Rolling Papers

Australian Premiere

“A gentle, disarming debut that finds beauty in the ordinary … Paliale’s direction shines in its subtlety.” – International Feature

This free-wheeling, raw and effortlessly cool coming-of-age film is about a group of friends in their 20s – that notoriously tricky time between adolescence and adulthood – living in Tallinn. They party, drink, smoke, talk, dance, experience joy and disappointment, face up to new responsibilities and yearn to find greater meaning and purpose in life.

Sebastian works a monotonous day job at a small grocery store. One day, free-spirited Silo walks into the shop and shakes up Sebastian’s life. They strike up a conversation, share a joint and dream of leaving Estonia behind to move to sunny Brazil. But when Sebastian meets Nora, he realises that he might not be ready to leave the country quite yet.

At a mere 27 years old, director Meel Paliale already has two features under his belt, and Rolling Papers, his second feature, is already an award-winner and Estonia’s submission for Best International Feature at the next Academy Awards. A true multi-hyphenate, Paliale also wrote the screenplay, edited the film and composed the pulsing, dreamy synth-driven score.

Festivals & Awards

Academy Awards 2026 - Estonia’s submission for Best International Feature Film
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2024 – Official Selection
Just Film Festival Estonia 2024 – Winner, Audience Award
Cultural Endowment of Estonia 2024 – Winner, Film of the Year