The European Genre Forum (EGF) is a pan-european training programme organized by Black Nights Film Festival from Tallinn; Imagine Film Festival from Amsterdam; Fantastic Zagreb Film Festival and film consultancy company Screen Division from Sitges.
The main goal of this international project is to connect young and upcoming European film talents. The European Genre Forum aims to provide comprehensive cross-sector and film life cycle training for professionals working in European genre and fantastic film – a rapidly growing pan-European industry that is still distinctively different from the general film industry.
During the three talent labs, up to eight chosen film projects will be able to discuss their ideas with script consultants, learn about the different aspects of (co-) production, sales and packaging from Industry professionals. Mentoring sessions with established genre filmmakers, crowd funders, legal experts and case studies of recent, successful films complete the programme.
Check the details of on the EGF's website: europeangenreforum.com
The European Genre Forum handed out the reward to the most promising project receiving a 25,000 euro award by ATM Virtual, consisting of one-day rental of an LED stage, preceded by one day of pre-lighting for the production of a selected film.
Winner: Little Bird
Writer and Director: Faye Jackson
Producer: Carley Armstrong
Production company: True Moon Pictures (United Kingdom)
The jury commented: “Little Bird is an ideal candidate for an ATM Virtual award because it perfectly demonstrates the creative potential and technical necessity of Virtual Production.
The one day of VP stage time would allow the team to capture a crucial, visually challenging scene (like the initial portal opening or a key flying moment) with professional-grade, high-fidelity backgrounds and lighting.”
The project selection of the 11th European Genre Forum saw a wide variety in genres. Dystopian sci-fi, folk horror, thriller, fantasy, tragicomedy and mystery are reshaped in the projects of up-and-coming producers and directors. As usual, the projects present a broad geographic spread, with nine co-production countries represented.
AR Lives – Michael Kleinfield – director | Jinglin Huang – screenwriter (Germany, Taiwan)
Blood – Mika Pajunen – producer | Aleksi Hyvärinen - producer (Finland)
Blue Lada – Tõnu Hiielaid – producer | Urmet Piiling - director (Estonia)
Burial Patrol – Mattia Puleo - producer (Italy)
Like Air – Elvira Dulskaia – director | Julietta Sichel, Rozalie Brozkova - producers (Czech Republic)
Little Bird – Faye Jackson - director, screenwriter | Carley Armstrong - producer (United Kingdom)
The Sleepers – Didac Gimeno - director | Marco Lledo - producer (Spain)
The Stranger – Visna Mamic – director (Croatia)
The European Genre Forum was given to the most promising project receiving a 25,000 euro award by ATM Virtual, consisting of one-day rental of an LED stage, preceded by one day of pre-lighting for the production of a selected film.
Winner: The Dark Architect
Director and writer: Risto Tuominen
Producer: Ilkka Matila
Production company: MRP Matila Röhr Productions OY (Finland)
Co-production company: Taska Film (Estonia)
The winner was selected by ATM Virtual representatives, who also decided to give out a special mention award, who received an option for one day of testing in Virtual Production (stage and service of VP).
Special mention award winner: Vrykolax
Director: Achilleas Gatsopoulos
Writer: Geoff Dupuy-Holder
Producers: Minos Nikolakakis, Vassilis Economou
Production company: APSHALT (Greece)
Public Favourite Award winner: Neighbour
Director and screenwriter: Oskar Lehemaa
Producer: Evelin Penttilä
Production company: Stellar Film (Estonia)
The winner of the public favourite award was awarded with 2.000€ worth of Yamdu subscription credit for any annual Yamdu plan or Yamdu add-on (valid thru 31.12.2025).
In its 10th edition, EGF consisted of three talent Labs from July to November 2024. The Screenwriting and Directing Lab (Fantastic Zagreb) focused on script development and other artistic aspects of the projects. The Producing Lab (Imagine Fantastic Film Festival) was aimed at the business side, with coproduction and legal aspects among its topics. The Marketing and Packaging Lab (Black Nights Film Festival) focused on pitching, packaging, marketing and sales.
The project selection of the 10th European Genre Forum saw a wide variety of genres. Dystopian sci-fi, folk horror, thriller, fantasy, psychological drama, mystery and supernatural stories combined with drama are reshaped in the projects of up-and-coming producers and directors. As usual, the projects presented a broad geographic spread, with eight production countries represented. The eight projects followed three talent Labs that boosted the quality of the projects and the professional careers of teams of first or second-time filmmakers.
The European Genre Forum 2024 projects:
Elle – Maya Korn, producer and Adva Reichman - director (Germany)
Godling - Ashley Horner, director (United Kingdom)
Monstro - Laura Doval, producer (Spain)
Inheritance – Stanislav Bytiutskyi, director, screenwriter and Inna Lastochkina, producer (Ukraine, Ireland)
Neighbour - Oskar Lehemaa, director, screenwriter and Evelin Penttilä, producer (Estonia)
The Dark Architect – Ilkka Matila, producer and Risto Tuominen, director, screenwriter (Finland, Estonia)
The Kids Are Feral – Ben Thompson, director and Matthias Pachnerm producer (United Kingdom)
Vrykolax – Achilleas Gatsopoulos, director, co-writer and Geoff Dupuy-Holder, screenwriter, Vassilis Economou, producer and Minos Nikolakakis, producer (Greece)