Tallinnfilm
Encyclopedia
Tallinnfilm is the oldest still functional film studio in Estonia
. Originally founded as Estonian Culture Film
in 1931, the studio was nationalized in 1940 after Estonia was forced into Soviet Union. During the first year of Soviet Occupation (1940–1941) Eesti Kultuurfilm was taken over by the Communist Party and renamed Kinokroonika Eesti Stuudio (the Estonian Newsreel Studio). In 1942 during the German occupation
in WWII was renamed Kinokroonika Tallinna Stuudio (The Tallinn Newsreel Studio) and called Tallinna Kinostuudio (The Tallinn Film Studio) in 1947 again by the Soviets. The Tallinn Film Studio was renamed Kunstiliste ja Kroonikafilmide Tallinna Kinostuudio (Tallinn Feature and Newsreel Film Studio) in 1954 and in 1963 was renamed again Tallinnfilm
During the Soviet era, the studio was the only major movie production house in Estonia, leading to its being responsible for almost all feature-length movies of the time. (Most of the rest were produced by Eesti Televisioon
.)
Most notable feature films produced by Tallinnfilm during the Soviet era were Viimne reliikvia
(The Last Relic) , released in 1969 by Tallinnfilm. The movie set the absolute box office record for the entire Soviet Union at the time by selling 44,9 million tickets. It was successfully distributed by the Soviet film export internationally in more than 60 countries. The Spring
(1969) directed by Arvo Kruusement
sold 558,000 tickets in Estonia (Total population 1.34 million) and in 1971 8,100,000 in Soviet Union.
After Estonia regained independence in 1991, Tallinnfilm terminated its production activities and concentrated on the restoration of its film stock
and film distribution
. Since 2004 Tallinnfilm acts as art-house cinema operator. The owner of Tallinnfilm is Estonian Film Foundation
.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. Originally founded as Estonian Culture Film
Estonian Culture Film
The Estonian Culture Film was a state-subsidized movie studio established in Estonia in 1931 by the Ministry of Culture. During the first years of existence the studio mostly distributed films....
in 1931, the studio was nationalized in 1940 after Estonia was forced into Soviet Union. During the first year of Soviet Occupation (1940–1941) Eesti Kultuurfilm was taken over by the Communist Party and renamed Kinokroonika Eesti Stuudio (the Estonian Newsreel Studio). In 1942 during the German occupation
Occupation of Estonia by Nazi Germany
After Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, Army Group North reached Estonia in July.Initially the Germans were perceived by most Estonians as liberators from the USSR and its repressions, having arrived only a week after the first mass deportations from the Baltics...
in WWII was renamed Kinokroonika Tallinna Stuudio (The Tallinn Newsreel Studio) and called Tallinna Kinostuudio (The Tallinn Film Studio) in 1947 again by the Soviets. The Tallinn Film Studio was renamed Kunstiliste ja Kroonikafilmide Tallinna Kinostuudio (Tallinn Feature and Newsreel Film Studio) in 1954 and in 1963 was renamed again Tallinnfilm
During the Soviet era, the studio was the only major movie production house in Estonia, leading to its being responsible for almost all feature-length movies of the time. (Most of the rest were produced by Eesti Televisioon
Eesti Televisioon
Eesti Televisioon is the national public television station of Estonia. It made its first broadcast on 19 July 1955.The bulk of ETV's funding comes from government grant-in-aid, around 15% of which is in turn funded by the fees paid by Estonian commercial broadcasters in return for their...
.)
Most notable feature films produced by Tallinnfilm during the Soviet era were Viimne reliikvia
Viimne reliikvia
Viimne reliikvia is a 1969 Estonian film adaptation of Vürst Gabriel ehk Pirita kloostri viimsed päevad , a historical novel by Eduard Bornhöhe...
(The Last Relic) , released in 1969 by Tallinnfilm. The movie set the absolute box office record for the entire Soviet Union at the time by selling 44,9 million tickets. It was successfully distributed by the Soviet film export internationally in more than 60 countries. The Spring
Spring (film)
The Spring directed by Arvo Kruusement is a film adaptation of Oskar Luts popular novel bearing the same title. . The movie received the first place in the Estonian feature films Top Ten Poll in 2002 held by Estonian film critics and journalists. In 1970 the movie sold 558,000 tickets in...
(1969) directed by Arvo Kruusement
Arvo Kruusement
Arvo Kruusement is an Estonian actor, theatre and film director who has made some of Estonia's classic novels into films Spring and Fall The movie Spring has been noted as the best Estonian feature film in the Top Ten Poll hold by Estonian film critics and journalists in 2002...
sold 558,000 tickets in Estonia (Total population 1.34 million) and in 1971 8,100,000 in Soviet Union.
After Estonia regained independence in 1991, Tallinnfilm terminated its production activities and concentrated on the restoration of its film stock
Film stock
Film stock is photographic film on which filmmaking of motion pictures are shot and reproduced. The equivalent in television production is video tape.-1889–1899:...
and film distribution
Film distribution
The distribution of a film is the process through which a movie is made available to watch for an audience by a film distributor...
. Since 2004 Tallinnfilm acts as art-house cinema operator. The owner of Tallinnfilm is Estonian Film Foundation
Estonian Film Foundation
The Estonian Film Foundation is Estonia's public film funding organization financed from the state budget of the Republic of Estonia. Founded in 1997 by the Estonian Ministry of Culture, the foundation finances and promotes film productions where at least one participating producers is an...
.