On 16 September, during a special gala ceremony held in Tallinn, the winners of the Estonian Film and Television Awards (EFTAs) were announced. The accolades, established in 2017, aim to honour the achievements of national cinema and television, and are organised by the Estonian Film Institute, the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, national pubcaster ERR, Elisa and Telia.

This year, the Award for Best Film went to Kadri Kõusaar’s Deserted. Co-produced with Finland and Sweden, the hostage drama stars Ali Suliman, Jessica Grabowsky and Leanne Katkhuda. The story begins when a Swedish photo journalist, Ingrid, gets kidnapped by a gang of Palestinian men while on an assignment to the Sinai coast. Soon, Ingrid finds herself falling in love with the most sympathetic of the abductors, Ali. Ali’s boss, Moussa, suspects that something is going on and becomes increasingly dangerous and violent. The movie also won the gong for Best Cinematography.

Meanwhile, Rainer Sarnet’s The Diary of Vaino Vahing [+leggi anche:
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Finally, three prizes – Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Script – went to Priit Pääsuke’s Kids of the Night. Set in Tallinn, The youth-orientated comedy tells the story of three sisters who have all reached a different breaking point in their lives.

Here is the list of this year’s main award winners:

Best Film
Deserted – Kadri Kõusaar (Estonia/Sweden/Finland)

Best Documentary
The Diary of Vaino Vahing [+leggi anche:
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Best Animated Film
‘Til We Meet Again – Ülo Pikkov (Estonia)

Best Short
Mia & Liki – Katrin Tegova (Estonia)

Best Actress in a Film
Alice Siil – Kids of the Night (Estonia)

Best Actor in a Film
Peeter Oja – Kids of the Night

Best Director
Rainer Sarnet – The Diary of Vaino Vahing

Best Script
Ewert Kivi and Mart Raun – Kids of the Night

Best Cinematography
Sten-Johan Lill – Deserted

Best Editing
Ivar Murd – u.Q [+leggi anche:
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Best Sound
Markku Tiidumaa – u.Q

Best Score
Mati Uprus – Pingeväljade aednik (Estonia)

Best Production Design
Anu Laura Tuttelberg – ‘Til We Meet Again

Best Costumes
Anu Lensment – Sandra Gets a Job [+leggi anche:
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Best TV series
Sassis (Estonia)

Best Actress in a TV Series
Ragne Pekarev – Sassis

Best Actor in a TV Series
Egon Nuter – ENSV (Estonia)