19/06/2024 - A total of 26 projects will be featured at the upcoming edition of the leading Baltic event, which will run in Riga from 1-6 September

Emptiness by Viesturs Kairišs

Baltic Sea Docs (BSD), the leading documentary pitching event in the Baltic region, has finalised its project selection for its 28th edition, which will be held in Riga from 1-6 September. The selection comprises 22 projects currently in development and production, along with four projects in the post-production phase, featured in the forum's “Coming Soon” session.

The 26 chosen projects represent film studios from 17 countries, including Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, Ukraine and Georgia. These projects cover a diverse array of topics, such as the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, environmental issues, and poetic journeys exploring societal processes, compelling characters, aspects of popular culture and much more.

Zane Balčus, manager of BSD, commented: “The growing number of submissions shows the importance of Baltic Sea Docs for filmmakers from the region and those working on projects thematically related and relevant to the territory. We are very happy to feature projects from so many different countries in this year's selection. In addition to the new projects being pitched in the main section, the Coming Soon session, for the second time, will showcase projects at the post-production stage returning to the forum, thus also enticing more festival representatives to be present among our industry guests.”

Before the pitch, the new project teams will participate in a workshop led by international industry experts. These include experienced documentary film consultant Tue Steen Müller and documentary developer Mikael Opstrup, from Denmark. The team of tutors also features marketing and audience strategist Paul Rieth from Germany, film director Giedrė Beinoriūtė from Lithuania, film director Kumjana Novakova from North Macedonia, and film editor Phil Jandaly from Sweden.

The Creative Europe – MEDIA Desk will organise some special events at BSD. Paul Rieth will conduct a workshop titled “Tools for Documentary Audience Reach: AI and Beyond”, aimed at inspiring documentary professionals to better connect with audiences. Additionally, Basil Tsiokos, a senior non-fiction programmer at the Sundance Institute, will provide tips on maximising a documentary's chances at the Sundance Film Festival in an engaging audience conversation. In parallel with the industry activities, a programme of recent international documentaries will be screened in Riga and several regional towns from 3-8 September.

BSD is organised by the National Film Centre of Latvia, and supported by the Creative Europe – MEDIA programme and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia.

Here is the complete list of selected projects at the 28th Baltic Sea Docs:

80 Angry Journalists - András Földes, Anna Kis (Hungary/Germany)
Producer: Lorand Balazs Imre (filmDOUGH Productions UG)

Acting Classes (working title) - Sasha Shegai (Kazakhstan)
Producers: Sasha Shegai, Yevgeniya Moreva (CatNip)

Baltic - Iga Lis (Poland)
Producers: Stanislaw Zaborowski, Justyna Gawelko (Silver Frame)

Between Borders - Erik Tikan (Estonia)
Producers: Elina Litvinova, Maris Salumets, Daniel Vaarik (Three Brothers OÜ, Levila)

Chasing Gold in the Dark - Andrius Lekavičius (Lithuania)
Producer: Gabrielė Vaičiūnaitė (Cinema Cartel)

Double Self Portrait - Aistė Stonytė (Lithuania)
Producers: Giedrė Žickytė, Migla Butkutė (Moonmakers)

Edge of the Night - Vladimir Loginov (Estonia)
Producers: Janika Möls (Anthill Films OÜ)

El Dorado - Rati Oneli (Georgia)
Producers: Rati Oneli, David Vashadze, Evgeniia Marchenko (Office of Architecture)

Emptiness - Viesturs Kairišs (Latvia/Romania)
Producers: Elīna Gediņa-Ducena (Mistrus Media), Gints Grūbe (Dash Film)

Entr’actes - Yuriy Shylov (Ukraine)
Producer: Olha Tuharinova (LLC "Alarm Productions")

Faithful unto Death - Ivars Zviedris (Latvia)
Producer: Ivars Zviedris (BIEDRĪBA "DOKUMENTĀLISTS")

Leave Easy Come Back Safe - Sasha Kulak, Masha Maroz (Germany)
Producer: Julia Shaginurova (Einmahnstraße Productions)

Making Friends with the Idea of a Father - Nikolay Stefanov (Bulgaria)
Producer: Ralitsa Golemanova (Smarty Pants Shooter Ltd)

No Death - Yevhen Titarenko (Ukraine/Latvia)
Producer: Guntis Trekteris, Natalia Khazan (Braha Production Company, Ego Media)

Odyssey MD - Pavel Braila (Moldova/Lithuania)
Producers: Pavel Braila, Lilia Braila (ARTWATT), Aušra Lukošiūnienė (VEGELE FILMS)

The Red Barn - Pēteris Krilovs (Latvia)
Producer: Uldis Cekulis (VFS Films)

Sacred Songs - Nona Giunashvili (Georgia)
Producer: Mariam Bitsadze (17/07 Productions)

Serozhik - Lusine Papoyan (Armenia)
Producer: Aram Petrosyan (Formlab)

Ship of Dreams - Johan von Sydow (Sweden)
Producer: Katja Uneborg (Picky Pictures)

Silent Hill - Kullar Viimne (Estonia)
Producer: Erik Norkroos (Rühm Pluss Null – Missing Pictures)

Sky Nomads - Aytaj Khalig Suleymanova (Azerbaijan)
Producer: Elmaddin Suleymanov (image x)

The Story of the Wild Rose - Kristen Aigro, Miguel Llansó (Estonia)
Producer: Liis Nimik (Klara Films)

Coming Soon

Becoming Roosi - Margit Lillak (Estonia)
Producers: Margit Lillak (Tiny Desk Productions OÜ), Dirk Manthey (Dirkmantheyfilms)

Dedovshina - Elyor Nematov (Tajikistan/Uzbekistan)
Producer: Elyor Nematov (1844 Productions)

Nord Express - Kārlis Lesiņš (Latvia/Estonia/Poland/Germany)
Producers: Elīna Gediņa-Ducena, Gints Grūbe (Mistrus Media, Allfilm, Staron-Film, Gebrueder Beetz)

Scarecrows - Laila Pakalniņa (Latvia/Lithuania)
Producers: Uldis Cekulis (VFS Films), Giedrė Žickytė (Moonmakers)