TALLINN: Numerous cultural organisations have joined the statement of the Estonian Filmmakers Association stressing the need for the Film City – Tallinn Film Wonderland, which has received a building permit, but whose funding is still unclear.

TALLINN: Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, the first long documentary by Anna Hints, is currently in the editing phase. This Estonian/French/Icelandic coproduction has recently received production support from the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund.

TALLINN: Estonian Funeral by René Vilbre, the first domestic film to premiere after Estonian cinemas reopened on 24 May 2021, ranks first at the box office with 8,803 admissions during the opening week. Estonian cinemas are working at 50% capacity.

ESTONIA: Finnish director Taneli Mustonen is currently filming his first English-language horror film The Twin in southern Estonia. This Finnish production starring Australian actress Teresa Palmer and Scottish Steven Cree is serviced by Estonian Baron Noir and supported by Film Estonia Cash Rebate.

TALLINN: The Estonian government has announced a 42 m EUR support package for the struggling cultural sector. The film sector will receive 5.3 m EUR, of which 3.3 million EUR is earmarked for cinemas and film distributors. The remaining 2 m EUR goes to film productions.

TALLINN: Cinemas in Tallinn and the Ida-Viru County have been allowed to reopen since the beginning of February 2021, with a cap of 50 percent occupancy.

TALLINN: The Estonian Competition Authority announced on 19 February 2021 that MM Grupp OÜ’s purchase of Forum Cinemas OÜ has been broken off as the parties decided to abandon the transaction.

TALLINN: The year 2020 was an extraordinary year for the Estonian film industry. The coronavirus pandemic had a devastating effect on the industry and cinema attendance all over Europe. However, on the positive side, the local market share of Estonian films rose to a record high, garnering 26.72% of the total number of cinema admissions. The per capita rate of cinema going in Estonia was still relatively healthy at 1.35.

TALLINN: Triin Ruumet, whose bold debut feature The Days That Confused won a Special Jury Prize in Karlovy Vary’s East of the West programme in 2016, is starting preproduction on her second feature Dark Paradise. The shooting is planned for August 2021.

TALLINN: The Estonian Film Institute has distributed a total of 1.412 m EUR to three feature films: Dark Paradise, 8 Views of Lake Biwa and Stairway to Heaven.