BPF 2018 - Projects

COUNTY COURT | MAAKOHUS (WINNER)

“County Court” is a short fiction film about ex-husband and ex-wife fighting for their child’s custody and alimony in court. However, the court proceeding is not so much about the child and his rights, but a revenge of two ex-husbands, who are so full of harassment and humiliation that they forget their son completely. This rather conventional court story is presented in a rather unconventional way.

Director Eeva Mägi
Producer Karolina Veetamm
Genre Fiction
Estimated running time 15 min.
Production country Estonia
Estimated budget 55 000 EUR
Funding in place 7 500 EUR
Production company

The diverse creative team of “Alasti Kino” (“Naked Cinema”) is committed to making films of premium class. Whether it is a full-length film or a TV commercial, every piece of work for us, is a piece of art, and so it will be treated with respect and with a heart. So later we could sign the outcome with a beaming smile. The continuous trust from our clients and several acknowledgements from different film and advertising festivals have let us know the naked and beautiful truth – we are doing right thing.

Director Eeva Mägi

Eeva Mägi was born in 1987 in Estonia. In 2015 she obtained MA in Directing Documentary from Baltic Film and Media School. Her graduation film “Simply a Man” has been screened at several festivals. Her last short film “Lembri Uudu” had its international premiere at DOK Leipzig and has later participated in many festivals: PÖFF Shorts, Go Short Nijmegen, Sarajevo Film Festival etc. In March 2017 she participated at Werner Herzog workshop “Filming in Cuba with Werner Herzog”. In 2018 she was given a young filmmaker’s award by Cultural Endowment of Estonia. Her approach to film is rather experimental and surreal.

Producer Karolina Veetamm

Karolina Veetamm was born in 1990 in Estonia. She holds a master’s degree in Film Production from Baltic Film and Media School. She’s been working as a freelance producer after graduation. She’s been a production manager of many feature films as “Maria’s Children”, “Eia Christmas at Fantom Owl Farm” and “Days that Confused”. She’s been a producer of many short films and music videos.

ENCOUNTERS | KOHTUMISED

“Encounters” is a short film that brings together five stories inspired by real life events of different times and places of the Estonian past. They all depict certain – sometimes fearful – moments of encounters with love interests, or even beloved-ones in historically difficult, rapidly changing times. These tales – life changing moments from the past – are fragmental, delicate episodes of human relationships that later evolved into lives lived together. Each story consists of two or three scenes only forming sort of a “postcard” sent to us from the past. They are tiny, gentle events from many years ago, of people who are presently living their last years or – in some cases – are not among us anymore.

Director Jürgen Volmer
Producer Gabriel Dettre
Genre Fiction
Estimated running time 22 min.
Production country Estonia, Germany
Estimated budget 20 000 EUR
Funding in place 1 150 EUR
Production company

Nojah Film was founded in spring 2018 by freelance filmmaker Jürgen Volmer. Since then its main focus has been producing short films and having co-operations with small theatres in Estonia. Nojah Film values creative collaborations and possibilities for intermedial art projects.

Director Jürgen Volmer

Jürgen Volmer has studied film directing in Baltic Film and Media School, where he directed 4 short films before graduating in 2015. After graduation, he went on to working as a freelancer on several short films, documentary and theatre projects.

Producer Gabriel Dettre

Gabriel (Gábor) Dettre, director/writer/producer, lived in New York City for many years, before moving back to his native Budapest. Subsequently, he lived in Brussels and in Tallinn for several years, before moving to Berlin, where he presently lives.

SYNESTHESIA VR | SÜNESTEESIA VR

Albrecht is a detective with sensitive powers. His sense of the world is extraordinary – a smell, sound or touch can ignite vivid images of different places and worlds. But this comes at a price – Albrecht is constantly looking for new ways to escape the dystopian routine of police work. One day Albrecht starts investigating a strange suicide case and comes to contact with a bottle of mysterious substance. The substance gives him very clear visions and he starts unraveling the origins of this dark bottle and a new drug epidemic that is about to begin. Albrecht must use his supernatural talent and skills as detective to find who is responsible. In the end, he is able to destroy the evil character behind the substance but finds himself trapped between worlds.

Director Rein Zobel
Producers Kalev Smidt, Rein Zobel
Genre VR fiction
Estimated running time 10 min.
Production country Estonia
Estimated budget 40 000 EUR
Funding in place 20 000 EUR
Production company

“Maru VR Productions” is an Estonian virtual reality content production company. Founded in 2016, it quickly became the most productive VR content company in Estonia, having completed about 15 VR projects so far. This includes 360 degree video production, real-time 3D graphics, interactive apps and other services. The clients of the company include the city of Tallinn, Estonian Film Foundation, Ministry of Energy of Georgia, city of Pärnu, Elisa Estonia and others. “Synesthesia VR” will be Maru VR’s first opportunity to bring together it’s creative and technical talent for a narrative film experience.

Director/producer Rein Zobel

Rein Zobel is a director and producer born in 1984. After attaining a master’s degree in Psychology, he went to Denmark to attend a film course. This led to him working as an editor, animator and director for 7 years. In 2015, Rein graduated Baltic Film and Media School in Film Arts as a Film Director. While working mainly in advertising, Rein also became interested in virtual reality and co-founded VR content creation company Maru VR Production in 2016. Rein’s ultimate purpose is to explore the storytelling potential of VR and how it differentiates from film.

Producer Kalev Smidt

Kalev is an Estonian freelance creative producer and production manager. He graduated with a bachelor´s degree in Film Arts at the Baltic Film and Media School of Tallinn University in 2017. He has been working in film industry since 2012 producing several short films, commercials and music videos. He is now working more as a creative producer developing documentaries and short films. In addition, he is working as a freelance creative director in advertising. He was a founder/creative director of social campaign “#mustlumi” in March 2018, which raised awareness about depression and reduced stigma that surrounds it in Estonian society.

BEHIND THE CURTAIN

After a stroke, elderly orchestra conductor – Janis, loses ability to walk. Janis’ doctor suggests avoiding the stress of his job. Otherwise, he can get fully paralyzed. Janis’ condition tortures his mental stability. Janis does not submit to the recovery plan by his nurse – Eva, nor does he speak about the upcoming concert. When the anger fades out, Janis experiences the moments of solitude. He imagines how ambient sounds transform into the orchestral playing. Unable to fulfil simple tasks, Janis notices his dependence on Eva. He challenges her with sharp comments, but Eva proves her professionalism and gains Janis’s trust. Step by step, Janis understands that people are not instruments to play on. Consequently, inspiration returns to Janis – he hears music everywhere and secretly starts conducting. Janis exercises to fight his condition. He must defeat his fate and give his final performance – the symphony of life.

Director Gleb Nagorny
Producer Lelde Kovalova
Genre Fiction
Estimated running time 20 min.
Production country Latvia
Estimated budget 10 000 EUR
Funding in place Searching for funding opportunities
Production company

“Dream Light Studio” is a full-service video production company based in Riga (Latvia) with international experience in filmmaking.

Director Gleb Nagorny

Gleb Nagorny was born in Riga, Latvia. After school he decided to follow his dreams and study cinema. Gleb finished BA Film Studies degree at the University of Surrey and MA Film degree at Edinburgh Napier University (Screen Academy Scotland). Currently he is working as a freelance camera operator and DOP, whilst writing and directing his own independent short films and music videos.

Producer Lelde Kovalova

Lelde Kovalova was born in Latvia. She finished Riga International School of Economics and Business Administration (RISEBA), where she gained bachelor and master degrees in Audiovisual Media Art with specialization in cinema and TV producing. Lelde has experience in several genres: she produced feature films, short films, TV episodes, commercials and music videos. Currently she owns her video production studio – “Dream Light Studio”.

BREAKING THE CIRCLE

Breaking the Circle is a social drama about 16 year-old Maria who looks for a way to disconnect from her dysfunctional mother. Her mother lives in a suburb and lately has been closely involved in a local religious cult. Maria wants to break out of this ill culture that surrounds her. The decision is even harder because the mother – the only family she has. Things change after Maria’s curious visit to a contemporary dance class. During a simple warm up exercise Maria realizes that there is a way out of her current situation. This impulse inspires her to make a crucial step – she looks for a help among her friends and gains the courage to begin an independent life.

Director Reinis Spaile
Producer Undine Buka
Genre Fiction
Estimated running time 12 min.
Production country Latvia
Estimated budget 25 000 EUR
Funding in place 5 000 EUR
Director Reinis Spaile

Reinis Spaile is a 29 year-old film director and writer from Latvia. He has studied Marketing and Philosophy in Vancouver and Holland, and Film Directing in Tallinn. Currently he works in Riga and is involved in many different projects ranging from commercial content to art documentaries. He has a distinct voice and a natural drive to convey significant social messages in his narrative works.

Producer Undine Buka

Undine holds BA degree in Film Production and just recently graduated the USC MA Film and TV Producing program. Between her studies for the past seven years she has worked as a producer and line producer on fictional and documentary features and different short formats.

MEETING AGAIN | ATKALREDZĒŠANĀS

Evia arrives to visit her old friend in her country house. Both ladies are spending a sunny day together drinking tea and taking a walk as they used to many times before. However there are suspicion peculiarities happening around them in a form of as if personalized, false or augmented nature. They all may be explainable – it is worth a try maybe… Or though it isn’t?

Director Kristīne Vītola
Producer Jānis Putniņš
Genre Fiction
Estimated running time 25-29 min.
Production country Latvia
Estimated budget 19 000 EUR
Funding in place -
Production company

Visjaunākais laiks/Visjaunākais Rīgas teātris – multimedia company focusing on performance, films, contemporary art, music.

Director Kristīne Vītola

Kristīne Vītola is cross media artist, has MA degrees in Acenography (Latvian Art Academy, 2009) and Theatre Directing (Latvian Culture Academy, 2013). In 2016 she established a cross disciplinary production company – Visjaunākais laiks/Visjaunākais Rīgas teātris. Currently works on art projects as director, writer, visual artist, performer and producer.

Producer Jānis Putniņš

Jānis Putniņš is a Latvian director, writer and producer, known for “Paslēpes” (2001), “Vogelfrei” (2007), “Degošais” (2016) etc. Studied Film Directing at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston (BFA, 1994) and at the Latvian Academy of Culture (MA, 2017). Currently is the Head of the National Film School of the Latvian Academy of Culture and also runs his own production company “Camera Obscura”.

BLUEBERRIES & MILK | MĖLYNĖS SU PIENU (SPECIAL MENTION)

While preparing for the First Communion, a ten-year-old Ula gets her first period, which takes her on a mission to find out what death really means.

Director Milda Baginskaitė
Producer not attached yet
Genre Fiction
Estimated running time 15 min.
Production countries Lithuania, United Kingdom
Estimated budget 40 000 EUR
Funding in place 10 000 EUR
Director Milda Baginskaitė

Milda Baginskaitė is a Lithuanian director and screenwriter. After finishing MA in Film Directing at the Northern Film School, UK, Milda now works as a freelance filmmaker, music video director, script reader and 3rd AD in film and television across the UK.

GIRL AND THE PIANO | ŽMOGUS ANT FORTEPIJONO (WINNER)

Mora is an impassive woman. She lives in a fantastical world where each individual area corresponds to her inner state. She transforms into a little girl and starts travelling in this world. Little Mora dives through dark caves and deep oceans, survives a deadly storm floating on a huge grand piano. She finds her secret superpower – a wind rises when she is playing music. Mora continues her journey using this newly found power and finds another person – the Man with a Hole in His Head. Paying no attention to him, the girl makes her way deeper into the forest, following a mysterious light hovering way above the tree line. Winter comes. The Man gets freezing cold. Only upon finding it she understands that the goal of her journey was not what she thought it was. She builds a complex mechanical/musical piece of equipment and saves the Man.

Director Jurga Šeduikytė
Producer Giedrė Burokaitė
Genre Animation
Estimated running time 8 min.
Production country Lithuania
Estimated budget 40 000 EUR
Funding in place 16 400 EUR
Production company

“Meno Avilys” operates in audio-visual field in a targeted way since the beginning of its activities. The company has been acting in the area of film education and heritage since 2005. In 2006 it initiated the first national film education project in Lithuania “Film at My School”. The company publishes film compilations on DVD which are accompanied by teaching guides. Since 2015 “Meno Avilys” started to work in film production field with an aim to promote Lithuanian film industry and to cooperate with young filmmakers.

Director Jurga Šeduikytė

Jurga was born into a family of musicians. In 2005, she began her solo music career under the stage name Jurga. Her debut album, “Aukso Pieva” includes twelve songs, most of them written by Jurga herself. Shortly after this, Jurga received many Lithuanian awards and won the MTV European Music Award for the Best Baltic Act. In 2009, Jurga published a childrens book “Pasaka apie Slieką ir jo draugą Pašiauštą”. She worked as composer on a number of films. In 2017 she won a Silver Crane award for the soundtrack of short animated film “Running Lights” (dir. Gediminas Šiaulys).

Producer Giedrė Burokaitė

Giedrė Burokaitė was born in 1985, lives in Vilnius, Lithuania. She got a BA degree in Cultural History and Anthropology and a MA degree in Arts Management. In 2015 she initiated a film production platform in NGO “Meno avilys”, which specializes in the area of film education and film preservation. The aim was to promote Lithuanian film industry and to cooperate with young filmmakers. Giedrė produced number of short films: “Jackie” (2014), “Doggone” (2015), “The Roots Are Bitter” (2016), “The Contest” (2018) and currently is working on her first full-length documentary “People, Animals and Things” and two short animated films.

WISHES | NORAI

Juste (20) is spending her free-time at the music festival in the middle of the forest. It’s getting late, Juste takes her backpack and goes on the road to hitchhike a car home. Suddenly, there stops the aggressive gang, which Juste saw in the festival. The gang starts insulting Juste, she tries to ignore them and hitchhike another car. No one stops. The girl goes to the nearest village, hoping that someone will help her. She knocks to one house doors, but the owners just turns the lights off – no one wants to open doors for strangers so late. The gang keeps following Juste in the village streets. It’s dark, Juste is angry and tired of brutal gang behavior. Juste cannot stand them anymore, she turns into savage to get rid of them.

Director Ieva Šakalytė
Producer Kristina Ramanauskaitė
Genre Fiction
Estimated running time 10 min.
Production country Lithuania
Estimated budget 25 000 EUR
Funding in place -
Production company

“Revoliucijos ideja” (“Idea of Revolution”) is a company with years of experience, recently orientated in production of music videos, short and feature films. Our aim is the production of challenging, competitive and unique films of artistic value.

Director Ieva Šakalytė

Born in 1991, in Vilnius, Lithuania. Finished Film Directing (MA) studies at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Her short fiction film “There are No Tulips” (2016) was premiered at Vilnius IFF “Kino pavasaris”. Ieva is now working as a freelancer at various projects.

Producer Kristina Ramanauskaitė

Kristina Ramanauskaitė (born in 1991) is a film producer based in Vilnius, Lithuania. In 2015 Kristina has graduated Creative Industries studies at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University and been working as a producer and CEO of “Idea of Revolution” since 2013.