The psychological thriller “Lex Julia” by Finnish director Laura Hypponen (“Live East Die Young”) and the fantasy drama “Dice-Ching-o-Mat” by Lithuanian director Kristijonas Virgiunas, winner of Cannes Un Certain Regard for “You Am I”, were selected for the ongoing session at the Industry@Tallinn & Baltics event.
Also among the buzzworthy titles is “Superbehey,” the directorial debut of Josef Grandl, a German production designer who has worked with Wes Anderson and Steve Spielberg.
This year, 18 projects from 12 countries, divided into International Works in Progress, Baltic Event Works in Progress and Just Film Works in Progress, will be exhibited at the industry event of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival on November 20th and 21st.
Beyond the solid Baltic line-up, Spanish-language projects will be heavily influenced through the festival’s Catalan focus and increased submissions from Latin America. “We could have almost created a complete lineup of Spanish-language works in progress,” asserted international section curator Torin Tranberg, who shortlisted eight titles out of 80 submissions and even redirected some Spanish-language works to the Just Films section for children and youth.
Turning the spotlight on Catalan, Tranberg said he was particularly happy to see the return of high-profile producer Alba Sotra, whose previous film Upon Entry “first bowed in Tallinn in 2022, then made waves at international festivals and distribution, earning three Independent Spirit Award nominations.”
Sotorra’s new project “Wolf Grrrls” (“Salen las lobas”) is a realistic teen drama from newcomer Claudia Estrada Tarasco.
Director Tranberg also emphasized the importance of featuring the Ukrainian films “Kira’s Dream” and “Crickets Sing in the Rye,” saying they “show their incredible resilience and support filmmakers who create under extremely difficult conditions.”
Given the large number of Latin American submissions, the international curators told Variety, “We felt it was essential to also include works from the region, and ‘Prince’ really stood out. The remaining projects were chosen for their strength of storytelling, visual style, and the unique voices they bring to screen.”
Commenting on the Baltic countries’ calendar of events, curator Helen Reim said she was pleased to see that out of the 13 projects submitted by the Baltic countries and Finland, 7 were co-productions with Estonia. “This has been a really busy year across the Baltics,” she said.
Two of the six selected titles, “Rama” and “Lex Julia”, were showcased at Baltic Event’s Co-Production Market 2023 and 2021, respectively, while Latvia’s “Kingpins” by first-time participant Christian Liekstiš won the Script Pool Competition in Tallinn in 2024.
Lime said both Kingpin and Eva Maj’s latest film, Mo Hunt, “embodies the spirit of independent film and embraces the ongoing journey of finding one’s creative voice.” Another example of Estonia’s emerging talent to watch, Eval Anwert, will pitch his thriller Something Real, which “looks at the darker side of human existence”.
According to Lime, Finnish director Laura Hyppenen’s “Kingpin,” “Something Real,” and “Lex Julia” “observe and investigate the complexities of human relationships,” while acclaimed Lithuanian director Virgiunas’s “Dice Chin O Mat” “takes a deeper look into the human heart by posing universal questions such as how we really relate to those closest to us and whether we can do more.” This picture was created by the stalwart artist-led studio Urjana Kim.
“Wedding Day,” a musical drama by Latvia’s Marta Elina Martinsson (“Lameoz”), has a much lighter tone, “combining raw realism with poetic musicality, a rare combination in the (Baltic) region,” Lime said.
Curator Kert Vajnola said the four Just Films for Children and Youth projects – Molten, Office of the Magic Squad, Tanit and Switzerland – are coming-of-age stories for young people that focus on “young protagonists overcoming extraordinary challenges in their own environments.”
At the time of writing, the schedule for Just Film Works in Progress had not yet been finalized.
Ongoing Baltic Events and international productions will compete for a 7,000 euro ($8,100) prize, partially sponsored by the Prague-based Studio Veep Post-Production Banner, while Just Film’s project will compete for a 1,000 euro ($1,100) prize.
A complete overview of ongoing international work:
“The Convulsions” (“Les éclats”, David Gutierrez, France/Spain)
Production: Imy Productions, Bapla Films, Auca Films, Cinètica Productions, Timber Films
Psychological drama starring Ines Fehner, Tom Wayne, Lizalou Wayne, and Eiwa Roussel. A couple tries to live self-sufficiently in terms of food and energy in the Pyrenees. But when one of the daughters suddenly begins to suffer from unexplained fainting, their choices are shaken and strange developments begin to occur.
“Crickets sing in the rye” (“Співають коники у житі”, Evhen Khvorostyanko, Ukraine)
Produced by Stage Service LLC
Starring Valeria Khodos, Serhii Mitliushin, Ostap Makarenko, Andriy Klimenkov.
A drama depicting the Holodomor, an artificial famine and genocide in Ukraine orchestrated by Joseph Stalin’s Soviet government from 1932 to 1933.
“Happiness is just beyond the blue sofa” (“Pu spas za sve nas”, Andrija Mugosha, Montenegro)
Production: KA Production
A drama set in Podgorica, Montenegro, which is rarely filmed. Ivona Kustudic (After the Winter), Milica Szczepanovic and Milivoje Obradovic star in this unconventional road movie about a mother who goes on a journey with her son to escape domestic violence. But the boy’s loyalty is shaken when his abusive father approaches.
“Mriia Kiry” (“Mriia Kiry”, Denis Kolesnikov, Ukraine)
Production: Good Morning Films
A musical drama directed by first-time director Kolesnikov and written by Anastasiya Volkova.
The logline reads: “Forgiving your mistakes, learning to love, and not being afraid of life is pretty hard to deal with in a cemetery, but it’s totally possible. Even though sometimes it seems like the cemetery is inside you and not outside.”
“Prince” (Federico Borgia, Uruguay, Argentina)
Works produced by Monterona
A drama series by Federico Borgia (Clever) of Monterona, the talented production company who co-produced Ariel Rotter’s Blue Bird. After the death of dog-loving billionaire Isabel, her butler and ex-lover Jamie is left in charge of the deceased’s beloved Afghan greyhound, Prince. Jamie must live with the dog in the house until it dies. But the heirs are not going to accept it peacefully,” the logline reads.
“Rahma” (Faisal Soysal, Türkiye, Bulgaria, Greece)
balcon film production
A drama about an archaeologist who is struggling with infertility and is preparing to go overseas for surrogacy. However, her plans change when she meets a Syrian orphan girl who looks like a boy. “In a world where artificial reproductive technology raises new ethical questions and millions of children remain stateless in a post-war landscape, this film confronts the moral weight of introducing children into a wounded world,” said Soysal, an award-winning Turkish poet and filmmaker. The title role stars Deniz Yishun, Fayyaz Duman, and Ulu Arslan.
“Superbuhei” (Joseph Brandl, Germany)
Juni film production
A dark comedy with a touch of horror in which failed bar owner Jesse Bronske fears that his malevolent twin brother, who ran away years ago, is now trying to find him and take over his life. The more paranoid Jesse becomes, the more his life moves away from him. “Based on a German novel, the film takes place in a reimagined ‘un-German’ setting that is both familiar and surreal,” said producer Janina Sara Hennemann.
“Wolf Grrrls” (“Salen las lobas”, Claudia Estrada Tarasco, Spain, Belgium)
Works produced by Alba Sotra
Claudia Estrada Tarasco’s directorial debut. Luna, a misunderstood teenager, is accused of abuse by her father and sent to a juvenile detention center. The place is dilapidated and strict, but Luna refuses to bow to its rules. Through their shared interest in urban music, she becomes close with Yanira, Rocio, and Melissa. Against all odds, they begin to dream of a future together outside the center.
Baltic Sea event is underway
“Dice-Ching-O-Mat” (Kristijonas Virgiunas, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia)
Studio Uljana Kim production
Virgiunas, who was selected for “The Lease” at the 2022 Venice Controcorrente and “You Am I” at Cannes 2006, competed in Tallinn 2021 with “Songs for a Fox.” His sixth feature is a fantasy drama in which the main character, Villis (55), awakens inside a mysterious cube. The cube is an elevator-like box with an intercom that tells you to recover your lost identity by exiting through the red door and returning through the green. Outside, his wife and three adult children face an existential crisis in Vilnius, paralyzed by the 2020 pandemic. To save them, Villis must surpass his former self.
“Mo Hunt” (Iva Maggi, Estonia)
Production: Kulturikuur, Kinosaurus Film
A thriller about a burnt-out ballerina, Kore, who becomes the illegal agent of a lonely priest and pushes her body to its limits. Her boyfriend, Karjo, clings to their love as it dissolves into a silent storm of sacrifice, faith, and forbidden desire. “We are creating this film as a deeply independent project that is emotionally raw, formally intimate and grounded in lived experience,” said Mazigi of Estonia’s new wave Mo Movement, which won the Best Feature Film and Special Jury Prize at Tallinn 2023 for Mo Mamma.
“Kingpin” (Kristian Liekstiš, Latvia)
Production: Mima Film
It was named the most promising project at the 2024 Tallinn Script Pool Awards. It’s a comedy about ordinary people scheming, stumbling, and outwitting themselves in search of quick success. “Its driving rhythms, inventive visuals and razor-sharp humor transform everyday chaos into pure cinematic energy,” said producer Alise Rogle.
“Lex Julia” (Laura Hypponen, Finland, Poland, Estonia, Sweden)
Production: Greenlit Productions
Psychological drama starring Christian Hilborg (Fleabag, Young Royals), Jessica Grabowski (Icebreakers, Tom of Finland), and Lea Rest (November, Dark Paradise). A seemingly perfect island holiday spirals out of control when music producer Julia visits her friend Anna’s secluded villa and meets a husband whom Julia quickly recognizes as her past.
“Something Real” (“Midagi tõelist”, Ivar Anwert, Estonia-Lithuania)
naphtha film production
Drama thriller written by Martin Argus based on his acclaimed novel. In his directorial debut, Unwerth tackles “pressing issues such as loneliness and human escapism in a consumer-driven world,” Lime said.
“Wedding Day” (“Līgava”, Marta Elina Martinsson, Latvia, Czech Republic)
ego media production
A musical drama in which Cleo, an up-and-coming actress, is torn between two men who desire to fulfill her desires and her own desire for self-expression and freedom. Producer Gantis Trektelis said: “The film combines the emotional depth of character-driven European cinema with the visual and sonic vibrancy of contemporary musicals.”
List of Just Film works in progress:
“Morten” (Ivan Pavlyutskov, Estonia, Lithuania)
Produced by Kinokompani
“Office of the Magic Corps” (Хрещатик 48/2, Dmytro Avdiyev, Ukraine)
Produced by: Komarovsky Films
“Switzerland” (“Suiza”, Maria Fernanda Gonzalez, Peru, Argentina)
Works produced by Lucuma Salvaje
“Tanit” (Pep Garrido, Spain)
Produced by: Atiende Films, Daksa Productions
