Over the years, numerous projects – from independent filmmakers looking for their breakthrough to industry veterans exploring new directions – have achieved great success through the valuable partnerships formed at RIGA IFF FORUM (23-25 October in Riga, Latvia), the growing industry programme of the Riga International Film Festival. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it. Apply now for RIGA IFF FORUM 2025 – and take your next big step with us.

SHORT RIGA Test Screenings

Now in its 11th edition, SHORT RIGA Test Screenings is one-of-a-kind film industry event in the Baltic region, dedicated to in-depth evaluation of recently finished or short films in their editing and post-production stages. Curated by Lenka Tyrpáková and offering pitching training, editing consultations, test screenings, and one-on-one sessions with experts, SHORT RIGA Test Screenings enables filmmakers to pitch and screen their work in full length to sales agents, distributors, and major festival representatives, and receive valuable professional feedback.

As a regionally unique and renowned short-form film industry event, SHORT RIGA Test Screenings has, over the years, served as a launchpad for short films that have gone on to earn international recognition and critical acclaim. Among the most recognisable participants is Sander Joon’s animated short Sierra (AAA Creative), winner of the SHORT RIGA Test Screenings in 2021 edition, that went on to be selected for over 130 festivals, winning 43 awards and being shortlisted for the Oscars in 2022. Meanwhile Diogo Salgado’s film Under the Mountain’s Shadow (C.R.I.M. Produções, Protest Studios, Octopods Films), featured in SHORT RIGA Test Screenings in 2024, celebrated its World premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and was selected for Curtas Vila do Conde and Dokufest programmes.

More notable SHORT RIGA Test Screenings alums include:

• Face Recognition (Martinus Klemet, Animartinus) – screened at more than 40 festivals worldwide.
• Flying Carpet (Justin Amorim, Promenade) – had its World premiere at the Durban International Festival in South Africa and was recently screened in Curtas Vila do Conde.
• Freeride in C (Edmunds Jansons, Atom Art) – celebrated its World premiere in Ottawa International Animation Film festival, later screened in competition and selection programmes at Animafest Zagreb, Fredrikstad Animation Festival, POFF, Gijón International Film Festival, Animateka and Tampere amongst many others.
• Glitter Kiss (Auguste Gerikaitė, Plopsas) – participated at the Hamburg’s Short Film Festival.
• Iris (Jone Vatne, Syden Pictures) – had the World premiere at the Oberhausen International Short Film Festival, where it won the ECFA Short Film Award.
• Left-handed Pen (Adas Burkšaitis, Greta Garbo Films) – included in the European Film Award 2025 short film shortlist and screened at Kino Pavasaris, POFF and Trieste competitions.
• Maria Henriqueta Was Here (Nuno Pimentel, Bravado Filmes) – had its World Premiere at BAFICI in Argentina, and was included in Oberhausen,Indielisboa and Karlovy Vary programmes.
• Miisufy (Liisi Grünberg, AAA Creative) – premiered at Sundance 2023 and continued its screenings in competitions at Clermont-Ferrand, AFI Fest, Love & Anarchy, Rotterdam, and others.
• Purga (Antanas Skučas, Gintarė Valevičiūtė-Brazauskienė, Tylus kinas) – after successful festival circuit won Lithuanian National Film Award for best short film of 2024.
• Snow Shelter (Robertas Neveckas, Meno avilys) – has over 30 sightings in major film festivals around the World.
• The Little Other (Andres Tenusaar, Nukufilm) – received a special mentions award at the POFF Shorts in 2024.
• The Secret (Kęstutis Drazdauskas, ARTBOX) – appearances at European Film Forum Scanorama and Vilnius Short Film Festival as well as a successful run on Lithuanian television.
• Yummy (Martinus Klemet, AAA Creative) – included in programmes at Animafest Zagreb, Vienna Shorts and POFF.

RIGA IFF SHOWCASE

Meanwhile the feature films and series market RIGA IFF SHOWCASE aims to highlight the distinctiveness of the Baltic and Central European region, while reflecting its socio-political context, current industry trends, and evolving artistic expressions. The curated line-up, consisting of up to 10 feature films and series projects in all stages of development and production is pitched to an audience of international professionals – including producers and sales agents – to seek further partnerships, while decision-makers can look for emerging cinematic voices.

Despite its brief history, the programme has already spotlighted several projects that have gained both domestic and international recognition. The Latvian-made series Soviet Jeans (Staņislavs Tokalovs and Juris Kursietis, Tasse Film) was pitched at the inaugural edition of RIGA IFF SHOWCASE in 2022. It was later featured in the section’s industry screenings, went on to secure a spot in the main competitions at Series Mania and the Berlin EFM in 2024 and was bought by ARTE and is currently screened there. The series received 12 nominations at the Latvian National Film Awards and won three. Another limited series, Pension at a Manor (Andis Mizišs, Marta Elīna Martinsone, Dāvis Sīmanis, Mistrus Media), was also pitched at RIGA IFF SHOWCASE 2022. After its theatrical release in 2024, it earned 11 Latvian National Film Award nominations and became the second most-watched Latvian audiovisual work in cinemas that year – surpassed only by the Oscar-winning Flow by Gints Zilbalodis.

Among other notable RIGA IFF SHOWCASE alums are three feature films by Latvian directors that were pitched during the programme and premiered over the past year with strong audience reception: Black Velvet (Liene Linde, Ego Media), Youth Eternal (Armands Začs, White Picture), and Lotus (Signe Birkova, Studija Lokomotīve). Meanwhile the industry screening section of the programme has also proudly hosted two award-winning Latvian features: Touched by Eternity (Trickster Pictures) by Mārcis Ābele, which won Best Actor and Best Make-up at the 2024 Latvian National Film Awards, and A Postcard from Rome (Picture House, Riverside Films) by Elza Gauja, the winner of Best Feature Film award at the 2023 Latvian National Film Awards.

RIGA IFF FORUM 2025

Taking place at cinemas K.Suns and Splendid Palace from 23 to 25 October, the two main RIGA IFF FORUM sections, along with a richly packed agenda of events tailored to film professionals, will offer a welcoming and well-rounded industry forum – an ideal and meaningful meeting place for building connections and forging new collaborations. Please visit forum.rigaiff.lv for detailed submission guidelines, eligibility requirements, the event schedule, and further information about the RIGA IFF FORUM programme.