Location Session Tartu 2025
Theme: The Art and Future of Location Work Location: Kalevi 17, Tartuthursday, 7 August
Registration & Coffee
Welcome & Opening Remarks
- Signe Somelar-Erikson / Külli Hansen (Tartu Film Fund)
- Sander Lebreht (producer, event moderator, EST). Brief overview of the day.
Opening Panel: The Art of Location Scouting
Moderator: Kristofer Piir (Allfilm, EST)
Panelists:
- Lori Balton (location scout, USA)
- Markus Bensch (location scout & supervising location manager, GER)
A wide-ranging conversation on the evolving role of location scouts and managers, cooperation with creative teams, working globally, technology, and personal resilience in the industry.
Case Study & Discussion: Scout & Designer Cooperation
Moderator: Kalev Smidt (Location Unit, EST)
Panelists:
- Markus Bensch (GER)
- Location scout (TBC)
- Production designer – (TBC)
- Director – (TBC)
This panel focuses on the collaboration between location scouts, production designers, and directors in shaping the visual world of a film. The discussion will also address productions where designers take on the role of scouts—examining the benefits, challenges, and implications of combining these roles.
Case Study & Discussion: Film Friendliness in Practice
Moderator: Sander Lebreht (EST)
Panelists:
- Torgrim Ødegård (NOR)
- Lori Balton (USA)
- Jurate Pazikaite (Vilnius Film Office, LT)
- Location scout (TBC)
Case study on Netflix’s Billionaire Island in a remote Nordic location. We talk also wider about film friendliness in practice, skills to handle production–community tension, on-the-ground problem-solving & building trust and long-term relations.
Lunch & Networking
Presentations / Q&A: Innovation in Location Work
Moderator: Sander Lebreht
Speakers:
- Mark Harald Männik (Location Unit, EST)
Modern location management case study featuring Locus Pro digital tools
- Jaan Kronberg (Skycam, EST)
Jaan Kronberg explores how drone-based 3D models of real environments can streamline location scouting, planning, and even virtual production – making film prep faster, cheaper, and more flexible.
- Lori Balton (USA)
Lori will present Location Lounge: tool designed to preserve and enhance the vital relationships between location professionals and film commissions.
Panelists:
- Lori Balton (USA)
- Markus Bensch (GER)
- Torgrim Ødegård (NOR)
- Kristofer Piir (EST)
- An innovative thinker (TBC)
This closing panel explores the future of location scouting in the context of rapid technological change. As virtual production, 3D environments, and AI-assisted tools become more common, what will be the role of the location scout in 2030?
Speakers: Tartu Film Fund + Moderator
Summary, main insights, and invitation to evening networking.
Informal Evening Networking at Kalevi 15 – drinks and light bites, creative chats welcome!
Friday, 8 August
11:00 – 14:00
Tartu FAM tour