Baltic Women in Film Mentorship

Baltic Women in Film Mentorship (BWiFM) is  the first mentorship program exclusively for women in all areas of film and TV industries in the Baltic states. Through mentorship activities, the BWiFM seeks to increase the exchange of best practice, knowledge, contacts and interest in the Baltic film culture and pay attention to gender equality. The core of the mentorship program is building an effective contact-exchange and matchmaking marketplace where women, working in the Baltic audiovisual industry, would have an opportunity to be mentored by the industry experts and encouraged to develop their professional skills, competences and create new audiovisual projects or services. 

BWiFM is a one-to-one relationship, focused on the needs of the mentee to develop specific competencies, skills, and a problem-solving attitude, as well as on the availability and capability of the mentor to provide advice on those issues. It is a program where the experience and knowledge of the mentor match the specific needs of the mentee.

The BWiFM is organised by Lithuanian Short Film Agency Lithuanian Shorts and Women in Film & Television Lithuania association.

 

Duration of the program – 7 months (October 2023 – April 2024).

The working language of the program is English.

The “Baltic Women in Film Mentorship” program is organized by Lithuanian short film agency “Lithuanian Shorts” together with “Women in Film & Television Lithuania” association, in partnership with Vilnius International Film Festival, Riga International Film Festival, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, EWA European Women’s Audiovisual Network, AVAKA and Creative Europe MEDIA Desk Lithuania. Sponsored byNordic Culture Point.

 

Application was closed.

 

Rules and regulations: here.

Eligible participants

Who can apply

The application is available for young women who are citizens of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania or have a right of a permanent residence in the countries mentioned above, and who:

  • Working in different areas of film and TV industries;
  • Are  under the age of 30;
  • Are willing to enter the audiovisual industry, change the professional path or continue her career in film/TV industries;
  • Willing to deepen professional knowledge or widen her horizons in different areas of film/ TV industries;
  • Eager to learn/be coached by the industry professional;

Can attend the program fully – participate in all the online/on-site events.

Guest participants from Ukraine

This year BWiFM Young Talents Edition welcomes 5 women working in the film and TV industries from Ukraine who reside in Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania.

Selection criteria:

  • Applicant’s motivation will be the key selection criterion;
  • Clarity of their specific goal set for the mentorship program; 
  • Participant’s experience, motivation and professional growth potential.

Mentorship program structure

  • Matchmaking: mentees + mentors and their monthly individual meetings;
  • Monthly online get together with mentees and industry guests;
  • Self-education webinars and workshops: Mentorship, Leadership, Mental Health, Negotiations and Self-promotion;
  • Visiting industry events during Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian film festivals.

Baltic Women in Film Mentorship 2021-2022

For the first year of this initiative, 44 applications have been submitted. 15 mentees of the three Baltic countries have been chosen to take part in the mentorship activities.

Lithuania:

Jogilė Ramoškaitė, content creator and actress

Indrė Juškutė, film director 

Vilma Razmutė, graphic designer and animator 

Ilona Stankevičienė, producer 

Bon Alog, visual artist

 

Latvia:

Gunda Bergmane, producer 

Zane Buksa, junior producer 

Līga Požarska, film journalist 

Beatrise Maija Krievina, art director and production designer 

Alise Zariņa, film director and writer 

 

Estonia:

Jaanika Arum, film director, writer and actress 

Nadya Tjuška, filmmaker 

Birk Rohelend, screenwriter 

Ragne Mandri, film director and writer 

Bojana Babic, film director and writer

Baltic Women in Film Mentorship 2022-2023

Lithuania:

Vesta Tučkutė, film director and producer

Milda Buškevičiūtė, student

Milda Valiulytė, film curator and programmer

Salvija Vaičikonytė, illustrator

 

Latvia:

Ieva Aleksejeva, filmmaker

Ilze Bloka, director and performer

Linda Rudene, playwright

Anna Konovalova, cinematographer

 

Estonia:

Doris Tääker, director

Vivian Melder, screenwriter, director and producer

Emel-Elizabeth Tuulik, film critic

Anna-Maria Jams, foley artist

 

Ukraine:

Vira Kravchuk, scriptwriter