The Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event has selected 17 films representing a variety of genres and production stages for its 2024 Works in Progress program. This film showcase, held as part of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, gives directors an opportunity to gain exposure, feedback, and support necessary to complete their projects.
Organizers received a record number of submissions this year and have divided the selections into three sections based on the films’ origins and subjects. The International Works in Progress section features seven films in early production from countries around Europe. Four of these directors are debuting their first feature films. Another notable category is Baltic Event Works in Progress, presenting four locally-produced films tackling social themes from Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia.
The lineup also includes six films for children and young adult audiences in the Just Film Works in Progress section. Projects like “Little Elephant in the Woods” and “The River” profile diverse casts of adolescent characters. Program head Marge Liiske explained they accepted fewer total films than usual to allow more presentation time for each director. This change aims to provide festival programmers and sales agents a thorough understanding of the visual style and narrative tone for each film.
A jury including representatives from the Tribeca Film Festival, First Cut Lab, and Gaumont Film Company will evaluate projects in the International and Baltic categories. The winning films will receive €7,000 in funding and services to support completing post-production. A separate panel of industry experts will also judge the Just Film section and reward the top project with €1,000 for promotional activities.
As challenges in the film industry continue, the Works in Progress program plays a crucial role connecting emerging storytellers with resources. By showcasing a variety of global perspectives and production stages, the event furthers its mission of enabling future generations of artists and innovators in cinema. The overall Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival is scheduled for November 8-24, 2024 and will feature screenings, talks, and celebrations of films from around the world.
