Sierra & Dog ApartmentFlying High

Sander Joon’s Sierra has been selected to more than 100 festivals around the world.

Estonia’s biggest international animation hit has been Sander Joon’s short animated film Sierra. The film has been shortlisted for an Oscar, bringing it one step

By Maria Ulfsak

Sierra was eligible for an Academy Award in Animated Short thanks to wins at AFI Fest, San Francisco, and Palm Springs ShortFest. Joon’s film has been chosen by over 130 festivals and has received over 40 awards. The film has travelled to many notable festivals such as Ottawa, Clermont-Ferrand, Valencia, Animatricks, Turku, Viborg, Animafest Cyprus, Fantoche and Cinekid, to name a few. Sierra was written, designed and directed by Sander Joon and produced by Aurelia Aasa (AAA Creative) and Erik Heinsalu (BOP! Animation). The official list of Academy Awards nominees will be announced on January 24, and the awards ceremony will take place on March 12. At the heart of the story is a young boy who turns into a tyre during a rally-driving competition. Beneath the absurdity of the narrative lies a personal story inspired by the film-maker’s relationship with his father. According to producer Aurelia Aasa, Sierra tells a universal story that resonates with many.

“Yet, I believe the phenomenon of the film is its exhilarating, often unexpected dark humour that keeps the viewer hooked throughout the story. Director Sander Joon worked relentlessly on even the most microscopic details, and I’m delighted that the viewers have approached Sierra with the same kind of enthusiasm. I hope this rally will help us move forward with the development of a feature-length animated comedy,” says Aasa. Also conquering festivals and viewer’s hearts is Priit Tenders masterful puppet animation Dog Apartment. The 14-minute short that premiered at 2022 festival Animist Tallinn has already participated in 23 festivals and won eight prizes, three of them being the Grand Prix (at Animasyros in Greece, Tofusi festival in Batumi, Georgia and Etiuda&Anima festival in Krakow, Poland). This winter and spring, the film will also compete at Black Movie Geneva International Independent Film Festival in Switzerland, Monstra festival in Portugal, and Anima Brussels, among others. Dog Apartment is an absurdist drama about a decayed male ballet dancer and his barking apartment. The main character Sergei lives in an apartment building near a suburban kolhoz. He is having his mundane fights against routine, domestic animals and alcohol. It is based on the poem by Estonian surrealist poet Andres Ehin.“Dog Apartment is played on such a humanistic note,” says the producer of the film Kerdi Oengo. “The film demonstrates what can happen to you on the worst of your days. It deeply touches the viewers. The funny thing is that almost every festival that selects the film, also awards it.” BF

Priit Tender’s Dog Apartment is also a big hit at many international film festivals.