The projects taking part in Works in Progress will be presented on 22-24 November 2022 at Coca-Cola Plaza cinema hall, the presentations can also be followed on the industry.poff.ee website.
Baltic Event Works in Progress, celebrating its 20th birthday, will present eight projects. According to Maria Ulfsak, the Programme Manager of Baltic Event Works in Progress, the selection gives a good overview of the region's current state of forthcoming films.
The Baltic Event Works in Progress includes three projects from Estonia - Rain Rannu’s Free Money and Miguel Llanso’s Infinite Summer. An Estonian-Finnish co-production, 8 Views of Lake Biwa by Marko Raat, is also in the showcase. Representing Finland is a dark comedy Death is a Problem for the Living by Teemu Nikki. Baltic Event Works in Progress also includes three Latvian-Lithuanian co-productions: Black Velvet by Liene Linde, Life Interrupted by Ilze Kunga-Melgaile and Lotus by Signe Birkova. In addition, Anna LOL by Ivars Tontegode from Latvia is in the selection.
The 8th International Works in Progress includes five projects by renowned directors. Jatla Siddartha returns to Tallin with his second feature, a drama In The Belly of the Tiger, co-produced together with India, China, United States, France and Taiwan. This year’s Industry@Talinn &; Baltic Event Focus Country Israel is presented with a family drama Ruth directed by social activist and filmmaker Esty Shushan. Awarded film director Heitor Dhallia presents the drama The Ballad of a Hustler from United States and Brazil in the showcase. The selection also includes two debuts: Edgar De Luque Jácome, a writer-director from Puerto Rico presents a co-production of Puerto Rico, Colombia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, The Fisherman's Daughter, taking a closer look at the disintegration of the family and human relationships with animals and Czech and Slovakian co-production Waltzing Matilda by screenwriter, renowned documentary and theatre director and author of TV dramas Petr Slavík. 20 000 Species of Bees by Estibaliz Urresola from Spain presents a coming-of-age story exploring the relationship between body, gender, and identity.
Triin Tramberg, the manager of Works in Progress commented that she is very happy to see that two projects in the showcase have been part of Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event before - the scripts of In The Belly of the Tiger and 20 000 Species of Bees have taken part of the summit’s competition Script Pool years before.
The jury of Baltic Event and international Works in Progress consists of independent consultant in festivals strategy and implementation Ariane Buhl, Thorsten Ritter from world sales and co-financing company Beta Cinema, and programmer for Giornate degli Autori (Venice Days), Bildrausch (Filmfest Basel) and One World Romania Andrei Tanasescu.
Just Film Works in Progress showcases six feature films including the first feature film Jonja by Anika Mätzke from Germany and Raw Material by emerging film director Martin Boross from Hungary. Luis Zorraquin, a film director and screenwriter from Argentina presents a co-production with Brazil, the drama Kissing Bug. Romania is presented in the showcase with the drama Government of Children, directed by Ioana Mischie. An award-winning director Teemu Nikki from Finland takes part with his newest Snot and Splash. The showcase also includes a co-production of Turkey, Mexico and Lebanon, a drama Empire of the Rabbits by Seyfettin Tokmak.
The jury of Just Film Works in Progress includes Nicola Jones, head of the German Children’s Media Foundation, Margreet Cornelius, senior project leader at the Network Film Education and Jaak Kilmi, film director (Sleeping Beast (2022), Christmas in the Jungle (2020), Juminda: On the Burning Sea (2023)).
Baltic Event Works in Progress selection
8 Views of Lake Biwa County: Estonia, Finland Director: Marko Raat Producers: Ivo Felt, Dora Nedeczky Production company: Allfilm, Bufo
Anna LOL Country: Latvia Director: Ivars Tontegode Producer: Guna Stahovska Production company: Mojo Raiser Production, SIA KMVKP
Black Velvet Country: Latvia, Lithuania Director: Liene Linde Producer: Guntis Trekteris Production company: Ego Media
Death is a Problem for the Living Country: Finland Director: Teemu Nikki Producer: Jani Pösö Production company:
Free Money Country: Estonia Director: Rain Rannu Producers: Tõnu Hiielaid, Rain Rannu Production company: Tallifornia
Infinite Summer Country: Estonia Director: Miguel Llanso Producer: Tõnu Hiielaid Production company: Tallifornia
Life Interrupted Country: Latvia, Lithuania Director: Ilze Kunga- Melgaile Producers: Aija Bērziņa, Marija Razgute Production company: Tasse Film
Lotus Country: Latvia, Lithuania Director: Signe Birkova Producers: Dominiks Jarmakovičs, Roberts Viniovskis
International Works in Progress selection
The Ballad of a Hustler Countries: United States, Brazil Director: Heitor Dhalia Producer: Bernardo Barreto Production company: Berny Films
Ruth Country: Israel Director: Esty Shushan Producers: David Silber, Sivan Cohen Production company: Metro Communications
Waltzing Matilda Countries: Czech Republic, Slovakia Director: Petr Slavík Producers: Nataša Slavíková, Vít Janeček Production companies: Phoenix Production, VIRUSfilm
In The Belly of A Tiger Countries: India, China, United States, France, Taiwan Director: Siddhartha Jatla Producers: Patrick Mau Huang, Sarada Uma, Bhavana Goparaju, Esther Lee, Production company: JATLA PICTURES LLP
The Fisherman's Daughter Countries: Puerto Rico, Colombia, Brazil Director: Edgar De Luque Jácome Producer: Annabelle Mullen Pacheco Production company: Belle Films
20 000 Species of Bees Country: Spain Director: Estibaliz Urresola Producers: Lara Izagirre, Valérie Delpierre Production companies: Gariza Films, Inicia Films.
Just Film Works in Progress selection
Jonja Country: Germany Director: Anika Mätzke Producers: Norman Bernien, Christoph Holthof, Daniel Reich Production company: kurhaus production
Snot and Splash Country: Finland Director: Teemu Nikki Producers: Jani Pösö, Ari Matikainen Production company: It's Alive Films
Empire of The Rabbits Countries: Türkiye, Mexico, Lebanon, France Director: Seyfettin Tokmak Producer: Zeynep Koray Production company: ZKF
Government of Children Country: Romania Director: Ioana Mischie Producer: Irina Petrescu Production company: Studioset Production
Kissing Bug Countries: Argentina, Brazil, Director: Luis Zorraquin Producer: Esteban Lucangioli, Bruno Autran Porduction company: Pelicano Cine, Labuta Filmes
Raw Material Country: Hungary Director: Martin Boross Producer: Gábor Osváth Production company: Filmfabriq
Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, taking place on 20-25 November is a five-day summit for film and audiovisual industry professionals held during Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. In 2022, the summit will focus on gathering film professionals in Tallinn, Estonia as well as bringing them together online, welcoming projects and participants from around the globe. Last year Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event welcomed over 700 industry delegates from 60 countries.