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The new festival year is in full swing and so is the Estonian film industry!
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Two acclaimed Estonian documentaries are screening at Film Festival Trieste
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Let the ancient customs, Estonian nature and these special stories nurture you
Sundial by Liis Nimik / INTERNATIONALDOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
In the periphery countryside of Estonia, humans and every living being compose an orchestra, where everyone has their place in co-creation of the humble rhythm of Earth. Sundial premiered in competition at Visions du Réel 2023.
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood by Anna Hints / OUT-OF-COMPETITION
Can a trip to the sauna change your soul? No story too shameful, no burden too heavy to carry when you share it with your sisterhood. Sundance winner, Savvusanna Sõsarad is a deeply moving, intimate and breathtaking approach to issues of trauma, healing, and community. Best European Documentary at the EFA 2023.
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And the Italian-Baltic development award goes to...
The Italian-Baltic development awards of the Trieste Film Festival co-production forum When East Meets West were awarded for the sixth time. One of the awards went to the Estonian-Italian-Polish co-production project Beatrice - the second full-length feature film by Vallo Toomla (The Pretenders, 2016) .
Beatrice tells the story of how Kristi, who lost her life in a car accident, returns to her husband and child in a new body. Seeing life through a stranger's eyes, a woman has to rethink everything she thought she knew about herself. The film explores starting a new life after death thanks to the development of an artificial brain, which allows the transfer of consciousness and soul from one body to another.
The film is based on the play by Siret Campbell and the screenplay is by Malgorzata Pilacinska. The Estonian producer of the film is Stellar Film and the producers are Evelin Penttilä and Johanna Maria Paulson.
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Next stop - International Film Festival Rotterdam!
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Director Sulev Keedus in focus
This year’s edition of Cinema Regained, the retrospective programme of the International Rotterdam Film Festival, showcases two films by Estonian filmmaker Sulev Keedus – newly restored versions of Georgica (1998) and Somnambulance (2003). Both films have been supported by the Hubert Bals Fund.
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World premiere of 8 Views of Lake Biwa
Director Marko Raat has intertwined mythical Estonian culture with the traditions of Japanese episodic storytelling in his new feature 8 Views of Lake Biwa that will screen in the Harbour programme at IFFR.
On the shimmering shores of Europe’s otherworldly edge, two teenage girls, Hanake and her best friend are discussing their first love interest while gazing out at yachts sailing to Kyoto. They whisper prayers and poems, the language of their longings. But the magic is fading in their isolated fishing village as they come to terms with a recent disaster, with some indulging in acts of erotic art, some in spiritual spells. It becomes clear that intimacy alone won’t help them process their loss.
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The journey continues to Göteborg Film Festival!
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Estonian cinema at Göteborg FF
From kung-fu to the smoke sauna, the Göteborg Film Festival programme offers a versatile selection of Estonian stories.
The Invisible Fight by Rainer Sarnet
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood by Anna Hints
The Missile by Miia Tervo, the new addition to the list of budding co-productions between Finland's Komeetta and Estonia's Stellar Film.
Estonian filmmakers have also been involved with co-producing the short film Project Dad by Camilla Jämting.
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Estonian drama takes the stage
The Finnish-Estonian-Swedish-Belgian co-production series Estonia is nominated for the Nordisk Film and TV Fond Prize.
Estonia tells the story of the tragic disaster of the car ferry MS Estonia in the autumn of 1994 and the subsequent investigation. The fictional series is based on real events and explores through the personal stories of the victims, survivors, loved ones, and investigators how it is possible that 852 people lost their lives and no one can be held accountable.
Featured in the TV Drama Vision in development is an upcoming Estonian project Behind the Iron Curtain (created by Helen Lõhmus and Leana Jalukse).
Leaving her child with the parents who disowned her is the only way Marilin can join an international singing contest and make her way towards stardom and independence through newly-formed friendships and painful letdowns, dazzling successes and destructive excesses, in various republics of the Soviet Union and its dangers of censorship and treacherous culture of complaint.
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The Baltic Shorts go to Clermont-Ferrand ISFF
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The Estonian shorts will travel under the Baltic umbrella!
Visit us on at the joint stand and come to the market screening of the Baltic Shorts to see the freshest short films from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
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New Cats on the Block
Director Liisi Grünberg's debut animation Miisufy has already graced the screens at Helsinki Love&Anarchy and most recently in competition at Sundance short film selection. The revolution continues with the International Competition at Clermont-Ferrand!
Digital pet cat Miisu gets tired of her owner and starts to revolt. Inspired by Tamagotchi, Miisufy observes the world through the eyes of digital pets.
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...and the Other Animals
Clermont-Ferrand's Panorama programme this year puts its focus on European women filmmakers and their perspectives.
Estonia has co-produced two films in the selection - the beloved overeducated, unemployed and lovesick fox Manivald (dir. Chintis Lundgren) and the coming of age documentary Lisa, Go Home! (dir. Oksana Buraja).
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The Estonian delegation at Clermont-Ferrand ISFF
Mirjam Mikk / Int. Festival Distribution of Shorts & Animation @ the Estonian Film Institute / mirjam@filmi.ee
Laurence Boyce / Head of Programming @ PÖFF Shorts / laurence.boyce@poff.ee
Tara Karajica / Programmer @ PÖFF Shorts / tara.karajica@poff.ee
Don't hesitate to get in touch!
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