EstoCast

To be a filmmaker, you need to control the wildest variables imaginable, such as extreme weather and explosions, while also making a moving work of art with great sensitivity and attention to detail.

In the newest episode of EstoCast, filmmaking duo Tiiu Loigu and William Shockley are showing us how they achieved that in their latest film, Long Shadows, due for theatrical release on September 26th, 2025.

Come along to San Diego, Cali...

Torontos käis hiljuti koolijuhtide ja haridustegelaste delegatsioon Eestist. EstoCasti stuudios jagasid mõtteid kohustuslikust kirjandusest Eesti koolides Pelgulinna Riigigümnaasiumi direktor Indrek Lillemägi (töötanud emakeeleõpetajana 4 aastat), Võru Gümnaasiumi õppejuht Annely Hindrikson (töötanud emakeeleõpetajana 16 aastat) ja Narva Eesti Gümnaasiumi juht Irene Käosaar (erialaks eesti keel teise keelena). Vestlust juhtis esmak...

Kirjanikel ja loovatel inimestel üldse on sageli mõni lemmikkoht, kus uusi ideid genereerida. Tuntud ja tunnustatud eesti kirjaniku ja semiootiku Valdur Mikita jaoks on see paik keset metsa, kus saab rahulikult oma mõtetega olla. Sellest, kuidas loodus inspireerib tema kirjatöid ja paljust muust kuuletegi meie uues saates.

Vestlusest saate teada:  

📕Raamatuaasta tähistamisest Eestis

📗Sellest, kus on hea raamatuid lugeda

📘Eestlase id...

Countermeasure, a Canadian a cappella band that’s performing at Estonian Music Week in Toronto on May 24th, is keen on defying genre, breaking down the sounds of instruments, and plenty of collaboration, which has resulted in some literally breathtaking music!

In this episode of EstoCast, Elora Burns, a member of this 12-piece group, shares:

🎤 the Estonian linguistic experience that played a role in making choral music a huge part o...

Winning an Etnokulp award (a big wooden ladle) was a surprise for flautist and composer Katariina Tirmaste. There she was, happily singing a runo song together with the audience at the Estonian Traditional Music Center in Viljandi… when all of a sudden her name was called out!

Of course, she’s very active as a musician, and in this episode of EstoCast, we hear about the:

🪈 the many projects and collaborations she’s been a part of—in...

Vahest juhtub nii, et leiame oma tõelise kutsumuse küpses eas. Nii juhtus meie tänase külalisega, Toronto eestlasest kirjaniku Eerik Purjega. Milline on olnud 98-aastase kirjaniku elu ja mida ta arvab kirjandusest ja kirjutamisest, saate teada meie järjekordses Eesti Raamatu Aastale pühendatud episoodis.

 Saates kuuleme:  

✍🏻 kuidas jõudis luuletajana alustanud Eerik romaanide ja mälestuste kirjutamiseni

✍🏻 milline on tema loomeprot...

As Gerda Märtens describes the creation of a picture book, text is at the core; but for an illustrator, there’s both expressive freedom and a sense of responsibility, considering how much space there is to work with.

In this episode, she’s sharing more about what goes into the making of a book. Learn about:

🎨 the essential, foundational things we all gain from children’s literature

🎨 how Italy has influenced her work as an illustrat...

2025. aasta on kuulutatud Eesti Raamatu Aastaks - möödub 500 aastat esimese eestikeelse trükise ilmumisest. Sel puhul kutsub EstoCast külla põnevaid inimesi - lihtsalt kirglikke raamatusõpru, aga ka selle valdkonna professionaale Eestist, Kanadast ja mujalt. Meie esimeseks külaliseks on Muhumaalt pärit dr. Kadri Tüür, kirjandusteadlane ja semiootik, kes õpetab alates 2024. aasta sügisest Toronto ülikoolis eesti keelt, kirjandust ja...

For Karl Raudsepp Hearn, visiting Estonia for the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival wasn’t just exciting because he was premiering his latest film, The G. It was also the first time he had ever been to Estonia, ever.

The release of his film has seen its share of heart-warming and thought-provoking moments. In the latest episode of EstoCast, hear Karl talk about:

🎥 The important Estonian diaspora legacy of his family in Ca...

Head uut aastat, hea EstoCasti kuulaja! Uus aastaring toob meie stuudiosse värske külalise - Toronto eestlase Elle Rosenbergi. Aktiivse kogukonnaliikmena on Elle tegutsenud mitmetes organisatsioonides, muuhulgas juhtinud pikka aega Toronto Eesti Seltsi Täienduskooli ja viinud koolikoori mitmel korral Eestisse laulupeole. Räägime Ellega üleskasvamisest väikeses eesti kogukonnas St. Catherines´is, eestluse ülalhoidmisest ja kõigest, ...

Singer, songwriter, and soundscape builder Mart Avi is bound to turn your head when you first hear his music. Even through the sounds alone, you can tell he has a very physical approach to music, including an almost percussive style of singing. And there are an abundance of stories to dig into lyrically.

Before he hits the stage at 2025’s Estonian Music Week festival, hear him speak on the latest episode of EstoCast, inclu...

1944. a. suurpõgenemise 80. aastapäeva puhul kutsume stuudiosse neid, kes on pidanud ette võtma pika ja raske põgenemisteekonna. Vilme Pede oli üks nendest, kelle saatus tahtmatult niimoodi läks. Vilme on olnud pikaaegne aktiivne liige Toronto eesti kogukonnas ning hoidnud eesti keelt ja meelt tugevana ka oma peres. Kuidas oli jätta hüvasti kodumaaga, leida uus koht, kus juured alla ajada ja paljust muust kuulete juba käesolevas vä...

How could a bowl of soup lead a family to safety in war-torn Europe?

Find out in the latest episode of EstoCast, where we met with Estonian-Canadian artist, award-winning community volunteer, and self-described people person, Mai Reet Vomm Järve.

Mai, who left Estonia as a little girl 80 years ago, with her mother Benita Vomm and brother Ants Erik Vomm, has an extraordinary story that takes us from a crowded train in Tallin...

1944. a. suurpõgenemise 80. aastapäeva puhul kutsume stuudiosse neid, kes on pidanud ette võtma pika ja raske põgenemisteekonna. Hille Viires on Kanada eestlaste seas laiemalt tuntud kunstnikuna. Kuid oma kodulinnas Montréalis on ta agaralt kaasa löönud paljudes muudeski ettevõtmistes. Sellest, milline on olnud tema põgenemis- ja elutee, kuidas ta jõudis Kanadasse ning miks ta pere otsustas Montréali jääda, kuulete värskes EstoCast...

In this bonus episode, we're bringing you the highlight stories from Eesti Elu / Estonian Life newspaper this week. Get an overview of what's happening in the Estonian world, from the art that's attracting attention in major auction houses to new activities with Estonian scouts and guides in Canada.

(Image: "Rooma" [Rome] by painter Konrad Mägi)

Socials:

➡️ @estonianmusicweek
https://...

Between Peeter Põldre’s family leaving Estonia at the end of WWII and settling in Canada, they spent several years in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This city became a new home for quite a few Estonians in fact.

And for Peeter, who was born in Argentina, memories from his early years there and a connection to the country have remained with him as he has moved forward in life and his career.

In this episode, hear about:

�...

Welcome back to EstoCast, we hope you enjoyed the summer! As this is the year of multiculturalism in Estonia, we’re continuing on with that theme but there’s also another important occasion that we’re marking in our episodes here this fall - the 80th anniversary of the Great Escape of 1944. We’ll be having guests in the studio that both have first-hand experience of the Great Escape and with younger generations to understand what t...

For Ahto Külvet, rare vinyl records became part of his day-to-day quite naturally. It all started with a love of listening to music. Then, just as his vinyl collection became too big for his family’s apartment, an opportunity came around to open a small record store.

Nowadays he runs Psühhoteek record store in Tartu, hosts radio shows and conferences, and DJs regularly at events and festivals. Along the way, he continues to find inc...

Sebastian Buccioni, who moved from Canada to Estonia a year ago, has noted a sincerity in social interactions among several other cultural observations. Moving to Estonia connects to a long-term goal of his, and in this episode of EstoCast, Buccioni is sharing what it’s been like to relocate, including:

🌍what similarities to Estonian culture he noticed in his own Jewish, German, and Italian heritage
🌍how he’s develop...