Applications are now open for the 30th edition of Baltic Sea Docs, the leading documentary co-production pitching forum in the Baltic region. The event will take place from 6-11 September in Riga, and the deadline for project submissions is 6 May.

Baltic Sea Docs serves as an important platform for documentary filmmakers to present their projects to international broadcasters, sales agents, film funds and other industry professionals. The forum focuses on feature-length creative documentaries, with the special inclusion of documentary animations and cross-media projects. Participating teams will take part in a three-day preparatory workshop ahead of the pitches, led by international experts, including film consultant Tue Steen Müller and documentary developer Mikael Opstrup. The programme also includes pitching sessions, one-on-one meetings with decision makers, industry seminars and networking opportunities.

The event is open to independent production companies based in the Baltic Sea region, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. Production companies from other European countries are also eligible to apply if their project is thematically connected to these regions or involves a regional co-producer. Participation is free of charge and offers selected teams the opportunity to further develop their projects, receive industry feedback, and explore international co-production and financing opportunities.

The Baltic Sea Docs pitching sessions will take place on 10 and 11 September. In addition to the projects being pitched for the first time, up to four documentary projects that have previously been presented at Baltic Sea Docs and are now in post-production will be showcased in the Coming Soon session. A curated selection of documentary films will also be screened for audiences in Riga and in regional towns across Latvia.

The selected projects will be announced on 4 June. Full details on how to apply and participate are available here.

Established in Denmark in 1997 and organised since 2006 by the National Film Centre of Latvia, Baltic Sea Docs has become a key meeting point for documentary filmmakers and industry professionals, supporting the development and international circulation of numerous documentary projects from the Baltic Sea region and neighbouring countries.