Õudne Eesti: fresh Estonian short films

Festival
HÕFF 2025
Programme
HÕFF’s Estonian Genre Film Competition

Estonian fantasies. The best fantasy shorts by amazing young filmmakers. The participants of the Best Estonian Genre Film Competition.

Films

Broadcast Error

Local title
Eetri defekt
Director
Rasmus Jan Karus
Country
Estonia
Year
2025
Festival
HÕFF 2025
Programme
HÕFF’s Estonian Genre Film Competition
Genre
horror
Subject
mysticism

On a windy winter's evening, a small farmhouse stands in the middle of a field, where a small child is watching cartoons on the TV in his armchair. Behind him, his grandmother is in the kitchen doing her chores. The child's cartoons are interrupted by a nationwide announcement warning the nation of something big about to happen. Startled, the child asks his grandmother what is happening to the TV, but by then it is too late.

Director
Rasmus Jan Karus
Screenwriter
Rasmus Jan Karus
Cast
Robert Aron Lotman, Mari-Ann Valk
Producer
Rasmus Jan Karus
Cinematographer
Rasmus Jan Karus, Jaan Joonatan Pruuli
Editing
Rasmus Jan Karus
Runtime
0h 6m
Language
Estonian
Subtitles
no dialogue

World premiere

How Much For This

Local title
Augusti karjäär
Original title
Augusti karjäär
Director
Johanna Viskar
Country
Estonia
Year
2024
Festival
HÕFF 2025, PÖFF Shorts 2024
Programme
Shorts National Competition, HÕFF’s Estonian Genre Film Competition

August spends his days walking around the beach looking for customers. He drags his cart full of random stuff along the beach sand and tries to sell people what he thinks they might need.
However, a competitor appears in August's territory. And the competitor's business seems to be doing much better. Then the paths of August and the mysterious competitor cross.

Director
Johanna Viskar
Runtime
0h 18m
Language
Estonian
Subtitles
English

The Night of Purple Horrors

Local title
Lillade õuduste öö
Director
Kadri Nikopensius
Country
Estonia
Year
2024
Festival
HÕFF 2025
Programme
HÕFF’s Estonian Genre Film Competition
Genre
comedy, musical film
Subject
society, dance, LGBTQ, lifestyle, humour

Ann discovers an old newspaper article that takes her to the captivating queer nightlife of 1930s Estonia. Amidst a lively dance party, Ann befriends prominent figures of the era, who invite her to a queer wedding, disrupted by felonious homophobes.

Director
Kadri Nikopensius
Screenwriter
Kadri Nikopensius, Rebeka Põldsam, Aet Kuusik
Cast
Ann Vaida, Anette Mäletjärv, Kaisa Ling, Heinrich Sepp, Hanna Kannelmäe, Elina Masing, Elina Ojasaar, Eveli Ojasaar, Johhan Rosenberg, Siim Tõniste
Producer
Kadri Nikopensius, Rebeka Põldsam
Cinematographer
Freddy-Alder Saunanen
Production
Film Resort
Runtime
0h 15m
Language
Estonian
Subtitles
English

Baltic premiere

Come Sit With Us

Local title
Ära ole uhke
Original title
Ära ole uhke
Director
Elis Rumma
Country
Estonia
Year
2024
Festival
HÕFF 2025, PÖFF Shorts 2024
Programme
HÕFF’s Estonian Genre Film Competition, Shorts National Competition

Lola ends up sitting on a bench with local women on Midsummer Eve. At first, all women's troubles are alien to her, but as the evening progresses, she begins to question her current perspectives, and as a result of the long benching, she grows up with the country women in her own way.

Director
Elis Rumma
Runtime
0h 15m
Language
Estonian
Subtitles
English

The Innkeeper's Nightmare

Local title
Verine väits
Director
Rauno Laikjõe
Country
Estonia
Year
2025
Festival
HÕFF 2025
Programme
HÕFF’s Estonian Genre Film Competition
Genre
adaptation, horror
Subject
death, mysticism

A stranger carrying the face of the past steps into the innkeeper's world, and his presence threatens to lift the curtain between reality and nightmare.

Director
Rauno Laikjõe
Screenwriter
Erik Aart
Cast
Argo Aadli, Jaanus Saago
Producer
Susanna Räim
Cinematographer
Jaan Vanaaseme
Production Design
Maria Baidak
Editing
Laura Tiidrus
Sound
Villem R. Eplik
Runtime
0h 17m
Language
Estonian
Subtitles
English
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