TV Beats Co-Financing Market is the drama series strand of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, taking place annually during the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. Inviting leading broadcasters, VOD platforms, producers, screenwriters, and other industry professionals, TV Beats is the place to meet and connect with international key players in the drama series industry. In 2025, the TV Beats Co-Financing Market dates are November 17–18, whereas all the Industry events run November 14–21.

TV Beats Co-Financing Market aims to present high-quality drama series projects with international sales and distribution potential. The Co-Financing Market gives the project presenters the opportunity to organise meetings with financiers, partners and broadcasters. In 2025, up to 10 drama series projects in development, looking for different kinds of partnerships, will be presented in the programme. Selection of prizes will be awarded for the best projects in the market.

TV BEATS CO-FINANCING MARKET

RULES AND REGULATIONS

AIMS AND BACKGROUND

The annual TV Beats Co-Financing Market (hereinafter Co-Financing Market) aims to present high-quality drama series projects with international sales and distribution potential. It also strives to increase competitiveness, facilitate networking, and promote local industry professionals, opportunities and service providers. The Co-Financing Market will present up to 10 series projects in development. The project presenters will have the opportunity to organise meetings with financiers, partners and broadcasters.

GOALS

• Select and improve the best series projects with high distribution value.
• Give financiers, broadcasters and sales companies first-hand access to quality source material.
• Network and introduce participants to producers, financiers, sales agents, development and commissioning partners, and provide additional production, financing opportunities and international attention.

FORMAT

Participants of the Co-Financing Market will have the opportunity to pitch their projects and have meetings with industry professionals during their stay in Tallinn. Participants can get direct feedback from the international jury, participate in TV Beats masterclasses and listen to different panels and discussions taking place during the TV Beats Forum.

OVERALL CONDITIONS FOR APPLYING TO THE TV BEATS CO-FINANCING MARKET

Teams consisting of producer, screenwriter and/or director can apply. The Applicants must fill out the Online Submission Form of TV Beats Co-Financing Market to submit their Project and provide all the requested information and documents from May 1st to June 30th, 2025. Late applications will not be taken into consideration.

In order for a Project to qualify, it has to meet all of the following conditions.

• Drama series project;
• In development;
• Potential for international distribution;
• Looking for co-financing and/or co-producers;
• Some financing already in place.

Documents to be provided with the TV Beats Co-Financing Market Application:

• A complete pitch deck for the series (maximum 20 pages);
• Screenplay of the pilot episode;
• Financing plan and Budget outline for the whole production,, including the amount of confirmed financing
• Strategy for further co-development of the project, including information on how the tasks will be shared between the co-developing companies;
• Financing plan and Budget outline for development, including the amounts of confirmed financing;
• Plans for implementing sustainable measures to reduce the environmental impact and to take into account diversity and representation;;
• Audiovisual materials of the project, if available.
• In order to qualify for Council of Europe Series Pilot Program Co-Development award, a statement that the project has been developed by one or more independent production companies established in a Eurimages’ Member State (Council of Europe template)

OVERALL CONDITIONS FOR APPLYING FOR COUNCIL OF EUROPE SERIES PILOT PROGRAMME CO-PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT AWARD

• Projects must be at a development stage;
• Projects must be of a maximum of 10 episodes and a maximum of 600 minutes (in case of animations: 700 minutes with no cap on the number of episodes);
• Projects must be developed by one or more independent production companies established in a Eurimages’ Member State;
• Projects must be presented by one independent production company from a Eurimages’ Member State having creative control of the project and with the intention to involve at least one other independent production company from a different Eurimages’ member State in the co-production. One or more companies from one or more non-member States may also join the project up to a maximum total participation of 30% in development financing;
• Any project having previously applied to the Council of Europe Series Co-production Support will automatically be excluded.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Representatives of selected Projects are subject to a discounted Participation Fee:

• 185 Euros per person for the first two team members, including accommodation
  150 euros for additional team members, accommodation not included

The Participation Fee includes:

• Personalised consulting and training initiatives
• Co-Financing Market 1-1 meetings with industry professionals
• Access to various Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event networking events
• Access to all Industry conferences, panels, lectures and presentations
• Access to the Black Nights Film Festival screenings
• Accommodation at our partner hotels for the duration of the Co-Financing Market
• Lunches on the days of the Co-Financing Market

This Participation Fee is waived for Ukrainian project holders;

Once paid and confirmed, the Participation Fee becomes non-refundable. If the Participant cannot attend on-site, their accreditation will be turned into an online accreditation. Additionally, the Organiser reserves the right to require the Participant to cover the cost of hotel nights in case these can't be cancelled without incurring late cancellation fees payable by the Organiser;

Please note that the round-trip airfare is to be paid by the Participants and is not included in the Participation Fee.

Please contact your local film fund or institute which can help to cover the costs of transportation.

If the Project is selected for the Programme, the producer or representative must be present during the TV Beats Co-Financing Market;

If the Project is selected for the Programme, participation in TV Beats Co-Financing must be mentioned in the end credits of the series, once completed;

The official language of the Market is English;

Submission of the project is considered as acceptance of Special Conditions.

PROCEEDINGS AND PROJECT SELECTION

All properly filled and complete applications shall be reviewed by the Selection Committee composed of experts appointed by the management of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event. A maximum of 8 projects will be selected to take part in the final project presentation.

Main selection criteria:

• Originality of the concept;
• International appeal of the story;
• The past experience of the team;
• Quality of the pitch deck and script;
• Feasibility of the project;
• For Council of Europe Series Co-Development Award, potential impact of the award for the development of the project and its prospects of becoming and remaining an international co-production involving at least two Eurimages Member States.

The final selection of the projects will be announced by September 15th at the latest directly to the participants as well as communicated further via the festival/industry press. Submission of the project is considered as acceptance of special conditions.

RIGHTS AND THE CHAIN OF TITLE

The Applicant guarantees that it holds the rights relating to the Series Project for which the Application is being submitted. In case the Series Project has numerous producers, they have to elect one producer to represent them in relations with the TV Beats Co-Financing Market and serve as the Applicant regarding these Regulations.

In case the Applicant is the author of the Series Project, and it is a case of a project co-authorship, the Applicant is required to possess settled property relations over the Series Project, as well as an authorization of representation from the other authors. The competent law for regulating copyrights related to these Regulations is the Law on Copyright of the Republic of Estonia.

APPLICANT’S OBLIGATIONS DURING INDUSTRY@TALLINN & BALTIC EVENT

Each Applicant chosen to participate in Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event is required to cooperate with the employees and persons of responsibility of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event during its entire course. In case the Participant violates any of their obligations stated in Rules & Regulations, which they had accepted by submitting the Application Form, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event management may disqualify the Applicant from further participation in the event.

APPLICANT’S OBLIGATIONS AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT

In the event the Applicant’s Project is approved for the TV Beats Co-Financing Market, the Applicant guarantees the following:

• The Project that has participated in Co-Financing Market shall have an Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event logo accompanied by the following text in English in the closing credits: “Developed in cooperation with TV Beats Co-Financing Market”;
• The project that has won one of the presented awards will have additional requirements according to the Contract regulating the use of the Award, which will be concluded after the event between the winner and provider of the Award.

GENDER EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION POLICY

Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event as the industry platform of the Tallinn Black Nights Festival is committed to promoting gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work and programmes, including the TV Beats Co-Financing Market. We believe that everyone should have equal opportunities to participate in our events and activities, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, or other personal characteristics.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment that values diversity and promotes mutual respect and understanding. We promote gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work, including the planning, organisation, and delivery of events and activities, and believe that diversity is a strength and that everyone should have equal opportunities to participate in our events and activities.

We expect all participants in our events and activities to behave in a respectful and professional manner, and to refrain from any behaviour that is discriminatory, harassing, or offensive. This includes but is not limited to behaviour that is based on a person's gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, or other personal characteristics. We will not tolerate any behaviour that violates our policy and reserve the right to take appropriate action, including expulsion from the event.

FINAL PROVISIONS

The Applicant guarantees that all the presented information in the submitted application is correct. Regarding all matters not expressly settled by these Regulations, the current regulations of Estonia and its entities and good business practices are to be applied. Any amendments and supplements to these Regulations shall be made by Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event management. By submitting an Application, the Applicant agrees to all provisions of these Regulations. These Regulations come into effect from the day of their publishing on the webpage http://industry.poff.ee/, and are effective beginning on the 1th of May 2025.

Approved by Marge Liiske,
Head of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event