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LevelK has boarded “Kalev,” Ove Musting’s political sports drama which represents Estonia in the Oscar race. The banner is international sales on the film.

“Kalev,” which will kick off the Baltic section at Tallinn Black Nights, had its local release in Estonia on Sept. 22 and has so far sold 105,000 tickets.

Inspired by a true story, the film is set during the summer of 1990. The Soviet Union is on the verge of collapsing and Baltic nations are struggling to regain independence. Against this political upheaval, the Soviet Union`s basketball championship is about to begin. The Estonian team, named Kalev, has to make a difficult decision as it faces calls to withdraw from the high profile sports event.

“Kalev” boasts a strong ensemble cast including Mait Malmsten (“Your Honor!”), Priit Võigemast (“Dawn of War”), Reimo Sagor(“Take It or Leave It”) and Mihkel Kuusk(“Maria’s Paradise”).

The film marks...

It’s Nineties Estonia and people are rallying in the squares. Even though the Ussr has not fallen apart yet and Estonia has not gained independence; people are heralding that day with the tricolor flags they hold in their hands. In the midst of this political collapse and chaos, there are people who want to go about their business. Rebound, assist, points, win! Ove Musting's debut Kalev focuses on the team, the last basketball champions of the Ussr. A team who become a national pride as people unite around a command and build their identity through sports. In this sports drama based on real events, it’s possible to witness history but it doesn’t always score in terms of emotion.

Gert Kullamäe (Mihkel Kuusk) is a young man who starts training with Kalev and who declares clearly that the team should play in the Ussr Basketball League. Coach Jaak Salumets (Mait Malmsten) said,...

The sports drama is set in 1990 and will star Mait Malmsten, Priit Võigemast, Reimo Sagor, Mihkel Kuusk and Andris Keišs in the lead roles. Production on Ove Musting’s debut feature, a sports drama entitled Kalev, is under way. Before developing this film, Musting worked on several shorts and in the field of advertising. Only a few days of filming are left before principal photography wraps, and these had to be postponed owing to the coronavirus outbreak. The feature is being shot in Estonian and Russian, with filming on location in Estonia and Latvia. The story of Kalev, penned by the director himself, Mehis Pihla and Martin Algus, is based on true events and is set during the summer of 1990. The Soviet Union is teetering on the brink of collapse, and the small Baltic nations are struggling to regain their lost independence. The Soviet Union’s basketball championship is set.

The Rome Film Festival (October 17-27) has unveiled its 2019 official selection, which includes Downton Abbey, Waves, Judy, The Aeronauts, Hustlers and Werner Herzog documentary Nomad[/link] about writer Bruce Chatwin.

A total of 33 films and documentaries will play in the official lineup (full list below). As previously announced, the fest will open with Edward Norton’s Motherless Brooklyn while Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman will have a centerpiece screening. Only two Italian movies are included in the main selection.

The festival also revealed a pre-opening October 16 world premiere for John Turturro’s anticipated The Big Lebowski spinoff, The Jesus Rolls, which follows Lebowski character Jesus Quintana.

The impressive lineup of onstage interviews includes Bill Murray and Viola Davis – both of whom will receive lifetime achievement awards – Fanny Ardant, Olivier Assayas, Ethan Coen, Benicio Del Toro, Bret Easton Ellis, Ron Howard, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Edward Norton, Bertrand Tavernier, John Travolta and Jia Zhangke.

The Danish comedy The Reunion (Klassefesten) from 2011 is being given an Estonian remake by 1944’s producer Kristian Taska of Taska Film.

Principal photography has begun in the Estonian capital of Tallinn on Klassikokkutulek under the direction of René Vilbre (I Was Here) with a cast including Mait Malmsten, Henry Korvits and Aso Andreson.

The Estonian remake comes in the wake of the successful theatrical release of the Finnish version by Teneli Mustonen for Solar Films earlier this year.

Mustonen’s film - known as Luokkakokous - broke local box-office records when it opened in March, selling more than 150,000 tikets in the first seven days.

Jaana Puskala, Head of Feature Film Promotion at the Finnish Film Foundation, told Screen that the comedy has since been seen by more than half a million, quite a remarkable achievement considering that Finland’s total population is only 5.5m.

Debut for Cinéfondation winner

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Gulf of...