Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, the business summit for film and audiovisual professionals, together with PÖFF Shorts, are launching a guiding platform for emerging filmmakers.
The two-day event Shorts Industry Shortcut, which takes place during the Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn, aims to support the careers of a new generation of filmmakers in the short film industry, while at the same time taking a closer look at current trends in (short) film and strengthening ties between the Baltic and international short film communities. The event will be filled with masterclasses, inspiring panel discussions with industry leaders and networking opportunities.
Tara Karajica, head of Shorts Industry Shortcut, described the inaugural programme as the epitome of a film industry shortcut: "The PÖFF Shorts Competition programmes have always been strong, so it was high time the festival got its industry arm to guide emerging filmmakers and give them a nudge in the right direction. I hope everyone comes away with something useful, a handful of business cards and wonderful memories!"
Shorts Industry Shortcut's busy programme kicks off with a masterclass by Croatian filmmaker and artist Martina Meštrović, who will explore her extensive work in sculpture and animation, organised in collaboration with the Estonian Academy of Arts.
The "In Conversation" session will feature Anna Hints and Tonia Mishiali, two of today's most acclaimed directors, who will discuss their respective careers, being a woman in today's film industry and moving between formats.
The programme also includes the panel discussion "Short Films, a Click Away" with Sari Volanen from Yle, Amos Geva from T-Port and Alexandra Gramatke from the Hamburg Short Film Agency, focusing on the exhibition of short films in cinemas, on television and on streaming platforms.
The presentation "Festival Ecosystem 101" will demystify the short film circuit in the presence of five movers and shakers from the short film industry,
The Shorts Industry Shortcut programme also includes a speed-dating session between short film professionals and filmmakers. During the "Would You Buy This?" session, selected short film directors will be invited to screen the first three minutes of their films (already in competition at PÖFF Shorts) and receive live feedback from short film distributors and sales agents who will assess their market potential. This event simulates a realistic situation in the film industry and demonstrates how professionals evaluate films submitted to them.
In addition, Shorts Industry Shortcut joins forces with Go Long! to offer a lecture by script consultant Anna Ciennik, who will discuss important aspects of script development.
Finally, the success stories of the Baltic short film industry will be highlighted - Rimantė Daugėlaitė (Lithuanian Shorts), Diāna Trope (Latvian Short Film Agency), Laima Graždanoviča (2ANNAS Short Film Festival) and Mirjam Mikk (Estonian Film Institute) will discuss some of the most successful Baltic short films of recent years, examine how the Baltic states have positioned themselves globally and explore the future of new Baltic talent.
The Shorts Industry Shortcut panel discussions and masterclasses will take place from 14 to 16 November. Check out the programme here. PS. Some of the events require additional pre-registration, so make sure you secure your place!