{ About us }

Story

Kullaaugu farm in the village of Ahja in Põlva county is the childhood home of Estonian musician brothers Aigar Vals and Argo Vals. There they have held annual Kullaaugu music festivals since 2010.

Argo has graduated in pop-jazz music (BA) and has been the main idealogical force behind Kullaaugu music festival. Aigar has graduated in Film Editing (BA) and Animation (MA), and has created original film score for Miisufy, which was selected to Sundance IFF competition programme in 2024. The brothers have been residents themselves, resulting in a perfect combination of organizing Kullaaugu film music residency. By the end of 2023, the film music residency had set off in Ahja.

During 2024, Kullaaugu will bring musicians from Europe and around the world to a small village in South Estonia. In collaboration with film-, animation- and video artists, and inspired by surrounding environment, original sound design and/or music will be born. At concerts and presentations, the symbiosis of film and sound will reach a wider audience.

Experience

The creative residency takes top-class musicians out of their usual environment and puts them in the middle of nature in Põlva county. We hope that what they experience in a village in Southern Estonia will add a fascinating touch to the artist’s handwriting and stimulate a dialogue with the filmmaker and the surroundings! Both students and professional filmmakers are welcome to provide input.

Music gourmands will be able to enjoy the fruits of the residents’ creative work at the Genialists’ Club in Tartu and in other cultural institutions in South Estonia. At the concerts, the authors will be performing live against the backdrop of the visuals, the interplay of image and sound making the result even more powerful. The musicians will also introduce their methods and tools to students in South Estonia, therewith inspiring a new generation of music and film lovers.

Impact

Kullaaugu is gaining fame in Estonia and the world as a music farm, and is placing Ahja and Põlva municipality to people’s consciousness as a unique cultural centre. Kullaaugu is spreading the passion for music and film among the workshop participants – Perhaps it is Põlva that new cultural talents will emerge from?

Future

Our main goal is to develop Kullaaugu into a high-level Nordic film music residency and well-known event venue among audiovisual art gourmands. A place for composers to feel inspired and get their work materialized at.