Tartu Film Fund Participated in the Berlinale European Film Market
From 12–22 February 2026, the Berlinale European Film Market took place in Berlin, where the Tartu Film Fund was represented by Külli Hansen and Signe Somelar-Erikson.
The European Film Market, held alongside the Berlin International Film Festival, is one of Europe’s most important international meeting points for film industry professionals. It provides a platform to present film regions, build partnerships, and stay up to date with developments in the sector.
Estonia at the Joint Baltic Stand
Estonia was represented at the market with a joint Baltic stand together with Latvia and Lithuania. The Baltic stand showcased information about local production opportunities, films, and festivals. The Tartu Film Fund introduced South Estonia as a diverse filming region and held a number of substantive meetings with international partners.
Baltic Networking Event and New Contacts
On Saturday, 14 February, a Baltic networking event took place, offering Estonian film industry representatives a valuable opportunity to establish and strengthen contacts with international producers and sales agents. Such meetings are an important prerequisite for future cooperation projects and co-productions.
Film Industry Startups
On Sunday, 15 February, the EFM Startups Pitch presented European and international film-tech startups. Among the participants was the Estonian company Mureel (founded by Olga Hartšuk), which is developing a digital platform to help European film and TV producers manage sustainability requirements.
EUFCN Location Awards
On the same day, the EUFCN Location Awards 2025 ceremony was held. This year’s award went to the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, which served as a key filming location for the Netflix miniseries La Palma. The awarded project highlighted La Palma’s diverse and visually striking landscapes and underlined the importance of cooperation between film commissions and local authorities when hosting large-scale productions.
In previous years, the Tartu Film Fund has submitted the feature film The 8 Faces of Lake Biwa and the Peipsi Lake region to the same competition and plans to continue presenting filming locations from its supported projects to the EUFCN Location Awards in the future.
EUFCN x EPC Matchmaking and Reception at the Estonian Embassy
On Monday, 16 February, the European Film Commissions Network (EUFCN) x European Producers Club (EPC) matchmaking event took place. Representatives of European film commissions met with producers in a speed-dating format, enabling the rapid creation of new contacts and the exchange of information about specific project needs.
In the evening, a reception was held at the Embassy of the Republic of Estonia in Berlin, bringing together Estonian filmmakers and industry professionals.
Presence in Berlin as Part of the Film Fund’s Ongoing Work
Participation in the European Film Market is part of the Tartu Film Fund’s broader, long-term work, which extends beyond granting financial support or attending film markets. Equally important are practical cooperation with filmmakers, building international networks, and promoting South Estonia as a reliable and versatile filming region.
