Country Focus: Estonia
by Cineuropa
Articles, interviews, news, analysis on the Estonian audiovisual sector.
Country profile: Estonia
New Eurimages Co-Production Development Award for the Baltics
Estonia celebrates its highest number of cinema visitors since regaining independence
2.6 million visits were made to cinemas last year in a country with a population of 1.3 million
Three Estonian micro-budget features receive funding
The Estonian Film Institute has partnered with TV channels to support the three features
Estonian National Film Producers Union (ERPÜ) joins FIAPF
ERPÜ has been accepted into the International Federation of Film Producers Associations
Baltic film institutions sign a mutual cooperation agreement
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have signed an agreement to consider establishing a co-production fund for films and TV productions between the three countries
Estonian Film Institute allocates 190,000 Euros in grants for minority co-productions
The Estonian Film Institute provides financial support for two features in 2015
The EFI is supporting both established talents and a new generation breaking through
The Estonian Film Institute announces new competition for low-budget features
The EFI and partners are to provide funding of €120,000 for three films
FIAPF accredits Black Nights Film Festival as a non-specialised competition
The decision places the Estonian festival in the same league as Cannes and Berlin, allowing it to stake a claim as one of the 15 most important in the world
The Estonian Film Institute announces co-productions with six countries
Projects partnering with France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and South Korea awarded funds
Estonia and South Korea sign a historic memorandum
The Memorandum of Mutual Understanding between the two countries aims to boost film industry cooperation
Industry@Tallinn announced cooperation with TIFFCOM CoPro Connection
New award designed to foster closer relations between European and Asian Film industries.
Eventival and Black Market Online launch new film submission software for festivals
New collaboration to provide festivals with new way of evaluating submissions.
Tallinn Black Nights festival opens Nordic film library in Estonia
Initially, 36 films will be available in a collaboration between the festival, the Baltic Film and Media School and the Nordic Council of Minister's Office in Estonia
Estonian Film Institute names new head
Main film organisation for Estonia re-organised with changes at the top
First regional film fund set up in Estonia
Estonia celebrates 100 years of cinema
Cineuropa was on hand as Estonia marked its cinematic centenary on April 30
Baltic industry grows in Tallinn
The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, which had its 15th edition in November, boasts a large industry section comprising Baltic Event Film and Co-production Market, Black Market Industry Screenings, Industry Days and Books to Film literary rights market. 14 projects from the Baltic countries, Finland, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine, Sweden, Azerbaijan and Georgia were presented at the co-production market. The main prize, the Screen International Best Pitch Award, went to Finnish producer Ikka...
International Film Guide 2012: Estonia
A survey of the film culture and output in Estonia published by the International Film Guide.
Local industry on slow road to recovery
After two years of cutbacks in public funding that brought film production to a near standstill last year, 2011 looks rosier for Estonian cinema. Eight films will hit local screens (against four in 2010), including the animated Lotte and the Moonstone Secret and Rainer Sarnet’s The Idiot. Meanwhile, Estonia’s new Euro membership should boost European co-productions such as Ilmar Raag’s One More Croissant (see news), set to start filming next month. “Our film budget for 2011 will not...
Estonia - International Film Guide Survey 2010
A survey of the film culture and output in Estonia published by the International Film Guide.
Baltic states resilient to economic downturn (2)
While Baltic producers are exploiting their European connections to the fullest, public organisations in Estonia and Latvia are trying to keep their small film industries afloat. In Estonia, the main national film body, the Estonian Film Foundation (EFF), is adjusting to budget cuts (from €3.8m in 2009 to €3.3m in 2010) by supporting the same number of films per year (five) but with smaller grants. “There will inevitably be less production value per film but it was vital for us to keep the...
Baltic states resilient to economic downturn (1)
Badly hit by the global economic crisis, the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – also known as the ‘Baltic Tigers’ – are lying low until better economic times return. Dependent more than ever on foreign money to survive, local film producers remain optimistic as public organisations look for solutions to keep their film industry afloat. The regional film market Baltic Event, the seventh edition of which was held in Tallinn in early December, was the perfect place to find out...
Estonia - International Film Guide Survey
2007-2008 was a successful period for the Estonian film industry. The feature films were produced, including an animated film and a theatrically released television feature. In terms of international festivals, seventeen films were screened at 128 festivals, 26 animated films at 269 festivals, and ten documentaries at 34 festivals. The films received a total of 39 international awards and were screened in 55 countries. Far from an insignificant achievement for such a small industry. Locally,...
