23/04/2014 - As the Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival begins in Estonia on Thursday, Cineuropa interviews its director and filmmaker Maria Reinup about the festival and genre filmmaking in small countries

The Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival (HÕFF), which runs from 24-27 April, has long been a champion of genre cinema in a region not often noted for its genre output. A comparatively recent member of the European Federation of Fantastic Film Festivals, the only event of its kind in the Baltics has been serving a dedicated band of horror and fantasy enthusiasts in the environs of a picturesque Estonian city while also garnering a wider international reputation. This year’s eclectic programme includes the international premiere of Kyrgyzstan horror Beyond, UK Hammer Horror The Quiet Ones and the controversial German feature Wetlands [+see also:
trailer
interview: David Wnendt
film profile].

As the festival caters for genre fans, it also raises questions about genre films in relatively small countries such as Estonia. With Vanishing Waves [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kristina Buozyte
film profile] proving to be such a success for Lithuania, it shows that the appetite for genre films is certainly there in the Baltics and beyond. Cineuropa spoke to HÕFF director – and filmmaker – Maria Reinup about the festival and the future of genre filmmaking in the Baltics and other regions.

Cineuropa: How important is it to have an event such as HÕFF in Estonia?
Maria Reinup: It is highly important to have an event like this in a Baltic country because it is the only event popularising genre cinema in the region. Genre cinema today has some of the biggest box-office hits and at the same time some of the most interesting, fresh new talents and – especially in the Baltics, due to the legacy of the Soviet Era – a lot of genre cinema classics and cult hits that have never been seen by audiences. So it’s pretty vital.

How would you compare the genre output of the Baltics to other small countries?
I don’t think we can compare the state of genre cinema in the Baltics with other small countries. Denmark is even smaller than Estonia (though with four times the population), and in general, their cinema is one of the finest and most eagerly anticipated on the film scene. The Baltics are young countries, having had our economic freedom for about 20 years, and this has shaped how we make and finance our films. We are taking baby steps when it comes to genre cinema.

So, do you think an event such as HÕFF helps to inspire filmmakers?
I sincerely think that genre-film festivals especially help audiences fall in love with good genre films, the ones that are off the mainstream grid, smart, cool and fresh. Many of them come with a wonderfully inspiring air, and I think this can help to spark people into making genre films. It’s just a process that will take time. But there are two young directors I know – who will be the next-generation genre makers in Estonia – who started off watching genre films at HÕFF.

As a filmmaker, what inspires you about genre films?
I am actually oddly finding myself more and more drawn into the genre world. The themes and styles that genre film allows you to use are intriguing and fresh. One of my personal interests for themes was always revenge, so making a revenge picture is definitely among my plans. Yet I can’t say – as of this moment – that it would be easy to make a genre film funded by the state here in Estonia. It’s an odd thing. There is enough of a legacy in terms of myths and folk tales, but the stories are not there. Every now and then, some genre project comes up and does not get funded. There have been very few over the past 15 years. I see this as a sign for someone to make that first small-budget Estonian genre film, one that does well in the festivals and in local distribution. Because the potential is really there and needs to show all those state-funded arthouse films that genre deserves to be given a voice as well.