Rainer Sarnet

• Name — Rainer Sarnet • Birth Name — Rainer Sarnet • Born — 3 March 1969 • Birthplace — Rakvere, then part of Estonian SSR, Soviet Union • Occupation — Director, writer • Years Active — 1998–present

Sarnet was born in Rakvere and developed an early interest in both animation and literature. He studied film direction at the Baltic Film and Media School of Tallinn University, which lists him among its distinguished alumni. Before turning to feature films he worked as an animator and director of television commercials, experience critics say still informs his eclectic visual style.

Sarnet’s first feature Where Souls Go (2007) announced a preoccupation with spiritual themes, while The Idiot (2011) transplanted Dostoevsky’s novel to contemporary Estonia. It was screened at the Tallinn Black Nights EurAsia competition. November (2017), adapted from Andrus Kivirähk’s novel, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, where cinematographer Mart Taniel won the Best Cinematography award. The picture became Estonia’s submission for Best International Feature at the 90th Academy Awards but did not make the shortlist. Taniel’s monochrome images later received the American Society of Cinematographers Spotlight Award. With the docu-fiction hybrid The Diary of Vaino Vahing (2021) Sarnet turned to Estonian intellectual history, earning praise at the Tallinn Black Nights Baltic Film Competition. The Invisible Fight (2023) mixed kung-fu, heavy-metal and Orthodox mysticism; it premiered in competition at Locarno on 11 August 2023 and opened theatrically in Estonia on 7 December 2023. The film went on to win Best Film at the 2024 Estonian Film and Television Awards.

Parallel to filmmaking, Sarnet has staged productions at Tallinn’s Von Krahl Theatre, including Stanisław Przybyszewski’s Snow (2005), Maxim Gorky’s Mother (2005) and Elfriede Jelinek’s satirical sequel to A Doll’s House (2008).

• Year — Title — Original title — Release date • 2007 — Where Souls Go — Kuhu põgenevad hinged — 2007 • 2011 — The Idiot — Idioot — 2011 • 2017 — November — Rehepapp ehk November — 24 April 2017 (Tribeca premiere) • 2021 — The Diary of Vaino Vahing — Vaino Vahingu päevaraamat — 23 November 2021 • 2023 — The Invisible Fight — Nähtamatu võitlus — 7 December 2023

Rainer Sarnet is recorded with the occupation film director. Recorded as caricaturist, director, screenwriter and writer.