Ice, Men and a Starling
While most pensioners are slowing down, one 87-year-old is preparing for a final high-speed race across the ice.
On the frozen waters of Hiiumaa, 87-year-old Vello Jürjo, a legendary figure in the world of ice sailing, begins building his very last iceboat. Hearing the news, his grandson, director Mihkel Oksmann, rushes to document the process. What follows is a beautifully observed, funny and warm film about the passing of time, the changing seasons, and the stubborn refusal to let go of the things that make us feel alive.
What begins as a look at an obscure winter sport quickly deepens into a rich portrait of male bonding, aging, and unspoken love. Far from a leisurely trip down memory lane the film weaves beautiful archival footage of Vello’s past victories into a present-day story where moments of silence speak volumes.
“Ice, Men and a Starling” is a deeply moving and life-affirming documentary. Mihkel Oksmann delivers a heartwarming exploration of stubborn passion and intergenerational ties, offering a poetic reminder that while growing old is mandatory, growing up remains entirely optional.
Mike Arnott
Biography
Mihkel Oksmann (1992) is an Estonian documentary filmmaker and cinematographer, known for his humanistic storytelling, subtle humour and intimate portrayals of everyday life. He comes from a family of sailors. He studied fine arts at the Estonian Academy of Arts (BA, 2016) and documentary filmmaking at Baltic Film and Media School (MA, 2018, cum laude). His graduation film, “A Well-Kept Secret” (2018), won an award at the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival. In 2019, he was granted a stipend from the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation for an 11-month full-time internship in New York at the production company Flatbush Pictures. He also co-directed “Wedding Officiant” (2020), which received the Best Documentary Short award at the Oslo Film Festival.
Filmography
Jää, mehed ja kuldnokk (Ice, Men and a Starling, 2026, doc)
Screenings
