Estonia selects 'Meie Erika' as its 2027 Oscar contender

An independent committee convened by the Estonian Film Institute has selected director German Golub's debut feature film "Meie Erika" ("Our Erika") as Estonia's candidate for the 2027 Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. The drama tells the story of Pärnu-born track cyclist Erika Salumäe, who won the first Olympic gold medal for Estonia after the country regained independence in 1991.

The committee described the film as a nostalgic drama depicting a significant episode in Estonia's recent history that helped bolster the country's push for independence. It particularly praised actress Karolin Jürise's performance as an athlete carving out her place in the male-dominated world of Soviet sport, a story that weaves together themes of gender emancipation and national self-determination.

A universal story

Golub said the selection was a great honor for the entire crew. While Salumäe's victories and remarkable journey belong to Estonian history, he noted, the story's core is universal — how far a person will go in pursuit of a dream and of love. He also pointed out that "Meie Erika" won't be making the journey to the Oscars alone from the Baltics, as it will be joined by Latvia's own entry about a sports legend, "Ulja."

In 2020, Golub received the Academy's Student Academy Award in the International Narrative Film category for his Baltic Film and Media School graduation project, "Mu kallid laibad" ("My Dear Corpses").

The Oscar nominees will be announced on January 21, with the awards ceremony taking place in Los Angeles on March 14.