27th BALTIC SEA FORUM FOR DOCUMENTARIES
Riga, Latvia
INDUSTRY DATES: 3 – 8 September 2023
| Pitching Sessions | 7 – 8 September 2023, Riga |
| Pitch Training Workshop | 3 – 6 September 2023, Liepupe & Riga |
| CE MEDIA Workshop on documentary approach in fiction films | 6 September 2023, Riga |
| Description | An international co-production pitching forum focused on feature length creative documentary projects from and on the Baltic Sea region, Eastern Europe, Caucasus region. It is the only pitching forum in the Baltic region focused solely on documentaries. It was established in 1997, and it is organized by the National Film Centre of Latvia. |
| Activities in 2023 | In-person event consisting of: * pitch training workshop of 18 selected projects; * pitching of 18 selected projects followed by individual meetings; * NEW: Coming soon session of films in post production stage pitched in previous BSD editions (TBA as a separate call); * NEW: Producers Networking – networking event between Baltic and European producers (organised by the Travelling Docs initiative of the CE MEDIA Desks; TBA as a separate call); * film program. |
| Decision makers of BSD 2022 | Natalia Arshavskaya, Current Time TV, USA Christa Auderlitzky, Filmdelights, Austria Anna Berthollet, Lightdox, Switzerland Sabine Bubeck-Paaz, ZDF/Arte, Germany Aleksandra Derewienko, Cat & Docs, France Tijana Djukic, Limonero Films, UK Anja Dziersk, Rise and Shine, Germany Aleksandar Govedarica, Syndicado, Canada Natsu Kawakami, NHK, Japan Jo Lapping, BBC, UK Petar Mitric, Taskovski Films, UK Liina Murd, ERR, Estonia Liene Laviņa, LTV, Latvia Anas Khelawy, Al Jazeera, Qatar Luisa Schwamborn, New Docs, Germany Marketa Stinglova, Czech TV, Czech Republic Alex Szalat, Docs Up Fund, France Jenny Westergaard, YLE, Finland |
| Awards | · Baltic Sea Docs award – mentorship for one project (up to 3 sessions within 1 year with BSD tutors/ industry experts) · IDFA Spotlight Award – participation, travel & accommodation of a director to IDFA’s next edition & participation in a tailor-made program within the IDFA Industry and training activities · Current Time TV award – 2000 eur cash award for one project · more awards in negotiations, TBC |
| Who can apply | · Independent production companies from the wider Baltic Sea Region countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden) · Independent production companies from Eastern Europe and Caucasus region (not eligible in 2023: production companies from Russia) · Independent production companies from other European countries if the project relates to the regions and eligible countries specified above. |
| What kind of projects | Producers may enter up to 3 projects each. Apart from feature length creative documentaries the BSD also invites cross media projects and documentary animations. One project may be submitted for selection up to 3 times. Projects pitched in the previous editions are ineligible. Priority is given to projects having some financial commitment from broadcasters or film institutions, however it is not essential for being selected. Projects by first time filmmakers are also welcome and eligible. |
| Application Deadline | 12 June 2023 |
| Application form & Application procedure | Fill in an online Application Form (while filling out the form, we suggest to save it regularly to ensure that the information is stored properly), providing following (in English): · short description of the production company, producer and director (max 150 words each), · short synopsis of the project (max 50 words), · long synopsis of the project (400-600 words), · print quality photo representing the project, photo of the producer and other filmmakers pitching the project, · a link to the trailer/visual material of the current project (mandatory already for the selection process) · director’s statement about the project explaining the creative vision (preferably as a short video uploaded at the “Notes” section). |
| Expenses | Application and participation is free of charge. Travel and accommodation have to be covered by participants. |
| Contact Details for Application | For any further enquiries please contact us at balticforum@nkc.gov.lv or call +371 26054287. |
| Selection | Selection of projects made by an international Selection Committee will be announced by 12 July 2023, and the contact person of the project will be notified about the results via e-mail. The main criteria of the selection will be the international potential and creative approach of the project entered. The decisions of the Selection Committee will be final. |
| Observers | Producers may attend BSD as observers without pitching a project (it allows to observe pitching sessions, attend industry events, film program). Fill in an online Application form by 11 August 2023, the notification will be sent out by 18 August. |
| Pitching | Each project has 7 minutes for pitching (language – English), with further time for discussion. The pitch has to be supported with a trailer (subtitled in English). |
| Individual Meetings | Individual meetings with decision makers will be held on 7-8 September. |
| Workshop | A Pitching Training Workshop will be organized from 3-6 September. The pitchers will work intensively on their project presentation with the aid of 6 international tutors with extensive industry experience lead by documentary consultants Mikael Opstrup and Tue Steen Müller. In addition to this, a professional editor will give advice on the structure of trailers. We strongly advise you to take part in the workshop. (First two days of the workshop are intended to take place outside Riga, the accommodation (3-5 September) and transfer will be provided by BSD. Departure from Riga will be organized in the afternoon of the 3 September).
TUTORS, BSD 2022 |
| Film Program | Parallel to the Baltic Sea Docs industry activities, a program of selected documentary films will be screened from 5 – 10 September 2023. |
| All Deadlines | 12 June 2023 – project submission 12 July 2023 – announcement of selected projects 11 August 2023 – observer registration |
| We look forward to receiving your projects! |