From 16 to 20 November, the 25th edition of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event – the largest gathering for audiovisual professionals in Northern Europe – kicks off in Tallinn and online. During the week, the event will host around 200 lectures, workshops, masterclasses, panels and market meetings, bringing together a vibrant community of film and TV series professionals.
With nearly 200 sessions, including around 70 open-access panels and workshops, the programme provides valuable insights, inspiration, and practical tools for shaping a sustainable, inclusive, and forward-thinking film industry. It also promotes collaboration across generations through mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and support for emerging professionals who will shape the future of cinema.
For a compact introduction to the events, we have selected 21 events for you to get the most out of the festival.
Fair Pay, Stronger Stories: Making Directing Careers Sustainable
Nordic Hotel Forum, Arcturus, 11:00
Directors are central to audiovisual storytelling, yet fair pay and sustainable careers remain a challenge. Join experts from Estonia, Poland and the Netherlands as they explore directors’ working conditions, fair pay, collective bargaining and authors’ rights. The discussion will cover survey findings on Estonian directors’ earnings, Polish filmmakers’ success in copyright reform, and the Dutch fair pay model, which has established minimum rates for directors and other arts professionals.
Free access!
Small Industry, Big Ambitions: What Does Estonian Film Need to Thrive?
Nordic Hotel Forum, Arcturus, 12:45
Estonia may have a small film industry, but its ambitions are anything but small. Drawing on two recent master’s theses — exploring the networks, access and collaboration within Estonia’s film ecosystem, alongside the challenges and needs within the creative and production process — this panel brings together voices from across the sector to ask what works, where the gaps lie, and how stronger connections and collaboration could shape a more sustainable and ambitious future for Estonian film.
Free access!
From Stage to Screen: The Art of Adaptation with Sir Christopher Hampton (Discovery Campus)
Nordic Hotel Forum, Sirius, 16:00
How does a story change when adapted from stage to screen? Opening Discovery Campus 2026, two-time Academy Award winner Sir Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons, The Father) draws on over five decades of experience as a playwright, screenwriter, translator and director to explore the art of adaptation — what is gained, what is lost and what must be reinvented for cinema.
Networking Hacks with Amanda Graham
Nordic Hotel Forum, Arcturus, 13:30
Amanda Graham’s popular networking session is back, offering practical tips to overcome hidden biases, confidently work a room, write cold emails that get responses, and boost your online visibility with minimal effort. Discover common networking mistakes and leave with actionable strategies you can put to use immediately.
Into the Game: A Film Professional's Map to the Games Industry
Nordic Hotel Forum, Arcturus, 16:00
Discover how the games industry works and explore opportunities for film and television professionals to enter it. From game development, financing and publishing to finding partners and navigating key industry events, this session offers practical guidance for producers looking to adapt their projects into games and creatives seeking to transfer their skills into the gaming world.
Industry Talk: Pauline Hansson and Nina Haun "Triangle of Sadness" (Disocvery Campus)
Tallink Spa & Conference Hotel, Galaxy 2, 15:00
Swedish casting director Pauline Hansson and German casting director Nina Haun share insights into the art of casting, drawing on their experience in international cinema, including Triangle of Sadness and Fatherland. Discover how they uncover unexpected talent, build compelling ensembles and find performers who bring a filmmaker’s vision to life.
Seeing Through Glass: Leitz Cine Lenses and the Cinematographer's Eye with Dan Laustsen, ASC, DFF (Discovery Campus)
Tallink Spa & Conference Hotel, Galaxy 1, 15:30
Celebrating 100 years of Leica Camera history, Leitz Cine and the Black Nights Film Festival explore the evolution and distinctive characteristics of Leitz cinema lenses. Acclaimed cinematographer Dan Laustsen ASC, DFF shares insights into his career and creative process, revealing how lens selection, testing and visual choices shape a film from script to screen.
Same Story, Different Medium: A Creative Workshop for Games and Film
Nordic Hotel Forum, Arcturus, 12:30
How does storytelling change when moving between film, television and games? This hands-on workshop explores the challenges of adaptation, introducing key game development concepts such as lore, mechanics, player agency and level design. Through collaborative exercises, participants will reimagine stories across formats and learn how to communicate their creative vision effectively across teams.
From “Nice Setting” to “Shut Up and Take My Money”
Nordic Hotel Forum, Arcturus, 10:00
What makes a fictional world truly captivating? In this entertaining and practical session, Amanda Graham explores how to create compelling storyworlds with engaging rules, conflicts and endless storytelling potential. Discover techniques for building narratives across film, television, video games and beyond, while avoiding common worldbuilding pitfalls.
Meet the casting director: Yngvill Haga "Sentimental Value" (Discovery Campus)
Tallink Spa & Conference Hotel, Fantaasia, 15:30
Norwegian casting director Yngvill Haga offers a behind-the-scenes look at the art of casting, sharing insights from her career and the creative process of bringing characters to life. She will also reflect on her work on Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, her collaboration with American casting director Avy Kaufman, and the film’s remarkable international journey.
One Battle After Another: The Visual Craft with Michael Bauman ICLS
BFM, SuperNova Cinema, 18:00
Join award-winning cinematographer and ICLS President Michael Bauman for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at One Battle After Another. Discover the creative vision, artistic choices and technical decisions behind the film’s distinctive visual style, as well as the production challenges and collaborative process that brought it to life.
Film Criticism Masterclass with Victor Fraga and Ahmed Shawky
Nordic Hotel Forum, Altair, 13:00
Discover the art of film criticism in this masterclass designed for filmmakers, producers, journalists and other industry professionals. Explore the fundamentals of writing engaging reviews, challenge common misconceptions and gain insights into journalistic standards and the creative role of critics. Learn how film criticism works and how industry professionals can build more productive relationships with critics.
Director-Composer Lab: Masterclass with Martin Phipps
BFM, SuperNova Cinema, 19:00
Renowned composer Martin Phipps explores the creative collaboration between directors and composers in shaping a film’s score. Drawing on his experience in film and television, he shares practical insights into the scoring process, from initial discussions to refining music alongside the picture. Discover how effective communication, shared creative vision and collaboration can strengthen storytelling through music.
Women, War and Witness: Cinema in Times of Global Crisis
Nordic Hotel Forum, Arcturus, 12:30
Women are war’s targets, witnesses and resisters, yet are too often filmed only as victims. Filmmakers discuss what responsibility comes with telling their stories: consent, avoiding retraumatisation, and how cinema can bear witness without exploiting the suffering it shows.
Baltic Countries in Focus
Nordic Hotel Forum, Capella, 15:30
Three countries, three distinct funding systems, one increasingly connected production region. This session introduces the film support landscape in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania: national funding schemes, cash and tax rebate incentives, co-production opportunities and the creative and technical talent available on the ground. Representatives from each country's film institutions will outline how international partners can access support and build projects in the region.
From Greening to Competitive Advantage: How Public Support Can Strengthen National Film Production and International Co-Productions
Nordic Hotel Forum, Arcturus, 17:00
As sustainability requirements reshape European film production, this panel explores how policies, incentives and practical support can help producers adopt greener practices, strengthen international co-productions and turn sustainability into a competitive advantage.
Basque in the Spotlight
Nordic Hotel Forum, Capella, 17:15
This year’s Spotlight focuses on Basque cinema, exploring its distinctive film culture, competitive production incentives and growing international presence. Discover the region’s funding opportunities and the filmmakers and production companies shaping its future.
Creating a Social Media Package for Your Film
Nordic Hotel Forum, Capella, 10:45
Discover how to turn a film’s artistic vision into engaging social media content with leading film marketing agency Alphapanda. Drawing on real-world case studies, this session offers practical strategies for creating effective campaigns across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube while staying true to a film’s identity.
The New Underground: Film Discovery in the Age of Social Media Restrictions
Nordic Hotel Forum, Arcturus, 11:45
As countries introduce social media restrictions for teenagers, how will young audiences discover films? National Research Group and film industry experts explore how these changes could reshape film marketing, audience engagement and the role of cinemas, fan communities and alternative platforms.
The Label Decides: Family, Youth or Coming-of-Age?
Nordic Hotel Forum, Arcturus, 13:45
What happens when an audience encounters a film which has been mistakenly pitched at their age group?
Film journalist Veronica Orciari and an expert from the market side discuss who assigns a film's label, what mis-labeling can cost, and how filmmakers can describe their own films so the right audience finds them.
An Introduction to Digital Distribution and TVOD: A Case Study for Independent Producers
Nordic Hotel Forum, Capella, 15:45
Discover how digital film distribution works and how independent producers can reach global audiences through VoD platforms such as Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video. Drawing on a real case study, digital distribution specialist UMW explores the key players, revenue models and practical steps involved in bringing a film from producer to platform.
Check the full event programme HERE