Valentin Kuik

Born

1943-01-27

Died

2025-10-30

Birthplace

Vilo, Petseri County, Estonian SSR, USSR [now Zabolotye, Pskov Oblast, Pechorsky District, Russia]

Biography

Valentin Kuik (January 27, 1943 in the village of Zabolotje, near Novgorod, Russia – October 30, 2025) was an Estonian writer, film director and screenwriter. He graduated from Puurmani Secondary School in 1961. He worked as a physical education teacher at the Kabala 8th grade school. After military service, he went to Tallinn. From 1966 to 1968, he worked as a lighting engineer at Estonian Television and from 1968 to 1970, as a puppeteer at Tallinnfilm. In 1970, Kuik entered the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography, studying at the directing department under Professor Mikhail Romm. In 1975, he graduated cum laude. His diploma work was the short film "Löö vastu" (starring Jüri Aarma). From 1975 to 1992, Kuik was a director and screenwriter at Tallinnfilm, and later made documentaries at Eesti Telefilm and other studios. In 1998, he founded the studio F-Seitse OÜ with Dorian Supin, Sulev Keedus, Reet Sokmann, Mart Ots, Kadri Kanter and Kaie-Ene Rääk. Kuik has written short stories, narratives and screenplays.