Tartu Film Fund Wins Prestigious European Enterprise Promotion Award

On November 19th, the best European promoters of entrepreneurship were recognized at the annual SME Assembly conference, “Shaping Europe’s Future,” organized by the European Commission in Budapest. The Tartu Film Fund won the grand prize in the category “Improving the Business Environment and Supporting the Internationalization of Businesses.” The award aims to highlight best practices and inspire other regions and organizations to create similar initiatives.

This prestigious competition begins with a national selection process, with the best candidates advancing to the European finals. The Tartu Film Fund triumphed among 442 candidates from 29 countries. In the same category, entrepreneurial support organizations from Finland and Ireland were also nominated. Tartu Film Fund was recognized for successfully implementing innovative measures and initiatives that have made the business environment in Estonia and Europe more attractive, particularly focusing on the support of small and medium-sized enterprises.

“This is an incredible and special experience! We are overjoyed!” shared Külli Hansen, Head of Tartu Centre for Creative Industries, expressing her initial impressions from the award gala. “This grand prize is a significant achievement for the Tartu Film Fund, demonstrating that our daily efforts to enhance the attractiveness of Southern Estonia and Tartu, as well as develop local services, are essential and valuable—not just on a local level. After receiving the award, representatives from several countries approached us, expressing interest in establishing similar funds in their regions. A film fund has an economic impact and serves as an investment in regional development. Tartu is setting an example for other European regions,” Hansen emphasized.

“This award is not just recognition for the work of the film fund team, but also for the entire Southern Estonian community and our partners, who have helped the Tartu Film Fund grow and succeed. Our goal is to create a film-friendly environment in Southern Estonia that fosters creativity, entrepreneurship, and collaboration, and this recognition proves we are on the right track. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us on this journey!” added Signe Somelar-Erikson, Development Manager of the Tartu Film Fund.

Recognition for Tartu Film Fund!

On November 2, at the “Best Estonian Enterprises 2024” gala, Tartu Film Fund received the Business Promoter Award. Next, TFF will represent Estonia in Budapest at the Europe-wide “European Enterprise Promotion Awards 2024”!

“Winning the Estonian competition alone is very significant for us, showing that the recent efforts of Tartu Film Fund in developing the Tartu and Southern Estonia film region have been recognized and valued. Our participation in the European competition has also started off on a very positive note. We already know that out of 442 candidates, we have been selected as one of the three finalists competing for the grand prize in improving the business environment. We proudly carry the title of ‘European Enterprise Awards Finalist’ and are eager to see how we fare in the finals,” said Külli Hansen, head of Tartu Centre for Creative Indutries.

Sauna Day wins grand prize at Brno Film Festival

The Estonian short film "Sauna Day" ("Sannapäiv") by Anna Hints and Tushar Prakash which premiered during this year's Cannes Film Festival Critics' Week, has won the grand prize at the BRNO16 Film Festival in the Czech Republic.

More than 1,000 short films were initially submitted to BRNO16. An international jury selected "Sauna Day" as the winner from a field of 34 films in the competition for the grand prize.

"Spatial intimacy, body interaction and human relationships leave an unmistakable feeling under our skin," said the jury. "A subtle but subversive emotionality is presented to us in a ritualistic culture, with a touch of history that reveals the ambiguous nature of gradually revealed male desire. The brilliant camerawork and the carefully crafted film language left a mark in our cinematic consciousness."

The film's producer Johanna Maria Paulson said that winning the festival's top prize is a great honor, as the standard is high and the competition fierce.

"The jury was unanimous about the grand prize and for us, what makes this event even more special is that it is the first time that "Sauna Day" has won such a prestigious award. To date, the film has already made it to 14 festivals, including two of the film world's big guns, Cannes and Toronto, where it has a very low chance of making it. This is a remarkable achievement for an Estonian short film," Paulson said.