Night Cinema: Midnight Madness

Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2020
Programme
Night Cinema, Shorts Alternatives

Leave your sense of normality at home. Make room for questions you don’t even know you want answers to. Ignore your body’s physical need for sleep at the usual human-being time because you will get sucked in your seat and drowned slowly at Midnight Madness.

It’s no ordinary madness, but the salad of everything that has been in your refrigerator for too long and wants to walk out on its own now. Be careful. Symptoms include doubting everything you considered normal – from nuns to birds, beautiful hands to closing doors. You won’t even want to know what could happen next time you see a horse. No time for sanity here. While all the other people are in REM sleep, you have the opportunity to see things wilder than your subconsciousness could create on its own.

It’s a ride through the wackiest deserts with cheap wine, a closeup of grim and surreal lives. You may experience flight mode or feel like celebrating, nevertheless, there’s always a hill somewhere that wants to get sat on. Confused? You will be.

Films

Baltic premiere

Helfer

Local title
Helfer
Director
Szöllősi Anna
Country
Hungary
Year
2020

The film is about a young woman who is struggling with anxiety and recurring nightmares that she wants to end. She seeks out a helper, who offers an alternative solution, but in the process she must confront her greatest fears. The film details their relationship in a surreal world through symbolic events.

Director
Szöllősi Anna
Runtime
Language
Hungarian

PANDORA

Local title
Pandora
Director
Matthias Lerch
Country
Germany
Year
2020

The film interprets the myth of Pandora as a process of consciousness and tells the story of a manipulated character, that frees herself from her predestination.

Director
Matthias Lerch
Runtime

Baltic premiere

Mad in Xpain

Local title
Hullud Xpaanias
Original title
MAD IN XPAIN
Director
Coke Riobóo
Country
Spain
Year
2020

In a post-apocalyptic Spain, different tribes survive, struggling to gain control of the only livelihood that exists, a very low quality red wine.

Director
Coke Riobóo
Runtime

Baltic premiere

My Favourite Hill!

Local title
Minu lemmikmägi!
Original title
My Favourite Hill!
Director
Christopher Childs
Country
United Kingdom
Year
2020

A group of factory workers become obsessed with a hill. They let loose on the marshy earth, succumbing to their strange desires. The hill watches them closely, commenting on their activities like a deranged poet.

Director
Christopher Childs
Runtime

Baltic premiere

Nod. Wink. Horse.

Local title
Nooguta. Pilguta. Hobune.
Director
Ollie Magee
Country
United Kingdom
Year
2020

A film behind a horse. Obscuring the narrative. Self-sabotage.

Director
Ollie Magee
Runtime

Baltic premiere

Ghost Eye

Local title
Väsinud silmad
Director
Wouter Sel, Thijs De Cloedt
Country
Belgium
Year
2020

Johnny Supro is a washed up taxi driver, tired with life and stuck in the underbelly of society. Wouter and Thijs paint a surreal and grim reality with little place for hope, driving their main character into insanity.

Director
Wouter Sel, Thijs De Cloedt
Runtime
Language
English

Baltic premiere

The Closing Door

Local title
Sulguv uks
Director
Lucija Mrzljak
Country
Estonia
Year
2019

Music video that will take you on a mystical journey with the strokes of a brush and black ink.

Director
Lucija Mrzljak
Runtime
Language
English

Baltic premiere

The Windows of That House

Local title
Tolle maja aknad
Director
Urszula Domanska
Country
Poland
Year
2019

An old lady finds an injured bird. She takes care of him and gives him shelter. They quickly make friends with each other. One day the bird finds out that he is in danger: in the other room the old lady keeps hundreds of birds, locked in cages.

Director
Urszula Domanska
Runtime
Language
Polish

Baltic premiere

Thank you

Local title
Tänan teid
Director
Julian Gallese
Country
United Kingdom
Year
2020

A highly anticipated birthday is the talk of the town

Director
Julian Gallese
Runtime
Language
English