As a member of the Mélies International Festivals Federation (MIFF), HÕFF is proud to host the international short film competition program and give out the Méliès d'Argent for the best short film. The receiver of the award will then be nominated for the best genre short film of the year that is awarded with the Méliès d'Or award.
Since 2015, HÕFF gives out a lifetime achievement award and an audience award. Among the recipients of the lifetime achievement awards are Tobe Hooper, Bill Rebane and Ben Wheatley, Harry Kümel and others. The award is a glow-in-the-dark 3D-printed howling wolf designed by Siim Tuksam.
From 2021, the festival awards the Best Sci-Fi Film chosen by the Estonian Science Fiction Association. Inspired by the 1979 film "Navigator Pirx" based on Stanisław Lem's short story, the award references a memorable scene in the film where one of the characters is revealed to be an android, re-imagined as a 3D-printed statuette by Estonian artist Karmo Järv.
Short Film Méliès d'Argent
2013: The Trap, dir Alberto Lopez (Belgium)
2014: Canis, dir Marc Riba and Anna Solanas (Spain)
2015: The Salt of the Earth, dir Jonathan Desoindre (France)
2016: The Black Bear, dir Mèryl Fortunat-Rossi and Xavier Seron (France, Belgium)
2017: Fucking Bunnies, dir Teemu Niukkanen (Finland)
2018: The Dark Room, dir Morgane Segaert (France)
2019: Bad Hair, dir Oskar Lehemaa (Estonia)
2020: Downs of the Dead, dir. Even Husby Grødahl (Norway)
2021: Hospital Dumpster Divers, dir. Anders Elsrud Hultgreen (Norway)
2022: Eyes On You, dir. Raoul Kirsima (Estonia)
2023: Shut, dir. Niels Bourgonje (Netherlands)
2024: Wander to Wonder, dir. Nina Gantz (Holland, Belgia, Prantsusmaa, ÜK)
Best Estonian Genre Film
2020: Eerie Fairy Tales, dir. Mart Sander
2021: Kratt, dir. Rasmus Merivoo
2022: Talent, dir. Silver Õun
2023: Child Machine, dir. Rain Rannu
2024: Chainsaws Were Singing, dir. Sander Maran
Navigator Pirx Award for Best Sci-Fi Film
2021: The Following Year dir Miguel Campana (France)
2022: Loop, dir Pablo Polledri (Spain)
2023: The Last Sentinel, dir Tanel Toom (Estonia, United Kingdom, Germany)
2024: Escape Attempt, dir Alex Topaller, Dan Shapiro (USA, Poland)
HÕFF Audience Award
2012: Iron Sky, dir Timo Vuorensola (Finland/Germany)
2013: Omnivores, dir Oscar Rojo (Spain)
2014: In Order of Disappearance, dir Hans Peter Molland (Norway/Denmark)
2015: The Guest, dir Adam Wingar (USA)
2016: In Search of the Ultra Sex, dir Nicolas Charlet, Bruno Lavaine (France)
2017: Bad Black, dir Nabwana I.G.G. (Uganda)
2018: Snowflake, dir Adolfo Kolmerer and William James (Germany)
2019: One Cut of the Dead, dir. Shinichirô Ueda (Japan)
2020: The Mortuary Collection, dir. Ryan Spindell (USA)
2021: Justice 2, dir. Toomas Aria (Estonia)
2022: The Sixth Secret, dir. Mart Sander (Estonia)
2023: Sisu, dir Jalmari Helander (Finland)
2024: Chainsaws Were Singing, dir. Sander Maran (Estonia)
Blunt Axe - Audience Award for the Worst Horror Film
2024: Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey (Unlimited Media)
HÕFF Lifetime Achievement Award
2013: Hideo Nakata (Japan)
2014: Tobe Hooper (USA)
2015: Sven Grünberg (Estonia)
2016: Karel Zeman, posthumous (Czechoslovakia)
2018: TV show Jupiter (Estonia)
2019: Vladimir Tarassov (Russia) and Priit Vaher (Estonia)
Award of Recognition
2020: Mari Lill, actor
2022: Gülnar Murumägi, culture manager
2023: Eve Kivi, actor
2024: Peeter Volkonski