18/02/2009 - Contrary to expectations, the Estonian road movie 186 kilometers directed by Rain Tolk and Andres Maimik became the country’s biggest box-office hit in 2007 beating the US blockbuster Spiderman III. This achievement is remarkable considering Estonia’s financial situation which can support only 4-6 local films per year and the domination of the US films in Estonia.

Irreverent punk Estonian TV comics Rain Tolk and Andres Maimik received financial support from the Estonian Film Foundation to direct and produce the comedy/road movie, 186 Kilometres. Against all expectations, the film went on to become the biggest Estonian success in the country's cinemas in 2007, out-grossing US blockbuster Spiderman III.
There are cases, and Estonia is definitely one of them, when developing a national cinema has to be the overriding priority for nurturing cultural diversity and fostering intercultural dialogue. Estonia, a country of 1.5 million inhabitants sandwiched between large neighbours and submitted to a Hollywood onslaught, manages to do just that. The Estonian Film Foundation has the capacity to support just four to six local films each year, but the talent of people like Rain and Andres ensures that, from time to time, Estonian people may enjoy their own culture reflected back at themselves in the cinemas, helping bolster Estonian audiences own identity. Looking at the place of cinema in the Intercultural dialogue, we have found that sometimes, cultural diversity has to start at home.
Read the 186 Kilometres case study

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