Mae Productions Inc and the Estonian Studies Centre Toronto, are pleased to announce as their gift to Estonia 100 / Eesti 100, their co-produced short film “Lipu heiskamine / Raising the Flag”.
We are offering Estonia, its consulates, Estonian houses, Estonian schools and Estonian and Baltic organizations worldwide, a free public screening of the documentary film “Lipu heiskamine / Raising the Flag” for screening on Estonian Independence Day, or for screening on any event in commemoration of Estonia 100 / EV 100 or other Baltic countries events taking place during 2018. Organizations are invited to contact Mae Productions at: https://www.insearchofourfathers.com/first-gift-to-estonia-100
This is the first short film in “In Search of Our Fathers: Baltics” project, the first phase of which focuses on the war years in Estonia and the Baltics. This 14.5 minute documentary film has been recognized (2017 Canada Shorts Film Festival Award of Distinction, Accolade Global Film Competition 2017 Award of Merit and is a semi-finalist in Los Angeles CineFest). The film is in Estonian with English subtitles.
“Lipu heiskamine / Raising the Flag” is narrated by Fred Ise, who recounts events on the early morning of August 28, 1941, when a group of patriotic youth raise the Estonian flag, as the Soviet army retreats and the German army advances into Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Five hours of “freedom” in the midst of a battle between two competing occupying powers is relived as a story about young people’s resilience in the midst of war. An Estonian flag is raised at the tower of Pikk Hermann, symbolically declaring Estonia’s independence, if even for a moment.
Look for an announcement later in the year for a free public viewing of this important short film as an additional gift to the celebration of Estonia 100.
Tom Mae with his sister Reet Mae, are recipients of the 2017 Estonian Citizen’s Day certificates of honour awarded to “People’s Diplomats” for those who have contributed to introducing the Estonian people, language and culture worldwide. They accept this on behalf of all those who shared their stories for the new “In Search Of Our Fathers: Baltics” project and the previous film “Vabaduse mustrid / Patterns of Freedom”.
Donations are needed to help continue their work of filming/ editing and compiling these important pieces of Estonia’s living history. The first phase of this project will focus on creating 6 short films of stories from the WWII years.
Please support this (these) project(s) and the Estonian Studies Centre. A tax receipt (Canadian) will be issued for your donation. For more information about a taxdeductible donation please contact [email protected]a or call 416-925-9405.
Additionally, a crowd-fundraising page seeking seed funding from the community to form the basis for a larger grant application for the end of January 2018 has been set up https://www.gofundme.com/in-search-of-our-fathers-baltics
If you wish to make a donation, have stories to share, can connect us to those willing to share their stories, or help in other ways with this project, please contact us at [email protected]. Your contribution will ensure that this project will succeed and that Estonian / Baltic stories are made known to the world. “In Search Of Our Fathers: Baltics” project is a co-production with the Estonian Studies Centre, Toronto whose mission is to preserve the history, language and culture of Estonians, particularly in Canada.
Mae Productions Inc. is a boutique family-owned company in the Beaches neighbourhood of Toronto that has been providing digital-media services to corporate and private clients for decades. Their innovative iPad/iPod touchbased Audience Response System was developed for SNAP® for Youth Justice program and is in piloting across Ontario.
Contact: Tom Mae, Mae Productions Inc.
Cell: 647-267-2401
