Seven international works in progress were chosen for this year's Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event. The three-member jury – consisting of Casey Baron, US programming lead at the Tribeca Film Festival; Julie Marnay, programme manager at First Cut Lab; and Alexis Cassanet, EVP International Sales and Distribution at Gaumont Film Company – subsequently selected the recipient of the €7,000 Best Project Award, which ended up being Late Shift (aka Kindness) by Stefanos Tsivopoulos (see the news). This prize includes €6,000 worth of services by Studio Beep and a €1,000 travel allowance. The jury also decided to hand a Special Mention to the Swiss project Wolves by Jonas Ulrich.

Here, we provide a detailed break-down of five of these projects, including the award winners.

Balance – Björn Schürmann (Germany)
Producer: Björn Schürmann (projekt:::film)
Balance unfolds as a poignant and intimate father-daughter road trip, as Johannes reconnects with his 20-year-old daughter Clara before her long journey to Korea. A one-night stopover in Berlin turns into an unexpected extension when Clara’s flight is cancelled, leading to a winter road trip between punk rock and poetry. As they travel to a place from their past, Johannes and Clara are forced to confront their evolving relationship and navigate the emotional complexities of growing up. Director Björn Schürmann, known for his award-winning short films, explores the intricacies of parent-child relationships, focusing on the moments of separation and closeness that define familial bonds. Boasting a small, collaborative team, Balance is Schürmann’s debut feature, which emphasises creative freedom and emotional storytelling through visual elements like blurred images and kaleidoscope effects. The film is seeking support from broadcasters, distributors, festivals and sales agents.

Face to Face by Javier Marco

Face to Face – Javier Marco (Spain/Belgium)
Producer: Odile Antonio-Baez (Pecado Films)
Face to Face tells the story of Lina, a famous TV host, who confronts Pedro, a man who has posted cruel threats about her on social media. She arrives at his door, asking him to say the harsh words to her face. However, their confrontation takes a different turn when Lina is forced to stay with Pedro after a personal tragedy. As they both wrestle with grief, guilt and isolation, they discover that their shared pain and struggles make them more alike than they initially thought. Directed by Javier Marco, whose debut feature Josephine [+lire aussi :
critique
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fiche film], starring Spanish star Emma Suárez, earned critical acclaim, Face to Face explores solitude, empathy and the complexities of human nature. The film is a cathartic narrative about two lost souls finding common ground amidst their emotional turmoil, set against the backdrop of an unforgiving society and mass media. The project is in post-production, and is seeking support from festivals and sales agents.

Interior by Pascal Schuh

Interior – Pascal Schuh (Germany)
Producers: Timo Ackermann, Katrin Haase, Oliver Arnold (U5 Filmproduktion GmbH & Co KG, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF)
Interior is a psychological drama-thriller that explores the boundaries between reality and fiction. Kasimir, a 25-year-old burglar, uses a hollow couch to break into people's homes, secretly filming their private moments. He delivers these tapes to Dr Liebermann, a brain surgeon who uses the recordings to understand emotions. As Kasimir's obsession grows, he continues his break-ins to prove his love for the doctor, but Liebermann remains indifferent and prepares for an illegal procedure in his cellar. As Kasimir’s emotional desperation leads him to break Liebermann's rules, the tension escalates, culminating in betrayal and tragedy. The film blends queer themes subtly within its narrative, portraying the complexity of human emotions while questioning society’s voyeuristic tendencies. Directed by Pascal Schuh, Interior is a bold and multi-layered film that explores the darkest corners of the human psyche. Currently in post-production, the project is seeking support from festivals, foreign broadcasters and sales agents.

Late Shift (aka Kindness) by Stefanos Tsivopoulos

Late Shift (aka Kindness) – Stefanos Tsivopoulos (Greece)
Producer: Nikos Smpiliris (Boo Productions)
Late Shift is a social drama set in Athens in 2013, following Elena, a Romanian single mother living in a cramped apartment with her nine-year-old son, Luca, and her controlling mother, Ada. Struggling to make ends meet as a Metro cleaner, Elena dreams of Greek citizenship as a means of escaping her difficult life. When she is unjustly fired from her job, her activist instincts resurface, and she seeks justice through Yota, a union lawyer. Their bond grows, leading to a romance, but Elena’s relentless pursuit of justice strains her family and her relationship with Yota. Late Shift highlights the challenges faced by migrant women, examining the tension between the desire for belonging and the fight for justice. Written and directed by Stefanos Tsivopoulos, the film is a deeply personal reflection on displacement and identity, informed by the director's own family’s experiences of migration. Presently in post-production, the film is seeking co-producers, distributors and festival exposure.

Wolves by Jonas Ulrich

Wolves - Jonas Ulrich (Switzerland)
Producer: Nicole Ulrich (Dynamic Frame GmbH)
Wolves is a drama and coming-of-age film set in the underground black-metal scene. Luana, a young woman working in a daycare centre, is drawn into the world of WLVS, a metal band, after joining them on their first tour. She becomes captivated by Wiktor, the band’s enigmatic frontman, and begins an affair with him. As her relationship with Wiktor deepens, she becomes entangled in his controversial past, including accusations of right-wing extremism, which threaten to tear apart both the band and her personal life. The film delves into the complexities of love, extremism and identity within the subculture of black metal, exploring its contradictions between spirituality, elitism and toxic masculinity. Directed and written by Jonas Ulrich, the film has completed shooting and is now in post-production. It is in search of broadcasters, distributors and festival exposure.