11/06/2025 - A total of 26 projects will be featured at the upcoming edition of the leading Baltic event, which will run in Riga from 31 August-5 September

Baltic Sea Docs (BSD), the leading documentary pitching event in the Baltic region, has finalised the project selection for its 29th edition, which will be held in Riga from 31 August-5 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 a broad geographical spectrum, including Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Poland, Finland, Hungary, Germany and Georgia. The selected documentaries explore a range of timely themes, such as the consequences of war, intergenerational trauma, climate change, adolescence and creative storytelling techniques that push the boundaries of the documentary form.

Zane Balčus, manager of BSD, commented: “Baltic Sea Docs has served as a vital platform for documentary filmmakers for nearly three decades. This year’s edition once again reflects the pressing issues shaping the region – from political, social, environmental and cultural developments to deeply personal stories and emotional upheavals, alongside broader societal concerns. We look forward to supporting the creation of powerful and engaging documentaries.”

Some of the selected projects, which will have their first-ever market presentation at BSD this year, stand out on account of their bold narrative perspectives, such as Face It Without Fear by Svitlana Lishchynska, which delves into intergenerational trauma and complicity in violence; A Guide to Grief by Ivars Zviedris, which tackles personal rediscovery and loss; and Creaturama – Epic of the Animals by Juha Suonpää, which experiments with animal-led storytelling. Others, like Kind of Adults by Peter Akar and Rita Balogh, adopt hybrid and self-observational styles to explore Gen Z teens. Two projects have been invited through international collaborations: Operation Champion by Mariam Nikolaishvili, a portrait of a para-athlete set against a backdrop of political turbulence in Georgia, which received the Baltic Sea Docs Award at this year’s East Doc Platform; and The Wars We Play by Anton Yaremchuk and João Pedro Prado, a war-and-football allegory that was awarded at DOK.forum München.

Before the pitching sessions, taking place from 4-5 September, the project teams will participate in a preparatory workshop led by international industry experts. These include experienced documentary film consultant Tue Steen Müller and documentary developer Mikael Opstrup from Denmark. The tutor team also features film directors Salomé Jashi (Georgia) and Mia Halme (Finland), Ukrainian producer Darya Bassel and Swedish film editor Phil Jandaly.

The projects will be presented to a panel of decision makers representing broadcasters, sales agents, film festivals and production companies including Lightdox, filmdelights, Rise and Shine, Dogwoof, Mediawan, TG4, SWR, LTV, LRT, PÖFF, YUZU Productions and Corso Film, amongst others.

In parallel with the industry forum, a curated programme of recent creative documentaries will be screened in Riga and several regional towns from 2-7 September.

BSD is organised by the National Film Centre of Latvia, and is 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 29th Baltic Sea Docs:

Kind of Adults – Peter Akar, Rita Balogh (Hungary)
Producer: Rita Balogh (Other Films)

Rapland – Miina Alajärvi (Finland)
Producer: Oona Saari (Illume)

Elīna Garanča: The Symphony of Life – Signe Birkova (Latvia/Germany/Austria)
Producers: Gints Grūbe, Dārta Vijgrieze (Mistrus Media)
Co-producer: 3B-PRODUKTION

Brake for Gold – Adelina Borets (Poland)
Producer: Glib Lukianets (Gogol Film)

Garden of Anna – Kristīne Briede (Latvia/India)
Producers: Kristīne Briede (Vino Films), Rajani Mani (Elephant Corridor Films)

Rita – Gailė Garnelytė (Lithuania)
Producer: Akvilė Žilionytė-Khan (Artišokai)

Missing in Action (working title) – Kateryna Holovko, Marharyta Melnychuk (Ukraine/Norway)
Producers: Aliona Kachkan, Eugene Rachkovsky (Tabor), Martin Walther (Walther Bros)

Threads of My Ancestors – Carlos Lesmes (Estonia)
Producer: Merili Laur (Tin Can)

Face It Without Fear – Svitlana Lishchynska (Sweden/Ukraine)
Producers: Fredrik Lange (Vilda Bomben Film), Svitlana Lishchynska

The Perfect – Laura Liventaal (Estonia/Finland)
Producers: Hõbe Ilus (Sui), Oona Saari (Illume)

The Roads of Forgotten Dreams – Joosep Matjus (Estonia/Germany)
Producers: Katri Rannastu (Wildkino), Claudia Zenkert (SEETREE)

Maria Is on TV – Viktorija Mickutė, Ieva Balsiūnaitė (Lithuania)
Producer: Dagnė Vildžiūnaitė (Just A Moment)

Olimbi – Mother Courage – Karlo Mlinar (Croatia)
Producer: Filip Filković (More-Magnets)

Women and War – Elwira Niewiera, Piotr Rosolowski (Poland/Germany/Ukraine)
Producers: Maciej Kubicki (Telemark), Hans-Robert Eisenhauer (Ventana Film), Natalie Krasilnikova (Art Dialog)

Operation Champion – Mariam Nikolaishvili (Georgia)
Producer: Irina Gelashvili (Radium Films)

DNA of the Nation – Ivan Sautkin (Ukraine/Lithuania)
Producers: Ivanna Khitsinska (Babylon’13), Ringailė Leščinskienė (Zero Copy)

Bride of the Invisible – Audrius Stonys (Lithuania/Poland)
Producers: Marija Stonytė, Mantas Kazlauskas (UKU films)
Co-producer: Drygas Film Production

RepairMan – Marija Stonytė (Lithuania)
Producers: Akvilė Žilionytė-Khan, Mantas Kazlauskas (UKU films)

Creaturama – Epic of the Animals – Juha Suonpää (Finland/Estonia)
Producers: Juha Suonpää (Swamphead Oy), Liis Nimik (Klara Films)

Cuba. Deprivation – Staņislavs Tokalovs (Latvia)
Producers: Līva Vernere, Uldis Cekulis (VFS Films)

The Wars We Play – Anton Yaremchuk, João Pedro Prado (Germany/Ukraine)
Producers: Vincent Edusei, Maritza Grass (Carousel Film)

A Guide to Grief – Ivars Zviedris (Latvia)
Producers: Ivars Zviedris, Liene Ulmane (Documentarian)

Coming Soon

Shut the Fuck Up! – Taisiia Kutuzova (Ukraine)
Producer: Alona Savchuk (Crimean Waves)

In the Winds of the Icefields – Mihkel Oksmann (Estonia)
Producer: Hõbe Ilus (Sui)

My Family and Other Clowns – Heilika Pikkov, Liina Särkinen (Estonia)
Producer: Ülo Pikkov (Silmviburlane)

Požerskis: In Focus – Joris Skudra (Lithuania)
Producer: Justė Michailinaitė (Broom Films)