The 2025 Young Horizons Industry forum will take place in Warsaw’s Kinoteka and online from 29 September-1 October, as part of the 12th Young Horizons International Film Festival (26 September-5 October). Dedicated to films and series for young audiences, the event brings together producers, distributors, broadcasters and experts to discuss strategies and showcase projects at various stages of development.

The theme of this year’s conference is “What Works – Stories, Screens and Strategies That Connect”, curated by Viola Gabrielli. The sessions will explore how creators and industry players can engage with evolving audiences, what kinds of stories resonate with young viewers, and which distribution and financing strategies can support new creative voices.

The programme opens with the keynote “Theatrical: Is the Big Screen Still King?”, presented by Peter Ingram, research manager at Ampere Analysis, who will share insights into audience behaviour and distribution trends across Poland and Europe. This will be followed by “What Clicks with the Young Audience of Today”, where Geert Torfs, innovation and youth strategy expert at VRT’s Future Media Hub, will unveil the results of a multi-country study on the preferences of viewers aged between three and 30.

Building on these keynotes, the panel “Rethinking Formats, Access and Curation” will feature Juliet Tzabar (Brighton Zoo), Diego Ibáñez Belaustegui (DeAPlaneta Entertainment), producer Anna Zychowicz (Laniakea Pictures) and Sophie Ménard (Piece of Magic Entertainment). The discussion will explore brand-building, distribution models and adaptation to volatile markets. Close-up Talks will follow, including “Mechanisms That Make Stories Work in TV & Streaming” and “Transforming European Distribution”, offering participants targeted case studies.

Co-production meetings will return, in cooperation with the Croatian Audiovisual Centre. Croatia is the first-ever Country in Focus at Young Horizons Industry, inaugurating the new “Spotlight on…” initiative. Accredited producers will have the chance to meet potential partners in sessions designed around interactive games and networking activities. The focus on Croatia will also include a dedicated booth and the presence of a strong national delegation.

On 30 September, 24 projects will be pitched (see the news). The day also features the Producers Hub, with an interactive class on “Alternative Financing in Film”, led by writer-producer Mihai Mănescu (Colorbitor Production) and moderated by Geert Torfs.

The final day, 1 October, includes the invitation-only think tank “Thinking Ahead on Film Institutions – Spotlight on Young Audiences”, organised with the Polish Film Institute. The forum will close with the Market Presentation, showcasing one Polish and four Croatian projects, with each producer given time to introduce their work and present video materials to potential broadcasters, distributors, sales agents and festivals.

Finally, the Project Pool, launched in 2024, returns with 11 selected projects ranging from early development to near completion, each presented in one-to-one meetings. This year also marks the debut of Media Pool, a new section for transmedia projects, apps and tools, featuring one pilot project.

Young Horizons Industry is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, Creative Europe – MEDIA and the City of Warsaw.

Here is the selection of projects chosen for the Market Presentation:

Swornegacie - Michał Grzybowski (Poland)
Producer: Haja Films

The Second Diary of Paulina P. - Neven Hitrec (Croatia/Slovenia/Serbia)
Producers: Jaka produkcija, Invida, Living Pictures, Baboon Production

Bumblebee's Summer - Daniel Kušan (Croatia/Serbia/North Macedonia/Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Producers: Interfilm, Krug Film, Zillion Film, Palčica

The Crystal Planet - Arsen Anton Ostojić (Croatia/Czech Republic/Slovakia)
Producers: Filmosaurus Rex, Alkay Animation Prague, BFilm

Spacehead - Marina Andrea Škop, Vanda Raýmanova (Croatia/Slovakia/Slovenia/Latvia/Serbia)
Producers: PomPom Film, Objectif, Senca Studio, Air Productions, This and That Productions