Country Demographics for Estonia('EE')

Film Commissions

(Estonia has no film commission. For information contact the Estonian Film Foundation)
Tel: 6 27 60 60 Fax: 6 27 60 61
E-mail: film@efsa.ee
Website: www.efsa.ee
Information Manager: Eda Koppel

Introduction
Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, boasts some of the best-preserved medieval city centres north of Carcassonne, France. Built in the 14th-16th century, Tallinn is an unspoiled pearl of Gothic architecture ideal for historical shoots. Finely preserved quarters of wooden architecture, railway stations and spas from the 19th and 20th century offer an authentic backdrop for period shoots. Scattered all across the country, many of the 100+ country manors once owned by the local aristocracy are fully restored and open for the public and film crews. Seven hundred years of German, Swedish, Danish and Russian rule have left Estonia with a fine collection of castles, fortifications, churches and monasteries faithfully preserving their spellbinding milieu. With over 1,000 islands and bounded on two sides by the Baltic Sea, Estonia’s jagged shoreline offers widely diverse natural locations. Nearly half of Estonia’s mainland is covered by forests with some of Europe’s most untouched wildlife scenery. Put to memorable use in Andrei Tarkovski’s “Stalker”, the remains of Soviet-era industrial plants stand in their ghostly isolation. Estonia is criss-crossed by a web of tracks and railway stations.

Permits/visas
The necessity for film permits depends on the location. It is advisable to contact individual Estonian production companies (see www.filmestonia.ee ) or the Estonian Film Foundation (see www.efsa.ee). Citizens of EU member countries enjoy free and unhindered passage to Estonia without the need for visas. In addition, for purposes of a short sojourn, citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, Salvador, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, USA, Uruguay and Venezuela do not require a visa. Updates of conditions for entry applicable to citizens of all countries can be checked at www.vm.ee. A travel visa entitles the bearer to stay for a short time within Estonia as a tourist or, as a business traveller, for a total duration of no more than three months within a half-year. All questions concerning visas and work permits can be obtained from Estonian foreign representations (see www.pv.ee and www.ma.ee). There is no restriction on the movement of personnel and goods within the European Union for EU citizens. Equipment and corresponding items must be declared by non-EU citizens at the border when entering the country pending regulations. For details refer to the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (see www.emta.ee). Within the framework of EU free movement, citizens enjoy free and unhindered passage in the country and thus are, in general, entitled to work in a non-self-employed capacity, as long as they are in possession of a valid travel document. According to Estonian law, non-EU citizens wishing to engage in non-self-employed work for gain in Estonia generally require either a work authorisation or work permit. Work permits are issued by the Estonian Citizenship & Migration Board (see www.mig.ee and www.vm.ee).

Recent productions
Lilja 4-Ever, Jade Warrior (Finland/China/Estonia/Netherlands, 2006), Man Exposed (Finland, 2006), The Visitor (Finland/UK/Germany/Estonia, 2008).

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