March 2–23, 2026 – bostonbalticfilm.org
The Boston Baltic Film Festival invites all film enthusiasts to join its virtual festival, running from March 2–23, 2026. This year's program features 19 films from the Baltic states, including seven Estonian films – all available to stream online across the United States and Canada. Every film comes with English subtitles, and many will be screened for North American audiences for the first time.
The virtual format makes the festival especially meaningful for Estonians and friends of Estonia living far from home, who rarely have the opportunity to experience contemporary and classic Estonian cinema. Tickets and festival passes are affordably priced at $10–$15 USD and are available at bostonbalticfilm.festivee.com.
Arvo Pärt– A Composer's Life in Three Films
On September 11, 2025, Arvo Pärt celebrated his 90th birthday, and the festival honors this milestone with The Arvo Pärt Trilogy. The special three documentaries – made in 1990, 2002, and 2015 – are all the work of director Dorian Supin, who explores Pärt's musical vision and creative philosophy, seeking to uncover the secret behind his music's profound emotional power. A trilogy ticket grants access to all three films along with bonus musical material – a true gift for any lover of Pärt's music.
Behind the Great Stages – A Portrait of Neeme Järvi
Music lovers will also enjoy the documentary Only Music Matters: Neeme Järvi [Muusika Üle Kõige: Neeme Järvi] (2023), which follows the legendary conductor to his homes in Estonia and Florida and onto Europe's greatest concert stages. The film is a warm and intimate portrait of a man who has carried the name of Estonian music around the world for decades.
Von Fock – Secrets of the Baltic German Nobility
One of the festival's most intriguing premieres is the historical detective series Von Fock (2025), set in the world of 19th-century Baltic German aristocracy. A blend of mystery, social tension, and period-authentic atmosphere offers a gripping glimpse into Estonia's past. Produced in collaboration with Latvia and Italy, the series marks the festival's first television serial – one ticket grants access to the first two seasons of eight episodes.
Stories of Young Women – Love and the Hardships of Life
Two feature films bring moving stories of young women to the screen. Aurora (2025) tells the story of a religious leader's daughter whose secret relationship puts both her life and her beliefs to the test. Caught between loyalty, love, and control, Aurora must decide whether to submit to the life scripted for her — or reclaim her own voice.
The restored classic Smile at Last [Naerata ometi] (1985) follows a teenage girl who – after losing her mother and with her father lost to alcoholism – ends up in a Soviet orphanage, a place ruled by harsh indifference and grim reality. Yet even there, she finds a little human warmth – friendship, a first love, and small moments that keep hope alive.
A Comic Road Trip and One Uncut Love
For a lighter change of pace, Swing, Axe and the Tree of Eternal Love[Kiik, Kirves ja Igavese Armastuse Puu] (2021) is a wonderfully comic road movie about a self-centered car mechanic and his friend who set off on a wild adventure to cut down a tree into which the mechanic once carved his ex-girlfriend's initials. Funny and thoroughly Estonian.
The Baltic University – 80 Years Later
The festival once again brings to the screen The Story of the Baltic University (2015), marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the acclaimed Baltic University, which operated in post-war Hamburg. To commemorate the occasion, a special screening will also take place in Tallinn at the Vabamu Museum on March 19, 2026.
In addition to Estonian films, the program also includes films from Latvia and Lithuania – more information can be found at bostonbalticfilm.org.
Whether you are discovering the Boston Baltic Film Festival for the first time or are already a returning visitor, the festival offers a rare opportunity to experience Baltic stories without leaving home. This boundary-crossing cultural event brings compelling stories, extraordinary music, and unforgettable characters – just one click away.
