Known for his unique cinematic vision, at the intersection of magical realism, Baltic folklore, and visual experimentation, Rainer Sarnet is one of the most interesting voices in contemporary Eastern European cinema. On the occasion of the extensive focus dedicated to Estonia, TIFF.24 offers a comprehensive portrait of him in the 3x3 section, giving the audience the rare opportunity to explore the universe of a filmmaker who defies conventional cinema and classic cinematic languages.
The Idiot (2011) is a contemporary and personal reinterpretation of Dostoevsky's famous novel of the same name, November (2017) takes the audience through Estonia's snow-covered forests in a terrifying fairy tale filmed in hypnotic black and white, while The Invisible Fight (2023) combines death metal music with martial arts in a deliciously dubious story about a border guard between the Soviet Union and China who seeks enlightenment.
Rainer Sarnet’s films at TIFF are part of the Focus Estonia program, made possible with the support of the Embassy of Estonia in Romania and the Estonian Film Institute.