Baltic Pitching Forum 2026 Announces Open Call for Short Film Projects

The Baltic Pitching Forum (BPF), the leading short film industry event in the Baltic region, is calling for new projects from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and this year’s guest country – Italy. The 14th edition of BPF will take place in Vilnius from 6th to 9th of October.

For nearly 14 years, the BPF has provided a unique opportunity for filmmakers to pitch their short film projects, attend a series of workshops and training sessions, get valuable one-to-one feedback and find potential co-production opportunities through networking with influential film industry professionals. The BPF always welcomes applications featuring projects with international potential, distinguished by creative skill and a unique artistic vision.

The Baltic Pitching Forum’s 14th edition will highlight Italy as this year’s guest country. According to Rimantė Daugėlatė, head of the Baltic Pitching Forum: “Building a strong and sustainable partnership with the Italian Short Film Center and its ShorTO Film Market has shown how open the Italian film industry is to international cooperation and co-productions. We hope to strengthen connections between Italy and the Baltic states by presenting new voices and talent, introducing funding opportunities, and at the same time encouraging new co-productions.

Eligible applicants include directors and producers from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Italy who have completed at least one short film and are currently developing new fiction, animation, or hybrid projects intended for international audiences, with a duration of up to 30 minutes. Projects must be in the early stages of development. The application deadline is the 21st of June.

Selected participants will attend a four-day training and pitching event, which includes sessions with tutor Gabriele Brunnemeyer, exclusive one-on-one meetings with experts, and various networking opportunities. Moreover, participants will have access to an extensive open events programme – lectures, panels, presentations, and alumni showcases. Before the Forum, filmmakers will engage in online script consultations led by scriptwriting expert consultant Anna Bielak.

Projects will be assessed by industry professionals representing festivals, television, distribution, production, and film commissioning. Baltic projects will have the opportunity to gain participation rights to key industry events: the European Short Film Co-production Forum EURO CONNECTION, part of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival (France), and the ShorTO Film Market’s initiative “You Only Pitch Twice” (Italy). In addition, one project will receive the Baltic Producers MEDIA Award (€1000), established by the Creative Europe MEDIA Desks in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Additional prizes – participant rights at SHORT RIGA Test Screenings, held during Riga International Short Film Festival, and UP Records Sound Post-Production Award. Other awards will be announced as the event approaches.

Projects pitched at the Baltic Pitching Forum have found international success, with selections at major film festivals such as Cannes, Berlinale, Locarno, Annecy, Clermont-Ferrand, Tampere, Oberhausen. BPF alumni, such as Anna Hints, Laurynas Bareiša or Raitis and Lauris Abele, have also gained international recognition for their feature films screening at the likes of Sundance, Venice and Tribeca.

Baltic Pitching Forum is organized by the Lithuanian Short Film Agency “Lithuanian Shorts”. The event is financed by the Lithuanian Film Centre, Vilnius City Municipality, Audiovisual Works Copyright Association “AVAKA” and Baltisches Haus. Associated partners: Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS, Riga IFF, Latvian Short Film Agency and PÖFF Shorts (Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival). Partners – Creative Europe MEDIA Desks in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Italian Short Film Center, Estonian Film Institute.

Application deadline: 21 June.

Apply to the Forum here.

Photos from the last years event, photographer Tautvydas Stukas