How many films is each Baltic country represented with in the Baltic Film Competition program of PÖFF? How much is seen in the film industry collaboration of the Baltic States?
In the beginning we seek to have an equal number of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian films, but then life, reality, uncontrollable decisions and even dreams always influences arithmetics of very final selection. Important to notice that 5 chosen films were co-produced by two Baltic countries. Unfortunately there were none such films with involvement of all of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, but friendly collaboration is expanding truly fast as Baltic filmmakers join forces to make films together.
Popular and beloved Estonian actor Priit Pius joined for one of key roles in Latvian epic music drama “In the Land that Sings” even without any official co-production. Actually this film directed by Maris Martinsons unites all three Baltic States by common historical event - National Choral Song & Dance Festival, which started in Tartu in 1869 and nowadays is organised in every Baltic country in intervals of every 4 years. It’s truly wonderful to host the International Premiere of the first ever feature film about the origins of such a unique tradition.
The Baltic Film Competition remains the only one at PÖFF where regional premieres are still acceptable, but every year we make bigger and wider steps to raise the numbers of World & International premieres. This year we are joyful to have exactly 50% of films, which have never been shown outside the Baltics: 6 World Premieres and 2 International Premieres will be celebrated in the Baltic Film Competition.
On the other hand, much higher demand for Baltic films by other A class festivals and amazing success stories only motivates us to showcase winning movies from our region. We simply couldn’t say NO to “Flow” (numerous awards and inevitable upcoming nominations), “Drowning Dry” (Best Director and Best Acting Ensemble in Locarno) or “Lioness” (Best Screenwriter in Warsaw). We felt it would be unfair to forbid “Southern Chronicles” and “Tasty” from premiering in Cottbus just a short week prior to Tallinn.
2024 wasn’t so keen for first timers from the Baltic countries as we will show only 3 precious debuts (Latvian “Black Velvet”, Estonians “Life & Love” and “My Partners”) in addition to two first features in the First Feature Competition (“Lotus” and “Two of Us”) and Locarno’s Leopardish Winner “Toxic” in JUST Competition.
More interestingly we invited 6 sophomore feature films to challenge such a scary saying that a second film is much harder to make. This means that the Baltic Film Competition is still young.
Among 16 selected films 5 are directed by female authors.
When looking at this year's Baltic competition program, is there any common thread in the Baltic films that stands out, something that is characteristic only of this region?
Films are never selected by common similar themes, but wish to express that all 16 films are so vividly different. Every film will drag spectators to various genres and dynamics of the past or recent events. I hope the Baltic Film Competition will certainly expose wild creativity, audacious topics, original ideas, and revised methods of storytelling from our filmmakers. Be aware to feel surprised, amused, romanticised or shocked not only once.
If I still would need to distinguish one thread it would be spicy Baltic humour. 9 out 16 films may be categorised as comedies in one way or another, but funny or not the irony of life is present in few other stories.
Quite unexpected recency in current Baltic cinema is exploration of boundaries in intimacy. At least 6 directors are bravely testing their abilities to stage erotical scenes and few of them boldly go the most explicit raw way.
We selected more than ever 5 documentaries to indicate that Baltic filmmakers were & are always strong in real fiction. One of them, Arko Okk, will continue last year’s intrigue of 3D usage not for cheap entertainment purposes. Again the Baltic Film Competition is the only one at PÖFF to show 3D film with special glasses: in 2023 we had “Twittering Soul” in 3D (which is still travelling to festivals) and now we invite for architectural walking journey in Tallinn in “I was Born in a Garage” in 3D. Let’s not forget about Baltic documentarists in DOC@PÖFF Competition (Lithuanian Vytautas Puidokas & Estonian Kullar Viimne).
Animated tale returns in full glory with a running Cat in Latvian masterpiece “Flow”, which needs no introduction (probably it is easier now to name such festivals, where Gints’ film hasn’t been) and only friendly warning to grab your tickets as fast as you can.
Love, death, sex, songs, music, culinary recipes, reminiscences of time are connecting many dots in the Baltic Film Competition with bloody vampires, loving, dying & killing animals, lost teenagers, resilient mothers, a former President, sarcastic noble Architect and Finnish Schindler from literal adaptations, historical investigations, real-life diaries, wicked fantasies, filmmaking nightmares and smart screenplays.
In the backgrounds of these tales usually we witness observations and reminders about key historical events of fights against oppression from common enemies and the meaning of regained freedom in rapidly changing countries are probably more truthful characteristics for Baltic filmmakers.
Most essential is that the Baltic Cinema distinctly shines and is eagerly awaited in prestigious film festivals. We are not only filling missing gaps as poor neighbours, but we are fighting for important awards. Historical victory of two Lithuanian films (“Toxic” & “Drowning Dry”) in Locarno’s International Competition and legendary journey around the world of Latvian “Flow” is not a coincidence. Next year will be even stronger as the wave of young Baltic filmmakers is getting bigger in the names of Vytautas Katkus, Abele Brothers, Gabrielė Urbonaitė, Jurgis Matulevičius, Andres Maimik & Rain Tolk.
Are there more familiar authors from previous festivals among the filmmakers, or are there more new surprises?
There are 4 returning filmmakers in the Baltic Film Competition itself. Estonian Liina Triškina-Vanhatalo (“Lioness”) previously competed with a debut “Take It or Leave It” and now brings a very fresh Best Screenwriter award from Warsaw. Latvian animation genius Gints Zilbalodis (“Flow”) presented His solo debut “Away” in 2019. Lithuanian Laurynas Bareiša (“Drowning Dry”) is remembered from His 2021 debut “Pilgrims” (awarded in Venice’s “Orizzonti”). Estonian documentalist Arko Okk (“I was Born in a Garage”) was there just a year ago with totally different “The Ice That Still Supports Us“.
For me personally, loyalty to any filmmaker who trusted our previous works is significantly important motivation in selection as we get incredible chances to follow how they grow, change or discover something new.
If we expand our look a bit more widely, then we will spot more familiar faces or names. Lithuanian Eglė Vertelytė (“Tasty”) screened Her debut “Miracle” in Tallinn in 2017 after the World premiere in Toronto. Latvian Marcis Lacis (“Touched by Eternity”) was seen as an actor in “Troubled Minds” (world premiere in the First Feature Competition in 2021) and performer as one of the pushers of a big cube on the rainy streets of Tallinn. Latvian Maris Martinsons (“In the Land that Sings”) presented the Shanghai awarded drama “Loss” in 2008 and the World Premiere of “Christmas Uncensored” in 2012.
Finnman veteran Klaus Härö (“Never Alone”) was invited to PÖFF Main Competition at least 4 times even before Tallinn became A class film festival accredited by FIAPF. “Mother of Mine” (2005) gained Best Actress award, “Letters to Father Jacob” ((2009) secured Best Director trophy, “The Fencer” (2015) won Best Estonian Film Award, “The New Man” (2007) competed empty handed. Without any doubts Klaus Härö is the most acclaimed and renowned director in the Baltic Film Competition and we proudly invited the newest historical fiction drama “Never Alone” as the Opening Film. This is also a perfectly ideal reminder that the Baltic Film Competition selects films by foreign directors, who shot their films in the Baltic countries or have even minor co-production with at least one Baltic country.
Few selected Baltic films must be recognisable to industry professionals as Estonian “Life & Love”, Lithuanian “Southern Chronicles”, Latvians “Black Velvet” and “Anna LOL” previously participated in various activities in Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event.
Among freshmans of the Baltic Film Competition I wish to mention Lithuanian documentarist Linas Mikuta and his cinematographer wife Kristina Sereikaitė with a deeply touching and heartbreaking documentary “Paradise Not Lost” about separated parents, who must continue to live together for the sake of their autistic son.
Also I prefer to point special attention to Latvian debutant actress Enija Selecka with hope that “Anna LOL” will not be the only performance in the film. Lithuanian talent Robertas Petraitis with a mighty supporting role to remember in “Southern Chronicles” is already chosen for the Black Nights Stars 2024 spotlight in Tallinn.
What is the most important aspect of the Baltic Film Competition program at PÖFF: the assessment of the current state of film in our region, the competition among the films, or their introduction to a wider world?
Firstly I feel the need to declare that this year for the very first time we have Baltic film(s) in every major competition at PÖFF. 16 Baltic films outside the Baltic Film Competition is a really huge and statemental achievement, which makes me overjoyed. I believe this is a very important recognition of the Baltic cinema. I just think that there must be more slots considered for actively blooming Baltic films, which were visible in Cannes, Locarno, Busan, Warsaw, Sitges, Montreal, Adelaide, Melbourne, New Zealand, El Gouna and elsewhere.
If a few years ago the prime aim of the Baltic Film Competition was to promote brand new films from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, today we just jump to the unstoppable train to celebrate profound prosperous accomplishments of Baltic films around the world.
Probably in near future the Baltic Film Competition may become a fully premiere section, but everything will always depend on how much desirable Baltic films will be among programmers and selectors from other festivals.
For now the Baltic Film Competition has 2 missions to solve:
… launch freshest, newest, boldest, unexpected Baltic films of any imaginable genre as first ever screening or international premiere after national release in the cinemas;
… introduce the most successful, awarded, noticed Baltic films to Estonian audiences and embrace their achievements elsewhere during the past year.
This year we have exactly the same situation with cherished 8 films, which are intensively travelling elsewhere, collecting prizes, selected as candidates for Oscar nomination, and other unspoiled 8 films, which trusted PÖFF their premieres and are waiting for first encounters with international audiences & experts.
Our recent successes with “The Poet” by Giedrius Tamoševičius & Vytautas V. Landsbergis, “The Writer” by Romas Zabarauskas, “My Freedom” by Ilze Kunga, “Upurga” by Ugis Olte, “Pensive” by Jonas Trukanas, “The Generation of Evil” by Emilis Vėlyvis could motivate more filmmakers and producers that World or International premiere in the Baltic Film Competition is worth of risk.
Do you offer any events outside cinema hall for festival guests as part of the Baltic Film program?
Nothing specific is planned above excursions & delights offered to everyone by the Guest team. One truly Baltic challenge is winter swimmings. It is an unforgettable and unique adventure to raise highs of happiness and recharge your energy. Every morning 25-30 lucky guests, filmmakers, and jurors of PÖFF are going to swim. We started this crazy, but healthy quest in November of 2020 without any expectations. Now winter swimmings is an unavoidable part of PÖFF's daily routine activities. Everyone is invited to swim. Actually Baltic filmmakers are even harder to convince than someone from Indonesia, Turkey, Brazil or New Zealand. Even my black jokes “No Swim - No Win” are hardly helpful, but the situation is changing every year.
It was a Latvian director Laila Pakalnina who whispered that you meet only good people in the cold water.