Baltic States on the Rise as Entertainment Locations, Producers, and Consumers

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are enjoying a boom in filming and production of late. Local TV is surging, with several shows breaking out from native audiences to reach much more far-reaching acclaim. Most recently, My Dear Mother, which is about a woman who has to cope with her mother’s tragic death, was picked to premiere at Berlinale Series Market Selects – which marks a huge milestone for Baltic TV.

Importantly for onlookers, the Baltics offer such distinct scenery owing to its novel landscapes and Soviet-era buildings that productions can bring a very unique look to their productions. This is what he local film institutes hope to use to lure in international productions and, in turn, see those talents impart some wisdom on the growing Baltic TV and film scene.

Rising Local Interest in Digital Entertainment

Only six years ago, Estonian dramas weren’t in a good state. Now, they’re on the rise, becoming very popular and even more accessible locally. As mentioned, My Dear Mother looks primed to be the next hit out of the region, while Von Fock could also prove to be a trailblazer. With this period crime drama, Estonia got help from Germany, Italy, and Latvia to co-produce at a high scale, proving that with a bit of backing, great drama can be made here.

It follows an ever-increasing surge in the appetite for entertainment across the Baltic States in general. Digital platforms, such as streaming platforms and online gaming sites, have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. This normalisation of online entertainment has led to intrigue in novel products, even to the extent that there’s a lot of interest in slingo slots at online platforms.

These amalgamations of slots and bingo are an online novelty, but have swiftly become top picks. Where once there was Slingo, there’s now Slingo Fowl Play, Slingo Genie Gemstones, and even Slingo Journey to Asgard. People expect digital entertainment platforms to be expansive and, particularly thanks to Netflix, offer content for just about any preference. As a result, more people have been seeking out Baltic shows and films, and now they’re finding them.

More Productions and Welcoming the World

A year ago, at the European Film Market, the Baltic States were jointly hailed as the Countries in Focus. They earned this place by logging surprising growth in the film industry, with figures marking near record highs. This follows a superb 2022 for all nations, but particularly Lithuania, where the number of films shooting across the country in autumn almost had them running out of crew members and needing to hire from outside.

Cash rebates across the Baltic States have helped to lure in major productions from overseas, including coveted Hollywood ones. On top of this, the high-tech infrastructure available and further production incentives are in place to keep the filmmakers coming. To date, Stranger Things, Chernobyl, and Tenet stand as the headline acts to come to the region in recent years, making use of the growing skill and incredible landscapes.

Films and TV shows are having a moment in the Baltic States, both using the countries as a place to film and home-grown productions enjoying increased popularity and a step-up in quality. Going forward, it looks like momentum will continue to carry the industry onward and upward.