Screen Tests for the Köler Prize 2026 (Ekraaniproovid Köler Prize’ile 2026)

The premiere of the film Screen Tests for the Köler Prize 2026 will take place at the Sõprus Cinema on April 24 at 20:00. The film features interviews with five Estonian artists nominated for the Köler Prize: Anna Mari Liivrand, Darja Popolitova, Hanna Samoson, Keiu Maasik, and Taavi Suisalu. The artists discuss each other’s work, answer questions posed to one another, and introduce their creative processes. The film will be introduced by director Piibe Kolka and creative producer Brigit Arop. Admission to the premiere is free.

The film is in Estonian, with English and Estonian subtitles. Following the premiere, the film will be screened at the nominees’ exhibition of the Köler Prize 2026 at the Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia from Wednesday through Sunday, 12:00–19:00. Screen Tests has been part of the award project since its inception in 2011, and all previous films can be viewed during the exhibition both at EKKM bar and on the museum’s YouTube channel @ekkmtallinn.

The Köler Prize was founded in 2011 by EKKM to popularise contemporary art, as well as to give prominence to and recognise local artists. The seventh and most recent Köler Prize exhibition took place in 2018, after which the award has been on hold due to difficult circumstances. In 2026, the main award of 15,000 euros will be sponsored by the indie video game developer and publisher ZA/UM Studio and its fashion division ZA/UM Atelier. An Audience Award of 5,000 euros will be sponsored by the law firm COBALT.

Köler Prize 2026 nominees’ exhibition takes place from April 11 to July 5 at EKKM. Five Estonian artists have each submitted a new work for the exhibition; based on these, an international jury will select the winner of the main award, and visitors will decide the recipient of the Audience Award. You can vote for your favorite until June 11 at EKKM. On June 12, a grand awards gala will take place, during which the winner of the Köler Prize main award and the audience favorite will be announced.

The film Screen Tests for the Köler Prize 2026 was created by:
Director and editor: Piibe Kolka
Cinematographer and colorist: Alis Mäesalu
Sound designer: Israel Bañuelos
Music composer: Roma Vjazemski
Translator: Tõnis Jürgens
Graphic designer: Rasmus Einman
Creative producer: Brigit Arop

Supported by: Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Põhjala Brewery, Punch Club
Special thanks to: Albert Kerstna, Joosep Kivimäe, Kaimar Tauri Tamm, Kaisa Maasik-Koplimets, Marianne Kõrver, Nele Tammeaid, Nima Sarabi, Paul Kuimet, Roman-Sten Tõnissoo, Sten Saarits, Tor Simen Ulstein, Acousmatic Film Sound, Cinema Sõprus, Klaasmeri & Levila, SUI Films – Hõbe Ilus & Mihkel Oksmann, Tartu Art Museum