Works in Progress, showcasing films currently in production or post-production and seeking sales agents or festival premieres, introduces 18 promising projects across three categories: Baltic Event Works in Progress, International Works in Progress, and Just Film Works in Progress. The lineup features both debut filmmakers and acclaimed directors presenting their latest works.
All projects will be screened during Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event on 20–21 November in the cinemas of Apollo Plaza.
This year’s International Works in Progress selection features eight film projects, including two from the festival’s Focus: Catalonia.
According to Triin Tramberg, the Project Manager of International Works in Progress, altogether there were 80 submissions for International Works in Progress, which showed a really strong level of interest. “We’re thrilled with the diversity of the selected projects. It was important for us to include films from Ukraine, both to showcase their incredible resilience and to support filmmakers creating under extremely challenging circumstances,” she adds. “We’re also excited to highlight new Catalan titles, particularly with Alba Sotorra returning — the producer of Upon Entry, which began in the festival's debut competition and had great success — now presenting her new project Salen Las Lobas,” says Tramberg.
Salen Las Lobas, the first feature by Claudia Estrada Tarascó – a Spain-Belgium co-production that follows a misunderstood teenager confined to a juvenile detention center, plotting her escape. The second Catalonian title, The Convulsions, is the third feature by David Gutiérrez Camps (Spain–France), a psychological drama exploring inner turmoil and identity.
From Turkey, Bulgaria, and Greece comes Rahma, written and directed by award-winning Turkish poet and filmmaker Faysal Soysal. Germany is represented by Superbuhei, a visually stunning dark comedy and the directorial debut of Josef Brandl, whose previous work as a production designer includes The Grand Budapest Hotel (2015), Bridge of Spies (2016), and The Alienist (2021).
Two Ukrainian films join the lineup: Kira’s Dream, a musical drama debut by Denys Kolesnikov, introduces a bold new voice from Eastern Europe; and Crickets Sing in the Rye, written and directed by Yevhen Khvorostianko, recounts one of the darkest chapters of Soviet history – the 1932–33 Holodomor genocide.
Montenegrin filmmaker Andrija Mugoša presents Happiness Is Just a Blue Couch Away, a family drama about a mother and son escaping an abusive husband. Rounding out the selection is Prince, a Uruguay–Argentina dramedy by Federico Borgia, in which a dog inherits a house, forcing his late owner’s former lover to defend him from greedy human heirs.
CHECK THE INTERNATIONAL WORKS IN PROGRESS PROJECTS HERE
This year’s Baltic Event Works in Progress presents six captivating feature films from the region.
Helen Räim, the Project Manager of Baltic Event Works in Progress says, it is really exciting to welcome Rahma and Lex Julia, that were attending Co-Production Market project in 2023 and in 2021 accordingly. “It makes it really worthwhile to support the project in development and then see the outcome in Works in Progress. We’re glad to also welcome new voices in the region and will showcase two first features this year: Something Real by director Evar Anvelt and Kingpings by director Kristians Riekstins,” she adds.
Latvian director Kristians Riekstiņš returns to Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event with his debut, Kingpins, a crime comedy named Most Promising Project at the 2024 Script Pool competition. Another Latvian entry, The Wedding Day – a Latvia–Czechia co-production – is a musical dramedy about Kleo, a struggling theatre actress rediscovering her artistic spark.
Lithuanian filmmaker Kristijonas Vildžiūnas joins with his sixth feature, the fantasy drama Dice-ching-o-mat, co-produced by Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and produced by Uljana Kim. Estonia and Lithuania also collaborate on Something Real, a gripping thriller marking the feature debut of Evar Anvelt, written by Martin Algus.
Estonian director Eeva Mägi presents Mo Hunt, part of the Mo movement – a new wave in Estonian cinema known for its rebellious spirit. The first film of this movement, Mo Mamma, won the Best First Feature Award and Special Jury Prize at PÖFF 2023.
The lineup also includes Lex Julia, a psychological drama by award-winning Finnish director Laura Hyppönen – a Finland–Poland–Estonia–Sweden co-production. Featuring an international cast, the film follows a seemingly perfect island holiday spiraling into chaos when Julia, a music producer in her early 30s, visits her new friend Anna’s secluded villa and meets her husband.
CHECK THE BALTIC EVENT WORKS IN PROGRESS PROJECTS HERE
Just Film Works in Progress showcases four titles, blending modern fairy tales and realistic coming-of-age stories. Kärt Väinola, project manager of Just Film Works in Progress, comments that the final selection this year offers a range of themes, but something that stands out is the focus on young protagonists navigating extraordinary challenges in their own environments. “Many of the films explore resilience, whether it’s against societal pressures, personal loss, or internal fears. There’s a strong sense of searching for identity, belonging, and a way to move forward in difficult circumstances,” she adds.
Representing Focus: Catalonia, the selection includes Tanit – the first solo feature by Pep Garrido – tells the story of a young girl who becomes the apprentice of a witch named Perona, while the loss of her baby sister forces her to confront adulthood too soon.
The Argentine–Peruvian co-production Suiza, written and directed by Maria Fernanda Gonzales, offers a deeply personal reflection on the uncertainty faced by teenage girls in Lima as they step out of childhood.
From Ukraine comes Office of Magical Forces, a family adventure by Dmytro Avdieiev, set in modern-day Kyiv, where ancient legends intertwine with the city’s contemporary pulse.
Finally, the Estonian–Lithuanian co-production Morten, directed by Ivan Pavljutshkov, follows a modest 15-year-old boy who must choose between two very different girls one fateful spring.
CHECK THE JUST FILM WORKS IN PROGRESS TITLES HERE
Awards
The best projects both in the Baltic and International Works in Progress will be granted 7000 euros, consisting of 6000 euros worth of services by Studio Beep, together with a 1000 euros travel allowance.
The best project of Just Film Works in Progress will receive a 1000 euro monetary prize to help the film gain visibility by covering promotion and publicity costs.
In addition, TRT (The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation) will present a special monetary award of 5000 euros to one outstanding Works in Progress project, selected from among all categories, to assist the team in advancing their film’s promotional activities.
Title: The Convulsions
Original title: Les éclats
Country: France, Spain
Genre: Psychological drama
Written by: David Gutiérrez Camps, Blanca Camell Galí, Anna Zisman
Directed by: David Gutiérrez Camps
Produced by: Joan Carles Martorell, Iréna Lopez, Luis Ortas, Alice Baldo, Miguel Ángel Abuja, Pablo Gregorio Venegas, Joan Carles Martorell
Production company: Auca Films
Language: French, Catalan
Title: Crickets Sing in the Rye
Original title: Співають коники у житі
Country: Ukraine
Genre: Drama
Written by: Yevhen Khvorostianko, Yuliia Cherniavska
Directed by: Yevhen Khvorostianko
Produced by: Yuliia Cherniavska, Oleg Shcherbyna, Olena Halahan
Production company: Stage Service LLC
Language: Ukrainian
Title: Happiness Is Just a Blue Couch Away
Original title: Pu spas za sve nas
Country: Montenegro
Genre: Drama
Written by: Andrija Mugoša, Armin Behrem
Directed by: Andrija Mugoša
Produced by: Iva Kasalica, Andrija Mugoša
Production company: KA Productions
Language: Serbian
Title: Kira’s Dream
Original title: Mriia Kiry
Country: Ukraine
Genre: Musical film, Drama
Written by: Denys Kolesnikov, Anastasiia Volkova
Directed by: Denys Kolesnikov
Produced by: Andrii Korniienko, Zlata Efimenko
Production company: Good Morning Films
Language: Ukrainian
Title: Prince
Original title: Prince
Country: Uruguay, Argentina
Genre: Dramedy
Written by: Federico Borgia
Directed by: Federico Borgia
Produced by: Francisco Magnou Arnabal
Production company: Montelona
Language: Spanish
Title: Rahma
Original title: Rahma
Country: Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece
Genre: Drama, Family film, Social drama
Written by: Faysal Soysal
Directed by: Faysal Soysal
Produced by: Faysal Soysal, Ivan Tonev, Michael Sarantinos
Production company: Balkon Film
Language: Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic, English
Title: Salen Las Lobas
Original title: Wolf Grrrls
Country: Spain, Belgium
Genre: Drama, Social drama, Youth film
Written by: Claudia Estrada Tarascó
Directed by: Claudia Estrada Tarascó
Produced by: Alba Sotorra Clua
Production company: Alba Sotorra Productions
Contact: Sara Martorana Munner Language: Spanish, Catalan
Title: Superbuhei
Original title: Superbuhei
Country: Germany
Genre: Comedy, Dark comedy, Thriller, Horror
Written by: Josef Brandl, Johannes Simon Becker
Directed by: Josef Brandl
Produced by: Janina Sara Hennemann, Jan Philip Lange
Production company: junifilm
Language: German
Title: Dice-Ching-O-Mat
Original title: Dice-Ching-O-Mat
Country: Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Written by: Kristijonas Vildziunas
Directed by: Kristijonas Vildziunas
Produced by: Uljana Kim
Production company: studio Uljana Kim
Language: Lithuanian
Title: Mo Hunt
Original title: Mo Hunt
Country: Estonia
Genre: Thriller
Written by: Eeva Mägi
Directed by: Eeva Mägi
Produced by: Eeva Mägi Sten-Johan Lill
Production company: Kultuurikuur, Kinosaurus Film
Language: Estonian
Title: Kingpins
Original title: Visiem vajag naudu
Country: Latvia
Genre: Crime film, Comedy
Written by: Kristians Riekstiņš
Directed by: Kristians Riekstiņš
Produced by: Alise Rogule
Production company: Mima Films
Language: Latvian, English
Title: Lex Julia
Original title: Lex Julia
Country: Finland, Poland, Estonia, Sweden
Genre: Drama, Psychological drama
Written by: Laura Hyppönen
Directed by: Laura Hyppönen
Produced by: Merja Ritola
Production company: Greenlit Productions Oy
Language: English, Swedish
Title: Something Real
Original title: Midagi tõelist
Country: Estonia, Lithuania
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Written by: Martin Algus
Directed by: Evar Anvelt
Produced by: Andreas Kask, Esko Rips
Production company: Nafta Films
Language: Estonian
Title: The Wedding Day
Original title: Līgava
Country: Latvia, Czechia
Genre: Musical film, Dramedy
Written by: Marta Elīna Martinsone
Directed by: Marta Elīna Martinsone
Produced by: Guntis Trekteris
Production company: Ego Media
Language: Latvian
Title: Morten
Original title: Morten
Country: Estonia, Lithuania
Genre: Youth film
Written by: Reeli Reinaus
Directed by: Ivan Pavljutshkov
Produced by: Anneli Ahven
Production company: Kinokompanii
Language: Estonian
Title: Office of Magical Forces
Original title: Хрещатик 48/2
Country: Ukraine
Genre: Family film, Adventure
Written by: Yurii Mykulenko
Directed by: Dmytro Avdieiev
Produced by: Oleksii Komarovskyi
Production company: Komarovski Films
Language: Ukrainian
Title: Suiza
Original title: Suiza
Country: Peru, Argentina
Genre: Drama
Written by: Maria Fernanda Gonzales
Directed by: Maria Fernanda Gonzales
Produced by: Norma Velasquez
Production company: Lucuma Salvaje
Language: Spanish
Title: Tanit
Original title: Tanit
Country: Spain
Genre: Children’s film, Drama, Family film, Supernatural, Youth film, Adaptation
Written by: Pep Garrido
Directed by: Pep Garrido
Produced by: Xesc Cabot, Xavier Crespo
Production company: Atiende Films / Dacsa Produccions
Language: Catalan
Photo: Still of Salen Las Sobas