Estonia is known as a tech-savvy country where Skype was invented, which took a new leap forward by unleashing its first ever hub, where Creatives, Tech Pros and entrepreneurs can unite to take the regional audio-visual sector to the next level.

The IDA Hub Film and Multimedia Center was built in Ida-Viru County in eastern Estonia near the Russian border. It combines state-of-the-art studio and skill development to open in 2026. Closely related to the project is the Tallinn Night Film Festival.

The $18.2 million IDA Hub Complex funded by the EU Just Just Transition Fund will house 21,500 square feet of scale, smaller multi-function studios, post-production and creative industries. Leading the joint venture is three partners: the IDA VIRU Investment Authority (IVIA) responsible for the entire complex, the IDA-VIRU Business Center (IVEK) operates Estonia’s first regional VIRU film fund and incubates future film industry talents; and Tehnopol is the largest science and business park in Barrow’s Haizhou, which houses a film technology startup.

The project was driven by the need to rebuild the economic structure of the region, which once was a mining industry center until its decline in the 1990s. As Teet Kuusmik of Ivia explains, one of the priorities is “finding new ways to attract the younger generation; it’s the idea of ​​investing in film and multimedia infrastructure and creating magnets for new talent.” For him, the goal is to attract both international work and young local talent, while “providing creatives with opportunities for self-actualization in the film industry.”

He said that working with Tehnopol, “the most successful IT incubator and startup accelerator in the region”, was an important step and supported by Ivek.

At the IDA Center, Tehnopol runs the "Movie and Multimedia Accelerator" of "Movie and Multimedia Accelerator" in multimedia, virtual, augmented reality and AI.

Planning Manager Olga Kurdovskaja said that 11 startups have been registered so far, including teams that integrate AI into content creation, engage in virtual location reconnaissance and develop modular studio infrastructure. One of Visiotags is an active participant, which is “developing a tool that helps media professionals and influencers accelerate video tagging and simplify post-production workflows.”

The creative hub startup of the Tallinn Night Film Festival and its dual AI solutions are also: Susi AI and its advice and event navigation tools for festival tourists and professionals, as well as a platform that connects the Estonian creative industry to the international community.

At the next display cabinet of the Marché Du Film Cannes Film Festival, Tehnopol will look for new networks and business opportunities for itself and its startups.

Meanwhile, the IDA Center’s second major training show, the film industry incubation program run by IVEK, described by coordinator Britta Meririrand as a “hands-on training program for professionals and entrepreneurs eager to enter the industry. The Match Program focuses on “a basic behind-the-scenes movement” from logistics to catering, photographs and dining, photographs and dining, and training, photographs and dining.”

Marge Liiske, head of the industry @Tallinn & Baltic Event, highlights the contribution of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (called Pöff) to transforming the IDA-VIRU region from a declining industrial zone to an innovative film and multimedia hub. “Beyond running Kinoff (the easternmost satellite of the Night Film Festival) and enriching the cultural scenes of the region for many years, Pöff launched a hands-on training program at IDA-VIRU in 2022 to help locals without prior film experiences get the skills they need to work in the film concentration.

With the second round of launch in 2024-2025, these new talents are expected to form a strong crew for the international film studio complex, which will open in 2026. These long-term efforts are helping to turn IDA-VIRU into Estonia’s second major Audiovisual Hub,” she said.