President Alar Karis awarded the Order of the White Star, Class V, to PÖFF’s Executive Director and long-time head of Just Film, Mikk Granström, in recognition of his contribution to the development of film culture in Estonia.

Granström said he was deeply moved by the honour, noting that for the past 25 years he has lived for the film festival with the aim of bringing young audiences to cinemas, introducing them to the world cinema, and encouraging them to make films themselves.

While Granström has handed over leadership of Just Film to a new generation, in the hands of Jan Joonas Pevkur, he continues as Executive Director of PÖFF and remains actively involved in film education, which he considers one of his core missions.