Tartu Film Fund at the Cannes Film Festival 2025

Tartu Film Fund took part in this year’s Cannes Film Festival, attending key meetings and discussions focused on international collaboration, sustainable production, and the role of regional film industries in the broader European context. As the world’s largest gathering of film professionals, the Cannes Film Festival is an important platform for smaller film regions to increase visibility and build strategic partnerships.

Tartu Film Fund representative Signe Somelar-Erikson participated in four significant industry events:

Nordic Film Commissions Sustainability Update

In December 2023, the Nordic Sustainability Pledge was launched at FOCUS London – a joint initiative between 19 Nordic film commissions to advance sustainability in film production. In Cannes, Daniel Chilla (Film Stockholm) provided an update on progress and collaborations to date, followed by a discussion with Annee Helvig Frost (SF Studios) about turning pledges into concrete actions. The Baltic countries, including Tartu Film Fund, see themselves as part of this emerging network.

EUFCN panel “Capitalizing on Collaboration”

This panel focused on how partnerships between producers and film commissions can bring meaningful benefits to local communities, stimulate economic activity, and support a stronger European screen sector. Case studies included Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme”, HBO’s “The Regime”, and Netflix’s “Billionaire Island”.
Two of the speakers, Markus Bensch and Solveig Sigmond Ræstad, will also take part in Location Session Tartu 2025.

Nordic-Baltic Production Networking Event

A networking event for producers from the Baltic and Nordic countries held in the Baltic pavilions at the Marché du Film. The agenda included country-specific case studies and practical collaboration examples.

Meeting with Torino Film Lab

Discussions focused on bringing one of the modules of the Torino Script Lab to Tartu. A concrete plan is now in place to host this internationally acclaimed script development programme in Tartu in 2027, in partnership with TorinoFilmLab.

Participation in international events like Cannes is vital for regional film funds like Tartu’s. It helps develop new connections, attract international partners, and stay informed on key industry trends. Cannes also supports Tartu Film Fund’s strategic goals and enhances South Estonia’s visibility in the global film industry.

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Photo credit: Erlend Štaub