Shorts National Competition 2

Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts National Competition

As sure as the Estonian forests are green and the winters harsh yet beautiful – the best Estonian shorts have a certain indefinable magic. It’s always ironic that a nation that can often be (unfairly) maligned for a certain aloofness, can count on fiction, doc, and animation filmmakers with their achingly compassionate, persistently quirky, and defiantly humane shorts.
The 2023 National Competition takes us from birth to death with the usual intricacies of love and conflict, with abstractness in between. The past, present, and future of both Estonia and humanity are all explored as realism, magic, elegant monochrome and a rainbow of colours unfurl before us.
As always, many films emanate from the Baltic Film, Media and Arts School and the Estonian Academy of Arts, allowing the programme to shine a spotlight on young and future talents. But established masters are also here, making for a dizzying array of Estonian on-screen wonder in fiction, animation, and documentary.

Screenings

Hall 1 Kino Artis
Screening062101 / Shorts Rahvuslik võistlusprogramm 2
Q&A duration
Screening duration
Trailer

Films

Baltic premiere

Ab Absurdo

Local title
Ab absurdo
Original title
Ab Absurdo
Director
Iris Peil
Country
Estonia
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts National Competition

Through pitchblack humor that’s born from a familiar absurdity of life’s situational satir, this film offers a sharp insight to the minds of somewhat intertwined inner worlds of two lonely individuals.
Former starlet Ada and protagonist Jonas land on an unexpected journey throughout life to search for meaning and relief to one’s existence. Throughout thirty-something years the pair seem to peek through the life on stage as well as road to death.

Director
Iris Peil
Runtime
Language
Estonian
Subtitles
English
Trailer

Baltic premiere

Unfamiliars

Local title
Võõrad
Original title
Võõrad
Director
Lauri Elstelä
Country
Estonia
Year
2022
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts National Competition

A human drama about a mother obsessed with documenting her dead son's apartment, a sister forced to inherit her dead brother's old belongings, and a son-in-law pretending to ignore a past affair with his dead lover. Together, they navigate familial tensions and secrets held from each other inside a house that is home to nobody.

Director
Lauri Elstelä
Runtime
Language
Estonian
Subtitles
English
Trailer

World premiere

1000

Local title
1000
Original title
1000
Director
Nevena Semova
Country
Estonia
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts National Competition

Riina, an ambitious graveyard manager, prepares to bury her record-setting 1000th body, when an unexpected revelation about the deceased ruins her plans and chances to achieve her corporate target.

Director
Nevena Semova
Runtime
Language
Estonian
Subtitles
English
Trailer

Baltic premiere

Backstage Bardo

Local title
Backstage Bardo
Original title
Backstage Bardo
Director
Maros Pulscak
Country
Estonia
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts National Competition

The challenges of working in a morgue are conveyed through an intimate, up-close perspective, offering insight into a world that is often shrouded in obscurity and misconception.

Director
Maros Pulscak
Runtime
Language
Slovak
Subtitles
English

Baltic premiere

Two Men on Train and Someone Else

Local title
Kaks meest rongis ja keegi veel ...
Original title
Two Men on Train and Someone Else
Director
Jaan Toomik
Country
Estonia
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts National Competition

Peppered with elegiac undertones this farewell story takes us to the world of old men
getting ready to say their goodbyes to this world. Each in their own bizarre way. Nothing tragic, but the crossing of the threshold of eternity is still an enigma for all of them - just as is life itself.

Director
Jaan Toomik
Runtime
Language
Estonian
Subtitles
English

Baltic premiere

Christmas Day

Local title
Jõululaupäev
Original title
Jõululaupäev
Director
Alexandra Pärn
Country
Estonia
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts National Competition

Pia mourns her grandfather, believing she is the reason for his passing. Until she finds out what really happened.

Director
Alexandra Pärn
Runtime
Language
Estonian, English
Subtitles
English
Trailer