A Woman Heats the Sauna
TIFF.24
Preceded by the short film Sauna Day (dir. Anna Hints, Tushar Prakash)
Estonia - 1979
69 minute
FOCUS Estonia
Schedule
Schedule
Friday 13.06
Saturday 14.06
The Black Hole
Q&A with director Moonika Siimets
When the aliens land on Earth, they will change the lives of everyone they meet. Sirje and Maret, dreaming of finding work abroad, end up in an extraterrestrial science experiment. Jüri, still living with his mother, falls in love with his lustful neighbour, Gertrud.
Estonia, Finland - 2024
115 minute
FOCUS Estonia
Autumn Ball
Q&A with actor Rain Tolk
It’s autumn. We see a huge sprawling conurbation of tower blocks built in the Soviet era – the neighbourhood called Lasnamäe. Mati is a young writer who lives alone in a two-bedroom apartment after his wife left him for his friend.
Estonia - 2007
123 minute
FOCUS Estonia
Sunday 15.06
The Black Hole
Q&A with director Moonika Siimets
When the aliens land on Earth, they will change the lives of everyone they meet. Sirje and Maret, dreaming of finding work abroad, end up in an extraterrestrial science experiment. Jüri, still living with his mother, falls in love with his lustful neighbour, Gertrud.
Estonia, Finland - 2024
115 minute
FOCUS Estonia
The Return of the Projectionist
Q&A with director Orkhan Aghazadeh
In a remote village in the Talysh montains between Iran and Azerbaijan, Samid, a TV repairman, dusts off his old Soviet film projector. He dreams of bringing his village together in front of the silver screen once more.
France, Germany - 2024
87 minute
What's Up, Doc?
Life & Love
Q&A with director Helen Takkin
In 1933, in times of hardship when nothing is certain and love only seems to exist in films, optimistic cinephile Irma believes in the possibility of true love. The country girl catches the eye of the lonely, handsome older publisher Rudolf, but he is surrounded by unsettling rumors.
Estonia - 2024
119 minute
FOCUS Estonia
ILOVERUSS
Q&A with director Tova Mozard
Russell Kingston, a lifelong extra, has spent decades on Hollywood’s periphery, slipping in and out of roles without ever stepping into the spotlight. A drifter in the world of cinema, he takes on the personas of the characters he has played, those he admires, and those he invents himself.
Sweden - 2025
90 minute
What's Up, Doc?
Monday 16.06
Endless Cookie
TIFF.24
An imaginatively animated family portrait that explores the contrasting upbringings between two half-brothers, one white and one Indigenous, in a humorous oral history.
Canada - 2025
98 minute
What's Up, Doc?
Mistress Dispeller
TIFF.24
Desperate to save her marriage, a woman in China hires a professional to go undercover and break up her husband’s affair. Teacher Wang is a ‘mistress dispeller’ – a profession devoted to helping couples in the face of infidelity.
China, United States - 2024
94 minute
What's Up, Doc?
Life & Love
Q&A with director Helen Takkin
In 1933, in times of hardship when nothing is certain and love only seems to exist in films, optimistic cinephile Irma believes in the possibility of true love. The country girl catches the eye of the lonely, handsome older publisher Rudolf, but he is surrounded by unsettling rumors.
Estonia - 2024
119 minute
FOCUS Estonia
Make It Look Real
Q&A with director Danial Shah
A local photo studio in Pakistan serves as a vibrant cultural hub where personal dreams and community connections are brought to life through photography.
Pakistan, Netherlands, Belgium - 2024
68 minute
What's Up, Doc?
Tuesday 17.06
ILOVERUSS
Q&A with director Tova Mozard
Russell Kingston, a lifelong extra, has spent decades on Hollywood’s periphery, slipping in and out of roles without ever stepping into the spotlight. A drifter in the world of cinema, he takes on the personas of the characters he has played, those he admires, and those he invents himself.
Sweden - 2025
90 minute
What's Up, Doc?
The Return of the Projectionist
Q&A with director Orkhan Aghazadeh
In a remote village in the Talysh montains between Iran and Azerbaijan, Samid, a TV repairman, dusts off his old Soviet film projector. He dreams of bringing his village together in front of the silver screen once more.
France, Germany - 2024
87 minute
What's Up, Doc?
Saturn
Q&A with director Daniel Tornero
"In 2018 my grandfather was arrested for child abuse and attempted kidnapping. Now I meet him again and am confronted with his looks, his responses, and my own feelings.
Spain - 2024
96 minute
What's Up, Doc?
The Flamenco Guitar of Yerai Cortes
TIFF.24
Yerai Cortés is a rising star in Spain’s flamenco scene. Anton Álvarez aka C. Tangana met him at a party where Cortés played guitar under the Starlight satellites.
Spain - 2024
95 minute
What's Up, Doc?
Wednesday 18.06
A Woman Heats the Sauna
TIFF.24
Preceded by the short film Sauna Day (dir. Anna Hints, Tushar Prakash)
Estonia - 1979
69 minute
FOCUS Estonia
Make It Look Real
Q&A with director Danial Shah
A local photo studio in Pakistan serves as a vibrant cultural hub where personal dreams and community connections are brought to life through photography.
Pakistan, Netherlands, Belgium - 2024
68 minute
What's Up, Doc?
Letters from Wolf Street
Q&A with director Arjun Talwar
A street in downtown Warsaw, Poland. Arjun Talwar immigrated here a decade ago from India but still struggles to fit in. „Wolf Street” hasn’t made it easy for him.
Poland, Germany - 2025
98 minute
What's Up, Doc?
Together as One
Endless Cookie
TIFF.24
An imaginatively animated family portrait that explores the contrasting upbringings between two half-brothers, one white and one Indigenous, in a humorous oral history.
Canada - 2025
98 minute
What's Up, Doc?
The Invisible Fight
Q&A with director Rainer Sarnet
USSR-China border, 1973. Rafael is in the army on guard duty when the border falls under attack from flying Chinese kung fu warriors.
Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Greece - 2024
115 minute
3 x 3
FOCUS Estonia
Invention
TIFF.24
In the aftermath of a conspiracy-minded father’s unexpected death, his daughter receives his patent for an experimental healing device.
United States - 2024
72 minute
What's Up, Doc?
Thursday 19.06
The Flamenco Guitar of Yerai Cortes
TIFF.24
Yerai Cortés is a rising star in Spain’s flamenco scene. Anton Álvarez aka C. Tangana met him at a party where Cortés played guitar under the Starlight satellites.
Spain - 2024
95 minute
What's Up, Doc?
Saturn
Q&A with director Daniel Tornero
"In 2018 my grandfather was arrested for child abuse and attempted kidnapping. Now I meet him again and am confronted with his looks, his responses, and my own feelings.
Spain - 2024
96 minute
What's Up, Doc?
Loss Adjustment
Q&A with director Miguel Calderon
Pedro, a loss adjuster, travels across Mexico investigating the causes of major catastrophes. To escape the depravity and violence of his daily life, Pedro decides to become an art collector.
Mexico, Uruguay - 2024
74 minute
What's Up, Doc?
Smile at Last
Q&A with producer Monika Raide
16-year-old Mari, raised without a mother by a drunkard father, is put in an orphanage which she immediately, though unsuccessfully, tries to flee from. The sensitive Mari finds it hard to adapt to the coarse manners and brutal games amongst the children.
Estonia - 1985
86 minute
FOCUS Estonia
Alien 2 or the Return of Valdis in 17 Chapters
TIFF.24
Preceded by the short film Alien 2 or: Valdis' Escape in 11 Chapters (dir. Rasmus Merivoo )
Estonia - 2024
100 minute
FOCUS Estonia
Mistress Dispeller
TIFF.24
Desperate to save her marriage, a woman in China hires a professional to go undercover and break up her husband’s affair. Teacher Wang is a ‘mistress dispeller’ – a profession devoted to helping couples in the face of infidelity.
China, United States - 2024
94 minute
What's Up, Doc?
Friday 20.06
Loss Adjustment
Q&A with director Miguel Calderon
Pedro, a loss adjuster, travels across Mexico investigating the causes of major catastrophes. To escape the depravity and violence of his daily life, Pedro decides to become an art collector.
Mexico, Uruguay - 2024
74 minute
What's Up, Doc?
Aurora
Q&A with directors Andres Maimik and Rain Tolk
Aurora, the daughter of a religious leader, travels with her husband Joonas to celebrate their wedding anniversary with her parents and the congregation.
Estonia - 2025
111 minute
FOCUS Estonia
Alien 2 or the Return of Valdis in 17 Chapters
Q&A with director Rasmus Merivoo and producer Tonu Hiielaid
Preceded by the short film Alien 2 or: Valdis' Escape in 11 Chapters (dir. Rasmus Merivoo )
Estonia - 2024
100 minute
FOCUS Estonia