03/05/2012 - Cineuropa was on hand as Estonia marked its cinematic centenary on April 30

The Estonian Film Industry began in 1912 with Johannes Pääsuke’s 1912 political satire Bear Hunt in Pärnu County (Karujaht Pärnumaal). On April 30, the Estonian Film Industry gathered in the university town of Tartu to celebrate a centenary of Estonian Cinema. An irreverent award cerermony sawguests ranging from the president of Estonia to film stars past and present on hand to celebrate the classic films of the small Baltic country.

Most lauded during the night were Viimne reliikvia (The Last Relic) (1969), the beloved Medieval adventure film set during a peasent uprising, and Arvo Kruusement’s Kevade (Spring) (1969), based on the classic novel by Oskar Luts examining life in an 1800s Estonian boarding school, the awards for which were picked up by a grateful Kruusement.

The jury for the Estonian Film 100 awards comprised Jaak Lõhmus (head of the jury), Marianna Kaat, Merle Palmiste, Peep Pedmanson, Ülo Pikkov, Riina Roose, Peep Puks, Edith Sepp, Timo Steiner, Artur Talvik, Manfred Vainokivi and Hardi Volmer.

The Motif That Has Best Defined a Century of Estonian Cinema:

WINNER:
Ambiguous Eyes

Actor of the Century:
WINNER: Lembit Ulfsak

Nominees:

Actress of the Century:
Elle Kull

The Film Duo of the Century:
Arno and Teele from Kevade (Spring), 1969

The Film Quote of the Century:
"Freedom is our relic!" from Viimne Reliikvia (The Last Relic, 1969

The Film Song of the Century:
Songs from Viimne Reliikvia (The Last Relic), 1969)

The Reality Moment of the Century:
Setumaa's panorama in 1912 (A Journey Through Setumaa, 1912

The Animated Character of the Century:
Lotte from the animation films of Heiki Ernits and Janno Põldma