As a shy kid, I wasn’t usually the one to be picked first for team sports or activities at school. I knew I had value but didn’t know how to articulate it. I remember too, that when others were being left out, I was compelled to do my best to make them feel included. I also felt that there was something very Estonian in wanting to do so – with Estonia being a small country that has often been pushed around, having to be scrappy about carving a seat at the table for itself. What’s always been important to me is to give room for others to bring their best game, to give others the opportunity to grow, and to shine – that excites me to no end.
Like much in life, I nurtured the beginnings of EstDocs while not knowing if anything much would come of it. I remember the phone call from Aarne Vahtra, a talented, thought-provoking artist I admired. I was standing in my kitchen holding the receiver of the phone hanging from the wall, with Aarne on the other end, back in early 2005. Aarne was telling me about a film critic, Olev Remsu, who taught film in Estonia, that he had a suitcase full of films he wanted to show in Canada, and would I take this on? I don’t remember the rest of the conversation, but I remember the wheels turning in my head, I was thinking about the possibilities.
We were pleasantly surprised that the event had legs, people came, and they wanted more. It was a no-brainer, there would be another festival the next year with all those who had pitched in for the first one willing organizers for the next year.
I did blow too much money on catering, which resulted in the first EstDocs ending up in the hole. I remember having to explain this to the funders at Tartu College but remedied this for the second year of EstDocs.
Ellen Valter joined the EstDocs team for the second year and was an immense boon. By the third year I had exhausted my reign and though Ellen was apprehensive at first, I invited her to lead EstDocs. I’m glad I did, since she took it to dizzying new heights during her six years as lead, expanding its reach in Estonia and to the Canadian public, and adding the ever-fun step-and-repeat photo taking opportunity for the EstDocs public.
In the 15th year of EstDocs, the organizers were willing to continue, so I stepped in as director of the festival. The following years were unprecedented. Unbeknownst to all the world, a pandemic was unfurling, which shut down events worldwide for a good part of the following two and a half years. At that point, EstDocs organizers had run out of steam.
And we come to today. Until the day when someone picks up the baton again to direct EstDocs, the brand will remain within the safe harbour of the Estonian Museum Canada (EMC), the new English name for VEMU.
EstDocs captured the vision of Estonians, not only in Canada and Estonia, but around the world. Film entries for the EstDocs Short Film Competition (which ran for 11 years within EstDocs) came from many different countries and for most of these years was directed by Tauno Mölder.
A digital archive of EstDocs festivals has been compiled and given to the EMC.
The task of thanking people who helped grow EstDocs through the years is a bit daunting in that there is always the chance of leaving some of the many names out. So many people gave of themselves selflessly and willingly. A public thank you with names will appear in the Canadian Estonian media in the following weeks.