Did you know that Solaris becomes a meeting place for film lovers during PÖFF? It’s home to Artis and Apollo, two key festival cinemas, but the screenings are only part of what’s on offer. There are special events, Estonian design, great food, PÖFF anniversary souvenirs and even a chance to be a festival star for a moment.
From 6 to 22 November, PÖFF30 brings film stars, filmmakers and guests from around the world to Tallinn. One of the festival’s main meeting places is Solaris, where culture, cinema, design and good food come together under one roof.
The shared history of PÖFF and Solaris goes back to the days of the Sakala Centre. The festival and the cultural life around it have grown together. Solaris has become one of PÖFF’s homes: a place where countless films have been watched, audiences have met filmmakers, lively discussions have taken place and memories have been made that reach far beyond the cinema.
For Solaris, PÖFF is more than a partnership. It’s part of the centre’s identity and its ambition to be somewhere people can do more than shop: a place to experience something new, make discoveries and talk about them.
A festival is about more than films. It’s also about the places, people and discoveries that make the whole experience special. Here’s the PÖFF Wolves’ guide to what to explore at Solaris during the festival.
At the heart of Solaris are two key PÖFF cinemas: Artis and Apollo. Both screen a wide selection of festival films, but each has its own character and atmosphere. This year, they bring together the main PÖFF programme, Just Film and PÖFF Shorts.
Kino Artis is a favourite meeting place for arthouse film lovers. It’s somewhere to discover world cinema, enjoy distinctive work by auteur filmmakers and take part in special screenings and encounters. And at Artis, the PÖFF experience lasts all year round! After the festival ends, a selection of films shown at PÖFF continues to reach the cinema’s screens, giving you a chance to discover festival highlights or see them again throughout the year.
This year, Just Film fans have another reason to visit Artis: several Just Film screenings are returning to the cinema for the first time in years.
Artis will also host premieres of Estonian films in the PÖFF Shorts National Competition, offering a chance to discover new work by local filmmakers and explore the latest developments in Estonian short film.
Discover PÖFF films at Kino Artis
Read more about the PÖFF Shorts National Competition
Apollo Kino Solaris brings PÖFF to the big screen, giving festivalgoers a chance to immerse themselves in some of the best of world cinema. Genres, cultures and stories come together here in films that might surprise you, make you laugh, move you or shake you up.
Solaris is particularly convenient for Just Film school groups, including those travelling to the festival from further afield. The centre is easy to reach in the heart of Tallinn, and everything you need is close at hand.
There’s no need to rush off with the class after the screening. Solaris has several places to eat, where you can grab a bite together, talk about the film or simply have a rest before heading home.
A single cinema visit can turn into a whole class outing, with time to enjoy a film together, catch up and come away with something new to think about.
Discover PÖFF films at Apollo Kino Solaris
PÖFF Wolf tip: Don’t choose a film just because you recognise a name or know you like the genre. The joy of PÖFF is in the discoveries. Sometimes the best film of the festival turns out to be the one you knew nothing about before the screening.
And teachers, if you’re planning to bring your class to PÖFF, take a look at the screenings at Solaris. You can combine a good film and a relaxed meal with a school day that gives everyone something to talk about.
Once PÖFF arrives at Solaris, the PÖFF information desk opens on the second floor. You’ll find help choosing films, festival schedules and plenty more.
Ask what’s worth seeing, find your next screening or browse the souvenirs created for PÖFF30.
Information desk opening hours:
Mon-Sat 10:00–21:00; Sun, 10:00–19:00
This year, the information desk is also worth a visit if you enjoy an unusual find. Solaris is hosting PÖFF’s vintage sale, with treasures from the festival’s 30-year history. Look out for souvenirs from previous editions, printed materials and other rarities that may bring back memories for long-time PÖFF fans.
You’ll also find the special PÖFF30 and Reet Aus collection, created in collaboration with Comdecor. Advertising banners from previous festivals have been given a new life as one-of-a-kind bags and practical souvenirs. Every piece is unique and carries a little of PÖFF’s visual history.
PÖFF Wolf tip: If you’re looking for a gift for a film lover or want a special keepsake from the anniversary year, start at the information desk. Some of these finds may never go on sale again!
For PÖFF30, visitors will find a PÖFF photo wall on the second floor of Solaris for the first time, set up to welcome festival guests.
The best part? Any film lover can have their photo taken here!
Whether you’re heading to a gala premiere, meeting friends or simply enjoying a day at the cinema, capture your PÖFF moment and take a festival memory home with you.
Keep an eye out before you even go inside. A large PÖFF Wolf location marker outside the Estonia Boulevard entrance lets you know you’ve come to the right place.
PÖFF Wolf tip: Take your PÖFF30 photo, share it with friends and tag the festival. There’ll only ever be one 30th PÖFF!
During PÖFF, make your way to the Solaris atrium too, where there’ll be a range of events and meet-ups.
One of the anniversary highlights is a free T-shirt design workshop from PÖFF and Reet Aus, where anyone can try their hand at creating a design.
Margaret Aus will lead the workshop, and participants will get to design their very own PÖFF T-shirt. All the finished designs will go to a public vote, and the winning design will become an official PÖFF T-shirt!
You can also make practical accessories from offcuts of advertising banners from previous festivals, giving the materials a second life. The workshop is a collaboration between PÖFF, Reet Aus, Solaris and Comdecor.
The workshop is free, but places are limited and you’ll need to register in advance.
17 November at 17:30: Register for the workshop
PÖFF Wolf tip: Ever wondered what a PÖFF T-shirt designed by you would look like? Now’s your chance to make it happen. Next time, hundreds of film lovers could be wearing your design!
A festival isn’t just about films. It’s also a chance to explore places worth visiting before or after a screening.
Solaris is a great place to look for something special, whether it’s for yourself or as a gift. The centre is home to several
Estonian design brands whose work combines originality and quality with stories rooted in Estonia.
One stop worth making is the Estonian Design House (Eesti Disaini Maja), which was established to showcase Estonian design and designers.
This isn’t your average design shop. You’ll find work by local designers only, with no overseas brands. The Estonian Design House is run by a non-profit organisation that supports Estonian designers and helps bring their work to a wider audience.
Every piece starts with someone’s idea and has a story of its own.
And what could be more in the spirit of PÖFF than having the courage to create something original?
PÖFF Wolf tip: If you have time before your screening, take a look around and see what Estonian designers are making. You might find a gift you won’t get anywhere else, or something you’ve been looking for yourself for ages.
A long festival day calls for a good meal! Solaris has cafés and restaurants offering everything from a quick bite before a screening to a leisurely dinner with friends to talk about the films you’ve seen.
Best of all, several places offer special discounts to film lovers with a PÖFF pass or ticket.
Caffeine: Where the PÖFF Wolves Go for Coffee
Did you know you might spot PÖFF Wolves at Caffeine in Solaris during the festival, having a coffee and deciding what to see next?
Caffeine is one of the places PÖFF fans come to take a moment for themselves, enjoy a good coffee and swap thoughts on the films they’ve seen.
And this year there’s something extra: you can order a coffee with a PÖFF Wolf on it!
From 9 to 15 November, there’s also a special coffee of the week with popcorn syrup and caramel sauce. It’s film night in a cup!
For PÖFF audiences: Get 10% off all food and barista-made drinks when you show a PÖFF pass, ticket or festival badge.
Read more about the Caffeine offer
Tokumaru: Japanese Flavours and Stories on Screen
Both film and food can take us to new worlds. Tokumaru invites you to explore the rich flavours of Japanese cuisine, from steaming bowls of ramen to plenty of other dishes worth trying.
For PÖFF audiences: Get 10% off the main menu with a PÖFF pass or a ticket for that day.
Read more about the Tokumaru offer
Vapiano: A Good Film Deserves a Good Meal
Fresh pasta, pizza or salad! At Vapiano, everything is freshly prepared to your taste. Whether you’re in the mood for a romcom in the form of creamy pasta or a proper thriller of a pizza with a kick, there’s a starring role for whatever you’re craving.
Vapiano is also helping to feed PÖFF volunteers this year, keeping our big wolf pack well fed and in good spirits.
For PÖFF audiences: Get 20% off with a PÖFF pass or a ticket for that day.
Read more about the Vapiano offer
LIDO: Home-Style Cooking Before Your Next Film
If you’re after a quick, tasty and hearty meal, LIDO is a good choice. There’s a wide selection of home-style dishes, making it easy to sit down for a proper meal before the next screening.
For PÖFF audiences: Get 15% off with a PÖFF pass or a ticket for that day.
Read more about the LIDO offer
PÖFF Wolf tip: Make time for something good to eat during your festival day. A good film deserves a good meal, and sometimes it’s the conversation over coffee or dinner that makes the cinema trip even more memorable.
Solaris invites everyone to flex their cultural muscles!
For PÖFF30, the centre is reminding us that getting a dose of culture matters just as much as keeping fit. Good films make us think, broaden our horizons, stir our emotions and take us places we might never otherwise go.
‘Solaris Is for Culture Buffs’ is an invitation to get out of the house, discover new stories and give those cultural muscles a proper workout.
Flex your cultural muscles at PÖFF and at the Artis and Apollo cinemas in Solaris!
PÖFF Wolf tip: Give yourself a whole day of culture. Pick a film, discover some Estonian design, enjoy a good meal and leave a little time to do nothing in particular. Often it’s several small discoveries that make for the best day out.
One of the things that makes Solaris special is its location in Tallinn’s cultural heart, where theatres, concert halls, cinemas and restaurants are all part of the life of the city.
While you’re in the area, take a moment to enjoy a view of Tallinn that wouldn’t look out of place on a postcard.
The festival has its own rhythm, but there’s no need to fill every moment with another screening or meet-up. Sometimes the nicest thing to do is simply look around and let the city surprise you.
PÖFF Wolf tip: If you have time before the next film, don’t rush. Explore Solaris and the surrounding area and enjoy the cultural life of central Tallinn.
At 22:00, Disco Tallinn goes PÖFF brings the festival’s birthday celebrations to a spectacular close! For one night only, the Solaris EuroPark car park and the Level 0 foyer of Alexela Concert Hall will become one big film set, with a party straight out of the movies.
Solaris Is Where the PÖFF Wolves Meet!
During PÖFF, Solaris becomes more than a shopping and entertainment centre. It’s a place where film lovers, creative minds, guests and good stories come together.
Start the day with a coffee, discover some Estonian design, unearth a rare treasure from PÖFF’s past, join a workshop and end the evening with a film that stays with you long after the credits roll.
Because the best festival experiences don’t happen in the cinema alone. They come from everything that happens before, during and after the film.
See you at Solaris!
PÖFF30 runs from 6 to 22 November 2026.