Basketball movie will go chasing the Oscars

In addition, the film «Sierra», written and directed by Sander Joone, will be competing for one of the most prestigious awards in the film world in the category of short animation.

An independent commission chose the winner from 11 candidates, among which were both feature films and documentaries. The jury included film journalist Tõnu Karjatse, multiple domestic and foreign award-winning film artist Eugen Tamberg, cinema program editor Tõnis Lõhmus, film distributor Kaupo Liiv, film critic and head of the Pimedate Ööde Film Festival Tiina Lokk and film journalist Johannes Lõhmus.

According to jury: through the story of Kalev's basketball team's victory in 1991, the director deals with topics that are still important today: the right to national self-determination, national pride, opposition to the imperialist worldview, and finally the idea of ​​sports as a universal, transcending political paradigm. As a team film, «Kalev» looks at the formation of a team and the role of an individual in this process.

"Kalev" received four votes from the jury. The second-placed film, which received three votes, was the family thriller "The Upside Down Tower" directed by Jaak Kilmi.

"Kalev" premiered last week and can now be seen in cinemas across Estonia. 

It’s the summer of 1990. The Soviet Union is teetering on the verge of collapse, while the little Baltic nations struggle to take back their lost independence. The Soviet Union`s basketball championship is set to begin on the backdrop of a deeply divided society. The Estonian team Kalev faces a momentous decision. With Estonian independence seemingly within reach, a rising tide of public opinion opposes the Estonian national team’s participation in the USSR’s championship. That would contradict the people’s aspirations for liberation. As professional athletes, the team makes the unpopular choice.