October 12, 2007
„Estonian Explosion" in Warsaw
The 23rd Warsaw International Film Festival program, which opens today, includes a focus on Estonian cinema, titled the „Estonian Explosion". The festival will screen four features, one documentary and a short animation program, all from Estonia.
The Warsaw festival director, Stefan Laudyn, commented his choice of so many Estonian films to the local press: „Little Estonia, where only a few feature films are made each year, has been represented at all of the most important film festivals in the world this year, such as Cannes and Venice. For this reason we selected new Estonian films for our program and called the focus „Estonian Explosion"." (Rzeczpospolita z dnia, 2007-09-26)
The Warsaw film festival international competition program, New Films New Directors will screen MAGNUS the debut by Kadri Kõusaar (Donus Films/Vitamin K Film - Cannes Un Certain Regard) and Veiko Õunpuu's award-winning first feature AUTUMN BALL (Kuukulgur Film/Homeless Bob Production - Venice Orizzonti winner). The Warsaw Competition will screen Ilmar Raag's award-winning THE CLASS (Amrion - Karlovy Vary East of West special mention) and the Documentary competition will screen James and Maureen Tusty's THE SINGING REVOLUTION (Mountain View Productions/Allfilm/Northern Light Productions). Screening in the Free Spirit program will be Rain Tolk and Andres Maimik's local box office hit 186 KILOMETRES (Kuukulgur Film).
The festival will also show a program of the film genre that put Estonian cinema on the map - animation. The Estonian animation program includes: KARL & MARILYN (dir. Priit Pärn), INSTINCT (dir. Rao Heidmets), WAY TO NIRVANA (dir. Mait Laas), FOX WOMAN (dir. Priit Tender), MESSAGE FOR THE NEIGHBORS (dir. Priit Tender), MARATHON (dir. Kaspar Jancis), and INSTITUTE OF DREAMS (dir. Mati Kütt).
In addition to success at international film festivals, Estonian cinema has also been exploding on the home market. 186 KILOMETRES and THE CLASS have made their way into the Top 10 for overal admissions in 2007, and AUTUMN BALL promises to join them by the end of the year. The current overall domestic admissions in Estonia are already at a record-breaking high of 167,286 (compared to the previous high of 166,596 for all of 2002). With three more features in cinemas before the end of the year, it is probable that domestic box office will pass the magical 200,000 point before the Warsaw festival is over. Estonia has a population of 1.34 million.
The 23rd Warsaw International Film Festival will take place October 12-21. For more information, about the festival please see their website: www.wff.pl
More info:
Lili Pilt
Head of International Relations, Estonian Film Foundation
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel: +372 627 6068____________________Lili PiltInternational RelationsEstonian Film FoundationVana-Viru 310111 Tallinn, Estoniae-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.phone: +372 627 6068fax: +372 627 6061mobile: +372 533 24 618http://www.efsa.ee
