Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event announce the jury, awards and projects that have been selected into the two works in progress showcases - the International and Baltic Event Works In Progress, which are screened to the sales agents and festival programmers onNovember the 29th and 30th respectively. The Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event will take place from November the 27th to December 1st.

International Works In Progress
Entering the third year of International Works in Progress, Industry@Tallinn introduces twelve projects from South America, United States, and Europe in the post-production stage, looking for sales agents to represent them and festivals to screen them.

Triin Tramberg, International Works In Progress Coordinator comments: ‘We are proud that many of our last year’s projects had their premieres at various festivals this year. The Lines premiered in Karlovy Vary, Easy in Locarno, and the Toronto Film Festival picked upSuleiman Mountain, Village Rockstars, and Salyut-7.

This year’s Works in Progress is dedicated to our good friend, big cinema enthusiast and professional and all in all a great person Igor Gouskov, whom we lost this autumn. His dream was to bring cinema from the former CIS countries to wider audiences. Thanks to his dedication and hard work we had many interesting projects from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, and other countries to choose from. Igor would be proud and we will make it our mission to continue doing our best to find gems from this region and keep his dream alive."

Packing Heavy by Dario Mascambroni, whose previous film January held its European premiere at Berlinale, is an Argentinian story about a young boy looking for answers regarding his father’s death. Amidst the Fog by Augusto Sandino, whose 2016 debutGentle Breath received both the Special Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Award at Tallinn Black Nights FF, follows a young man imagining a better fate far from his home in the Andes Mountains.

Moving to North America, Coming to You by Kirill Mikhanovsky is a mystical fable-like thriller inspired by Leo Tolstoy's The Three Questions. Crystal Swan, a co-production between the US, Belarus, and Germany, is the debut for Darya Zhuk, portraying a quest to an American dream derailed by a typo in a forged visa application.

Other projects from the CIS countries include Clay Pit, the latest film by Vera Glagoleva, dealing with women’s happiness and its price, 43, a drama about a woman returning home after a lengthy incarceration by Dimitri Tsintsadze, whose previous films have successfully screened in Cannes and Locarno, Spitak by Alexander Kott, whose The Test and Insighttravelled the festival circuit extensively, telling a story about love and hope in a town destroyed by an earthquake, and the debut by Olya Zueva, In the Hood. Two projects come from Kyrgyzstan - the historical musical Song of the Tree is the directorial debut of Aibek Dairbekov, while Marat Sarulu, presenting Thousand Dreams, won Best Director for his film The Move at Tallinn Black Nights FF in 2014.

The slate is rounded off by two debuts from Europe - one from director Aurelio Laino -Dancing Jellyfish, a thriller about an illegal immigrant, who helps a woman escape from an abusive partner, and As I Fall, a 2016 BE Co-Production Market project by Magnus Meyer Arnesen, exploring the unconventional relationship between a father and son under the looming threat of addiction and separation.

Clay Pit by Vera Glagoleva
Russia, Kazakhstan
Producer: Natalia Ivanova
Co-producers: Shinar Boribaeva (Kazakhstan)
Production companies: Horosho Production, LLP Alizhanfilm

Coming to You by Kirill Mikhanovsky
United States
Producer: A. Austen, K. Mikhanovsky, Drew Houpt
Production company: Give Me Liberty Productions

43 by Dimitry Tsintsadze
Georgia, Russia
Producer: Rusudan Glurjidze 
Co-producers: Nadezhda Gorshkova
Production companies: Cinetech Film Production, Viva Films

The Song of the Tree by Aibek Dairbekov
Kyrgyzstan, Russia
Producers: Tolkun Daırbekova, Andrey Epifanov, Tanya Petrik
Production companies: Central Asia Film (Kyrgyzstan), Cinetrain (Russia)

Amidst the Fog by Augusto Sandino
Colombia, Brazil
Producer: Augusto Sandino
Co-producers: Claudio Cao Quintas, Gio Park, Mario Viana Garcia
Production companies: Schweizen Media Group, Psycut, Viana Producciones

A Dancing Jellyfish by Aurelio Laino
United Kingdom, Italy
Producer: Aurelio Laino
Co-producers: Alessandro D’Alessandro, Germano Wolf
Production companies: Freeside Films (UK), 4Rooms, Decima Rosa (ITA)

As I Fall by Magnus Meyer Arnesen
Norway
Producer: Gyda Velvin Myklebust and Magnus Kristiansen
Production companies: Den Norske Filmskolen

Spitak by Alexander Kott
Armenia, Russia
Producer: Elena Glikman
Co-producers: Tereza Varzhapetyan 
Production companies: Telesto Film

Packing Heavy by Dario Mascambroni
Argentina
Producer Fernanda Rocca
Production companies Rocca Lada Fernanda Gabriela

In the Hood by Olya Zueva
Russia
Producers:  Ruben Dishdidhyanm Danila Kozlovsky
Production companies: Mars Media Entertainment, DK Entertainment

Thousand Dreams by Marat Sarulu
Kyrgyzstan
Producer: Gulmira Kerimova, Aybek Dzhangaziyev
Co-producers: Chinara Kamchibekova
Production companies: film studio Kyrgyzfilm

Crystal Swan by Darya Zhuk
Belarus, Germany, US
Producers: Birgit Goernbock, Debbie Vandermeulen, Olga Goister, Valery Dmitrotchenko
Co-producers: Andrey Isachenko
Production companies: Demarshfilm, Unfound Content, Fusion Features, Vice Films, Belarus Film

Baltic Event Works In Progress

Baltic Event Works in Progress programme, held for the 15th time in 2017, presents ten films in the advanced stages of production or post-production, providing film professionals with an overview of the most promising projects of the Baltic region and Finland.

The Head of Baltic Event, Marge Liiske, is pleased that last year's slate has gone on to premiere at major festivals - Estonia's The End of the Chain and The Man Who Looks Like Me were selected to East of the West competition in Karlovy Vary while The Manslayer / The Virgin / The Shadow will come out in competition at Black Nights FF, and Miracle by Egle Vertelyte, Lithuania, held its world premiere in Toronto. The latter, as well as FinnishLaw of the Land were picked up by sales agents at BE. The latest to be released is The Eternal Road, made in the frame of the “Finland 100” centenary celebrations.

One of the most anticipated projects of the year is the full-length family animation Captain Morten and the Spider Queen by Kaspar Jancis (Estonia, Ireland, Belgium, United Kingdom; BE Co-Production Market 2012), dubbed in Estonian, English, Gaelic and French, and voiced by Ciaran Hinds and Brendan Gleeson among others. Estonia is also represented by award-winning director Martti Helde's second feature Scandinavian Silence (Estonia, France, Belgium; BE Co-Production Market 2016), and three debut features produced within the Estonian centennial film scheme: contemporary drama Take It or Leave It by Liina Trishkina-Vanhatalo, historic family drama The Little Comrade by Moonika Siimets, and the historic mystery drama The Riddle of Jaan Niemand by Kaur Kokk.

Neighbouring Latvia brings The Mover, the story of Latvia’s Schindler by Davis Simanis, and contemporary relationship thriller Nothing Can Stop Us Now by award-winning director Andris Gauja to Baltic screens.

From Lithuania, Baltic Event is happy to welcome back 2016 Eurimages award-winnerMotherland by Tomas Vengris as well as Breathing into Marble by Giedre Beinoriute, a Co-Production Market project from 2012.

We are also thrilled to present One Last Deal by Klaus Härö (BE Co-Production Market 2015), whose latest film The Fencer (2015) was nominated for the Golden Globes and shortlisted for the Oscars.

Captain Morten and the Spider Queen by Kaspar Jancis
Estonia, Ireland, Belgium, UK
Producer: Kerdi Oengo
Co-producers: Paul Cummins, Mark Mertens, Robin Lyons
Production companies: Nukufilm, Telegael, GRID-vfx

The Little Comrade by Moonika Siimets
Estonia
Producer: Riina Sildos
Production company: Amrion

The Riddle of Jaan Niemand by Kaur Kokk
Estonia
Producer: Katrin Kissa
Production company: Homeless Bob Production

Scandinavian Silence by Martti Helde
Estonia, France, Belgium
Producer: Elina Litvinova
Co-producers: Eric Vicente, Frederic de Goldschmidt
Production companies: Three Brothers, ARP Selection, Media International

Take It or Leave It by Liina Trishkina-Vanhatalo
Estonia
Producer: Ivo Felt
Production company: Allfilm

One Last Deal by Klaus Härö
Finland
Producers: Kai Nordberg, Kaarle Aho
Production company: Making Movies Oy

The Mover by Davis Simanis
Latvia
Producer: Gints Grube, Antra Gaile
Production companies: Mistrus Media

Nothing Can Stop Us Now by Andris Gauja
Latvia
Producer: Andris Gauja
Production company: Riverbed

Breathing into Marble by Giedre Beinoriute
Lithuania, Latvia, Croatia
Producer: Dagne Vildžiunaite
Co-producers: Inese Boka-Grube, Matija Radeljak
Production companies: Just a moment, Mistrus Media, Aning Film

Motherland by Tomas Vengris
Lithuania, Latvia
Producer: Uljana Kim
Co-producer: Roberts Vinovskis
Production companies: Studio Uljana Kim, Locomotive Productions

Maryna Ajaja, Seattle IFF, USA
Olivier Barbier, Wild Bunch, France
Olivier Heitz, MK2, France
Tõnis Kiis, Warner Bros. Entertainment Group of Companies, USA
Hubert von Spreti, Kick Film GmbH, Germany

The twelfth edition of the FIPRESCI Warsaw Critics Project will last until the 22nd of October

A group of young and carefully selected critics from Central and Eastern Europe will be covering the festival and industry events, delivering film reviews and interviews for our partners – Cineuropa and FilmNewEurope. 

FIPRESCI Warsaw Critics Project involves young film critics, who will be invited to the event and work under the editorial guidance FIPRESCI members Michael Pattison, British journalist working with numerous film and trade outlets like Sight & Sound, Fandor and Vice, along with Carmen Gray – Berlin-based journalist contributing to Dazed & Confused, Screen International and The Guardian. During the festival, they will meet high-profile film professionals, take part in the deliberations of the festival’s FIPRESCI jury and will give a special YOUNG FIPRESCI PRIZE for the best debut from Central and Eastern Europe.

The group of the qualified participants is as follows:

Monika Gimbutaitė, Lithuania

Monika Gimbutaitė, born in 1993 in Lithuania, graduated from Vilnius Academy of Arts, Art Theory and History programme. For three and a half years she held the position of a programme coordinator at European Film Forum Scanorama. She is currently working as culture journalist for 15min.lt, the second biggest news website in Lithuania.

Alexander Gabelia, Georgia

Georgian film journalist and activist. He's a political refugee from Abkhazia. Alexander studied History of Cinema and Cinematography at Ilia State University. He writes about cinema and culture in various outlets including Liberali.ge, Aha.ge and on-line magazine Magnettemag. He has collaborated with Tbilisi International Film Festival and Cinedoc Tblisi.

Arman Fatić, Bosnia

Arman Fatić is a Bosnian film critic and journalist, currently based in Slovenia where he is studying Philosophy at the Faculty of Arts in Maribor. He is a writer for several websites and magazines across like Ziher.hr, Snl.ba and Pulse.rs. His main fields of interest as a film critic are society problems and philosophicaland religious symbolism. 

Jakub Wanat, Poland

Film-lover, cinema-goer, festival-fanatic. He is a LUX prize ambassador and a proud member of the Scope100 project. He has contributed to Cineuropa, naEkranie and student magazine Magiel. He was chosen as a Polish representative for the Venice Days jury at the 2017 Venice Film Festival.

Mikhail Morkin, Russia

Moscow-based film journalist. He is a chief editor and critic for Kinomania.ru. His work has appeared in The Hollywood Reporter Russia, RussoRosso and Film Sense. He also worked as programmer assistant at 2morrow Film Festival. Born in 1991, he holds a specialist’s degree in Linguistics from MSPU and is currently studying Transmedia Production.

Mina Stanikic, Serbia

Film and theatre critic based in Novi Sad, Serbia. She took up career as a cultural journalist starting in Kultur!Kokoška, slowly becoming focused on film and theatre criticism. Her articles have been published in various cultural magazines, mostly in Serbian language. Mina is alumna of 11th Talents Sarajevo. She also works at the International Short Film Festival Film Front.

Romanita Alexeev, Moldova

Romanița has started her journey in this industry by studying film production and acting at the University of Salford, United Kingdom. Later on, she returned to Moldova where she is directing an online TV series about Moldovan film industry.

23rd Vilnius International Film Festival “Kino pavasaris” is inviting Lithuanian and Lithuanian diaspora filmmakers around the world to submit their fiction, documentary, animation and experimental short and feature length films.

 All you need is to:

• register your film using the following link: https://vp.eventival.eu/viff/2018
• read Terms & Condition
• fill out the online submission form
• mail us the online screener to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

You may submit your film till December 1st, 2017. By the 1st of February, 2018, filmmakers of selected films will be notified personally. Due to the high number of applications the festival's programme committee keeps the right to notify only the selected works.

COMPETITIONS EUROPEAN

DEBUT COMPETITION for films from Europe Countries (1st feature film).

 Awards presented by an international jury:

• Grand Prix, Sunny statue and 5,000 Euro shared equally by the director and the producer of the winning film;
• Sunny statue for the Best Director and 1000 Euro;
• Sunny statue for the Best Actress and 1000 Euro;
• Sunny statue for the Best Actor and 1000 Euro.
• Special independent prize for the Best Film selected by CICAE members Jury (Art Cinema Award).

SHORT COMPETITION for short films from Eastern and Central Europe Countries.

 Award presented by an international jury: Best Short Film Award, Sunny statue and 3,000 Eur for the director of the winning film.

STUDENT FILM COMPETITION for short films created by Lithuanian students studying cinema in Lithuania or Abroad.

 Award selected by a national jury: Best Student Film Award, 1,000 EUR for the director of the winning film.

 23rd VIFF Kino pavasaris will be held in March 15th – 29th, 2018! 

 If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at:

 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 00370 680 36577

It's a great pleasure to announce the 6 selected projects for the 2018 edition of MIDPOINT TV Launch, the international idea-to-market program for emerging TV series creators.

The selected projects and its 15 participants will go through a 9 month development program, which takes their original TV series ideas through an intensive script writing process, and on to meet the international market and decision makers.

First workshop takes place already this coming November in the intimate setting of Banska Stiavnica in Slovakia. Second workshop is held during the film festival Finale Plzen in Czech Republic in April '18, and the final workshop takes the participants to the vibrant film market CineLink during Sarajevo Film Festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

The 6 projects come from Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece and Serbia, and they are:

Dropping the Ball – writer Maria Hatzakou, director Alkin Papastathopoulos, producer Amanda Livanou (Greece)

Promotion – writers Eva Pjajcikova & Malgorzata Biedronska (Czech Republic)

THE EVIL GOOD – writerproducer Arne Kohlweyer, writer/producer Eike Goreczka (Germany)

The Mind of Primitive Man – writers Christian Falvey & Ondrej Gabriel, writer/producer Andrea Culkova (Czech Republic)

Transit – writer Domien Huyghe, producer Melissa Dhondt (Belgium)

TURBO – writers Milica Zivanovic & Boris Grgurovic, writer/producer Matthias Nerlich (Serbia)

Tutors

This year, TV Launch's Head of Studies Alan Kingsberg is joined by two new Core Tutors, Gabor Krigler and Maggie Murphy, as well as Guest Tutors Giacomo Durzi, Ben Harris and Steve Matthews for Workshop 1 in November.

Awards

In the end of the 9 month workshop program, the TV Launch awards are handed out. The HBO Europe Award goes to the best project, and the C21 Media Award is handed out to one participating producer. 

Read more about the program here, and follow our updates on the participating projects on our website, Facebook and Twitter.

MIDPOINT TV Launch is supported by Creative Europe – MEDIA Programme of the European Union, Ministry of Culture Czech Republic, Czech Film Fund, Slovak Audiovisual Fund, International Visegrad Fund, and presented in collaboration with HBO Europe, Finale Plzen, Sarajevo Film Festival – CineLink Industry Days, CHARACTER – Film Development Association, Serial Eyes, C21 Media, Barrandov Studio & AMU.

MIDPOINT Intensive SK

We are also very pleased to announced the project selection for this year's intensive workshop which takes place in Slovakia this November. 

The 3 projects are:

The Owners' Assocation – writer Jiri Havelka & producer Marek Jenicek

Villa Lucia – writer/director/producer Michal Kollar & writer Lukas Sigmund

White Horse – writer Jakub Medvecky & producer Andrej Kolencik

The program is realized in collaboration with CHARACTER – Film Development Association, Slovak Audiovisual Fund and Czech Film Fund.

Digitally restored classic Bloody Lady at Lumière Festival

The re-release of Viktor Kubal’s Bloody Lady (1980), that was digitized and restored by the National Film Archive of the Slovak Film Institute, will take place at the 9th Lumière Festival. The film will be screened within the section Archival treasures and curiosities, that offers unique restored archive films from all over the world.

Animated film Bloody Lady tells a story of crime and love, inspired by the historical legend of Elizabeth Báthory, the bloody countess of Čachtice. The eternal conflict between good and evil is captured against the backdrop of a romantic love story with comic and tragic elements.

"The Bloody Lady is an example of screen writing mastery and precise dramaturgic composition despite the reduced imagery and limited animation the director Viktor Kubal has the skill to pace suspense and play the audiences emotional strings. Well observed elements of melodrama together with Kubal´s natural affinity for parody turned this film into an original synthesis of the two genres. Inevitably a comparison comes to mind with another master of horror (and it´s parody) Alfred Hitchcock.“ Rudolf Urc

Read more here: _link_

Slovak nomination for the Oscar bid is The Line

The Line by Peter Bebjak continues the successful path that started at Karlovy Vary IFF 2017 where it received the Best Director Award. Since then, it has broken box office records in domestic cinemas and now is trotting the festival circuit.

The Line narrates a story of Adam Krajňák, the head of the family and also boss of a gang of criminals smuggling cigarettes across the Slovak-Ukrainian border. The failure of one of the transports triggers an avalanche of consequences that compels him to question his own boundaries, none of which he had planned on crossing. Until now.

The Line also participates in the European Film Promotion projectScreenings of Oscar® Submitted Films during the American Film Market.

Read more here: _link_

Co-production support - Strasbourg, 25.10.2017 - At its 148th meeting held from 16 to 20 October 2017 in Skopje, the Board of Management of the Council of Europe's Eurimages Fund agreed to support 22 fiction, 7 documentaries and 1 animation film projects for a total amount of €5,598,535.