Baltic Filmmakers at the LIM Collaborative Workshop
In mid-September, a week-long workshop dedicated to cinematic storytelling took place at Le Groupe Ouest, in Brittany, on the far western edge of Europe. The event brought together six writer-directors, and six film commissioners and producers from Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. This workshop was part of LIM | Less is More, the European feature film development programme, in partnership with Lithuanian Film Centre, Estonian Film Institute and National Film Centre of Latvia.
During this tailor-made workshop, inspired by the Boosting Ideas Workshops — offered to the talents of LIM’s partner countries — the twelve participants delved into a unique creative universe. Working in sub-groups, they focused on the projects of the screenwriters present, aiming to find the “vibrational core” of each project. Guided by two script-consultants — Gabrielle Brady, an Anglo-Australian screenwriter, and Antoine Le Bos, screenwriter and founder of LIM — they used innovative methods combining visual and cartographic approaches, alongside the practice of “protected and propelled orality.” These techniques helped uncover unconscious ideas deeply connected to emotions.
Immersing themselves in new modes of creation to stimulate their creativity allowed the talents from the three Baltic States to open new perspectives for the six participating projects while strengthening cooperation between them, laying the groundwork for a solid creative network. “Together, we are stronger,” one participant said.
At the end of the workshop, the writer-directors, enthusiastic about the programme, expressed their desire to apply for the LIM Main Training Programme, which call for projects closes mid-October . As for the producers, they will have the opportunity to apply as Development angels, with a call opening in early 2025 (more info here).
This workshop, a true creative springboard, not only enriched the participants but also strengthened professional ties between the three Baltic nations, paving the way for future artistic collaborations.
Participants
Among the participants was a diverse group of talented artists, representing the rich cinematic landscape of the Baltic States
- Moonika Siimets — Scriptwriter (Estonia)
- Janno Jürgens — Scriptwriter (Estonia)
- Raitis Ābele — Scriptwriter (Latvia)
- Linda Olte — Scriptwriter (Latvia)
- Nerijus Milerius — Scriptwriter (Lithuania)
- Silvija Kuodytė — Scriptwriter (Lithuania)
- Neringa Kažukauskaitė — Member of the expert commission for fiction films (Lithuania)
- Deimantas Saladžius — Curator of the expert commission (Lithuania)
- Maria Ulfsak — Feature Film Commissioner (Estonia)
- Viola Salu — Head of production and documentary expert (Estonia)
- Inga Blese — Film Commissioner (Latvia)
- Alise Ģelze — Creative producer (Latvia)