Night cinema

Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives

While everyone's finishing their day, the screen awakens, sending viewers into the night with unexpected dreams.
In a programme that fuels and recharges, you will find refreshing comedies, short horror stories and a lot of madness.

Screenings

Bar Terminal Records & Bar
Screening075201 / Öökino

Films

Baltic premiere

Grasshopper

Local title
Rohutirts
Original title
Grasshopper
Director
Jussi Eerola
Country
Finland
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives
Genre
experimental film

Night falls down on empty business premises – and lights go up. A minimalistic musical.

Director
Jussi Eerola
Runtime

Baltic premiere

Love At First Byte

Local title
Armastus esimesest baidist
Original title
Love At First Byte
Director
Felizitas Hoffmann, Theresa Hoffmann
Country
Germany
Year
2022
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives, Night Cinema

With security camera footage obtained via a CCTV data request, this short distorts reality to embody a missed connection between a lovelorn surveillance system and a passenger.

Director
Felizitas Hoffmann, Theresa Hoffmann
Runtime
Language
English

Baltic premiere

No Ball Games

Local title
Pallimäng keelatud
Original title
No Ball Games
Director
Sam Brewster
Country
United Kingdom
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives

Compassion casts you out. In this cyclical fever dream, a woman struggles to win over the crowd.

Director
Sam Brewster
Runtime
Language
English

Municipal Relaxation Module

Local title
Munitsipaal-lõõgastusmoodul
Original title
Municipal Relaxation Module
Director
Matthew Rankin
Country
Canada
Year
2022
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives

Ken has an idea for a bench.

Director
Matthew Rankin
Runtime
Language
English
Trailer

Baltic premiere

The Film You Are About To See

Local title
Film, mida te vaatama hakkate
Original title
Le Film Que Vous Allez Voir
Director
Maxime Martinot
Country
France
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives

Please note that the film you are about to see is taken from real material of film history, namely the disclaimers and warnings that frame the existence of many films. However, any collusion between art and industry, any conflict of interest between freedom of creation and the law, or any hint of moralism on the life of images, would be purely incidental and unintentional.

Director
Maxime Martinot
Runtime
Language
English

Baltic premiere

Room For One More

Local title
Ruumi veel ühele
Original title
Room For One More
Director
Jesse Vogelaar
Country
Australia
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives, Night Cinema

When an entire house collapses on him, Alex realizes he’s close to death. Will he use his final moments to reconnect with loved ones? Or will he go all-in on pitching his brilliant short film idea to old friend Bruno?

Director
Jesse Vogelaar
Runtime
Language
English
Trailer

Baltic premiere

Gold and Mud

Local title
Kuld ja muda
Original title
Gold and Mud
Director
Conor Dooley
Country
USA
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives, Night Cinema

A sprawling story of love and loss, as reflected on a single face.

Tiny pieces that, when cobbled together, hint at a much larger picture.

The larger picture being a woman’s life.
Observed through the decades.
Centuries, even.

You know.
A comedy.

Director
Conor Dooley
Runtime
Trailer

Baltic premiere

Scrumpy

Local title
Scrumpy
Original title
Scrumpy
Director
Dan Holmwood
Country
Ireland
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives, Night Cinema

Scrumpy grapples with the impending arrival of his birthday, an annual milestone that casts a shadow over his spirits, as he navigates a whimsical yet tumultuous journey to reconcile his disdain for this cherished day of celebration.

Director
Dan Holmwood
Runtime
Language
English
Subtitles
English

Baltic premiere

When Doves Try

Local title
Tuvitants
Original title
When Doves Try
Director
Thalia de Jong
Country
Netherlands
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives

A male pigeon courts a female in this awkwardly familiar dance of attraction, seduction and... disillusionment.

Director
Thalia de Jong
Runtime
Trailer

Baltic premiere

Plopp

Local title
Plumps
Original title
Plopp
Director
Carolin Glomp
Country
Germany
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives

An office restroom turns into a battle of wills between an intern and an executive.

Director
Carolin Glomp
Runtime
Trailer

Baltic premiere

Sighscape

Local title
Ohkemaastik
Original title
Sighscape
Director
Duncan Cowles
Country
United Kingdom
Year
2022
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives, Night Cinema

Fatigue expressed in an endless sea of content.

Director
Duncan Cowles
Runtime
Language
English
Trailer

Baltic premiere

Somni

Local title
Ulmad
Original title
Somni
Director
Sonja Rohleder
Country
Germany
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives

The sun sets and the eyes are closing. Rocking from one green leaf to the next, the little monkey glides gently to sleep. But what happens next? Suddenly the world of dreams gets darker, more colorful and wild. Mysterious plants, creatures and shapes line the trajectory through the night. A cinematic lullaby.

Director
Sonja Rohleder
Runtime
Trailer

Baltic premiere

Sit Down, Don't Touch Anything

Local title
Istu maha ja ära puutu
Original title
Sit Down, Don't Touch Anything
Director
Frederic Siegel
Country
Switzerland
Year
2022
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives

A face is born out of chaos. It struggles to exist. It struggles to find its purpose. It struggles to sit on a chair. In fact, it struggles with many things. But thank God, it’s trying.

Director
Frederic Siegel
Runtime
Trailer

International premiere

Made For Duty Overseas

Local title
Toodetud välisturule
Original title
Made For Duty Overseas
Director
Katie King
Country
United Kingdom
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives

A noir-ish tale centred around a packet of menthol Vogue cigarettes, moving between Sri Lanka and the UK. Intrigued by the allure of this woman’s identity, our narrator finds herself enticed into an addiction. This short film explores the allure of aesthetic distractions.

Director
Katie King
Runtime
Language
English
Trailer

Baltic premiere

As if it Could

Local title
Kui ta vaid suudaks
Original title
As if it Could
Director
Ada Güvenir
Country
Belgium
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives, Night Cinema

A semi-autobiographical story about borders and integration told through the metaphor of a plant. After realising her plant isn’t growing as it should, Olive leaves her home and goes on a quest to find new grounds to let her plant re-root. Soon after she embarks on the journey, she comes to realise she has to do a lot more before she can reach her goal, or at least that’s what she thinks...

Director
Ada Güvenir
Runtime

Baltic premiere

La Notte

Local title
Öö
Original title
La Notte
Director
Martina Generali, Simone Pratola, Francesca Sofia Rosso
Country
Italy
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives, Night Cinema

Based on concert RV 439 “La Notte” by A. Vivaldi. Carnival in Venice: Pulcinella attempts to slip into a VIP party, without too much success. Amidst lavish masks, food triumphs, dancing and sensual women, his dream of the rich and famous turns into a nightmare, revealing to him the priceless value of his simple but authentic life.

Director
Martina Generali, Simone Pratola, Francesca Sofia Rosso
Runtime
Trailer

Baltic premiere

The Brave Locomotive

Local title
Vapper igiliikur
Original title
The Brave Locomotive
Director
Andrew Chesworth
Country
USA
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives

An Old West musical tale with 1940's flair about a mighty little train facing harrowing disaster.

Director
Andrew Chesworth
Runtime
Language
English
Trailer

Baltic premiere

To the Brink

Local title
Viimase piirini
Original title
To the Brink
Director
Hugo Docking
Country
United Kingdom
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives, Night Cinema

A violent stop motion cabaret for the cynical and depraved. Guilt, alcoholic apathy and the inevitable, looming apocalypse threaten to push a young man to the brink.

Director
Hugo Docking
Runtime
Language
English
Trailer

Baltic premiere

Brixton Bustle

Local title
Brixtoni saginad
Original title
Brixton Bustle
Director
Shaun Clark
Country
United Kingdom
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives, Night Cinema

A journey through the energy, rhythm and culture of life in Brixton, a district of South London with an African-Caribbean soul.

Director
Shaun Clark
Runtime

Baltic premiere

From the Corner of My Eye

Local title
Silmanurgast
Original title
Szemem sarka
Director
Domonkos Erhardt
Country
Hungary
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives, Night Cinema

The short-film depicts the moment when two strangers’ lives entangle for a brief second when their eyes meet.

Director
Domonkos Erhardt
Runtime

Shut

Local title
Kinni
Original title
Shut
Director
Niels Bourgonje
Country
Netherlands
Year
2022
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives
Genre
horror film

When Jonas visits his father after a long time, he's shocked to find him in a confused state. Has his father's mental state badly deteriorated or is something more sinister going on?

Director
Niels Bourgonje
Runtime
Language
Dutch
Subtitles
English
Trailer

Suruaika

Local title
Suruaika
Original title
Suruaika
Director
Vlad Ilicevici, Radu C Pop
Country
Romania
Year
2022
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives
Genre
fantasy film

Kipu is a luxury chauffeur in a dark city, where the streets are full of cars and black cats. After he accidentally runs over the entire family of a little cat called Suruaika, Kipu adopts her and does all he can to keep her safe. As Kipu’s love for Suruaika grows, so does her body, and the streets become more and more crowded with black cats, new victims for countless little tragedies.

Director
Vlad Ilicevici, Radu C Pop
Runtime
Language
Romanian
Subtitles
English
Trailer

Inkar

Local title
Inkar
Original title
Inkar
Director
Raiymbek Alzhanov
Country
Kazakhstan
Year
2022
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives, Night Cinema

The Great Kazakh Steppe, XVII century. Times when myths often turned out to be true. A girl named Inkar is forced to flee after an unsuccessful magical ritual. Now the evil spirits wants to possess Inkar's body and her hereditary gift. On the way she meets two fugitive brothers, with the help of whom she hopes to cross the Great Sea. But will the heroes survive this road?

Director
Raiymbek Alzhanov
Runtime
Language
Kazakh
Subtitles
English
Trailer

Demon Box

Local title
Deemoni karp
Original title
Demon Box
Director
Sean Wainsteim
Country
Canada
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives
Genre
experimental film

After festival rejections, a director revises his intensely personal short film about trauma, suicide, and the Holocaust, and transforms it into a painful, blunt and funny dissection of the film and his life.

Director
Sean Wainsteim
Runtime
Language
English
Trailer

Out of the Fog

Local title
Otse udust
Original title
Hors de la Brume
Director
Tigrane Minassian
Country
France
Year
2022
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives

Nice, South of France, 1978. On Christmas Eve, Annie receives a phone call from her daughter that left her years earlier to join a cult. With the help of the police, Annie has only a few minutes to find out where she is and save her from a mass suicide...

Director
Tigrane Minassian
Runtime
Language
French
Subtitles
English
Trailer