The Script Pool competition is part of the film market activities of Industry@Tallinn &; Baltic Event and the Discovery Campus education programme and highlights five international projects and the team - director, screenwriter and producer - behind them. The aim is to gather film projects with a high distribution value and a final draft. Focusing on the script and the overall project presentation, the projects and their teams will be presented to international industry decision-makers (sales agents, financiers and co-producers) whose input will increase their sales and distribution potential.
2024 Script Pool projects include:
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Backstage - directed and written by Can Merdan Doğan, produced by Jamila Wenske and Kristians Riekstins, production companies: Gustav Film GmbH, Achtung Panda! (Turkey, Germany)
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Fabula Rasa - written by Miriam Suad Bühler and Maurice Sinner, produced by Steffen Gerdes and Okan Üzey, production companies: Red Balloon Film, maze pictures and Red Lion (Germany, Luxembourg, Canada)
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Kingpins - directed by Kristians Riekstins, produced by Alise Rogule, production company Mima Films (Latvia)
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The Caregiver - directed and written by Miia Tervo, produced by Marko Talli, production company Yellow Film & TV (Finland)
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The Queen Of Thule - directed by Ewa Wikiel, written and produced by Paula Redlefsen, production company ScriptDock (Germany, Poland, Norway)
Triin Tamberg, the manager of Script Pool programme commented that this year’s selection includes exciting projects that would resonate with audiences. "During the event, project representatives will have an excellent opportunity to work with renowned script doctors and improve their pitch, which will surely increase the projects' potential in the future," she adds, as each project will be able to pitch its story to a top specialist in the field and receive one-on-one feedback.
The Script Pool programme includes panels and workshops that provide valuable insight for proceeding with the first film project and various opportunities to meet industry professionals to build the professional network. Also, each participant will work closely together with script advisor Marietta von Hausswolff von Baumgarten to receive feedback on the project and with a screenwriter and script consultant David Pope who will help the team create a 5-minute pitch.
Script Pool also has continued its collaboration with International Screen Institute which carries out four tailor-made workshops focusing on audience design, the role of the sales company, film distribution and festival strategy. In addition, The Business of Film session by Patrick Fischer from Creativity Capital covers the financing and recoupment structures in independent filmmaking as well as explores how financiers evaluate the project and what elements they care about.
In its 8th edition Script Pool also continues its co-operation with T-Port, the online short film market. T-Port has supported the selection process and also showcases past short films from Script Pool directors. See more here
As a part of the competition all participants will pitch their project. The winners of the Script Pool competition main award - the most promising project - will receive an exclusive opportunity to attend The Write Retreat in Mallorca, presented by Law Firm TGS Baltic.
The winning project will be selected by the jury, including Moritz Peters, Director Marketing & Acquisitions at Plaion Pictures GMBH, Fabien Westerhoff, CEO and Partner at Film Constellation and Margrit Stärk, Director Acquisitions & Coproductions Feature Films ZDF.
Bios of the jury members
Moritz Peters has been in charge of theatrical marketing and acquisition of films distributed by Plaion Pictures since 2009. These include the recent winners of the Palme d’Or in Cannes: PARASITE (2019) by Bong Joon Ho, TITANE (2021) by Julia Ducournau, and ANATOMY OF A FALL (2023) by Justine Triet. Plaion Pictures is also a regular distribution partner of award-winning directors Park Chan-wook, Nicolas Winding Refn and Joachim Trier.
Fabien Westerhoff is the founder of Film Constellation, an integrated production, finance and sales company headquartered in London and Paris. The company specializes in growing award-winning filmmaker brands, and continues to expand its diverse talent slate. A French and German national by way of England and West Africa, Fabien speaks fluent English, Spanish, French and German.
Margrit Stärk studied film in Munich. After graduation, she worked as a freelancer for TV stations & PR agencies. In 1994, she expanded her expertise with a degree in Media Marketing. In 1995, she moved to Mainz to start at ZDF Enterprises. Currently, Margrit Stärk serves as Director of Acquisitions & Coproductions at ZDF Studios, where she purchases & co-produces feature films for ZDF. Margrit is the co-founder of the SI STAR Award, which honours female directors since its inception in 2015.
Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, taking place on 15-22 November, is a week-long summit for film and audiovisual industry professionals held during the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. In 2024, the summit will provide a whole line of events covering the most sizzling questions in the sector.
