The 2025 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) will showcase a compelling selection of documentaries in its Doc@PÖFF International and Baltic Competitions. For the first time, Baltic documentaries and feature films will compete in separate programmes.
This year’s selection explores themes ranging from family relationships and traditional ways of life to politics and war, with stories set across the globe — from Moldova to the Himalayan mountains. Many of them also portray women who dare to dream big despite restrictive and challenging circumstances.
“The films in Doc@PÖFF programme open a restless world where bold, author-driven works captivate with their search for balance and understanding — and demonstrate that documentaries can be even more engaging than fiction,” says curator Marianna Kaat.
Doc@PÖFF International Competition Films
Days of Wonder (Finland), dir: Karin Pennanen
Edge of the Night (Estonia), dir: Vladimir Loginov
Electing Miss Santa (Moldova, Romania), dir: Raisa Razmerita
Far Away (Turkey), dir: Tayfur Aydin
The Feast of the Wolf (Croatia, Serbia), dir: Jadran Boban
Goodbye Sisters (France, Nepal), dir: Alexander Murphy
It’s Winter (Iran, France), dir: Sajad Imani
The Lunch: A Letter to America (Italy, USA), dir: Gianluca Vassallo
Miss Jobson (Spain, Jamaica), dir: Amanda Sans Pantling
One Day I Wish to See You Happy (Ukraine, France), dir: Maryna Nikolcheva
Doc@PÖFF International Competition Jury
Tania El Khoury (France)
A producer and founder of Khamsin Films (Beirut) and Les Films de l’Altaï (Paris), Tania El Khoury has produced acclaimed works such as The River (Locarno 2021) and Machtat (ACID Cannes 2023). A 2024 ACE Network fellow, she is known for fostering bold international collaborations.
Marianne Ostrat (Estonia)
An Estonian producer and founder of Alexandra Film and Fork Film Animation Studio, Marianne Ostrat’s credits include Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (Sundance 2023 Directing Award). Her films have screened at Venice, Locarno, SXSW and other major festivals. She is a member of the European Film Academy and PGA.
Daniel Abma (Germany)
German filmmaker and documentary director Daniel Abma is known for Beyond Wriezen, Transit Havana, and Autobahn. His award-winning, character-driven documentaries have screened at Karlovy Vary, IDFA, and DOK Leipzig. He teaches documentary directing at Film University Babelsberg and mentors at international pitching forums.
Doc@PÖFF Baltic Competition Films
A Goodnight Kiss (Lithuania, Estonia), dir: Giedre Žickyte
BIX Almost Nirvana (Lithuania), dir: Emilis Velyvis
Happiness is Living in Our Land (Estonia), dir: Indrek Spungin
Holy Destructors (Lithuania, France), dir: Aiste Žegulyte
Laguna (France, Lithuania), dir: Sharunas Bartas
The Last Will (Lithuania), dir: Janis Abele
Lost Stars of the Horoscope (Estonia), dir: Katrina Lehismäe
My Family and Other Clowns (Estonia), dir: Heilika Pikkov, Liina Särkinen
Not Made For Politics (Belarus), dir: Volia Chajkouskaya
Scarecrows (Latvia, Lithuania), dir: Laila Pakalnina, Laila Pakalnina
Time to the Target (Latvia, Czechia, Ukraine), dir: Vitaly Mansky
Doc@PÖFF Baltic Competition Jury
Ana Fernández Saiz (Spain)
A UK-based documentary consultant and founder of a boutique sales agency for international non-fiction, Ana Fernández Saiz has over a decade of experience in production and distribution across Europe. She is dedicated to championing distinctive voices and cross-cultural collaborations.
Pamela Cohn (USA)
Pamela Cohn, a curator, journalist, and nonfiction story consultant, is the author of Lucid Dreaming: Conversations with 29 Filmmakers and the host of The Lucid Dreaming Podcast. She serves on DokuFest’s selection committee and was curator-in-residence at HIAP in Helsinki (2024–2025).
Koen Suidgeest (Netherlands)
Filmmaker, photographer, and educator, Koen Suidgeest is known for socially engaged documentaries such as Casting (2006) and Karla’s Arrival (2011). His work has screened at over 45 festivals worldwide. He also teaches filmmaking and mentors at international workshops.
PÖFF will announce the films selected for the Feature Competition on October 28.
The 29th edition of PÖFF will take place from 7 to 23 November 2025, while the industry platform Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event will run from 14 to 21 November 2025. The festival’s Closing Gala will take place on November 21.