Guidelines

Time: September 6 – 7, 2008

Place: Riga, Latvia

Forum: The National Film Centre of Latvia in collaboration with the European Documentary Network, the Baltic Films and the Latvian Producers Association organize the 12th Forum for producers of documentary films and television programmes from the Baltic States, Belarus, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Georgia, as well as producers from other European countries if the film subject is related to the Baltic Region. The aim of the Forum is to allow documentary and TV producers to pitch their latest documentary projects live to a number of commissioning editors from the Baltic, Nordic and Western European television channels and film institutions.

Commissioning Editors at the 2007 Baltic Sea Forum were:

Franz Grabner, ORF Austria
Joke Goovaerts, Lichpunt Belgium
Alice Aasmäe-Kahar, ETV Estonia
Raimo Joerand, EFF Estonia
Claudia Schreiner, MDR Germany
Christiane Hinz, WDR Germany
Sabine Bubeck-Paaz, ARTE Germany
Irene Gavala, ERT Greece
Edgars Trops, LTV Latvia
Tadas Patalavičius, LRT Lithuania
Rada Šesic, Jan Vrijman Fund Netherlands
Roberto Blatt, Multicanal Spain
Vera Bonnier, SVT Sweden
Jennifer Batty, VIASAT UK
Flora Gregory, Al-Jazeera English UK
Bruni Burres, Sundance Documentary Program US

Eligibility

Independent production companies from the Baltic States, Belarus, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Georgia, as well as producers from other European countries if the film subject is related to the Baltic Region.
Producers and production companies may enter up to three projects each.
Priority is given to the projects having some financial commitment from broadcaster(s) or film institutions.

Pitching

Subject to overall considerations of time, each project may be pitched for five minutes, with further time for discussion at the discretion of the moderators. The moderators’ decisions in this matter will be final. Each project may be pitched by up to two representatives. Please, note that the pitch has to be supported with video clips of your new project or clips from your previous films (DVD).
The presentation of the project should be done in English (Russian – English translation available on exceptional basis).

Co-production Workshop

A Co-production Workshop will be organized prior to the Forum from September 3 to 5 led by Leena Pasanen. It will aim at giving extensive training in trailer production, written proposals of the projects, as well as updated introduction to the rapidly changing European documentary market. Even for those who have taken part in the forums before, it will be of great importance to dedicate time to the development of the project and get valuable tips on what to do after the pitch. Those days are over when the workshop was for beginners.

If you wish to take part, please, tick the box on the application form when entering the project for selection. The working language of the workshop will be English (Russian – English translation available on exceptional basis). More detailed information on co-production workshop at lelda.ozola@nfc.gov.lv

Observers

Producers may attend the Forum as observers without pitching a project.

Deadline

1 pm on Friday, June 6, 2008.

To qualify the producer has to return the following information on each project:

  • the official Baltic Forum Application Form (duly completed),
  • short description of the production company, producer and director (all on one page),
  • one page synopsis of the project,
  • copies of letters of interest from broadcasters and other financiers (if available),
  • one photo of the project,
  • one photo of the producer or person pitching the project,
  • if available at the point of application – a DVD trailer of the current project or previous work.

The application forms are available online at www.mediadesk.lv and www.nfc.lv .

The projects should be submitted in electronic format at balticforum@nfc.gov.lv (the DVDs with trailers – by snail mail to: BSF 2008, c/o National Film Centre, Peitavas 10/12, Riga LV1050, Latvia).

Contact Details

balticforum@nfc.gov.lv, +371 6735 8858 Zanda Dūdiņa

Selection

Selection of projects will be made by July 10, 2008. Immediately after the decision is made, the producer will receive information on whether the project has been selected. All categories of participation will be subject to selection based on the co-production potential of the project entered. The decisions of the Selection Committee will be final.

Catalogue

A Catalogue will be made and distributed to the commissioning editors containing:

  • a one-page description of the production company, producer and director,
  • a one-page synopsis of the project,
  • one photo per project,
  • one photo of the producer.

Additional material may be distributed by the producer during or after the pitch. All the information must be submitted in English.

Conditions for Participation

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

There is no participation fee. The accommodation costs of the producers with selected projects are covered by co-operation platform Baltic Films.

Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Georgia

There is no participation fee. Some grants will be available to cover accommodation expenses subject to further funding. A letter requesting a grant should be sent with the application form.

Other European countries

There is no participation fee. The producers with the selected project cover their travel and accommodation costs themselves.

We look forward to receiving your projects and wish you good luck!