Black Nights Film Festival (aka PÖFF – Pimedate Ööde FilmiFestival) takes place annually at the end of November in Tallinn, Estonia. It is the only FIAPF-accredited competitive feature film Festival in Northern Europe.
Black Nights Film Festival holds five competitive sections, as well as non-competitive sections, altogether more than 200 features and documentaries, showcasing new discoveries and a selection of the best picks from other film Festivals, with special programmes for various sub-genres. Due to the current situation in the world, the Festival also reserves the right to organize the Festival online.
The Festival consists of a cluster of events: the main Festival, sub-Festivals for youth and children’s films, short films and animations, along with an extensive industry programme, turning Tallinn and Tartu into a buzzing, yet relaxed celebration of film culture and attracting an attendance of more than 78 825, visited by 1950 film professionals and press from around the world in 2022.
03.11 – 19.11 2023
poff.ee
Submission is open at Filmfreeway
Youth and Children’s Film Festival
03.11 – 19.11.2023
justfilm.ee
Submission is open within this section at Filmfreeway
Short Film and Animation Festival
07.11 – 15.11 2023
shorts.poff.ee
Submission is open within this section at Filmfreeway
10.11 – 17.11.2023
industry.poff.ee
An industry platform of the Black Nights Film Festival. It serves as a gateway for global audiovisual industries to the Baltic and CIS region, aiming to connect regional audiovisual talent and production with the rest of Europe, North and South America and Asia. It includes a drama series market and forum TV Beats, co-production market, Works in Progress showcases, an international script competition Script Pool, European Film Forum Tallinn and Creative Gate a creative industry development center that consist of different panels, workshop and masterclasses on new trends in film financing and distribution, film music scoring, acting and casting, as well as production design and much more.
International Live-Action Competition
Black Nights Film Festival (in Estonian as PÖFF – Pimedate Ööde filmifestival) aims to present a comprehensive selection of world cinema to Estonian, Baltic and North European audiences.
The 27th edition of the Black Nights Film Festival will take place from the 3rd-19th November 2023, in Tallinn, its main place of establishment, with sidebar screenings in the cities of Tartu, Narva, Kohtla-Järve and Jõhvi.
The Festival is recognised by FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations) and since 2014 accredited to organize an international non-specialised feature film competition along with 14 other film festivals around the world (including Berlin, Cannes, Karlovy Vary, Moscow, Venice, San Sebastian, Warsaw, Tokyo, and others).
Black Nights Film Festival also holds specialized competitive sections, non-competitive sections, as well as sub-festivals for youth films, short films and animations.
The Festival is organised by the non-profit organisation MTÜ Pimedate Ööde filmifestival (in English NGO Black Nights Film Festival).
MTÜ Pimedate Ööde filmifestival (in English NGO Black Nights Film Festival)
Telliskivi 60a/2, 10412
Tallinn, Estonia
Phone: +372 56 208 308
E-mail: info@poff.ee
poff.ee
The Black Nights Film Festival programme includes three competitive sections and various non-competitive sections for feature films.
10th – 17th of November 2023
The Official Selection – Competition is an international non-specialised competition presenting feature-length (60 minutes and over) films from around the world completed after the 1st of November 2022.
Priority will be given to films with a World or International Premiere. The minimum premiere requirement is a European Regional Premiere. European films and co-produced films presented in their country of origin remain eligible.
The Festival will not accept films in the Official Selection – Competition that has been in competition at another festival accredited by FIAPF as a Competitive Feature Film Festival. The Festival reserves the right to evaluate eligible films for the competition on a case-by-case basis.
A film in this competition is eligible for a maximum of two awards (including Grand Prix) within the competition. The Grand Prix and Best Director award and their grants cannot be given to the same film.
10th – 17th of November 2023
The First Feature Competition is an international competition for debut films. The competition presents feature-length debut (60 minutes and over, first-time feature film directing status) films from around the world completed after the 1st of November 2022.
Priority will be given to films with a World or International Premiere. The minimum premiere requirement is a European Regional Premiere. European films and co-produced films presented in their country of origin remain eligible.
The Festival will not accept films in the First Feature Competition that has been in competition at another festival accredited by FIAPF as a Competitive Feature Film Festival. The Festival reserves the right to evaluate eligible films for competition on a case-by-case basis.
10th – 17th of November 2023
The Baltic Film Competition presents feature (documentaries and animation included) length (60 minutes and over) films from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, or with significant participation from one of these countries completed after the 1st of November 2022.
Priority will be given to films with a World or International premiere, but films which have previously premiered in Estonia are also eligible. The participation of the film in any other competition of the Festival does not exclude the eligibility for Baltic Film Competition. The Festival reserves the right to evaluate eligible films for the competition on a case-by-case basis.
10th - 17th of November 2023
Rebels with a Cause Competition programme showcases the untraditional means of expression of filmmaking, as well as innovative narrative or dramaturgy, symbiosis with other forms of art, and new takes on technical solutions or in esthetics. The Competition incorporates both a full feature and a short film section. The films must be completed after the 1st of November 2022. The minimum premiere requirement is a European Premiere.
Priority will be given to films with World, International or European premieres. The Festival reserves the right to evaluate eligible films for the competition on a case-by-case basis.
10th - 17th of November 2023
Critics' Picks Competition programme showcases about 10 films picked out by the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival´s programme team, which consists of internationally acclaimed professional film critics and film theoreticians. The Competition incorporates equally the first feature filmmakers as well as the experienced ones. The films must be completed after the 1st of November 2022. The minimum premiere requirement is a Baltic Premiere. The Festival reserves the right to evaluate eligible films, submitted to the festival for the competition on a case-by-case basis, after the rightful negotiations.
Films submitted for the non-competitive programme, or not selected for competitions, can be invited to other sections with a minimum requirement being their Estonian Premiere. There is no geographic restriction for films in non-competitive sections. The films must be completed after the 1st of November 2022.
A selection of the latest documentary highlights, regardless of their geographic origin or topics.
Over-the-top fantasy spree, the cream of the crop of recent horror and fantasy cinema.
A programme dedicated to fresh drama series, aimed at highlighting the increasingly blurry line between the small and the big screen.
Crème de la crème of the art of film of the world. Films that have already premiered or won awards at other prestigious festivals.
The Programming Committee, headed by the Festival Director, selects films for the competitions and non-competitive programmes. The committee also determines the programme schedule and sets the screening order for all films.
Each competition film may be screened a minimum of two (2) times and a maximum of five (5) during the Festival, including press screenings. Consent from the applicant will be asked for any extra screening. The Programming Committee reserves the right to not comment on its decisions as well as the final line-up of the Festival.
The Festival Director appoints all the members of the juries for the international competition programmes. No jury member can be involved in the production or promotion of any of the films in the competitive programmes.
For competitive programmes, the Festival will invite a delegation of up to three representatives per film (the Festival will offer three free accreditations and if needed discounted accreditations). The Festival will cover the round trip airfare as well as accommodation at the Official Partner Hotel and accreditation for one delegate, with a preference given to the Director and/or the Main Cast member. Additionally, the Festival will cover the accommodation at the Official Partner Hotel and accreditation for one extra delegate and the accreditation for a third delegate.
For non-competitive films, the Festival reserves the right to invite guests upon the decision of the Programming Committee. Detailed terms and conditions for film delegates are provided on a non-disclosed one-to-one and guest agreement basis.
Applicants for Competitive and Non-Competitive Programmes are requested to submit through Filmfreeway
Entry applications submitted by post, e-mail, or any other form except the online submission form are not considered eligible for selection, unless with prior agreement with the Festival Programming Committee.
Submission applications are accepted from March 2023.
The regular submission deadline for competitive and non-competitive feature film programmes is the 1st of July 2023. The Festival asks for a submission fee of 69 euros or $85 USD per film during the regular deadline.
The extended submission deadline for competitive and non-competitive feature film programmes is the 17th of August 2023. The Festival asks for a submission fee of 85 euros or $100 USD per film during the extended deadline.
The final submission deadline for competitive and non-competitive feature film programmes is the 24th of August 2023. The Festival asks for a submission fee of 100 euros or $120USD per film during the regular deadline.
The Festival Director and the Programming Committee reserve the right to waive submission fees for selected applicants, to not comment on their decisions regarding waivers.
The Festival reserves the right to select films received at any time and through any means, or process and to refuse late submissions.
If you have questions regarding the regulations or submissions process, please email submissions@poff.ee.
By submitting a film to the Festival the applicant agrees by the submissions deadline to:
Fill in and submit the entry form via the Festival’s online submission form.
Provide a screening link and password via the online submission form or e-mail (the link needs to be visible for at least four programmers or more if needed).
Acknowledge that “selected” status on the online submission or any kind of automated letter from the submission platform form does not guarantee confirmation of the submitted film to the Festival.
Upon selection of a film, the Festival will contact the applicant via email and will request to fill out a binding entry form.
If the applicant provides misleading information about debutant or premiere status the Festival Director and the Programming Committee reserve the right to withdraw the film from the competition and overall programme.
The applicant agrees that confirmed titles may not be withdrawn from the Festival programme after their participation has been officially confirmed and the producer or producer’s authorized representative has verified the confirmation of the film to the programme.
If for exceptional reasons, the film has to be withdrawn three weeks or less before the opening of the Festival, the applicant agrees to reimburse all costs to the Festival related to the confirmation and programming of the film including the screening fee (when applicable), print delivery and handling costs as well as associated travel costs for the film delegation.
The invoices for the film rights or print loans should be issued and delivered for payments no later than two months after the end of the Festival. The Festival does not accept or reimburse invoices issued after that date.
Upon confirmation of the film to the Festival’s competitive or non-competitive sections, the applicant agrees to:
Deliver additional promotional materials (biography, filmography and headshot of the Director, high-resolution stills of the film, synopsis, logline/tagline and genre of film, list of technical and artistic credits, list of all production countries in order of contribution and large format print quality poster art-work). Full electronic press kits are preferred.
The approved requirements of the promotional photos for the Festival are the following:
Format: landscape (16:9), .jpg (.png, .tiff)
Size: 1920 x 1080 px minimum
Minimum of 3 stills.
Format: square (1:1), .jpg (.png, .tiff)
Size: 500 x 500 px minimum
Format: portrait, .jpg (.png, tiff)
Aspect ratio: 1,45 (recommended)
Size: 555 x 800 px (recommended)
For Black Carpet Films and digital screens in the cinemas we request 1080 x 1920 px poster images.
Provide an HD resolution trailer or an HD teaser clip of the film either as a public link to a downloadable and embeddable video on YouTube or Vimeo or as a separate file. The Festival should receive the trailer or teaser latest by the 1st of October, with an allowance to upload on the Festival’s online channels.
Provide a set of at least four different HD resolution excerpts of three-minute maximum length each to enable the promotion of films by television stations and in creative promotional video montages minimally a month before the Festival.
Provide subtitle files with time-codes and/or dialogue lists in the original film language and in English, spotting list, and a screener of the finalised version of the film.
The Festival reserves the right to use all provided promotional materials for publicity purposes and printed materials, including the Festival catalog, press releases, website, social media channels, and promotion in media.
The Festival will provide a CineSend link for uploading the DCP, a Google Form for film and credits information and a link for uploading the promotional materials.
The Festival does not accept deliveries in physical format (hard disk drives, memory sticks, etc) if not agreed otherwise prior to the Festival.
The materials required by the Festival for its press releases, catalog, website, and other information/promotion channels (synopsis, technical and artistic credits, bio-filmographies, pictures of the director/s and film stills) and materials for local translation need to be provided to the Festival by the 19th of September 2023, or within 7 days of confirmation of the film.
If the applicant doesn’t provide the materials required by the Festival by the date set in regulations or by the date agreed with the Festival beforehand, The Festival Director and the Programming Committee reserve the right to withdraw the film from the competition.
The accepted screening format for all films in competition and non-competition sections is DCP. Provided DCPs must be DCI compliant (http://www.dcimovies.com/) and adhere to all applicable conditions below.
The Festival will provide a CineSend link for uploading the DCP and it should be uploaded no later than the 15th of October 2023. DCPs must be provided with the correct naming according to the ISDCF DCP Naming Convention.
All films selected for the Festival must be provided with English subtitles unless they are already in English. All the films from the Official Selection Competition and First Feature Competition, as well as a selection of films from other sections are translated into Estonian.
The Festival prefers to transfer local subtitles onto DCPs for ensuring the best possible screening experience. For that purpose DCPs must meet the following requirements: provided screening DCPs must be unencrypted, or with DKDM for Festival lab, as original language versions (OV) with separate accompanying subtitles as version-file packages (VF).
If the transfer of translated subtitles onto the DCP is not agreed with the representative of the film, the translations will be shown electronically.
All screening copies for all sections, if provided with any subtitles, must have the subtitles on the active picture area and not in the letterbox area. Please note that the image may be cropped by up to 3% during projection, due to the position of the projector and the venue’s characteristics, therefore a good safe area for the subtitles would be at least 5%. Dubbed language copies are also refused.
The Festival reserves the right to demand new DCP packages free of charge in case of non-compatible DCPs, broken hard drives, or other quality standards are not met. These include wrongly placed or missing subtitles, or wrong soundtracks.
All competition programme films are obligated to provide an unecrypted DCP or Distribution KDMs (DKDM) for laboratory testing. In other cases, unencrypted DCPs are strongly preferred and only in previously agreed cases encrypted DCPs are accepted and one test KDM per film free of charge for quality assurance and technical testing for our test-screen is required. For quality assurance reasons KDM or DKDM is requested to be valid from the date the DCP arrives at the Festival but not later than one week before the Festival starts till 1 day after the Festival. All DKDMs should follow the KDM Naming Convention.
The producer or film representative is requested to provide appropriate screening KDMs valid from 7 days before the start of the Festival and 1 day after the Festival, but no later than 72 hours prior to screenings, and 48 hours after the screening. The cost of generating all KDMs will also be the responsibility of the producers or representatives of the film.
If the Festival is provided with broken or wrongly assigned KDMs, appropriate new KDMs must be provided free of charge by the film submitter or representative. Quality assurance purpose DKDM is not exempt from providing screening KDMs if not agreed upon otherwise.
The Festival supports 2K and 4K content. However, not all screens have a 4K screening capability. The Festival therefore cannot guarantee that all 4K films will be screened in a 4K resolution.
We can accept high-frame-rate (HFR) or 3D DCPs, however, we are only able to screen them in selected cinema halls. Please notify the Festival office if you are planning on presenting a high-frame-rate DCP.
Video formats and 35mm prints are accepted only with prior acknowledgment from the Festival. All video files will be converted into DCPs by the Festival lab to ensure the best possible image and sound quality during playback. Only ProRes, ProRes 444, ProRes HQ are accepted video formats in these cases. Tapes or Blu-rays are not accepted as screening formats unless there are no alternatives and with prior acknowledgment from the Festival.
Technical guideline is provided along with a confirmation entry form.
The Festival reserves the right to refuse and withdraw the screening of the film from the competition or any other section if all requirements are not followed.
Our Festival’s technical team, dcinema@poff.ee, will happily help with any queries for all confirmed films.
Festival uses a VOD platform with Studio Grade DRM for screening films online.
By confirming the film’s participation at the Festival, the film’s representative agrees to present the film for online cinema screenings. The film representatives should inform the festival if they do not wish to participate in the online screenings.
Screenings for the jury, accredited film professionals, and international press members are accessible globally via Festival accreditation.
All films that agree with online screenings must present the film in H264, 1920x1080p video format with stereo sound. In this case, we recommend a clean film file without hardcoded subtitles. The subtitles, if needed, must be presented as SRT or XML timed subtitles.
Public screenings for audiences in Estonia are geo-blocked outside of Estonia and can be limited to an agreed size of the audience.
All films that agree with online screenings must present the film in H264, 1920x1080p video format with stereo sound. In this case, we recommend a clean film file without hardcoded subtitles. The subtitles, if needed, must be presented as SRT or XML timed subtitles.
The Festival reserves the right to refuse and withdraw the screening of the film from the competition or any other section if all requirements are not followed.
Our Festival’s digital cinema team, dcinema@poff.ee, will happily help with any queries for all confirmed films.
All costs related to the shipping of publicity materials (posters, brochures, etc.) or any screeners are paid for by the submitter or film representative. Submitted preview copies may be returned to the submitter or forwarded only at the submitter’s expense. Accepted sizes for printed posters are: A4, A3, A2.
All packages must be clearly marked with the title of the film, the sender’s / submitters name, return address, and telephone number as well as the Festival address:
Black Nights Film Festival
Attn: Programming
Telliskivi 60a/2, 3rd floor
10412
Tallinn, Estonia
Phone: +372 56 208 308
Costs related to the shipping of the physical DCP to the Festival are paid by the Festival unless otherwise agreed upon. Return shipping costs are covered by the Festival unless a screening copy is being sent to the next Festival for screening.
The Festival will return or forward the screening copies within 30 days from the end of the Festival unless instructed otherwise by the submitter or film representative. Returns before the Festival closing date must be agreed upon at least three weeks before the Festival, and cannot be guaranteed after that.
The Festival covers all expenses connected to the storage and insurance of the screening copies during the duration of the Festival.
In the event of damage to a copy during the event, the Festival limits its responsibility to the cost of having a new standard copy made at current laboratory rates.
Films that have premiered at the Black Nights Film Festival are required to use the official logo of the Festival in their film’s publicity and promotional materials as well as add it to the DCP. We ask not to modify or alter the logo without prior written permission from the Festival.
PÖFF programme coordinator – Simona Stenberg (simona.stenberg@poff.ee)
PÖFF programme coordinator – Joanna Kalm (joanna.kalm@poff.ee)
PÖFF – Black Nights Film Festival's Sub-Festival
03.11.–19.11.2023
Youth and Children’s Film Festival Just Film is the biggest sub-festival of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festivals. It is held during the main programme 03.11.–19.11.2023.
Just Film was founded to give children and youth the possibility to see, through film, what happens around them and around the world. The aim is to show kids the critical points of society and to make them more understanding and empathic.
Films eligible for the programmes are feature-length (50 minutes and over), either fiction or documentary and short or half-length films (up to 50 minutes). The films must be produced after the 1st of January 2022. The minimum requirement for the films is their International premiere.
The Festival reserves the right to make changes in the eligibility criteria and evaluate films on a case by case basis.
The applicable screening copies are in DCP format in English or include English subtitles. Films in the competitions may be presented in the PÖFF main programme non-competitive section.
The Festival Director will appoint three (3) Domestic (Juniors’, Children’s, and Youth) Jury groups consisting of three (3) members. The three groups are divided for ages 7-9, 10-13, and 14-18. Furthermore, an International Jury consisting of three (3) film specialists and ECFA (European Children’s Film Association) Jury consisting of three (3) ECFA members will be invited. The Jury for the #youngfilmmaker International Competition programme will consist of at least 3 industry experts and programme representatives. No jury member can be involved in the production or promotion of any of the films in the competitive programmes.
Applicants for Competitive and Non-Competitive programmes are requested to submit their films in the subcategory of Black Nights Film Festival through FilmFreeway:
Submission applications are accepted starting from 1st March 2023.
Regular submission: 1st March until 1st July 2023
Entry applications submitted by post, e-mail, or any other form except the online submission form are not considered eligible for selection, unless with prior agreement with the Festival Programming Committee. The Festival reserves the right to select films received at any time and through any means or process, and to refuse late submissions.
By submitting a film to the Festival, the applicant agrees by the applicable submissions deadline to:
Starting from the 2023 edition, the Festival is introducing a new category for film submissions. This special category is for young filmmakers aged 7-19, who wish to submit their own work to the Festival’s #youngfilmmaker International Competition programme.
This is a unique opportunity for a young filmmaker to take part in an A-category film festival. In addition, the recipients have the chance to participate in the BNFF film industry section's, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, international workshops and seminars.
Films eligible for the programme are up to 20 minutes. The films must be produced after 1st January 2022. The Festival will inform the applicants of the selected films about their successful submission latest by 1st October 2023.
The Festival will inform the applicants of the selected films about their successful submission latest by 1st October 2023. Upon confirmation of the film to the Festival’s Competitive or Non-Competitive programmes, the applicant agrees to deliver additional info and promotional materials listed below to the Festival. Full electronic press kits are preferred.
Format: landscape (16:9), .jpg (.png, .tiff)
Size: 1920 x 1080 px minimum
Minimum of 3 stills.
Format: portrait, .jpg (.png, tiff)
Aspect ratio: 1,45 (recommended)
Size: 555 x 800 px (recommended)
For Black Carpet Films and digital screens in the cinemas we request 1080 x 1920 px poster images.
Format: square (1:1), .jpg (.png, .tiff)
Size: 500 x 500 px minimum
Director’s biography
Director’s filmography
Press-kit/principal cast and credits
Confirm the premiere status of the film for the Black Nights Film Festival. The Festival should receive this confirmation by 1st of October. If the film's representative wishes to make changes to the premier status after the specified date, the Festival reserves the right to make changes in the film’s eligibility for the Festival.
Provide the Festival with the English synopsis (up to 500 characters) of the film along with the defined genre and 3 preferred tagwords about the film's content.
Provide an HD resolution trailer or an HD teaser clip of the film either as a public link to a downloadable file, an embeddable video on YouTube or Vimeo, or as a separate file. By providing the Festival with the trailer/teaser file, the applicant allows the Festival to upload the file on the Festival’s online channels (e.g. Youtube). The Festival should receive the trailer or teaser latest by 1st October.
Provide subtitle files with time-codes and/or dialogue lists in the original film language and in English, spotting list and a screener of the finalised version of the film. Please provide the festival with English .SRT, .STL or .XML subtitle files.
The Festival reserves the right to use all provided promotional materials for publicity purposes and printed materials, including the Festival catalogue, press releases, website, social media channels, and promotion in media.
The materials required by the Festival for its press releases, catalogue, website and other information/promotion channels, and materials for local translation need to be provided to the Festival by 13th September 2023, or within 7 days of confirmation of the film.
If the applicant doesn’t provide the materials required by the Festival by the date set in regulations or by the date agreed with the Festival beforehand, The Festival Director and the Programming Committee reserve the right to withdraw the film from the competition.
The applicant agrees that confirmed titles may not be withdrawn from the Festival programme after its participation has been officially confirmed and the producer or producer’s authorised representative has verified the confirmation of the film to the programme.
If, for exceptional reasons, the film has to be withdrawn three weeks or less before the opening of the Festival, the applicant agrees to reimburse all costs to the Festival related to the confirmation and programming of the film including the screening fee (when applicable), print delivery, and handling costs as well as associated travel costs for the film delegation.
The invoices for the film rights or print loans should be issued and delivered for payments no later than two months after the end of the Festival (19th January 2024). The Festival does not accept or reimburse invoices issued after that date.
The accepted screening format for all films in Competitive and Non-Competitive programmes is DCP. Provided DCPs must be DCI compliant (http://www.dcimovies.com/) and adhere to all applicable conditions below.
The Festival will provide a CineSend link for uploading the DCP and it should be uploaded no later than 15th October 2023. DCPs must be provided with the correct naming according to the ISDCF DCP Naming Convention.
All films selected for the Festival must be provided with English subtitles, unless they are already in English. The Festival reserves the right to translate a selection of films into Estonian. Unless the Festival has agreed otherwise with the film representatives, the Estonian translations can be purchased for a fee of 100 euros.
The Festival prefers to transfer local subtitles onto DCPs for ensuring the best possible screening experience. For that purpose, DCPs must meet the following requirements: provided screening DCPs must be unencrypted or available with DKDM for the Festival Lab as original language versions (OV) with separate accompanying subtitles as version-file packages (VF).
If the transfer of translated subtitles onto the DCP is not agreed on with the representatives of the film, the translations will be shown electronically.
All screening copies for all sections, if provided with any subtitles, must have the subtitles on the active picture area and not in the letterbox area. Please note that the image may be cropped by up to 3% during projection, due to the position of the projector and the venue’s characteristics, therefore a good safe area for the subtitles would be at least 5%. Dubbed language copies are also refused.
The Festival reserves the right to demand new DCP packages free of charge in case of non-compatible DCPs, broken hard drives, or other quality standards are not met. These include wrongly placed or missing subtitles, or wrong soundtracks.
All competition programme films are obligated to provide an unecrypted DCP or Distribution KDMs (DKDM) for laboratory testing. In other cases, unencrypted DCPs are strongly preferred and only in previously agreed cases encrypted DCPs are accepted and one test KDM per film free of charge for quality assurance and technical testing for our test-screen is required. For quality assurance reasons KDM or DKDM is requested to be valid from the date the DCP arrives at the Festival but not later than one week before the Festival starts till 1 day after the Festival. All DKDMs should follow the KDM Naming Convention.
The producer or film representative is requested to provide appropriate screening KDMs valid from 7 days before the start of the Festival and 1 days after the Festival, but not later than 72 hours prior to screenings, and 48 hours after the screening. The cost of generating all KDMs will also be the responsibility of the producers or representatives of the film.
If the Festival is provided with broken or wrongly assigned KDMs, appropriate new KDMs must be provided free of charge by the film submitter or representative. Quality assurance purpose DKDM is not exempt from providing screening KDMs if not agreed upon otherwise.
The Festival supports 2K and 4K content. However, not all screens have a 4K screening capability. The Festival therefore cannot guarantee that all 4K films will be screened in a 4K resolution.
We can accept high-frame-rate (HFR) or 3D DCPs, however, we are only able to screen them in selected cinema halls. Please notify the Festival office if you are planning on presenting a high-frame-rate DCP.
Video formats and 35mm prints are accepted only with prior acknowledgement from the Festival. All video files will be converted into DCPs by the Festival appointed lab to ensure the best possible image and sound quality during playback. Only ProRes, ProRes 444, ProRes HQ are accepted video formats in these cases. Tapes or Blu-rays are not accepted as screening formats, unless there are no alternatives and with prior acknowledgement from the Festival.
Technical guideline is provided along with a confirmation entry form.
The festival reserves the right to refuse and withdraw the screening of the film from the competition or any other section if all requirements are not followed.
Our festival’s technical team, dcinema@poff.ee, will happily help with any queries for all confirmed films.
Festival uses a VOD platform with Studio Grade DRM for screening films online.
By confirming the film’s participation at the Festival, the film’s representative agrees to present the film for online cinema screenings in H264, 1920x1080p video format with stereo sound. We recommend a clean film file without hardcoded subtitles. The subtitles, if needed, must be presented as SRT or XML timed subtitles.
The Festival reserves the right to refuse and withdraw the screening of the film from the competition or any other section if all requirements are not followed.
Our Festival’s digital cinema team, dcinema@poff.ee, will happily help with any queries for all confirmed films.
Screenings for accredited film professionals and international press members are accessible globally via Festival accreditation.
Public screenings for audience in Estonia are geo-blocked outside of Estonia and can be limited to an agreed size of the audience.
All costs related to the shipping of the screener copy (DVD) and publicity materials are paid by the submitter or film representative. Submitted preview copies may be returned to the submitter or forwarded only at the submitters expense.
All packages must be clearly marked with the title of the film, the sender’s / submitters name, return address and telephone number as well as the festival address:
Black Nights Film Festival
Attn: Just Film
Telliskivi 60a/2, 3rd floor
10412
Tallinn, Estonia
Phone: +372 56 208 308
Costs related to the shipping of the screening copies to the festival are paid by the festival, unless otherwise agreed upon. Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the submitter or film representative, or party appointed by them.
The festival will return or forward the screening copies within 14 days from the end of the festival unless instructed otherwise by the submitter or film representative. Returns before the Festival closing date must be agreed at least three weeks before the festival, and cannot be guaranteed after that.
The festival covers all expenses connected to the storage and insurance of the screening copies during the duration of the festival.
In the event of damage to a copy during the event, the Festival limits its responsibility to the cost of having a new standard copy made at current laboratory rates.
For competitive programmes the Festival will invite one representative per film. The festival will cover the round trip airfare either fully or partially depending on the cost of the airfare for one delegate, with a preference given to the Director and/or a Main Cast member, as well as accommodation for 1 guest in the Delegation at the Official Partner Hotel. Regarding #youngfilmmaker International Competition programme, the Festival reserves the right to invite guests upon the decision of the Programming committee case by case.
For non-competitive films, the Festival reserves the right to invite guests upon the decision of the Programming committee. Detailed terms and conditions for film delegates are provided on a non-disclosed one to one and guest agreement basis.
For non-competitive films, the Festival guest accreditation list will be closed one (1) day before the opening of the festival. After the deadline a fee of 25 euros will be requested for festival accreditation from the non-competitive film delegates.
Head of Just Film programme - Mikk Granström (mikk@poff.ee)
Programme Coordinator - Johanna-Stina Idla (justfilmcoordinator@poff.ee)
Submit your film to the Youth and Children's film festival Just Film!
FilmFreeway Submissions - Just Film Youth and Children's Film Festival
justfilm.ee
07.11 – 15.11 2023
Applicants for Competitive and Non-Competitive Programmes are requested to submit through FilmFreeway or any other submitting platform indicated by the festival team. Entry applications submitted by post, e-mail or any other form except the online submission form are not considered eligible for selection.
The submission deadline for competitive and non-competitive programmes of PÖFF Shorts is 13th of August 2023.
The festival reserves the right to evaluate eligible films for the competition and assign the programme section for the film on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants for competitive and non-competitive programmes are requested to submit the film and required supplementary materials only via the indicated online submissions page. Entries submitted by post, e-mail or any other form except the online submission form are not considered eligible for selection.
The festival reserves the right to refuse late submissions.
Submission fees are to be paid by secure online payment with a credit or debit card. Submission fees are non-refundable.
The Festival Director and the Programming Committee reserve the right to waive submission fees for selected applicants, to not comment on their decisions regarding waivers. The Festival reserves the right to select films received at any time and through any means, or process and to refuse late submissions.
If you have questions regarding the regulations or submissions process, please email shorts@poff.ee.
For a successful submission via the submission platform the applicant is required to:
Fill in all fields possible and submit the entry form.
Provide a non-expiring screening link – with English subtitles and a password if necessary.
The approved requirements of the promotional photos and trailers for the Festival are the following:
Format: landscape (16:9), .jpg (.png, .tiff)
Size: 1920 x 1080 px minimum
Minimum of 3 stills.
Format: square (1:1), .jpg (.png, .tiff)
Size: 500 x 500 px minimum
Format: portrait, .jpg (.png, tiff)
Aspect ratio: 1,45 (recommended)
Size: 555 x 800 px (recommended)
Provide an HD resolution trailer or an HD teaser clip of the film either as a public link to a downloadable and embeddable video on YouTube or Vimeo or as a separate file. The Festival should receive the trailer or teaser latest by the 1st of October, with an allowance to upload on the Festival’s online channels.
The Programming Committee, headed by the Head of Live-Action programming and the Head of Animation programming, selects films for the competitions and non-competitive programmes. For competition programmes preference will be given to films with at least an Estonian premiere.
Each competition film may be screened a minimum of two (2) times and a maximum of five (5) during the Festival, including press screenings. Consent from the applicant will be asked for any extra screening. The Programming Committee reserves the right to not comment on its decisions as well as the final line-up of the Festival.
POFF Shorts works towards achieving a gender equal selection-evaluation process and film programme.
Upon confirmation of the film, the Festival will inform the applicant no later than the 8th of October 2023.
Upon confirmation of the film to the Festival’s Competitive or Non Competitive Sections the applicant agrees to:
Confirmed titles may not be withdrawn from the festival programme after its participation has been officially confirmed and the producer or producer’s authorised representative has verified confirmation of the film to the programme.
If, for exceptional reasons, the film has to be withdrawn three weeks or less before the opening of the festival, the applicant agrees to reimburse all costs to the festival related to confirmation and programming of the film including screening fee (when applicable), print delivery and handling costs as well as associated travel costs for the film delegation.
Please note that the Festival cannot guarantee the use of missing promotional materials in the Festival communications that are delivered after the deadline set by the Festival team upon confirmation of the film in the Festival.
The invoices for the film rights or print loans should be issued and delivered for payment no later than two months from the end of the festival. The festival does not accept or reimburse invoices issued after that date.
If the applicant does not provide the materials required by the Festival by the date set in regulations or by the date agreed with the festival beforehand, The Festival Director and the Programming Committee reserve the right to withdraw the film from the competition.
Screening formats for all films in all festival sections are DCP and video file. PÖFF Shorts requires both versions for it’s screenings.
Provided DCPs must be DCI compliant (http://www.dcimovies.com/) and adhere to all applicable conditions below.
DCPs must be delivered digitally through a link provided by the Festival and it should be uploaded no later than 10th October 2023. DCPs must be provided with the correct naming according to the ISDCF DCP Naming Convention. Information for digital delivery will be provided before the festival.
If agreed upon by the Festival, video files will be converted into DCPs by the Festival appointed lab to ensure the best possible image and sound quality during playback. Only ProRes, ProRes 444, ProRes HQ are accepted video formats.
All films selected for the festival must be provided with English subtitles, unless they are already in English. DCPs with subtitles should be provided as original language versions (OV) with separate accompanying subtitles as version-file packages (VF). Otherwise, hardcoded subtitles are recommended.
All screening copies for all sections, if provided with any subtitles, must have the subtitles on the active picture area and not in the letterbox area. Please note that the image may be cropped by up to 3% during projection, due to the position of the projector and the venue’s characteristics, therefore a good safe area for the subtitles would be at least 5%. Dubbed language copies are also refused.
The festival reserves the right to demand new DCP packages free of charge in case of non-compatible DCPs or if other quality standards are not met. These include wrongly placed or missing subtitles, or wrong soundtracks.
Only unencrypted DCPs are accepted and encrypted DCPs will be refused by the Festival.
The festival supports 2K and 4K content. However, not all screens have a 4K screening capability. The festival therefore cannot guarantee that all 4K films will be screened in a 4K resolution.
We can accept high-frame-rate (HFR) or 3D DCPs, however, we are only able to screen them in selected cinema halls. Please notify the festival office if you are planning on presenting a high-frame-rate DCP.
Tapes, Blu-rays, DVD and all other formats are not accepted as screening formats, unless there are no alternatives and with prior acknowledgement from the festival.
PÖFF Shorts technical guideline is here to download and also provided along with a confirmation entry form.
The festival reserves the right to refuse and withdraw the screening of the film from the competition or any other section if all requirements are not followed.
Our festival’s technical team, dcinema@poff.ee, will happily help with any queries for all confirmed films.
Festival uses a VOD platform with Studio Grade DRM for screening films online.
Screenings for accredited film professionals and international press members are accessible globally via Festival accreditation.
All films that agree with online screenings must present the film in H264, 1920x1080p video format with stereo sound. All video files must be provided with hardcoded English subtitles, unless they are already in English.
Public screenings for audience in Estonia are geo-blocked outside of Estonia and can be limited to an agreed size of the audience.
All films that agree with online screenings must present the film in H264, 1920x1080p video format with stereo sound. All video files must be provided with hardcoded English subtitles, unless they are already in English.
The Festival reserves the right to refuse and withdraw the screening of the film from the competition or any other section if all requirements are not followed.
Our Festival’s digital cinema team, dcinema@poff.ee, will happily help with any queries for all confirmed films.
Screening copies should be delivered electronically via indicated means by the festival team upon confirmation.
Festival accepts films uploaded to film distributors' upload environments or can provide its own upload environment. All technical questions and information regarding file formats, DCP’s and upload should be sent to dcinema@poff.ee.
The festival does not accept physical copies for films less than 50GB in file size.
In case of the exceeding file size, details about the delivery of physical copies will be given by the festival team.
The Festival may invite members of the crew of any film in any section providing either travel, accommodation and/or festival accreditation.
Accreditations need to be confirmed as soon as possible (and no later than the set deadline) after confirming the participation of the film at the festival. A fee will apply for extra or late accreditation applications.
PÖFF Shorts festival appoints separate juries for the Animation Competitions, Live-Action competitions and for the National Competition; the juries will choose the winners of each category respectively.
No jury member can be involved in the production or promotion of any film in the competition.
Winners of the International Live-Action Competition Jury prize for Best Film, International Animation Competition Jury prize for Best Film and National Competition Jury prize for Best Film will be eligible to apply for consideration for the annual Academy Awards should they fit the eligibility criteria as determined by the Academy.
Winners of PÖFF Shorts Competition programmes are given priority status for consideration for the PÖFF main competitions in the future.
The awards and jury members will be announced by the Festival Director no later than during the opening press conference of the Festival.
Films that have premiered at Black Nights Film Festival are welcome to use the official logo of the festival in their film’s publicity and promotional materials. We ask not to modify or alter the logo without prior written permission from the Festival.
PÖFF Shorts Programme Coordinator - programme.shorts@poff.ee