Arts of Survival Documentaries

In the global context, Estonia has many distinctive features – artists of survival in cities and forests, buzzing science from slime mold to the sky, self-made karakats by local fishermen, and dreamlike passage through places and communities.

In 2022 internationally renowned documentary filmmakers came to Southern Estonia for a residency, each of whom found a topic that excites them. The residencies meant holding masterclasses to the Estonian film community and sharing their ways of seeing the world and expressing themselves artistically through retrospectives. The renowned authors also created significant value by offering artistic opportunities to young film enthusiasts in Southern Estonia.

Collaboration becomes an experience. During the residency, Estonian filmmakers as well as young film enthusiasts from Southern Estonia will be exchanging ideas and experiences with the world’s top documentary filmmakers. As for this project, the process is just as important as the result.

Of course, you will have the chance to see it all. You’ll enjoy these out-of-the-box movies in 2024. You’ll see a high quality, honest picture of our natural and cultural ways of survival. You’ll get a different view of the people, places and culture of Southern Estonia.

The film medium spreads quickly across the globe and the on-screen stories will remain an important record of life in Tartu and Southern Estonia for generations to come.

Never before has Southern Estonia been captured on film in such a systematic and comprehensive way.