The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) is set to showcase a provocative selection of debut feature films this year. A total of 13 films will compete for the Best Debut Film Award, including 9 world premieres and 4 international premieres. All of the authors will be present in Tallinn.

A Global Selection

Ten of the films come from Europe, while Mexico, Taiwan, and Kyrgyzstan are represented from outside the continent.

Program curator Triin Tramberg describes this year’s lineup as bold and unconventional, offering perspectives that challenge audiences and push them out of their comfort zones.

“It’s exciting to see that more and more Works in Progress from our industry programme are finding their way back to the festival,” Tramberg said. “This year’s Interior is a great example — the film won the Audience Award in the Works in Progress section at last year’s Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, and now returns to PÖFF in the Debut Feature Competition.”

First Feature Competition Programme lineup

“Admission” (Taiwan), dir: Quentin Hsu
“A Safe Place” (Romania), dir: Cecilia ?tef?nescu
“Backstage Madness” (Kyrgyzstan), dir: Amanbek Adžõmat
“Dump of Untitled Pieces” (Turkey), dir: Melik Kuru
“Easy Girl” (Germany), dir: Hille Norden
“Elena’s Shift” (Greece), dir: Stefanos Tsivopoulos
“Hercules Falling” (Denmark), dir: Christian Bonke
“Interior” (Germany), dir: Pascal Schuh
“Juana” (Mexico), dir: Daniel Giménez Cacho
“Lady” (United Kingdom), dir: Samuel Abrahams
“My First Love” (Norway), dir: Mari Storstein
“Sunday Ninth” (Belgium), dir: Kat Steppe
“This Is Not Happening” (Poland), dir: Artur Wyrzykowski

The Main Competition Programme will be announced on October 10.