The film "The Dead Mountaineer's Hotel," directed by Grigori Kromanov and released in 1979, had its screening on February 13 at the Berlin Film Festival as the opening film of the Berlinale Classics program dedicated to archive films. This year's choice highlights the importance of classic cinema, drawing on the work of the Strugatsky brothers, whose novel serves as the basis for the film. The screening was a full house event, showcasing the enduring appeal of this Estonian classic.

For the first time, the audience experienced a freshly restored version of the film distributed by Deaf Crocodile Films in the USA. Notable attendees included Lembit Peterson, who portrayed Simonet in the film, and composer Sven Grünberg, who created the film's score. This marks a significant occasion for Estonian cinema, as it is the second time an Estonian film has been selected for the Berlinale Classics program; last year, the newly digitized and restored film "Naerata ometi" (1985) was featured.

The inclusion of "The Dead Mountaineer's Hotel" in such a prestigious international film festival underscores Estonia's rich cinematic history and highlights the importance of preserving and showcasing classic films. Events like these not only bring attention to the film itself but also to the broader context of Estonian culture and film heritage, inviting audiences worldwide to appreciate and engage with its artistic contributions.