| Cinema of Estonia | |
|---|---|
 CinemaGrand Marina (Tallinn, 1920-1935) | |
| No. ofscreens | 74 (2010)[1] |
| • Per capita | 6.3 per 100,000 (2010)[1] |
| Main distributors | Forum Cinemas AS 54.0% Acme Film OÜ 36.0% Kuukulgur Film OÜ 4.0%[2] |
| Produced feature films (2011)[3] | |
| Fictional | 8 (61.5%) |
| Animated | 1 (7.7%) |
| Documentary | 4 (30.8%) |
| Number of admissions (2011)[5] | |
| Total | 2,346,000 |
| • Per capita | 1.96 (2012)[4] |
| National films | 236,000 (10.1%) |
| Gross box office (2011)[5] | |
| Total | €9.17 million |
| National films | €472,000 (5.1%) |
| Cinema of Estonia |
|---|
 |
| Lists of Estonian films |
| 1912–1918 |
| 1918–1940 |
| 1940–1991 |
| Since 1991 |
| Estonian Animation |
Cinema of Estonia is thefilm industry of theRepublic of Estonia. The motion pictures have won international awards and each year new Estonian films are seen at film festivals around the globe.[6]
The first "moving pictures" were screened inTallinn in 1896.[7] The first movie theater was opened in 1908.[8] The first local documentary was made in 1908 with the production of anewsreel aboutSwedish KingGustav V’s visit toTallinn.[9]
The first Estonian documentary was created byJohannes Pääsuke in 1912 that was followed by a short filmKarujaht Pärnumaal (Bear Hunt in Pärnumaa) in 1914. The firstmovie studio in Estonia,Estonia Film Tartus (The Tartu Studio of Estonia Film), was established by Johannes Pääsuke (1892–1918). Pääsuke produced documentaries, short films and pictures of Estonian nature for theEstonian National Museum.Karujaht Pärnumaal (Bear-Hunt in Pärnu County, 1914) was the first fictional short film made in Estonia. In total, eight films made by J. Pääsuke have survived and are stored at theEstonian Film Archives.[10]
The first full-length feature film was made in 1924Shadow of the Past directed byKonstantin Märska and produced by hisKonstantin Märska Filmiproduktsioon (Konstantin Märska Film Production). Two feature films by Märska have survived:Vigased pruudid (1929) andJüri Rumm (1929).Theodor Lutsu Filmiproduktsioon (the Film Production of Theodor Luts Studio) was established byTheodor Luts and his wifeAksella Luts, who produced documentaries and feature films. HisNoored kotkad (Young Eagles) (1927) is generally regarded as the cornerstone of Estonian cinema.[11] Luts was also responsible for directing the only Estonian sound feature made before Soviet era, an Estonian-Finnish co-productionPäikese lapsed (1932). 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 includedSiirius Film andK.Kalamees Tartu.
The major film production company after theGreat Depression hit Estonia during the 1930s was state subsidized theEstonian Culture Film (Estonian:Eesti Kultuurfilm) that produced mostly documentaries.
In late 1930s, Academy Award nominatedMiliza Korjus best known for a role inThe Great Waltz (1938), daughter of anEstonianlieutenant 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[12]
The first Estonian animated short filmKutsu-Juku seiklusi was made in 1931.[13]
During the first year ofSoviet occupation (1940–1941)Eesti Kultuurfilm was taken over by the Communist Party and renamedKinokroonika Eesti Stuudio (the Estonian Newsreel Studio). 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 like the newsreel "Soviet Estonia" (1950) created bySemyon Semyonovich Shkolnikov,Vladimir Tomberg [ru], and others.[14][12]
Former Eesti Kultuurfilm was calledKinokroonika Tallinna Stuudio (The Tallinn Newsreel Studio) in 1942 during theGerman occupation in World War II andTallinna Kinostuudio (The Tallinn Film Studio) in 1947 again by the Soviets.[10]
During the era two feature films on Soviet themes were produced in Estonia directed byGerbert Rappaport, anAustrian émigré in Soviet Union:[15]Elu tsitadellis (Life in the Citadel) in 1947,Valgus Koordis (Light in Koordi) in 1951 that was the firstcolor motion picture film made in Estonia.[10]
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 (Goskino) in Moscow provided the money, state censorship bodyGlavlit andCPSU Department of Culture had the control over releasing the movies.[11]
The Tallinn Film Studio was renamedKunstiliste ja Kroonikafilmide Tallinna Kinostuudio (Tallinn Feature- and Newsreel Film Studio) in 1954 and in 1963 was renamed againTallinnfilm[10]
Some of the first films produced during the era that were co directed by an EstonianKaljo Kiisk wereJuunikuu päevad (1957) andVallatud kurvid also known asOpasniye Povoroty, the first dramatic film shot inKinopanorama (1959).
In the 1960s a story ofPrince Gabriel by Estonian writerEduard Bornhöhe was turned into a movie script byArvo Valton.Grigori Kromanov was named to be the director ofViimne reliikvia (The Last Relic), 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.[16][17] 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 theFriedebert Tuglas award in 1970-75 included references to the Last Relic.
Another milestone in Estonian Cinema released in 1969 wasArvo Kruusement'sKevade (Spring) based onOskar Luts popular novel.[7]
Successful films in the 1980s were"Hukkunud Alpinisti" hotell (Dead Mountaineer's Hotel) by Kromanov and movies made byKaljo Kiisk such asNipernaadi (1983).
The most prominent female directorLeida Laius who emerged during the era is best known for herKõrboja peremees (1979) andNaerata ometi (1985) receiving at theBerlin International Film Festival UNICEF Award in 1985.Peeter Simm's best known Soviet era film isIdeaalmaastik (The Ideal Landscape) released in 1980.Peeter Urbla'sMa pole turist, ma elan siin (I'm Not a Tourist, I'm Living Here) (1988). Jaan Kolberg emerged by the end of Soviet era with filmsSee kadunud tee (1990) (The Lost Way) andVõlausaldajad (Creditors) (1992)
Among the leading Estonian film actors during the Soviet era wereRein Aren with about 30 roles,Jüri Järvet andLeonhard Merzin.[11]
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 nofictional films and only 2 documentariesLipule... güüsile... valvel! andTurvalisuse illusioon were made in Estonia.
In 1997, theEstonian Film Foundation was founded by the Estonian Ministry of Culture. Production ofMinu Leninid (All My Lenins) (1997) a parody of Soviet Revolution byHardi Volmer marked a turnaround for Estonian feature films. In 1998, there were two feature films produced.Georgica directed by Sulev Keedus won theFIPRESCI Prize at theStockholm Film Festival in 1998 and thePrix Europa Special atPrix Europa in 1999.Ristumine peateega (The Highway Crossing) directed by Arko Okk won the "FIPRESCI Prize" at theStockholm International Film Festival in 1999 and the Prize OPERA PRIMA at theUruguay International Film Festival in 2000.The Highway Crossing was also the first Estonian film at Hongkong International Film FestivalHKIFF.
Since then, the trend has also been towards joint film productions such as Peeter Simm'sHead käed (Good Hands) (2001) a joint Estonian-Latvian coproduction that in 2002 won theManfred Salzgeber Award at theBerlin International Film Festival and theGolden Olive TreeLecce Festival of European Cinema in Italy.Kõrini (Fed Up) (2005) an Estonian-German coproduction.Arvo Iho' sKaru süda (Hart of the Bear) (2001) nominated forGolden St. George at the Moscow International Film Festival and for theEuropean Film Award atEuropean Film Awards, was a coproduction between Estonia, Germany, Russia and the Czech Republic.
The most commercially successful Estonian film in 2002 wasNimed marmortahvlil (2002) (Names in Marble) byElmo Nüganen and in 2003 a comedy byRando PettaiVanad ja kobedad saavad jalad alla (Made in Estonia) that in Estonia topped the international blockbusterThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers with its box office results.[11]
In 2004, two young directors emerged Jaak Kilmi andRené Reinumägi with theirSigade revolutsioon(Revolution of Pigs) that won theSpecial Jury Prize and was nominated forGolden St. George at theMoscow International Film Festival, and forGrand Prix Asturias at theGijón International Film Festival.
In 2007, about 10 feature films were made in Estonia. Most notable perhapsSügisball (2007) by Veiko Õunpuu receiving among other awardsBest Director at theThessaloniki Film Festival,International Film Festival Bratislava andVenice Horizons Award at the64th Venice International Film Festival.Georg (2007) by Peeter Simm is a movie about the life of legendary Estonian singerGeorg Ots.
Most recent awarded film is Veiko Õunpuu'sThe Temptation of St. Tony (2009). In 2011, Estonia made eight full-length films, which included one animated film.[18]
The Estonian feature films Top Ten Poll in 2002 by Estonian film critics and journalists[19]
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