Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival presents to you “Meet the Filmmakers”. This episode features the film “Electing Ms Santa” and its director Raisa Răzmeriță, in conversation with Mike Arnott.
Tune in to find answers to some fascinating questions, such as:
1. This film was made over seven years. When you started the filming process, did you think it would turn into a seven-year project?
2. How often did you film during those seven years?
3. “Electing Ms Santa” is an observational documentary. Did this filming approach play an important role in entering Elena’s world?
Raisa Răzmeriță is a Moldovan journalist and filmmaker who discovered the world of documentary cinema while working in the non-profit sector in the field of children’s rights. She realised that film allows her to engage with these issues more deeply. Raisa is an alumna of the Balkan Documentary Centre and a Malik Bendjelloul grant holder. She is currently finishing her master’s studies in philosophy and cultural management at Moldova State University.
“Electing Ms Santa” had its world premiere at PÖFF, where the film’s main character was also present. The film tells the story of Elena, a 42-year-old woman who dreams of becoming the mayor of her village. She organises community clean-ups, supports lonely elderly people, and puts on a Santa Claus costume every year to bring joy to her neighbours. Elena is a rural Moldovan woman who often finds herself caught between two roles: the social expectation to be a “good” housewife, and her own desire to develop, grow, and be truly influential in her community. She has a strong need for personal development and seems to be searching for a place and an opportunity to become someone greater than the role her village assigns to her. The film explores Elena’s inner conflict and offers a touching look at identity, ambition, and self-discovery. Raisa hopes the film will encourage viewers to reflect on their own lives and the people close to them.
Read more about the film:
https://poff.ee/en/film/electing-ms-santa/
PÖFF TV is a special online festival channel to supplement the film programme, to share the emotions and meanings of the film world and exclusive interviews with festival guests.
PÖFF TV is brought to you by Ruum:um, Photopoint and Co-funded by the European Union.
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Tallinna Pimedate Ööde filmifestival toob teieni saate “Meet the Filmmakers“. Seekord on peaosas film “Miss Jõuluvana valimine“ ja režissöör Raisa Răzmeriță, kellega vestles Mike Arnott.
Kuula kaasa ja saad vastused muuhulgas järgmistele põnevatele küsimustele:
1. Filmimine kestis seitse aastat. Kui te filmimisega alustasite, siis kas teadsite kohe, et sellest saab seitsmeaastane projekt?
2. Kui tihti te nende seitsme aasta jooksul filmisite?
3. “Miss Jõuluvana valimine” on vaatlev dokumentaalfilm. Kas selline filmimise stiil mängis Elena maailmasse sisenemisel olulist rolli?
Raisa Răzmeriță on Moldova päritolu ajakirjanik ja filmitegija, kes avastas dokumentaalfilmide maailma töötades mittetulundussektoris laste õiguste valdkonnas. Ta mõistis, et film võimaldab tal nende teemadega palju sügavamalt suhestuda. Raisa on Balkani Dokumentalistikakeskuse vilistlane ja Malik Bendjellouli stipendiaat. Praegu lõpetab ta magistriõpinguid Moldova Riiklikus Ülikoolis filosoofia ja kultuurikorralduse erialal.
“Miss Jõuluvana valimine” tegi oma maailmaesilinastuse just PÖFFil, kus oli kohal ka filmi peategelane ise. Film räägib 42-aastasest Elenast, kes unistab oma küla linnapeaks saamisest. Ta korraldab koristustalguid, toetab üksildasi vanureid ja paneb igal aastal selga jõuluvana kostüümi, et pakkuda naabritele rõõmu. Elena on Moldova maapiirkonna naine, kes jääb sageli kahe rolli vahele: ühiskondlik surve olla “hea” koduperenaine ja samal ajal soov areneda, kasvada ning olla oma kogukonnas tõeliselt mõjukas. Tal on tugev vajadus areneda ning tundub, et ta otsib kohta ja võimalust, kus ta saaks olla keegi suurem, kui roll, mida küla talle pakub. Film uurib Elena sisemist konflikti ning pakub liigutavat vaadet identiteedile, ambitsioonidele ja eneseavastamisele. Raisa loodab, et film paneb vaataja mõtlema ka omaenda elu ja lähedaste inimeste üle.
Loe veel filmi kohta:
https://poff.ee/film/miss-juluvana-valimine/
Lisaks filmifestivali filmiprogrammile linastub internetis PÖFF TV kanal, mis toob teieni eksklusiivsed intervjuud filmitegijatega ja aitab avada filmimaailma telgitaguseid.
PÖFF TV toob teieni Ruum:um, Photopoint ning kaasrahastab Euroopa Liit.
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival presents to you “Meet the Filmmakers”. This episode features the film “Electing Ms Santa” and its director Raisa Răzmeriță, in conversation with Mike Arnott.
Tune in to find answers to some fascinating questions, such as:
1. This film was made over seven years. When you started the filming process, did you think it would turn into a seven-year project?
2. How often did you film during those seven years?
3. “Electing Ms Santa” is an observational documentary. Did this filming approach play an important role in entering Elena’s world?
Raisa Răzmeriță is a Moldovan journalist and filmmaker who discovered the world of documentary cinema while working in the non-profit sector in the field of children’s rights. She realised that film allows her to engage with these issues more deeply. Raisa is an alumna of the Balkan Documentary Centre and a Malik Bendjelloul grant holder. She is currently finishing her master’s studies in philosophy and cultural management at Moldova State University.
“Electing Ms Santa” had its world premiere at PÖFF, where the film’s main character was also present. The film tells the story of Elena, a 42-year-old woman who dreams of becoming the mayor of her village. She organises community clean-ups, supports lonely elderly people, and puts on a Santa Claus costume every year to bring joy to her neighbours. Elena is a rural Moldovan woman who often finds herself caught between two roles: the social expectation to be a “good” housewife, and her own desire to develop, grow, and be truly influential in her community. She has a strong need for personal development and seems to be searching for a place and an opportunity to become someone greater than the role her village assigns to her. The film explores Elena’s inner conflict and offers a touching look at identity, ambition, and self-discovery. Raisa hopes the film will encourage viewers to reflect on their own lives and the people close to them.
Read more about the film:
https://poff.ee/en/film/electing-ms-santa/
PÖFF TV is a special online festival channel to supplement the film programme, to share the emotions and meanings of the film world and exclusive interviews with festival guests.
PÖFF TV is brought to you by Ruum:um, Photopoint and Co-funded by the European Union.
---
Tallinna Pimedate Ööde filmifestival toob teieni saate “Meet the Filmmakers“. Seekord on peaosas film “Miss Jõuluvana valimine“ ja režissöör Raisa Răzmeriță, kellega vestles Mike Arnott.
Kuula kaasa ja saad vastused muuhulgas järgmistele põnevatele küsimustele:
1. Filmimine kestis seitse aastat. Kui te filmimisega alustasite, siis kas teadsite kohe, et sellest saab seitsmeaastane projekt?
2. Kui tihti te nende seitsme aasta jooksul filmisite?
3. “Miss Jõuluvana valimine” on vaatlev dokumentaalfilm. Kas selline filmimise stiil mängis Elena maailmasse sisenemisel olulist rolli?
Raisa Răzmeriță on Moldova päritolu ajakirjanik ja filmitegija, kes avastas dokumentaalfilmide maailma töötades mittetulundussektoris laste õiguste valdkonnas. Ta mõistis, et film võimaldab tal nende teemadega palju sügavamalt suhestuda. Raisa on Balkani Dokumentalistikakeskuse vilistlane ja Malik Bendjellouli stipendiaat. Praegu lõpetab ta magistriõpinguid Moldova Riiklikus Ülikoolis filosoofia ja kultuurikorralduse erialal.
“Miss Jõuluvana valimine” tegi oma maailmaesilinastuse just PÖFFil, kus oli kohal ka filmi peategelane ise. Film räägib 42-aastasest Elenast, kes unistab oma küla linnapeaks saamisest. Ta korraldab koristustalguid, toetab üksildasi vanureid ja paneb igal aastal selga jõuluvana kostüümi, et pakkuda naabritele rõõmu. Elena on Moldova maapiirkonna naine, kes jääb sageli kahe rolli vahele: ühiskondlik surve olla “hea” koduperenaine ja samal ajal soov areneda, kasvada ning olla oma kogukonnas tõeliselt mõjukas. Tal on tugev vajadus areneda ning tundub, et ta otsib kohta ja võimalust, kus ta saaks olla keegi suurem, kui roll, mida küla talle pakub. Film uurib Elena sisemist konflikti ning pakub liigutavat vaadet identiteedile, ambitsioonidele ja eneseavastamisele. Raisa loodab, et film paneb vaataja mõtlema ka omaenda elu ja lähedaste inimeste üle.
Loe veel filmi kohta:
https://poff.ee/film/miss-juluvana-valimine/
Lisaks filmifestivali filmiprogrammile linastub internetis PÖFF TV kanal, mis toob teieni eksklusiivsed intervjuud filmitegijatega ja aitab avada filmimaailma telgitaguseid.
PÖFF TV toob teieni Ruum:um, Photopoint ning kaasrahastab Euroopa Liit.
