14/04/2025 - Liina Triškina-Vanhatalo’s Lioness was also a big winner, snagging the gongs for Best Feature Film and Best Screenwriter

On Friday 12 April, the Estonian Film and Television Awards (EFTA) gala took place at the Alexela Concert Hall, revealing this year’s award recipients.

A total of 31 awards were handed out – 16 in the film and 15 in the television categories. The accolades, established in 2017, aim to honour achievements in national cinema and television, and are organised by the Estonian Film Institute.

The biggest winner was Marko Raat’s romantic drama 8 Views of Lake Biwa [+see also:
film review
film profile]. The pic was nominated in 15 categories and ended up snagging seven awards: Best Costume Designer in Film, Best Make-up Artist in Film, Best Production Designer, Best Actress in a Film, Best Film Composer, Best Cinematographer and Best Director. A co-production between Estonia and Finland, the IFFR-premiered title stars Elina Masing in the leading role. It is loosely based on the novel of the same name penned by Max Dauthendy.

“8 Views of Lake Biwa is not a film you can carry in a bag or use to fix a roof. But it’s precisely the kind of film that, if you dare to watch it, may take you somewhere you wouldn't otherwise go. As an author, you always hope that happens. Most of the time it doesn’t, but this time, it seems it actually did – for the few who dared to watch it, the experience was strangely memorable,” said Raat during his acceptance speech.

Meanwhile, the Award for Best Feature Film went to Liina Triškina-Vanhatalo’s Lioness [+see also:
trailer
film profile], an Estonian-German-Latvian co-production that played at Warsaw and Tallinn last year. The helmer was also crowned Best Screenwriter. Martti Helde’s Vara küps got the gong for Best Documentary.

The evening was hosted by Karl-Erik Taukar, with performances by Curly Strings, Ewert Sundja and Tiit Kikas.

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

Best Feature Film
Lioness [+see also:
trailer
film profile] - Liina Triškina-Vanhatalo (Estonia/Germany/Latvia)

Best Documentary Film
Vara küps - Martti Helde

Best Animated Film
Luna Rossa - Olga Pärn, Priit Pärn

Best Short Film
Sewing Machina - Ülo Pikkov

Best Film Director
Marko Raat – 8 Views of Lake Biwa [+see also:
film review
film profile] (Estonia/Finland)

Best Screenwriter
Liina Triškina-Vanhatalo - Lioness

Best Director of Photography
Sten-Johan Lill - 8 Views of Lake Biwa

Best Film Editor
Sander Maran – Chainsaws Were Singing [+see also:
interview: Sander Maran
film profile]

Best Sound Director in a Film
Horret Kuus – Life & Love

Best Film Composer
Jakob Juhkam - 8 Views of Lake Biwa

Best Production Designer
Kristina Lõuk - 8 Views of Lake Biwa

Best Costume Designer in a Film
Reet Aus - 8 Views of Lake Biwa

Best Make-up Artist in a Film
Liisi Põllumaa - 8 Views of Lake Biwa

Best Actress in a Film
Tiina Tauraite - 8 Views of Lake Biwa

Best Actor in a Film
Pääru Oja – The Shadow [+see also:
film review
interview: Jaak Kilmi
film profile]

Lifetime Achievement in Film
Frost Films

Best TV Series
Traitor

Best Reality Show
Bellingshauseniga Artikas: Loodeväli

Best Entertainment Show
Eesti (täielik ja kontrollitud) ajalugu

Best Special Programme
Ukraina stuudio. Päev Volodõmõr Zelenskiga

Best Current Affairs Programme
Täistund

Best TV Director
Ove Musting – Traitor

Best TV Editor
Kai Väärtnõu - Ringvaade, Eesti (täielik ja kontrollitud) ajalugu, Ainulaadne aastakäik

Best Host
Anu Välba - Hommik Anuga

Best TV Journalist
Marii Karell – Laser

Best Actress in a Series
Julia Aug – Traitor

Best Actor in a Series
Tõnis Niinemets – Alo

TV Format Creator of the Year
Raivo Maripuu - Eesti (täielik ja kontrollitud) ajalugu, Pealtnägija

TV Content Creator of the Year
Tauno Vahter - Eesti (täielik ja kontrollitud) ajalugu, Kirjandusministri juures

TV Newcomer of the Year
Telehommik

Lifetime Achievement in Television
Enn Eesmaa