The 19th European Short Pitch Coproduction Forum Marks Another Rich and Dynamic Year
Photo by Hanna Rudner
The 19th edition of the European Short Pitch (ESP) Coproduction Forum has wrapped up a highly successful run, reinforcing its status as a vital launchpad for emerging filmmaking talent. Supported by the EU’s Creative Europe MEDIA Programme, the hybrid event brought together more than 100 film professionals and hosted nearly 400 one-to-one meetings aimed at sparking international partnerships. The Forum took place onsite at Leiden Shorts from June 1–2, 2026 - marking the second year of this fruitful partnership - before continuing online from June 4–5 via the ESP platform.
Under the leadership of Julie Marnay (Head of Programme) and Olga Lamontanara (Head of Coproduction Forum), this edition showcased 16 projects (12 short films in development and 4 works in progress) originating from 15 European nations as well as Lebanon, Palestine, South Korea, and Armenia, celebrating a vibrant breadth of fresh international voices.
ESP 2026 Awards
The Jury, comprising Emilia Mazik (Go Short, The Netherlands), Laurence Rilly (ARTE, France), and Tina Tišljar (Eclectica, Croatia) awarded the European Short Pitch Award, consisting of a €2.000 development grant, to: Time Comes Like the Sea by Naomi Pacifique, produced by Adela Bottcher (Idle Eye, The Netherlands) and Rhea Plangg (Lido Pictures, Switzerland). In their own words: "Reinterpreting time and our relationship with nature, the project offers a new perspective on modern family dynamics and love. A deeply human story with a strong theoretical framework."
The Jury also announced a Special Mention to Aftertaste by Philippe Audi-Dor, produced by Julia Schubiger (Langfilm, Switzerland) and co-produced by Dolce Vita Films (France), noting: "We would like to award an Honorary Mention to a nuanced and layered story that explores agency and political choices and gives us access to a world that often remains unseen."
Four additional prizes were presented by ESP's partners, including a brand new Post-Production Award introduced this year in partnership with Vidéo de Poche:
Post-Production Award (Vidéo de Poche): Wild Boar by Sara Grgurić; produced by Lucija Perić (Pipser, Croatia). Includes 2 days of colour grading and DSM image export.
A word from Vidéo de Poche: “After watching the films and reading the project proposals, we chose Wild Boar by Sara Grguric — and we're genuinely excited about it. From the very first images, we were struck by the film's aesthetic — the animal masks, the mountain landscape, the physicality of the ritual. Sara Grguric creates a world that is visually compelling and atmospherically rich, where a simple power game between two friends slowly reveals something deeper: a young man caught between the weight of expectations and a longing to remain free. We can't wait to welcome them at Vidéo de poche!”
Music & Cinema Award (International Festival Music & Cinema Marseille): Take Care by Paula Maľárová; produced by Tereza Tokárová (Cinepunkt, Slovakia). Includes participation in the Lab on Mars – European Market for Film Music Composition (Marseille, March 2027).
A word from Music & Cinema: “I was seduced by the originality and depth of a project that talks about a universal theme like pain as a life experience, and explores with subtlety the intimate connection between body and mind. And above all, I really appreciated the emphasis placed on musical creativity.”
Distribution Award (Radiator IP Sales): Driving Lessons by Vlad Popa; produced by Alex Sîrbu (4 Proof Film, Romania). Includes a tailored consultation on distribution and promotion strategy.
A word from Radiator IP Sales: “For turning a routine driving exam into a taut allegory of systemic corruption, where Larisa moves from complicit passenger to vulnerable pedestrian in a city that hunts its own.”
Mastering-in-kind Award (The Pack): Flatlands by Darjan Hardi; produced by Karolína Davidová (13ka, Czech Republic). Includes DCP mastering and 4K upscaling services.
A word from The Pack: “ “For its patient assembly of an imagined archive — 16mm, 8mm, photographs, and protest sound layered into a meditation on home, memory, and a village unexpectedly stirred into political awakening.”
The ESP Coproduction Forum also featured focused industry talks on vital short-film themes. Programmers from Berlinale Shorts, IDFA, Curtas Vila do Conde, and Sarajevo FF shared inside curatorial insights, while distributors from Gargantua Films, Hors du Bocal, and Video Power discussed strategic film positioning. A session by Screen Talent NL examined career-long talent support, and online panels covered green production practices (with Ecoprod and StepUP) and minority co-production funding (with CNC, Czech Film Center, Media Desk Croatia, and HAVC, ). Find full panel details here.
From the initial Development Workshop in January 2026 through to the June Forum, filmmakers received targeted expertise from a dedicated roster of tutors and consultants. Script development was led by Erica Barbiani, Andreea Borțun, and Antoine Waked. Additional specialized guidance was provided by Jennifer Sabbah-Immagine (production), Cătălin Cristuțiu (editing), Hakim Mao (pitching), Queralt Pons Serra (distribution/marketing), Nicolò Gallio (audience design), and Anna Giralt Gris (AI).
Uncover the full line up of films in the Book of Projects, ready for download here. European Short Pitch celebrates these creators for their distinct ingenuity, bold drive, and sharp artistic focus.
With warm thanks to our ESP 2026 partners and collaborators:
Creative Europe MEDIA, NL Film Fonds, Dioraphte, City of Leiden, Leiden Shorts, Screen Talent NL, Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, SEE NL, Vidéo de Poche, The Pack, Radiator IP Sales, Festival International Music & Cinema Marseille, Short Film Corner – Rendez-vous Industry, Pustnik Screenwriting Residency, Festival Scope, b.square, and NAPA.