The Baltic Sea Forum for Documentaries (BSD), a key documentary training and pitching event for the Baltic countries, is seeking applications from independent production companies from the wider Baltic Sea region countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden), Eastern Europe and Caucasus region, and from other countries if the documentary subject relates to the Baltic region.
The hybrid event will be based in Riga, Latvia, and will run 1-12 September 2021. Participation is free of charge and the selection results will be announced on or before 12 July. Guidelines and application details are accessible on BSD website. https://dokforums.gov.lv/industry/submission_guidelines-2021/
BSD stresses how, every year, it attracts around 150 film professionals from the Baltic Sea region, Eastern Europe, and Caucasus. “Participation in the preparatory workshops, pitching sessions and seminars is an opportunity for filmmakers to find funding for the production of their projects and to ensure that their films reach a wide audience across Europe and beyond. 2021 marks 25th edition of the BSD, and it will be reflected in various activities of this year’s program,” write event organisers.
Films presented at previous editions include The Jump (2020, directed by Giedrė Žickytė, 2020, Lithuania/Latvia/France, Best Documentary Feature award at Warsaw IFF); My Favorite War (2020, directed by Ilze Burkovska Jacobsen, 2020, Norway/Latvia, Feature Film Contrechamp Award and the Prix du Jury Senscritique at Annecy) and This Rain Will Never Stop (2020, directed by Alina Gorlova, Ukraine/Germany/Latvia/Qatar, Award for Best First Appearance at IDFA).
Running parallel to the industry activities, BSD will present a film program of recent documentaries, which will be screened online and in cinemas, Covid-allowing.
