EDEM KODJO TENGUE

Abstract

The Estonian film industry celebrated its 100 years of existence in 2012 since the Estonian filmmaker Johannes Pääsuke made his first film by recording the Russian aviator Sergei Utotschkin several rings flight over the town of Tartu. After him, several filmmakers followed, and the Estonian film industry was evolving but the second World War and the Soviet occupation that came after changed that dynamic even though a lot of movies were also produced during the Soviet era with many Estonian filmmakers getting their training from the Moscow and Leningrad theatre and film schools. The Soviet-era ended in 1991 and with that came a new beginning for the people of Estonia who have to reorganize their lives again (Kõrver, 2012). After the turn of the 21st century, especially in 2005 the Baltic Film, Media, Arts and Communication School was established.

This thesis “BFM as an instrument in developing national cinema. A case study.” is an attempt to do a historical reconstruction of the establishment of the Baltic Film, Media, Arts and Communication School (BFM) from its creation in 2005 till now. Its objective to focus on the reasons why BFM was established and if these have been achieved or are in the process of being achieved. Also, it brings forth the structures put in place by the school to give quality training to its students to be able to be competitive in the Estonian film industry and look at the curriculum that the teachers are following to teach the students.

The outcome of this thesis highlights the importance of a film school in strengthening the film industry of a country and provides the avenue for a renewal of generations of professional filmmakers to preserve national culture.