Over 600 international delegates are expected at the 21st Industry @Tallinn & Baltic Event unspooling November 20-25 in the Estonian capital.

Set against the backdrop of war in Ukraine, the industry event held parallel to the Black Nights Film Festival has carved a special space for Ukrainian projects and professionals in a sign of solidarity, and the conflict’s repercussion on the global industry will be highlighted across the event's numerous panels and conferences. As underscored by Marge Liiske, long-standing head of Industry @ Tallinn & Baltic Event (I@T&BE), “it’s been a rocky year and the more a reason to stick together.”

“Our programme will indeed pay more attention to Ukrainian projects and industry as a whole, and we will also tackle artists in exile - from Russia, Belarus, how they cope with their new life away from their homeland.“

For the first time, industry delegates will be invited to travel ‘to the edge of the EU and NATO’, in North-East Estonia, to discover some of the beautiful landscapes and historical monuments in the Ida-Viru region bordering Russia. “We want to show our guests that we’re not on the frontline, and that we have a wealth of locations and talents also in North-Eastern Estonia.”

The region which offers a 40% cash rebate, and the Viru Film Fund have been particularly active in supporting local productions and training of below-the-line professionals since January 2022, according to Liiske.

Training via the Black Nights Discovery Campus strand, is one of the four pillars of Industry @ Tallinn & Baltic Event together with ‘film market’, ‘series market’ and ‘conference & talks’.

An impressive range of top global players will discuss urgent industry topics and concrete case studies at the TV Beats Forum (November 21-22), moderated by Dutch industry professional Marike Muselaers (Lumiere Group) and Johanna Karppinen, while the Industry innovation Forum will be returning in Tallinn November 22 for its Europe in Focus.

The policy-making session co-financed by the European Commission will explore European film funds in a transforming stage, the development of a virtual production ecosystem in Europe, collaborations with Ukraine, immersive and Web3 technologies, and green production.

“Discussions on such topics are very important, but what is also key is the types of leadership in place to implement change,” Liiske told nordicfilmandtvnews.com. “In difficult times, only leaders with foresight can make reforms.”