Handmade

Handmade recounts the story of Nukufilm, the world’s oldest surviving stop-motion animation studio. Filmmaker Nikalas Catlow delves into the history of this remarkable facility and it’s key role in the development of stop-motion animated films. A thoughtful, compelling, and detailed look at the process of stop-motion animation.

The birth of Nukufilm studio in 1957 marked the dawn of Estonian animation, largely attributed to Elbert Tuganov, whose debut film, Little Peter’s Dream, brought Nukufilm to international attention. In spite of numerous hurdles, the studio has endured as the oldest surviving stop-motion organization in the world, outlasting even those that perished following the Soviet Union’s disintegration.

During the Soviet era in Estonia, Nukufilm was funded and censored by the USSR government. Despite censorship, the studio produced numerous films each year. In the 1980s, it became a cultural hub in Estonian cinema, drawing young directors interested in stop-motion animation.

After Estonia’s independence in 1991 and with the rise of digital filmmaking, Nukufilm had to evolve. The free-market economy brought challenges and opportunities.

Can Nukufilm maintain its artistic focus against attention-grabbing blockbuster rivals?