The Estonian animated film Idyll won two top prizes — Best Short Film and Best Animated Film — at the Membrana Film Festival, held in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Even being selected for the competition programme was a major recognition, as the film was chosen from more than 1,500 submissions. The festival organisers praised the film’s powerful visual language and masterful execution. Membrana Film Festival founder Mike Marks conveyed his congratulations to the Idyll team, saying that the film was very well received by audiences.

“England is a strong filmmaking country, where professional craftsmanship, cinematic language and narrative structure are highly valued — that makes these awards especially meaningful,” explained director Rao Heidmets. “The Friend of Ukraine award we recently received from Ukrainians was very heart-warming and showed that the film’s original idea resonates with them. Now the awards from England show that Idyll speaks to audiences on many different levels. A big thank you to the entire film team — good films can only be made with an exceptionally professional crew, exactly like the one Idyll had. The film’s success confirms that Estonian animation is clearly visible and continues to be appreciated on the international stage.”

The Membrana Film Festival is an international festival aimed at highlighting distinctive visual styles by selecting arthouse and independent films that push boundaries.

Source: EFI.ee