President awards young cultural figure prize to dramaturg Priit Põldma

President Alar Karis has awarded this year’s young cultural figure prize to dramaturg and director Priit Põldma, ERR reported.

Born in 1994, Põldma studied at the School of Drama from 2014 to 2018 and earned a master’s degree in Estonian literature from the University of Tartu in 2021. He worked with the Estonian Theatre for Young Audiences from 2018 to 2020 and later became a freelancer.

Among his recent works is One Bright White Dove, a play about the life of Elin Toona that reached the stage at the Estonian Drama Theatre in 2024 in collaboration with Mari-Liis Lille.

In 2025, Vanemuine Theatre staged Fever, written and directed by Põldma, about the life of Konrad Mägi. Põldma also received the Konrad Mägi Foundation’s 2025 award for the work.

The President’s Cultural Foundation has presented the prize since 2002 to an outstanding cultural figure aged up to 35, as recognition for their work and encouragement for the future. Last year’s recipient was violinist Hans Christian Aavik. Previous recipients include Rita Ray and animator and director Sander Joon.