One of the favorites to make the Oscar documentary feature shortlist this year takes viewers to a remote area of Estonia, within the healing space of the smoke sauna. It is an ancient tradition in that part of the world, a way of “connecting family and friends to cleanse body and soul inside a place of peace and contemplation.”
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, directed by Anna Hints and produced by Marianne Ostrat, won Best Documentary at the European Film Awards last weekend, and on Tuesday earned a PGA Award nomination for Outstanding Producer of a Documentary Motion Picture. Hints shot the film across different seasons, in winter and summer, with a group of women taking part in the smoke sauna ritual: hours in the hot space, naked in the semi-darkness, releasing physical and emotional toxins.
‘Smoke Sauna Sisterhood’
Hints traces her roots to the Southeast Estonian culture of Võromaa and Setomaa...
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, directed by Anna Hints and produced by Marianne Ostrat, won Best Documentary at the European Film Awards last weekend, and on Tuesday earned a PGA Award nomination for Outstanding Producer of a Documentary Motion Picture. Hints shot the film across different seasons, in winter and summer, with a group of women taking part in the smoke sauna ritual: hours in the hot space, naked in the semi-darkness, releasing physical and emotional toxins.
‘Smoke Sauna Sisterhood’
Hints traces her roots to the Southeast Estonian culture of Võromaa and Setomaa...
- 12/17/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
At the Award Ceremony of the 27th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), awards were presented to the winners of the festival’s five competition programmes and PÖFF’s youth and children’s film sub-festival Just Film.
The jury of the Official Selection Competition, headed by Trine Dyrholm, selected Emma Dante’s drama Misericordia as their favourite, handing the film the Grand Prix for Best Film.
Dante adapted her own play of the same name, telling the story of three prostitutes who live in the wasteland by the sea, where a village of outcasts has emerged. Its star Simone Zambelli also scooped the Best Actor Award.
The jury commented on the film with the following statement: “A powerful film about how to stay supportive and, above all, exhibit humanity in a marginalised environment. Beautifully directed, shot and acted, the Best Film Award goes to Misericordia.”
The Best Director Award went toManuel Martín CuencaforAndrea’s Love.
The jury of the Official Selection Competition, headed by Trine Dyrholm, selected Emma Dante’s drama Misericordia as their favourite, handing the film the Grand Prix for Best Film.
Dante adapted her own play of the same name, telling the story of three prostitutes who live in the wasteland by the sea, where a village of outcasts has emerged. Its star Simone Zambelli also scooped the Best Actor Award.
The jury commented on the film with the following statement: “A powerful film about how to stay supportive and, above all, exhibit humanity in a marginalised environment. Beautifully directed, shot and acted, the Best Film Award goes to Misericordia.”
The Best Director Award went toManuel Martín CuencaforAndrea’s Love.
- 11/19/2023
- by Caroline Frost
- Deadline Film + TV
At the Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn, Estonia, the Baltic Film sidebar has showcased an impressive range of work from the Baltic states – Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia – including the post-Soviet documentary “The Last Relic” and the 3D fable “Twittering Soul,” the hand-painted animation “The Peasants” and the Estonian oddity of “Spit in My Face.”
A palpable urgency can be felt as these former Soviet countries find themselves once more quite literally on the frontline between Europe and Russia and seek to affirm more keenly their own identity.
Leading the way this year has been “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood,” an intimate documentary of women ridding themselves of their demons in the smoke sauna of the title. Having picked up prizes in Sundance and now Tallinn, the film is heading into the Oscar race as Estonia’s nominee and is in the running in the documentary category also.
Speaking with Variety, director...
A palpable urgency can be felt as these former Soviet countries find themselves once more quite literally on the frontline between Europe and Russia and seek to affirm more keenly their own identity.
Leading the way this year has been “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood,” an intimate documentary of women ridding themselves of their demons in the smoke sauna of the title. Having picked up prizes in Sundance and now Tallinn, the film is heading into the Oscar race as Estonia’s nominee and is in the running in the documentary category also.
Speaking with Variety, director...
- 11/18/2023
- by John Bleasdale
- Variety Film + TV
Italian writer-director Emma Dante’s “Misericordia” has won the top prize at the Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn, Estonia. Adapted from her own play, her third feature tells the story of a young man (Simone Zambelli) with learning difficulties, cared for by a group of sex workers on an island, protecting him from the cruelty of his abusive father. It’s a raw portrait of a marginalized group of people, mixing natural beauty of the locations with the grime of everyday existence.
Zambelli also took the award for best actor, for his role as the man-child at the center of the drama. The best actress prize was shared by Lubna Azabal, who plays a teacher in Jawad Rhalib’s “Amal,” and Kim Higelin, who stars in the controversial French drama “Consent,” directed by Vanessa Filho, as a teenager having an affair with a manipulative and exploitative 50-year-old writer.
The...
Zambelli also took the award for best actor, for his role as the man-child at the center of the drama. The best actress prize was shared by Lubna Azabal, who plays a teacher in Jawad Rhalib’s “Amal,” and Kim Higelin, who stars in the controversial French drama “Consent,” directed by Vanessa Filho, as a teenager having an affair with a manipulative and exploitative 50-year-old writer.
The...
- 11/18/2023
- by John Bleasdale
- Variety Film + TV
“Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” director Anna Hints keeps on bewitching her audience. Literally.
“Maybe you are not wrong. Maybe it is witchcraft,” she says.
“There is this word in Estonian, nõid. It means healer, shaman, which is what my grandmother used to be. Words come to you and you heal through them. Coming from Estonian Indigenous culture, Võro, this connection with the spiritual world feels very natural to me. Artists are like witches.”
Her film – already lauded at Sundance, where Hints was awarded for directing – was recently shown at Zurich. Another one in a long life of festivals that fell for its portrayal of women sweating out toxins and inner demons, and sharing the most intimate stories.
“Everyone kept telling me that Swiss viewers are passive, but they all sang with me. I always do that ‘thank you’ song, wherever I go with the film,” she notes.
“I am surprised, happy...
“Maybe you are not wrong. Maybe it is witchcraft,” she says.
“There is this word in Estonian, nõid. It means healer, shaman, which is what my grandmother used to be. Words come to you and you heal through them. Coming from Estonian Indigenous culture, Võro, this connection with the spiritual world feels very natural to me. Artists are like witches.”
Her film – already lauded at Sundance, where Hints was awarded for directing – was recently shown at Zurich. Another one in a long life of festivals that fell for its portrayal of women sweating out toxins and inner demons, and sharing the most intimate stories.
“Everyone kept telling me that Swiss viewers are passive, but they all sang with me. I always do that ‘thank you’ song, wherever I go with the film,” she notes.
“I am surprised, happy...
- 10/2/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Estonia has selected the Sundance prize-winning doc Smoke Sauna Sisterhood as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2024 Oscars.
Directed by Anna Hints and produced by Marianne Ostrat, the film won the directing award in the World Cinema Documentary section at Sundance. Hints is an Estonian film director with a background in contemporary art and experimental folk music. The doc is her first feature.
The film’s synopsis reads: In the darkness of a smoke sauna, women share their innermost secrets and intimate experiences, washing off the shame trapped in their bodies and regaining their strength through a sense of communion.
The doc is a co-production between Estonia, France, and Iceland and played Cph: Dox, Hong Kong Film Festival, and Guanajuato following its Sundance bow. Greenwich Entertainment will release Smoke Sauna Sisterhood in North America in the autumn. Conic has acquired UK-Ireland distribution rights. Further deals...
Directed by Anna Hints and produced by Marianne Ostrat, the film won the directing award in the World Cinema Documentary section at Sundance. Hints is an Estonian film director with a background in contemporary art and experimental folk music. The doc is her first feature.
The film’s synopsis reads: In the darkness of a smoke sauna, women share their innermost secrets and intimate experiences, washing off the shame trapped in their bodies and regaining their strength through a sense of communion.
The doc is a co-production between Estonia, France, and Iceland and played Cph: Dox, Hong Kong Film Festival, and Guanajuato following its Sundance bow. Greenwich Entertainment will release Smoke Sauna Sisterhood in North America in the autumn. Conic has acquired UK-Ireland distribution rights. Further deals...
- 8/18/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Anna Hints’ film won the World Cinema – Documentary directing prize.
Conic has acquired UK-Ireland distribution rights to Estonian documentary Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, about women sharing their secrets within the darkness of a smoke sauna.
The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January, where Anna Hints won the directing prize in the World Cinema – Documentary section. It will have its UK premiere at Sheffield DocFest on Thursday, June 15; with Conic planning a UK-Ireland theatrical release for later in 2023.
Further festival screenings this year have included competition screenings at Cph:dox, Hong Kong, San Francisco and Seattle film festivals; while it opened non-fiction event DocsBarcelona in May.
Conic has acquired UK-Ireland distribution rights to Estonian documentary Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, about women sharing their secrets within the darkness of a smoke sauna.
The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January, where Anna Hints won the directing prize in the World Cinema – Documentary section. It will have its UK premiere at Sheffield DocFest on Thursday, June 15; with Conic planning a UK-Ireland theatrical release for later in 2023.
Further festival screenings this year have included competition screenings at Cph:dox, Hong Kong, San Francisco and Seattle film festivals; while it opened non-fiction event DocsBarcelona in May.
- 6/14/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Autlook Filmsales has sold “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood,” which won the directing award for Anna Hints in the World Cinema Documentary section at Sundance, to more than 20 territories in North America, Europe and Australia.
Deals are confirmed with Neue Visionen in Germany, Trigon in Switzerland, Against Gravity in Poland, Fidalgo in Norway, Ost For Paradise in Denmark, Vedetta in Benelux, Filmtrade in Greece and Cyprus, FilmIn in Spain, Alambique in Portugal, Filmladen in Austria, Pasaka Films in Lithuania, Artcam in Czech Rep. and Slovak Rep., Best Film in Latvia, Mozinet in Hungary, and Madman in Australia and New Zealand. The rights in U.S. have been picked up by Greenwich Entertainment and in Canada by Sherry Media Group. The theatrical release in Estonia is by Acme Film.
Autlook Films CEO Salma Abdalla said: “It’s exciting to see this high level of engagement and marketing ideas for theatrical releases around the globe.
Deals are confirmed with Neue Visionen in Germany, Trigon in Switzerland, Against Gravity in Poland, Fidalgo in Norway, Ost For Paradise in Denmark, Vedetta in Benelux, Filmtrade in Greece and Cyprus, FilmIn in Spain, Alambique in Portugal, Filmladen in Austria, Pasaka Films in Lithuania, Artcam in Czech Rep. and Slovak Rep., Best Film in Latvia, Mozinet in Hungary, and Madman in Australia and New Zealand. The rights in U.S. have been picked up by Greenwich Entertainment and in Canada by Sherry Media Group. The theatrical release in Estonia is by Acme Film.
Autlook Films CEO Salma Abdalla said: “It’s exciting to see this high level of engagement and marketing ideas for theatrical releases around the globe.
- 3/7/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Vienna-based Autlook Filmsales, one of the leading sales agents for documentaries, has acquired the feature-length documentary “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood,” ahead of its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival.
The film portrays the Estonian smoke sauna tradition, known as “savvusanna kombõ.” As well as telling the history of the smoke saunas as a place to give birth, director Anna Hints focuses on the women nowadays who come together in the saunas to share their secrets and intimate experiences.
“ ‘Smoke Sauna Sisterhood’ is a unique screening experience, best to watch with friends,” said Autlooks’ director of sales, Salma Abdalla. “Composed for the big screen, Anna Hints crafted a narrative that feels both extremely intimate and inclusive. The esthetically beautiful setting of a smoke sauna in the Estonian forests is filled with humanity, authenticity and humor.”
“No story too shameful, no burden too heavy to carry, when you share it with your sisterhood,...
The film portrays the Estonian smoke sauna tradition, known as “savvusanna kombõ.” As well as telling the history of the smoke saunas as a place to give birth, director Anna Hints focuses on the women nowadays who come together in the saunas to share their secrets and intimate experiences.
“ ‘Smoke Sauna Sisterhood’ is a unique screening experience, best to watch with friends,” said Autlooks’ director of sales, Salma Abdalla. “Composed for the big screen, Anna Hints crafted a narrative that feels both extremely intimate and inclusive. The esthetically beautiful setting of a smoke sauna in the Estonian forests is filled with humanity, authenticity and humor.”
“No story too shameful, no burden too heavy to carry, when you share it with your sisterhood,...
- 1/20/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
24 companies, all but five launched last decade, descend on Locarno from Aug. 6, mostly in person, to present their production slates.
Every market in international is its own story. So the projects they bring run a huge gamut. Following, a quick drill down on the companies and their banner titles. A second article, published later at Locarno, will look at some of the young indie sector’s major concerns and growth areas.
Estonia
Kafka Films, Karolina Veetamm
Tallinn-based, focused on narrative and doc features, at Match Me with a slate led by a trio of socially-relevant titles: “Tell Me,” a “poetical documentary,” says producer Veetamm; women’s emancipation tale “Aurora,” from Andres Maimik and Rain Tolk; and “The Last Five,” a dark comedy about Tallinn homeless from Triin Ruumet director of 2016 dark comedy, “The Days That Confused,” a Karlovy Vary East of the West Special Jury Prize winner.
Alexandra Film, Marianne Ostrat...
Every market in international is its own story. So the projects they bring run a huge gamut. Following, a quick drill down on the companies and their banner titles. A second article, published later at Locarno, will look at some of the young indie sector’s major concerns and growth areas.
Estonia
Kafka Films, Karolina Veetamm
Tallinn-based, focused on narrative and doc features, at Match Me with a slate led by a trio of socially-relevant titles: “Tell Me,” a “poetical documentary,” says producer Veetamm; women’s emancipation tale “Aurora,” from Andres Maimik and Rain Tolk; and “The Last Five,” a dark comedy about Tallinn homeless from Triin Ruumet director of 2016 dark comedy, “The Days That Confused,” a Karlovy Vary East of the West Special Jury Prize winner.
Alexandra Film, Marianne Ostrat...
- 8/6/2021
- by John Hopewell and Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Institute allocates $590,000 in unrestricted grant support for projects from 20 countries and territories across five continents.
Projects from Rithy Panh and Laura Poitras are among a diverse roster of 18 Sundance Institute Documentary Fund grantees announced on Tuesday (June 8).
There is a strong focus on Bipoc and women directors as the Institute announced a total of $590,000 in unrestricted grant support for projects from 20 countries and territories across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.
All of the US projects are directed by at least one Bipoc filmmaker. Some 72% of granted projects are directed by women, and the same proportion are working...
Projects from Rithy Panh and Laura Poitras are among a diverse roster of 18 Sundance Institute Documentary Fund grantees announced on Tuesday (June 8).
There is a strong focus on Bipoc and women directors as the Institute announced a total of $590,000 in unrestricted grant support for projects from 20 countries and territories across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.
All of the US projects are directed by at least one Bipoc filmmaker. Some 72% of granted projects are directed by women, and the same proportion are working...
- 6/8/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Cluster leaders are demanding the implementation of four main measures aimed at protecting Estonia's film industry. The Estonian Film Industry Cluster is poised to call for additional support in order to fight the state of emergency in the local film sector caused by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. In detail, the cluster leaders are demanding the implementation of four main provisions aimed at protecting Estonian cinema. While the leaders welcomed the national government's recent decision to earmark €600,000 from the cultural and sports crisis support package for film production, they also claim that additional efforts are required in order to overcome this unprecedented situation. The first requested measure is the allocation of at least €2 million to inject into the local film sector. Speaking about this first provision, Estonian Film Industry Cluster's board members Diana Mikita, Marge Liiske, Marianne Ostrat and Kristel Tõldsepp told the err.ee news portal: “Considering that the...
Industry@Tallinn and Baltic Event titles revealed.
The projects selected for Tallinn Black Nights’ industry showcase have been revealed, including a drama executive produced by Tim Roth and a new category for youth films.
Scroll down for full list of projects
This year’s Industry@Tallinn and Baltic Event will spotlight 18 films seeking sales agents or festivals for international premieres during works in progress sessions in the Estonian capital from November 26-27.
Both the Baltic Event, showcasing Baltic and Finnish projects, and International Works in Progress will compete for the same awards this year: the Post Production Award worth €10,000 and...
The projects selected for Tallinn Black Nights’ industry showcase have been revealed, including a drama executive produced by Tim Roth and a new category for youth films.
Scroll down for full list of projects
This year’s Industry@Tallinn and Baltic Event will spotlight 18 films seeking sales agents or festivals for international premieres during works in progress sessions in the Estonian capital from November 26-27.
Both the Baltic Event, showcasing Baltic and Finnish projects, and International Works in Progress will compete for the same awards this year: the Post Production Award worth €10,000 and...
- 11/6/2019
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
France-Finland co-production A Girl’s Room takes €20,000 Eurimages Co-Production Development Award.
The 2018 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has named the winners of its Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event awards after a week of presentations and meetings.
More than 400 delegates attended this year’s event.
In the festival’s Baltic Event Co-Production Market, which featured 16 projects, France-Finland feature A Girl’s Room, from director Aino Suni and producers Sébastien Aubert and Ulla Simonen, won the €20,000 Eurimages Co-Production Development Award.
The Cannes Marché du Film Producers’ Network Award, which comes with free accreditations to next year’s edition of Cannes, went to...
The 2018 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has named the winners of its Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event awards after a week of presentations and meetings.
More than 400 delegates attended this year’s event.
In the festival’s Baltic Event Co-Production Market, which featured 16 projects, France-Finland feature A Girl’s Room, from director Aino Suni and producers Sébastien Aubert and Ulla Simonen, won the €20,000 Eurimages Co-Production Development Award.
The Cannes Marché du Film Producers’ Network Award, which comes with free accreditations to next year’s edition of Cannes, went to...
- 11/30/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Amazon Studios’ Ted Hope to reveal “vision for film”; works in progress winner to receive new award worth more than $100,000.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (July 1-9) has announced its industry programme and the projects selected for its works in progress and Eurimages Lab Project awards.
The line-up includes an in conversation event with Ted Hope, head of motion picture production at Amazon Studios, who will offer his future vision for film.
The festival will also host mark 20 years since the death of Czech filmmaker František (Frank) Daniel with a workshop, where Daniel’s teaching methods will be presented by analysing the film Some Like It Hot.
Other events will provide insight into the Czech Republic’s production benefits; panels on approaches to film education in Europe; and the 10th annual conference of Europa Distribution.
In addition, the European Parliament will unveil the 10 films nominated for the 10th Lux Film Prize; the Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program...
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (July 1-9) has announced its industry programme and the projects selected for its works in progress and Eurimages Lab Project awards.
The line-up includes an in conversation event with Ted Hope, head of motion picture production at Amazon Studios, who will offer his future vision for film.
The festival will also host mark 20 years since the death of Czech filmmaker František (Frank) Daniel with a workshop, where Daniel’s teaching methods will be presented by analysing the film Some Like It Hot.
Other events will provide insight into the Czech Republic’s production benefits; panels on approaches to film education in Europe; and the 10th annual conference of Europa Distribution.
In addition, the European Parliament will unveil the 10 films nominated for the 10th Lux Film Prize; the Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program...
- 6/21/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
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