Competition Programme  

Estonia has never had its own circus. In the 21st century, a time when circuses everywhere look for their place and identity and when the role of circus animals is being questioned, an untiring businessman Lauri Viikna lives in his own circus dream world. His wish is to finally establish a national circus in Estonia. A few years ago, some animal rights activists formed a group to fight against the treatment of animals in circuses. The activists follow the circus tour around and organise protests, inciting people to boycott the circus. Physical opposition may find resolution, but how do you resolve irreconcilable differences in worldviews? We follow both the charismatic circus director Lauri Viikna and the protests of the animal rights activists. But, in the end, the Hand of God has its say.

Jaak Kilmi

He was born in 1973 in Estonia. He graduated from the Department of Culture of Tallinn Pedagogical University, where he majored in directing. He has directed and produced a string of award-winning short films, a number of documentary films and two feature films, with one of them receiving a Film of the Year award. His films have received international recognition and have often been broadcasted abroad. He has made commercials for Baltic TV and is the author of critical essays on books and film. He has been a member of the Estonian Association of Film Journalists (the Estonian branch of FIPRESCI) since 1995. He is well-known for his socio-critical feature films and documentary films that deal with the Soviet era and its repercussions on life in Estonia today.

Selected Filmography

Disco and Atomic War / Disko ja tuumasõda (2009)
The Art of Selling / Müümise kunst (2006)
Elusive Miracle / Tabamata ime (2006)
Revolution of Pigs / Sigade revolutsioon (2004)
Beauty of the Fatherland / Krása vlasti (2001)

Andres Maimik

He was born in 1970, Estonia. Maimik studied at Tartu Arts School and Estonian Humanities Institute, he graduated from Tallinn Pedagogical University, majoring in Audiovisual Arts. He has worked as a journalist, editor and scriptwriter.  In 1999 he was named the best film critic in Estonia. He has written screenplays for the famous TV series - Parni Vikmana and Prizrak, and is the author of numerous commercials and over 20 shorts.  Andres Maimik works as a director at Esto TV.

Selected Filmography

Kuku: I Will Survive / Kuku: mina jään ellu (2011)
186 Kilometres / Jan Uuspõld läheb Tartusse (2007)
The Art of Selling/ Müümise kunst (2006)