Thursday's programme of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event is packed with project presentations of International and Just Film Works in Progress, European Genre Forum and Script Pool, discussion of Just Film Industry Days, Discovery Campus sessions and much more.
The day kicks off at 09.45 (EET) at Coca-Cola Plaza Hall with the pitching of seven projects in the International Works in Progress category. Each team will pitch its film to the jury that consists of Casey Baron, Julie Marnay and Alexis Cassanet. Check out the projects here.
Works in Progress pitching continues later in the afternoon, at 15.45 with Just Film (youth and children’s films). The session presents six film projects currently in production. Each project will be introduced through a pitch, accompanied by select clips that showcase the creative direction and potential of the work. Learn more about the projects here
At 12.00 (EET) at Nordic Hotel Forum everyone can cheer on the projects pitching of Script Pool competition that highlights five international projects and the team - director, scriptwriter, and producer behind them. At 13.00 the Capella stage is ready for European Genre Forum participants pitching eight chillingly fresh and exciting projects to the industry guests. During all the public pitches the audience has a chance to vote for their favourite on Votemo platform. The projects with the most votes in each category will be awarded with € 2.000 worth of Yamdu subscription credit.
Unpacking Industry Trends
As the Just Film Industry Days programme starts on Thursday everyone has a chance to learn more about the children and youth film industry. The panel discussion Exploring the Patterns & Preferences of Next-Gen Viewership, will explore how European cinema and film festivals could capture the attention of Gen Z? Students from eight FilmEU universities, alongside filmmakers and industry experts, will present fresh insights into the viewing habits of young adults during the session. At the presentation Building Bridges – European Children's Film in Focus Anne Schultka, project manager at KIDS Regio will present key findings from the 2024 KIDS Regio Forum and the research project 'Keeping up with Children as an Audience”. Gathering the perspectives of 374 children across Europe, the research sheds light on what young audiences value and expect from film and media today. At the discussion panel Actually useful AI tools for Creatives AI architect Otto Mättas and the mixed media and installation artist Alyona Movko-Mägi share their experiences.
In the afternoon (15.00) there is a must-attend session introducing the co-production possibilities in Germany. The session Germany in Focus: Exploring Federal and Regional Film Funding for Co-Productions will provide a comprehensive presentation on the German Federal Film Funding system, focusing on its structure and the upcoming reforms scheduled for 2025 and offer essential insights into how the national funding landscape in Germany is evolving and what this means for international producers interested in co-productions. Following the federal overview, the event will transition to "In the Spotlight: German Regional Funds & Talents," moderated by seasoned journalist Martin Blaney. In this segment, attention shifts to Germany’s diverse regional funds, showcasing how these organisations support film production and international collaborations.
Everyone interested in public financing for films should attend a session Public Funding & Strategy in Focus: Helping Producers Thrive in a Changing Industry that tackles the matter in three sections: Cultural Values vs. Financial Pressures, Cash and Tax Incentives and AI in Funding and Production.
Open sessions of Discovery Campus
On Thursday, Discovery Campus programme includes three open sessions. Frame Within a Frame Master Screening: The Eternal Road features a special screening of The Eternal Road, a Finnish cinematographic masterpiece. Following the screening, there will be an in-depth case study on the unique collaboration between the gaffer and the cinematographer. Cinematographer Rauno Ronkainen FSC, and Gaffer Ville Penttilä FSC, ICLS, will lead the discussion.
At the Black Room open lecture Lollo Urbansdotter, the founder and owner of Magnolia Agency, will offer valuable insights on navigating the dynamic film industry, the role of an agency in supporting talent, and the keys to building enduring, successful partnerships with both clients and collaborators.
The day closes in the Nordic Hotel Forum conference centre with a Meet Robert Bohman – Transforming Spaces and Lives. Swedish most known addiction therapist Robert Bohman will address substance abuse issues in the film industry and the importance of creating an open dialogue on this critical topic.