In 1997, the Estonian film foundation was established by the Ministry of Culture, with the task to distribute the national film production budget. As the film industry develops rapidly due to the technological advancement and the ever-changing financing system, Estonian Film Institute (EFI) came to be as its successor, embracing a much wider spectre of activities in the film industry. EFI’s professional sphere now reaches the whole field of film. The institute is broadly divided in three departments: production, marketing and heritage. A sub-company called Tallinnfilm OÜ belongs in the EFI family, managing an arthouse cinema. Another cut member is Creative Europe MEDIA desk, mediating the financing and educational opportunities of the European Union. Legally, the Estonian Film Institute is a national foundation, financed by the Ministry of Culture.