The seventh annual Baltic Event to take place in Tallinn

02-12-2008

The seventh annual Baltic Event to take place in Tallinn

For the seventh time, Baltic Event will take place in Tallinn from November 30 - December 3. Approximately 200 representatives of the international film industry, including film producers and -financers, distributors and representatives of film funds will attend the event.

Baltic Event Co-Production Market will take place during the Black Nights Film Festival on 1 - 2 December continuing to present challenging and controversial projects from the Baltic States, Scandinavia, East-Central Europe and Russia. A total of 12 projects have been pre-selected for the co-production market. Estonia is represented with the project, „Money First" (director Jaak Kilmi, producer Artur Talvik, production company Eetriüksus).

The results of the previos Co-Production Markets proved the necessity and effectiveness of the event - 11 films from the first three years are already completed. Of the 12 projects presented in 2007, one film is completed, five projects are in various stages of production, and six films are still in development. The Estonian project, The Temptation of St. Tony, (dir. Veiko Õunpuu, prod. Katrin Kissa, Homeless Bob Production, Estonia-Sweden-Finland), which was among the 12 selected BE Co-production market projects in 2007, is currently in production as well, aiming to premiere in Estonian cinemas in Autumn 2009. The film's trailer will also be presented in the Coming Soon program at this year's Baltic Event.

In addition to the a aforementioned Baltic projects (Vasha, The Temptation of Saint Tony and Little Robbers), the Coming Soon program will also present a total of 13 projects in production or post-production from Baltic Countries and also 5 projects from Ukraine.

On Tuesday and Wednesday 8 new feature films from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will be presented at Baltic Event screenings. The Estonian program includes the following features: December Heat (dir. Asko kase, production company Eetriüksus), I Was Here (dir. René Vilbre, production company Amrion), Taarka (dir. Ain Mäeots, production company Exitfilm). Latvia will present three films: Amateurs (dir. Janis Nords, production company Red Cats), Elvis (dir. Una Celma, production company Lats Filma) and Mona (dir. Inara Kolmane, production company Devini). Lithuania contributes with two features Collectress (dir. Kristina Buozyte, production company Tremora) and Loss (dir. Maris Martinsons, production company Art&A).

Baltic Event will also host an Industry Day for Baltic producers on Wednesday, December 3. The focus this year will be Video on Demand issues.

The guest list of the Baltic Event includes film distributors and sales agents, representatives of TV-channels (buyers and co-financers), representatives of film festivals, regional and national film funds and foundations as well many well known European production companies. Distributors and sales agents come from France, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Denmark, UK, Hungary, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and also from companies like Fortissimo in Netherlands, Matchfactory in Germany, NonStop in Sweden, Trustnordisk in Denmark and Central Partnership in Russia.

Successfully started in 2006, Baltic Event will continue focusing on new territories of the former Soviet Union, featuring Ukrainian project Fuga Mortis (dir. Kirill Mikhanovsky, producer Olena Yershova, Sota Cinema Group).

Baltic Event is continuing partnership with the EAVE training program for European producers, resulting in opportunities for young filmmakers to present their work at Baltic Event. Other supporters and partners of the event are Tallinn Black Night Film Festival, Film New Europe, the Estonian Film Foundation, the Estonian Ministry of Culture, the Cultural Endowment, MEDIA programme, the National Film Center of Latvia, the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture, Cannes‘ Marche du Film's Producer's Network, EastWest Filmdistribution and Binger Institute-

The 12 projects selected for the Baltic Event co-production market are:

l Dig Deeper, ZK Studio, Poland,

Prod: Ewa Zukowska, dir: Konrad Szolajski

l Don't Look Back, Filmpartners, Hungary

Prod: Gábor Kovács, dir: Denes Nagy

l Fuga Mortis, Sota Cinema Group, Ukraine

Prod: Olena Yershova, dir: Kirill Mikhanovsky

l Illuminated Night, Tandem Pictures, Russia

Prod: Anna Katchko, dir: Elena Hazanov

l Money First, Eetriüksus, Estonia

Prod: Artur Talvik, dir: Jaak Kilmi

l One Step Behind the Seraphim, Hifilm, Romania