PRODUCTION: Volmer in Post-production with Biopic of Estonia’s First Filmmaker

26-11-2018

PRODUCTION: Volmer in Post-production with Biopic of Estonia’s First Filmmaker

By Aurelia Aasa

The Real Life of Johannes Pääsuke by Hardi Volmer photo: Heikki Leis

TALLINN: Legendary Estonian film director Hardi Volmer is in post-production with a feature film about the first Estonian filmmaker, The Real Life of Johannes Pääsuke / Johannes Pääsukese tõeline elu, who lived in the first half of the 20th century. Pääsuke filmed a documentary in the most southern part of Estonia, Setomaa, in 1913.

The Real Life of Johannes Pääsuke is a fictional approach to Pääsuke’s adventures in Setomaa, as not much is known about his life. The filming process took place during the summers of 2017 and 2018 in the South of Estonia, mainly in Setomaa.

This is the second collaboration between Volmer and producer Anneli Ahven of Kopli Kinokompanii. They also worked together on Volmer’s previous feature film Living Images / Elavad pildid, which was produced by Exitfilm.

The budget is 400,000 EUR with 120,000 EUR coming from Estonian Cultural Endowment and 28,800 EUR from the Tartu Film Fund. The rest comes from private capital and is supported by Setu Culture Fund/Setu Kultuuri Fond, Postimees and Kopli Kinokompanii.

The film is produced by Kopli Kinokompanii. The distributors in Estonia are HeaFilm and Apollo Cinemas.

The Real Life of Johannes Pääsuke will premiere at the beginning of 2019.

Production information:

Kopli KinokompaniiKopli Kinokompanii
Producer: Anneli Ahven
Supported by Estonian Cultural Endowment, Tartu Film Fund, Setu Culture Fund, Postimees and Kopli Kinokompanii

Credits:
Director: Hardi Volmer
Scriptwriter: Olavi Ruitlane
DoP: Mait Mäekivi
Cast: Märt Avandi, Ott Sepp

Published in Estonia