Film associations

People involved in filmmaking are members of the Estonian Filmmakers’ Union. There are also several speciality associations: Estonian Film Producers’ Association, Estonian Animation Union, the Union of Estonian Cameramen and the Association of Estonian Film Journalists. Since 1993, the latter has been issuing the oldest annual best film award. The prestigious Cultural Endowment awards, including for best films, were added later. At the Black Nights’ Film Festival, the Union of Estonian Cameramen awards its own prize as well.
The main aim of the professional unions is to represent the members’ interests in relations with other organisations and the state. The only union regularly supported by the state is the Filmmakers Union. 

The Estonian Filmmakers Union administers the database of its members’ work, distributes information, cooperates with foreign unions (FERA, Coalition for Cultural Diversity, SAA, Confederation of Filmmakers Unions) and establishes contacts with filmmakers, film lecturers, lawmakers, local governments and businesses.
The Union looks after the filmmakers’ burial site at Pärnamäe cemetery and manages and develops the Cinema House in the Tallinn old town. The House operates as a club that follows the art house cinema mentality, e.g. organises author’s evenings of both domestic and foreign filmmakers, showings of archive films, children’s mornings, various thematic film weeks etc. The House has been organising the days of Estonian film for the past 12 years; there are regular quality film showings.