The collaboration between PÖFF and the Estonian Research Council (ETAG) began in 2016 with the launch of the Science Film Programme, which aims to bring audiences fascinating films about science and the future of our home planet. While discussions about science usually take place only after significant discoveries have been made, it is essential to also showcase and explain what goes on behind the scenes in science. How long does it take to get results and what is a scientist’s day like? For ETAG, it is important that PÖFF provides an opportunity to share direct and honest stories about the process of doing science with festival attendees.
Although Estonia is a small country, we are considered to be very successful in many areas – both in science and in the film industry. According to Anu Noorma, Director General of the Estonian Research Council, it is our people who make Estonia great, with their incredible determination in working towards their significant goals. Just as PÖFF’s consistent efforts in the field of film culture have earned it recognition as an A-category festival, the Estonian Research Council also supports scientists who have reached the top thanks to their continuous work.
When asked which vivid memory comes to mind about collaborating with PÖFF, Noorma recalls the documentary “Zero Gravity,” which was screened in the Science Film Programme in 2021, eliciting mixed feelings in her. “It was wonderful to see how, under the guidance of an enthusiastic teacher, middle school students created software for small 'satellites' located in the international space station. Above all, it showed that with effort, dedication and big dreams, anything is possible. At the same time, this film was overshadowed for me by our own Estonian space documentary “Instructions On How To Build A Spaceship”. The reason is likely that our ESTCube 1 was completely made ‘by our own hands’, flew in space, and sent signals back to us. That seems so much more exciting to me, but both films were undoubtedly inspiring,” says Anu Noorma.
We also inquired what film the Estonian Research Council would make about itself, and the answer was that ETAG’s story could belong to the magical realism genre. “Although the process of doing science can be very realistic, constant, and often monotonous work, the results we achieve lead us to outcomes that significantly expand our understanding of the world. In the past, some of this new knowledge could have been considered magical,” noted Noorma.
Why does ETAG support the cultural sector today?
Noorma emphasises the importance of a vibrant, evolving, and world-open Estonian culture, just like Estonian science. “By providing people with the opportunity to see how science is born through films and what its joys and sorrows are, we support both culture and science at the same time,” says Noorma.
Learn more about the Estonian Research Council here: https://etag.ee/en/