11 Nordic projects will be introduced to more than 40 sales agents and 380 professionals during Baltic Event (November 21-24). 

It will be party time for many Baltic, Nordic, European and Russian professionals gathered in Tallinn to celebrate not only the 15th anniversary of Baltic Event (November 21-24) but also the 20th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (November 11-27), the 5th Europa International sales agents annual conference and 5th anniversary of Eye on Films distribution platform.

“There is no doubt that all projects pitched and film screenings here will benefit from the exceptional presence of so many industry people, said Marge Liiske, Head of Industry@Tallinn and Baltic Event.

Five projects pitched at the Co-Production market and vying for the €20,000 Eurimages Co-production Development Award are coming from Nordics: 

  • As I Fall (NO) by newcomer Magnus Meyer Arnesen, is a realistic drama about addiction, based on the director’s personal experience. The film is produced by DNF Masters (production outfit representing Norwegian national film school projects) 
  • East of Sweden (FI) by Simo Halinen (Open Up to Me) is a drama produced by Kaiho Republic B-Plan Distribution has domestic rights. 
  • Fear Eats the Soul (SE) by up and coming Maria Eriksson is a new take on Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s 1974 film Ali: Fear East the Soul. Anagram Film & TV is producing and Scanbox has domestic rights. 
  • Ibracadabra (SE) is the second film by Karzan Kader (Bekas), produced by TMV in co-production with Toolbox (DK) and MRP Matila Röhr Productions (FI). It’s the story of a young boy who gains self-confidence when finding soccer shoes that he believes belong to Zlatan. 
  • Vinski and the Invisibility Powder (FI) by Juha Wuolijoki (Christmas Story) is a children’s film based on the 1954 book Vinski of the Town by Finnish author Aapeli. Snapper Films is producing. 

Two Finnish films previously pitched at the Finnish Film Affair are attending Baltic Event’s Works in Progress:

  • Law of the Land by Jussi Hiltunen (Making Movies) and 
  • The Eternal Road by AJ Annila (sold by TrustNordisk). The film is produced by MRP Matila Röhr with Estonia’s long-time partner Taska Film and the two companies are also pitching in Tallinn the Estonia film The Dissidents by Jaak Kilmi (Revolution of Pigs).

Another four Nordic projects are selected for the POWR pitch forum for scriptwriters, including Scenes from a Dying Town by Kaisa El Ramly that won the Nordic Talents Pitch Prize 2016.

The 12 Baltic Event Works in progress and 14 International Works in progress will compete for three awards including the new Baltic Event Works in Progress Award (€3,000). 

Liiske said that topics on the agenda during the industry days include New Talent development and production, with a presentation of the Danish Film Institute’s New Danish Screen and a speed dating session between young Baltic, Scandinavian and Polish producers.

The new Estonian tax incentive (still in its pilot phase) with its €500,000 budget for 2016 and €1 million for 2017 will be introduced to foreign producers who can claim reimbursements of up to 30% of local production spend. For further details, check: http://be.poff.ee/