Two estonian animated films aim for Oscar shortlist
Morten Tšinakov’s and Lucija Mrzljak’s “Eeva,” produced by Eesti Joonisfilm, and Priit Tender’s “Koerkorter” (“The Dog Apartment,”) from Nukufilm, are vying for a spot on the Academy Award shortlist in the Best Animated Short Film category.
In 2023, Eesti Joonisfilm has seen considerable success with “Eeva,” a collaboration with Adriatic Animation. Earlier this year, “Eeva” made history as the first Estonian film featured in the short film competition at the renowned Berlin International Film Festival. Throughout the year, Morten Tšinakov and Lucija Mrzljak’s collaboration on the refined funeral film “Eeva” has garnered over twenty-five awards at various festivals, including prestigious recognition at Annecy and Zagreb festivals (in addition to the major ASIFA festivals Ottawa and Hiroshima). Notably, “Eeva” received the Alexeïeff – Parker Award at Annecy and the Best Croatian Film Award at Zagreb. Its path to the Oscar shortlist was paved by winning the Best Animated Short Film award at the Nashville Film Festival.
Morten Tšinakov comments, “We’re thrilled that our film has been acknowledged and celebrated. Recently, Alex Dudok de Wit included ‘Eeva’ among the year’s top films in Sight and Sound’s poll, alongside several feature films.”
In addition to “Eeva,” Priit Tender’s “Koerkorter” (“The Dog Apartment,”) produced by Nukufilm, is also striving for the Oscar shortlist. Priit Tender alternates between animated and puppet films. His surrealist work “Koerkorter,” which began its festival journey in 2022, has captured 30 awards across cities like London, Kraków, and Tampere. Among its accolades are the Grand Prize at the Stuttgart Animation Festival and Best Animated Film at the In the Palace Short Film Festival in Sofia, securing its shot at the Oscar shortlist.
Priit Tender remarks, “From the feedback I’ve received, the film’s success can be attributed to its high technical quality, visually captivating world, and the tragicomic protagonist whose struggles resonate with audiences.”
Kalev Tamm, producer at Eesti Joonisfilm, states, “It’s rewarding to see two films this year striving for the Oscar shortlist, each bringing unique artistry and substance to animated filmmaking. It underscores the global recognition and esteem for Estonian animation.”
Kerdi Oengo, producer at Nukufilm, adds, “Having two films aiming for the Oscar shortlist in the same year from a small country is a significant achievement, highlighting Estonian animation’s excellence in both artistic and technical aspects. We are proud to contribute to our country’s reputation and visibility.”
We look forward to supporting our animated films next week as preliminary voting begins on Thursday, December 14, and we anticipate learning by December 21 which 15 films will advance to the Oscar shortlist for Best Animated Short Film.