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
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
Monday 16.06
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
Cine-concert Aurora
TIFF.24
Aurora (Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, 1927), directed by F.W. Murnau, is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of early cinema. The story follows a farmer (George O'Brien) who falls under the spell of a femme fatale from the city (Janet Gaynor), who persuades him to murder his wife. However, the film transforms into a profound meditation on love, remorse, and redemption.
Tuesday 17.06
Cine-concert Steamboat Bill, Jr.
TIFF.24
Directed in 1928 by Charles Reisner, Steamboat Bill, Jr. is an exceptional example of Buster Keaton’s talent for physical comedy and stunts.
- 1928
Special Screenings
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
Cine-concert The Peasants
TIFF.24
Łukasz L.U.C. Rostkowski is one of Poland’s most innovative musicians, known for his compositions that blend jazz with electronic music, hip-hop, and traditional rhythms.
Special Screenings
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
Thursday 19.06
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
Friday 20.06
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
Saturday 21.06
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
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