14/01/2015 - The EFI and partners are to provide funding of €120,000 for three films

In conjunction with the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR), Kanal 2 and TV3, the Estonian Film Institute has announced a competition for low-budget feature films.

The competition will select three full-length features going into production and will provide them with funding of €120,000 per movie. One of the titles will be aired on ERR, Estonia’s national broadcaster, while the second and third will be screened on cable channels Kanal 2 and TV3, respectively. Each film will receive a theatrical release prior to the television screenings.

The competition was initiated by the Estonian Film Institute’s head of production, Piret Tibbo-Hudgins, who emphasises the broader impact of the new cooperation project on the Estonian film industry. She also believes that the positive contribution of private television channels is the reason why recent years have proved to be very successful for the local film industry and have increased audiences’ confidence in Estonian movies.

“This is the first time that – in addition to the national film-funding institutions and Estonian Public Broadcasting – private channels are also participating in a joint project,” Tibbo-Hudgins said. “We hope that this competition will lay the foundation for a yearly opportunity offering new film talent access to the public scene much faster.”

The EFI will welcome both new ideas and projects that have already received a script or development grant from the Estonian Film Institute or the Cultural Endowment of Estonia. Titles will be assessed by an expert committee composed of representatives from the Estonian Film Institute, the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Kanal 2 and TV3. The results of the competition will be announced on 28 May 2015, and three new films should reach viewers in 2016.