Oscar-winning “Flow” by Latvia’s Gints Zilbalodis brought Baltic animation to new heights. Now, local creators are figuring out how to benefit from the aftermath of its success.
“Sometimes, big fate blesses small culture. But whether a single achievement can be used to make conclusions about the entire field, that will only become clear over time,” says Peep Pedmanson, Estonian Film Institute Animation Film Commissioner.
“There’re those who follow trends and those who create them. Estonian animation belongs to the latter. When it emerged within the Soviet Union, it immediately moved away from the mainstream. The creators were too individualistic.” And yet, there’s been something uniting them: a style that treats the audience “not as a passive object, but as an equal partner.”
“There’s that special ‘something,’ which seeps into us along with the mist of our forests and bogs. The Baltic countries are small, and Estonia is the smallest among them.
“Sometimes, big fate blesses small culture. But whether a single achievement can be used to make conclusions about the entire field, that will only become clear over time,” says Peep Pedmanson, Estonian Film Institute Animation Film Commissioner.
“There’re those who follow trends and those who create them. Estonian animation belongs to the latter. When it emerged within the Soviet Union, it immediately moved away from the mainstream. The creators were too individualistic.” And yet, there’s been something uniting them: a style that treats the audience “not as a passive object, but as an equal partner.”
“There’s that special ‘something,’ which seeps into us along with the mist of our forests and bogs. The Baltic countries are small, and Estonia is the smallest among them.
- 6/10/2025
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.