THE ESTONIAN DOCUMENTARY FILM INDUSTRY: INVESTING IN THE CULTURAL GROWTH OF THE COUNTRY

Abstract

Estonia represents one of the few countries in Europe where short and feature documentaries are produced more than fiction films. According to the latest report published by Cineuropa in 2015, Estonia released 8 fiction features and 12 documentaries. Alongside these, 44 fiction short films, 85 short documentaries and 10 short animations were completed, making a total of 159 films produced in Estonia during 2014. Though it has a limited domestic market, Estonian documentary film industry is vibrant and flourishing. Is it possible for this trend to continue as the country faces demographic decline and competes with bigger industries? The potential of Estonian authors and producers is very high and could be increased. There is a spirit of taking the initiative and good business conditions. Though Estonia does not have huge budgets and public grants that bigger European countries possess, it does have the right qualified workforce. My presentation will illustrate the main trends of the Estonian film industry, with a focus on documentary sector, and suggest a concrete solution to maximize productivity and create a number of inspiring works for international audience. The excellent level of Estonia’s educational system and its professionals – especially as concerns primary education – may be combined with the outstanding work of filmmakers, producing documentaries for educational purposes and favouring interactivity, and done jointly with IT experts, among the best in Europe.