Jaak Kilmi

Jaak Kilmi graduated in directing from the Department of Culture of Tallinn Pedagogical University. Starting his career with a string of award-winning short films, Kilmi also directed and (co-)produced a number of successful feature-length documentaries before turning to fictional stories, such as the highly-regarded drama DISSIDENTS (2017) and adventure comedy CHRISTMAS IN THE JUNGLE (2021), selected for the Elements +6 in Giffoni 2021. His films have gained him international recognition from festivals and audiences worldwide.

Director’s statement

“For a long time, I have wanted to make a film about children. THE SLEEPING BEAST is not a children’s film although I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to them. But we don’t offer simple solutions or morality. We speak in half-tones - both bright and dark ones.
The violence of the fairy tales has found its way back into the games of the children and as the line between fantasy and reality gets increasingly blurred, a sort of naïve romanticism and beauty still remains in their games.”