*THIS SCREENING IS NOW SOLD OUT*
The 6th Annual New York Baltic Film Festival (NYBFF) presented by Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America returns this November with the best new films from the Baltic region! This year’s lineup includes Anna Hints’s poignant documentary Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, which has been selected as Estonia’s contender for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards. The film will screen in-person only at Scandinavia House on November 12 at 7 PM. **A film talk with director Anna Hints follows the screening.**
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood intimately delves into the cultural tradition of Vana-Võromaa’s smoke saunas in South Estonia (which are included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list) and how they are unique spaces for healing and community. The film draws inspiration from the smoke saunas’ historical role in childbirth, where women gather to share secrets, connecting family and friends to cleanse the body and — more importantly — the soul, inside a place of peace of contemplation.
This documentary, which won an award for directing at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival (the first Estonian film to do so), captures the essence of the smoke sauna experience with masterful cinematography, evoking Vermeer and Rembrandt. Hints authentically portrays women, delving into themes of trauma, healing, and sisterhood. The film concludes with a runic verse, “Thank You Song for Smoke Sauna,” performed by director Anna Hints and producer Marianne Ostrat, expressing gratitude to the spirit of the smoke sauna, the women in the film, and all those who contributed to bringing Smoke Sauna Sisterhood to life. The film has been selected as Estonia’s contender for next year’s Academy Awards.
“This is a film that records a little-known aspect of a little-known national identity…the visual poetry is magnificent”—(Jonathan Romney, Financial Times)
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Anna Hints is an Estonian film director with a background in contemporary art and experimental folk music. As an active dumpster diver, Hints’ short documentary For Tomorrow Paradise Arrives (2021) initiated public discussion and growth of new grassroot movements against food waste in Estonia. Her first feature documentary Smoke Sauna Sisterhood premiered at Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Documentary Competition program in January 2023 where she won the award for Best Director. The film’s European Premiere was at CPH:DOX where it competed for the NEXT: WAVE AWARD. Hints is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the Department of Drama of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.
