Estonian cult sci-fi classic Dead Mountaineer's Hotel premieres at Berlinale Classics

Grigori Kromanov's 1979 science-fiction film Dead Mountaineer's Hotel will screen at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival. The restored version appears in the Berlinale Classics programme, marking only the second time an Estonian film has been selected for this prestigious archival strand. Actor Lembit Peterson and composer Sven Grünberg will attend the 13 February screening.

The film was a major success in the Soviet Union, drawing 17.5 million viewers by 1980. Production involved complex logistics, with exterior scenes shot in Kazakhstan's Tian Shan mountains. A full hotel structure was built there for panoramic shots, while interior scenes—including staircases, corridors, and a courtyard—were filmed in Tallinn's Dynamo tennis hall.

Before filming began, the project faced strict Soviet oversight. The artistic council closely reviewed the production design, costumes, and casting choices. Despite these hurdles, the film gained widespread popularity after its 1979 premiere.

Last year, Smile at Last (1985) became the first Estonian film featured in Berlinale Classics. Now, Dead Mountaineer's Hotel follows, with a newly digitised and restored version prepared for the festival.

The screening takes place on 13 February, a day after the Berlinale's opening. The restored print will introduce the cult Soviet-Estonian film to a new international audience. Peterson and Grünberg's presence highlights the event's significance for Estonian cinema history.