Since its inception in 2013, the Baltic Pitching Forum (BPF) has brought together filmmakers and industry from the Baltics and beyond. Facilitating interaction, co-operation, and co-production between filmmakers, the BPF boasts an impressive slate of alumni, amongst them Estonian filmmaker Anna Hints (winner of the 2023 Best Director, World Cinema Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film Festival) and Lithuanian director Laurynas Bareiša (winner of the Venice FIlm Festival Orrizonti Award for Best Debut Feature in 2021).
The 11th edition of the BPF will continue to bring many short film projects into the spotlight as well as bringing the short film industry together as they will gather between 10–13 October in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The BPF will welcome 12 projects from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and this year’s guest country Greece. 2023 will mark the first time when the Forum invites a guest country that is located out of the Baltic sea region. With Greece currently a hotbed for the short film form, with numerous success stories emanating from the region over the past few years, the BPF will look forward to Greek and Baltic filmmakers coming together with a rich selection of projects and forming a basis for future collaborations over the coming years.
Eligible applicants are Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian and Greek film directors and/or producers who have finished at least one short film and are developing new fiction, animation or hybrid projects which are up to 30 minutes and aimed at an international audience. A film must be in its early development stage with production planned for no earlier than 2024. The deadline for applications is 20 July, 2023.
Selected participants will be invited to a four-day training and pitching event on the 10–13 October which includes pitching training with a tutor Gabriele Brunnemeyer, one-to-one meetings with the experts and networking events. Additional events such as lectures, panels, presentations and alumni showcases will be open to everyone. Prior to the BPF, filmmakers will take part in an online script consultation with scriptwriting expert consultant Anna Bielak.
Pitched projects will be evaluated by professionals from the fields of festivals, TV, distribution, production and film commissioning. Projects originating from the Baltic region will have the opportunity to win participant rights at the Talents and Short Film Market initiative “You Only Pitch Twice” (Italy) and 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, whilst the Yle TV Pre-buy Award, initiated by the Finnish Broadcasting Company, will also be up for grabs.
The event 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).
Project is supported by the Lithuanian Council for Culture, Lithuanian Film Centre, Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme for Culture, Audiovisual Works Copyright Association “AVAKA” and Vilnius City Municipality. Partners – Creative Europe MEDIA Desks in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, Greek Film Centre, Drama International Short Film Festival and Vilnius Film Office.
Application deadline: 20 July.
Apply to the Baltic Pitching Forum here.
