Within the framework of the FILMLINK project, an international seminar will take place in Tartu, focusing on the development of regional film regions, cooperation, and best practices. The seminar brings together representatives of film funds, film commissions and filmmakers from Estonia, Latvia (Liepāja), Lithuania (Vilnius), and Germany (Chemnitz). Programme 09:30–10:00        Registration and morning coffee  10:00–10:30        Tartu Film Fund introduction: 10 years of building a film-friendly region   Külli Hansen and Signe Somelar – Erikson (Tartu Centre for Creative Industries / Tartu Film Fund) 10:30-10:45         Liepāja 2027: Film Region in transition i Introduction & context 0verview of Liepāja’s current film support system & development goals   10:45–11:15         Vilnius film Industry ecosystem and city-level coordination   Jurate Pazikaitė (Head of Vilnius Film Office) 11:15–12:00         More Than Locations: Why Regions Invest in Film Studios Kersti Raja (Ida Hub Studio Complex) and Joonas Tartu (Tallinn Studio Complex) 12:00-12:15          Coffee break 12:15–12:45        Working with young audiences and film education as part of the ecosystem Gerrik Harbauer and Nadine Luther (Schlingel International Film Festival) 12:45 – 13:30       Moderated discussion with Q&A: Building Film Ecosystems Together: Commissions, Studios and CreatorsModerator: Martina Tramberg (Tallinnfilm Studio)Paricipants:Jurate Pazikaite (Vilnius Film Office)Signe Somelar- Erikson (Tartu Film Fund)Kersti Raja (Ida Hub)Aet Laigu (Meteoriit, producer)Anna Hints (Kae Noh, director/screenwriter) 13:30 – 14:30         Lunch at Cafe Spargel & free time 17:00–21:00          Informal networking and social gathering, Kalevi 15. The seminar is organised by the Tartu Centre for Creative Industries and the Tartu Film Fund, in cooperation with the Estonia–Latvia Programme, Goethe-Institut Tallinn, and the CCI Contact Desk.

The sTARTUp Day festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary on 28–30 January 2026. Tartu Creative Industries Centre is an official co-organiser of the festival, and this year the audiovisual sector is once again in focus. On 29–30 January, the demo area of the Creative Industries Centre and the Tartu Film Fund will be open, featuring the following: UPPERCUT STUDIOS will demonstrate motion capture technology and, on 29 January at 16:00, will host a seminar titled “What It Really Takes to Build a Virtual Production Studio?” Engineer NEEME VAINO will present the Oscar-winning fire safety gel FIRESKIN 360 NAKED BURN GEL, which visitors can safely test on their own skin — literally letting themselves be “set on fire”. On 30 January at 10:05, technology and innovation expert KAUR KALLAS will take the main festival stage. His LED lighting solutions have been used in films such as Star Wars: Rogue One, Dune, and The Batman. Kaur will talk about how artificial intelligence enables experimentation with creative solutions and how it is transforming workflows in the film industry. On 30 January at 11:40, the CREATIVE INDUSTRIES PITCHING COMPETITION will take place, offering top creative companies the opportunity to deliver a three-minute elevator pitch to an international audience and a professional jury. VIEW THE FULL PROGRAMME HERE