The 13th edition of the Baltic Pitching Forum (BPF) has announced the short-film projects set to be pitched to an international panel of experts at the gathering, which will take place in Vilnius from 7-10 October. Over the years, the BPF has established itself as one of the leading platforms in the Baltic region, offering emerging filmmakers the chance to gain valuable industry advice and experience.

This year’s Estonian selection includes Decay of Strawberry Moon by Maroš Pulščák (produced by Henry Laasalu), a drama centred on a couple experiencing the wilting of their love during strawberry-picking season. Maie and Mummi by Kadri-Maria Külaots (produced by Kerdi Oengo) is a magical animation based on the director’s award-winning children’s book about her childhood activities with her grandparents. Completing the Estonian line-up is Mutation by Liisi Grünberg (produced by Aurelia Aasa), a dark-humoured animation about Jaan, who dreams of cultivating a perfect apple orchard.

The Latvian projects on offer include The Toast by Žanete Skarule (produced by Antra Cilinska-Dombrovska), a drama in which a woman faces a moral dilemma during her sister’s engagement dinner. Velta by Dan Silov (produced by Nadīna Anna Larionova) tells the emotional story of an elderly man searching for his late wife’s grave. Meanwhile, When Ripples Meet by Rūta Ronja Pakalne (produced by Antra Gaile and Līga Gaisa) sees a young woman come out of her shell during a dance residency.

Lithuania will be represented by Bobo by Tauras Čeledinas and Lukas Naraškevičius (produced by Justė Michailinaitė), an animated short about a depressed dog who discovers his jazz idol is performing in a distant seaside town. Last Curonian Cow by Dovydas Drakšas follows Juzė, the last remaining cow on the Curonian Spit, embarking on a journey through a land becoming increasingly alien to her. Finally, The Pigeon of Our Time by Agata Tracevič and Edita Rudak (produced by Marija Lenkutytė-Bartoševič and Giedrė Burokaitė) is a surreal animation about a protagonist walking through a community that recognises him – and despises him.

Guest country Hungary will showcase 72 by Nóra Horváth (produced by Anna Bartók), a drama about a young woman on the margins of society fighting for control over her body. Purity by Vilmos Heim (produced by András Soós and Gábor Osváth) portrays a sports team spiralling into a self-destructive regime of purification and control. The final Hungarian project is Sun in Retrograde by Adél Szegedi (produced by Barnabás Tóth-Justh), a hybrid of live action and animation, and a romantic drama set in post-pandemic Budapest, told in reverse.

You can find out more about the selected projects here.

BPF will kick off in September with participants taking part in online consultations on their short-film scripts with Polish scriptwriting consultant Anna Bielak. During the October event, participants will receive pitching training, attend open lectures by industry professionals, and present their projects to a panel of experts, who will provide feedback and select the winning entries. Further details on the panellists and lectures will be revealed in mid-September.

Two Baltic projects will be awarded participant rights in the European Short Film Co-production Forum Euro Connection (part of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival) and the ShorTO Film Market’s You Only Pitch Twice initiative. In addition, one project will receive the Baltic Producers MEDIA Award (€1,000), initiated by the Creative Europe - MEDIA Desks in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Additional prizes include the Sound Post-Production Award – sound post-production services worth €2,000, offered by Lithuania’s Up Records studio – and the Radiator IP Sales Distribution Award, which provides consultancy on bridging production and festival distribution. Further prizes will be disclosed closer to the event.

The Baltic Pitching Forum is organised by the Lithuanian short film agency, Lithuanian Shorts. It is financed by the Lithuanian Film Centre, the Vilnius City Municipality, the Audiovisual Works Copyright Association AVAKA and Baltisches Haus. Associated partners include the Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS, the Riga International Film Festival, the Latvian Short Film Agency and PÖFF Shorts. Other partners include the Creative Europe – MEDIA Desks in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, the Italian Short Film Center, the Estonian Film Institute and the Friss Hús Budapest International Short Film Festival.

Here is the full list of this year’s selected projects:

Estonia

Decay of Strawberry Moon – Maroš Pulščák
Producer: Henry Laasalu

Maie and Mummi – Kadri-Maria Külaots
Producer: Kerdi Oengo

Mutation – Liisi Grünberg
Producer: Aurelia Aasa

Latvia

The Toast – Žanete Skarule
Producer: Antra Cilinska-Dombrovska

Velta – Dan Silov
Producer: Nadīna Anna Larionova

When Ripples Meet – Rūta Ronja Pakalne
Producers: Antra Gaile, Līga Gaisa

Lithuania

Bobo – Tauras Čeledinas, Lukas Naraškevičius
Producer: Justė Michailinaitė

Last Curonian Cow – Dovydas Drakšas

The Pigeon of Our Time – Agata Tracevič, Edita Rudak
Producers: Marija Lenkutytė-Bartoševič, Giedrė Burokaitė

Hungary

72 – Nóra Horváth
Producer: Anna Bartók

Purity – Vilmos Heim
Producers: András Soós, Gábor Osváth

Sun in Retrograde – Adél Szegedi
Producer: Barnabás Tóth-Justh