About Estdocs
The Toronto estdocs festival presents films by and about Estonians everywhere to North American audiences of every background. All films and all estdocs programming are fully accessible to English speaking audiences.
From a modest start in 2005, estdocs has experienced exponential growth – the 2007 festival was completely sold out and very enthusiastically received.
For 2008, estdocs organizers are grappling with the delicious challenges of success, encouraged to expand the programme, find new screening venues and to strengthen audience, sponsor, industry and government relationships.
A traveling “best-of” after-edition is under development, with plans for Ottawa and Chicago, amongst other cities.
The basic structure of a festival screening will remain the same, however - hosted by a distinguished guest (filmmaker, film critic or media personality) who introduces each film to the audience and leads an open-mike discussion afterwards with the film’s director or producer present, where possible, in person or via Skype link.
Above all, screenings are social events. Regular admission includes soft drinks, coffee and light snacks. Galas add finger foods and a cash bar is available wherever facilities permit. Audiences are encouraged to mingle and linger. Sponsors hand out information and run contests, the estdocs store sells books, DVDs and souvenirs.
Outreach programs with specially tailored content are provided to seniors and childrens organizations. Thanks to our sponsors these are delivered free of charge at seniors residences and supplementary schools.
The range of programming choices is astonishing -- on a per capita basis Estonians at home and abroad produce more high quality film (as well as music, literature, fine art in general) than probably anyone else on the planet. The results are at once distinctive and accessible, well known and very successful in european and east asian festivals and markets.
Toronto is the natural scene for a North American beachhead: One of the most multi-cultural cities on the planet, the “City of Festivals” is also home to the world’s largest community of expatriate Estonians and their descendants.
estdocs is especially proud of showcasing films made or produced by Canadian-Estonians and introducing these works and their authors, not to mention their homeland and communities, to the native Estonians attending our festival. Cross-fertilization and international co-productions are eagerly awaited!
estdocs 2008 will take place from October 17 to 24th in Toronto and October 26 in Chicago.