Heilika Pikkov's and Riho Västrik’s Documentaries Screened at Film Festivals in India and the Netherlands

The documentary film “My Family and Other Clowns”, directed by documentary film guest lecturer Heilika Pikkov (2025, co-directed by Liina Särkinen), was screened at the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF). Held from 29 October to 1 November, the festival hosted the film’s Asian premiere. During the festival, Pikkov also met with the Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.

Taking place for the 15th time this year, DIFF is an international film festival in the Himalayan region that focuses primarily on independent auteur cinema and provides an important platform for emerging Indian filmmakers. Only ten documentaries made outside India were selected for the festival programme. Pikkov also participated in the panel discussion Raiding the Archives: The Personal is Political, which explored the use of personal and family archives to tell intimate yet politically resonant stories, as well as the ethics of self-representation.

Documentary film professor Riho Västrik participated in the Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands, held from 2 to 8 November, with his film “Notes from the Woods” (2025).

“Our film was screened to a full house,” said Västrik. “There were six other screenings taking place at the same time. People clearly love nature films - this was also evident from the Q&A session.”

The documentary, which explores the lives of Estonia’s wild animals, was screened three times as part of the festival programme. The festival brought together dozens of wildlife filmmakers from around the world, creating opportunities for professional meetings and the exchange of experiences.

Heilika Pikkov at Dharamshala International Film Festival.