Set at a remote 19th-century Estonian village, the film unravels the haunting tale of a family who discovers that after consuming a loaf of moldy bread, the children begin to channel a melodic tune — radio transmission from a distant future. As the family becomes obsessed with the hauntingly catchy song, the line between reality and madness blurs, unraveling their lives in a feverish quest for a better life. Beneath the film’s unsettling atmosphere lies a commentary on the corrosive nature of greed, as the family’s grasp for illusory riches drives them to self-destruction.
Nafta Films was founded in 2009, and has quickly become one of the largest production companies in the Baltic region, producing audiovisual content of all forms: films, series, and commercials.
Katariina Aule is a young aspiring film and stop motion animation director from Tallinn, Estonia. In 2017 she graduated from Estonian Academy of Arts with a BA degree in Animation. She worked in different animation studios for over 4 years as a prop maker, puppet maker & assistant animator before moving forward to expanding her skills as a film director in Baltic Film and Media school. In 2022 she graduated and is now developing her own projects. As a filmmaker she is inspired by nature, the complexity of being human and everything mystical, strange and yet unknown to mankind.
Andreas Kask joined Nafta Films in 2014 and has since worked as a Producer, Associate Producer and Co-Producer on several productions. During his years at the production company, he has also worked on developing Nafta’s Marketing and International Relations strategies. For the past two years, he has been the Head of Development of the company’s film department, overseeing the creative process of all of Nafta’s feature films, short films, and co-productions.
It has always rained inside Diego, a young man who lives in a house of emptiness and ties, of absence and presence, of control and freedom. A shelter of a love, which has been forgotten. A home that leads to the unleashing of the internal storm of its tenant.
Carlos has an MA in Animation and is a visual artist with a focus on audiovisual expression. During his undergraduate studies, he created “La silla de la estación,” an animated short film that received several distinctions at international festivals. As an animator, he contributed to projects like “El Intronauta” and “La otra forma.” He has also been part of animation studios such as Team Toon Studios and Hierro Animación. In 2023, he secured funding for his animated project “It is (Not) Yours,” which is currently in development.
Edina Csüllög, born on March 26, 1979, in Budapest, is a Hungarian-born director and producer living in Estonia. She studied Estonian philology at ELTE, Finnish literature in Helsinki, and film directing at the Baltic Film, Media and Arts School. She holds three master’s degrees in Philology, Psychology, and Film directing. Csüllög has worked with various production companies in Hungary and Estonia, and has been active as a freelance translator and film educator. She founded Nisi Masa Estonia and has organized cultural events like the Hungarian Film Days in Tartu and the Finno-Ugric Film Festival in Misso
Beyond the Polar Circle in Norway, amidst the endless seas of the Sami homeland, fisherman Andre and his daughter Elaya grapple with the grief of losing Jonas, their beloved son and brother. One day, Elaya discovers death dust on her skin—an ancient, mysterious omen that marks her as a bringer of death. Feeling isolated from her friends and community, she becomes a symbol of something she doesn’t fully understand. Determined to lift the curse and guide Jonas’s spirit to Saivo, the sacred Sami afterlife, Elaya turns to the wisdom of her ancestors. Along with other children, she embarks on a poetic journey through Sámi traditions, seeking to discover her childhood way of making peace with grief.
20/20 Pictures AS is a Northern Norwegian Film production company, which has produced four features, including “Swamp Lion” a neo-western crime drama featuring Oscar winner Mac Ruth. Currently in development for “Container”, an Estonian-Norwegian co-production, set to begin filming in February 2025.
Münchhausen – one of the Baltic region’s pioneers in establishing international film service production, a company with 10+ years of business presence and experience in the industry. Currently developing a slate of original projects aimed at an international audience.
Alesja Suzdaltseva, an Estonian director and storyteller, is known for her realistic tales set in fantasy worlds. She graduated from the Baltic Film, Media and Arts School as a film director. Her sci-fi short film “The Rise” has won 13 awards and screened at 22 festivals. She also directed 5 short films and two full-length documentary TV series in Arctic Norway, beyond the Polar Circle. In 2023 Alesja represented Estonia at the Cannes Lions Young Lions Film Competition. Right now, she is working as a director at Gorodenkoff Productions.
Alesja portfolio can be found at www.alesja.eu
Magnus Kristiansen is a Norwegian film producer with a rich background in media and tech startups from his six years in Silicon Valley. He has led marketing campaigns for Disney/Marvel’s “Avengers”, Sony Pictures’ “One Direction – The Movie”, and Adidas with Justin Bieber.
Kristiansen runs 20/20 Pictures AS and has produced four features, including “Swamp Lion”, a neo-western crime drama featuring Oscar winner Mac Ruth. He is currently in development for “Container”, an Estonian-Norwegian co-production, set to begin filming in February 2025.
Madis Tüür is a film producer and partner at Münchhausen. He is the co-producer of „Truth and Justice” (2019 by Tanel Toom) which made a domestic all-time box-office record and was shortlisted for the 92nd Academy Award in the Best International Film category. Madis’ background in public relations has led him to do numerous marketing campaigns for films among others “Tangerines” (2013 by Zaza Urushadze nominated for the 87th Academy Award) and “The Fencer” (2015 by Klaus Härö). He has been working on numerous international service productions including “Tenet” by Christopher Nolan.
Ex-nun Fanny needs to get pregnant in order to survive cancer. She starts a journey to find a perfect father for her miracle child in real life, “Because fate is not connected to the internet”.
Una Rozenbauma is a visionary film director known for blending emotional storytelling with colourful visuals. She has worked as a film director for 17 years. She started her career as a director of commercials and lately has created TV shows and series, short films, music videos, and documentaries. Her work captivates audiences by exploring the complexities of human emotion and relationships, often with a touch of humour. Whether she’s crafting a comedy or drama or a funny documentary, Una’s films leave a lasting aftertaste, making her a colourful and happy voice in contemporary Latvian cinema.
A young boy named Janko runs away from home and stumbles upon a magic whistle. As he embarks on a miraculous journey fuelled by curiosity and desire, Janko is challenged by life-changing events.
Ego Media’s main activity is the production of fiction and documentaries for local and international audiences, as well as services for foreign film productions in Latvia.
Jāzeps Podnieks is a film director from Riga, Latvia. He graduated from the National Film School of the Latvian Academy of Culture with a bachelor’s degree in Film directing in 2022. He is known for fusing the boundaries between documentary, fiction, and experimental cinema while exploring unconventional narrative models. The themes of his work are often associated with mysticism and the obscure. In 2022, he was awarded the Latvian National film award Lielais Kristaps for best short fiction of the year. He is a member of the Baltic Analog Lab (BAL) and Latvian Filmmakers Union (LKS).
Emīlija Mikalauska holds a BA in Production of Audiovisual and Performance Arts from the Latvian Academy of Culture (2024). She has produced several short fiction films, documentaries and a music video. She developed her interest in film through her work on the short film “Lucas Goes to Chernobyl,” a Ukrainian, Latvian, and US co-production, and has worked as a set dresser for commercials. Emīlija is passionate about reflecting different cultures and successfully steers content from idea to production. In 2023, she had a production assistant internship in Los Angeles and also studied film in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Stranded in a magical wilderness after a romantic setback, Frida must rely on her instincts to discern ally from adversary. Her journey home becomes a test of integrity as she navigates the enchanting yet treacherous landscape.
Violent & Serene is a young production company and creative studio that has produced 3 short films and 2 music videos, as well as working with commercial campaigns and photography.
Ieva Aleksejeva (Ieva Aleksa) is a young director who works in the short film and music video industry in Latvia, creating works for such musicians as Carnival Youth, Chris Noah, Aminata, The Bad Tones, and Bēdu Brāļi. In 2022/2023, she was a participant in the Lithuanian Shorts and Baltic Pitching Forum Baltic Women in Film Mentorship program. A member of the Baltic Analog Lab, she has participated in various festivals and retrospectives in Latvia and abroad with her films.
Filips Smits owns In Heaven Ltd. and is the Director of the Creative Studio Violent and Serene. Filip works as a professional photographer and producer of creative projects, winning Latvia’s Foto Kvartāls Award as the best young photographer in 2020. He has participated in several photo exhibitions and his works have been included in various print and digital editions. He is a member of the Baltic Analog Lab artists’ association. In 2019, Filip, together with the Director Ieva Aleksa, participated in the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, representing Latvia in the film category.
This is an uncommon story of apostasy – the abandonment of a religious belief. Aiste, a bright transgender woman from Vilnius, Lithuania, decides to leave the Catholic Church. To do so, she must return to her little hometown and meet the local priest (a requirement for apostasy seekers in Lithuania). Once a firm believer, Aiste now struggles with the Church’s position towards LGBTQIA+ individuals like her. She confronts the priest she knew in childhood, the same one her strict grandmother took her to for Sunday Mass. Now, Aiste identifies as a woman, while the priest has lost his vision, complicating their encounter on multiple levels.
Greta Garbo Films is a company established in 2017 by Greta Akcijonaite, a producer and film distributor with a diverse experience in the film industry. The production company focuses on emerging talents, relevant issues, and bold topics. The company’s vision is to grow together with its talents and, starting with short films, pave the way to their debut feature films. The company just finished producing and co-producing several short films: “Granica” by Maria Magriel, “Left-Handed Pen” by Adas Burksaitis, and “How To Be a Human Being” by Jore Janaviciute.
Elžbieta Latėnaitė is a renowned actress, writer (her first book, “Apsichė” was published at 22), and director of theater/music performances. She wrote numerous texts and organized/participated in protests on LGBTQIA+ issues, as well as women’s and children’s rights. She has experimented with social media sketches addressing mental health and universal human issues, forming an engaged community to discuss these topics, often with a touch of humor, irony, and lightness. Her debut theater play, “Unfamiliar Friends” (for which she is the writer, director, and composer), delves deeply into women’s relationships as friends and competitors, and a homosexual woman’s struggle in Lithuania.
Greta Akcijonaite is the founder of production and distribution company Greta Garbo Films, which focuses on emerging talents development and international co-productions. Greta has a long experience in film exhibition and distribution and has recently returned to production, in her work combining all the experience and tools accumulated over the years. Her credits include being an associate producer in the feature “I am fine, thanks” (dir. E. Jankauskas, 2021) and as producer of several shorts: “How To Be A Human Being” (2022, dir. J. Janaviciute), “Left-handed pen” (2023, dir. A. Burksaitis). Currently, she is also developing several TV series projects with the production company Magic Film.
Industrial crane operator Lukas spends his days lifting marine trade containers at the port. During an intro briefing with a newcomer the realisation of his own sense of stagnation hits him leading to an escapist behaviour. Lukas is now eager to move but he does not know neither where exactly nor how. In such restless state a surreal encounter with his childhood self sparks attempt to save his newborn daughter from inheriting his own stuckness. Lukas’ story is juxtaposed with TV archives from Suez canal blockage creating a metaphor for an enigmatic moment of universal existential crisis. News coverage of the colossal accident causing global disorder serves as a backdrop for Lukas’ intimate struggle to navigate inner chaos.
Con Artist is a fairly new yet very active production company based in Vilnius, Lithuania. The company aims to discover young and aspiring film talents, with a focus on international co-productions.
After gaining a Cinematography (BA) degree at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (2014), Martynas Norvaišas began his career as a camera assistant and DOP in the film and commercial industries. After finishing an MA in Photography and Media Art at Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts, he started his individual creative practice with a primary focus on the changing concept of masculinity (“Men’s Department” limited edition photobook, photo series “Fathers”). His debut short documentary “I Buy” explores consumerism in the light of existentialism. Martynas is currently working on a new film, “Suez”, which was developed at the Baltic Shorts Residency 2024.
Ieva Černiauskaitė is a Lithuanian Producer. Ieva has more than 10 years of experience working in the film industry, having worked on several features as a Production Manager and also has produced multiple commercials and music videos, both in Lithuania and the UK, as an independent producer. She has also worked as a bidding producer in-house at a London-based production company and is currently developing her own production company, focusing on international co-productions
A young woman hurts herself falling from her bike: she tries to hold back tears, but her emotions open a gate to another dimension, and she embarks on a journey of coming to terms with her father’s death. Falling into a multiverse, she alters the course of high-achieving engineer Vincent’s rocket launch: his internal fears in turn cause small interruptions that impact another reality, triggering those of trans man Billie who is walking to the hospital for a breast removal procedure. These characters have no idea about their connection, but subtly help each other in their healing journeys.
Akis bado is an indie animation studio and film production company based in Vilnius, Lithuania. It was founded in 2019 by film producer Giedrė Burokaitė and director-animator Robertas Nevecka. The studio aims to work with film and animation, to tell raw, unexplored stories, and promote the most original local artists.
Vilma Razmutė is a Vilnius-based animator and animation director, alum of the Lithuanian Shorts Mentorship and the Baltic Women in Film Mentorship. Her first animated short, “In a bubble” (2022), was presented at SHORT RIGA Test Screenings and in the National Competitions of BLON and Vilnius Short FF. She worked as an assistant director on “BFF”, the first Lithuanian animated series.
Giedrė Burokaitė is a Lithuanian producer, co-founder of the studio Akis bado, aiming to tell raw, unexplored stories, and promote original local artists. An Emerging Producers graduate, she is currently involved in the production of animated films as well as fiction features. In 2024, Giedrė produced the debut fiction film “Toxic” by director Saulė Bliuvaitė, which won the prestigious Pardo d’oro at the Locarno Film Festival.
Kiki (23) is recounting his memories during a trip that ended with his friend’s suicide. That summer, he made a spur of the moment decision to leave everything he had and travel to the middle of nowhere to visit his middle school friend, Nina (23), whom he has not seen since. Now, he is trying to piece things together, what happened, and why. But he has a bad memory and still does not understand what happened.
The Academy of Dramatic Art is the oldest Croatian higher education institution offering study programs in performing and audiovisual arts.
Sara Alavanić (1998) is currently studying for her master’s degree at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb. She previously majored in Graphic design at the Faculty of Graphic Arts. She is the author of several short fiction films and documentaries. Sara is a member of Blank_film incubator, where she directed “Do you feel nervous when I approach you”, which premiered at ZagrebDox 2020. She also participated in and won several pitching forums, most notably the European Short Pitch 2024.
Lucija Perić (1999) completed her undergraduate studies in Journalism at the Faculty of Political Science in Zagreb, after which she enrolled in the Production program in 2021. As a producer, she has worked on several shorts at the Academy of Dramatic Arts, including the film “It’s Not Cold for Mosquitoes” directed by Josip Lukić and Klara Šovagović, which won the Heart of Sarajevo award for Best Student Film. She has regularly worked on various TV projects and commercials for the past few years. She is an alumna of the Sarajevo Talents program, European Short Pitch, and the New Producers Room.
Maja, a young sound composer, visits her grandmother on a small Mediterranean island. Their inner worlds, one vibrant with sound and the other shrouded in silence due to hearing difficulties, collide. Although Maja tends to focus on her work and exploration of island sounds, she brings a hearing aid to her grandmother, which becomes a turning point, awakening her grandmother’s subconscious world and strengthening their bond. Her grandmother’s initial resistance to the hearing aid uncovers her struggle to cope with the silence and the fear of the unknown.
Adriatic Animation, a boutique production company in Croatia, focuses on high-quality artistic projects to inspire change. Our talented artists explore diverse animation techniques, resulting in visually stunning projects. Our studio tackles bold themes, highlighting the experiences of underrepresented groups and promoting gender equality, equal rights, and sustainability. Our narratives challenge societal norms and spark vital conversations.
Paula Skelin was born in Split, 1992. She has a bachelor’s degree in Film and Video from the Arts Academy in Split. For more than 7 years, she has been an active member of Blank_film incubator and Cinema Club Zagreb, where she was working as assistant director, later on working on her own projects and screenplays as a writer and film director. Her documentary short film “Breed” was awarded at the Mediterranean Film Festival Split 2021. The short fiction film “Loose” was premiered at the Zagreb Film Festival 2021, and it had its international premiere at the 25th Olympia International Film Festival 2022.
Draško Ivezić (1975, Pula, Croatia) works in the animation industry as a film director, scriptwriter, producer, and voice actor. He is the founder of the Croatian animation studio, Adriatic Animation. As the studio’s creative producer, Ivezić is responsible for developing numerous animated projects of different types, from short films to television projects and feature films. As scriptwriter, he won an award together with Chintis Lundgren for the short film “Manivald” at Ottawa International Animation Festival 2017.
An ambitious small-town girl, Lara (30), accompanies her stubborn Grandpa (late 70s)for a quick medical exam in the big city, hoping to score a job offer and fulfil her dreams. While she’s at a job interview trying to make a great impression – Grandpa goes AWOL from the hospital. Turns out, he’s got this bizarre bucket list and proceeds to try to break into a football stadium, get a tattoo, bargain at a restaurant, swim in a lake… Lara gets angry at him for ruining her plans, until she realizes that he has a very good reason for his strange behavior. They end up getting out of this trip not what they expected, but what they actually needed.
ATL MEDIA was founded in 2019. and is a dynamic film production company currently developing its debut feature film. Helmed by an experienced producer Maja Gros with a rich background, including key roles at Fade IN, Toro Laboratorij, VIDA TV, UO PARADOKS, and Blank Filmski Inkubator, the company brings seasoned expertise to the table. The producer has successfully produced over 15 short films and served as a line producer on a feature documentary. She also contributes to the academic field, working as an Organizer of Educational Film Production at the Academy of Dramatic Arts, further solidifying the company’s commitment to high-quality filmmaking and innovation.
Daria Stilin has master’s degrees in Business Economics (2015) and Film Dramaturgy (2020). She’s a film director and screenwriter who worked for Nova TV (Development department, writers’ room for “Kumovi”), and HRT (“Gora” series). Two of her recent projects got funding from the Croatian Audiovisual Centre. She attended programs like TorinoFilmLab, Talents Sarajevo, CineLink Drama, European Showrunner Training, etc., and won the NEM Zagreb contest twice. Most recently, she won the 1st award at the Pula Film Festival in the category for “The most likely box office hit” with “Tied Up”, her first feature film in development. She’s also a festival director of Vrboska Film Festival (short fiction and animated films). Daria has several original projects in development, and is currently writing an 8-part drama series for Drugi plan/Beta Film/ZDF
Maja Gros, born in 1987 in Sisak, studied Multimedia at the University North and received a master’s degree in Production of Audiovisual and Multimedia Projects from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb. She began her professional life working in marketing and PR, after which she devoted herself entirely to film production. She worked as a producer at Fade In, Toro Laboratory, VIDA TV, and as a producer on documentaries by Dario Juričan, for whom she also led a presidential campaign in 2019. She produced her first films in the Blank Film Incubator, where she soon became vice president and regularly teaches Guerrilla Production Workshops and works as a producer. She works as a producer and line producer at ATL Media, which she founded in 2019, and UO Paradoks. She is employed at the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb as an organizer of film teaching production
