2015 Baltic Film Series

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Published: October 22 2015

Kihnu Is One Of The World's Last Matriarchal Societies

Kihnu wedding.    Photo: puhkaeestis.ee

Travel to Kihnu, a small island off the coast of Estonia, and you’ll immediately notice that the island’s dirt roads, rock-strewn beaches, and tiny villages are bereft of men, writes Kirstin Fawcett in mentlfloss.com.

Its inhabitants are mostly middle-aged women; they zip across the island astride vintage motorcycles, clad in traditional woven skirts and head scarves.

Kihnu is one of the world’s last remaining matriarchal societies. Its economy is reliant on the island’s fishermen, who leave home for months at a time to sail the Baltic Sea. Their wives are left behind to work in the fields, raise the children, and essentially run the island.

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Published: October 22 2015

Five Estonians To Watch

Inspired by Skype, ambitious entrepreneurs have the confidence to believe their dreams can come true, writes Henry Muller in technologist.eu.

On the photo: Priit Potter, (age 34), Tallinn University of Technology, PLUMBR (2011), Funds raised €1,500,000, Employees 20

What Apple is to America, Skype is to Estonia – a symbol of the best in creative energy and entrepreneurial savvy.

The current cast of Estonian entrepreneurs includes a number of engineers who got their start at Skype, where they learned first-hand that an idea from a small country can go around the world if it is good enough and well executed.

“There’s no magic, nothing to be afraid of,” says Henn Ruukel, who worked at Skype for seven years before launching his own company. “You don’t have to be in Silicon Valley to build something global.”

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Published: October 22 2015

An International Counter-Terrorism Training ATHOS Held In Estonia

In the beginning of October, an international special intervention units anti-terrorism simulation ATHOS 2015 (Allied Terrorism Hindering Operation Simulation) was held in Southern Estonia to practice cooperation and exchange tactical experiences in solving a large-scale hostage crisis.

Estonian Minister of the Interior Hanno Pevkur said that international cooperation increases the capability of Estonia to react to terrorist threats at any moment.

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Published: October 13 2015

TransferWise Wins EY UK Entrepreneur Of The Year Award

Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus.   Photo by T.Blaat / delfi.ee

TransferWise co-founders, Taavet Hinrikus and Kristo Käärmann, have been named Ernst and Young UK Entrepreneurs of the Year 2015.

The award recognizes leaders of a young company that fit specific judging criteria: innovation, strategic direction, entrepreneurial vision, financial performance, passion and social impact.

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Published: October 13 2015

Lakewoodi Arhiivis käisid eesti külalised

Eesti Arhiiv Ühendriikides asub väikeses Lakewoodis New Jerseys, paari tunni kaugusel New Yorgi kesklinnast. Nii ei satu keegi me juurde juhuslikult.

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Published: August 24 2015

Estonia Launches Its First Russian-Language TV Channel

Broadcasting history was made on Monday, when ETV+, Estonian Public Broadcasting’s (ERR) first Russian-language TV-channel, finally launched.

Darja Saar, the editor-in-chief of the new channel – almost a year in the making - told ERR that ETV+’s program is set for now, but may see some adjustments later on, once the channel is more familiar with its audience and its expectations.

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Published: October 13 2015

Gigantic Megaphones Amplify Sounds Of Estonian Forests

Photos by Tõnu Tunnel

On September 18th, an installation of three gigantic wooden megaphones built by a team of Estonian Academy of Arts interior architecture students opened for all forest dwellers for resting, contemplation and above all – listening to the sounds of nature and forests around them.

According to interior architect Hannes Praks, who leads the Interior Architecture Department of the school that initiated the installation project, the three-metre diameter megaphones will operate as a “bandstand” for the forest around the installation, amplifying the sounds of nature.

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Published: October 07 2015