Cinema of Estonia


Cinema in Estonia is the film industry of the Republic of Estonia. The motion pictures have won international awards and each year new Estonian films are seen at film festivals around the globe.

1896—1911

The first "moving pictures" were screened in Tallinn in 1896. The first movie theater was opened in 1908. First local documentary was made in 1908 with the production of a newsreel about Swedish King Gustav V’s visit to Tallinn.

1912—1918

The first Estonian documentary was created by Johannes Pääsuke in 1912 that was followed by a short film Karujaht Pärnumaal in 1914. The first movie studio in Estonia, Estonia Film Tartus, was established by Johannes Pääsuke. Pääsuke produced documentaries, short films and pictures of Estonian nature for the Estonian National Museum. Karujaht Pärnumaal was the first fictional short film made in Estonia. In total, eight films made by J. Pääsuke have survived and are stored at the Estonian Film Archives.

1918—1940

The first full-length feature film was made in 1924 Shadow of the Past directed by Konstantin Märska and produced by his Konstantin Märska Filmiproduktsioon. Two feature films by Märska have survived: Vigased pruudid and Jüri Rumm. Theodor Lutsu Filmiproduktsioon was established by Theodor Luts and his wife Aksella Luts, who produced documentaries and feature films. His Noored kotkad is generally regarded as the cornerstone of Estonian cinema. Luts was also responsible for directing the only Estonian sound feature made before Soviet era, an Estonian-Finnish co-production Päikese lapsed. Luts moved to Finland to work as a cinematographer immediately after finishing the film, and never returned to Estonia. Smaller film production studios in Estonia included Siirius Film and K.Kalamees Tartu.
The major film production company after the Great Depression hit Estonia during the 1930s was state subsidized the Estonian Culture Film that produced mostly documentaries.

In late 1930s, Academy Award nominated Miliza Korjus best known for a role in The Great Waltz, daughter of an Estonian lieutenant colonel in the Imperial Russian Army and later Chief of Staff to the War Minister of Estonia, had a successful career in Hollywood film industry
The first Estonian animated short film Kutsu-Juku seiklusi was made in 1931.

1940—1953

During the first year of Soviet occupation Eesti Kultuurfilm was taken over by the Communist Party and renamed Kinokroonika Eesti Stuudio. During the first decades of Soviet rule as Estonia became a part of USSR in 1944 after the end of World War II, filmmakers in Estonia were mostly coming from inner Soviet Union whose job was to create propaganda films that depicted the victory of socialism in a form of newsreels and documentaries.
Former Eesti Kultuurfilm was called Kinokroonika Tallinna Stuudio in 1942 during the German occupation in World War II and Tallinna Kinostuudio in 1947 again by the Soviets.
During the era two feature films on Soviet themes were produced in Estonia directed by Gerbert Rappaport, an Austrian émigré in Soviet Union: Elu tsitadellis in 1947, Valgus Koordis in 1951 that was the first color motion picture film made in Estonia.

1953—1991

After the death of Stalin in 1953 a more liberal period in Soviet Union's cultural policies followed. Filmmakers started to enjoy greater artistic control at the same time the Soviet State Committee for Cinematography in Moscow provided the money, state censorship body Glavlit and CPSU Department of Culture had the control over releasing the movies.
The Tallinn Film Studio was renamed Kunstiliste ja Kroonikafilmide Tallinna Kinostuudio in 1954 and in 1963 was renamed again Tallinnfilm
Some of the first films produced during the era that were co directed by an Estonian Kaljo Kiisk were Juunikuu päevad and Vallatud kurvid also known as Opasniye Povoroty, the first dramatic film shot in Kinopanorama.
In the 1960s a story of Prince Gabriel by Estonian writer Eduard Bornhöhe was turned into a movie script by Arvo Valton. Grigori Kromanov was named to be the director of Viimne reliikvia, released in 1969 by Tallinnfilm. The movie set the absolute box office record for the entire Soviet Union at the time by selling 44,9 million tickets. It was successfully distributed by the Soviet film export internationally in more than 60 countries. The film also influenced Estonian literature: 2 short stories listed for the Friedebert Tuglas award in 1970-75 included references to the Last Relic.
Another milestone in Estonian Cinema released in 1969 was Arvo Kruusement's 'Kevade' based on Oskar Luts popular novel.
Successful films in the 1980s were "Hukkunud Alpinisti" hotell by Kromanov and movies made by Kaljo Kiisk such as Nipernaadi.
The most prominent female director Leida Laius who emerged during the era is best known for her Kõrboja peremees and Naerata ometi receiving at the Berlin International Film Festival UNICEF Award in 1985. Peeter Simm's best known Soviet era film is Ideaalmaastik released in 1980. Peeter Urbla's Ma pole turist, ma elan siin . Jaan Kolgerg emerged by the end of Soviet era with films See kadunud tee and Võlausaldajad
Among the leading Estonian film actors during the Soviet era were Rein Aren with about 30 roles, Jüri Järvet and Leonhard Merzin.

Since 1991

After the collapse of the Soviet Union Estonia regained its independence, the cost of filmmaking skyrocketed and the 1990s showed decline in filmmaking that reached its bottom in 1996, the year when no fictional films and only 2 documentaries Lipule... güüsile... valvel! and Turvalisuse illusioon were made in Estonia.
In 1997, the Estonian Film Foundation was founded by the Estonian Ministry of Culture. Production of Minu Leninid a parody of Soviet Revolution by Hardi Volmer marked a turnaround for Estonian feature films. In 1998, there were two feature films produced. Georgica directed by Sulev Keedus won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Stockholm Film Festival in 1998 and the Prix Europa Special at Prix Europa in 1999.
Since then, the trend has also been towards joint film productions such as Peeter Simm's Head käed a joint Estonian-Latvian coproduction that in 2002 won the Manfred Salzgeber Award at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Golden Olive Tree
Lecce Festival of European Cinema in Italy. Kõrini an Estonian-German coproduction. Arvo Iho' s Karu süda nominated for Golden St. George at the Moscow International Film Festival and for the European Film Award at European Film Awards, was a coproduction between Estonia, Germany, Russia and the Czech Republic.
The most commercially successful Estonian film in 2002 was Nimed marmortahvlil by Elmo Nüganen and in 2003 a comedy by Rando Pettai Vanad ja kobedad saavad jalad alla that in Estonia topped the international blockbuster with its box office results.
In 2004, two young directors emerged Jaak Kilmi and René Reinumägi with their Sigade revolutsioon
that won the Special Jury Prize and was nominated for Golden St. George at the Moscow International Film Festival, and for Grand Prix Asturias at the Gijón International Film Festival.
In 2007, about 10 feature films were made in Estonia. Most notable perhaps Sügisball by Veiko Õunpuu receiving among other awards Best Director at the Thessaloniki Film Festival, International Film Festival Bratislava and Venice Horizons Award at the 64th Venice International Film Festival. Georg by Peeter Simm is a movie about the life of legendary Estonian singer Georg Ots.
Most recent awarded film is Veiko Õunpuu's The Temptation of St. Tony. In 2011, Estonia made eight full-length films, which included one animated film.

TOP 10

The Estonian feature films Top Ten Poll in 2002 by Estonian film critics and journalists
  1. Kevade directed by Arvo Kruusement
  2. Hullumeelsus directed by Kaljo Kiisk
  3. Ideaalmaastik directed by Peeter Simm
  4. Viimne reliikvia directed by Grigori Kromanov
  5. Georgica directed by Sulev Keedus
  6. Nipernaadi directed by Kaljo Kiisk
  7. "Hukkunud Alpinisti" hotell directed by Grigori Kromanov
  8. Naerata ometi directed by Leida Laius, Arvo Iho
  9. Põrgupõhja uus Vanapagan directed by Grigori Kromanov, Jüri Müür
  10. Tuulte pesa directed by Olav Neuland