Mark Soosaar and
Lennart Meri
opening the first festival,
October 1987.

Lennart Meri,
the head of the jury,
making the main award
to Asen Balikci for
his Winter in Ice Camp.

Pärnu International Documentary and Anthropology Film Festival renamed to Pärnu International Documentary and Science Film Festival in 2019, festival also known as Pärnu Film Festival.

Born from Lennart Meri’s idea in 1987 the Pärnu International Documentary and Science Film Festival is the oldest of its kind in the Baltic countries and is about to happen for the 34th time in 2020.

One of the main themes of the festival has always been the survival of indigenous peoples and their cultures. But the screening program also includes social interpretations of contemporary society, portraits of interesting people and human relations as well as films on music and art.
Children and youth have always been included, both at workshops and watching the competition program of children and youth films.

Main subjects of the festival are: Human Interest, Social Issues, Art, Music, Culture, Survival of Indigenous Cultures, Docs for Kids, Author's POV.

Since 1999, a separate competition has been held for films, that will be broadcast in Estonian Television (Estonian People's Award). Next to awards given by the jury there is always the program on TV for the people to vote. In cooperation with the Estonian Television we show absorbing and deep docs to the whole of Estonia, give votes and choose the best film worth the Estonian People’s award. The beautiful blanket of West Estonian pattern will be won by the film maker whose work will get the greatest number of votes.

XXXIV Pärnu Film Festival
July 13 - 19, 2020 in Pärnu
July 20 - 26, 2020 travelling program all over Estonia:
the Pärnu County, Viljandi, Heimtali, Elva, Urvaste etc.

The festival office is located at
The Museum of New Art
Esplanaadi 10, Pärnu, 80010

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https://www.facebook.com/ParnuFF