Smoke Sauna Sisterhood

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood
	Theatrical release poster
Estonian	Savvusanna sõsarad
Directed by	Anna Hints
Written by	Anna Hints
Produced by	Marianne Ostrat
Cinematography	Ants Tammik
Edited by	Qutaiba Barhamji; Anna Hints; Hendrik Mägar; Martin Männik; Tushar Prakash
Music by	Edvard Egilsson; EETER
Production; companies	Alexandra Film ; Kepler 22 Productions; Ursus Parvus
Release dates	22 January 2023 (Sundance); 23 March 2023 (Estonia);
Running time	90 minutes
Countries	Estonia; France; Iceland
Languages	Estonian; Seto; Võro
Box office	$432,476

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (Võro: Savvusanna sõsarad, lit. 'Sisters of the smoke sauna') is a 2023 documentary film written and directed by Anna Hints in her feature directorial debut.^[3] It is about a group of women who gather in a smoke sauna where they clean the dirt from their ashamed and aching bodies.^[4] It was selected as the Estonian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.^[5] It is a co-production between Estonia, France and Iceland.^[6]

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on 22 January 2023,^[7] where it competed in the World Cinema Documentary Competition and won the Directing Award at the World Cinema Documentary Competition.^[8]

Release

Festivals

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood had its world premiere on 22 January 2023, at the Sundance Film Festival,^[9] then it was screened on 17 March of that year at the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival,^[10] on 31 March at the Stockfish Film Festival,^[11] on 23 April at the San Francisco International Film Festival,^[12] on 13 May at the Millennium Docs Against Gravity,^[13] on 18 May at the Barcelona Documentary Film Festival,^[14] on 19 May at the Seattle International Film Festival,^[15] on 24 June at the Filmfest München,^[16] on 31 July at the New Zealand International Film Festival,^[17] on 4 August at the Melbourne International Film Festival^[18] and on 29 September in the Documentary Competition at the Zurich Film Festival.

Theatrical

It was commercially released on 23 March 2023, in Estonian theaters.^[19] It was released at cinemas in the UK and Ireland from 13 October 2023.^[20]

Reception

Critical reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 98% of 48 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Running the gamut from tears to laughter, Smoke Sauna Sisterhood finds cinematic poetry in the simple act of observing conversation."^[21] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 82 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".^[22]

Accolades

Year	Award / Festival	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref.
2023	Sundance Film Festival	World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary	Smoke Sauna Sisterhood	Nominated	^[23]
	Sundance Film Festival	World Cinema Documentary - Directing Award	Anna Hints	Won	^[23]
	Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival	Next:Wave Award	Smoke Sauna Sisterhood	Nominated	^[24]
	Hong Kong International Film Festival	Documentary Competition - Firebird Award		Nominated	^[25]
	San Francisco International Film Festival	Best Documentary Feature		Won	^[26]
	Filmfest München	CineRebels Award		Nominated	^[27]
	2023 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival	Outstanding Female-Led Feature Film		Won	^[28]
	19th Zurich Film Festival	Documentary Competition		Nominated	^[29]
	27th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival	Best Baltic Film		Won	^[30]
	European Film Awards	Best Documentary		Won	^[31]
	IDA Documentary Awards	Best Cinematography	Ants Tammik	Won	^[32]
	IDA Documentary Awards	Best Writing	Anna Hints	Nominated	^[33]
	Beldocs	Eurimages Audentia Award	Anna Hints	Won	^[34]
2024	17th Cinema Eye Honors	Outstanding Cinematography	Ants Tammik	Won	^[35]
		Outstanding Sound Design	Huldar Freyr Arnarson and Edvard Egilsson	Nominated
		Outstanding Debut	Smoke Sauna Sisterhood	Nominated
		Audience Choice Prize	Smoke Sauna Sisterhood	Nominated
	35th PGA Awards	Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures	Marianne Ostrat	Nominated	^[36]

References

^ Raigla, Malle-Liisa (24 March 2023). ""Savvusanna sõsarad" juhatab sisse Anna Hints". Lääne Elu (in Estonian). Retrieved 20 August 2023.
^ "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (2023)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
^ "Ilmus Anna Hintsi "Savvusanna sõsarad" täispikk treiler". ERR (in Estonian). 17 February 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
^ "Kultuurinädalavahetus: "Savvusanna sõsarad"". Hiiumaa (in Estonian). Retrieved 20 August 2023.
^ "SUITSUSAUNA VÄGI KESTAB ⟩ Eesti esitab Oscarile "Savvusanna sõsarad"". Film (in Estonian). 18 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
^ "Estonian movie 'Smoke Sauna Sisterhood' put forward for next year's Oscars". ERR. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
^ "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
^ "FOTOD | Saun, mis vabastab häbist ja valust. Sundance'il võidutsenud "Savvusanna sõsarad" esilinastus kodumaal". Eesti Päevaleht (in Estonian). Retrieved 21 August 2023.
^ ERR (8 December 2022). "Anna Hintsi "Savvusanna sõsarad" esilinastub Sundance'i filmifestivalil". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 20 August 2023.
^ Cunningham, Nick (22 March 2023). "CPH:DOX Next:Wave: Smoke Sauna Sisterhood by Anna Hints". Business Doc Europe. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
^ "SMOKE SAUNA SISTERHOOD". Stockfish kvikmynda og bransahátíð. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
^ "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood". SFFILM. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
^ Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, retrieved 21 August 2023
^ "El festival de cine documental de Barcelona que denuncia las violencias patriarcales". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 10 May 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
^ "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood". www.siff.net. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
^ "SMOKE SAUNA SISTERHOOD". www.filmfest-muenchen.de. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
^ New Zealand International Film Festival: Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, retrieved 21 August 2023
^ "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood". MIFF 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
^ "KULTUURIS KUUM ⟩ Haavatavusest ja vägivallast "Savvusanna sõsarate" režissööri Anna Hintsiga". Film (in Estonian). 22 March 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
^ ERR, ERR | (9 October 2023). "Estonian movie Smoke Sauna Sisterhood hits UK and Irish cinemas this fall". ERR. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
^ "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
^ "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood". Metacritic. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ "The Complete List of 2023 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners - sundance.org". 27 January 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
^ Cunningham, Nick (24 March 2023). "CPH:DOX 2023: And the winners are..." Business Doc Europe. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
^ "Stonewalling, 'Apolonia, Apolonia', Totem Among Winners of Hong Kong Film Festival 2023 Firebird Awards". VIMooZ. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
^ "'Smoke Sauna Sisterhood' wins best documentary award in San Francisco". ERR. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
^ "CineRebels Award". www.filmfest-muenchen.de. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
^ "Cinéfest reveals 2023 award winners". Sudbury.com, 28 September 2023.
^ "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood". zff.com. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
^ "GALLERY I PÖFF announces the winners". poff.ee. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
^ Melanie Goodfellow (9 December 2023). "Justine Triet's 'Anatomy Of A Fall' Sweeps European Film Awards Winning Best Film, Director, Screenplay & Actress For Sandra Hüller – Full Winners List". Deadline. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
^ Lewis, Hilary (13 December 2023). "IDA Documentary Awards: 'Bobi Wine: The People's President' Wins Best Feature". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
^ Carey, Matthew (21 November 2023). "'Apolonia, Apolonia,' 'The Mother Of All Lies,' 'Milisuthando' Lead Way As IDA Documentary Awards Announces Nominees – Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
^ Marko Stojiljković, "Thiiird and A Field Guide to Coastal Fortifications come out on top at the 16th Beldocs". Cineuropa, 17 May 2023.
^ ERR (16 January 2024). ""Savvusanna sõsarate" operaator Ants Tammik võitis New Yorgis Cinema Eye Honors auhinna". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 11 March 2024.
^ Pedersen, Erik (12 December 2023). "Producers Guild Awards Reveals Documentary Film Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved 11 March 2024.

External links

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood at IMDb

[1] Raigla, Malle-Liisa (24 March 2023). ""Savvusanna sõsarad" juhatab sisse Anna Hints". Lääne Elu (in Estonian). Retrieved 20 August 2023.

[BOM-2] "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (2023)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 11 April 2025.

[3] "Ilmus Anna Hintsi "Savvusanna sõsarad" täispikk treiler". ERR (in Estonian). 17 February 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.

[4] "Kultuurinädalavahetus: "Savvusanna sõsarad"". Hiiumaa (in Estonian). Retrieved 20 August 2023.

[5] "SUITSUSAUNA VÄGI KESTAB ⟩ Eesti esitab Oscarile "Savvusanna sõsarad"". Film (in Estonian). 18 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

[6] "Estonian movie 'Smoke Sauna Sisterhood' put forward for next year's Oscars". ERR. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

[7] "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

[8] "FOTOD | Saun, mis vabastab häbist ja valust. Sundance'il võidutsenud "Savvusanna sõsarad" esilinastus kodumaal". Eesti Päevaleht (in Estonian). Retrieved 21 August 2023.

[9] ERR (8 December 2022). "Anna Hintsi "Savvusanna sõsarad" esilinastub Sundance'i filmifestivalil". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 20 August 2023.

[10] Cunningham, Nick (22 March 2023). "CPH:DOX Next:Wave: Smoke Sauna Sisterhood by Anna Hints". Business Doc Europe. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

[11] "SMOKE SAUNA SISTERHOOD". Stockfish kvikmynda og bransahátíð. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

[12] "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood". SFFILM. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

[13] Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, retrieved 21 August 2023

[14] "El festival de cine documental de Barcelona que denuncia las violencias patriarcales". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 10 May 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

[15] "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood". www.siff.net. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

[16] "SMOKE SAUNA SISTERHOOD". www.filmfest-muenchen.de. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

[17] New Zealand International Film Festival: Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, retrieved 21 August 2023

[18] "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood". MIFF 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

[19] "KULTUURIS KUUM ⟩ Haavatavusest ja vägivallast "Savvusanna sõsarate" režissööri Anna Hintsiga". Film (in Estonian). 22 March 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.

[20] ERR, ERR | (9 October 2023). "Estonian movie Smoke Sauna Sisterhood hits UK and Irish cinemas this fall". ERR. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

[21] "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 12 October 2024.

[22] "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood". Metacritic. Retrieved 24 January 2024.

[23] "The Complete List of 2023 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners - sundance.org". 27 January 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

[24] Cunningham, Nick (24 March 2023). "CPH:DOX 2023: And the winners are..." Business Doc Europe. Retrieved 22 August 2023.

[25] "Stonewalling, 'Apolonia, Apolonia', Totem Among Winners of Hong Kong Film Festival 2023 Firebird Awards". VIMooZ. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.

[26] "'Smoke Sauna Sisterhood' wins best documentary award in San Francisco". ERR. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

[27] "CineRebels Award". www.filmfest-muenchen.de. Retrieved 22 August 2023.

[28] "Cinéfest reveals 2023 award winners". Sudbury.com, 28 September 2023.

[29] "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood". zff.com. Retrieved 15 October 2023.

[30] "GALLERY I PÖFF announces the winners". poff.ee. Retrieved 14 December 2023.

[31] Melanie Goodfellow (9 December 2023). "Justine Triet's 'Anatomy Of A Fall' Sweeps European Film Awards Winning Best Film, Director, Screenplay & Actress For Sandra Hüller – Full Winners List". Deadline. Retrieved 9 December 2023.

[32] Lewis, Hilary (13 December 2023). "IDA Documentary Awards: 'Bobi Wine: The People's President' Wins Best Feature". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 December 2023.

[33] Carey, Matthew (21 November 2023). "'Apolonia, Apolonia,' 'The Mother Of All Lies,' 'Milisuthando' Lead Way As IDA Documentary Awards Announces Nominees – Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 31 December 2023.

[34] Marko Stojiljković, "Thiiird and A Field Guide to Coastal Fortifications come out on top at the 16th Beldocs". Cineuropa, 17 May 2023.

[35] ERR (16 January 2024). ""Savvusanna sõsarate" operaator Ants Tammik võitis New Yorgis Cinema Eye Honors auhinna". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 11 March 2024.

[36] Pedersen, Erik (12 December 2023). "Producers Guild Awards Reveals Documentary Film Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved 11 March 2024.

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v t e Estonian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
1990s	Those Old Love Letters (1992)
2000s	The Heart of the Bear (2001) Revolution of Pigs (2004) Shop of Dreams (2005) The Class (2007) I Was Here (2008) December Heat (2009)
2010s	The Temptation of St. Tony (2010) Letters to Angel (2011) Mushrooming (2012) Free Range (2013) Tangerines (2014) 1944 (2015) Mother (2016) November (2017) Take It or Leave It (2018) Truth and Justice (2019)
2020s	The Last Ones (2020) On the Water (2021) Kalev (2022) Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (2023) 8 Views of Lake Biwa (2024) Rolling Papers (2025)

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Smoke Sauna Sisterhood
Theatrical release poster

Estonian	Savvusanna sõsarad

Directed by	Anna Hints
Written by	Anna Hints
Produced by	Marianne Ostrat
Cinematography	Ants Tammik
Edited by	Qutaiba Barhamji Anna Hints Hendrik Mägar Martin Männik Tushar Prakash
Music by	Edvard Egilsson EETER
Production companies	Alexandra Film Kepler 22 Productions Ursus Parvus
Release dates	22 January 2023 (2023-01-22) (Sundance) 23 March 2023 (2023-03-23) (Estonia)
Running time	90 minutes^[1]
Countries	Estonia France Iceland
Languages	Estonian Seto Võro
Box office	$432,476^[2]