11/04/2025 - The European Film Festival invited producers Emilija Sluškonytė and Fernanda del Nido to discuss topics such as funding, the dynamics of the European market, and co-productions

As part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening cinematic ties between Europe and Latin America, the European Film Festival – organised by the Delegation of the European Union in Argentina in collaboration with Cineuropa and the EULAC Cinema initiative – which aims to strengthen audiovisual cooperation between Europe and Latin America, joined forces to bring renowned Lithuanian producer Emilija Sluškonytė to the 26th edition of BAFICI.

Sluškonytė, the founder of Austrė Studio and a key figure in elevating new voices from the Baltic film scene, served as a jury member of the Official Argentine Competition and engaged in a packed agenda of meetings with local production companies, paving the way for future co-productions between Lithuania and the region.

One of the highlights of her visit was the talk “The Secrets of Co-Production: Learning from Experience”, held on Tuesday 8 April at the Teatro San Martín. Together with Fernanda del Nido (producer of Neruda [+see also:
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interview: Dolores Fonzi
film profile], among others), they shared experiences and strategies for navigating co-productions between Latin America and Europe.

Before an audience composed mainly of emerging filmmakers, the producers discussed topics such as funding sources, the dynamics of the European market, and the current challenges of international co-production. Fernanda del Nido emphasised the importance of “conceiving projects from a global perspective without losing sight of their local roots”, while Emilija Sluškonytė highlighted “the value of building long-term relationships with partners from other countries” and presented concrete examples from her recent projects.

Sluškonytė’s participation in BAFICI is part of a broader strategic collaboration aimed at bringing together the audiovisual ecosystems of Europe and Latin America, fostering sustainable networks among producers, creators and financiers.

Through this initiative, the European Film Festival reaffirms its role as a platform for intercontinental cinematic dialogue and cooperation, championing emerging talent and stories that cross borders.

(Translated from Spanish)