Until Friday (November 21), Tallinn will host Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, the largest conference program for audiovisual professionals in Northern Europe and the Baltic States, as part of the Black Nights Film Festival.
The event program includes approximately 200 lectures, workshops, masterclasses, and market meetings, bringing together creators of films and drama series and professionals from around the world.
According to program director Marge Liiske, this year's Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event will address the most pressing issues in the audiovisual industry: "What are the new directions in series-based storytelling? How can film and series projects be financed in a situation where costs are rising and public support is declining? What role does private capital play in shaping creative freedom? And how can sustainability be made a natural part of every stage of production?"
Nearly 200 sessions—including approximately 70 public panels and workshops—will offer knowledge, inspiration, and practical tools for developing a sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking film industry.
Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event has always focused on new knowledge and mentoring. This year's program will feature several renowned filmmakers, and over the course of eight days, there will be numerous presentations, discussions, and case studies. Among others, the creators of the Oscar-winning film Flow will share their experiences.
The panel "Breaking the Buzz" analyzes how international film industry publications influence the visibility and credibility of films in an oversaturated festival landscape. Sessions dedicated to artificial intelligence focus on practical tools that are already changing production processes and future opportunities.
As part of the Black Nights Discovery Campus training program, costume designer Debra McGuire from the hit series Friends, highly acclaimed Hollywood hairstylist Nina Paskowitz, Thomas Foldberg, director Jessica Hausner, top cinematographer John-Christian Rosenlund, award-winning composers Miriam Cutler, Atli Örvarsson, and others will share their experiences.
In addition to organizing masterclasses and lectures, Discovery Campus will introduce 40 young film professionals and talents to the international filmmaking community, including Kristiin Räägel, an actress of the Tallinn City Theater (Linnateater), and Ursel Tilk, who has appeared in several films. They will participate in Black Nights Stars; a program focused on the international careers of young actors.
This year, however, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event's drama series platform TV Beats is expanding with two new sections: Serial Bridges Baltics (in collaboration with Series Mania) and TV Beats Coming Soon from the Baltics.
In total, TV Beats will present 31 drama series projects in various stages of development, accompanied by discussions, meetings, and experience stories.
For the third time, Just Film Industry Days will focus on the production and distribution of films for children and young people, the role of film journalism, and the importance of film education. A selection of film projects for children and young people will be presented at both the Baltic Event co-production market and the Just Film Works in Progress program.
For the first time, Tehnopol's film and multimedia accelerator will participate in the event, introducing four innovative teams: their solutions support the automation of production work processes, bringing together artists and rights holders, increasing financial awareness, and improving international teamwork.
Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event is renowned for its valuable networking opportunities. The program includes 79 film and series projects seeking co-producers, distributors, and other partners, with hundreds of one-on-one meetings taking place throughout the week.
Among the film projects are Estonian projects such as Eeva Mägi's Mo Hunt, Jaak Kilmi's Johnny, Ivan Pavljutškov's Morten, Evar Anvelt's Midagi tõelist (Something Real), and Teresa Väli's Valge laev (The White Ship). Estonian series screened during Screening Day include Ove Musting's Pimeduses (In the Dark), while Ove Musting and Hendrik Toompere Jr.'s Rahamaa (Land of Money) will participate in the series co-financing market.
Like PÖFF, this year’s Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event will also focus on the Catalan film industry. The program will introduce seven film projects from the region, host meetings with producers and film professionals, and open up opportunities for cooperation and funding in the region's audiovisual sector.
Attention will also be paid to the Austrian film industry: funding measures will be presented and a masterclass will be held by acclaimed director Jessica Hausner.
Since 2022, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine and will continue to do so this year. Six Ukrainian projects will be represented at the co-production market, in the Works in Progress program, and at market screenings.
The Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event program includes a number of public lectures that are open to anyone interested in attending. A day pass is required to participate.
See more HERE
View the program HERE