BEAST International Film Festival 2024

BEAST International Film Festival 2024: Focus Country – Estonia
Dates: 25th – 29th September 2024
Locations: Batalha Centro de Cinema, Cinema Passos Manuel, OKNA, Térmita, and more venues to be announced.

The BEAST International Film Festival (IFF) returns to Porto for its seventh edition, showcasing the best of Central and Eastern European cinema. This year, Estonia is the Focus Country, featuring a selection of films that highlight the country’s rich cinematic landscape through various curated programmes.

Focus Country: Estonia Programmes

1. DIRECTOR FOCUS: Triin Ruumet
   • Featured Film: Dark Paradise (2023)
     • Synopsis: A psycho-thriller exploring the complex emotions and paths of two brothers coping with the loss of their father. Ruumet describes the film as “disturbing,” offering a deep dive into the human psyche’s darker aspects.
     • Duration: 108 minutes
     • Country: Estonia, France
2. RETROSPECTIVE
   • Documentaries from the 70s and 80s:
     • Tänav 79 by Heli Speek | 1979 | 09´46
     • Linnaloom by Peeter Tooming | 1981 | 10´23
     • Lasnamäe by Mark Soosaar | 1985 | 10´22
     • Teel by Valeria Anderson | 1977 | 20´46
     • Allika poole mineja by Peeter Tooming | 1979 | 10´29
   • Newsreels from the 1960s:
     • Üliõpilased Minskist | Ülo Tambek | 1967 | 58″
     • Peeglite tootmine | Reet Kasesalu | 1966 | 1´00
     • Ajutalituste uurimine | Vitali Gorbunov | 1965 | 01´04
   • Advertising Films from the 1980s by Eesti Reklaamfilm:
     • Karvamütsid Tallinna Kaubamajast | 1984 | 43″
     • Kohvrid Tallinna Kaubamajast | 1985 | 45″
     • Kangad Tallinna Kaubamajast | 1985 | 55″
     • Keraamika Tallinna Kaubamajast | 1984 | 56″
     • Klaasesemed Tallinna Kaubamajast | 1988 | 31″
     • Hõbedast noad-kahvlid-lusikad | 1984 | 51″
   • This programme offers a glimpse into Estonian life through historical documentaries, newsreels, and advertisements, showcasing urban, suburban, and rural scenes.
3. SCHOOL VISIT – Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA)
   • Programme: A selection of animated films from EKA students (2021-2024), highlighting diverse techniques and narrative styles:
     • Soul Bird | Piret Potter | 2024 | 5´5
     • My Mother the Sea | Aspasia Kazeli | 2022 | 6´01
     • Cufufu | Bruno Quast | 2021 | 6´28
     • The Juggler’s Guide | Rebeka Kruus | 2023 | 3´26
     • Revolutionem Cognitivam or an incomplete lexicon of your electromagnetic body | Ariel Genrihov, Anu-Kadri Uustalu, Agnes Milla Berzceki | 2023 | 6´15
     • Hit the Nail on the Head | Kaimar Lomp, Lyza Jarvis, Maria Rakitina, Cristo Madisoo | 2021 | 6´1
     • Hidden Life | Kadi Sink, Silver Strazdins, Sigrit Villido | 2022 | 8´21
     • Recents | Sophia Bazalgette | 2022 | 6´26
     • Poppy Flowers | Evridiki Papaiakovou | 2024 | 4´21
     • No Shortcuts | Kadi Sink | 2021 | 3´29
     • Togg | Silvan Zweifel | 2021 | 8´22
   • These films showcase the creative output of the EKA’s Animation department, which aims to push the boundaries of animation as an art form.

Support and Sponsors

The FOCUS COUNTRY section dedicated to Estonia is supported by the Estonian Film Institute and the Estonian Embassy in Portugal. BEAST IFF is also supported by the International Visegrad Fund and the Câmara Municipal do Porto.

Stay tuned for further announcements about additional programmes and the full festival line-up.

BEAST International Film Festival 2024