20/11/2023 - The winning projects include The Elf by Hannes Vartiainen and Joonas Berghäll, Mamífera by Liliana Torres, and Southern Chronicles by Ignas Miškinis, among others

After its 22nd edition, held from 13-17 November, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, the industry segment of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, concluded by rewarding a number of outstanding projects following a vibrant, five-day event packed with networking, presentations, panel discussions and meetings. Eight awards were granted to film projects in different phases, spanning scriptwriting, development and post-production. Additionally, two awards were presented to commend promising producers.

At the Baltic Event Co-Production Market, a total of 15 projects in development were showcased (see the news). The jury – composed of Lithuanian producer Marija Razgute; Jarod Neece, senior programmer at the Tribeca Film Festival; and Frederik Hemmingsen, sales manager at TrustNordisk – selected The Elf, directed by Hannes Vartiainen and Joonas Berghäll from Finland, as the recipient of the Baltic Project Award. This award includes €10,000, broken down into €5,000 in cash and €5,000 in services provided by YAMDU.

The jury said the prize was “for a story told with a clear vision and path to its realisation. A film for children and adults alike that explores trauma and childhood through a magical lens. A real gift.” The film is being produced by Berghäll for Oktober Oy, and is being co-produced in collaboration with Mathis Ståle Mathisen from Toolbox Film and Rein Film.

Sahraa Karimi received the Screen International Best Pitch Award, which encompasses coverage of the winning film, Flight From Kabul. The producer is Wanda Adamik Hrycova from Slovakia's Wandal Production, and it is being staged in co-production with Domenico Procacci for Fandango. Three producers presenting their projects were honoured with the Producers Network Prize for Promising Young Producers, entitling them to participate in the 2024 Cannes Marché du Film. The recipients were Anna Gawlita and Marta Szymanowska for La Manche, and Rea Rajčić for Pogana.

Nineteen projects were showcased across three categories – International, Baltic Event and Just Film Works in Progress – during the event (see the news). Mamífera [+see also:
film review
film profile], written and directed by Liliana Torres, was crowned Best International Project and thus received a €7,000 cash prize from Studio Beep. The jury highlighted the film's robust subject and storyline, emphasising a poignant moment from the footage that lingered in their discussions. Mamífera is in production, under the guidance of Spain's Carla Sopedra Salvadó (Edna Cinema) and Miriam Porté (Distinto Films).

The Best Baltic Project, which will also receive a €7,000 cash prize from Studio Beep, was Southern Chronicles by Lithuanian filmmaker Ignas Miškinis, “a very authentic but very relatable story, which is especially impressive and challenging as a comedy”. The Lithuanian-Estonian co-production is being staged by Lukas Trimonis for In Script and Esko Rips for Nafta Films. As for the Just Film Award, which includes a €1,000 monetary prize to help the film gain visibility by covering promotion and publicity costs, it went to Two of Me by Estonian twin brothers Raul Esko and Romet Esko (see the news), with the jury underlining: “If young people were to need extra motivation to carry out their crazy plans, let this be our motivation for the Estonian team working on Two of Me.”

Finally, in Script Pool, the most promising project received a €5,000 monetary prize from PWC, and the film in question was What Remains, written and directed by Léon Yersin, and produced by David Fonjallaz for Lomotion AG. It was rewarded for its “script that explores, in depth, the tragedy of the loss of a father not by destiny but by choice, and the way it can dramatically affect the life of his son”. Besides this, the jury handed a Special Mention to Rise of the Water Fox, written by Elisabeth Kužovnik and Carlos E Lesmes, and directed by the latter.

Here is the full list of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event award winners:

Baltic Event Co-production Market

Best Project Award
The Elf - Hannes Vartiainen, Joonas Berghäll (Finland/Belgium/Norway)
Producer: Joonas Berghäll (Oktober Oy)
Co-producers: Mathis Ståle Mathisen (Toolbox Film), Rein Film

Screen International Best Pitch Award
Flight From Kabul - Sahraa Karimi (Slovakia/Italy)
Producer: Wanda Adamik Hrycova (Wandal Production)
Co-producer: Domenico Procacci (Fandango)

Cannes Marché du Film Producers Network Award
Anna Gawlita, Marta Szymanowska (Kijora Film, Poland; project: La Manche)
Rea Rajčić (Eclectica, Croatia; project: Pogana)

Works in Progress

Best International Project Award
Mamífera [+see also:
film review
film profile] - Liliana Torres (Spain)
Producers: Carla Sopedra Salvadó (Edna Cinema), Miriam Porté (Distinto Films)

Best Baltic Project Award
Southern Chronicles - Ignas Miškinis (Lithuania/Estonia)
Producer: Lukas Trimonis (In Script)
Co-producer: Esko Rips (Nafta Films)

Just Film Award
Two of Me - Raul Esko, Romet Esko (Estonia)
Producers: Rain Rannu, Tõnu Hiielaid, Kirill Volkov (Tallifornia)

Script Pool Tallinn

Script Pool Award
What Remains - Léon Yersin (Switzerland)
Producer: David Fonjallaz (Lomotion AG)
Special Mention
Rise of the Water Fox - Carlos E Lesmes (Estonia)
Producer: Johanna Maria Paulson (Stellar Film)