Estonian Photographer's Career Gets Documentary Debut at Tallinn Festival

The visual economy of major film festivals relies on a small cadre of accredited photographers who capture the industry's public face. A new documentary, A Photographer in Cannes, shifts focus to the labor behind those images, world premiering in the Special Screenings program of the 30th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) in Estonia.

The film centers on Erlend Štaub, the official photographer for PÖFF, who has covered the Cannes Film Festival for 15 consecutive years. Director Kullar Vilmne co-wrote the project with editor Erik Norkroos. The documentary depicts Štaub moving between high-profile events in Estonia and the red carpets of Cannes and Berlin. It details the physical and mental requirements of the job, including daily workouts to maintain stamina under pressure and the rapid turnaround needed to deliver edited photos for morning news cycles.

Vilmne initially approached Štaub via text message at 6 a.m. Štaub recalled laughing and suggesting the idea was not a good fit. After a meeting where Vilmne explained the concept, Štaub agreed to participate, recognizing that his routine appeared unusual to outsiders. The production team secured access to Cannes through Štaub's existing accreditation, which covered approximately 13 days. Festival organizers granted daily access for the filming crew, positioning cameras both in front of and behind Štaub to capture his workflow.

Štaub described the physical demands as comparable to military training due to the high stress levels. He maintains a home gym to prepare for events where he fears the pressure could be overwhelming. He advised aspiring photographers to maintain their unique personalities rather than imitating others, noting that subjects often remember the photographer's distinct character long after the event.

The film includes footage from Cannes 2026, where Štaub interacted with actors including Bella Hadid. He cited a fist bump from Vin Diesel at a photocall as a peak moment. Diesel told the photographers, "I'm here because of all of you. You journalists and photographers made me a real actor." Štaub noted that he still hopes to photograph Samuel L. Jackson, Keanu Reeves, and Anthony Hopkins. He identified Sylvester Stallone as his favorite actor and expressed anticipation for the film I Play Rocky.

The premiere at PÖFF offers a local perspective on global media production. Štaub stated that working at home involves a manageable level of pressure due to long lines of attendees waiting for photos. He aims to create a personal connection with each subject by ensuring they look directly into the lens, a technique he believes isolates the interaction from the surrounding crowd.

The documentary highlights the logistical coordination required to film a working journalist at one of the world's most guarded events. It serves as a case study in how individual expertise grants access that larger productions might struggle to obtain. The film is now available for viewing in Tallinn as part of the festival's official selection.

Vilmne and Norkroos structured the narrative around the contrast between the glamour of the red carpet and the solitary work of post-production. The inclusion of Štaub's candid interviews provides a first-person account of the industry's social dynamics. The premiere marks the first public screening of the completed project.