28/05/2025 - CANNES 2025: The Mongolian programme continued building momentum at this year's festival, with two finalist projects being presented at the Mongolian Films Pitch Session

FilmNomad alumna Enkhsaruul pitching her project I hate pink at Cannes film pitching by the Mongolian National Film Council

The second edition of FilmNomad launched in October 2024 in partnership with the Ulaanbaatar International Film Festival, establishing a new collaboration with the Sundance Institute and Sundance Collab. This partnership significantly expands the programme's reach, building on the foundation established in 2023 with support from the Mongolian National Film Council, the US Embassy in Mongolia and European partner Cineuropa.

The second edition entailed the selection of 56 participants for initial training, later narrowing this down to 32 projects for intensive development, and finally settling on ten finalists who would benefit from the full experience. All 56 participants received access to Sundance Collab master classes until 31 December 2024, with the finalists receiving access to producing and screenwriting courses until 31 October 2025.

The programme's ten finalist projects represent diverse storytelling approaches across fiction features, documentaries, animation and short films (see the list below). The Sundance Collab partnership provided participants with comprehensive online training modules covering screenwriting, producing and project development techniques. The programme combines this digital learning with the immersive cultural experience of a journey through the Gobi Desert.

Two of these projects – Sar by Altantuya Tumurbaatar and In the Mirage of Yellow Dune (In the Beginning) by Jamiyansuren Janchivdorj – were pitched on 16 May at Cannes’ Hôtel Barrière Le Gray D'Albion, during a session moderated by veteran producer Ulrik Bolt Jørgensen (Arena Film). The next step will be an on-site pitching session in Mongolia in July. The programme maintains its distinctive Trans-Siberian “train pitch” format, whereby filmmakers present their projects in a specially equipped club car during the journey from Ulaanbaatar into the Gobi Desert.

This year's line-up of international mentors includes Matthew Takata (Sundance Institute Feature Film Program International), Alessandra Pastore (When East Meets West), Tobias Pausinger (Berlinale Talents) and Thibaut Bracq (La Fabrique Cinéma).

"The partnerships we are building with the Sundance Institute, Berlinale Talents and other organisations demonstrate that the international film community recognises the value of FilmNomad's Trans-Siberian Train Pitching. We're not just developing projects; we're creating a new model that bridges Eastern and Western storytelling traditions while giving Mongolian filmmakers access to global networks," said Nomintuya Baasankhuu, founder of FilmNomad.

Here is the list of finalist projects:

Fiction features

In the Mirage of Yellow Dune (In the Beginning) - Jamiyansuren Janchivdorj
Producer: Gerelee Chuluun-Erdene

Jinjii's Birthday - Tamir Batbold

Little Lake - Altan-Od Elbegtsaikhan
Producer: Tamir Enkhsaikhan

Vega - Ariunchimeg Tumursukh

Sar - Altantuya Tumurbaatar

Animation/drama

Tsaskhan - Zolbayar Dorjsembee

Documentary features

Boy Shaman - Dulguunzul Kimpton
Producer: Delgertsetseg Chadraabal

Manin Ganbaa - Pagma Oidov

The Price of Error - Uyanga Enkhtulga

Short film

Reality - Narangerel Sukhbaatar