Jaak Kilmi was born in Talinn, Estonia, in 1973. He began studying cinematography in 1992 at the Talinn Pedagogical University Film Department, choosing directing as his main optional subject. During his six years of studies, he made three short films : "Aguli-Ellinor", 8 min (1993), "Ta-Ram Ta-Ram",17 min (1995) and "Külla Tuli" fiction, 39 min (1998). The latter won the Grand Prix du Jury at the 1998 Rencontres Inernationales Henri Langlois, as well as awards at a number of other festivals (Angers, Oberhausen, Potsdam, Stuttgart. Following the completion of his studies, Jaak Kilmi directed two other short films : "Tähesoit" 39 min (1999) and "The Human Camera" 39 min (1999). Jack Kilmi is a member of the Estonian Film Critics Union and writes numerous articles for the specialist press.