Marge Liiske, the head of Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event, comments that the summit has a wide range of training programs for young professionals, aimed at nurturing various talents across the film industry. “Our best-known initiative is the Discovery Campus, which caters to script writer-director-producer teams, actors, film music composers, costume and set designers, and cinematographers. We also focus on training below-the-line professionals, young producers, and directors working on their first feature films. However, we identified a gap in support for sales professionals, distributors, and programmers – a gap that is now being addressed with the launch of a new program at Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event.”
According to Liiske the new program, inspired by the success of Locarno Pro, is a pivotal step in empowering the next generation of sales professionals, distributors, and programmers. “By equipping them with cutting-edge knowledge and skills, we're not just educating individuals – we're strengthening the entire industry. This initiative reflects our commitment to fostering a global network of talent that will drive the future of film and media to new heights,” she adds.
Tallinn Industry Academy will be coordinated by the regional project manager Eda Koppel, who has vast experience in the industry including as Head of Marketing at the Estonian Film Institute. She will coordinate the event with the support of Locarno Industry Academy Project Manager Marion Klotz.
Klotz adds: “We are thrilled to launch an Academy in Tallinn, the 13th of an already strong international network, now extending to the Baltics and northern Europe. The Black Nights Film Festival, with the Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event, is an established and strong partner, and we are sure it is the beginning of a great collaboration that will bring a lot to the emerging professionals of the region.”
Tallinn Industry Academy program is primarily designed for young professionals working with boutique (small and medium-sized) markets, who are interested in improving their skills and expanding their network of contacts in the fields of sales, marketing, distribution, exhibition, and programming/curating. It is particularly beneficial for those already working with an established company or having significant experience in the aforementioned fields.
All together 10-12 participants are welcome to attend the program during Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event. The deadline for applications is 19 September 2024.
About the Industry Academy
Created by the Locarno Film Festival in 2014, the Industry Academy is an intensive training program specifically aimed at emerging professionals working in international film sales, marketing, distribution, exhibition and programming, fostering their development and helping them to better understand the challenges of the industry, as well as to expand their network. It also aims to build bridges of collaboration across different markets in Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southern Africa. Important in its approach is to respect the specificity of each territory, with a diverse and decentralized approach.
