Estonian-Georgian co-production “Tangerines” received prizes from Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Estonian Association of Film Journalists and the Cultural Endowment of Estonia during this week.
Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed over a cultural award to the producers of “Tangerines” on January, 6th. “We credit the creators of the Estonian-Georgian co-produced feature film “Tangerines” for introducing their humane point of view on political affairs and national security,” commented the Estonian Foreign Minister, Mr. Urmas Paet.
The Estonian Association of Film Journalists announced “Tangerines” as the Film of the Year on January, 8th. The prize called “Painting of the Virgin” was given to “Tangerines” for being a humanist anti-war narration on Estonians in their everlasting woe – being the sufferers from foreign wars.
On January 9th, the Cultural Endowment of Estonia handed out the traditional annual awards in the Estonian Drama Theatre. The main prize of audiovisual arts was received by the Estonian-Georgian “Tangerines” for the best film of the year. The Actor of the Year award was given to Lembit Ulfsak for his role in the same film.
“Tangerines” is currently also running in cinemas, over 33 000 movie-goers have seen the film in Estonia. In Georgia, the film has exceeded all viewer records since the country gained its independence. And as if audience success was not enough, “Tangerines” has received remarkable acknowledgement from international film festivals:
– Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) – Best Estonian Film; FICC Jury Special Prize
– Warsaw Film Festival – Best Director; Audience Award
– Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival – Jury Special Prize; Audience Award
– Tbilisi International Film Festival – Best Director
– Kerala International Film Festival – Official programme; opening film of the festival.
In addition, the film will be screened at the following international film festivals:
– Palm Springs IFF
– Göteborg IFF
– Belgrade IFF
– Glasgow IFF
– Fajr IFF
The feature film “Tangerines” is located in Abkhazia in 1992. Abkhazians are at war to break free from Georgia. The native Estonian village in a magic place between the mountains and see has run empty; Estonians have returned to their historical home land to flee from the approaching war.
Only Ivo (Lembit Ulfsak) and his neighbour, the owner of a tangerine plantation Markus (Elmo Nüganen) have stayed in the village. Markus, too, plans to head home to Estonia but only after the crop has been harvested. War reaches the village, and a gruesome battle between Georgians and Abkhazians takes place.
Ivo and Markus find one survivor from the battlefield – an Abkhazian named Ahmed, whom Ivo takes to his place to recover. When burying the deceased the same night, Markus discovers a gravely wounded Georgian who is barely alive. He is also taken to Ivo’s. The tangerin harvesters must now resolve their own war, happening under their roof with enemies from both sides.
Cast: Lembit Ulfsak, Elmo Nüganen, Giorgi Nakhashidze, Mikhail Meskhi, Raivo Trass
Screenplay and Director: Zaza Urushadze
DoP: Rein Kotov E.S.C.
Art Designer: Thea Telia
Costume Designer: Simon Machabeli
MUA: Tiina Leesik
Editing: Alexander Kuranov
Sound Director: Harmo Kallaste and Ivo Felt
Composer: Niaz Diasamidze
Producer: Ivo Felt and Zaza Urushadze
Allfilm and Cinema24, 2013
Additional information: Madis Tüür: 56911224, madis@allfilm.ee
