In Focus: Catalonia

Inspired by the growing international acclaim of Catalan cinema, this programme presents a curated selection of both new and classic films. A ray of Mediterranean light shining through the dark nights of Tallinn.

Anguish

Anguish

A mother uses telepathic powers to send her middle-aged son on a killing spree. A masterclass in 1980s Euro-horror

Local title
Ahastus
Country
Spain
Beef

Beef

A young rapper must confront her mother to succeed in the world of freestyle.

Local title
Beef
Title in Russian
Биф
Director
Ingride Santos
Country
Spain, Mexico
Emergency Exit

Emergency Exit

A joyful gang embarks on an enigmatic trip. An engaging homage to the artistry – and the magic – of cinema.

Local title
Hädaväljapääs
Title in Russian
Аварийный выход
Director
Lluís Miñarro
Country
Spain
Forastera

Forastera

During her Mallorca summer, Cata recognises similarities with her late grandma and develops an influence over her grandpa.

Local title
Võõras
Director
Lucía Aleñar Iglesias
Country
Spain
Frontier

Frontier

A Spanish customs officer risks everything to help Jews escape Nazi-occupied France across the Pyrenees.

Local title
Piir
Director
Judith Colell
Country
Spain, Belgium
In a Glass Cage

In a Glass Cage

A doctor from a Nazi death camp who fled to Spain continues his horrific activities, only to find himself in an iron lung.

Local title
Klaasist puuris
Country
Spain
Last Night I Conquered the City of Thebes

Last Night I Conquered the City of Thebes

A cosmic hangout film about male friendship set against the backdrop of ancient Roman baths.

Local title
Eile õhtul vallutasin Teeba linna
Director
Gabriel Azorín
Country
Spain, Portugal
Leo & Lou

Leo & Lou

Two lost souls end up on a life-changing adventure.

Local title
Leo ja Lou
Title in Russian
Лео и Лу
Director
Carlos Solano
Country
Spain, United Kingdom, Romania
Life in Shadows

Life in Shadows

An engaging portrait of a man in love with the cinema. A brilliant cult film persecuted by censorship.

Local title
Elu varjudes
Country
Spain
Los Tarantos

Los Tarantos

“Romeo and Juliet” in the world of gypsies: dance, music, and passion in a Barcelona like you’ve never seen before.

Local title
Tarantode lugu
Country
Spain
Magellan

Magellan

An absorbing story of colonial conquest and obsession, starring Gael García Bernal as Ferdinand Magellan.

Local title
Magalhães
Director
Lav Diaz
Country
Portugal, Spain, France, Philippines, Taiwan
Maria Rosa

Maria Rosa

Love triangle, repressed desire, in a Greek-like drama, which was the first Catalan spoken film during the dictatorship.

Local title
Maria Rosa
Country
Spain
Miss Jobson

Miss Jobson

The life, laughter, and legacy of Bob Marley’s fearless lawyer, 80-year-old Miss Jobson

Local title
Rastajurist Diane Jobson
Title in Russian
Мисс Джобсон
Director
Amanda Sans Pantling
Country
Jamaica, Spain
Nomad Shadow

Nomad Shadow

A young and magnetic Sahrawi woman, Mariam, is deported from Spain back to her family home in Western Sahara.

Local title
Nomaadi vari
Director
Eimi Imanishi
Country
USA, Spain, France
Nothing Personal

Nothing Personal

Lina, a well-known TV host, appears at Pedro’s doorstep to confront him about a cruel message he posted about her online.

Local title
Näost näkku
Director
Javier Marco
Country
Spain, Belgium
Ocaña, an Intermittent Portrait

Ocaña, an Intermittent Portrait

Ocaña epitomises the unstoppable wave of freedom, joy and colour that shook Catalan society after the dictator’s death.

Local title
Ocaña, katkendlik portree
Director
Ventura Pons
Country
Spain
Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake

Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake

A story of courage and rebirth in the face of adversity.

Local title
Olivia ja nähtamatu maavärin
Title in Russian
Оливия и невидимое землетрясение
Director
Irene Iborra, Irene Iborra Rizo
Country
Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Chile, France
Romería

Romería

A young woman’s search for official documents for a university scholarship uncovers long-buried family secrets.

Local title
Palverännak
Director
Carla Simón
Country
Spain, Germany
Sirât

Sirât

A father, accompanied by his son, goes looking for his missing daughter in North Africa.

Local title
Sirat
Director
Oliver Laxe
Country
Spain, France
Strange River

Strange River

While cycling along the Danube with his family, 16-year-old Dídac encounters a mysterious boy in the river.

Local title
Tundmatu jõgi
Director
Jaume Claret Muxart
Country
Spain, Germany
The Boy at the Edge of the World

The Boy at the Edge of the World

Would you go to the end of the world to save your sister?

Local title
Poiss maailma äärel
Director
Grzegorz Wacławek, Marta Szymańska
Country
Poland, Türkiye, Spain
The Flight of the Stork

The Flight of the Stork

Between Barcelona and Algeria, a young woman seeks to reconcile three generations of women divided by faith and exile.

Local title
Kure lend
Director
Soumaya Hidalgo Djahdou, Berta Vicente Salas
Country
Spain, Qatar
The Good Daughter

The Good Daughter

All children need a mother and a father. No child deserves to see their parents go through an ugly divorce.

Local title
Hea tütreke
Title in Russian
Хорошая дочь
Director
Júlia de Paz Solvas
Country
Spain
The Treasure of Barracuda

The Treasure of Barracuda

This fantastic adventure film will make you want to become a pirate!

Local title
Barrakuuda varandus
Title in Russian
Сокровище Барракуды
Director
Adrià Garcia
Country
Spain
The Virgin of the Quarry Lake

The Virgin of the Quarry Lake

A supernatural, feminine coming-of-(r)age film that captivates with enormous power

Local title
Karjäärijärve neitsi
Country
Argentina, Spain, Mexico
They Will Be Dust

They Will Be Dust

PÖFF kicks off with a tragicomic musical film that dances around death.

Local title
Nad tolmuks saavad
Title in Russian
Они обратятся в прах
Director
Carlos Marques-Marcet
Country
Spain, Switzerland, Italy
Things I Never Told You

Things I Never Told You

A funny, subtle, irreverent and engaging dramedy shot in the US that propelled Isabel Coixet’s to fame.

Local title
Asjad, mida ma sulle kunagi öelnud ei ole
Director
Isabel Coixet
Country
Spain
Three Goodbyes

Three Goodbyes

Marta and Antonio split up after what seems like a trivial argument.

Local title
Kolm hüvastijättu
Director
Isabel Coixet
Country
Italy, Spain
Umbracle

Umbracle

Christopher Lee haunts Barcelona as Portabella pushes cinema to its limits to disarm the authoritarian gaze.

Local title
Umbracle
Director
Pere Portabella
Country
Spain