11th edition of Baltic industry event has just wrapped up and announced its winners. Two awards went to the Latvian project "Thank you For Your Review", produced by Emīls Alps. Baltic Pitching Forum welcomed emerging Baltic and Greek filmmaking talents to the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius. Pitching twelve projects to key industry players – as well as taking part in a series of talks, lectures and training sessions – the participants benefited from an event that continues to be regarded as one of the most important industry showcases in the Baltic region.
All the projects were pitched in front of two panels of international film experts who bestowed prizes at an award ceremony held on Thursday night.
The Latvian project “Thank You for Your Review”, from directors Marta Šleiere, Līva Polkmane, and producer Emīls Alps, received an invitation to Talents and Short Film Market 2023 and its Pitching Session “You Only Pitch Twice”. The award was given to the comedy with a light touch that mocks keyboard narcissists and their funny-sad weirdness, hiding the tragedy of loneliness.
This project also received the Baltic Producers Jury MEDIA Award – initiated by the Creative Europe offices in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia and coming with a 1000 EUR cash prize. According to the jury, film reflects the modern reality of living simultaneously in two worlds – real and virtual one – and portrays it with healthy humor which is the only possibility to survive in this cruel world of reviews.
Other projects to receive awards were the Lithuanian project “Out” - the winner of participant rights at the European Short Film Co-production Forum Euro Connection 2024, which is a part of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France. A special mention went to the Greek project “Cuddle Party”. The Jury also gave the special mention to the Lithuanian project “On Conductor Street”. The Yle award TV Pre-buy Award worth 2500 euros went to Estonian animation “Pulcinella”, and Radiator IP Sales Distribution Consultancy Award, consisting of consultancy and guidance for filmmakers was given to another Estonian project “Mari, Sweetie”.
The 12th Baltic Pitching Forum will take place on 8-11 October 2024. The Baltic Pitching Forum is organised by Lithuanian Short Film Agency “Lithuanian Shorts” in partnership with Riga International Film Festival, Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS, and PÖFF Shorts (Tallinn International Film Festival Black Nights).
“Lithuanian Shorts” is supported by the Lithuanian Council for Culture. The project is supported by the Lithuanian Film Centre, Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme for Culture, Audiovisual Works Copyright Association “AVAKA” and Vilnius City Municipality. Partners – Creative Europe MEDIA Desks in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, Greek Film Centre, Drama International Short Film Festival, T-port and Vilnius Film Office.
Marija Mireckaitė
Lithuanian Short Film Agency
LITHUANIAN SHORTS
E-mail: media@filmshorts.lt