The 29th edition of the Baltic Sea Forum for Documentaries (Baltic Sea Docs, 1-7 September) has successfully wrapped in Riga. The forum once again combined a preparatory workshop, pitching sessions, one-to-one meetings and screenings, while also hosting a seminar on factual content for young audiences, organised by the Baltic Creative Europe – MEDIA Desks in collaboration with the Avantis association. The event reaffirmed its status as one of the leading co-production markets for creative documentaries in the region, attracting both local talent and international industry experts.

The accompanying public programme, featuring international documentary screenings in Riga, across Latvia and online, further expanded the forum’s outreach. Highlights included the opening film, Divia [+lee también:
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entrevista: Dmytro Hreshko
ficha de la película] by Dmytro Hreshko, pitched at Baltic Sea Docs in 2023, as well as screenings of 9-Month Contract [+lee también:
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ficha de la película] by Ketevan Vashagashvili (first pitched internationally at BSD in 2021), My Dear Théo [+lee también:
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ficha de la película] by Alisa Kovalenko, Writing Hawa [+lee también:
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entrevista: Najiba Noori y Rasul Noori
ficha de la película] by Najiba Noori, The Helsinki Effect [+lee también:
entrevista: Arthur Franck
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A total of 26 projects were presented at this year’s pitching forum, hailing from the Baltic Sea region, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus (see the news). Following the industry meetings, eight awards were announced.

The Baltic Sea Docs Award, which includes a consultancy session with an industry expert in the field of the project’s choice, went to Missing in Action by Ukrainian directors Kateryna Holovko and Marharyta Melnychuk. The film follows Natalia, whose search for her missing brother gradually transforms her grief into a renewed sense of purpose through helping others. The BBposthouse Award, offering post-production services valued at €3,000, was bestowed upon Threads of My Ancestors, a personal exploration by Colombian-born director Carlos E Lesmes. The project reflects on silence, grief and roots through an intimate mother-and-son dialogue.

Among the international festival-linked prizes, Operation Champion by Georgian filmmaker Mariam Nikolaishvili secured the DOK.fest München Award, providing accreditation for the festival and its DOK.forum. The film centres on Gvantsa, a wheelchair-fencing champion whose commitment to her sport highlights the delicate balance between sacrifice and exploitation. The East Doc Platform Award went to Kind of Adults by Hungarian directors Peter Akar and Rita Balogh. This raw, immersive coming-of-age documentary, co-created with Gen Z teenagers over five years, has earned itself accreditation and one-to-one meetings at the next East Doc Platform.

The IDFA and Baltic Sea Docs Collaboration Award, supporting Baltic filmmakers with accreditation and guidance for both a director and a producer at the next edition of IDFA, was given to The Perfect by Estonian director Laura Liventaal, produced by Hõbe Ilus (Sui). The film portrays three ballerinas of different generations as they grapple with the demanding ideals of self-control. Meanwhile, the Movies That Matter Award, providing accreditation for the Dutch festival, went to Women and War by Polish directors Elwira Niewiera and Piotr Rosołowski. The documentary follows three Ukrainian women undergoing therapy to process the traumas of war.

Two awards were claimed by Creaturama – Epic of the Animals, directed and produced by Finland’s Juha Suonpää. The film, constructed from extensive trail-camera footage, offers viewers an immersive perspective of the forest through the agency of animals themselves. It received both the Sheffield DocFest Award and the TV3 Group Award, the latter ensuring broadcast on the company’s channels and online platform.

Baltic Sea Docs is organised by the National Film Centre of Latvia, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and the Creative Europe – MEDIA programme.

Here is the full list of award winners at the 29th Baltic Sea Docs:

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

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

DOK.fest München Award
Operation Champion – Mariam Nikolaishvili (Georgia)
Producer: Irina Gelashvili (Radium Films)

East Doc Platform Award
Kind of Adults – Peter Akar, Rita Balogh (Hungary)
Producers: Rita Balogh, Gül Togay (Other Films)

IDFA and Baltic Sea Docs Collaboration Award
The Perfect – Laura Liventaal (Estonia/Finland)
Producers: Hõbe Ilus (Sui), Oona Saari (Illume)

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

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

TV3 Group Award
Creaturama – Epic of the Animals – Juha Suonpää