On Monday, the 22nd edition of the five-day summit Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event kicks off with over 100 lectures, masterclasses and workshops and greeting over 800 onsite and online participants.

Marge Liiske, the Managing Director of Industry@Tallinn& Baltic Event, emphasizes the event's commitment to the relevant and innovative topics. As always, the program addresses the key issues in the audiovisual sector, and this year, one common thread in the program is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Over five days, a range of talks and workshops will explore AI's various facets. The event will also discuss the transition of film and series screenwriters into the gaming industry and explore the future of Europe's gaming sector from IP and AI perspectives.

The summit takes off on 13 November with a two-day conference TV Beats Forum, taking place for the sixth time, and welcoming professionals and drama series enthusiasts to explore the series trends and addressing themes from diversity and inclusivity to AI and social responsibility through case studies, panel discussions, and keynote speeches. The speakers include Tac Romey, Joachim Friedmann and Alexandre Piel.

A new addition to the summit, Just Film Industry Days, in collaboration with the Just Film Festival, brings together youth and children's film directors, producers, distributors, international panellists, educators, and students. The conference on 14-15 November focuses on youth and children's film industry trends, AI, new media, film education, and filmmaking to inspire young audiences. Renowned speakers include Tania Pinto Da Cunha, Xiaojuan Zhou, Nils Andersson, Agata Darlasi, Viola Gabrielli, Julie Skaufel, and Anne Schultka, to name a few.

This year’s busy programme includes various acknowledged speakers such as one of the most acclaimed female executives in cinematic history, Gale Anne Hurd, whose extensive list of credits includes global blockbusters like Armageddon, The Terminator, T2, and Aliens, among many others. In Tallinn, Gale Anne Hurd will provide insights into her remarkable career, sharing her creative decisions as a writer, producer, and executive and her ability to navigate the entertainment industry.

The program also includes a fireside chat with Ari Tan, a prominent figure in global media strategy, on the core principles of strategic content creation and distribution and the guests will learn how shifts in the market, financing dynamics, and emerging partnerships are reshaping the landscape of the film industry.

Supported by the European Commission and Creative Europe MEDIA, Industry Innovation Forum 2023 returns to Tallinn with a half-day executive-level forum. The first section, Europe and Ukraine's Solidarity in Film & Industry 631 Days Later, looks at the current state and potential trajectory of solidarity initiatives and financial aid for the Ukrainian creative and film industry, including the MEDIA program and European Solidarity Fund for Ukrainian Films. The day’s agenda also includes a case study of interactive Ukrainian-Polish-US co-production Murals inspired by the works of Banksy in Ukraine, financed by the Ukrainian filmmaking fund by the Polish Film Institute. The second part of the forum, The European Entertainment landscape redefined+: Exploring Film, Gaming & Industry at the boom of AI, brings together AI filmmakers, content creators, visionaries, and developers to discuss generative AI's dynamic shifts, creative possibilities, and ethical challenges. The speakers include Christina Caspers Roehmer, Mads Dambo, Caleb & Shelby Ward, and Roope Rainisto, among others.

Effective networking opportunities

Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event’s film and series market 2023 presents over 60 projects in various categories. Script Pool, European Genre Forum, TV Beats Co-Financing Market, and MIDPOINT Series Launch, Baltic Event Co-Production Market and Works in Progress will showcase projects seeking partners in various categories, leading to hundreds of one-on-one meetings throughout the week. In addition to project meetings, Tallinn is also renowned for its networking scene. "According to our guests' feedback, effective networking opportunities are highly prized at I@T&BE. We make every effort to maintain the inclusive atmosphere alongside the diverse program," says Liiske

Also, the summit showcases the film industry of this year's Focus countries, Serbia and its Southeast European neighbours Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Slovenia. On 16 November, a panel discussion will present extensive collaborative opportunities among creatives from these countries, shedding light on their unique cinematic filming environments.

Attendees of Industry@Tallinn Event are also welcome to explore the local film industry through tours of filming locations in Narva and Tartu, and attend a conference discussing standards and training prospects for roles "below the line."

Besides market activities, discussions and conferences, Black Nights Discovery Campus takes the next step in helping talents navigate in the international film industry. The international educational program returns on 14-17 November with a revamped format, presenting over 40 young talented professionals to the industry and introducing a new sub-program titled Frame Within a Frame for cinematographers in addition to its existing programs Music Meets Film, Black Nights Stars, Black Room and Script Pool. The mentors of the programs include distinguished cinematographer and digital imaging supervisor Philippe Ros, acclaimed composer John Altman and acknowledged production designer Kave Quinn.

Other initiatives for young guests include Launchpad for junior professionals in distribution in collaboration with four other film festivals, Go Long for short filmmakers, Breaking into the Industry for junior producers, CresCine novel Theory and Evidence Training for first or second-time film producers, and more. The summit also discusses sustainable leadership during its Near Future Retreat, and holds a Greening & Sustainability Think Tank in the framework of the EU-funded CresCine project.

Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event 2023, one of the most significant events in Northern Europe for audiovisual sector professionals, takes place from 13-17 November 2023 in Tallinn and online. The complete programme, with over 100 events, online and onsite, is available at industry.poff.ee