Estonian photographer documents festival life

A new documentary offers an intimate look at the labor behind the glamour of international film festivals.

The film, titled A Photographer in Cannes, follows Erlend Štaub, the official photographer for the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, as he works at major global events. The documentary was directed by Kullar Vilmne, who co-wrote the project with editor Erik Norkroos. It will make its world premiere in the Special Screenings program at the 30th edition of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia. The film contrasts the public perception of red carpet events with the rigorous routine required to capture them. It shows Štaub moving between exclusive parties, concerts, and late-night editing sessions to deliver images for the following morning.

The production required careful coordination with festival organizers to film the photographer at work. Štaub noted that his long-standing relationship with the Cannes Film Festival allowed the crew to place cameras in strategic positions on the red carpet. While his own accreditation covered a 13-day period, the filmmakers needed to secure new permits for their equipment daily. Festival staff granted permission to position one camera behind Štaub and another in front of him. This setup allowed viewers to see both the photographer’s perspective and the reactions of the celebrities he captures. Štaub described the festival staff as helpful and collaborative in making this access possible.

The documentary emphasizes the physical and mental stamina required for the job. Štaub compares the physical demands of the work to that of a military person, citing the high pressure of the environment. He maintains a home gym to stay in shape, noting that he fears collapsing on the red carpet if he is not physically strong enough to handle the stress. He also discusses the importance of personality in building rapport with subjects. He advises aspiring photographers to maintain their unique traits rather than imitating others, arguing that people connect with authentic individuals. He recalls an encounter at the Berlinale where a stranger recognized him from a photo taken years earlier, illustrating how his distinct presence leaves an impression.

The film captures Štaub’s interactions with high-profile actors during the Cannes 2026 edition. He highlights a moment with Vin Diesel, whom he had longed to photograph. Diesel greeted him with a fist bump at a photocall and expressed gratitude to the press for making him a real actor. Štaub called the encounter the best day of his life. He also listed several other celebrities, including Bill Murray, Harrison Ford, and Will Smith, as subjects who engage well with photographers. For future projects, he expressed interest in photographing Samuel Jackson, Keanu Reeves, and Anthony Hopkins. He noted that his ideal working condition involves creating a one-on-one connection where the subject looks directly into the lens, making the rest of the room disappear.