Thanks to the visionaries, Aarne Vahtra and Olev Remsu who championed the idea of EstDocs five years ago, and to Maimu Mölder without whom the festival could not have lifted off, EstDocs has become a fun and accessible week-long event.

EstDocs is programmed with the intent that if you attend all screenings you’ll have been presented with an updated, 360˚ perspective on Estonia, historic and current, its social structure, sports, artists, ethnography, economics, politics and, lets not forget, its film arts. Some films are world or international premieres, others are older, but together with post-screening discussions they form a package, for reflection on the idea of, and the nation that is, Estonia.

On behalf of all the organizers, welcome to EstDocs09 and I hope that you enjoy these ten days of films!

Ellen Valter
Festival Director