sections, 70+ documentaries and 200+ film events, plus DocSchool and online screenings. Film & TV: CinEast Festival 2026 also announced its selection, featuring 65+ features and 60+ shorts across multiple sidebar programs, with a Bulgaria spotlight and music, debates and exhibitions. Sports (Slovenia/Scotland): Scotland begin life under Sebastien Pocognoli with a Nations League opener in Ljubljana against Slovenia, with new faces including Robbie Ure and Oli McBurnie recalled. Sports (Slovenia/Scotland): Nations League coverage also highlights Scott McTominay’s return to training for Napoli after heart surgery, targeting a comeback after the international break. Sports (EU football): The UEFA Nations League kicks off with Portugal defending their title vs Wales and big Matchday 1 clashes including England vs Spain and Netherlands vs Germany. Music/Pop culture: The Netherlands confirms a Eurovision return for 2027 after AVROTROS’ boycott, with an independent expert team selecting the entry. Tech & media: The EU published Digital Services Act reports detailing how major platforms (including TikTok, Meta and Google) comply with speech restrictions and disinformation rules.

Sports & Culture in Ljubljana: Scotland kick off their Nations League era with a visit to Slovenia, with match coverage highlighting BBC One/BBC iPlayer details for Slovenia vs Scotland and a fresh-look squad under Sébastien Pocognoli. Local Football Spotlight: Scotland’s new call-ups include Kristi Montgomery (Blackburn) and other youth minutes planned around the opener, while Alan Shearer urges fans to “lower expectations” after Steve Clarke’s exit. Eurovision Drama: The Netherlands is set to return to Eurovision 2027 after AVROTROS withdrew over Israel/Gaza neutrality concerns, with NPO taking over selection and NOS handling broadcasts. Pope on the Move: Pope Leo XIV begins a France trip with a weekend visit to Lourdes, including details on where he sleeps in Paris. Tech & Business (Slovenia): Space Labs secures a $50M investment (4.9% stake) as it expands its real-world digitalization tech.

Eurovision Politics: The Netherlands is back for Eurovision 2027 after a boycott tied to Israel’s participation, with broadcaster NPO stepping in after Avrotros withdrew and the EBU tightening hosting rules. EU & Ukraine: Slovenia’s FM Tone Kajzer backs opening all EU negotiation clusters for Ukraine by end-2026, while stressing Kyiv must keep pushing reforms. Football Spotlight: Scotland begin a new Nations League era under Sebastien Pocognoli in Ljubljana, with a squad packed with new faces for the opener vs Slovenia. MMA Growth: BRAVE CF marks a decade since launching in 2016, expanding to 39 countries and building long-term regional pathways for fighters. Film & Horror: British-Slovenian actress Marta Svetek shines in psychological horror “The Death of Us” after its FrightFest premiere, while Slovenia’s Luka Marčetić’s “Girl in the Night” lands at Fantastic Fest. Local Culture/Community: Park City’s Haley Batten races at home at the World Cup in Utah, finishing sixth in elite women’s cross-country. Church Abuse Update: Slovenian Rupnik accusers urge Pope Leo XIV to expedite a Vatican trial as he heads to Lourdes.

Eurovision Shake-Up: The Netherlands is set to return to Eurovision in 2027 after AVROTROS stepped back over Gaza-related concerns, with NPO taking over and pointing to EBU rule changes about hosting during “armed conflict” or sensitive geopolitical situations. Slovenia in the Spotlight (Sports): UEFA Nations League 2026/27 kicks off with Slovenia in League B, and Scotland’s new boss Sebastien Pocognoli faces Slovenia in Ljubljana as he starts a fresh-look squad. Church Accountability: Slovenian victims of alleged abuse by former Jesuit priest Marko Rupnik have urged Pope Leo XIV to push for a faster Vatican trial, complaining about “excessive silences” as the pope prepares for a France visit. Local Tech & Industry (Cars): Nissan unveiled the Pixo, a pixel-inspired 8-bit style electric city car built at Renault’s Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia, with early 2027 deliveries planned. Diplomacy: Slovenia’s FM Tone Kajzer spoke in Kyiv about Russia’s aggression and parallels with Slovenia’s independence struggle.

Slovenia in the Spotlight (Football): Benjamin Šeško has apologized after withdrawing from Slovenia’s Nations League squad with a recurring shin problem, leaving the team without its key striker ahead of matches against Scotland, North Macedonia and Switzerland. Scotland–Slovenia Build-Up: New Scotland boss Sébastien Pocognoli says the door is still open for players left out of his first squad, and he plans to sing “Flower of Scotland” before games as preparations continue for the Nations League opener in Ljubljana. Film & Awards: Montenegro selected the documentary To Hold a Mountain / Planina—a co-production including Slovenia—for the 99th Oscars’ Best International Feature race, after a Sundance premiere and multiple documentary prizes. Cinema Industry: Slovenia-linked connecting cottbus (coco) announced its 28th edition lineup, with 63% of selected projects led by women, highlighting Central and Eastern European co-productions. Music (Metal): Nile announced a December 2026 European/UK headlining run that includes a stop in Ljubljana. Arts & Architecture: A Ljubljana renovation story spotlights how 1950s terrace homes were reworked into brighter, more flexible vertical layouts while preserving key architectural elements.

Football & National Pride: Benjamin Šeško has apologized after withdrawing from Slovenia’s Nations League fixtures with a recurring shin issue, while Manchester United say he’ll undergo tests and define an individual recovery plan this week. International Sports Spotlight: Slovenia’s squad is also missing other injured players ahead of matches in Ljubljana, with Scotland set to be coached by Sebastien Pocognoli for the first time. Arts & Culture: Slovenia’s National Ballet (Maribor) brings “Don Quixote” to Paphos Medieval Castle in Cyprus on Sept. 25–26, continuing a busy tour schedule. Animation Industry: Slovenia’s Aerodrom & Gliser is among eight projects competing for the Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award at the CEE Animation Forum, with a €50,000 prize for a cross-border animated series. MMA Growth: BRAVE CF marks its 10th anniversary by touting the largest European footprint among major MMA promotions, including Slovenia on its event map. Science & Curiosity: Research led by a Slovenian institute links mysterious Nullarbor Plain trenches to ancient caves collapsing underground.

MMA Spotlight: BRAVE Combat Federation marks its 10th anniversary by claiming the biggest European footprint among major MMA promotions, having staged events across 20 European countries and now including Slovenia among its host list. Public Media Politics (Slovenia): Ahead of Slovenia’s license-fee referendum, trade and media watchdog RSF is pushing for protections to keep RTV SLO’s independent funding and governance safe from political pressure. Football & Scandal (Switzerland/Europe): Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka admitted he used a forged COVID-19 vaccination certificate, withdrew from Nations League duty, and faces a Lucerne investigation that could carry criminal penalties. Tech & Privacy (EU): Ireland’s data regulator fined Google €403 million over improper use of users’ location data, ordering GDPR compliance within six months. Sports (Slovenia tie-in): Luka Dončić shared an emotional goodbye to his daughters as he left Slovenia for the Lakers, while Slovenia’s presence also shows up in European sports coverage around upcoming international fixtures.

Politics & Protest: Slovenian trade unions are pushing for a referendum to overturn the new government’s anti-social policies, after the Constitutional Court upheld their signature drive. Tech & Privacy: The EU’s data protection watchdog fined Google €403 million over improper use of location data, ordering compliance with GDPR within six months. Football (Slovenia-linked): Manchester United’s Benjamin Šeško is again in doubt with a shin injury after missing the Fulham match, raising fresh concerns ahead of Slovenia’s Nations League games. International Sport: Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka admitted using a forged COVID-19 vaccination certificate and was dropped from the Nations League squad. Arts & Film: Slovenia has announced feature film production grants, supporting new local screen projects. Culture & Travel: A new Alpe Adria hiking loop highlights the shared Austria–Slovenia–Italy trail experience.

Slovenian Film Funding: The Slovenian Film Centre has approved €4.9m for seven feature films, led by Damjan Kozole’s Podzavest (€900,000), plus €600,000 for seven short features. Local Sports Spotlight: Slovenia beat Israel 4–0 in a Davis Cup tie in Ljubljana, sending the team to the next stage after straight-match wins including a decisive doubles result. NBA & Slovenian Starwatch: Luka Dončić shared a heartfelt Instagram message to his daughters from Slovenia as he prepares to return to Los Angeles ahead of Lakers media day, with reports also noting a leaner look after offseason work. Cycling Worlds Buzz: Remco Evenepoel made history in Montreal by winning a record-tying fourth consecutive elite men’s time trial world title. International Film Awards: Slovakia’s Flood / Potopa won the IGRIC Award for Best Feature Film Released in Cinemas, with Chronicle / Letopis taking the documentary prize. Tech & Industry: Ljubljana hosted sessions from the 69th IT Press Tour, including StratoFoundry’s new KARL launch and Cybee’s focus on disaster recovery and governed data.

Slovenian Film Funding: The Slovenian Film Centre has distributed €4.9m for seven feature films, led by €900k for Damjan Kozole’s Podzavest, plus €600k for seven short features. International Co-Productions: FilmFestival Cottbus’ East-West market coco has unveiled its 28th lineup, with projects from 17 countries and a strong female-director presence, running 4–6 Nov in Cottbus. Davis Cup Spotlight: Slovenia beat Israel 4–0 in Ljubljana to secure a Davis Cup World Group II playoff spot for Feb 2027. Innovation Debate: A new analysis argues Slovenia is slipping in innovation, pointing to weaker enterprise R&D, fewer patents, and less high-tech export output than peers. Sports & Culture Mix: A PBS-bound documentary, Saving Walden’s World, returns to Belfast for a fundraiser screening at the Colonial Theatre, with part of the production filmed in Belfast and across Maine and Slovenia. Music/TV Buzz: Strictly Come Dancing revealed 2026 pairings, including Dani Dyer reuniting with Nikita Kuzmin.

Strictly Come Dancing 2026: The BBC revealed the full celebrity line-up and pairings for the new season, including Love Island winner Dani Dyer reuniting with Nikita Kuzmin after she withdrew last year due to injury, plus the show’s third all-female couple ever: Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu. Sailing in Slovenia: Portorož hosted the 470 Open European Trophy & Master’s Cup, with Switzerland’s Julian Flessati and Stephan Ammann taking overall honours and Slovenia’s Dušan Puh and Matjaž Puh winning two races on the final day to claim Grand Masters. Tech + Ljubljana spotlight: The IT Press Tour returned to Ljubljana, featuring StratoFoundry’s new KARL product concept and DataCore’s push for smarter data services above S3 storage. Sports with a Slovenian thread: Luka Dončić’s Lakers drew attention for his reported summer conditioning and body transformation, while NBA news also included Heat guard Pelle Larsson agreeing a four-year extension. Culture: Tartu Illustration Festival is back with workshops, talks, and a Slovenian guest spotlight featuring children’s book illustrator Damijan Stepančič.

Sports & Culture Spotlight: Lithuania men and the USA women won the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2026 in Wuhan, with Lithuania edging Latvia 19-18 and the USA beating Canada 15-10. Football Update: Scott McTominay is set to return to action for Napoli after heart surgery, with a likely comeback after the international break. Slovenia Connection: A study by Slovenian sociologists at the University of Maribor links more internet use with less faith, using data from 81 countries (1990–2022). Arts & Entertainment: Tartu Illustration Festival returns Sept. 25–26 with workshops, talks, and an international exhibition featuring Slovenian children’s illustrator Damijan Stepančič. Music: U.D.O. marks its 40th anniversary and 20th studio album “Voodoo Ranger” with the new single “I’ll Die Trying.” EU Media/Pop Culture: RTÉ says Ireland will not participate in or broadcast Eurovision 2027 due to Gaza.

Slovenian Film Spotlight: Vojko Anzeljc has begun filming “Mary’s Resurrection / Marijino vstajenje,” a bittersweet comedy starring Katarina Čas and Klemen Slakonja, shot mostly in Ljubljana for about 30 days, with completion expected in autumn 2027. Streaming & Movies: Tom Felton’s 2025 sci-fi “Altered” is finding a second life on streaming, climbing HBO Max’s global Top 10. Sports (Local-to-Global): Diane Barr returned from the World Masters regatta in Bled with five gold medals, while Slovenia’s presence also shows up in wider European sport news like EHF interest for the 2034 Euros. Culture & Media: United Group rolled out its AI-driven EON 3.0 entertainment platform across Southeast Europe, with Slovenia already live via Telemach. International Arts Buzz: Finále Plzeň announced its 2026 lineup, including a Slovenian-born Czech-based filmmaker returning with “Ungrateful Beings.”

U.D.O. Metal News: German heavy metal legends U.D.O. kick off 2027’s triple anniversary with the new single “I’ll Die Trying” and the video, previewing their 20th studio album “Voodoo Ranger.” Slovenian Film Production: Vojko Anzeljc has started shooting the Ljubljana-set comedy “Mary’s Resurrection / Marijino vstajenje,” starring Katarina Čas and Klemen Slakonja, with completion expected in autumn 2027. Eurovision Politics: Ireland’s RTÉ confirms it will neither participate in nor broadcast Eurovision 2027 in Bulgaria, citing the Gaza humanitarian crisis; the move adds to a growing boycott list that already includes Slovenia’s broadcaster history. Regional Media Tech: United Group rolls out its AI-driven EON 3.0 entertainment platform across Southeast Europe, with Slovenia already live via Telemach. Sports Spotlight (Slovenia-linked): The 470 Open European Trophy and Master’s Cup in Portorož continues amid tough weather, while Europa League action includes Celje and Leverkusen. International Arts & Culture: Finále Plzeň Film Festival (25–30 Sept) unveils a packed Czech cinema and TV lineup, including a Slovenian-born, Czech-based return with Olmo Omerzu.

Slovenian Film Spotlight: Vojko Anzeljc has begun shooting the bittersweet comedy Mary’s Resurrection / Marijino vstajenje in Ljubljana, starring Katarina Čas and Klemen Slakonja; it’s set to wrap in autumn 2027. Entertainment Tech in the Region: United Group rolled out its AI-driven EON 3.0 cloud TV platform across Southeast Europe, with Slovenia already live via Telemach and further launches planned for Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro. Music & Culture Controversy: Ireland confirmed it will boycott Eurovision 2027 in Bulgaria and won’t broadcast it, citing the Gaza humanitarian crisis—joining a growing list of broadcasters taking a stand. Arts & Events: The Seoul Street Arts Festival returns with free performances across two days, featuring productions from Slovenia among other countries. Sports (Europa League): Slovenian club Celje fell 2-0 to Bayer Leverkusen in Europa League action, while Juventus routed NEC Nijmegen 5-0. Local Sailing: Portorož’s 470 Open European Trophy saw weather-heavy racing on day 3, with only one race completed amid storms.