The call for Works in Progress 2026 is open until 14 September 2026

Projects will be presented on November 19 and 20, 2026, in Tallinn, in the following sections:

• Just Film (children and youth film projects) Works in Progress
• Baltic Event Works in Progress (Baltic and Finnish projects)
• International Works in Progress

Before submitting, please read carefully the Rules and Regulations; and make sure that your project matches the following eligibility criteria:

• Full-length fiction or animation film, or live action animated film, meant for theatrical distribution with potential for the international market, we do not accept documentaries.
• The project must not have an international sales agent attached*

Specific to Just Film WIP:

• Full-length fiction, documentary, or animation film for children and youth meant for theatrical distribution with potential for international market
• Children’s films for age ~7-12, Youth films for age ~13+
• We accept films worldwide
• The project must not have an international sales agent attached

The applicants who want to participate in the Works in Progress with a film project, which will be in line with the above-stated requirements, must provide the following information in the application via the online submission form:

• Synopsis
• Short biography and filmography of the director
• Filmography of the producer and the production company profile
• 1 photo or still from the film (resolution 300 dpi, landscape format) for the catalogue
• Provide a rough cut or as much material as you have on the film, minimum 20 minutes with English subtitles for preview. Please note that we do not accept promo reels or trailers.

CHECK THE RULES AND REGULATIONS

During the submission process, you will be asked to log in with your Black Nights Film Festival account or sign up if you do not already have one.

*As an exception, projects for consideration for the Baltic Event Works in Progress category can have a sales company attached. In case of their selection, the respective project(s) will be presented for festival programming and distribution purposes. Priority in the selection will nevertheless be given to projects without a sales company attached.