Meet Oliver Kiisa | Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Oliver Kiisa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Oliver, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is a necessary one, a challenge that pushes me outside of my comfort zone. I’ve always seen life as full of challenges and opportunities, and there’s always risk involved. Every project I have produced, there’s risk involved that always requires to be evaluated. Whether it’s story, financing, production, or sending it to festivals. It can be daunting at first and it can be easy to give up, but without challenging yourself, one will never grow.

I’d like to think that I have made some risky decisions, not life or death, but I carefully made the choices that best suited me and my personal growth. Whether it was moving abroad to the United Kingdom alone as a teenager, and then moving to the United States to pursue my studies, grow my network, and produce shorts. All these decisions have had a downside – not being close to family, missing life-changing events such as weddings, funerals, and so on. However, the upside for personal growth has been insane. Understanding that the downside is more short-term and the upside is long-term, I decided to invest in the future.

By coming to Los Angeles, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting peers and mentors who are astounding producers, writers, directors, sound designers, and more. I’ve met individuals with whom we share a creative vision for films and stories. I have partnered up with directors and produced short films (Un Paso Mas, 30 Yards) that could not have been made in any other city. Un Paso Mas is a story about bullfighting, where tradition is challenged by modern times and values. 30 Yards is a love letter to the Silent Era of films – an era where stunts carried strenuous risks on the performers.

Risk is crucial for growth. It has pushed me to extraordinary lengths and I’ve ended up having an adventurous journey. A journey I am excited to continue.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m proud to be Estonian. With only 1.3 million of us, our culture and history—both political and cultural—are truly unique. Having had the opportunity to study in England and the United States has been pivotal in helping me understand how my background intersects with other cultures. This perspective drives my passion for discovering and producing untold stories from unexplored parts of the world to the screen, creating connections with audiences in both North America and Europe.

In filmmaking, each project comes with its own unique challenges. For instance, I produced a short film about bullfighting in Los Angeles titled Un Paso Más, which demanded authenticity despite budget constraints, production restrictions, and equipment limitations. At first, these challenges seemed overwhelming, but by breaking them down into manageable parts and tackling them head-on, we found ways to push forward.

One of our greatest strengths was our diverse and determined team, with talent hailing from Thailand, China, Iran, Estonia, Brazil, Mexico, and beyond. This international chemistry was crucial in navigating obstacles and finding creative solutions. Each of us had experience making films with limited resources, and this shared understanding allowed us to stretch what we had to its fullest potential.

Bringing a film to life is never easy, but with the right team and a bit of stubbornness, it’s possible. It’s about staying open to opportunities as they come. Currently, Un Paso Más is in post-production, and we’re excited to bring it to festivals this upcoming summer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be typing this if it weren’t for the support of my dear family. They have always helped me evaluate my options and guided me to make the right choice. Mum and Dad, I love you to pieces, and thank you for everything you have done for me and my brother.

My professional success stems from meeting the right people who have had my back and provided me with guidance throughout my career. I want to thank all my coworkers and peers from my home country, Estonia. There, I started my journey which allowed me to gain the momentum to carry to other countries. I admire my professors and mentors from London who helped me gain experience in the industry and get to the United States.

I am sincerely grateful for the relationships that the Peter Stark Producing Program has allowed me to cultivate. I cannot express my gratitude enough to the alums, mentors, and professors at Peter Stark who help me become a better professional and producer. Thank you Stark, and thank you Ed Saxon, Michelle Brattson, Mark Mitchell, Janet Graham Borba, and Andy Licht.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-kiisa/