Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) reveals the selection for the Baltic Film competition. Presenting the crème de la crème of fresh output from the festival’s home region, this year’s Baltic Competition programme consists of 16 works, including 6 world premieres and 2 international premieres, alongside with previously released and critically acclaimed Baltic films.
“The Baltic Film Competition has two missions: to debut the freshest and boldest Baltic films of any genre as first screenings or international premieres. Secondly, to showcase award-winning Baltic films to audiences, celebrating their recent successes abroad,” comments Edvinas Pukšta, the main curator of the competition.
The Opening Film of the competition strand is the historical drama “Never Alone” by the Finnish director Klaus Härö (“Fencer,” 2015). Partly filmed in Estonia, with costumes by Eugen Tamberg and production design by Jaagup Roomet, the film tells the lesser-known story of Abraham Stiller’s struggle to protect Jews from deportation to the Nazis.
The Baltic Film Competition at PÖFF remains the only category allowing regional premieres, though we are increasingly securing World and International premieres,” says Pukšta. “Additionally, the rising demand for Baltic films at top festivals encourages us to showcase acclaimed regional hits. We couldn’t pass on films like “Flow” (multiple awards), “Drowning Dry” (Best Director and Best Ensemble at Locarno), or “Lioness” (Best Screenwriter in Warsaw). Likewise, we felt it was fair to allow “Southern Chronicles” and “Tasty” their premieres in Cottbus just a week before Tallinn.”
Besides fiction films, 5 documentaries will be screened “This indicates that Baltic filmmakers are strong in real fiction, ” shares Pukšta his thoughts.
The winner of the best Baltic film will receive a grant of 5000 EUR from Piletilevi.
Baltic Film Competition 2024: Film Details
“Anna LOL,” 2024, Latvia;
director: Ivars Tontegode. World premiere.
“Black Velvet,” 2024, Latvia;
director: Liene Linde. Baltic premiere.
“Drowning Dry,” 2024, Latvia, Lithuania;
director: Laurynas Bareiša. Estonian premiere.
“Flow,” 2024, Latvia, France, Belgium;
director: Gints Zilbalodis. Estonian premiere.
“I Was Born In A Garage,” 2024, Estonia;
director: Arko Okk. World premiere.
“In The Land That Sings,” 2024, Latvia;
director: M?ris Martinsons. International premiere.
“Life & Love,” 2024, Estonia;
director: Helen Takkin.
“Lioness,” 2024, Estonia, Germany, Latvia;
director: Liina-Triškina Vanhatalo.
“My Partners,” 2024, Estonia;
director: Eeva Kübar. World premiere.
“Never Alone,” 2024, Finland, Estonia, Austria, Germany, Sweden;
director: Klaus Härö. World premiere.
“Paradise Not Lost,” 2024, Lithuania;
director: Linas Mikuta. World premiere.
“Rebel with a Bow Tie,” 2024, Estonia;
director: Jaan Tootsen. World premiere
“Tasty,” 2024, Lithuania, Estonia;
director: Egl? Vertelyt?. World premiere
“The End,” 2024, Latvia;
director: M?ris Maskal?ns. International premiere
“Southern Chronicles,” 2024, Lithuania, Estonia;
director: Ignas Miškinis. Baltic premiere
“Touched by Eternity,” 2024, Latvia;
director: M?r?is L??is. Baltic premiere
The 28th edition of PÖFF will take place from the 8th until the 24th of November, while the festival’s industry platform Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event will run from 14th until the 22nd of November.
The opening ceremony take place on the 8th of November at Alexela Concert Hall. The festival opening film is “Long Story Short,” directed by David Dietl.
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival with Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event and with the two sub-festivals, Just Film and PÖFF Shorts, has grown into one of the biggest film festivals in Northern Europe and the busiest regional industry platforms.
About Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (Pimedate Ööde filmifestival, PÖFF) first took place in 1997. Since 2014, PÖFF is one of the 15 A-list film festivals accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) alongside the Cannes, Karlovy Vary, San Sebastian, Locarno, Venice, Berlin, Cairo, Mar de Plata, Goa, Tokyo and other film festivals. The accreditation is renewed every year.
The aim of the festival is to present a comprehensive selection of world cinema from the last two years to a local and international audience, offering fresh film production with high artistic value.
Today, the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival with Industry @ Tallinn & Baltic Event and with the two sub-festivals, Just Film and PÖFF Shorts, has grown into one of the biggest film festivals in Northern Europe and the busiest regional industry platforms. The festival is an important meeting point for a rapidly growing number of industry professionals from around the globe.