The Baltic Pitching Forum (BPF) is now accepting applications for its 12th edition which runs from October 8th-11th in Vilnius, Lithuania. Launched in 2013, the BPF gathers producers from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and beyond with new short projects and introduces them to industry professionals and provides them intensive pitch training and invaluable one-on-one guidance. With numerous influential figures from the film industry present to observe and provide feedback on the pitched projects, the event aims not only to enhance participants’ knowledge and visibility but also to potentially facilitate successful co-production opportunities.
In the upcoming 12th edition of the Baltic Pitching Forum, Croatia will be honored as the guest country. According to Rimantė Daugėlatė, the head of the Baltic Pitching Forum: “Croatia has produced some amazing short films over the past few years – indeed there are short films from both Lithuania and Croatia playing in the Official Short FIlm Competition in the upcoming edition of Cannes. We hope to not only be able to share knowledge and ideas but – in highlighting another country that, like the Baltic States, has a relatively small population – we will show that places with less resources for their local film industries still have a plethora of talent and amazing films that will appeal internationally.”
Previous alumni of the BPF have seen much success over the past few years. Estonian filmmakers Anna Hints and Tushar Prakash Sauna Day was one of the winning projects when it was pitched at the BPF in 2022 and the film will now premiere during this year’s edition of Cannes Critics’ Week. Latvian sci-fi film Limo (dir. Tina Zarina), also pitched at the 2022 edition of the BPF, has had a successful festival career over the past year including screenings at PÖFF Shorts (Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival). Lithuanian animation The One Who Knows by Eglė Davidavičė, one of the winners at BPF 2020, premiered this year at Vilnius IFF Kino Pavasaris, where it won the Best Lithuanian Short Film award, and now is one of the nominees for Unifrance Short Film Prize, which will be presented during the Cannes Film Festival 2024.
Selected participants will attend a four-day training and pitching event, which includes sessions with tutor Gabriele Brunnemeyer, exclusive one-on-one meetings with experts, and various networking opportunities. Moreover, participants will have access to additional events – lectures, panels, presentations, and alumni showcases. Before the Forum, filmmakers will engage in online script consultations led by scriptwriting expert consultant Anna Bielak.
Filmmakers eligible for application include directors and producers from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Croatia who have completed at least one short film and are currently working on new fiction, animation, or hybrid projects intended for international audiences, with a duration of up to 30 minutes. Projects must be in their early developmental phase. The application deadline is June 25.
Experts from various sectors including festivals, television, distribution, production, and film commissioning will evaluate the pitched projects. Projects originating from the Baltic region will have the opportunity to win participant rights at the European Short Film Co-production Forum EURO CONNECTION which is a part of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival (France). In addition, one project will be awarded with a Baltic Producers MEDIA Award (1000 €), initiated by the Creative Europe MEDIA Desks in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Additional awards will be revealed as the event approaches.
Baltic Pitching Forum is organized by the Lithuanian Short Film Agency “Lithuanian Shorts” in association with the Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS, Riga IFF and PÖFF Shorts (Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival).
Baltic Pitching Forum is organized by the Lithuanian Short Film Agency “Lithuanian Shorts”, which is financed by the Lithuanian Council for Culture, in association with the Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS, Riga IFF and PÖFF Shorts (Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival).
The project is financed by the Lithuanian Film Centre, Audiovisual Works Copyright Association “AVAKA” and Vilnius City Municipality. Partners – Creative Europe MEDIA Desks in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Croatia, Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Italian Short Film Center and Vilnius Film Office.
Application deadline: 25 June.
Apply to the Forum: here.
