In an occasion of Lithuanian cinema days in Tallinn on 14-17^th of May, Cinema Odyssey of Kindness launched Estonia.

 

Local Lithuanians currently living in Estonia kindly accepted to join this initiative after watching A. Matelis documentary „Before Flying Back to the Earth“. Volunteers form Lithuanian youth union in Estonia, Animation department from Estonian Academy of Arts with a support form Kopli youth centre gathered 10 children sick with leukaemia to teach them animation techniques. 7 to 14 years old children spent all day (11^th of May) learning how to make animation and making one of their own.

Eventually children created 3 part puppet animation grounded on very important questions, like: why does ladybug have spots, how come sun is yellow and what for dog buries bones under the ground? Finally they have learned the magic of editing. Parents were also drawn into the process of creation, though young animators got more enthusiastic: they kept asking various questions regarding cinematography and promised to try to make their own films when they come back home. One mother related that this event – non-material charity is what those sick children need the most as they spent all their time curing at home or hospital and skipping school for that, so they miss a lot of interesting things.

 

Animation created in this workshop was first presented in Tallinn Central Children’s Policlinic. All young authors received a DVD copy of the film and also were presented with the gifts from Lithuanian youth union in Estonia. Other donations gathered by this institution was committed to huge pile of candies meant for cheering children while doing difficult curing procedures at the hospital. A group of Lithuanian young artist called “Kad butu linksmiau” (www.linksmiau.lt) were also present at the screening. For Tallinn children oncology department they brought 15 beautiful paintings.

 

Short animation born in this workshop was also presented on May 16^th in local cinema house Kinomaja before screening “Before Flying Back to the Earth” by A. Matelis.