Works in Progress, which presents films in production or post-production looking for sales agents or festivals for international premieres, presents 17 projects in three categories: Baltic Event Works in Progress, International Works in Progress and Just Film Works in Progress. The selected projects include first features by Student Academy Award winners and a European Film Award winner and new titles by established directors.  All projects will be screened during Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event on 21-22 November in the cinemas of the Coca-Cola Plaza. Marge Liiske, head of Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event, described this year’s selection as very strong, exciting, and diverse, with a record number of submissions making the selection process more competitive than ever. 'We have slightly fewer projects from the Baltics this year, as many international co-productions faced delays due to longer financing periods, but we hope to see those catching up next year,' she noted. Across all categories, we decided to select fewer projects this year, allowing us to give each one double the presentation time compared to previous years. This change ensures that sales agents and festival programmers gain a deeper understanding of each film’s visual style and tone.” International Works in Progress The International Works in Progress selection features seven film projects, including four debuts. Among them is the Greek social drama Late Shift by Stefanos Tsivopoulos, a Greek film director, screenwriter, and video artist with over 30 short and medium-length films made across various countries. Wolves, a Swiss social drama, marks the first feature by Jonas Ulrich, whose short film People on Saturday (2020) won the Golden Leopard at the 73rd Locarno Film Festival and was shortlisted for the European Film Award 2020. The German thriller, reflecting on the festival’s Focus Country,  Interior is the debut feature from Pascal Schuh, whose bachelor’s film Auf Platte was a finalist at the 2022 Student Academy Awards. Rounding out the slate of debuts is Aquarium by Tornike Bziava, an actor-director-writer from this year’s spotlight country, Georgia, known for his award-winning short films. The showcase also presents the German road movie Balance by Björn Schürmann, which tells a very heartfelt story of an estranged father and daughter who take an unexpected journey together. The Panama-Spain-Uruguay co-production Papers, directed by award-winning Arturo Montenegro, takes audiences to the heart of the Panama Papers scandal that shook the world.   Baltic Event Works in Progress This year's Baltic Event Works in Progress showcase presents four powerful social dramas that touch on the common theme of societal expectations and reveal the paradoxical reality of our times - are we allowed to live freely, regardless of age, time and place?  Our Erika, a co-production of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, is the first feature film by German Golub, winner of the Student Academy Award in the International Short Film category for My Dear Corpses. The story is inspired by the life of young Estonian track cyclist Erika Salumäe, who became a 1988 Olympic gold medallist and "light of the nation".  Another co-production, Call me Calendar (Latvia, Lithuania), is a tragicomedy based on the bestselling Latvian debut novel. The film is directed by acclaimed director Juris Poškus and produced by Madara Melberga, whose interest lies in stories balancing on the edge and her favourite theme - the dilemma.  The programme also includes two titles from Lithuania. The drama Sand in Your Hair explores whether love can overcome loneliness and resist social taboos, following the love story of the elderly couple Malvina and Kipras. The film is the second feature by director Mantas Verbiejus, whose first, the romantic comedy Divorce, was well received by audiences in Lithuania. Renovation, a debut feature by Lithuanian writer-director-editor Gabrielė Urbonaitė, was part of the EKRAN+ and Mediterranean Film Institute's Script 2 Film training programme. The story explores themes of identity, questioning social expectations and the pressure to conform to traditional roles through the eyes of 29-year-old Ilona. The film is produced by Uljana Kim, whose productions have premiered at major international film festivals and enjoyed domestic box office success. Just Film Works in Progress Just Film Works in Progress presents six children and youth films that tell stories about people in different places and times – two of them are created for children. Little Elephant in the Woods is a Dutch-Belgian co-production directed by Belgian-Dutch filmmaker Meikeminne Clinckspoor, known for her Emmy-nominated toddler series Doopie (2020) and dedicated to making cinema for the young. In 2024, the European Children’s Film Association published her manifesto on why the youngest audience is the most important. Another children’s film, the hilarious Finnish family comedy Ella and Friends: Nature Calls is the debut feature from Elin Grönblom, who has written and directed several children's and youth TV series.  Award-winning filmmaker Luis Campos comes to Tallinn with his debut feature Dirty Land, which follows a 12-year-old boy, Joao, who lives with his troubled father and caring female neighbours. An adventurous youth film, Secret Delivery, is based on a true story of great heroism by little heroes. The film is directed by Slovak director Ján Sebechlebský, who has made more than a dozen documentaries and series. South America is represented by the Argentinian-Uruguayan co-production Emi, directed by Ezequiel Erriquez Mena, which tells the story of 18-year-old Emi, who lives with his adoptive parents but wants to know more about his biological family. The selection concludes with another South American title, The River, a debut feature by Cristóbal García about five adolescents who lose their shack to rising waters during a winter in Santiago, prompting them to embark on an adventure along the Mapocho River to see the ocean. Jurys and Awards The jury of Baltic Event and international Works in Progress includes Casey Baron, US Programming Lead of Tribeca Film Festival, Julie Marnay, Program Manager at First Cut Lab and head of European Short Pitch in 2019 and  Alexis Cassanet, EVP International Sales & Distribution at Gaumont Film Company. 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 1000 euros travel allowance. The jury of Just Film Works in Progress includes Janne Vierth, Commissioner of feature films, short films, and documentaries for children and youth at the Swedish Film Institute, Film and TV Scriptwriter, Teresa Lima, Co-founder, programmer, and director of PLAY - International Film Festival for Children and Youth and Eva-Maria Schneider-Reuter, Media Educator and Artistic Director of the Sehpferdchen Film Festival for the generations. The best project of Just Film Works in Progress will receive 1000 euro monetary prize to help the film gain visibility by covering promotion and publicity costs.  International Works in Progress 1. Title: Aquarium Original title: Akvariumi Countries: Georgia Genre: Drama, Thriller, Mystic Written by: Tornike Bziava Directed by: Tornike Bziava Produced by: Tornike Bziava, Elia Pharsadan, Nino Shengelaya Production company: Reactormonkey Films, Buni Productions, 29plus7pictures, Shengelaya Productions Arebato Films   2. Title: Balance Original title: Balance  Country: Germany  Genre: road movie, drama Directed by: Björn Schürmann Produced by: Björn Schürmann Production company: projekt:::film Languages: German, Dutch, English 3. Title: Face to Face Original title: A la cara Country: Spain, Belgium  Genre: drama Directed by: Javier Marco Produced by: Odile Antonio-Baez Written by: Javier Marco, Belén Sánchez-Arévalo Production company: Pecado Films Languages: Spanish 4. Title: Interior Original title: Interior  Country: German Genre: thriller, psychological drama Written by: Timo Ackermann, Pascal Schuh Directed by: Pascal Schuh  Produced by: Timo Ackermann, Katrin Haase, Oliver Arnold Production company: U5 Filmproduktion GmbH & Co. KG, Film University Babelsberg, KONRAD WOLF Language: German 5. Title: Late Shift Original title: Late Shift Country: Greece Genre: social drama Written by: Nikos Smpiliris Directed by: Stefanos Tsivopoulos  Produced by: Nikos Smpiliris Production company: Boo Productions Languages: Greek, Romanian 6. Title: Papers  Original title: Papeles  Countries: Panama, Spain, Uruguay Genre: crime film, drama, thriller Written by: Arturo Montenegro Directed by: Arturo Montenegro Produced by: Andry José Barrientos Production company: Andry José Barrientos Language: Spanish, English, Turkish 7. Title: Wolves Original title: Wolves  Country: Switzerland Genre: drama, social drama Directed by: Jonas Ulrich Produced by: Nicole Ulrich Production company: Dynamic Frame GmbH Language: English, Swiss, German Baltic Event Works in Progress    1. Title: Call Me Calendar Original title: Kalendārs mani sauc Countries: Latvia, Lithuania Genre: adaptation, tragicomedy Directed by: Juris Poškus Produced by: Madara Melberga Production company: Aigars Sermukss Language: Latvian 2. Title: Our Erika Original title: Meie Erika Countries: Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia Genre: biographical, drama Directed by: German Golub Produced by: Marju Lepp Production company: Filmivabrik Language: Estonian, Russian 3. Title: Renovation Original title: Renovacija Countries: Renovacija Genre: Lithuania Directed by: Gabrielė Urbonaitė Produced by: Uljana Kim Production company: Studio Uljana Kim Language: Lithuanian, Ukrainian, English 4. Title: Sand in Your Hair Original title: Smėlis tavo plaukuose Country: Lithuania Genre: drama Directed by: Mantas Verbiejus Produced by: Živilė Gallego Production companies: Creative Europe MEDIA, Lithuanian Film Centre, Fralita Films Language: Lithuanian Just Film Works in Progress 1. Title: Dirty Land Original title: Terra Vil Countries: Portugal, Italy Genre: drama Written by: Luis Campos Directed by: Luis Campos Produced by: Luis Campos Production companies: Matiné, dispàrte Language: Portuguese 2. Title: Emi Original title: Emi Countries: Argentina, Uruguay Genre: drama, youth film Directed by: Ezequiel Erriquez Mena Produced by: Laura Mara Tablón Production companies: Rita Cine, El Cielo Cine Language: Spanish 3. Title: Ella and Friends: Nature Calls Original title: Ella ja kaverit menevät metsään Country: Finland Genre: children's film, comedy Written by: Katri Manninen Directed by: Elin Grönblom Produced by: Aleksi Hyvärinen Production company: Don Films Language: Finnish 4. Title: Little Elephant in the Woods Original title: Olifantje in het Bos Countries: The Netherlands, Belgium Genre: live-action children’s film Written by: Tijs van Marle, Meikeminne Clinckspoor Directed by: Meikeminne Clinckspoor Produced by: Gijs Kerbosch, Guusje van Deuren, Ingmar Conjarts Production company: 100% Language: Dutch or English 5. Title: The River Original title: El Eio  Countries: Chile, Argentina Genre: drama, road movie Written by: Cristóbal García Directed by: Francisco Bisañez Produced by: Cristóbal García Production company: Vórtice Films Language: Spanish 6. Title: Secret Delivery Original title: Ticha Posta Countries: Czechia, Slovakia Genre: family film, adventure, historical film Written by: Jiří Stránský Directed by: Ján Sebechlebský Produced by: Julietta Sichel Production company: 8Heads Productions Languages: Czech, German

Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, taking place on 15-22 November, is a week-long summit for film and audiovisual industry professionals held during the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. In 2024, the summit will provide a whole line of events covering the most sizzling questions in the sector.

INFORMATION For additional information please contact: Egle Loor Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event communications coordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +372 56 906 376 More information about talents, projects and programme on Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event webpage.

 

Music Meets Film, part of Discovery Campus, the international education programme at Industy@Tallinn &; Baltic Event, welcomes eight emerging film music composers and producers from around the world to its programme.  Music Meets Film has been running for over a decade, bringing together film music professionals worldwide. Since its upgrade last year, the programme has focused on young film composers - the next generation of film music talent. A total of 28 talents applied for this year's edition.  The eight selected talents for Music Meets Film 2024 edition include a French film composer Agathe Lavarel, who recently received Honorable Mention at the European Talent Awards at Soundtrack Cologne, a French multi-instrumentalist musician and a composer Célyne Baudino, an experienced Finnish media composer Mikko Aaltio, German-Czech film composer, arranger and musician Natalie Schäfer, composer, Brooks Leibee from USA and music producer and composer Kristjan Ruus together with composers Villem Rootalu and Lauri Kadalipp from Estonia.   The four-day programme, which takes place from 19 to 22 November, includes lectures and masterclasses by award-winning professionals and industry-leading companies and partners. These workshops offer practical tools and guidance for the participants’ careers and help them navigate the industry in the filmmaking process. There will also be various networking opportunities.  One of the main themes of this year's programme is co-production and collaboration through music. The panel discussion closely examines two award-winning films Driving Mum and Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, successful co-production projects between Estonia and Iceland. The discussion shedding light to these projects welcomes Driving Mum team including Hilmar Oddsson (director), Tõnu Kõrvits (composer), Matis Rei (sound designer) and Hendrik Mägar (editor), and Anna Hints (director) as well as Eðvarð Egilsson (composer) from Smoke Sauna Sisterhood. The programme includes a creative competition workshop as practical skills are an important part of Music Meets Film. This time the participants will work with the music supervisor Kathleen Wallfisch, whose latest works include Gladiator 2 which will be released in 2024, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves (2023), Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) etc. The workshop will take place at Selektor Studio in Tallinn, where the participants create a piece of score according to a sample brief. During this workshop, participants will experience what it's like to work with a music supervisor, and how to read and create for a brief in a fixed timeframe. The winner of the workshop will receive a recording session for the next day with selected musicians. The programme also contains a workshop "Navigating the Industry", created by Tier Music Publishing and Orchestral Tools. Thea Zaitsev and Sandra Perens (Tier Music Publishing) with Graham Ball (Orchestral Tools) create a navigation map of suggested networks for the participants for them to find their next partners and projects. In this workshop the document will be introduced as well as practical exercises will be done on topics such as how to pitch yourself and your music. In addition, there is a one-on-one discussion "Dialogue on Contracts: Before and After Signing" between film composer Liina Sumera and attorney and partner at TGS Baltic Priit Lätt, attorney at law, covering the tender topics of rights, negotiations and contracts, which are essential for everyone in the film industry.  Check the full list of events here

Music Meets Film 2024 participants: Agathe Lavarel, a film composer, flutist and singer who combines orchestral writing with vocal and electronic textures. Her work has been featured in short films, video games and virtual reality exhibitions. In 2024, she won an honourable mention at the European Talent Awards at Soundtrack Cologne for her collaboration with sound designer Nicolas vön Moreau. In 2023, she won the French New Wave Award for "Exploration". In 2022, she received the 1st ALLIA Award for Inspiring Female Artists in Canada. Brooks Leibee born in South Carolina, USA,  found an early love for film and the music within the screen. He went on to pursue his interests in film, creating projects behind the camera and score. He performed in grade school orchestras for eight years before competing in All-County and All-State Orchestras. In undergrad, he began writing soundtracks for he and his friends' short films. Science then he has built his professional portfolio as a composer for film and media. Célyne Baudino is a French multi-instrumentalist musician and composer who has written music for film, live entertainment, orchestral scores and radio. Her artistry has already enriched several short and animated films, as well as a first feature-length documentary. One of these, Kill the Horse, recently won the Best Animation Short Film Award at the 2024 Shanghai International Film Festival. Her musical works combine vocal, acoustic and electronic textures to create a rich and powerful universe. Kristjan Ruus, Estonian music producer, composer, writer, artist and lifelong cinema fan. He has been making music for himself for years. Recently he has worked with or participated in writing camps for Universal Music Group, Roc Nation, Atlantic Records, Epic Records, The Hello Group, Loudkult, Soave Records, Nova Wav. He has also done some work in sync, working with Nissan, TBWA, NFL, placing music on ESPN+. Lauri Kadalipp, Estonian composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, is the founder and current artistic director of the New Wind Jazz Orchestra. He has arranged music for Estonian pop artists, such as Anett, NOËP, Angus, Gameboy Tetris, Smilers and many more. His first bigger film music work for Vanamehe film (2019) received a nomination for the best film composer award in 2020 at EFTA (Estonian Film and TV Awards).  Mikko Aaltio, former multi-instrumentalist for Finnish rock band Tiisu, Mikko Aaltio has become a media composer. His scores include YLE's drama series No Shame. His music can also be heard in the indie video games Birds Organised Neatly, Feed All Monsters and Dealer's Life Legend. As an arranger and orchestrator, Mikko has worked on many high-profile projects such as Netflix's Finding 'ohana, the Finnish F2P mega-hit mobile video games Clash of Clans and Merge Mansion, and BossLady, the musical for Jyväskylä City Theatre. Natalie Schäfer is a German-Czech film composer, arranger, musician and teacher. She is currently studying composition for film and media with Nicklas Schmidt and Daniel Fjellström at the Malmö Academy of Music (Lunds Universitet). From September 2024 to June 2026 she will complete her concert exam in classical composition with Prof. Bent Sørensen at the Malmö Academy of Music. Her compositions are inspired by composers such as Karin Rehnqvist and John Williams. Villem Roosalu studied jazz bass guitar at Otsakool and TÜVKA. He has been playing the bass for 18 years and has been a performing musician for about 15 years. During his studies he learned about sound engineering and started doing a lot of studio work, which led to working on theatre shows. Soon he was asked to compose for a show himself. For the last 8 years he has been composing for theatre shows, but has also worked on sound design and music for games and short films.

Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, taking place on 15-22 November, is a week-long summit for film and audiovisual industry professionals held during the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. In 2024, the summit will provide a whole line of events covering the most sizzling questions in the sector.

Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, the business summit for film and audiovisual professionals, together with PÖFF Shorts, an Academy Award, BAFTA and EFA-qualifying short film festival, are launching Shorts Industry Shortcut, a guiding platform for emerging filmmakers. 

The two-day event, which takes place during the Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn, aims to support the careers of a new generation of filmmakers in the short film industry, while at the same time taking a closer look at current trends in (short) film and strengthening ties between the Baltic and international short film communities. The event will be filled with masterclasses, inspiring panel discussions with industry leaders and networking opportunities. 

Tara Karajica, head of Shorts Industry Shortcut, described the inaugural programme as the epitome of a film industry shortcut: "The PÖFF Shorts Competition programmes have always been strong, so it was high time the festival got its industry arm to guide emerging filmmakers and give them a nudge in the right direction. Whether you're just starting out in the film industry with your first short film or you've already moved on to feature films, the Shorts Industry Shortcut will provide you with the necessary tools, people and pointers to navigate the (short) film circuit in the easiest and coolest way possible. The Shorts Industry Shortcut is the perfect stepping stone not only for the festival circuit in general, but also for PÖFF and Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event. I hope everyone comes away with something useful, a handful of business cards and wonderful memories!"

Shorts Industry Shortcut's busy programme starts with a masterclass by Croatian filmmaker and artist Martina Meštrović, who will explore her extensive work in sculpture and animation, organised in collaboration with EKA. The "In Conversation" session will feature Anna Hints and Tonia Mishiali, two of today's most acclaimed directors, who will discuss their respective careers as women in today's film industry and moving between formats. The programme also includes the panel discussion "Short Films, a Click Away" with Sari Volanen from Yle, Amos Geva from T-Port and Alexandra Gramatke from the Hamburg Short Film Agency, focusing on the exhibition of short films in cinemas, on television and on streaming platforms. The presentation "Festival Ecosystem 101" will demystify the short film circuit in the presence of five movers and shakers from the short film industry, 

The Shorts Industry Shortcut programme also includes a speed-dating session between short film professionals and filmmakers. During the "Would You Buy This?" session, selected short film directors will be invited to screen the first three minutes of their films (already in competition at PÖFF Shorts) and receive live feedback from short film distributors and sales agents who will assess their market potential. This event simulates a realistic situation in the film industry and demonstrates how professionals evaluate films submitted to them.

In addition, Shorts Industry Shortcut joins forces with Go Long! to offer a lecture by script consultant Anna Ciennik, who will discuss important aspects of script development. 

Finally, the success stories of the Baltic short film industry will be highlighted - Rimantė Daugėlaitė (Lithuanian Shorts), Diāna Trope (Latvian Short Film Agency), Laima Graždanoviča (2ANNAS Short Film Festival) and Mirjam Mikk (Estonian Film Institute) will discuss some of the most successful Baltic short films of recent years, examine how the Baltic states have positioned themselves globally and explore the future of new Baltic talent.

The Shorts Industry Shortcut panel discussions and masterclasses will take place from 14 to 16 November. Check out the programme here. The events are open to everyone with a PÖFF badge, an Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event accreditation or a day ticket. 

 TV Beats Forum, the drama series strand of Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event, will launch the Honorary TV Beats Producer Award, which will be presented in 2024 to Ukrainian independent producer Kateryna Vyshnevska.  

“This award is meant to spotlight a prominent and inspiring figure from our region, covering the Nordics, Baltics and Central Eastern Europe, who has made a significant impact in the field of TV Drama production. Kateryna Vyshnevska’s role in building and growing the internationalisation of Ukraine’s Film.UA has been remarkable, culminating in executive producing the show Those Who Stayed, a contemporary landmark series co-produced and financed with several European countries,” Petri Kemppinen and Roosa Toivonen, Co-Heads of TV Beats Forum say.

Kateryna Vyshnevska is an independent producer and consultant specialising in international co-productions. She recently served as Head of Development and Co-productions at FILM.UA (Ukraine). Her credits alongside the award-winning TV series Those Who Stayed (co-produced with SVT, YLE and NRK) include Moloch (Czechia/Slovakia/Ukraine for Canal+), now in post production, Citizens at War (UK/Ukraine/Australia) and Koza Nostra (Ukraine/Italy). 

"I am deeply honoured to receive the first-ever Honorary Award from TV Beats. This recognition holds special significance for me. It highlights the growing impact of global TV drama production in our region and acknowledges what has truly been my life’s mission: getting the remarkable creators from Ukraine, the Baltics and CEE to work together more, to push the boundaries of CEE storytelling, and put our region on the global map. I am hugely thankful to the team at TV Beats and Black Nights FF, who once again prove that they have cold nights, but warm hearts, and look forward to celebrating this milestone together with them in Tallinn," Kateryna Vyshnevska says.

The award will be presented at the opening of the TV Beats Forum on 18 November, followed by a fireside chat between Kateryna Vyshnevska and Marike Muselaers. The discussion will cover successes and challenges, the do's and don'ts of co-production and understanding the market.  

After the talk, the two-day conference TV Beats Forum will continue with its programme that addresses several burning issues in the drama series industry such as challenges in financing, audience engagement and takes a closer look at the case studies of many series to be screened during the TV Beats Screening Day. 

To tackle one of the biggest challenges in drama series production — securing necessary financing — industry experts including Patrick Fisher (Creativity Capital), Meg Thomson (Global Gate), and Sebastien Janin (Media Musketeers) will join the panel discussion, “State of Play in Series Financing” that focuses on funding options and emerging models. “They will look for answers to the questions like how to pivot agilely, nurture creativity and serve the needs of audiences and commissioners, and how to maintain sanity as you seize opportunities and ride out the ups and downs of the market," says Toivonen.

The programme also includes some future-oriented sessions. One of those, "Future Is Here - AI You Can Use (& Abuse?)", allows us to witness a face-off between AI and professional scriptwriter, real-life TV executive Steve Matthews to find out which one can create a better series pitch? Another forward-looking session, "The Future Is Here: Practical Tools" will present the new equality tool for audiovisual productions and the European VR Writers' Room programme. 

One of the highlights of the programme is a panel discussion "Writing for Diverse Platforms: Engaging Audiences In a World of Endless Choices” by the European Writers Club will focus on bridging generations and its importance in today's storytelling emphasising why it’s more crucial than ever to create shared stories between generations and across formats. Two industry experts from different storytelling worlds – acclaimed Norwegian director Per-Olav Sørensen (Nobel, Quicksand, The Playlist), and Jim Ashilevi, an Estonian actor and game writer known for Disco Elysium share their unique perspectives. They will explore how their different experiences in television, film, and gaming converge to create powerful stories, providing practical lessons for creators navigating diverse storytelling platforms. 

Reflecting the festival's focus on Germany, the TV Beats Forum programme includes two presentations. The first will focus on the Apple TV+ series Constellation, exploring the highs and lows of making the psychological sci-fi thriller. The second country-specific event is a panel discussion led by Johanna Nunnu Karppinen on Germany's identity as a hub for series development and production.

The TV Beats Forum also includes two masterclasses. Five pre-registered writers will be invited to participate in Words Across Europe's 1,5 hour hands-on VR writers' room session, with VR headsets for the experience. “Working in VR Writers' Room” masterclass will be led by Joachim Friedman, an experienced screenwriter and serial storytelling expert. In the masterclass "The Art of Developing Compelling Stories for a Broad International Audience", acclaimed director, writer and producer Per-Olav Sørensen will share his expert storytelling process, honed over years of experience creating several hit series. 

Check out the full programme here

TV Beats Forum takes place on November 18th & 19th in Tallinn in Nordic Hotel Forum and also online, as part of Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event, North Europe’s busiest platform for audiovisual professionals, where professionals from the Baltics, Central Eastern Europe and the Nordic converge to collaborate. On 18 November, TV Beats Co-Production Market will showcase exciting new drama series projects with international sales and distribution potential. The first ever TV Beats Screening Days, occurring on 19 & 20 November will showcase five fresh drama series to sales agents, distributors and local TV and film industry professionals.

 

The second edition of Frame Within a Frame, a tailor-made programme for talented cinematographers, welcomes eight young professionals across the world in Tallinn in November. During the four days, attendees can learn from acknowledged cinematographers Roberto Schaefer and Ville Penttilä and show their works to industry professionals.  The talented cinematographers joining the Frame Within a Frame 2024 are Ariel Navarro (Cuba), Ema Diehelová (Slovakkia), Karla Budišćak (Croatia), Kārlis Bergs (Latvia,) Laura Köhler (Germany), Paul Sonntag (Germany), Rishi Selvam,( Sri Lanka) and Tomas Lipsky (Czech).  The exhaustive programme from 19 to 22 November includes masterclasses and workshops for the selected talents, film screenings followed by case studies, and panel discussions open to everyone. In the closed masterclass "Cinematographic Mastery: Elevating Visuals with Limited Resources, from The Paperboy to The Red Sea Diving Resort" acclaimed cinematographer Roberto Schaefer (ASC, AIC), will explore strategies for maintaining high artistic standards in cinematographic visuals despite budget limitations. At the masterclass "Lighting the Vision: The Gaffer's Art in Shaping Cinematic Imagery," Ville Penttilä (FSC, ICLS) will present a case study exploring his work as a gaffer and his collaboration with various cinematographers.  Frame Within the Frame Talent Screenings section showcases the works of the talents attending in this year’s edition. Through a selection of short films, music videos, and scenes from feature films, these artists will present their cinematographic vision to industry professionals, fostering future collaboration. At the presentation and demo: "From Tungsten to SkyPanel X: ARRI’s Century of Lighting Innovation" the technical partner of Frame Within the Frame, ARRI celebrating 100 years of ARRI Lights this year will present their latest lighting technology to the eight talents of FWF and industry technicians. The public events in the programme feature two outstanding film screenings. The first is The Kite Runner, a globally acclaimed film highlighting the expertise of cinematographer Roberto Schaefer ASC, AIC. After the screening, Schaefer will lead an in-depth case study on the film’s cinematography, with the session moderated by Elen Lotman ESC, President of the Estonian Society of Cinematographers. The second master screening focuses on The Eternal Road, a celebrated Finnish cinematic work. Following the screening, cinematographer Rauno Ronkainen FSC and gaffer Ville Penttilä FSC, ICLS, will conduct a detailed case study and discussion on their distinctive collaboration, which earned them the Finnish Society of Cinematographers' award. In collaboration with the Black Room program, Frame Within a Frame will host the session “Crafting Visual Texture: The Art of Bringing Depth and Detail to the Screen”. This session brings together cinematographers and production designers to explore the techniques, materials, and digital effects that help create immersive, textured visuals. Check out the full programme here  The open events of the programme are accessible with an accreditation or a day ticket. Read more here Frame Within a Frame, is a part of the Discovery Campus educational programme, taking place within Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event and the Black Nights Film Festival. Frame Within a Frame is developed closely with ARRI, the Estonian Society of Cinematographers (ECS) and the Baltic Film, Media and Art School of Tallinn University (BFM).

Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, taking place on 15-22 November, is a week-long summit for film and audiovisual industry professionals held during the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. In 2024, the summit will provide a whole line of events covering the most sizzling questions in the sector.

INFORMATION For additional information please contact: Egle Loor Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event communications coordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +372 56 906 376 More information about talents, projects and programme on Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event webpage.

The 34th FilmFestival Cottbus offers exceptional cinema from Central and Eastern Europe in three exciting competitions from November 5-10.

In the feature film competition, twelve titles from 19 (co-)production countries will compete for the prestigious Lubina prizes, including the main prize for the best film (EUR 15,000, donated by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg), the special prize for the best director (EUR 7,500, donated by Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg rbb) and the prize for an outstanding individual acting performance (EUR 5,000, donated by Sparkasse Spree-Neiße).

   

This year's competition once again showcases the stylistic and thematic breadth of Central and Eastern European cinema. Stories and experiences that reflect the challenges of life between family and society - between hope and grief, nature conservation and “turning point”, historical film and science fiction. Bittersweet screen adventures, realistic and touching, that leave nobody unmoved.

DWELLING AMONG THE GODS (RS/HR/IT 2024) by Vuk Ršumović is a modern-day Antigone drama about an Afghan family in Belgrade. The protagonist Fereshteh is faced with an almost impossible decision: should she continue her journey to the West, to a supposedly better future, or stay and give her brother, who died on the run, a proper burial? Magical suburban realism: in RIVIERA (GR/FR 2024), Orfeas Peretzis' debut, 17-year-old Alkistis faces a summer between loss and a new beginning. In UNDER THE VOLCANO (PL 2024) by Damian Kocur, a family from Kyiv struggles with the news of a war of aggression against their homeland during an involuntary vacation in Tenerife. The sci-film U ARE THE UNIVERSE (UA/BE 2024) by Pavlo Ostrikov tells of a destroyed Earth, togetherness in space and the last hope for a human encounter.

U R THE UNIVERSE

In BIKECHESS (Assel Aushakimova, KAZ/FR/NO 2024), a female journalist is confronted with the limits of freedom of expression and attacks on women's rights in an authoritarian state. In the gripping thriller DEAL AT THE BORDER (Dastan Zhapar Ryskeldi, KG 2024), two smugglers in the mountains of Central Asia help a young woman to escape slavery, putting her own life in danger. GOOD CHILDREN (Filip Peruzović, HR 2024 2024) portrays the difficult emotional journey of a brother and sister who, after the death of their mother, have to break up the family home and come to terms with their past and their estranged relationship. In OUR LOVELY PIG SLAUGHTER (CZ/SK 2024) by Adam Martinec, a rural family tradition becomes the starting point for a sensitive, ironic portrait of morality reminiscent of the films of the Czechoslovakian New Wave.

SOUTHERN CHRONICLES (Ignas Miškinis, LT/EE 2024) is a touching coming-of-age story about two young people from different social classes in the Lithuanian province of the 1990s who fall in love despite all their social differences. The world premiere THE TOWER OF STRENGTH (Nikola Vukčević, ME/RS/HR/DE 2024) is set during the Second World War. A Muslim-Albanian family hides a Christian child and becomes the target of an Albanian SS division - a gripping historical film about courage and humanity. In THE TRAP (Nadejda Koseva, BG/DE 2023), the fierce Yovo fights against environmental destruction in an idyllic river delta, while WHEN THE PHONE RANG (RS/US 2024) by Iva Radivojević takes a deeply moving look at the war years in the former Yugoslavia, when a young girl is confronted with the loss of her grandfather and her country.

UNDER THE VOLCANO

The international festival jury decides on the award winners. This year's jury consists of Sonora Broka, artistic director of the Riga International Film Festival and editor, Cristina Groşan, Romanian-Hungarian filmmaker and director of the film ORDINARY FAILURES, which is screening in the Specials section, Anja Matković, Croatian theater and film actress and screenwriter, who is also the lead actress and screenwriter of the opening film MY LATE SUMMER, Inna Sahakyan, director and producer from Armenia, whose films AURORA'S SUNRISE and MEL are both screening in Close-Up: Armenia, and Xavier Henry-Rashid, French-British sales agent and former Executive Director of the Raindance Film Festival. Rashid is representing, among others, the food comedy TASTY from the Spectrum section, which is celebrating its world premiere at the festivals in Cork, Cottbus and Tallinn.

The short film competition brings a wide variety of films to the screen, from quirky humor to moving fates. AGE OF THE DRAGON (Marcell Farkas, HU/AT 2024) by Marcell Farkas takes us into a dystopian world full of fantasy, while CHRISTMAS DAY (EE 2022) by Alexandra Pärn tells a bizarre Christmas story. ALMOST CERTAINLY FALSE (TR/BG 2024) by Cansu Baydar sheds light on the life of a Syrian refugee in Istanbul. And @TIKTOK_COWBOY (RO 2024) by Anastaseu Ștefan is about a young Roma influencer during the lockdown. All short films in the program can be found here.

@TIKTOK_COWBOY

A main prize (EUR 2,500, donated by Druckzone Cottbus) and the special prize for the best director (EUR 1,500, donated by Tiede+) will be awarded. The winners will be selected by the short film jury, which consists of Szilárd Bernáth (Hungary), Eglė Vertelytė (Lithuania) and Magdelena Ilieva (Bulgaria).

The U18 competition for the best youth film (EUR 5,000, donated by the city of Cottbus) focuses on themes such as identity, freedom and rebellion against social expectations. DORMITORY (TR/DE 2023) by Nehir Tuna depicts the life of a 14-year-old searching for belonging and freedom in an Islamic boarding school, while GOTTESKINDER (DE, 2024) by Frauke Lodders shows the challenges of faith and falling in love for the first time in an evangelical family. TOXIC (LT 2024) by Saulė Bliuvaitė shows two teenage girls fighting for their place in a world characterized by toxic friendships in the midst of bullying and beauty mania. An EXPLANATION FOR EVERYTHING (HU/SK 2023) by Gábor Reisz tells the story of a high school graduate who triggers a national scandal with a small lie - a biting satire on social and political grievances. The U18 jury is made up of students from Teplice (CZ) and Cottbus. You can view the complete U18 section here.

DORMITORY

The film lists and matching film stills for each film can be found in the PressLogin on our website. The login is available on request.

Accreditations for the festival week are possible online here and are free of charge for reporting press.

 If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 
The FilmFestival Cottbus is supported by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, the State of Brandenburg and the City of Cottbus. We are also very grateful for the support of Creative Europe Media, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Sparkasse Spree-Neiße and the Federal Agency for Civic Education. Our media partners are radioeins, radio3 and the Lausitzer Rundschau.

A recently published, explosive study on the role of women in Czech cinema provides the occasion for the new film series “The Female Gaze: New Films from the Czech Republic” at the 34th FilmFestival Cottbus (November 5-10). The study “Women in the Audiovisual Industry: Feature Films” by the Film and TV School of Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU) shows that the presence of women in Czech cinema has changed only minimally since the 1990s. Despite the widespread impression of a growing proportion of women in the film industry, the research results prove that only the youngest generation of female filmmakers is initiating a noticeable change. Curated by Lenka Tyrpáková, the FFC presents the new diversity of Czech cinema in 12 current feature-length and short films.

HER BODY by Natálie Císařovská (CZ, SK, 2023, 107 min) shows the ambitious high diver Andrea, whose Olympic dream comes to an end after an injury and ultimately leads her into the porn industry. MY SUNNY MAAD (Michaela Pavlátová, CZ, FR, 2021, 79 min) tells the story of Helena, a Czech woman who follows her lover to Kabul and has to find her way in a new, strange world full of traditions and rules.

HER BODY

ORDINARY FAILURES (CZ, HU, IT, SK, 2022, 84 min) by International Festival Jury member Cristina Groșan follows three women in a mysteriously exploding city that confronts them with the question of what really matters in life. I AM NOT EVERYTHING I WANT TO BE by Klára Tasovská (CZ, SK, AT, 2024, 90 min) portrays the photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková, whose eventful life tells of her search for freedom in photographs and diary entries. Jarcovjáková also spent several years in Germany.

I AM NOT EVERYTHING I WANT TO BE

In TINY LIGHTS (Beata Parkanová, CZ, SK, 2024, 76 min), six-year-old Amálka experiences a major change during her summer vacation that tears her out of her childish fantasy world. YEAR OF THE WIDOW by Veronika Lišková (CZ, SK, HR, 2024, 109 min) follows the grieving widow Petra through the seasons and phases of her loss. In LIMITS OF EUROPE (Apolena Rychlíková, CZ, FR, SK, 2024, 98 min), journalist Saša Uhlová goes undercover to shed light on the harsh conditions for economic migrants in Europe and questions the costs of prosperity. There is also a great short film program.

YEAR OF THE WIDOW

The series will be complemented by the exciting “Panel on the study: The role of women in the Czech film industry” on Thursday, November 7, at 5 pm at the Glad-House, moderated by Lenka Tyrpáková (language: English). The filmmakers of the series will be joined by the authors of the study.

“The Female Gaze: New Films from the Czech Republic”, supported by the Czech-German Future Fund, invites audiences to experience outstanding and forward-looking female voices in Czech cinema and participate in a dialog about the importance of female perspectives in the European film industry.

The film stills for each film can be found in the PressLogin on our website. The login is available on request.

Accreditations for the festival week are possible online here and are free of charge for reporting press.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The FilmFestival Cottbus is supported by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, the State of Brandenburg and the City of Cottbus. We are also very grateful for the support of Creative Europe Media, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Sparkasse Spree-Neiße and the Federal Agency for Civic Education. Our media partners are radioeins, radio3 and the Lausitzer Rundschau.

Armenia captivates - through its location at the geographical crossroads of different cultures, its position between the Silk Road and Christianity, its centuries-old culture, its landscapes and traditions. And not least through its films. As part of the 34th FilmFestival Cottbus, the “Close-Up Armenia” section offers a diverse selection of current feature, animated and documentary films: from a moving melodrama from Stalinism to an intimate portrait of a transgender athlete. The film series explores the deep psychological scars left by the country's history of genocide and the wars over Nagorno-Karabakh, and sheds light on the tensions between individuality and tradition in Armenian society.

LANDSHAFT

A highlight of the section is the MasterTalk “Armenian Cinema between Past and Present” with the member of the International Festival Jury and director of the films MEL and AURORA'S SUNRISE, Inna Sahakyan, on November 6 at 3 pm in the Kammerbühne. Moderated by Bernd Buder, the talk offers participants the opportunity to delve deeper into the cultural and historical themes of Armenian cinema and explore developments in the Armenian film scene.

The film series shows the following current productions: AMERIKATSI (Michael A. Goorjian, AM, 2022), a political tragicomedy full of longing and melancholy, in which a man unexpectedly ends up in prison after his return to the Soviet Union; AURORA'S SUNRISE (Inna Sahakyan, DE/AM, 2022), an impressive animated film about the survival story of a young woman who survived the Armenian genocide and eventually fled to the USA; The Backstage (Hovhannes Galstyan, AM, DE, LU, 2024), a dark drama about intrigue and power struggles in the state-sponsored ballet of Yerevan; LANDSHAFT (Daniel Kötter, DE/AM, 2023), a contemplative journey through the barren, war-torn landscape of eastern Armenia; FAR FROM MICHIGAN (Silva Khnkanosian, FR, AM, 2023), a poetic documentary about the almost deserted town of Stepanakert in the current conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh; MEL (Inna Sahakyan, Paul Cohen, AM, NL, 2023), the story of a former weightlifter who faces hostility as a transgender woman in Armenia and starts a new life in the Netherlands; FIGHT (Lilit Movsisyan, AM, FR, 2024), a sensitive portrait of a young woman in Armenia who fights against societal expectations to pursue her dream; LUMEN NATURAE (Arthur Sukiasyan, AM, 2024, 20 min), a touching coming-of-age story about grief, pain and loneliness in the war for Nagorno-Karabakh; and THE WAR DIARY (Hakob Melkonyan, FR, AM, 2024), a moving search for clues that transposes the filmmaker's grandfather's war diary into the present day and sheds light on the current reality of war.

With these impressive films and the MasterTalk, the FilmFestival Cottbus, supported by the Federal Agency for Civic Education, offers a platform that brings the past and present of Armenia to life in the mirror of its cinema.

The film stills for each film can be found in the press login on our website. The login is available on request.

Accreditations for the festival week are possible online here and are free of charge for reporting press.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The FilmFestival Cottbus is supported by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, the State of Brandenburg and the City of Cottbus.

Introducing the Competition Jury

One year before the 25th anniversary of goEast – Festival of Central and Eastern European Film, the festival team is delighted to introduce the members of the international Competition Jury. The chairwoman of this year's international goEast Competiton Jury is Italian producer and programming consultant Nicoletta Romeo, artistic director of Trieste Film Festival. Joining her is Romanian actress Ilinca Manolache, who is currently making waves with her stellar performance in the lead role of Radu Jude's most recent outing DON’T EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD. The line-up continues with multi-award-winning Czech film producer Jiří Konečný, founder and proprietor of Endorfilm (Prague), who has had nine films selected as national Oscar candidates to date. Director, curator, activist and performer Hamze Bytyçi, a native of Kosovo, will also be serving on the jury; Bytyçi is also the founder and artistic director of the Berlin-based Romani organisation RomaTrial e.V. and the international Romani film festival "AKE DIKHEA?". Finally, Warsaw-born Hamela Maciek rounds out this year's jury line-up – Maciek is a journalist, producer and filmmaker who has enjoyed a long-term collaboration with the BBC Channel, among other career highlights. Out of competition his documentary IN THE REARVIEW will be screened during goEast this year,

The international film critics' organisation FIPRESCI will be represented at the festival by a three-member jury. Bulgarian film critic and journalist Bojidar Manov has accompanied the evolution of goEast since its very first edition in 2001. He is a member of the European Film Academy as well as an author and translator. Katrin Hillgruber works as a freelance journalist and film and literary critic for diverse newspapers, radio broadcasters and the online film magazine "artechock". Last but not least, Romanian film critic Catalin Olaru serves as artistic director for multiple festivals.

The East-West Talent Lab Jury also features three esteemed members this year. First up is multiple-award-winning Dutch documentary filmmaker Jessica Gorter, whose work often deals with the life and history of the former Soviet Union. Apart from her jury work, Jessica will screen the German premiere of her latest documentary THE DMITRIEV AFFAIR in Germany Joining her is Dagmar Mielke, who has worked as an editor for RBB/ARTE since 2004, following employment with various other editing departments and activities as an author and director. Finally, Maciej Nowicki is chairman of the board of directors of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights in Poland, one of the largest human rights organisations in Central and Eastern Europe. A trained lawyer, Nowicki is also an expert in human rights, the rule of law and documentary film, and the director of the WATCH DOCS film festival in Warsaw.

The RheinMain Short Film Award Jury

This year's jury also features three members from diverse backgrounds. Garegin Vanisian, born in the USSR, is a lawyer, as well as an author, film programmer, journalist and co-founder of the cultural non-profit "Filmkollektiv Frankfurt – Projektionsraum für unterrepräsentierte Filmkultur e.V.", which has been active since 2013. Saul Judd is a freelance curator and programmer – he has also been responsible for the video art selection at "LICHTER Filmfest Frankfurt International" since 2010. Philipp Aubel has been a member of the QUEER Filmfest Weiterstadt team for ten years, where he is in charge of curating the program, on a volunteer basis. He is primarily employed as a project director responsible for the working area "Young Film Scene" within the BJF (The German Federation of Film Clubs for Children and Young People), where he maintains the informational network and is currently preparing the 59th edition of the "Werkstatt der Jungen Filmszene".

goEast Press Breakfast

Festival director Heleen Gerritsen presented the program of goEast – Festival of Central and Eastern European Film today (Wednesday, 17 April) in the scope of a breakfast get-together with members of the press at Wiesbaden's Caligari FilmBühne. It is particularly pleasing that the representatives of the funding organisations present announced their comprehensive support for future festival editions, including the 25th edition next year. goEast is showing 91 films from 40 countries from Wednesday, 24 April, to Tuesday, 30 April.

Festival attendees can look forward to twelve German premieres, one international premiere and a world premiere. The diverse sections, numerous lectures and film talks, as well as the third edition of the accompanying program, a veritable journey of cinematic discovery entitled "Cinema Archipelago", all promise engaging experiences. 

"I am delighted that we will soon be opening goEast for the 24th time," said Ellen M. Harrington, director of DFF - Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum, which has been hosting goEast for 24 years. Harrington extended a warm thank you to all of the festival's sponsors for their many years of extensive support. "I hope the festival's many compelling films and thought-provoking discussions help to reduce the distance between the different parts of Europe and facilitate many interesting encounters."

In the goEast Competition section, current film productions will by vying for a chance to take home the festival's three main prizes, awarded by an international jury: the "Golden Lily" for Best Film (endowed with 10,000 euros); the Award of the City of Wiesbaden for Best Director (7,500 euros); and the CEEOL Award for Best Documentary Film (endowed with 4,000 euros in prize money). In addition, a dedicated jury representing the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) will be awarding two prizes of its own.

Heleen Gerritsen, who has served as goEast's director since 2017, explained: "In 2024, we're starting once again with a very strong Competition section that's full of variety, in which the productions – whether we're talking about documentary or fiction films – reflect both the reality and absurdity of everyday life in Central and Eastern Europe. The filmmakers here employ a very wide range of cinematic languages and approaches in their works, from satire to hyperrealism. However, one thing remains valid throughout: the personal is political. In films such as 1489, MADINA, KIX, BAURYNA SALU, A PICTURE TO REMEMBER, OXYGEN STATION and many other entries to the Competition, personal stories are linked to a wider context."

More than 200 guests from the Central and Eastern European film branch are expected to attend the festival in Wiesbaden.

The other festival sections include this year's Symposium, which bears the title "The 'Other' Queers – Cinematic Images from the Periphery of Europe".  Curators Jasmina Sepetavc and Yulia Serdyukova have made it their mission to bring forgotten, libidinous, creative and marginalised queer film images into the spotlight and to make queer cinema from Central and Eastern Europe accessible for a broader audience. 

In the Program NEW VOICES FROM CENTRAL ASIA, goEast, in co-operation with the ZDF/ARTE short film series "Kurzschluss", is screening a finely curated program of short fiction and documentary films from a vibrant region. The proudly maladapted ANARCHO SHORTS are back with a selection of headstrong short films showcasing an anarchic spirit, chosen collaboratively by the goEast team.

In the special FOCUS: Kosovo & Albania section, realised in co-operation with the Albanian National Center of Cinematography and the Kosovo Cinematography Center and featuring the participation of diverse special guests, goEast is presenting an excursion into the film histories of both countries. The new HUMAN RIGHTS SUNDAY is taking place in co-operation with Poland's WATCH DOCS International Human Rights Film Festival and represents the fulfilment of a desire to create a dedicated outlet treating human rights and democratisation in cinema.

Under the slogan RHINE, WINE & RHYMEZ, a riverboat outing on the Rhine invites attendees to listen as film guests recite their favourite poems in diverse Central and Eastern European languages, accompanied by live translation into English. Come join the festival crew for an elegant literary cruise past Biebrich Palace and the half-timbered houses, vineyards and castles of the Rheingau. 

This year's archive presentation, realised in co-operation with ArteKino Classics, is devoted to Hungary. MERRY-GO-ROUND (HUN, 1955), directed by Zoltán Fábris, is the featured film presentation at the Matinee on Sunday, 28 April, at Caligari FilmBühne. Moreover: The Yugoretten are back! The Balkan artists network with the ironic moniker returns for a second edition, under the direction of curatorial triumvirate Borjana Gaković, Mateja Meded and Boris Hadžija, with a host of performances, film screenings, networking events and discussions revolving around ex-Yugoslavian family histories and stories.

This year's thematic focal points include women and queer culture, migration and the country of Kosovo in the context of former Yugoslavia. This year's IN MEMORIAM spotlight honours filmmaker OTAR IOSSELIANI and goEast's first artistic director, SVETLANA SIKORA. Together with the European film education project CinEd, of which DFF is a partner, goEast is providing children and adolescents with an opportunity to get better acquainted with films from Central and Eastern Europe in the scope of the program KIDS GOEAST – CINED IN WIESBADEN UND FRANKFURT AM MAIN.

Anna Schoeppe, managing director of HessenFilm & Medien, is greatly looking forward to goEast, as she shared: "For their 24th festival edition, the goEast team has once again curated a diverse film program. goEast offers its audience the opportunity to experience highlights of contemporary Central and Eastern European cinema and occupies a very special place in Hessen's film festival scene with this unique focus. goEast also manages to create lots of space for cultural dialogue and professional exchange among filmmakers from a range of countries, which further bolsters the festival's image.  I'm looking forward to experiencing another exciting festival edition!"

For Wiesbaden city councilwoman Patricia Becher, goEast Film Festival is particularly relevant in the present moment. In her words: "The state capital of Wiesbaden is closely connected to our Eastern European neighbours, in a variety of ways, and many of the traces of our city's history point to the East. Through cinema, goEast opens nuanced perspectives of a multi-faceted region to us and encourages mutual exchange with numerous international filmmakers and cinema lovers. It is a great joy to have this festival take place in the state capital."

Karin Wolff, managing director of Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain, which is sponsoring the innovative "Cinema Archipelago" program for the third year in a row, observes: "This year's goEast will once again be an emotional and rich festival – also in the section that Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain is delighted to support once again: We are looking forward to a lively encounter between Kosovo and Albania – from the still conflict-ridden former Yugoslavia – in Wiesbaden, and to formats like the Competition section, the Symposium and the riverboat cruise through wine country, with their respective focal points."

Finally, goEast wouldn't be goEast without parties. On Friday, 26 April, the SCHLACHTHOF SOLI PARTY FOR UKRAINE will take place at Kulturzentrum Schlachthof under the motto "Faїno", which means "fine" or "beautiful" in Ukraine and promises to acquaint party-goers with the greatest musical treasures from the last 32 years of (still ongoing) Ukrainian independence. All proceeds from the party will be donated to humanitarian aid organisations. At the GOEAST PARTY@MUSEUM WIESBADEN on Saturday, 27 April, Wiesbaden club legend DJ Janeck is inviting film guests and festivalgoers to the Festival Centre to dance the night away to international disco beats from the 1970s and '80s.

The full program is now available on the festival website. The 24th edition of goEast – Festival of Central and Eastern European Film will kick off at 7 pm on Wednesday, 24 April, followed by  a screening of this year's opening film, CROSSING (SWE/DNK/FRA/TUR/GEO, 2024) by Georgian director Levan Akin, at Wiesbaden's Caligari FilmBühne. 

Accreditation 

Members of the press can apply here for accreditation for goEast – Festival of Central and Eastern European Film. Accreditation grants admission to the film screenings in Wiesbaden, Darmstadt and Gießen. In addition, during the festival period accredited industry guests and members of the press receive access to an online media library featuring an extensive selection of festival programming.

For the 23rd time, goEast - Festival of Central and Eastern European Film is bringing a multi-faceted program featuring film screenings and accompanying events to Wiesbaden and the Rhine-Main region. The festival, organised by DFF – Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum, sees itself as a window to Central and Eastern Europe and a continual builder of intercultural bridges to the East. Traditionally, goEast has always been deeply involved with the contemporary political and cultural situation in the region.

The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine represents a historical rupture and presents this film festival specialised in Central and Eastern European subject matter with great challenges. The goEast team's solidarity continues to be with the people of Ukraine: "Our thoughts are constantly with our colleagues, friends and relatives affected by Russian aggression," as Heleen Gerritsen, director of the festival, states, adding: "At the same time, the situation has motivated us more than ever to present the film cultures of our target region, which are underrepresented in German cinemas, in all their diversity and uniqueness." 

From 26 April to 2 May 2023, goEast extends an invitation to come to Wiesbaden and get to know Central and Eastern European cinema in the scope of film screenings, film talks and encounters with film makers.

Symposium: Decolonizing the (Post-)Soviet Screen

In the Symposium, goEast traditionally takes a closer look at topics, regions and currents within Central and Eastern European cinema. In 2023, the program will take place as part of the Cinema Archipelago series, made possible with the generous support of Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain.

Since its inception in 2001, goEast Film Festival's central missions have included the platforming and amplification of new, previously marginalised cinematic languages and voices from Central and Eastern Europe beyond dominant mainstream narratives. As such, this year's focus on (post-)Soviet cinema, as seen through the "decolonising lens", is not entirely novel for the festival. Nevertheless, like many other cultural institutions dealing with the Central and Eastern European space, the goEast team is aware that the festival has traditionally granted Russia a dominant position in the festival program more than other countries within the target region. Shifting and re-distributing attention have become a vital curatorial responsibility.

The term decolonisation is often met with scepticism in the Eastern European context – where it has been dismissed as a fashionable Western buzzword that goes hand in hand with "wokeness" and "cancel culture". Here it is important to note that the specific form of Soviet/Russian colonialism which the Symposium will be treating differs significantly from that of other European colonial powers – not least of which when it comes to cinema: with the establishment of film studios and infrastructures in its republics, Soviet cultural policy also facilitated the local empowerment of the "other nationalities", albeit centrally organised and conducted in the Russian language as lingua franca.

Nevertheless, the "decolonising lens" is a useful tool for the analysis of a region in turmoil, and the festival team recalls how the term "feminism" used in an Eastern European context initially met with resistance and incomprehension at the 2017 goEast Symposium "Reluctant Feminism", before soon experiencing greater acceptance.

Submissions to Symposium Open until 1 March

With the support of luminaries from the worlds of film scholarship and filmmaking, such as Prof. Nancy Condee, Ivan Kozlenko, Dita Rietuma, Daria Badior, Igor Soukmanov, Oleksiy Radinsky, Valentyn Vasyanovych and Davra Collective, curators Barbara Wurm and Heleen Gerritsen will take the historical rupture represented by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine as a departure point to reflect on several key aspects of the institutional and political entanglement of the non-Russian film cultures ­– above all the Ukrainian – with the one-time power centre of Moscow. Discussion will cover a wide range of topics: Ukrainian cinema of the past and future; the traces of the imperial in "non-Russian Russia", for instance in Sakha or the North Caucasus region; the film festival landscape beyond Moscow – from Minsk to Tashkent (historically and today); the cinematic and film-cultural legacy of the USSR – from Kyiv and Riga to Tbilisi and Yerevan back to Wiesbaden, as well as the debate on the appropriate approach to canons and classics; the question of Soviet anti-colonialism; the question of who owns the rights and copies of Soviet films produced by non-Russians; the cultural and national memory of alternative, non-state film and photo archives; and documentary cinema as a space for reflection on what the notions of Soviet and post-Soviet once signified and can signify today.

Within the Symposium, these topics will be explored from film-historical, political and sociological angles, featuring special guest presenters from the fields of film scholarship and filmmaking practice. To accompany the Symposium of the 23rd edition of goEast, a special issue of Apparatus. Film, Media and Digital Cultures of Central and Eastern Europe is to be compiled and published, under the title "Decolonizing the (post-)Soviet Screen". Contributions that aim to apply the decolonisation concept in the context of the (post-)Soviet space (including Central Asia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic states, the Caucasus, Russia and its autonomous regions) can be submitted from now until 1 March.

goEast Co-operation with the Berlinale's European Film Market

The topic of the Symposium has already been met with a very positive response during preparations for the event and has also been taken up by the Berlinale's European Film Market. On 20 February 2023, a panel discussion organised in co-operation with goEast will take place, under the title "A New Reality: Decolonising the Post-Soviet Screen", in which goEast festival director Heleen Gerritsen will engage in conversation with film industry representatives from Georgia, Latvia, Tadzhikistan and Ukraine, as well as Simone Baumann from German Films. The talk will explore how the most recent realities of the post-Soviet space are conveyed and depicted on screen while delving into their aesthetic, film-historical, political and sociological significance for the film industry and the audience in an international context.

Event location:

Dokumentationszentrum für Flucht, Vertreibung, Versöhnung 

Stresemannstraße 90, 

10963 Berlin

20.Februar 2023, 15:15 Uhr

Admission free of charge with EFM Market Badge 

Emerging Beyond Borders: East-West Talent Lab

Once again, this year goEast will be supporting filmmakers and emerging talents from Central and Eastern Europe and providing them with an opportunity to network with like-minded peers from Germany. Under the continued direction of Andrea Wink, the program will once again focus on documentary formats. Filmmakers from Central and Eastern Europe can submit their project ideas currently in development until 28 February 2023. Producers hailing from Central and Eastern Europe as well as Germany without a concrete project can also apply to attend the East-West Talent Lab.