Curated together with the Estonian Film Institute, this special online Culture Night presentation celebrates the richness of Estonian short filmmaking through two programmes. Together, these programmes offer audiences of all ages a unique opportunity to discover Estonia's rich cinematic heritage through compelling documentary storytelling and charming family-friendly films. All films are FREE but ticketed and available to watch nationwide from 5pm on Friday 18th September to 11.59pm on Sunday 20th September. TALLIN TIME CAPSULE:A 90-minute programme of gorgeous documentary shorts from Estonia, presented in chronological order from 1968 and 1985. A fascinating journey through the country's history, culture and changing society, via daily scenes that feel strikingly universal. A selection of Estonian documentaries from the Tallinnfilm era, capturing everyday life and the people of their time with remarkable curiosity and observation. Several of these films were groundbreaking in their approach, helping to shape the language of Estonian documentary cinema and paving the way for future generations of filmmakers. 511 BEST PHOTOS OF MARS (511 PAREMAT FOTOT MARSIST)Andres Sööt | 1968 | 15 minsA selection of various guest types in cafes and night clubs in late 1960s. WOMEN TODAY (NAINE TÄNA)Reet Kasesalu | 1974 | 22 minsA documentary about a woman and her role in society in the 1970s. ON THE WAY (TEEL)Valeria Anderson | 1977 | 21 minsA meditative film about the path of life, the change of generations and vital values, which unfolds by observing train passengers. STREET 79 (TÄNAV 79)Heli Speek | 1979 | 10 minsA hidden camera observes city life in summer and people in the urban environment. URBAN ANIMAL (LINNALOOM)Peeter Tooming | 1981 | 11 minsDocumentary by Peeter Tooming about animal love of a urban resident and keeping animals in urban conditions. THE NEXT PICK (JÄRGMINE LOOSIMINE)Peeter Simm | 1983 | 11 minsIt is a special day in an orphanage today. Its boys and girls put on beautiful national costumes in order to take part in the ceremony of lottery winners. LASNAMÄEMark Soosaar | 1985 | 11 minsAccompanied by the phone conversation between Mark Soosaar and architect Malle Meelak there are views of the new district Lasnamäe, Tallinn. <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/1d68ff80289b498d773afc178b5b084c.jpg" width="203">

Culture Night 2026: Tallinn Time Capsule

A 90-minute programme of gorgeous documentary shorts from Estonia, presented in chronological order from 1968 and 1985. A fascinating journey through the country's history, culture and changing society, via daily scenes that feel strikingly universal.

A selection of types of cafe and "nightclub" visitors from the late 1960s, where old ladies have not yet completely forgotten the bourgeois manners of the Republic of Estonia and Soviet youth cannot have a drink in a restaurant without a tie. Visitors to Tallinn cafes Pärl and Moskva in their time. The film is also unique due to its strangely sovereign soundtrack, which looks at everyday bustle from the heights of melancholic poetry and cold star science. Artur Alliksaar's poetry is performed by the voice-over of Aarne Üksküla.

English

511 Best Photos of Mars (511 Paremat Fotot Marsist)

The film's author tries to make sense of the role of women in society in 1970s Estonia. The activities of men and women in different areas of life are compared, and the focus is on women as mothers, caregivers and workers, as well as women's aspirations for beauty and goodness. The situation is commented on by Deputy Minister of Light Industry Jüri Kraft, psychologist Ilmar Ebber and social scientist Klara Hallik.

Woman Today (Naine täna)

A documentary about a woman and her role in society in 1970s.

A lyrical reportage about passengers on a Tallinn commuter train. A reflective film about the journey of life, the change of generations and vital values, which is born by observing train passengers. Director Valeria Anderson continues the creative search that she began in the film “Tartu – Spring 1974”, finding that alongside synchronous, socially problematic film journalism, it is also necessary to develop a poetic film language. The spring landscape, buildings and slogans that open from the train window mix associatively with what is happening in the carriage. The music by Tõnu Naissoo in the film has lyrics by Paul-Eerik Rummo, sung by Urmas Alender.

On the Way (Teel)

A meditative film about the path of life, the change of generations and vital values, which unfolds by observing train passengers.

Snapshots of city life and the people inside. A hidden camera monitors summer city life and noise and people in the urban environment.

Street 79 (Tänav 79)

A hidden camera observes city life in summer and people in the urban environment.

Animals are here to stay in the city, people need a piece of living nature close to them, and for this, houseplants are not enough - they need a living creature. But where to get them? Of course, the easiest way would be to go to a pet store and buy there as prescribed, but unfortunately you will not find a dog or a cat in this store, and you still have to illegally purchase your animal at the market gate. But what happens to these animals after the purchase? How does the life of domestic animals proceed under the control of humans?

Urban Animal (Linnaloom)

Today is a special day at the orphanage. Girls and boys get to wear beautiful national costumes to participate in the lottery draw. Children who have not had much luck in life from the lottery wheel take out the winnings of the national lottery from the lucky wheel – luck for others: ten rubles, a transistor radio, a Zhiguli car… That night, the children of the orphanage fall asleep happily. After all, they have had the opportunity to touch happiness. Peeter Simm's documentary short story about the everyday lottery of life in the Estonian SSR of the early 80s.

The Next Pick (Järgmine Loosimine)

Mark Soosaare and architect Malle Meelak are talking on the phone, and the background is a scene from the new Tallinn district of Lasnamäe. Malle Meelak, the chief architect of the panel housing project, talks frankly to Soosaare about the difficulties and problems associated with building the district, and the virtues and shortcomings of the metropolitan sleeping area. Meelak believes that in fifteen years, Lasnamäe could be human-friendly.

Lasnamäe

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