Estonia’s first sign language translation of a full-length animated film, Lotte and the Lost Dragons, completed in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, was prepared for hearing-impaired viewers. The sign language version of Lotte and the Lost Dragons will be screened on 18 and 19 January, in Tallinn, and on 21 January, in Tartu.
The Estonian sign language Lotte and the Lost Dragons was born in cooperation between Eesti Joonisfilm, the non-profit organisation Kameeleon and the Estonian Association of the Deaf.
‘With its premiere we want to spread awareness of the need for sign language interpreters and the possibility for their inclusion in children’s shows, we also wish to direct attention to bottlenecks in the access of children with hearing disabilities to Estonian children’s programmes and the lack of funding for sign language translation of those children’s programmes,’ said Aivo Erm, who translated the film into sign language.
According to Maarja-Liisa Soe, Head of the Government Office’s EV100 progamme, the Lotte film was the first work in the EV100 film programme to receive a sign language translation. ‘I am honestly delighted that Lotte’s adventures can bring happiness to an even larger group of people. The decision by Lotte’s makers to translate the film into sign language sets an excellent example for all Estonian filmmakers,’ added Soe.
Translation operator and film editor Kert Kalvik and sign language corrector Viktoria Kroitor-Erm were of great help in making the sign language version of the film.
The premiere of Lotte and the Lost Dragons, part of the EV100 film programme, took place in Estonia on 4 January 2019, and a total of 45,946 viewers went to see the move in the first two weeks.
In the adventure for the entire family, Lotte and the Lost Dragons, the wonderful puppy girl get a little sister, Roosi. Gadgetville is visited by scientists, Karl the Raccoon and Victor the Fish, who are participating in an important competition for collecting old folk songs. The grand prize will be awarded to whomever is able to record the folk song of the world’s oldest animal species, the mythical fire-breathing dragons. Lotte and Roosi decide to help the scientists. An exciting and unexpected adventure awaits them.
Janno Põldma and Heiki Ernits are the directors of Lotte and the Lost Dragons. The screenplay was written by Janno Põldma, Heiki Ernits and Andrus Kivirähk. The score for the film was written by Sven Grünberg. The film was produced by Kalev Tamm, from Eesti Joonisfilm, and Vilnis Kalnaellis, from Rija Films.
The only animated film in the EV100 film programme, Lotte and the Lost Dragons was completed in cooperation between Eesti Joonisfilm and the Latvian studio Rija Films. The production of the film was supported by the Estonian Film Institute, the National Film Centre of Latvia, Creative Europe’s MEDIA programme, Helio and Estonian Public Broadcasting.
In total, five live action films, a full-length animated film and two documentary films and a TV series are being completed for the 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia. Additional information on the Republic of Estonia 100th Anniversary film programme can be found at www.EV100.ee/filmid.
The film is being distributed in Estonia by: Estonian Theatrical Distribution OÜ, i.e. Hea Film.
Lotte and the Lost Dragons homepage: https://www.joonisfilm.ee/films/lotte-and-the-lost-dragons?lang=en
Film trailer:
https://youtu.be/Y_nmkKSl0BE
https://vimeo.com/288709212
Eesti Joonisfilm’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Joonisfilm/
MTÜ Kameeleon: http://www.kameeleon.eu/
Estonian Association of the Deaf: http://www.ead.ee/?set_lang_id=1