21/08/2026 - A total of 26 documentary film projects from the Baltic Sea region, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and beyond will be presented at the forum’s upcoming edition

My Shadows Grow Faster Than Me by Roman Bondarchuk

The 30th edition of the Baltic Sea Forum for Documentaries, known as Baltic Sea Docs (BSD), is preparing for its upcoming event in Riga from 6-11 September. Established in 1997, the forum celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, continuing its mission of supporting documentary filmmakers from the Baltic Sea region, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and beyond.

A total of 26 documentary projects have been selected for this year's edition, with a strong presence from the Baltic states, Ukraine, Finland and Poland, among others. The selection reflects a broad range of cinematic approaches, and addresses themes including borders, war, memory, family and contemporary social issues.

Forum manager and member of the project selection committee Zane Balčus commented: “The theme of borders is strongly present in the submitted projects this year, both through engagement with current geopolitical developments and within historical contexts. This reflects the fragile and unstable state in which we are living today. While personal stories in which the filmmaker is also the main protagonist or an active narrator are not a new trend, this approach was also particularly noticeable this year. It offers insight both into the realities faced by families today and into earlier historical periods that have affected the filmmakers and their loved ones.”

Questions of war, memory and borders emerge in projects such as Ravine and Tower by Oleksiy Radynski (Special Operation) and The Crust of Europe by Ivars Zviedris (Latvian Coyote), while My Shadows Grow Faster Than Me by Roman Bondarchuk and Darya Averchenko follows a Ukrainian filmmaking family forced to flee to Britain by Russia’s invasion. The selection also embraces a range of cinematic approaches, from P by Vladimir Loginov (Edge of the Night), a visually rich journey through the creation of a piano, to Lunatics, in which Finnish filmmaker Saila Kivelä (Just Animals) explores women's health through the lens of science and space exploration.

The Baltic Sea Docs pitching sessions will take place on 10 and 11 September. In preparation for the pitches, the selected project teams will join a workshop led by international industry experts, including experienced documentary film consultant Tue Steen Müller and documentary developer Mikael Opstrup from Denmark. The tutor team will also include filmmakers Alexander Nanau from Romania/Germany and Emma Davie from the UK, as well as film editor Phil Jandaly from Sweden.

The forum will be attended by film sales agents, representatives of international television broadcasters, festivals and producers from across Europe and other parts of the world. Among them will be representatives of Japan's NHK, Germany's SWR and Ireland's TG4, as well as film sales companies Rise and Shine from Germany, filmdelights from Austria and Mediawan from France.

For the first time at Baltic Sea Docs, ARTE will present an award to support the development of one of the projects. The winning team, selected from those taking part in the main pitch, will receive a €10,000 development grant in exchange for a first-look deal on the project. The forum also continues its long-standing collaboration with post-production service provider BBPostHouse, which will select one project to receive post-production services valued at €3,000. Additional partner awards will be announced closer to the start of the forum.

Special events will be held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Baltic Sea Docs. On 9 September, a series of discussions will reflect on the development of the documentary film sector in the Baltic Sea region and the wider European context, while looking ahead to future opportunities and exploring ways of reaching more diverse and younger audiences through different formats. In cooperation with the association Avantis, the forum will also host a photography showcase by Ukrainian filmmaker Roman Bondarchuk and the opening of an exhibition dedicated to his work.

Alongside the industry forum, a public screening programme of recent creative documentaries will take place in Riga and several regional towns from 8-13 September. Baltic Sea Docs 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.

The full list of projects selected for the 30th edition of BSD is as follows:

My Shadows Grow Faster Than Me - Roman Bondarchuk (Ukraine/Lithuania/Latvia)
Producers: Jurga Gluskinienė (Monoklis), Darya Averchenko (SOUTH FILMS), Uldis Cekulis (VFS Films)

Evening School - Philip Dotsenko (Ukraine)
Producer: Nadia Parfan (Phalanstery Films)

Encounters/Departures - Vita Maria Drygas (Lithuania/Poland)
Producers: Teresa Rožanovska (Ketvirta Versija), Vita Żelakeviciute (Drygas Film Production)

Meet Me at the Graveyard - Elza Gauja (Latvia)
Producer: Uģis Riekstiņš (Picture House)

Mariana's Lament - Antti Haase, Mariana Reyes (Finland)
Producer: Kaarle Aho (Making Movies)

The Shepherd's Son - Nurlan Hasanli (Azerbaijan)
Producer: Turkan Huseyn (Ultra Production)

See What I Say - Arturas Jevdokimovas (Lithuania/Italy/Ukraine)
Producer: Ringailė Leščinskienė (Zero Copy Reel), Giusi Santoro (POPCULT), Ivanna Khitsinska (WAYA Production)

Cords of Bliss - Janyl Jusupjan (Kyrgyzstan)
Producer: Janyl Jusupjan (Chagaldak Production)

Lunatics - Saila Kivelä (Finland)
Producer: Ida Karoskoski (Wacky Tie Films)

My Other, Perfect Me - Veronika Lišková (Czech Republic/Lithuania/Slovakia)
Producers: Martina Netíková, Martina Netíková (Cinémotif Films, Moonmakers)

P - Vladimir Loginov (Estonia)
Producers: Janika Möls (Korraks Film), Anthill films

Nadia Comaneci and the Secret Police - Simone Manetti (Italy/Latvia)
Producers: Raffaele Brunetti (B&B Film), Uldis Cekulis (VFS Films)

14,5 km Away From Our Dreams - Lilit Mkhitaryan (Armenia/France)
Producers: Lilit Mkhitaryan, Ruzanna Ghazaryan (Hayadoc), Les Films d'Ici

Master of Ceremonies - Katarzyna Piórek (Poland/Sweden)
Producers: Stanisław Zaborowski (Silver Frame), Daniéla Frykstran (Gunilla Film)

Ravine and Tower - Oleksiy Radynski (Ukraine/Lithuania)
Producers: Lyuba Knorozok (Kinotron Group), Studija Kinema

Two of Us - Jūratė Samulionytė (Lithuania)
Producers: Dagnė Vildžiūnaitė, Danielė Kunčinaitė (Just a Moment)

Borderline - Ville Seppänen, Johan Huimerind (Estonia/Finland)
Producer: Johan Huimerind (DOKFILM)

Keepers of the City - Ella Shtyka (Ukraine/Czech Republic)
Producers: Ella Shtyka (Indie Media Polis), Safe Place production

35 Letters - Zuzanna Solakiewicz (Poland)
Producer: Maria Krauss (Plesnar & Krauss Films)

Concrete Grassland - Shorena Tevzadze (Georgia/France)
Producers: Elene Margvelashvili (Parachute Film), Shorena Tevzadze (DiaFilm), Adriana Ferrares (Ceresa Film)

Trains Towards the Night: On the Use of Images - Patricia Venti (Poland)
Producer: Karolina Rum (Alpha Productions)

Going Underground - Armands Začs (Latvia/Estonia/Finland)
Producers: Dārta Vijgrieze, Gints Grūbe (Mistrus Media), Allfilm, Making Movies

The Crust of Europe - Ivars Zviedris (Latvia)
Producer: Liene Ulmane (Documentarian)

Coming Soon – films at the post-production stage from previous BSD editions

Beautiful Stupid Thing - Carlos E Lesmes (Estonia/Colombia)
Producers: Merili Laur, Carlos E Lesmes (Tin Can), Altiplano

Wise Guys - Ieva Ozoliņa (Latvia)
Producer: Madara Melberga (FA Filma)

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