Welcome to MIAF’s first annual Studio Focus. This
is the chance to drop in and visit a single studio that
is doing great work. This year, MIAF was beguiled by the
recent work of Estonia’s puppetfilm studio ‘Nukufilm’
when we visited them earlier in the year. The deal was seeled
amongst cramped workshops filled to brim with puppets (and
bits of puppets).
Nukufilm is without doubt one of the finest puppet film
studios in the world – and has been virtually since
it was established almost 50 years ago. Their work is unique
and reflects the equally unique nature of Estonia and its
culture – a culture affected by the myriad paradoxes
of long term, but arms length, Soviet rule. This classic
puppet and set design aesthetic weaves and intertwines completely
with the open hearted, avante garde flavoured irony and
neck-deep surrealist humour which is the hallmark of Estonian
animation.
This fine, fine collection of Nukufilm’s most recent
releases (including one we programmed on-site while watching
a not-quite-finished rough cut over the shoulder of the
director) shows the studio is still doing what it has always
done best.
The Pearlman
Rao Heidmets, 2006 > 12’00
An intricately textured pearl-puppet character emabrks on an
ultimately fruitless endeavour to protect his nation’s
indigenous culture.
Brothers Bearhearts
Riho Unt, 2005 > 18’00
A many layered tale of three orphaned bear cubs who travel back
to Russia disguised as circus lions after their initial attempt
to live in Paris as artists fails.
The Institute
Of Dreams
Mati Kutt, 2006 > 10’00
An utterly entrancing, silkily surrealist flying carpet ride
of a film featuring a squadron of flying dreaming Dali sandmen,
an armed bunny and mysterious footprints in the sand.
Gene+Ratio
Mait Laas, 2005 > 12’00
A personal film of an intensely abstract nature designed to
spark each viewer’s imagination and ability to form their
own response.
The Table
Jelena Girlin & Mari-Liis Bassovskaja, 2004 >
20’00
An ethereal tour de force which uses a kind of elegant beauty
to depict a surprisingly dark side of femininity.
Admission is restricted to 18+
IMPORTANT: Film classification regulations do not allow
us to admit any person under the age of 18 years EXCEPT
to the Kids Animation 1 & Kids
Animation 2.
