Estonian film journalists chose Anna Hints’ documentary “Savvusanna sõsarad” as the best Estonian film of 2023 and Johannes Lõhmus as film journalist of the year.
The success story of the “Savvusanna Sisters” began about a year ago with a victory at the Sundance Festival, followed by a flight around the world, which ended with the title of best documentary from the European Film Academy. Even though the Oscar fell short, director Anna Hints and producer Marianne Ostrat took home Estonia’s oldest film award, Neitsi Maal, today. Johannes Lõhmus, whose comprehensive reviews have been published by Sirp, Eesti Ekspress and Estonian Film magazine, was named film journalist of the year.
“I think 2023 was an exceptionally good year for Estonian cinema,” said Johannes Lõhmus, film journalist of the year 2023. “Every year not so many films are made where I, as a cinema lover, can sit back and stay completely glued to the screen. This is because the stories that are told are so courageous, original and sincere. And we are very happy that they have also been noticed abroad, that this is not just a discovery of our Estonian internal affairs, but that they are universally talk to people all over the world.”
In addition to “Savvusanna’s Sisters”, Liis Nimik’s documentary “Päikesaeag” and Kullar Viimse and Erik Norkroos’ documentary “Hell’s Boilerman”, Rainer Sarnet’s feature film “Invisible Struggle” and Oskar Lehemaa’s animated short film also received nominations “Lost Socks”.
“It’s not important what genre the film is made in, but what is important is the story,” said Johannes Lõhmus. “It could be a short 15-minute animation of what happens under the bed, and it’s so masterfully staged that you’ll remember this movie for the rest of the year.”
The Neitsi Maal Award has been awarded by the Estonian Association of Film Journalists since 1993.
2024-01-03 16:54:00
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