Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival will take part in a Baltic Focus at this year’s Marché du Film in Cannes. Together with the Estonian Film Institute, Latvian Film Center and Lithuanian Film Centre, a variety of new projects, professionals and initiatives will be presented to the international industry and press.
For the first time, as part of PÖFF’s 25 birthday celebrations, and on the 20th anniversary of PÖFF’s industry programme Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, the festival will bring projects to participate in the Goes To Cannes works in progress showcase and Co-Production Day meetings.
Five films in post-production will be presented as part of Tallinn Black Nights Goes to Cannes. From Estonia, Pinocchio and the Water of Life, is directed by Viktor Lakisov and produced by Vsevolod Zorin, Paul Marshal & Mark De Carlo (Asymmetric Studios OÜ & Dick Lizzardo Productions, Inc.). Whispers of War (Germany) is directed by Florian Hoffmann and produced by Alexander Wadouh & Roxana Richters (Chromosom Film & Deutsche Film und Fernsehakademie Berlin). Just Before, a Russian/French co-production is directed by Alisa Erokhina and produced by Denis Kovalevsky & Anna Shalashina (Salt Film Studio (Russia), WISH Media (Russia), Les Steppes Productions (France) with the support of the Russian Ministry of culture and KINOPRIME Foundation. Round Trip (Belgium) is directed by Dorothée Van den Berghe and produced by Bert Hamelinck, Dimitri Verbeeck & Helena Vlogaert (Caviar). Citizen Saint, a Georgian/French/Bulgarian co-production is directed by Tinatin Kajrishvili and produced by Lasha Khalvashi & Denis Vaslin & Boris Chouchkov (Artizm).
Co-Production Day projects include, from Estonia, 8 Views of Lake Biwa - written and directed by Marko Raat, produced by Ivo Felt & Dora Nedeczky (Allfilm) - and Black Hole - written and directed by Moonika Siimets, produced by Riina Sildos (Amrion). From Latvia, Maria’s Silence is written and directed by Dāvis Sīmanis, produced by Gints Grūbe (Mistrus Media). And, from Lithuania, Tasty is written and directed by Egle Vertelyte, co-written by Irena Kuneviciute, produced by Lukas Trimonis (Inscript). The final three projects, from outside the Baltics, are: Aliya, an Israeli/Russian co-production, written and directed by Dekel Berenson, produced by Marek Rozenbaum (Transfax Film Productions ltd., AR Content), Spilt Milk (Ireland), written by Cara Loftus, directed by Brian Durnin, produced by Laura McNicholas (925 Productions) and Kevlar Soul (Sweden), written by Pelle Rådström, directed by Maria Eriksson-Hecht, produced by Ronny Fritsche (Zentropa Sweden).
The Estonian Film Institute, Latvian Film Center and Lithuanian Film Centre will present producers as part of the Producers Network programme on Saturday 10 July. From Estonia, the producers will be Anu Veermäe-Kaldra (Menufilmid) and Peeter Rebane (The Factory), from Latvia, Aija Berzina (Tasse Film) and Gints Grube (Mistrus Media) and, from Lithuania, Dagne Vildžiūnaitė (Just A Moment) and Uljana Kim (Studio "Uljana Kim"). The events will take place onsite from 9:00-10:30 on Saturday 10 July and from 18:00-19:00 online.
Estonia also had a hand in one film competing for this year’s Palme d'Or: Hytti No 6 (Compartment No 6) - directed by Juhu Kuosmanen (Finland), was co-produced by Riina Sildos (Amrion).
The Estonian Film Institute’s pavilion will be located at Nr. 130 and the Latvian Film Center will host a pavilion at Nr. 113, both in the International Village Riviera. The Lithuanian Film Centre will also participate in the Cannes Short Film Corner from July 12-16, including a keynote presentation "Baltics: short film production ecosystem" on July 14 from 10:00 to 11:15.