Tartu Film Fund opens its spring call

The Tartu Film Fund opened its spring call for applications on 1 March to support the production of audiovisual works. Applications can be submitted until 31 March.

The aim of the Tartu Film Fund is to foster the development of the audiovisual sector in the city of Tartu and Southern Estonia. To achieve this, the fund supports the production of professional audiovisual works through a cash rebate scheme, reimbursing producers up to 35% of eligible expenses incurred in Southern Estonia.

The following types of projects are eligible for support: feature film, documentary, animation, short fiction film, high-quality TV series

The support aims to increase the number of film productions taking place in the Tartu Film Fund region, engage local creative professionals and companies, and attract international productions to the area.

Eligible costs

The grant may cover various production-related costs, including:

- screenwriter fees or script rights acquisition
- fees for the film crew (including director, cinematographer, production designer, actors, editor, stunt performers, etc.)
- location fees and location scouting costs
- technical services and production costs (equipment, camera and sound services, costumes, props, set design, etc.)
- transportation costs
- pre- and post-production costs (including editing, visual effects, digitisation, subtitling, etc.)
- marketing costs related to organising a regional premiere
- production fee (including producer’s fee) of up to 10% of the regional production budget, or up to 20% if the production company is registered and operates in the Tartu Film Fund region
- other costs directly related to production, such as casting, translation, accommodation and catering services, or security services

Funding decisions are made within 40 days after the application deadline.

Project selection criteria

The Tartu Film Fund supports projects that have a strong impact on the region. Applications are assessed based on their economic impact, creative quality, regional visibility and added value for the film sector.

Tartu Film Fund participated in the Berlinale

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.