10-03-2008

Estonian biopic travels to Russia

By FNE Staff

    Georg, a biopic about the legendary Estonian singer and Soviet film star Georg Ots, opened in Russian cinemas over the weekend. The most expensive Estonian film ever made, it cost more than €2 million and is co-produced by Estonia, Russia and Finland.

    Georg (www.georgfilm.com), which is breaking film attendance records in Estonia, follows the life of Estonia's best-known singer, who died in 1975. Ots never reached world acclaim, but he is a legend among the older Soviet-era population in Estonia as well as in Finland and Russia.

    The film is the result of a bilateral film agreement signed by Russia and Estonia in 2003 that outlines the co-financing rules. It is hoped the film will help soothe recent political differences between the two countries.

    The film was directed by Peeter Simm and produced by Lege Artis Film and Allfilm of Estonia which has a 50% stake. The Center of National Film in Russia has a 40% stake and MRP Matila Röhr Productions OY from Finland has a 10% stake. The international distributor is Scandinavia's Nordisk Film.