Estonian Photographer's Career Gets Documentary Premiere at Tallinn Film Festival
A new film examines the physical and social demands of documenting global cinema events, premiering in the photographer's home country.
By Abigail Brooks ·
Erlend Štaub has spent the last 15 years documenting the red carpets of major international film festivals. He now faces the challenge of being the subject of a camera himself. The documentary A Photographer in Cannes, directed by Kullar Vilmne and co-written by editor Erik Norkroos, offers a behind-the-scenes view of this profession. The film world-premieres in the Special Screenings program of the 30th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia.
The project began with a text message from Vilmne at six in the morning. Štaub initially laughed and suggested the idea was not good. After meeting and listening to the director's vision, Štaub agreed to participate. He recognized that his daily routine appeared unusual to outsiders. The film follows Štaub as he works at exclusive parties and concerts in Estonia. It also shows his physical training and the mental focus required for the job.
The documentary includes footage from the Cannes Film Festival. Štaub has attended the event for 15 consecutive years. He noted that his relationship with the Cannes organization allows him to photograph alongside established American and French photographers. For this project, the festival granted the film crew a daily accreditation to place cameras behind and in front of Štaub on the red carpet. Štaub stated that the festival staff supported the team by making these logistical arrangements possible.
Physical fitness is a central theme in the film. Štaub described the work as stressful and compared the required physical strength to that of a military person. He maintains a small gym in his home to prepare for the pressure of the red carpet. He said that staying fit helps prevent him from collapsing under the intensity of the events.
During a recent photocall at Cannes 2026, Štaub met actor Vin Diesel. Diesel gave Štaub a fist bump and thanked the photographers for making him a real actor. Štaub described the encounter as the best day of his life. He said Diesel respects the journalists and fans who support the industry.
Štaub has also photographed other stars such as Bill Murray, Harrison Ford, and Will Smith. He noted that these actors enjoy interacting with the audience. For his future work, he hopes to photograph Samuel Jackson, Keanu Reeves, and Sylvester Stallone. He expressed particular enthusiasm for seeing Stallone in his new film I Play Rocky.
At the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Štaub serves as the official photographer. He described the local event as distinct from international festivals because of the long lines of people requesting photos. He aims to work with each individual one by one to create a connection. He said that when a subject looks directly into his camera, it creates a sense of intimacy between the photographer and the star.
The premiere marks the first public screening of the documentary. The film will be shown in Estonia, where Štaub has worked for several years. The screening takes place as part of the festival's Special Screenings program. Štaub continues to work as the official photographer for the event in Tallinn.
