Daniel, a brilliant but emotionally scarred physicist, has abandoned the search for meaning in love after the heartbreak of losing his high school sweetheart, Emma. Disillusioned with human connection, he places his trust solely in science, believing that the answers to life’s mysteries lie in logic and reason. When new neighbors, Anna and Kristo, move in across the street, Daniel finds himself intrigued by Anna’s unconventional yet insightful perspective on life. In a brief encounter, Anna challenges Daniel's lost faith in humanity, suggesting that people are like light.
This idea of light as a metaphor for human connection resonates with Daniel, but he takes it to an extreme, gradually retreating further into his isolation. His obsession with light grows, and he starts conversing with a nightlight left on the street by the previous tenants, spiraling into a world where reality and imagination blur. As the boundaries between the two begin to dissolve, Daniel’s belief in human connection weakens, and he becomes convinced that the only truth to be found lies in the physical light itself.
In this poignant exploration of the human condition, Tired Light delves into the struggle between logic and emotion, offering a glimpse into the fragile nature of human connection and the cost of losing touch with it.
SANDER REBANE
Sander Rebane is an Estonian actor recognized for his versatile performances in theater, film, and television. A graduate of Viljandi Academy of Culture at the University of Tartu, he was a prominent member of Pärnu's Endla Theatre from 2014 to 2025, earning accolades such as the Crystal Shoe award in 2018. His film appearances feature "Tenet" (2020) as a Ukrainian SWAT member, "Secret Society of Souptown" (2015) portraying Paul Veenre, and "Zero Point" (2014) as a student at Noarootsi. His dedication to his craft and dynamic presence continue to captivate audiences, solidifying his status as a distinguished figure in the Estonian performing arts scene.
HENESSI SCHMIDT
Henessi Schmidt, is a distinguished actress known for her dynamic performances in film and television. She graduated from the Viljandi Academy of Culture at the University of Tartu in 2019, majoring in theater arts. Schmidt's notable film roles include 'Maie' in "Winter" (2020) and 'Hedwig' in "Melchior the Apothecary" (2022). On television, she gained prominence portraying 'Gytha' in the Netflix series "Vikings: Valhalla" (2022–2024). In 2025, she expanded her international presence with a role in AMC's "Mayfair Witches."
MARTEN KUNINGAS
Marten Kuningas is a multifaceted musician and songwriter renowned for his innovative contributions to the country's music scene. He gained prominence as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band Miljardid, whose debut album "Kunagi läänes" won three Estonian Music Awards in 2019, including Album of the Year. In the 2011 feature film "Kormoranid ehk Nahkpükse ei pesta," he portrayed a pop artist, marking his entry into the acting scene. He further expanded his acting portfolio with the role of a band singer in the 2017 film "Sangarid." In 2023, Kuningas portrayed an eternal student in "Tume paradiis," a role that allowed him to delve into more complex themes.
Tired Light is a poetic meditation on meaning, isolation, and the quiet beauty of human connection. Told through emotion, imagery, and sound rather than plot, it invites the viewer to feel rather than follow—to sit in the in-between spaces where truth reveals itself like light in the dark.
Kati Jägel-Paal is an Estonian filmmaker and video artist with over 15 years of experience in the music and entertainment industry. After studying film in Manchester, she became a renowned video artist, shaping the visual language of major music-related TV shows and events in Estonia. Kati has been nominated for the Video Artist of the Year award in four consecutive years by the Estonian Music Industry Awards.
Her debut feature, Tired Light, is a deeply personal exploration of isolation, obsession, and the fragile beauty of human connection. With a distinct visual style influenced by an admiration for light as both a physical and symbolic force, Kati draws inspiration from auteurs like Terrence Malick, embracing poetic storytelling and dreamlike imagery.
Having built a career in the intersection of music, design, and moving images, Kati Jägel-Paal now brings her cinematic vision to the world of narrative filmmaking, capturing the fleeting, luminous moments that define what it means to be human.
Writer & director
Kati Jägel-Paal
Producers
Aivar Hannolainen
Kati Jägel-Paal
Triin Siim
Executive producer
Kati Jägel-Paal
Cast
Sander Rebane
Henessi Schmidt
Marten Kuningas
Ukku Habakukk
Jeanette Žhurzha
Yvonne Lagle
Hendrik Soon
Oliver Kennik
Tiina Saar-Veelmaa
Cinematographer & editor
Kati Jägel-Paal
Production deisgner
Isabel Napa
Costume designer
Kristin Liias
1st assistant director
Triin Siim
Unit production manager
Aivar Hannolainen
Camera operator
Ragne Nikkel
Focus puller
Ailar Uffert
1st assistant camera
Rasmus Mölder
2nd unit camera operators
Hans Põlluste
Eerik Vija
Drone operator
Hans Põlluste
Gaffer
René Jõhve
Set lighting technician
Marko Grinfeld
Production sound mixer
Sten Paal
Make up artist
Piret Kaljuste
Supervising sound editor
Sten Paal
Graphic designer
Artur Talpsepp
Colorist
Kati Jägel-Paal
Background artists
Aavo Irval
Allan Mõts
Andrias Tuuling
Anette Kallasmaa
Anne Saunpere
Anneli Koppel
Annika Rannamets
Anton Zahharov
Arsete Elberg
Artur Talpsepp
Ave Irval
Eerik Vija
Eliise Reispass
Eliise Renser
Eliise Rosenfeld
Evelina Nõmme
Gert Jõgiste
Helika Evelyn Moll
Helena Tooming
Helina Tooming
Hendrik Nõmmeots
Henry Soome
Hugo Reinik
Janek Sõrmus
Kadri Jürisoo
Kateryna Popova
Krislin Palumaa
Laura Kleidov
Leena Reispass
Liisa Palumaa
Maarja Lember
Mait Peetsalu
Marelle Vaino
Maria Jerilova
Marie Urvik
Mattias Johannes Kahar
Mattias Meimre
Merike Lapimaa
Merike Värik
Olesja Prants
Sandra Mikk
Sergii Bilous
Siim Reispass
Sten Palling
Triin Bõstrov
Ülle Adamson
Ülle Jõema
Ülle Parksepp
Valerii Popov
Special thanks
Alex Ott
Alice Aleksandridi
Andrus Seppam
Artur Talpsepp
Arvo Jägel
Georg Paal
Hendrik Soon
Janek Valgepea
Johannes Vedru
Kaupo Kuusemäe
Kirill Pavlov
Kristel Pikhof
Lauri Lehtsaar
Leana Jalukse
Merje Uppin
Neeme Kuningas
Olesja Prants
Raido Seppam
Risto Iljas
Sander Rohtla
Vladislav Bolmatov
Avastaja Kogudus | Karini Butiik | Sol Baltics OÜ | Stockmann | Uuskasutuskeskus | Vene Kultuurikeskus
