Discoveries from Estonia World Cinema

An ethnographic documentary.

An ethnographic documentary.

A documentary about the Khanty people. At the same time, the film is also a study about cultural identity in a globalizing world. Every autumn a helicopter flies over the remote marshes and bogs of Western Siberia. Native children who have grown up surrounded by forests are taken away. They enter a new world of school uniforms, an unfamiliar Russian language, education and knowledge.

A short animation.

Documentary about the jazz festival held in Tallinn, Estonia in the spring of 1967. Numerous musicians and music collectives from both Soviet Union and abroad took part in the festival. Arrival and reception of the festival guests. Concerts in Kalev Sports Hall, among the performers there are vocal instrumental group led by G. Zarh, G.Tšoheli, music group "Crescendo", dixieland jazz group from Leningrad and many others.

Sometimes life is like packed sardines - it is so narrow to be that you just can't exist. You can try to escape from that situation or try to hide yourself. There is more air to breathe in your own mind world than in real world. This is how thinks the protagonist of this film, who hides himself into the mass of the other people, where no-one can see him and where it is possible for him to be in peace.

A conversation with Liina about the different people inhabiting her.

According to pop culture mythology, Paris Hilton “invented” the selfie in 2006. In factual terms, Uber and its rideshare model was officially launched in 2010. Mare Tralla’s video precedes - and reflects - both of these cultural landmarks that have since become nouns. In this piece, no words are needed: a woman rides in the backseat, entranced by pulsing rhythms. Through a double-layered image - or perhaps an altered state of mind - we follow the movements of a fleeting moment inside a car.

A portrait of Estonian animator Priit Parn.

In a run-down 1950's hotel, a cleaning maid develops a weird obsession with a foreign musician. The maid sees glimpses of the world beyond the iron curtain, and she dwells in her downward spiral on the borderline of “Do I want to be with her or become her?”. Her partner suffers the consequences.

Tired of the city's depravity, a young man decides to turn his back on everything and travel to the countryside, where he thinks he will find pure human relationships. However, he soon notices that the violent relationships in the countryside are no different from those he has already encountered. The only person in whom Leopold finds anything sincere is an epileptic girl, Lee, whose strange beauty fascinates him.

The story of an apathetic man who tries to move somewhere else, but due to a force greater than himself, the journey suddenly comes to an end.

The documentary depicts monuments and heritage artwork that have been closely related to the history of the Republic of Estonia. Estonian sculptors, former political prisoners, social scientists and art historians share their memories in the film. Why do we need our monuments? What kind of attitude has been towards Estonian monuments and heritage artwork during the changing times in local history? Memorial columns can be victims of ideology. Estonia has been governed by several state authorities during the 20th century, all of them have left their own monuments. The destiny of numerous military monuments in East-Europe has become a current issue.

Film is fraud, and the one person who takes care of it on a daily basis is Estonia's only foley artist, Anna-Maria Jams.

Lost film. Helja, an Estonian woman, and his British groom John have met during the Estonian War of Independence. They hear from an old professor of an old folk tale about the dark past of Estonia. Estonian pageboy Mangu who works at von Sternhell's manor proposes a pretty slave girl Linda. However, von Sternhell gives orders to steal the bride right in the middle of the wedding. She will be taken to von Sternhell's castle according to the brutal middle-age custom – the law of the first night. Together with fellow villagers, Mangu gets into a desperate battle with the noblemen in order to save his wife's pride.

The feature-length documentary "Hitler & Stalin 1939" is a montage film created in 1989 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. It draws a comparison between two of Europe’s bloodiest dictators. Based on archival material and carrying a strong political message, the film provides a historical overview of the division of Europe between two totalitarian regimes, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, as well as the annexation of countries and the events of World War II.

World War III has been going on for 70 years. The Soloist, a lonely traumatized by military service 35-year old man with a supernatural gift to recognize and reproduce people's memories with sound, goes on a journey together with the Teacher, a 55-year old woman from a village, who asks him to create a memory that never existed – her dead son’s return from war. Her persistence blends with his desperate desire to recollect his own memories. Together, they embark on a journey to fulfill their needs while overcoming the obstacles of the war-torn world.

Its title translating to "Illusion of Safety", this documentary interviews several survivors from M/S Estonia.

A cosmic entity talks to humankind. Meanwhile, three dinosaurs cross the desert guided by a shooting star.

“A woman” (2009, Art Museum of Estonia) highlights the thoughts of a 51 year old woman from Ida-Virumaa

According to pop culture mythology, Paris Hilton “invented” the selfie in 2006. In factual terms, Uber and its rideshare model was officially launched in 2010. Mare Tralla’s video precedes - and reflects - both of these cultural landmarks that have since become nouns. In this piece, no words are needed: a woman rides in the backseat, entranced by pulsing rhythms. Through a double-layered image - or perhaps an altered state of mind - we follow the movements of a fleeting moment inside a car.

A young girl explores her and her family’s relationship with her native country in light of its political situation.

A student animated film by Mikk Rand

The story of an apathetic man who tries to move somewhere else, but due to a force greater than himself, the journey suddenly comes to an end.

The film portrays five different Estonian female politicians: Minister of Culture Signe Kivi, businesswoman Terje Aru, former Miss Estonia Kristiina Heinmets, strike movement leader Kadi Pärnits, and the grand old lady of Estonian women's politics, Marju Lauristin. All of them have been in the media spotlight, and many have fallen victim to it due to their openness. How can a woman assert herself in a post-communist society? What opportunities do women have to succeed in politics within a traditionally patriarchal system? Through the actions of these five protagonists, the hidden world of Estonian politics unfolds—both in its glamour and its horror.

The documentary depicts monuments and heritage artwork that have been closely related to the history of the Republic of Estonia. Estonian sculptors, former political prisoners, social scientists and art historians share their memories in the film. Why do we need our monuments? What kind of attitude has been towards Estonian monuments and heritage artwork during the changing times in local history? Memorial columns can be victims of ideology. Estonia has been governed by several state authorities during the 20th century, all of them have left their own monuments. The destiny of numerous military monuments in East-Europe has become a current issue.

Pale Alison is a youth band from Narva. When the communist regime collapsed, these young people were left in families in Narva, where the euphoria of a great home republic disappeared and the confusion between the new and old world order created daily tensions. How to live if your father is a Putinist, but your mother loves Europe and a free Estonia?

Lost film. Helja, an Estonian woman, and his British groom John have met during the Estonian War of Independence. They hear from an old professor of an old folk tale about the dark past of Estonia. Estonian pageboy Mangu who works at von Sternhell's manor proposes a pretty slave girl Linda. However, von Sternhell gives orders to steal the bride right in the middle of the wedding. She will be taken to von Sternhell's castle according to the brutal middle-age custom – the law of the first night. Together with fellow villagers, Mangu gets into a desperate battle with the noblemen in order to save his wife's pride.

The feature-length documentary "Hitler & Stalin 1939" is a montage film created in 1989 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. It draws a comparison between two of Europe’s bloodiest dictators. Based on archival material and carrying a strong political message, the film provides a historical overview of the division of Europe between two totalitarian regimes, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, as well as the annexation of countries and the events of World War II.

Into a starry sky full of coloured spots! The propellers have been revved up. Accompanied by the drone and roar of the engine, the aircraft takes off. Its mission, to be followed live: compare images, sort out, superimpose, create a visual reality of dots and pixels. A park is requested, but with how many trees? A racy car is dreamt of, but which design is sleek enough? The variables dictated by the pilot determine what appears on the monitor – sculptures of possibilities or morphed set pieces. The tank is filled with millions of continuously flowing images for an infinite number of combinations. But who controls the projected flight path?

A cosmic entity talks to humankind. Meanwhile, three dinosaurs cross the desert guided by a shooting star.

An interview, in English, with 15 year old Katrin who is half-Estonian and half-Russian and has recently moved to Sillamae.

Vahur Kersna's large-scale movie of the life, work and fate of Alo Mattiisen, who became the figurehead of the singing revolution.

Absurdist experimental documentary, about the tensions around the Bronze Soldier that were escalating in both Estoniam and Russian media.

Maaimäis a music video made in collaboration with the renowned Estonian musician Mari Kalkun. Maaimäis a song from Mari Kalkun's new album Stoonia lood, released in September 2023. It talks about the contradictory relationship between man and nature. With the evergrowing world population, Mother Nature can hardly carry the burden humans have become. Climate change, overpopulation, habitat loss for wildlife, and loss of species diversity are concerns that affect and speak to all of us, regardless of our geographical location. Musically, the song is a multi-layered piece that blends together traditional music and electronic sounds. It is sung in Võro, a dialect from south-east Estonia.

My 5-year journey from bereavement to the last goodbye, through an exploration of "existence" and "life", from different perspectives and stages of the mind.

XI century. Two thugs rob and kill a wizard in the forest. While resting, they check the loot and throw the found stones into the fire. The smoke from the stones clouded their minds and they began to fight to the death.

The film is about Tartu and its enormous capacity for innovation over the decades. Tartu vs Tallinn characterizes the theme of the film that tells the story of how the Western world came to Estonia.

A film about ordinary teenagers from sleeping areas. By their incomplete sixteen, they have already managed to try a lot. At 11, the first cigarette, at 12, the first intoxication, at 13, the first love with all the ensuing consequences. The main character of the picture, Snezhana, had already quit smoking by the age of 16, because she had given birth to a child. The film is an observation of the life of a young couple who are expecting a baby. The film was filmed for 2 years. One year before birth and one year after birth.

In the 1980s, five young students from the University of Tartu get an opportunity to travel to Northern Finland. Sadly, the group experiences an accident after which one of the members dies. The survivors try to keep themselves clear-headed, but it is physically and mentally challenging. The relationships in the group keep getting more aggressive and soon enough, no one can be trusted anymore.

A human drama about a mother obsessed with documenting her dead son's apartment, a sister forced to inherit her dead brother's old belongings, and a son-in-law pretending to ignore a past affair with his dead lover. Together, they navigate familial tensions and secrets held from each other inside a house that is home to nobody.

An evening in Tallinn's variety shows.

It’s feels like a vision of a pilgrimage gone south. Desperately looking for the gate in the forgotten lands where only military planes dare to fy. By using gouache painting and their digital processing, animation artist Francesco Rosso imagines two monks rehearsing, fnding perfect pitch which fows through walls and fences, despite their layers. The impulse for this animation comes from an existing musical composition by Karl Saks who recorded Buddhist monks chanting while on a trip to China.

An experimental movie about sustainability

A young man named Ludwig refurbishes scrap in his spare time to earn a bit more money for his already poor family. One day he finds a pocket watch that can turn back time. When he gets home, he discovers his mother rushing to get to work, something that does not seem out of place to him. Ludwigs phone rings which informs him that his mother has died. Ludwig tries to save his mother, by going back in time experiencing every stage of grief in the process.

The theme of the film is what unites all people, what is hidden in all of us, be it the soul or the collective unconscious. The film is about different worlds, each of which is characterized by a different state: aimless haste, flow, senseless routine, social masks (both in front of others and in front of oneself), and the connection of the characters there. The film is about the connection of people, about not noticing it, quietly discovering it, rebelling against and trying to escape the unity, reconciling and melting into a single being, a mass. The author of the film wants to believe that in the midst of the pain, wars and brutality that prevails all over the world, there could be something unifying and binding in all of us. Something that, by discovering and becoming more aware of, we could live in greater harmony, without killing each other and destroying our nature.

The Russian Federation has attacked sovereign Ukraine and shook the whole balance of Europe. War does not affect only the soldiers on the field, but the side effects cover vast entities; international organizations, state officials, rescue workers, volunteers. But the smallest denominator of war is often a child. This smallest piece of the puzzle is unable to understand the entire reality of which it is a part of. Their experience consists of short moments, full of unclarity, sadness and often even happiness. The film tries to depict what goes around in the heads of these children, as we follow through the lens a bus full of Ukrainian refugees fleeing towards Finland.

Pille, whose last surviving close relative is her daughter living in Finland, attempts to farm sheep alone while defying old age. Felix is worried about bees. Beehives remain empty, bee colonies are dying out, queens are not laying enough eggs for the new generations to hatch. Fields are being poisoned and primaeval forests are being clear-cut. Father Agaton serves small local Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church congregations, performs blessings, and administers Communion. The Estonian Defence League member Hellat and his daughter Kateriina look for silver, which is supposedly buried in the ground.

A documentary about contemporary Estonian artist and feminist Mare Tralla, who started in the stormy 1990s as part of the so-called generation of winners. In addition to being a radical feminist, Mare Tralla is a hidden mother, lecturer, craftsman and designer, and on top of all that, she is also a person who has had to keep a very intimate and dark secret to herself from a very young age.

The film is based on a legend of the Mapuche Indians. It is the story about a fox that goes to heaven to visit her uncle, but gets cruelly cast down. In the film the personification of animals provides this slightly absurd legend with social context.

Jaan Rahumaa, an old boat master living in Soomaa, makes a dugout canoe from an aspen tree, an irreplaceable vehicle during the spring high water.

A spontaneous argument between a religious messenger and his drunken opponent, accidentally caught during a bus ride. Ten minutes of fiery philosophy about life during which the whole world is put into place, from creation to true sin.

Maidan Nezalezhnosti, or Independence Square, is the central square of Kiev, which gave its name to the large-scale anti-government movement that unfolded in Ukraine in the winter of 2013-2014. A movement that led to the overthrow of the existing regime. However, the happiness of the newfound freedom was overshadowed by the ensuing Russian annexation of Crimea and bloodshed in Eastern Ukraine, inflamed, controlled from Russia. This film is a kind of selection of people's documentary news made on the Maidan in Kiev, in the Crimea and Moscow. The authors shoot their "news" without looking back at ideology, censorship and the logic of war.

Documentary film about Nordic volunteers fighting the Estonian War of Independence

Face Recognition failure – deadbeat Igor-503 evades the cop detectors during a night of wild drinking.

A cat's happy childhood takes an unexpected turn when she falls into a river.

You know that feeling when the eye starts to twitch and what you see scrolls back and forth for a while? Or when you wake up and can't move? Or when everything around you subsides?

After ten years in a Soviet labour camp in Karaganda, the Estonian artist Ülo Sooster (1924‒1970) didn’t return to his homeland but settled in Moscow and became the most influential trend-setter for a whole generation of Soviet non-conformist artists. Narrated by the artist’s son Tenno-Pent Sooster, this film features rare footage and interviews with Sooster’s contemporaries in the 1960s, as well as leading experts from the Kumu Art Museum, the Tartu Art Museum and The Tretyakov Gallery.