Portfolio

Logline:
Through the life of Meelis Lao – Estonian mafia boss, patriot, and spy – this thrilling docuseries unravels how the Russian mob rose to power in post-Soviet Europe, and how Estonia became the critical frontier.

Synopsis:
The Eastern Godfather is a gripping three-part docuseries tracing the rise of organized crime in the chaos of the 1990s. With unprecedented access and first-hand accounts, the story dives into KGB entanglements, black market deals, assassination attempts, and survival in a world where lawlessness reigned. Told through the lens of one man who lived it all.

Visual Style:
Stylized reenactments meet archive-heavy, cinematic storytelling. Think Narcos, ZeroZeroZero, and McMafia, but rooted in the unique post-Soviet transformation of the Baltics.

Themes:
Power, corruption, national identity, survival, betrayal, organized crime, and the cost of loyalty.

For more information contact: Producer Ingrid Eloranta; ingrid@cuba.ee