27-Year-Old Estonian Filmmaker Earns Oscar Nod with Relatable Drama 'Rolling Papers'

In 2025, 27-year-old Estonian filmmaker Meel Paliale is making waves with his feature film 'Rolling Papers', which has been selected as Estonia's submission for the 2026 Academy Awards' best international feature category. The film, co-written by Paliale and Urmet Piiling, follows the story of young store clerk Sebastian, whose mundane life is shaken up when he meets the free-spirited Silo. Together, they start smoking weed and dreaming of a one-way trip to sunny Brazil, hoping to escape the monotony of their lives.

Paliale, who wrote, directed, edited, and scored the film, drew inspiration from his own experiences and those of his friends growing up in Tallinn, Estonia's capital city. Despite the specific setting, the film has a universal appeal, exploring themes of purpose, adulthood, and the pursuit of dreams that resonate with audiences worldwide. The director's unique filmmaking approach, featuring long takes and minimal editing, adds to the authentic, slice-of-life feel of the story.

'Rolling Papers' premiered at the 2024 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, where it won the audience award in the International Youth Competition. It later received the Film of the Year honor from the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, further solidifying Paliale's status as a rising talent in the country's burgeoning film industry. As the filmmaker prepares to represent Estonia at the Academy Awards, he is already working on his next projects, eager to continue sharing his unique perspective with global audiences.