The 23rd edition of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, the industry arm of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, concluded on 22 November after one week of vibrant activity. This year, 17 awards were presented to projects at various stages of scriptwriting, development and post-production, along with two additional accolades recognising emerging producers. For the first time, guests voted for their favourite projects in each category, with the winners receiving €2,000 in Yamdu subscription credits valid until the end of 2025.

At the Baltic Event Co-Production Market, which showcased 15 film projects currently in development (see the news), The Worker, written and directed by Eliza Petkova, received the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award, valued at €20,000. The jury, consisting of Céline Dornier (Logical Pictures), Paul de Beco (Playtime) and Elena Chandrinou (Eurimages), praised the project for its innovative approach: “With the experience of immigration within Europe as a starting point, this project takes us, and the protagonist, on an unexpected journey. A journey during which the director invites us to rethink the meaning of community and masculinity.” The film is being produced by Nicolas Kronauer and Karsten Stöter, of Fourmat Film GmbH.

Another major recognition went to the Ukrainian project English Lesson, which was awarded the Eurimages Special Co-Production Development Award, also worth €20,000. The film, directed by Ivan Tymchenko, is being produced by Svitlana Soloviova, of Svitlofor Film. The jury marked it out as a “film that uses real-life stories and animation to capture feelings and experiences of war. A hybrid film, with young protagonists and for young audiences.” The project also received a €1,000 grant for a Ukrainian project by ManyMore Films.

Four producers presenting their projects were honoured with the Producers Network Prize for Promising Young Producers, entitling them to participate in the 2025 Cannes Marché du Film. The recipients were Yann Sochaczewski and Miriam Kunde for Amy - Great Adventures on Little Paws!, and Rūta Petronytė and Justinas Pocius for Flood.

For the first time, the Enterprise Estonia Film Award was presented to honour the best Estonian project, offering up to €4,000 to support its promotion at European or North American film markets in 2025. The award was granted to The Code of Thule, a series blending Estonia's ancient cultural heritage with a contemporary reflection on green sustainability. It is written by Leana Jalukse, Peep Ehasalu and Rein Pakk, and is being produced by Helen Lõhmus and René Ezra for Orée Films.

Seventeen projects were presented across three categories – International, Baltic Event and Just Film Works in Progress – during the event (see the news). Late Shift (aka Kindness), written and directed by Stefanos Tsivopoulos, was named Best International Project, earning itself a €7,000 prize from Studio Beep. The jury, comprising Casey Baron (Tribeca Film Festival), Julie Marnay (First Cut Lab) and Alexis Cassanet (Gaumont Film Company), praised the film for addressing the timely topic of migration and assimilation through the distinct perspective of the Greek experience. The project is being produced by Nikos Smpiliris, of Greece’s Boo Production. The jury also awarded a Special Mention to the Swiss project Wolves, written and directed by Jonas Ulrich and produced by Nicole Ulrich, of Dynamic Frame GmbH, for its captivating exploration of a unique subculture.

The Best Baltic Project, which will also receive a €7,000 prize from Studio Beep, was Renovation by Lithuanian filmmaker Gabrielė Urbonaitė, which “brings forth rich elements of self-discovery, and the burgeoning yet complex emotions of love and companionship”. The Lithuanian-Latvian co-production is being staged by Uljana Kim for Studio Uljana Kim and Alise Rogule for Mima Films. As for the Just Film Award, which includes a €2,000 prize from Nafta Films, it went to Emi by Ezequiel Erriquez Mena, with the jury underlining that it “tackles the rarely told yet universal themes of identity, roots and self-discovery”.

For the first time, the European Genre Forum presented its €25,000 award, sponsored by ATM Virtual, to The Dark Architect, directed and written by Risto Tuominen, and produced by Ilkka Matila, of MRP Matila Röhr Productions OY in Finland, with co-production support from Estonia’s Taska Film. The prize includes one day of LED-stage rental, preceded by a day of pre-lighting for the film’s production. ATM Virtual representatives also granted a Special Mention to the Greek project Vrykolax, directed by Achilleas Gatsopoulos, and produced by Vassilis Economou and Minos Nikolakakis, of ASPHALT. The prize offers the project an option for a day of virtual production testing, including stage and service access.

Finally, in the Script Pool section, the Award for the Most Promising Project went to Kingpins, written and directed by Kristians Riekstiņš. Presented by Law Firm TGS Baltic, the prize includes an exclusive opportunity to attend The Write Retreat in Mallorca. The film is being produced by Alise Rogule under Latvian production company Mima Films.

Here is the full list of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event award winners:

Baltic Event Co-production Market

Eurimages Co-Production Development Award
The Worker - Eliza Petkova (Germany/Bulgaria)
Producers: Nicolas Kronauer, Karsten Stöter (Fourmat Film GmbH)

Eurimages Special Co-Production Development Award
English Lesson - Ivan Tymchenko (Ukraine/Estonia/Sweden/Czech Republic)
Producer: Svitlana Soloviova (Svitlofor Film)

Cannes Marché du Film Producers Network Award
Yann Sochaczewski, Miriam Kunde (Altayfilm GmbH, Germany; project: Amy - Great Adventures on Little Paws!)
Rūta Petronytė, Justinas Pocius (Smart Casual, Lithuania; project: Flood)

Enterprise Estonia Film Award
The Code of Thule - Leana Jalukse, Peep Ehasalu, Rein Pakk (Estonia/Switzerland/Denmark/Sweden)
Producers: Helen Lõhmus, René Ezra (Orée Films)

Public Favourite Award
Push the Button - Anton Källrot (Sweden/Norway/Denmark)
Producers: Ylva Olaison, Jonathan Silén, Madeleine Ekman (Ögat Film)

Works in Progress

Best International Project Award
Late Shift (a.k.a. Kindness) - Stefanos Tsivopoulos (Greece)
Producer: Nikos Smpiliris (Boo Productions)

Special Mention
Wolves - Jonas Ulrich (Switzerland)
Producer: Nicole Ulrich (Dynamic Frame GmbH)

Public Favourite Award
Interior - Pascal Schuh (Germany)
Producers: Timo Ackermann, Katrin Haase, Oliver Arnold (U5 Filmproduktion GmbH & Co KG, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF)

Best Baltic Project Award
Renovation - Gabrielė Urbonaitė (Lithuania/Latvia)
Producers: Uljana Kim (Studio Uljana Kim), Alise Rogule (Mima Films)

Public Favourite Award
Sand in Your Hair - Mantas Verbiejus (Lithuania)
Producer: Živilė Gallego (Fralita Films)

Just Film Award
Emi - Ezequiel Erriquez Mena (Argentina/Uruguay)
Producer: Laura Mara Tablón (Rita Cine, El Cielo Cine)

Public Favourite Award
The River - Cristóbal García (Chile/Argentina)
Producers: Francisco Bisañez (Vórtice Films), Santiago Ortúzar

European Genre Forum Award
The Dark Architect - Risto Tuominen (Finland/Estonia)
Producers: Ilkka Matila (MRP Matila Röhr Productions OY), Taska Film

Special Mention
Vrykolax - Achilleas Gatsopoulos (Greece)
Producers: Vassilis Economou, Minos Nikolakakis (ASPHALT)

Public Favourite Award
Neighbour - Oskar Lehemaa (Estonia)
Producer: Evelin Penttilä (Stellar Film)

Script Pool Tallinn

Script Pool Award
Kingpins - Kristians Riekstins (Latvia)
Producer: Alise Rogule (Mima Films)

Public Favourite Award
Fabula Rasa - Miriam Suad Bühler, Maurice Sinner (Canada/Luxembourg/Germany)
Producers: Steffen Gerdes (Red Balloon Film), maze pictures