PÖFF - Black Nights Film Festival (Tallinn, Estonia)
A cinematic journey into the forest home of wild creatures — their dining room, their bedroom, their world.
A lighthearted comedy about how money can change people, or perhaps just reveal who you really were all along.
The melodrama directed by Paul Sehnert tells the story about a couple in love who wants to return to Estonia from Russia. Soviet authorities receive secret complaints about the couple and start to work against their plans.
Ukrainian refugee children living in Estonia.
Documentary film looks at a century of war, atrocities, loss and ultimately togetherness through the eyes of a woman who lost everything but love.
A powerful journey to the heart of Indonesia’s Sumba island, where an activist confronts centuries-old traditions to rescue an 8-year-old child from servitude.
The film directed by Kaljo Kiisk is based on the novel "An Option" by Aimée Beekman, telling about parents' responsibility for their offspring.
“What’s the most beautiful thing anyone’s ever said to you?”
The invisible life of Tallinn, what comes alive while the city sleeps.
How to survive parenthood, when you have a lot to juggle?
The drama directed by Veljo Käsper is based on the short story "The Girl in Black" by Lilli Promet. The visually enjoyable lyrical love story depicts human solitude and the way people relate themselves to religion. Starring Lithuanian film star Juozas Budraitis.
A political story of Belarusian women under the lead of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya fighting the dictatorship turns into a personal story of the director overcoming her own fear.
Leaving a troubled home, 13-year-old Paul finds himself in a strange town, joining a gang of local kids and making a series of increasingly bad decisions. His seemingly inevitable downfall is thwarted, however, by a peculiar local man.
The film directed by Vladimir Gaidarov is the first German-Estonian co-production, telling about the adventurous life of alcohol smugglers. Estonian actor Ants Eskola, ballet dancer Robert Rood and people of the local coast can be seen in the roles of sailors.
From a small-town garage to become country's top architect!
The story of internationally renowned German organist Anna and her Latvian husband Andris, the head of a major state-owned company in Latvia. After Anna's concert in Germany, they return to Latvia only to be met with news of Andris’s involvement in a corruption scandal. As media pressure mounts, Andris struggles under immense stress, while Anna must navigate between her husband's damaged reputation and its impact on her own career as a musician.
In 1933, a young woman leaves her rural home to chase her dream of becoming a writer in the city. She takes a job as a maid for a middle-aged printing house owner who quickly starts pursuing her romantically, revealing power games that lead to dire consequences.
A sincere and heartfelt view of the soul of a lonely man who, despite his frustrations and advanced age, is still waiting for a companion in his life to be with, and who through complex internal struggles finds the strength to warm up his relationship with his daughter.
Three different families, one from Berlin and two from Estonia try out having multiple partners at the same time. Coping with the lack of self-esteem and fighting with jealousy are here just the tip of the iceberg.
In the Netherlands, an anarchist collective JAN10 battles the ongoing housing crisis by squatting empty buildings, which poses a threat to the established capitalist interests.
Juhan Liiv, a financially struggling poet and an unlikely detective, solves gruesome murder cases in Estonia, the westernmost province of the Russian Empire in the 1890s.
The film was director Peeter Urbla's graduation work, based on the short story "Long Walk to Forever" by Kurt Vonnegut.
Eight lake views of the Japanese art tradition translated into the language of the longings and desires of Old Believers at Lake Peipus.
Comical triptych about residents at an apartment block district who long for a better life. When a black hole mysteriously appears in a lilac bush, they will have to face aliens, a giant spider and an Austrian in breeches.
Documentary follows President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in the last year and a half of his term in office - as he grapples with the complexities of world politics and his private life.
Short film directed by Toomas Tahvel based on the short story of the same title by Osvald Tooming.
Short film directed by Peeter Simm based on the short story "Gypsies" by Kalju Saaber. Artistic director of the film Andrei Tarkovsky.
Twin filmmakers are making a movie about twin filmmakers who are trying to make a movie about twins.
The feature film directed by Leida Laius is based on the youth novel "Stepmother" by Silvia Rannamaa. The socially sensitive drama is telling the story about the children growing up in an orphanage and about parents' responsibility for their children's fate.
Christmas is-a-jingling to Lapland in 1984. Niina (28), a single mother drifts into the middle of an international missile crisis in Inari when the Soviet Union shoots a missile across the Finnish border. A drama-comedy of personal and national borders and boundaries
Village tough guy was abducted by aliens. Now he’s back. Watch out, woke pussies!
Sweden, 2018. A mysterious syndrome affecting refugee children is sparking concerns among doctors and politicians.
Adventures await when new lovers are separated by a chainsaw killer.
Filmstudent Rauno Laikjõe’s short film shows the beauty and pain of young relationships through humor.
In the darkness of smoke sauna, women share their innermost secrets and intimate experiences. Through a sense of communion, women wash off the shame trapped in their bodies and regain their strength.
Short Documentary that follows morgue workers’ daily life.
Correctness-loving librarian Eve goes on a hunt for an unreturned book to prove her arrogant co-worker wrong.
After the death of the world's last cow, a young couple finds themselves on a hunt for butter, through the labyrinth of their apartment building. When they finally reach the basement, a dangerous game for life and butter begins.
The psychological drama directed by Leida Laius keeps expanding upon a woman's destiny.
Psychological romantic drama directed by Olav Neuland. The film is based on the novel "Corrida" by Teet Kallas.
„Mamma, see how I dance! Mother, see me slitting my throat!“ This is a drama full of feminine absurd, where mother and daughter drown in a passionate and endless desire to understand each other.
The film is about the relationship of a mother and son after they have reunited after 10 years.
There's a crack on the same course!
The pitch-black comedy directed by Andres Maimik and Rain Tolk about well-known Estonian actor Jan Uuspõld. Having reached a dead end with his life, Jan starts a dramatic journey full of adventures from Tallinn to Tartu. Numerous public figures in Estonia participate in the film, including the president of the country.
An interactive psychological drama with a branching narrative which leads to nine endings.
The debut feature film directed by Lembit Ulfsak is a road movie about people who have reached their midlife crisis. One summer they take a trip to a healer through the picturesque landscapes of Estonia, in order to regain happiness in their lives.
When a murderer is loose in town, the town is sick. It’s time to call the apothecary.
Minsk. August 2020. Pavel and Julia, a young couple, go out at night…During 1,5 hours, their life changes completely.
In the second film of medieval thriller, the night watchman is frightened by a terrible ghost - the tragically drowned daughter of a rich merchant.
Yoyogi is a place of freedom and going beyond everything human. Like the first flight to the sky.
The film directed by Leida Laius is based on the novel "Ukuaru" by Veera Saar, telling about a young woman who has to make choices in the name of her true love, home, and the continuation of life.
A period piece taking place at a stormy time in world history, intertwining an atmospheric thriller with an enchanting love story. In addition to these main elements the film has plenty of humour and a number of colorful supporting characters.
As a train weaves its way up to the arctic circle, two strangers share a journey that will change their perspective on life.
A documentary about the life and music of Uku Kuut, from the Soviet Union to Los Angeles and to speakers all around the world.
A psychological drama about a young Doctor of Physics who unexpectedly loses her job.
Captain Fyodor Volkonogov, a well-respected and obedient USSR law enforcer, witnesses his peers being suspiciously questioned. Sensing his turn is approaching, he escapes and is soon on the run, hunted by his former colleagues. Vulnerable and hopeless, Fyodor comes to realize what he had been part of, and that repentance is the only way for him to escape the eternal torment of Hell. But time is running out and the manhunt is closing in on him...
A car crash in slow motion, a love letter to a disappearing world.
When Erna’s simple-minded son, Kalle, is conscripted for military service, she swaps identity with a soldier and heads towards the front to protect her child. While the world is at war, Erna fights her own.
The poetic drama with a profound philosophical undertone directed by Sulev Keedus about the postwar desolated and occupied land. The film is one of the first art films produced in the independent republic of Estonia and it has received awards at various acknowledged international film festivals.
The melodrama directed by Paul Sehnert tells the story about a couple in love who wants to return to Estonia from Russia. Soviet authorities receive secret complaints about the couple and start to work against their plans.
Documentary by Valeria Anderson about one day in a workers' canteen.
The film, banned for ideological reasons during the Soviet era, depicts the situation in an Estonian collective farm village.
Four short tales with regular nails as main charracters. Several human strains get ridiuled through the relations between nails.
Feature film directed by Janno Jürgens follows 12-years-old Ats, whose older brother Rain unexpectedly returns to the family home in a small seaside town to face their authoritarian father Kalju and their mother, a woman on the verge of losing love. Ats is a witness of the clash between his father and brother, two stubborn men from different generations with radically different views of the world.
The film talks about boyhood, friendship, first love, loss of loved ones, self-discovery, and coming of age. Despite the brutality and tragedy, it is a warm and humorous story of caring, humanity, and love.
A film about the virtues and shortcomings of the new city district - Lasnamäe. The central feature is an interview with the architect of the district Mall Meelak.
Lauri Randla’s first full length feature film is a comedy about the adventures of the Ingrian-Finnish Tarkkinen family in the last days of the Soviet Union.
Young startup entrepreneur Õie and a serial failure Tõnu follow their crazy ride from Estonia all the way to Silicon Valley — and back.
A story about a trickster priest preparing to leave this world.
Life finds a way.
Lauri Lagle's first feature film is profound and smooth like a summer's night. It is a physical progression and a mental journey towards something other than a mere geographical location on a map.
A stoic man living in seclusion, reluctant to let go of his past is reminded why.
"Look back with me and maybe you will find out something new about documentary cinema, which is nothing else but life after death." Herz Frank.
Cowardice is the greatest sin on earth.
Shades, breaths, whispers, hunches, mystery - they are all fading away. Everything else seems more important.
When 15 year old Sander falls prey to an almost fatal bad joke, he has to decide whether to try and break away from his determined social status, or conform and accept his role in the group.
Meeting a swan may be an introspective experience, similarly to facing the nature of Iceland, its magnificent mountains, watery grasslands and powerful winds. For a nine-year-old girl Sól all this won't be a free choice since her family sends her away to the wild and lonely nature because of a theft.
The feature film is set in a remote fast food resturant next to an empty parking lot. The place works as a model of the world, or East-Europe.
Visual fairy tale for adults directed by Rainer Sarnet. The feature film combines black comedy and romance.
You have to be wise to see the difference.
A heart-warming portrait documentary "Shusha" explores in intimate atmosphere the daily life of Stanislav Stanislavovich Shushkevich, the first head of state of Belarus.
Vitaly Mansky’s documentary journey through Ukraine visits members of his own family to show the reality behind the headlines in this divided country.
Mother is a thrilleresque story about the consequences of years of self-deception, unfulfilled dreams and lack of love.
“Family Lies” by Valentin Kuik and Manfred Vainokivi is a relationship drama about elephants in the bedroom and skeletons in the closet, about small and big deceptions, half-truths and set-ups that can be found in every family’s secret chronicles.
Urmas Eero Liiv’s feature film Ghost Mountaineer is a youth adventure film with elements of horror which is based on real life events which took place during the Soviet era.
Has betrayal in Soviet time become an act of heroism of modern times?
Klaus Härö’s The Fencer is a touching drama about a man who finds meaning in his life through the children who need him. The Finnish entry for the Oscars 2016, Best Foreign Language Film.
A young man gets fired and begins to stalk his boss and his young wife. After blood chilling turn of events he tries to escape his past and move into their luxurious mansion. Nothing can prepare him for an unsettling visit by a vaguely familiar guest. The house will not be a safe haven anymore, but becomes a twisted and dangerous trap.
It is 3 AM on June 14, 1941. More than 40,000 Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians are deported to Siberia by the authorities of Soviet Russia.