The Estonian Film Institute has chosen Meel Paliale’s youth-centered comedy-drama “Rolling Papers” (Pikad Paberid) as its official submission for the 98th Academy Awards in the best international feature film category.
The film is directed and written by Paliale, based on a story created with Urmet Piiling.
“Rolling Papers” follows Sebastian, who works as a store clerk. He finds his ordinary workday shaken up when he meets Silo, a free-spirited wanderer. Together, they smoke weed and dream of a one-way ticket to Brazil.
“This is a film about young people who don’t know what to do with their lives,” Paliale said.
“Drawing on his own experiences and conversations with peers, Paliale has crafted a story rooted in authentic dialogue and real-life situations, offering a raw and realistic portrait of today’s youth,” said a statement from the producers.
The film premiered in the Just Film section of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF)
Premiering within the International Youth Competition section at PÖFF — where it won the Audience Award. “Audiences were drawn to its portrayal of contemporary youth, rooted in realism and buoyed by a yearning for purpose,” the statement said.
“Rolling Papers” was also honored as Film of the Year 2024 by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, “a testament to its impact and resonance within local film circles.”
About the Film
Title (Estonian/English): Pikad paberid (Rolling Papers)
Genre: Youth comedy-drama exploring friendship, coming-of-age and defiance of societal norms
Runtime: 98 minutes
Key Cast: Mihkel Kuusk, Karl Birnbaum, Maria Helena Seppik, Edgar Vunš, Juhan Soon
Creative Team: Directed and written by Meel Paliale (story with Urmet Piiling); cinematography by Markus Mikk; production design by Jasmin Kulagina; sound by Joonas Taimla
Producers: Rain Rannu, Tõnu Hiielaid (Tallifornia)
Producers' Note: Film is produced by Tallifornia, a leading Estonian indie production company founded by Rain Rannu and Tõnu Hiielaid, that focuses on fun and author-driven feature films for a global audience.
Read in Variety: https://variety.com/2025/film/global/estonia-rolling-papers-oscar-submission-1236508473/
The Estonian Film Institute has chosen Meel Paliale’s youth-centered comedy-drama “Rolling Papers” (Pikad Paberid) as its official submission for the 98th Academy Awards in the best international feature film category.
The film is directed and written by Paliale, based on a story created with Urmet Piiling.
“Rolling Papers” follows Sebastian, who works as a store clerk. He finds his ordinary workday shaken up when he meets Silo, a free-spirited wanderer. Together, they smoke weed and dream of a one-way ticket to Brazil.
“This is a film about young people who don’t know what to do with their lives,” Paliale said.
“Drawing on his own experiences and conversations with peers, Paliale has crafted a story rooted in authentic dialogue and real-life situations, offering a raw and realistic portrait of today’s youth,” said a statement from the producers.
The film premiered in the Just Film section of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF)
Premiering within the International Youth Competition section at PÖFF — where it won the Audience Award. “Audiences were drawn to its portrayal of contemporary youth, rooted in realism and buoyed by a yearning for purpose,” the statement said.
“Rolling Papers” was also honored as Film of the Year 2024 by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, “a testament to its impact and resonance within local film circles.”
About the Film
Title (Estonian/English): Pikad paberid (Rolling Papers)
Genre: Youth comedy-drama exploring friendship, coming-of-age and defiance of societal norms
Runtime: 98 minutes
Key Cast: Mihkel Kuusk, Karl Birnbaum, Maria Helena Seppik, Edgar Vunš, Juhan Soon
Creative Team: Directed and written by Meel Paliale (story with Urmet Piiling); cinematography by Markus Mikk; production design by Jasmin Kulagina; sound by Joonas Taimla
Producers: Rain Rannu, Tõnu Hiielaid (Tallifornia)
Producers' Note: Film is produced by Tallifornia, a leading Estonian indie production company founded by Rain Rannu and Tõnu Hiielaid, that focuses on fun and author-driven feature films for a global audience.
Read in Variety: https://variety.com/2025/film/global/estonia-rolling-papers-oscar-submission-1236508473/
The Estonian Film Institute has chosen Meel Paliale’s youth-centered comedy-drama “Rolling Papers” (Pikad Paberid) as its official submission for the 98th Academy Awards in the best international feature film category.
The film is directed and written by Paliale, based on a story created with Urmet Piiling.
“Rolling Papers” follows Sebastian, who works as a store clerk. He finds his ordinary workday shaken up when he meets Silo, a free-spirited wanderer. Together, they smoke weed and dream of a one-way ticket to Brazil.
“This is a film about young people who don’t know what to do with their lives,” Paliale said.
“Drawing on his own experiences and conversations with peers, Paliale has crafted a story rooted in authentic dialogue and real-life situations, offering a raw and realistic portrait of today’s youth,” said a statement from the producers.
The film premiered in the Just Film section of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF)
Premiering within the International Youth Competition section at PÖFF — where it won the Audience Award. “Audiences were drawn to its portrayal of contemporary youth, rooted in realism and buoyed by a yearning for purpose,” the statement said.
“Rolling Papers” was also honored as Film of the Year 2024 by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, “a testament to its impact and resonance within local film circles.”
About the Film
Title (Estonian/English): Pikad paberid (Rolling Papers)
Genre: Youth comedy-drama exploring friendship, coming-of-age and defiance of societal norms
Runtime: 98 minutes
Key Cast: Mihkel Kuusk, Karl Birnbaum, Maria Helena Seppik, Edgar Vunš, Juhan Soon
Creative Team: Directed and written by Meel Paliale (story with Urmet Piiling); cinematography by Markus Mikk; production design by Jasmin Kulagina; sound by Joonas Taimla
Producers: Rain Rannu, Tõnu Hiielaid (Tallifornia)
Producers' Note: Film is produced by Tallifornia, a leading Estonian indie production company founded by Rain Rannu and Tõnu Hiielaid, that focuses on fun and author-driven feature films for a global audience.
Read in Variety: https://variety.com/2025/film/global/estonia-rolling-papers-oscar-submission-1236508473/
The Estonian Film Institute has chosen Meel Paliale’s youth-centered comedy-drama “Rolling Papers” (Pikad Paberid) as its official submission for the 98th Academy Awards in the best international feature film category.
The film is directed and written by Paliale, based on a story created with Urmet Piiling.
“Rolling Papers” follows Sebastian, who works as a store clerk. He finds his ordinary workday shaken up when he meets Silo, a free-spirited wanderer. Together, they smoke weed and dream of a one-way ticket to Brazil.
“This is a film about young people who don’t know what to do with their lives,” Paliale said.
“Drawing on his own experiences and conversations with peers, Paliale has crafted a story rooted in authentic dialogue and real-life situations, offering a raw and realistic portrait of today’s youth,” said a statement from the producers.
The film premiered in the Just Film section of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF)
Premiering within the International Youth Competition section at PÖFF — where it won the Audience Award. “Audiences were drawn to its portrayal of contemporary youth, rooted in realism and buoyed by a yearning for purpose,” the statement said.
“Rolling Papers” was also honored as Film of the Year 2024 by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, “a testament to its impact and resonance within local film circles.”
About the Film
Title (Estonian/English): Pikad paberid (Rolling Papers)
Genre: Youth comedy-drama exploring friendship, coming-of-age and defiance of societal norms
Runtime: 98 minutes
Key Cast: Mihkel Kuusk, Karl Birnbaum, Maria Helena Seppik, Edgar Vunš, Juhan Soon
Creative Team: Directed and written by Meel Paliale (story with Urmet Piiling); cinematography by Markus Mikk; production design by Jasmin Kulagina; sound by Joonas Taimla
Producers: Rain Rannu, Tõnu Hiielaid (Tallifornia)
Producers' Note: Film is produced by Tallifornia, a leading Estonian indie production company founded by Rain Rannu and Tõnu Hiielaid, that focuses on fun and author-driven feature films for a global audience.
Read in Variety: https://variety.com/2025/film/global/estonia-rolling-papers-oscar-submission-1236508473/
