The Boston Baltic Film Festival invites you to a special virtual film festival on March 2-23, 2026. The festival will present 26 films from the Baltic region, including seven Estonian productions, all of which will be available for streaming anywhere in the United States and Canada. Many of these films are available here for the very first time, and all have English subtitles.
This expanded digital access makes the festival especially meaningful for Estonians and friends of Estonia across North America, many of whom rarely have the opportunity to see contemporary and classic Estonian films. Tickets (passes), which range $10-15 can be purchased on the Boston Baltic Film Festival website: https://bostonbalticfilm.festivee.com/
A highlight of the festival are three documentaries of the life and music of Arvo Pärt, the world’s most-performed living composer. In The Arvo Pärt Trilogy, the filmmaker Dorian Supin explores Pärt’s musical thoughts and inner world, attempting to discover how Pärt conceives his music and the secret of what makes it so captivating.
The films, made in 1990, 2002 and 2015, offer not only an intimate look at the man behind the music and his creative process, but also a chronicle of his private and public life. The purchase of the Trilogy ticket provides access to all three films, plus special bonus material.
Also for music lovers is Only Music Matters: Neeme Järvi. The 2023 documentary traces Järvi’s illustrious international career as a conductor and features behind-the-scenes in Järvi’s homes in Estonia and Florida, and numerous European concerts.
In another exciting first, the festival is presenting Von Fock, an Estonian television detective series set in the 1800s, unfolding among the Baltic-Estonian aristocracy. The historical series blends mystery, social intrigue, and period detail, offering viewers a fascinating look at Estonia’s past. This marks the first time the festival has included a serialized Estonian television production, which was produced together with Latvian and Italian companies. The purchase of the Von Fock ticket provides access to all 8 episodes.
Aurora, released in 2025, and Smile at Last (Naerata Ometi) a 1985 classic recently restored, provide dramatic stories of young women faced with challenges and love interests. Aurora, a daughter of a religious leader, enters into a secret extramarital affair that challenges her life. Smile at Last, considered one of the first “perestroika films,” captures the story of a girl’s struggles with first love and bullying in an 1980’s orphanage.
Tree of Eternal Love (Kiik, kirves ja igavese armastuse puu) is a comedy-drama of a self-centered car mechanic and his friend who embark on a crazy journey to chop down a tree where he had carved his ex-girlfriend’s initials.
The return of The Story of the Baltic University to the Boston Baltic Film Festival is in honor of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the short-lived but acclaimed university in post-war Hamburg. On March 19, 2026, VABAMU in Tallinn is also commemorating the event with a special screening of this film.
Whether you are discovering Estonian film for the first time or reconnecting with a familiar heritage, this festival offers a rare opportunity to explore new voices and perspectives from the comfort of your own home. Also, do not forget to explore the rich variety of Latvian and Lithuanian films that are being offered. The Baltic countries consistently produce award-winning films that are recognized at international festivals around the world.
Join us online and be part of this cross-border cultural celebration — where powerful stories, remarkable music, and unforgettable characters are just a click away https://www.bostonbalticfilm.org/
Questions: [email protected]
Marilem Ferentinos
