European Genre Forum
Blue Lada
When fantasy and reality intertwine, Uku must find a way to say goodbye to his grandmother, who has dementia.
Uku arrives at his grandmother's house to help his family renovate. His grandmother is sinking into dementia. Struggling with grief, Uku must embark on a fantastical journey with his late grandfather's blue Lada – to save the family, learn to let go, and say goodbye.
Main production country:
Estonia
Director's note
'Blue Lada' is a deeply personal yet universally relatable story about family, memory, dementia, grief, love, death, and the humour we find in life's hardest moments. Inspired by my own grandmother's dementia, the film blends heartfelt family drama with fantasy, creating a rich world where reality, memories, and dreams intertwine. Through the eyes of Uku, we explore how imagination helps us cope with pain. It is a story about accepting the ever-changing cycle of life and a reminder to appreciate our loved ones while they are still with us.
Producer's note
Tallifornia is an Estonian indie production company focused on unique writer-directors creating their next big thing. Since 2018, we have released ten feature films theatrically in Estonia and co-produced five more through our private film fund. 'Blue Lada' is the directorial debut of Urmet Piiling, co-creator of 'Tree of Eternal Love' (2021, nominated for six Estonian Film and TV Awards) and 'Rolling Papers' (2025, Estonia's submission to the Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category).
Subjects:
humour, familial relationships, disease, death, soul searching, intergenerational conflict, grief, coming of age, surrealism, love
Urmet Piiling is a versatile creative professional from Tallinn, excelling as a director, actor, screenwriter, designer, and producer. His notable works include the films "Tree of Eternal Love" (2021), "Rolling Papers" (2025), and "The Girl in the Red Golf" (2017). Urmet showcased his multi-hyphenate talent by producing, writing, and starring in "Tree of Eternal Love," which received six nominations at the Estonian Film and TV Awards. He also co-wrote, produced, and acted in "Rolling Papers," which won the Audience Award and the Film of the Year prize, and was later selected to represent Estonia at the 2026 Oscars.
Tõnu Hiielaid is the co-founder and producer of Tallifornia, an independent production company focusing on author-driven narrative features. He has produced five feature films to date, with another five currently in various stages of production.
Rain Rannu (1980) is an Estonian screenwriter, film director, investor and entrepreneur. He made his directorial debut in 2016 with the feature film “Ameerika suvi” (“Chasing Ponies”), followed by the 2019 film “Ükssarvik” (“Chasing Unicorns”), which humorously explores the Estonian startup scene. He also directed “Beqaa VR” (2018), Estonia’s first virtual reality short film, and has produced numerous projects through his production company Tallifornia which he co-founded with producer Tõnu Hiielaid in 2018. In 2022, he directed the AI-themed “Lapsmasin” (“Child Machine”), and in 2023, “Vaba Raha” (“Free Money”). He is regarded as an innovative creative entrepreneur who bridges technology, business, and film.