‘Smoke Sauna Sisterhood’ nominated for international awards
The Estonian-made and co-produced documentary film ‘Smoke Sauna Sisterhood’, or ‘Savvusanna sõsarad’ in South Estonian has received much international attention. The movie, directed by Anna Hints, depicts a group of women, who share their life experiences and secrets, while washing away literal and figurative dirt off themselves.
The Estonian Film Institute (EFI) picked the movie as a candidate for the best international film category at next year’s Oscars, held in March 2024. The EFI committee called the movie ‘visually enchanting’ and sensitive, in addition to simultaneously encapsulating the temporary and timeless, the political and the poetic, and other seemingly polar opposites.
In addition, the film has been named as one of five nominees for the 2024 LUX European Audience Film Award. The nomination was announced on 1 September at the Venice International Film Festival. The award celebrates European cinema and its aim is to raise awareness of Europe’s social, political and cultural issues. Movies nominated for the award are subtitled in all 24 of the EU’s official languages.
Distribution rights have been sold to more than 30 countries, while around 27,000 moviegoers in Estonia have already been to see the film. The movie has already been screened at more than 20 festivals and won four awards, including Anna Hints’ World Cinema Documentary Best Director Award at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. The movie is a co-production involving Alexandra Film (Estonia), Kepler22 Productions (France) and Ursus Parvus (Iceland).
