The snow is heavily falling in Tallinn, as it is across Europe, which has played havoc with travel plans for film professionals this week (I still am waiting for my lost suitcase). However, a big contingent of film professionals is expected in Tallinn this week to attend the professional events in parallel with POFF, the Black Nights Film Festival, which runs from 25 November to 5 December in the capital city of Estonia.  Most professionals come from the Baltics, Scandinavia, Russia, Eastern Europe, with a smattering of representatives from Western Europe, Asia and North America. 

Focusing on new films and projects in development from the Baltics and North Eastern Europe, the two professional sidebar events begin today and continue through the week. Over 300 accredited film professionals from 34 countries will be attending and have the opportunity to view some of the latest films from one of the most exciting filmmaking regions in the world. It is by far the biggest film and co-production market in the region

The Black Market Industry Screenings (which runs from 1st-4th December) and the Baltic Event Screenings (showcasing films from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on 1st and 2nd December) will introduce 16 new works from the Baltic regions, Finland, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Baltics, Russia, Central-Asia and South-Caucus. Filmmakers from these regions will be on hand to present their new films and works-in-progress, with distributors also present to offer advance views of their own line-ups for the coming year. 

Starting today, a new business platform Black Market Online will be launched to support the event. A business-to-business environment, the Black Market Online will allow film professionals to watch films online and access additional information including film industry contacts, country overviews about film industries, upcoming distributor line-ups and films in production from the North East European regions.

This year’s special focus will be on Russian cinema as a special roundtable called Industry Day is behing held today to discuss co-production, financing and film distribution issues in contemporary Russia. Some of the most important figures in the Russian film industry will be in attendance including Dimitry Rudovsky from Art Pictures Group/Art Pictures Media, Dimitri Meskhiev, chief producer from Russian World Studios and Sergei Selyanov from CTB Film Company amongst many others. This will be a golden opportunity to access the top players in one of the most vital and evolving film territories in the world.

On December 2nd, there will be the unique offering of the Literary Rights Market: Books To Films, which will promote literature for film adaption from the Baltic and Nordic countries, Russia and Eastern Europe. There will be 12 selected books presented at the event, along with lectures on intellectual property rights. The books to films include:

Finland

"After You, Max" ( 2009) by Leena Parkkinen, publisher Stilton Literary Agency

"27- Death Makes An Artist" (2010) by Sasa Salmela, publisher TEOS

"The School Of Possibilities, or Storm" (2006) by Seita Parkkola publisher Werner Söderström

Russia

"The Stone Maples" (2008) by Lena Eltang, publisher AST

"Diary of Infidelity" (2008) by Elina Kolina, publisher AST

"The Librarian" (2007) by Mikhail Elizarov, publisher Ad Marginem

"Attack on Shali" (2010) by Herman Sadulaev, publisher Ad Marginem

"People In Their Birthday Suits" (2009) by Andrey Astvatsaturov, publisher Ad Marginem

Latvia

"The School of Living Wrong"(2008) by Maira Dobele, Publisher Liels Un Mazs

"Amour Fou" (2009) by Nora Ikstena, publisher Dienas Grāmata

Estonia

"48 Hours" (2008) by Maarja Kangro, publisher Estonian Language Foundation

"Apothecary Melchior and the Mystery of St Olaf´s Church" (2010) by Indrek Hargla Publisher Varrak

The Baltic Event Co-production market will present 12 highlighted projects from the Baltic countries, Scandinavia, Central - Eastern Europe and Russia whilst the new initiative Baltic Event for East will see the presentation of 4 projects from Ukraine and Russia. “It’s exciting to welcome so many important figures from the film industry from North East Europe and beyond for the Black Market and Baltic Event", POFF honcho Tiina Lokk declared. "The region is one of the most important and vital hubs for filmmaking and the events are providing a crucial focus for discussion while giving the opportunity for important deals and contacts to be made. ” For more information on the Black Market, visit: http://market.poff.ee/est and for the Baltic Event, visit:  http://be.poff.ee/index.html. For information on the films and events of the Black Nights Film Festival, visit: http://www.poff.ee.

Sandy Mandelberger, POFF Dailies Editor