80 Angry Journalists | Hungary, Germany
directors András Földes, Anna Kis | producer Lorand Balazs Imre | production company filmDOUGH Productions UG
A conflict zone reporter witnesses 80 journalists, his colleagues, walking out in protest of government takeover. They establish a new online newspaper. Amid challenges and a hostile environment, their journey takes unexpected turns, raising existential questions of press freedom and democracy.
Acting Classes (wt) | Kazakhstan
director Sasha Shegai | producers Sasha Shegai, Yevgeniya Moreva | production company CatNip
Vera, 87 is a newbie at the nursing home. Waiting for her son to come get her, she joins a theatre club. As time passes, the hope for the escape fades. Only in reality. In the film, Vera plays out an ending of her own.
Baltic | Poland
director Iga Lis | producers Stanislaw Zaborowski, Justyna Gawelko | production company Silver Frame
After forty years of running her famous smokehouse in a Polish seaside town, sixty-four-year-old Miecia grapples with the challenges of aging and illness while facing the daunting fear of the business’s survival prospect without her at the helm.
Between Borders | Estonia
director Erik Tikan | producers Elina Litvinova, Maris Salumets | production company Three Brothers OÜ
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion, Erko journeys to Ukraine as a volunteer to provide aid. As the conflict prolongs, he confronts a pivotal decision: war or his own family?
Chasing Gold in the Dark | Lithuania
director Andrius Lekavicius | producer Gabriele Vaiciunaite | production company Cinema Cartel
Can a gold medal glimmer enough to be seen with less than 10 percent vision? “Chasing Gold in the Dark” traces Lithuania’s acclaimed goalball team, led by aging champion Genrik Pavliukianec, as they wrestle with personal sacrifices and internal conflicts on their journey to win medals.
Double Self Portrait | Lithuania
director Aiste Stonyte | producers Giedre Zickyte, Migla Butkute | production company Moonmakers
Edge Of The Night | Estonia
director Vladimir Loginov | producer Janika Möls | production company Anthill films OÜ
The invisible life of Tallinn, what comes alive while the city sleeps.
El Dorado | Georgia
director Rati Oneli | producers Rati Oneli, David Vashadze, Evgeniia Marchenko | production company Office of Architecture
In a poetic meditation on civilization’s destructive forces, the guardian matriarchs of a mining town and a lone seeker of ancient treasures explore the labyrinths of memory. Their journeys converge in an allegorical tale set in a world on the edge of oblivion, shadowed by industrial behemoths.
Emptiness | Latvia, Romania
director Viesturs Kairišs | producers Elīna Gediņa-Ducena, Gints Grūbe | production companies Mistrus Media, Dash Film
Emptiness is a documentary essay about how and why certain places in Europe are emptying as a result of global processes rather than the failure of one location or government.
Entr’actes | Ukraine
director Yuriy Shylov | producer Olha Tuharinova | production company LLC “Alarm Productions”
A retired concierge Olena is leading the amateur theater for the elderly. Neither war nor illness can stop the enthusiastic collective from preparing for the local contest, as this may be the last chance for them to appear on the big stage.
Faithful unto Death | Latvia
director/producer Ivars Zviedris | production company BIEDRĪBA “DOKUMENTĀLISTS”
For 27 years, Mara carried medical clamps forgotten by doctors in her body after surgery. Almost as long, for 24 years, she’s been with Ivars. Life may be harsh, but love is above all.
Leave Easy Come Back Safe | Germany
directors Sasha Kulak, Masha Maroz | producer Julia Shaginurova | production companies Einbahnstraße Productions, SESTRA Film
A journey through the mystical region of Polesia, a marshland secluded from the world. Polesia has historically been a bastion of Belarusian culture, which is now facing unprecedented challenges and pressures.
Making Friends with the Idea of a Father | Bulgaria
director Nikolay Stefanov | producer Ralitsa Golemanova | production company Smarty Pants Shooter Ltd.
Reopening the cold case of his father’s killing from 30 years ago takes director Nikolay Stefanov on an intimate investigation of intergenerational trauma and a touching exploration of masculinity and fatherhood in this day and time.
No Death | Ukraine, Latvia
director Yevhen Titarenko | producers Guntis Trekteris, Natalia Khazan | production companies Braha Production Company, Ego Media
By joining an elite unit of Ukrainian drone operators, director Yevhen Titarenko plunges the viewer into new reality of war where fighting takes place behind a screen. This war leads to a deeper reflection on how technological advances and relationship to images of violence affect human psychology.
Odyssey MD | Moldova, Lithuania
director Pavel Braila | producers Pavel Braila, Lilia Braila, Ausra Lukosiuniene | production companies ARTWATT, VEGELE FILMS
A cinematic essay captures the chronicle of today’s Moldova akin to Ithaca, waiting for Odysseus to return from distant lands. Almost a million people work abroad, and 170,000 children grow up without parents. The country is waiting for its citizens who left it in search of a better destiny.
The Red Barn | Latvia
director Pēteris Krilovs | producer Uldis Cekulis | production company VFS FILMS
Free people have a tendency to break out of the “barn” and open up the world.
Sacred Songs | Georgia
director Nona Giunashvili | producer Mariam Bitsadze | production company 17/07 Productions
Four female singers live a monotonous life in their Georgian village, limited by religious dogmas. They discover happiness during their journey around international stages. All changes when the youngest singer puts on a hijab and leaves the group.
Serozhik | Armenia
director Lusine Papoyan | producer Aram Petrosyan | production company Formlab
14-year-old Seryozha, after his father’s disability, assumed the role of a man and devoted all his days to taking care of his family. Seryozha tries not to lose his dream..
Ship of Dreams | Sweden
director Johan von Sydow | producer Katja Uneborg | production company Picky Pictures
In 1992, hopeful writers embark on a Baltic cruise for culture, peace and unity. Journalist Tom Paxal captures their dreams on film – until he discovers illegal activities on lower deck. Decades later, he gets the footage back, sparking a quest for truth in a world of political intrigue and secrets.
Silent Hill | Estonia
director Kullar Viimne | producer Erik Norkroos | production company Rühm Pluss Null – Missing Pictures
Kalju is wounded. He fell in love. He got married. He had a daughter. Then his heart was broken. Time has passed but the pain remains. Hard work cannot drive away the pain of a love lost. Now he talks honestly, from the heart.
Sky Nomads | Azerbaijan
director Aytaj Khalig Suleymanova | producer Elmaddin Suleymanov | production company image x
Beshbarmag Mountain, a hunting ground for centuries, was explored as a rare bird migration zone 10 years ago. Despite hunting rifles evolved into binoculars Beshbarmag holds traces of the traditional patriarchal mentality in hunting.
The Story of the Wild Rose | Estonia
directors Kristen Aigro, Miguel Llansó | producer Liis Nimik | production company Klara Films
A Mexican telenovela takes Estonia by storm in its early Post-Soviet years and reaches viewership records that remain unchallenged to this day. How did this fairytale from a far away land capture the hearts of reserved Estonians in the tumultuous era of transiting from collectivism to individualism?
COMING SOON | films in post-production stage from previous BSD editions
Becoming Roosi | Estonia, Germany
director Margit Lillak | producers Margit Lillak, Dirk Manthey | production companies Tiny Desk Productions OÜ, Dirkmantheyfilms
Deep, funny and provocative story of a girl who escaped a hippy eco-commune as a child and became a conformist cosmopolitan citizen. Who will save the planet if not the last generation?
Dedovshina | Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
director/producer Elyor Nematov | production company 1844 productions
Nord Express | Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Germany
director Kārlis Lesiņš | producers Elīna Gediņa – Ducena, Gints Grūbe | production companies Mistrus Media, Allfilm, Staron Film, Gebrueder Beetz
Filmmaker Kārlis Lesiņš starts an investigation and goes on the road to find out why the construction of this 7 billion euro EU funded and NATO backed high-speed railway line Rail Baltica is significantly delayed.
