"Smoke Sauna Sisterhood of Estonia takes top prize at European Documentary Film Awards"
Estonia's "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood" secured victory at the European Film Awards, receiving the Best Documentary accolade on December 9 in Berlin, Germany.
Directed by Anna Hints, the film, titled "Savusanna Sõsarad" in Estonian, was among five nominees, going up against titles like "Apolonia, Apolonia," "Four Daughters," "On the Adamant," and "Motherland." The European Film Academy bestowed the win upon the Estonian production. In her acceptance speech, Hints expressed her gratitude through an impromptu song instead of a speech.
The documentary is a collaboration between Estonian, French, and Icelandic production teams, inspired by Hints' roots in southeastern Estonian culture and profound teachings from her grandmother, who dwelt in the Võru region. The film celebrates the transformative power of the smoke sauna tradition, shedding light on the raw and vulnerable stories of women within this sacred space.
"In 'Smoke Sauna Sisterhood,' I embarked on a journey to uncover the stories of women that lie within the sacred space of the smoke sauna, without judgement or shame," Hints noted. The film further explores aesthetics, form, and technical approach to capture the essence of this ancient tradition and foster female solidarity and empowerment.
Prior to this triumph, Hints also claimed the directing award in the World Cinema Documentary category at the Sundance Film Festival. In August, the Estonian Film Institute nominated the film for an Oscar in the Best International Feature category at the American Film Academy Awards. Notably, the New York Times recently selected "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood" as one of the best films of 2023.
The film also pays homage to the traditional Estonian smokehouse tradition, a practice that has been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The 36th European Film Awards, presented by the European Film Academy to honor achievements in European filmmaking, took place on December 9, 2023, at the Arena Berlin.
The film also spotlights the ancient Estonian smokehouse tradition, contributing to broader cultural preservation efforts recognized by UNESCO.
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- The Estonian culture, particularly the tradition of smoke saunas, is celebrated in the acclaimed documentary "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood," which received the Best Documentary award at the 36th European Film Awards.
- The film "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood," directed by Anna Hints, showcases Estonian entertainment through movies-and-tv, shining a light on the ancient Estonian smokehouse tradition, a UNESCO-recognized element of intangible cultural heritage.
- With its graceful exploration and preservation of Estonian culture, language, and tradition, "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood" has garnered international recognition, including nominations for the Oscar and inclusion as one of the best films of 2023 by the New York Times.
