The 23rd edition of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, the key summit for audiovisual professionals in Northern Europe, kicked off November 15 . The eight-day programme of nearly 200 lectures, workshops, masterclasses and market meetings will bring together more than 800 professionals in Tallinn and online. 

According to Marge Liiske, the Head of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, this year’s event focuses on the role of the cinema. “As the world undergoes profound changes, the role of cinema is more important than ever. At a time when humanity faces environmental challenges, social injustice and unrelenting conflict, our films need to be more than entertainment; they need to be calls to empathy, understanding and action.”

With nearly 200 talks, panels and workshops, 85 of which are open to all, the programme offers guidance and fresh perspectives to move towards a sustainable, inclusive and impactful film industry. In addition, the programme encourages cross-generational collaboration, sharing expertise, mentorship, and welcoming new storytellers. “Together, we can cultivate a culture of mutual learning and respect, where experienced professionals play an active role in nurturing new voices. We’re excited to introduce Shorts Industry Shortcut, a new platform dedicated to emerging filmmakers, a new children and youth film section of our established Baltic Event Co-production Market, as well as the launch of the Tallinn Industry Academy and the AI Atelier,” adds Liiske.

Besides the new additions, the programme also includes established events such as the series-oriented TV Beats Forum (18-19 Nov), which focuses on the needs and trends of the drama series field, and the second edition of Just Film Industry Days (20-22 Nov), the two-day industry event that continues to ride a youthful wave with an eye on international and educational growth. 

One of the highlights is the 10th Industry Innovation Forum (20 Nov), a special edition format as an official sidebar of the Tallinn Digital Summit, looking back and looking forward to the future competitiveness of the European audiovisual, content and media ecosystem.

 High-quality projects and valued networking opportunities

Over the years, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event has been appreciated for its effective networking scene. This year’s industry programme features 76 films and series projects seeking partners, resulting in hundreds of one-to-one meetings throughout the week.

The TV Beats Co-Financing Market will showcase 10 series projects, celebrating the diversity of today’s episodic storytelling. Meanwhile, the MIDPOINT Institute’s Series Launch will showcase 9 new projects. In 2024, the first-ever TV Beats Screening Day will be launched, featuring the premieres of five high quality series. The Baltic Event Co-Production Market will present 14 projects, including children’s and youth films for the first time with the potential to inspire the next generation of cinema enthusiasts. The Script Pool will showcase five fresh film projects. The 10th European Genre Forum will spotlight eight genre projects, while the 16 Works in Progress projects offer insights into a range of unique story worlds. 

Introducing new awards

At its 23rd edition, Industry@Tallinn &  Baltic Event introduces several new awards. 

The winner of the TV Beats Co-Financing market will receive the Series Co-Production Development Award, worth 50,000 euros. The best project at Baltic Event Co-Production market will be handed The Eurimages Co-Production Development Award that includes a non-reimbursable subsidy of €20,000. Also, one of the projects of European Genre Forum, celebrating its 10th anniversary, will receive an award of 25,000 euros by ATM Virtual. Just Film Works in Progress projects are competing for a new award by Nafta Films handed out to to accelerate production for the most promising project, valued at 2500 euros. 

For the first time, with the support of Yamdu, Public Favourite Awards will be introduced in all project pitching categories (except MIDPOINT Series Launch). The guests can rate all the projects presented with a 5 point system at the voting platform set up by Votemo and the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony. 

Additionally, for the first time, the best Estonian project will be selected and awarded by the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency. The award consists of up to 4,000 euros to be used in 2025 to promote the project at film markets in Europe or North America.