Awards in the Field of Film

The Estonian award season was relaunched with the ceremony of giving out the oldest-running Estonian film award at the beginning of 2023 – the Neitsi Maali award by the Estonian Film Journalists’ Association. This year, the award went to the documentary Machina Faust, directed by Kaupo Kruusiauk, that introduces Maria Faust, a talented musician, composer and saxophonist. The documentary closely observes the birth of three musical compositions by Faust, and contemplates the ways how the protagonist’s personal experience reflects in her artistic work.

Andrei Liimets, chairman of the Es tonian Film Journalists’ Association, comments: “This year’s competition was extremely tense and the argu ments were wild. But finally this sig nificant, innovative documentary won – a film that instead of giving a shiny image it gives us the sincere, hardcore portrait of a creative in dividual who matters right here and right now. Another remarka ble fact is that if during the past ten years only feature films col lected the award, then now for the second year film journal ists give increasing recogni tion to documentary films”.

The Cultural Endowment of Estonia also presented its annual awards in February 2023. The laureate of the audio-visual award was given to director Jaak Kilmi for his feature film The Sleeping Beast. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Ly Pulk for her invaluable contribution to the field of Estonian film. Ly Pulk has worked as a director and an assistant director in Eesti Telefilm, Tallinnfilm film studio, and other film production companies. She has also worked as a study consultant in the Baltic Film, Media and Arts School for many years.

Writer and screenwriter Aidi Vallik received the Annual Award for her vivid, socio-critical screenplay for the feature The Sleeping Beast. For the best debut feature film, the award went to director Ove Musting and his feature Kalev Rein Kotov received awards for his cine - matographer’s work in Kalev and Two Hours to Happiness, and for editing work in Kalev. The Best Actor Award went to Mait Malmsten for the role of basketball coach Jaak Salumets in Kalev. Rainer Sarnet got the award for his elegant directing in the documentary The Diary of Vaino Vahing

Director Kaupo Kruusiauk and musician Maria Faust received a shared award – for the immediate screen chemistry in the documentary Machina Faust. The Best Animated Film Award of the year went to Dog-Apartment, directed by Priit Tender. Director Maria Avdjuško received the award for her sensitive documentary portraits of cultural history The Lost Father, Comma and Unt’s Hour Cameraman and lecturer Mait Mäekivi got a special award for educating the young generations of cinematographers. EF

More Awards

Estonian filmmakers are also doing well in neighbouring countries, for instance when the Jussi Awards were given out in Finland then our filmmakers were nominated in several categories. Meelis Veeremets was nominated for his camerawork in J.-P. Valkeapää’s Hit Big in the category of Best Cinematography Award. Kaire Hendrikson was nominated for her work in the same project in the category of Best Makeup Design. Also, costume designer Eugen Tamberg was nominated for an Edda Award bestowed annually by the Icelandic Film and Television Academy, for his work in the film A Letter from Helga. The film is a co-production between Iceland, the Netherlands, and Estonia and is directed by Ása Helga Hjörleifsdóttir.

By EFI Photos by Erlend Štaub