Associate Professor of Film Directing Peeter Simm received the lifetime achievement award
This year, the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award to film director Peeter Simm, who is also an associate professor of film directing at Tallinn University's Institute of Baltic Film, Media and Arts.
Peeter Simm is one of the most important representatives of the new generation that came to Estonian cinema in the late 1970s, whose debut film "Ideal Landscape" is one of the best Estonian feature films of all time. During his career, Simm has directed a total of 11 feature films and seven short films.
His tragicomic works with a lyrical undertone often depict the collision of a young person with reality, the conflict between the individual and the norms imposed by society. They always radiate human warmth and life-affirmation regardless of the prevailing ideology. Several generations of children have grown up with his movie Arabella, The Pirate's Daughter.
In addition, Simm has directed 19 documentaries whose themes range from painful problems of society (children from orphanages and special schools) to portraits of cultural figures (Jaan Kross, Endel Pärn) and athletes (Erki Nool, August Englas, Indrek Pertelson) - most of them are priceless recordings of Estonian culture.
His films have been shown at many international festivals, where they have also been pioneering for Estonian film: "The Man Who Wasn't There" was our first feature film, which was selected for one of the world's most renowned festivals, the Cannes Festival (Quinzaine des Réalisateurs program) and "Good Hands" the first to participate in the Berlin Film Festival, also winning an award in the Panorama program. He is also a valued lecturer, the supervisor of BFM students' first film experiments.
“I have been very fortunate to make films with people who have committed and trusted me. I also want to thank everyone who has taught me - from the first class teacher to my master from film school, Aleksandr Stolper. Many thanks also to my current students, for whom it is not at all clear whether I have taught them or they have taught me," he said.
The laureate received the award at the PÖFF opening ceremony, which took place yesterday at the Alexela concert hall.
Congratulations from the university family!