Annual Baltic Sea Documentary Film Festival concludes, granting eight awards to various films
The 29th edition of Baltic Sea Docs concluded on September 7, 2025, in the vibrant city of Riga, bringing together a diverse range of creative documentary filmmakers from the Baltic Sea region, Eastern Europe, and the Caucasus.
Zane Balčus, the Baltic Sea Docs manager, commented on the forum's core values and collaborations, emphasising its role as a platform for nurturing and showcasing documentaries that push boundaries and challenge perspectives.
The film programme featured 26 documentaries, including "Missing in Action," which won the Baltic Sea Docs Award, and "Creaturama - Epic of the Animals," which received the Sheffield DocFest Award and the TV3 Group Award. The latter, directed and produced by Juha Suonpää under Swamphead, immerses viewers in the forest through extensive trail camera footage, giving visual agency to animals.
"The Perfect," a film by Estonian directors Laura Liventaal and Hõbe Ilus, won the IDFA and Baltic Sea Docs Collaboration Award for Baltic filmmakers. The movie follows three Ukrainian women undergoing therapy for war trauma.
Other highlights of the programme included screenings of "Divia," "9-Month Contract," "My Dear Theo," "Writing Hawa," "Helsinki Effect," and more. "Kind of Adults" also made an impression, winning the East Doc Platform Award.
In addition to the screenings, Baltic Sea Docs provided a space for discussion and a supportive environment. A preparatory workshop allowed filmmakers to engage in meaningful conversations and prepare for the event.
A seminar on "Factual Content for Young Audiences - Challenges and Opportunities" was organised by Baltic Creative Europe MEDIA Desks with Association Avantis. Speakers from Germany, Ireland, and the US shared experiences in making documentaries for young viewers, using social media to reach them, and working with youth across platforms.
Eight awards were handed to selected projects after pitching sessions and one-to-one meetings. "Operation Champion" won the DOK.fest München Award, while "Threads of My Ancestors" took home the BBposthouse Award.
The Baltic Sea Docs website (http://balticseadocs.lv/) provides more information about the projects and the full programme. For those interested in delving deeper into the world of documentaries, the event served as an inspiring and educational experience.
Read also:
- Impact of Alcohol on the Human Body: Nine Aspects of Health Alteration Due to Alcohol Consumption
- Understanding the Concept of Obesity
- Tough choices on August 13, 2025 for those born under Aquarius? Consider the advantages and disadvantages to gain guidance
- Microbiome's Impact on Emotional States, Judgement, and Mental Health Conditions
