INDUSTRY & PROFESSIONALS
On June 2-3, 2025, Leiden Shorts and European Short Pitch will join forces for the first time to transform Leiden into the epicentre of the European short film industry.
Leiden Shorts is delighted to host the European Short Pitch Coproduction Forum as part of its Industry Days. We will welcome hundreds of filmmakers, producers, screenwriters and industry professionals based across Europe and internationally. This event offers a unique opportunity for local film professionals to engage with the European short film scene right at their doorstep, while providing emerging talent with valuable support in their promotion, visibility, networking, and knowledge exchange. The Coproduction Forum will also expand with online days on June 5-6.
Through a series of panels, talks, workshops, networking activities, one-on-one meetings and a pitching event, we will foster collaboration between industry professionals from all over Europe, while exploring and reflecting critically upon urgent issues within our film industry, such as short film distribution, sustainability and the future of coproducing. In this way, we aim to support both emerging talents and experienced individuals in their professional development, while encouraging new perspectives and diverse outlooks across the sector.
Access to the Industry Days programme and events is granted only to professional accreditation holders. Benefit from a reduced Early Bird rate by May 9 or apply with a regular rate before May 26.
This initiative is supported by Creative Europe MEDIA, the Netherlands Film Fund, Gemeente Leiden, and SEE NL. It is held in partnership with Screen Talent NL, Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, Music & Cinema Marseille, Radiator IP Sales, and Kaboom Animation Festival.
Programme Overview
European Short Pitch Coproduction Forum
The Coproduction Forum is an international pitching and networking event aimed at promoting short film projects, works in progress and talents taking part in the annual edition of European Short Pitch.
Each year, leading up to the event, 12 projects in development are mentored under the guidance of tutors and consultants during the annual development workshop, while 4 works-in-progress also benefit from tailor-made editing and distribution consulting. The programme culminates in the Coproduction Forum with a pitching event and one-to-one meetings.
Pitching and Q&A Live Event
Monday, 2 June 2025 at 14:00; PLNT The Launch
A hybrid event, where all participants will be presented to the professional audience and pitch will their projects followed by a moderated Q&A session with each one. The Pitching and Q&A Live Event will be live-streamed.
One-to-One Meetings
Tuesday, 3 June 2025 at 10:40; PLNT
A full day of networking and one-to-one meetings exclusively available to the project holders, delegation members and on site invited guests. An opportunity to explore collaborations with potential partners.
BY INVITATION ONLY
European Short Pitch Awards
Tuesday, 3 June 2025 at 20:30; PLNT Midi
A celebratory prize-giving event to honour the most outstanding projects participating in the Coproduction Forum.
BY INVITATION ONLY
Panel Discussions
Meet the Festivals – How to Navigate the Film Festival Circuit
Monday, 2 June at 18:00; PLNT The Launch
Festival representatives from major industry events and dedicated short film festivals share insights on programming, submission strategies, and how festivals support filmmakers. We will explore various distribution opportunities within the international festival circuit, offering guidance and insights from leading film professionals and programmers on how to navigate the festival circuit and find the right path for short films.
What About Shorts? – Rethinking the Short Film Format in a Shifting Media Landscape
Tuesday, 3 June at 9:30; PLNT The Launch
Traditionally seen as stepping stones to features, short films now hold a more complex and valuable place in today’s screen culture. This panel challenges old paradigms and explores how shorts function as a creative and professional form in their own right. With the rise of platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and a myriad of VOD services, and increasing intersections with visual arts, the short film medium is evolving in both content and distribution. Speakers will examine funding, circulation, and audience-building strategies that reflect this shift.
Festival Strategy for Short Films – The Do’s and Don’ts of Festival Distribution
Tuesday, 3 June at 15:30; PLNT The Reflection
Edith van der Heijde, who works for the SEE NL department of EYE Filmmuseum, will give some insights in her work as the international promotion manager for Dutch shorts and experimental film. She will give tips and tricks on how to approach festival strategy and distribution for short films, do’s and dont’s and how to make sense of the vast world of film festivals, allowing space for project-specific questions from the audience.
Coproducing Green – Sustainability and Collaboration in Short Film Production
Thursday, 5 June at 10:00; Online
A roundtable discussion exploring how international coproductions can rise to the growing call for sustainable filmmaking. It also examines the practicalities of implementing green practices across borders, with a particular focus on productions from low-capacity countries and regions.
Financing Short Film Co-Productions in Europe
Friday, 6 June at 10:00; Online
An in-depth discussion with European film fund representatives on co-production opportunities, application strategies, and how to build solid international partnerships. Aimed at producers and filmmakers looking to understand the practicalities of accessing minority co-production support.
More panel discussions to be announced soon!
In-Depth Discussions
We need to talk about…Deconstructed Archives, Liberating Narratives from Palestine
Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 15:45; Kijkhuis 2
The representation of wars and violent conflicts in media often follows predictable patterns, reducing individuals and collectives to mere victims. What lies beyond the ruins—the horrifying, bleeding images of pain, death, and sorrow? Which intimate, untold stories remain forever buried? Who decides which images are worth archiving and preserving, and who has the right to archive? How can we go against the stereotypes of Orientalism and the colonial gaze constructed by the West? And how can we categorise, preserve, retrace, and document in defiance of cultural erasure? How do we archive breathing humans—not just images of war and genocide?
Artist in Focus Masterclass – Konstantina Kotzamani
Sunday, 1 June 2025 at 15:00; Kijkhuis 2
Konstantina Kotzamani is one of the most promising and accomplished contemporary filmmakers in Greek cinema — a director who defies categorization, embracing the often-overlooked space of medium-length cinema with a narrative fluidity that rejects linear storytelling. Her films — both epic and intimate — unfold in worlds where time shifts and meaning emerges through sensation and rhythm. In this masterclass, she shares her methods for crafting boundary-pushing narratives, working beyond industry norms, and exploring alternative strategies for distribution.
Contemporary Porn Making Panel – Ethics, Aesthetics, and Innovation
Sunday, 1 June 2025 at 18:30; COC De Kroon
This panel brings together filmmakers, performers, curators, and intimacy professionals to explore the evolving landscape of contemporary porn and erotic film. From DIY aesthetics to highly produced art porn, we’ll discuss how sex work is represented on screen, who gets seen, and how projects get made. Topics include casting and ethics, platforming, distribution and censorship, funding barriers, and the role of festivals and distributors in shaping the industry. The conversation will foreground creativity, care, and community, offering insight into the politics and potentials of working in porn today.
Drinks and Gathering
Industry Drinks
Monday, 2 June at 17:00; PLNT The Roof
An informal social gathering with drinks and snacks offering professionals the opportunity to network, connect, and exchange ideas.
NO RESERVATION NEEDED
Industry Drinks
Tuesday, 3 June at 18:30; PLNT The Roof
An informal social gathering with drinks offering professionals the opportunity to network, connect, and exchange ideas.
NO RESERVATION NEEDED
Industry Closing Party
Tuesday, 3 June at 23:00; TBC
An informal social gathering to celebrate the completion of the industry programme and the festival overall.
NO RESERVATION NEEDED
Accreditation
Early Bird Industry Pass – €28.00
This pass allows holders to reserve free tickets for all festival sessions, including industry events. After submitting the accreditation form, the festival processes the request by assigning the corresponding product to the guest, which results in a payment request. This pass is not sold directly.
The deadline to sign up for this offer is May 9.
Young Professional – €32.00
This pass allows holders to reserve free tickets for all festival sessions, including industry events. After submitting the accreditation form, the festival processes the request by assigning the corresponding product to the guest, which results in a payment request. This pass is not sold directly. A valid student card or ID is required to pick up the badge.
Restricted to film students and young professionals up to the age of 30.
Industry pass – €45.00
This pass allows holders to reserve free tickets for all festival sessions, including industry events. After submitting the accreditation form, the festival processes the request by assigning the corresponding product to the guest, which results in a payment request. This pass is not sold directly.
The deadline to request an industry accreditation is May 26.