101 Estonian Films: Animation

Festival
24th Black Nights Film Festival
Programme
101 Estonian Films

Films

Mousehunt

Local title
Hiirejaht
Original title
Hiirejaht
Director
Elbert Tuganov
Country
Estonia
Year
1965

The mouse hunt planned by cats becomes a cat hunt, when a clever gang of mice led by a fearless cowboy mouse tricks the hunter-cats into a disagreeable situation.

Tristan Priimägi

Director
Elbert Tuganov
Screenwriter
Valdo Pant
DoP
Arvo Nuut
Music
Arvo Pärt
Production
Tallinnfilm
Runtime
Language
Estonian

Nail I

Local title
Nael I
Original title
Nael I
Director
Heino Pars
Country
Estonia
Year
1972

A satiric stop motion animation about nails by Heino Pars that addresses society in an experimetal form consists of four short novels: "Love“, "Bootlicker“, "Hooligan“ and "Circus“. The interpersonal relationships between anthropomorphic nails are dead-on and humorous, whether it is a love affair between a groom and his lady, the endeavours of a brown-nosing bootlicker, quarreling of a drunken hooligan, or the interaction between a vain animal handler and a circus lion.

Director
Heino Pars
Screenwriter
Heino Pars
DoP
Arvo Nuut
Music
Ülo Vinter
Production
Tallinnfilm
Runtime

A Vacuum Cleaner

Local title
Tolmuimeja
Original title
Tolmuimeja
Director
Avo Paistik
Country
Estonia
Year
1978

A young man brings home a vacuum cleaner. It works reluctantly at first but after a slight tweaking it becomes even too efficient. The more it eats, the more it craves and soon the vacuum cleaner is intent on swallowing the whole world.

Tristan Priimägi

Director
Avo Paistik
Screenwriter
Eno Raud
DoP
Arvi Ilves
Music
Tõnu Aare
Production
Tallinnfilm
Runtime
Language
Estonian

Tyll the Giant

Local title
Suur Tõll (2020)
Original title
Suur Tõll
Director
Rein Raamat
Country
Estonia
Year
1980

A hero called Tyll the Giant lives a simple life, but has issues with both local and external enemies. While the foreign armies attack the shores of his homeland, the Devil sneaks around his house, wishing him ill in every way he can. Tyll has to deal with them all.

Tristan Priimägi

Director
Rein Raamat
Screenwriter
Rein Raamat
DoP
Janno Põldma
Music
Lepo Sumera
Production
Tallinnfilm
Runtime
Language
Estonian

Triangle

Local title
Kolmnurk
Original title
Kolmnurk
Director
Priit Pärn
Country
Estonia
Year
1982

Viktor and Julia’s marriage has cooled down. She prepares meals, craving for his attention, but he doesn’t take any notice of her. Suddenly, small dark Eduard appears from inside the stove, his mind set on getting hold of Viktor’s food, and not only that.

Tristan Priimägi

Director
Priit Pärn
Screenwriter
Priit Pärn
Music
Olav Ehala
Production
Tallinnfilm
Runtime
Language
Estonian

Instinct

Local title
Instinkt (2003)
Original title
Instinkt
Director
Rao Heidmets
Country
Estonia
Year
2003

God keeps order in paradise, while the Devil experiments with various creative ideas, but without much success. Until he manages to come up with Woman, who turns the entire system upside down.

Tristan Priimägi

Director
Rao Heidmets
Screenwriter
Rao Heidmets
Production
Nukufilm
Runtime
Language
Estonian

The Institute of the Dream

Local title
Une Instituut
Original title
Une Instituut
Director
Mati Kütt
Country
Estonia
Year
2006

The tubby Sleep-Mati, the Estonian version of the Sandman, walks the land at his own pace, sowing the sands of sleep in the eyes of the sleepless. He is assisted by small Sleep-Katis who place pillows under the heads of the sleepers.

Tristan Priimägi

Director
Mati Kütt
Screenwriter
Mati Kütt
DoP
Urmas Jõemees
Music
Andres Tenusaar
Production
Nukufilm
Runtime
Language
Estonian

Crocodile

Local title
Krokodill (short)
Original title
Krokodill
Director
Kaspar Jancis
Country
Estonia
Year
2009

An opera singer is down on his luck and slipping down the spiral of decline. Working as a crocodile at an amusement park, he meets a woman who wants him in her life. But the woman also has a secret crocodile of her own, hidden in the bathroom.

Tristan Priimägi

Director
Kaspar Jancis
Screenwriter
Kaspar Jancis
Music
Kaspar Jancis
Production
Eesti Joonisfilm
Runtime
Language
Estonian

Orpheus

Local title
Orpheus
Original title
Orpheus
Director
Priit Tender
Country
Estonia
Year
2019

Orpheus is an exquisite singer to whom birds and animals and people stop to listen. His beloved Eurydike enters his life in the shape of a pair of gloves, but death’s bony hands soon rob Orpheus of his love. He now has to make a journey to the underworld to claim Eurydike back.

Tristan Priimägi

Director
Priit Tender
Screenwriter
Priit Tender
Music
Kadri Voorand
Production
Eesti Joonisfilm
Runtime