Industry Innovation Forum Tallinn 2024

Looking Back, Envisioning the Future for European Content and Media

The Industry Innovation Forum Tallinn (IIFT) marks its milestone tenth anniversary at a crucial juncture for European media and content industries. As the sector navigates unprecedented transformation, the forum returns to examine key challenges and opportunities shaping our digital future. This year's edition holds special significance as it aligns with the prestigious Tallinn Digital Summit, creating a unique convergence of political leadership, technological innovation, and creative industry expertise.

In 2024, the European audiovisual industry faces what experts term a polycrisis: the fundamental shift from producer-centric to audience-centric value chains, the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence across all sectors, the evolution of financing models, and the increasing importance of talent and intellectual property rights. Against this backdrop, IIFT brings together an unprecedented selection of global innovators, content creators, policymakers, and industry leaders to shape tangible solutions and future roadmaps.

This special edition, taking place alongside the Tallinn Digital Summit, establishes vital synergies between political, technology, innovation, and industry stakeholders. The combination of these two significant events offers participants unique insights into both the creative and technological forces driving European digital transformation.

Event Details

Date: 20th November 2024
Time: 13:00-16:00 EET
Venue: Kultuurikatel, Tallinn

Tallinn Digital Summit

19-20 November 2024

The annual Tallinn Digital Summit, hosted by the Estonian Prime Minister, gathers leaders from the world's most digitally innovative countries under the theme "Securing the Digital Tomorrow." The summit provides a crucial platform for addressing challenges and shaping the future of digital innovation and finance.

Summit Highlights:

• 10+ heads of state and governments
• Leading tech company executives
• NGO and societal leaders
• 700 innovation, digital and transformation experts

Focus Areas:

• Digital innovation and finance
• Geopolitical and technological shifts
• Democratic collaboration in innovation
• Strategic 'friendshoring': combining talent, investments, and markets

Eligibility: Industry@Tallinn & Black Nights Film Festival badge holders

Watch online

You can also attend the Industry Innovation Forum online and follow the stream without registration here. You can also watch the steam at https://www.tds.icds.ee on Cauldron stage.

Complete Programme Schedule

13:00 - Opening

• Welcome and Introduction
• Moderators: Sten-Kristian Saluveer & Kristen Davis

13:05 - Opening Address

• Speaker: Kristiina Alliksaar, Secretary General, Ministry of Culture
• Focus: Estonia's Vision for Creative Industries

13:10 - European Commission Keynote

• Speaker: Thibaut Kleiner, Director, DG Connect
• Topic: European Innovation Strategy

13:20 - New Business Models Panel

• Speakers:
  • Michael Kaufman (5x Media, Spain)
  • Claudia Bluemhuber (Silver Reel Media)
  • Frederic Fiore (Logical Pictures)
• Focus: Driving Global Success for European Content

14:00 - Future Media Hubs Presentation

• Speaker: Anssi Komulainen
• Topic: Industry Collaboration for Innovation

14:15 - Finance Evolution Panel

• Speakers:
  • Roosa Toivonen (Finnish Impact Film Fund)
  • Laimonas Ubavicius (Lithuanian Film Foundation)
• Focus: Transforming Role of Public and Private Finance

14:55 - Virtual Production Innovation

• Speakers:
  • Nils Pauwels (IIM)
  • Christina Caspers (IIM)
• Focus: Europe's Virtual Production Future

15:10 - Future Formats and Markets

• Speaker: Sander Saar (Movmaker)
• Focus: Global IP Building from Europe

15:50 - AI Impact Panel

• Speakers:
  • Matthew Blakemore (AI Carramba)
  • Wonsun Shin
  • Grace Maharaj (Arvet Agency)
• Focus: AI's Role in European Content Industries

Distinguished Speakers

Industry Leaders

Claudia Bluemhuber

• Position: CEO, Silver Reel Media
• Achievements: Producer of 40+ international productions including Golden Globe winners and Oscar nominees
• Focus: Film financing and international production

Michael Kaufman

• Position: Executive Producer, 5x Media
• Experience: 20+ years in international production
• Markets: Spain, U.S., China, Ireland, Argentina, Israel
• Expertise: TV, film, documentary production

Technology & Innovation

Matthew Blakemore

• Position: CEO, AI Caramba
• Recognition: 2023 Business UK Tech Visionary Award
• Expertise: AI strategy, digital transformation
• Additional roles: AI Program Director at Mindstone, Board Member of Swedish Chamber of Commerce

Christina Caspers

• Position: General Manager, TRIXTER
• Expertise: VFX, virtual production
• Notable clients: Marvel/Disney, Warner, Skydance
• Key projects: The Marvels, I am Groot, Shang-Chi

Nils Pauwels

• Position: Partner and Director, ReadySet Studios
• Expertise: Virtual Production, ICVFX
• Experience: 18 years in technical innovation
• Achievement: Built Europe's largest LED volume at Cinecittà Studios

Policy & Finance

Thibaut Kleiner

• Position: Director, DG Connect, European Commission
• Focus: Digital policy, innovation strategies
• Background: Competition policy, digital transformation

Laimonas Ubavicius

• Position: CEO, Lithuanian Film Centre
• Experience: 20 years in media policy and legal frameworks
• Focus: Film funding and industry development

Roosa Toivonen

• Position: Fund Manager, Finnish Impact Film Fund
• Experience: 30 years in audiovisual industry
• Background: Production, direction, fund management

Innovation Leaders

Anssi Komulainen

• Focus: Media innovation, emerging technologies
• Expertise: AI implementation in media production
• Specialization: Digital transformation strategies

Sander Saar

• Position: Futurist, Movmaker
• Clients: Disney, Red Bull
• Focus: Emerging technology implementation

Wonsun Shin

• Specialization: Co-production, festival strategies
• Expertise: International market development
• Focus: Emerging technologies and global markets

Grace Maharaj

• Position: CEO, Arvet Agency
• Focus: Nordic IP rights acquisition
• Background: Legal and creative industry expertise

Event Focus Areas

• Europe's Competitiveness and Innovation
• New Business Models for Global Success
• Industry Collaboration Frameworks
• Evolution of Public and Private Finance
• Virtual Production and XR Technologies
• Future Formats and Audience Engagement
• AI's Impact on Creative Industries

Organization

The IIFT is organized within Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, the industry programme of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, with support from the Creative Europe MEDIA programme of the European Commission.

Contact Information

Event Contact Details
Media Inquiries

Social Media & Updates

Follow: #IIFT2024 #TallinnDigitalSummit

Programme subject to minor changes. All updates will be posted on the official website.