The three-week intensive script development program "Baltic Shorts Residency" is calling for filmmakers from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to join its sixth edition, taking place in the small town of Kintai, Lithuania, from June 1 to 21. Guided by the expertise of scriptwriting consultant Anna Ciennik, participants will develop their newest short film scripts.
With many years of experience as a script consultant, Anna Ciennik has contributed to several development labs and residencies, including La Résidence by Cannes Film Festival, Locarno Residency, Ikusmira Berriak Residency by San Sebastian Film Festival, BoostNL founded jointly by Holland Film’s Meetings & Rotterdam’s Cinemart, Open Doors Hub, Lab & Consultancy run by Locarno Film Festival, Plot Script Lab, European Short Pitch, and Alpi Film Lab, a scheme by TorinoFilmLab and the Italian Cinema Film Festival of Annecy. Anna is a member of the Collectif 5050.
The achievements of alumni from the "Baltic Shorts Residency" underscore the program's positive impact on the professionalism of short films and filmmakers in the Baltic regions. Among the thirteen projects developed at the Residency, 8 were selected for the “Baltic Pitching Forum”, with three of them winning main prizes. Six projects have reached fruition, and three have successfully secured funding and will premiere in the upcoming years. Both filmmakers and short films receive recognition not only nationally but also internationally. Last month, Lithuanian filmmaker Kristijonas Dirsė presented his project "Out", developed at the Residency, to international film industry experts at the European short film co-production forum "Euro Connection", where the project secured its place after winning the Baltic Pitching Forum 2023. Last year, two projects developed at the Residency premiered in prestigious Baltic film festivals: the short film "Skin of a Mandarin" by Estonian filmmaker Jaanika Arum premiered at PÖFF Shorts | Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, and the short film "Limo" by Latvian film director Tīna Zariņa had its national premiere at Riga International Film Festival RIGA IFF.
The Baltic Shorts Residency 2024 will take place in Kintai, situated in a rural environment on the coast of the Curonian Lagoon. This region is rich in spectacular nature, interesting history, and exclusive craftsmen. Participants will be accommodated at the residency space called "Kintai Arts."
Eligible applicants are film directors and scriptwriters who are citizens of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, have previously produced a short film and are developing a new one which is fiction, animation or a hybrid of the two. The submitted project must be in its early script development stage, up to 30 minutes long and aimed at an international audience. The Baltic Shorts Residency 2024 attendees will be committed to apply with their projects to the Baltic Pitching Forum held in Vilnius in October.
The Baltic Shorts Residency is organized by Lithuanian Shorts, which is co-funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture. Residency is funded by the Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme for Culture in partnership with Kintai Arts, PÖFF Shorts | Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Riga International Film Festival, Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS and Latvian Animation Association.
Application deadline – 1 April, 2024. Register HERE.
The Residency’s regulations can be found HERE.
For more information visit here.
