Ever since its launch in 2013, the Baltic Pitching Forum (BPF) has encouraged the best and brightest filmmaking talents of the Balitc countries to develop their short film projects by giving them the opportunity to pitch their projects to a network of industry professionals and to take part in a series of workshops and training sessions. Giving participants invaluable one-to-one feedback as well allowing unparalleled networking opportunities for all those attending, the Baltic Pitching Forum is now one of the key events on the Baltic Film Industry calendar. Every year, the BPF welcomes applications that showcase projects that have international potential as they display creative skill and flair alongside a unique artistic vision.
On confirming that Hungary will be the guest country for the BPF 2025, Rimantė Daugėlatė, the head of the Baltic Pitching Forum said:
“We’re very excited that Hungary will be joining us at the Baltic Pitching Forum in 2025. I attended the top Hungarian film festival Friss Hús in 2024, in order to celebrate the Baltic retrospective held by the festival, and I saw firsthand the talented individuals and creative projects that Hungary has to offer. We look forward to some of these talents attending the BPF and networking with not only some leading lights of the film industry but also sharing knowledge and ideas with their filmmaking peers.”
Filmmakers eligible for application include directors and producers from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Hungary who have completed at least one short film and are currently working on new fiction, animation, or hybrid projects intended for international audiences, with a duration of up to 30 minutes. Projects must be in their early developmental phase. The application deadline is 29 June.
Previous projects presented at the Baltic Pitching Forum have gone on to much success, screening and winning awards at such top festivals as Cannes, Berlin, Locarno and Annecy alongside a raft of the most lauded short film festivals across the globe. BPF alumni, such as Anna Hints or Laurynas Bareiša, have also become lauded for their feature film work, winning awards at the likes of Sundance, Venice and Locarno.
Selected participants will attend a four-day training and pitching event, which includes sessions with tutor Gabriele Brunnemeyer, exclusive one-on-one meetings with experts, and various networking opportunities. Moreover, participants will have access to additional events – lectures, panels, presentations, and alumni showcases. Before the Forum, filmmakers will engage in online script consultations led by scriptwriting expert consultant Anna Bielak.
Experts from various sectors, including festivals, television, distribution, production, and film commissioning, will evaluate the pitched projects. Projects originating from the Baltic region will have the opportunity to win participant rights at two industry events: the European Short Film Co-production Forum EURO CONNECTION, which is a part of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival (France), and ShorTO Film Market and its initiative “You only Pitch Twice” (Italy). 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. One more project will receive a Sound Post-Production Award – a prize of sound post-production services valued at 2000 €, established by Up Records studio (Lithuania). Additional awards will be revealed as the event approaches.
Baltic Pitching Forum is organized by the Lithuanian Short Film Agency “Lithuanian Shorts”. The project is financed by the Lithuanian Film Centre, Vilnius City Municipality, Audiovisual Works Copyright Association “AVAKA” and Baltisches Haus. Associated partners: Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS, Riga IFF, Latvian Short Film Agency and PÖFF Shorts (Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival). Partners – Creative Europe MEDIA Desks in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Italian Short Film Center, Estonian Film Institute, Friss Hús Budapest International Short Film Festival.
Application deadline: 29 June.
Apply to the Forum via https://bpf.lt/submit/.
