Eight projects from eight production countries have been selected for the 10th European Genre Forum, a six-month training cycle for up-and-coming European genre filmmakers.

The first talent lab will take place from 6 to 9 July in Zagreb, as part of the Fantastic Zagreb Film Festival. It will be followed by the Producing Lab in Amsterdam from 29 October to 1 November, in the framework of the Imagine Fantastic Film Festival. The final part, the Marketing and Packaging Lab, will take place from 18 to 22 November in Tallinn, as part of the Black Nights Film Festival.

The project selection of the 10th European Genre Forum sees a wide variety of genres. Dystopian sci-fi, folk horror, thriller, fantasy, psychological drama, mystery and supernatural stories combined with drama are reshaped in the projects of up-and-coming producers and directors. As usual, the projects present a broad geographic spread, with eight production countries represented. The eight projects will follow three talent Labs that will boost the quality of the projects and the professional careers of teams of first or second-time filmmakers.

European Genre Forum 2024 projects include:

• Elle – Maya Korn - producer | Adva Reichman - director (Germany)
• Godling - Ashley Horner - director (United Kingdom)
• Monstro - Laura Doval - producer (Spain)
• Inheritance – Stanislav Bytiutskyi - director, screenwriter | Inna Lastochkina - producer (Ukraine, Ireland)
• Neighbour - Oskar Lehemaa - director, screenwriter | Evelin Penttilä - producer (Estonia)
• The Dark Architect – Ilkka Matila - producer | Risto Tuominen - director, screenwriter (Finland, Estonia)
• The Kids Are Feral – Ben Thompson - director | Matthias Pachner - producer (United Kingdom)
• Vrykolax – Achilleas Gatsopoulos - director, co-writer | Geoff Dupuy-Holder - screenwriter | Vassilis Economou, producer and Minos Nikolakakis - producer (Greece)

Read the details of each project on the EGF website

The European Genre Forum (EGF) is a collaboration between the Imagine, Fantastic Zagreb and Black Nights Film Festivals. Together, they offer a training programme that sets to boost the careers of future European players in the genre film industry through three talent labs, packed with trainings, panels, mentoring and pitching sessions. The Screenwriting and Directing Lab takes place during the Fantastic Zagreb Film Festival in July, The Producing Lab takes place in Amsterdam during the Imagine Fantastic Film Festival in late October, and The Marketing and Packaging Lab takes place in Tallinn during the Black Nights Film Festival in November.

Photo: Paws was one of the projects participating in the European Genre Forum 2023. It is a chilling eco-thriller that pits humanity’s greed against the power of nature. Paws will be presented by The Playmakers team at the upcoming Marché du Film in Cannes, offering international buyers an exclusive first look.