It’s a wrap for the Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival (HÕFF), whose – traditionally blood-soaked – 21st edition ended with the Award for Best Science-fiction Film going to Sweden’s Egghead Republic, directed by Hugo Lilja and Pella Kågerman.

“It was well thought-out, layered and filled with crazy fantasy – in the best sense,” said the jury about the film, set in an alternative reality where the Cold War didn’t end and a certain radioactive zone is apparently filled with centaurs.

HÕFF opened with Hanna Bergholm’s Nightborn, which premiered in the Berlinale’s main competition earlier this year. “If you have children, maybe you will recognise some of the things we are showing here. If you don’t, maybe you won’t want them after watching the film,” said screenwriter Ilja Rautsi.

Other notable European productions included Denmark’s Adorable Humans by Anders Jon, Michael Kunov, Kasper Juhl and Michael Panduro; Martijn Smits’ Meat Kills from the Netherlands; and Damian Mc Carthy’s Hokum, a collaboration between Ireland and the USA, starring Adam Scott.

Special screenings celebrated Polish master Andrzej Wajda – with a showing of 1968's Layer Cake, arguably one of his most experimental works – and another Polish curio, Sexmission, directed by Juliusz Machulski. On the local side, festival regular Mart Sander brought along Dr. Sander’s Hour of Horrors, vol 4 to the event.

“A rare adaptation of a Stanisław Lem short story, Layer Cake is known as the only science-fiction film by Andrzej Wajda. This screening also marked the 100th anniversary of Wajda’s birth,” said festival director Helmut Jänes. “As for Sexmission, this movie – made more than 40 years ago – was a unique and massive box-office hit that was also widely watched in Estonia. It was a time when ‘sex’ was not allowed to exist in the Soviet Union, so it was screened here under the more modest title New Amazons. For my generation, born in the early 1970s, this film remains dear, and its themes are still vital.”

The Méliès d’Argent competition was won by Spain’s I Owe You One, directed by Santi Capuz and Diego Jiménez, praised by the jury for “the most detailed and well-constructed script, which, through a minimalistic visual approach, delivers a sharp and funny punchline”. They added: “It kept the audience engaged from the beginning to the very end. After seeing this film, you’ll think twice about to whom you promise to return a favour.” Their Special Mention went to the Estonian historical fantasy Breadsong by Katariina Aule, while the Estonian shorts Eyes of the Forest and Tallinn in Flames were also noticed.

Aldo Tammsaar – the first Estonian to work professionally as a stuntman – was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award, receiving a black Haapsalu shawl “knitted especially for him and adorned with the winning design from the HÕFF Horror and Fantasy Pattern Competition”, explained marketing and communications coordinator Heinrich Sepp. Recalling his past, Tammsaar had the audience in stitches – especially while recounting how he brought home films previously banned by Finland’s Helsinki Love & Anarchy Film Festival.

“A small delegation of filmmakers, including Jörg Buttgereit and John Woo, travelled to Tallinn for the occasion. Overall, the award – the Haapsalu Shawl – certainly went to the right man,” Jänes told Cineuropa. “Between 1978 and 1994, Tammsaar was one of the best stunt masters in the Soviet Union. He was part of an elite six-person stunt team that worked on all of the most significant adventure films and thrillers of that era. In addition to his physical feats, Tammsaar founded Estonia’s first horror-film mini-festival.”

Here is the full list of award winners:

Best Science-fiction Film
Egghead Republic – Hugo Lilja, Pella Kågerman (Sweden)

Méliès d’Argent
I Owe You One – Santi Capuz, Diego Jiménez (Spain)
Special Mention
Breadsong – Katariina Aule (Estonia)

Best Estonian Genre Short Film
Eyes of the Forest – Anna Veisman (Estonia)
Special Mention
Tallinn in Flames, part of Dr. Sander’s Hour of Horrors, vol 4 – Mart Sander (Estonia)

Audience Awards

Winner
Incomplete Chairs – Kenichi Ugana (Japan)

Most Frightening
Saccharine – Natalie Erika James (Australia)

The Loveliest
Lone Wolf McQuade – Steve Carver (USA)

The Saddest
Kill Ada – Kunyu Wang (China)

Most Disgusting
Incomplete Chairs – Kenichi Ugana