UPDATE: The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has just announced an exciting lineup for its TV Beats Co-Financing Market, featuring eight premium series from across Europe. The festival will take place on November 17-18 in Tallinn, Estonia, showcasing titles from renowned filmmakers including Eran Riklis and AJ Annila.
This year, a record 56 projects were submitted, marking a 40% increase from last year. The selected series hail from multiple countries, including Germany, Spain, and Israel, vying for the prestigious €50,000 ($58,600) Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award. As funding for development becomes increasingly scarce, this award is a game changer for independent producers in Europe.
Petri Kemppinen, co-head of TV Beats Forum, remarked, “Compared to last year, we had many more applications and projects of a higher quality.” The festival aims to elevate drama series from the Baltics, Nordics, and Central Eastern Europe (CEE). Roosa Toivonen, also co-head of TV Beats Forum, highlighted the focus on co-production potential, particularly from non-traditional partners.
Among the eight featured projects is the gripping true-crime drama “The Abduction of Yossele Schumacher” by Eran Riklis, which dives into a family’s struggle involving the Israeli Mossad and an ultra-Orthodox community. Another standout, “Nuclear Sunset Cruise,” directed by Oscar winner Florian Gallenberger, is a unique historical comedy set against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis, blending humor with Cold War realities.
The lineup also includes “Helsinki 1939” by AJ Annila, portraying journalists battling propaganda during the Finnish Winter War. Other notable titles include the Spanish mystery “Dark Waters” and the Czech psychological drama “Frontwards,” which tackles themes of hereditary trauma and Alzheimer’s disease.
The festival will also feature its second Screening Day and the Midpoint Series Launch training program aimed at emerging professionals from CEE, further solidifying its role as a catalyst for the region’s creative industry.
As the festival approaches, the anticipation is palpable. This event not only highlights the burgeoning talent in Europe but also underscores the critical need for innovative storytelling in today’s complex world.
Watch for more details as the festival date nears, and stay tuned for updates on these exciting new series set to captivate audiences worldwide.
