In 2026, eight projects were selected for the 12th European Genre Forum, a six-month training cycle for up-and-coming European genre filmmakers. During the Marketing and Packaging Lab in Tallinn, the last event of the genre training programme, the participants will present their projects at a public pitching event.
The European Genre Forum aims to bring together emerging and promising European filmmaking talents. This international initiative offers comprehensive training across different sectors and stages of the filmmaking process, supporting professionals working in European genre and fantastic cinema – a rapidly expanding pan-European industry with its own distinctive characteristics and challenges.
Across three talent labs, eight selected film projects will have the opportunity to develop their ideas with script consultants and gain valuable insights into production, co-production, sales and packaging from industry professionals. The programme also features mentoring sessions with established genre filmmakers, crowdfunding specialists and legal experts, alongside case studies exploring recent successful films.
The final stage, the Marketing and Packaging Lab, will take place from 17–19 November in Tallinn, as part of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event at the Black Nights Film Festival, where the teams will have the chance to experience 1:1 mentoring sessions.
The 12th European Genre Forum showcases a dynamic selection of projects spanning a wide range of genres, from sci-fi, thrillers and fantasy to horror, dark comedy, mystery and dystopian drama, each offering fresh perspectives from emerging directors, screenwriters and producers. Continuing the tradition of previous editions, this year’s lineup also highlights geographical diversity, with eight different countries represented among the selected projects.
Virtual production studio ATM Virtual will grant the most promising project award, virtual studio services in value of 25 000 euros.
The European Genre Forum teams presenting the project include:
Alda – Vako Kirkitadze – director | Nika Gugushvili – producer (Georgia)
Bear Skin – Marc Charley – director | Laurent Normand – producer (France)
Brain Drain – Max r Lincoln – director | Rami Pantoja – producer (United Kingdom)
Sun Offspring – Octavian Saramet – director | Mara Cracaleanu – producer (Romania)
Dreaming Differences – Kateřina Winkler – director | Nataša Jurčová Findrová – producer (Slovakia, Czechia)
Garm – Matthias Kreter – director | Nicolas Kronauer – producer (Germany)
Lulu – Angel Radev – director | Noura Al Kadri – producer (Bulgaria, Germany, France)
Otok – Mariana Jukica– director | Daniel Haingartner, Matthias Halibrand - producers (Germany)
Details of each project can be found on the EGF website: europeangenreforum.com
The European Genre Forum (EGF) is a joint initiative by the Imagine and Fantastic Zagreb film festivals, together with Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event. The collaboration offers a comprehensive training programme designed to support emerging European talent and advance their careers in the genre film industry. Through three dedicated talent labs, participants gain valuable experience through workshops, panel discussions, mentoring and pitching sessions. The programme begins with the Screenwriting and Directing Lab at the Fantastic Zagreb Film Festival in July, followed by the Producing Lab at the Imagine Fantastic Film Festival in Amsterdam in late October. The final stage, the Marketing and Packaging Lab, takes place in Tallinn in November as part of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event during the Black Nights Film Festival.