The 11-piece competition strand includes six world premieres and five international premieres.
The new team is led by Estonian documentary director, producer and Associate professor at the Baltic Film, Media and Arts School of Tallinn University, Marianna Kaat (The Last Relic, PÖFF 2023). The other three programmers are: self-shooting producer/director Mike Arnott, long-time PÖFF programmer Edvinas Pukšta; and the head of Youth and Children's Film Festival Just Film, Mikk Granström.
The curator, Marianna Kaat, shares her joy about the new competition: "Our programming principle is to bring audiences cinematic, powerful documentaries that touch their emotions. We want to offer films for both the eye and the heart, as well as to attract those audiences who have not been particularly enthusiastic about documentaries in the past. We offer both entertaining documentaries, as well something for cinephiles – particularly those who appreciate the craft and technique involved in filmmaking."
PÖFF festival director, Tiina Lokk, commented on the new competition line: "There has been a long-standing demand on the international scene for a PÖFF documentary competition programme. Although feature documentaries have always been welcome in our sub-programmes, the number of submissions has significantly increased in recent years. Therefore, we are organizing all these submissions into a new documentary competition."
Kaat elaborates: "The trend in documentary filmmaking over the last ten years has been that as cameras get more powerful, they get smaller. The ability to shoot alone is increasing, so films are becoming more intimate. Now it's possible to make films alone, with minimal resources, and get very close to the person. This makes for very powerful films, and there are several such very personal stories in our competition. Of course, the subject of war is also topical."
With My Open Lungs | World premiere
In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Yana’s deeply personal journey unfolds against a backdrop of chaos and constant feeling of war. She navigates heartbreak, family conflicts, and a blossoming love with Yaroslava who dreams of defying oppression while battling lung cancer. Their story evolves in a city consumed by violence and oppression. The director, Yana Sad (1986), graduated from the Moscow School of New Cinema as a film director. In 2022, she left Russia for political reasons, and currently lives and works in Germany. With My Open Lungs is her 3rd film.
Never too Late | World premiere
In a small country town of Huaihua city, Hunan province, China, Deng divorces her husband Yang at the age of 80 after 60 years of marriage. Family and neighbors are shocked – why now? In order to understand the story behind the divorce, their granddaughter Yang Lizhu comes into their life. Yang Lizhu, documentary director, graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in 2016, majoring in photography. Never Too Late is her first feature.
Black Gold | World premiere
The visually striking film by Portugal-based Japanese filmmaker Takashi Sugimoto blends minimalism with the beauty of rural India. It is a feast for cinephiles. The story is set in a village in southern India. Saraswathi, like many women, combes her daughters' long hair every day. An outcast tribe comes to collect the hair in exchange for household goods. Saraswathi makes a personal offering at the temple, unaware of the wider consequences.
Full Support | International premiere
In a Jaffa bra shop's fitting room, women's love-hate affair with their bosom buddies unfolds. As each heroine struggles to find the perfect bra, she bares not just her chest, but her soul, sharing tales of triumph, tribulation, and the occasional wardrobe malfunction. The author, Michal Cohen is a director and editor of documentaries & fiction films. Her previous documentary As Themselves was aired and screened in Israel and abroad.
The Watchman | International premiere
Guangdong and his wife Baoyan have organized their entire lives with the sole aim of supporting the education of their only son, a student at the prestigious Beijing Academy of Music. But now that Zhaohang is finally fulfilling his parents’ dream and moving abroad to pursue his career, they must face up to and make sense of this absence. Shot between China and Estonia, The Watchman is the first collaboration between Victoire Bonin and Lou du Pontavice.
Torn | World premiere
Kalju lives alone on a hill in the deep forest. He carries logs and stones to his hill, like Sisyphus did. Years ago, his wife left him and took their four-year-old child with her. When his daughter calls to say she is expecting a child, Kalju is confused. For the first time, he looks at old diaries and recordings to understand what went wrong. To attract potential partners, he is building the tallest observation tower in the region. The director Kullar Viimne has created an undescribable film with beautiful, sad and hopeful images. The score is created by Erki Pärnoja, a multi-instrumentalist and a composer, whose work has recognizable elements of indie rock, ambient and cinematic soundscapes.
Murmuring Hearts | World premiere
An empty and desolate winter landscape. 14-year-old Matas is being brought to a farm where a group of recovering addicts seeks redemption. Led by charismatic Žanas, a former addict, the community follows a strict routine—praying, tending to animals, and cheesemaking—all to escape the troubled cycles of the past. When Matas arrives, the fragile balance of the community is disrupted. Murmuring Hearts is the second documentary by the Lithuanian director Vytautas Puidokas. His first feature-length documentary, El Padre Medico, was shown at Camden IFF (USA) and was nominated for best documentary in Lithuania.
Freight | World premiere
Filmed over four years, this atmospheric piece tells a story about a teenage crew on a container ship. When Tycho, a newcomer to the ship, joins the crew, Rudmer is annoyed by his colleague's laziness. He tries to motivate Tycho, but he leaves the ship. Rudmer's place is taken by Leanne, with whom he quickly builds up trust. However, their closeness only lasts for a short time, as Leanne decides to switch to another ship. Freight is a debute feature documentary by Basel-based USA director Max Carlo Kohal. For his work Freight, he won the Basler Filmpreis Special for Upcoming Director.
Trains | International premiere
Trains is a documentary crafted in the found footage genre, using archival film materials from 46 archives around the world. The film creates a collective portrait of people in 20th century Europe, capturing their hopes, desires, dramas, and tragedies. The narration relies on the interplay between visuals and a highly developed sound design. The author, Maciej J. Drygas is a renowned film and radio director, screenwriter, producer, and professor at the Polish National Film School in Łódź. His works have received numerous prestigious awards, including the European Film Academy Award for Best Documentary for Hear My Cry (1991).
Ice Aged | International premiere
Alexandra Sell's touching documentary follows six men and women from all over the world, tracing their dedication to training at local ice rinks up to
the big performance at the World Hobby Figure Skating Championships at Oberstdorf in Bavaria. The film shows that the dream of skating is a battle-cry against the march of old age and the glorification of youth. Our well-aged heroes go beyond their limits for that all-important moment. On our way through their years and their tears, we witness deep pain, intense joy and unbreakable courage which takes our breath away.
Ms. President | International premiere
Marek Šulík's newest documentary is a captivating, behind-the-scenes look at Zuzana Čaputová’s groundbreaking journey as Slovakia’s first female president. Thanks to unprecedented access, the filmmakers take us on an extraordinary four-year journey into the heart of political decision-making and personal sacrifice. Witness the real pressures of leading a nation, as Čaputová navigates the delicate balance between public service and personal life. Ms. President is a must-see for anyone interested in the future of leadership and democracy.
FILM DETAILS
With My Open Lungs, 2024, Germany, director: Yana Sad. World premiere
Never Too Late, 2024, China, director: Lizhu Yang. World premiere.
Black Gold, 2024, Portugal, director: Takashi Sugimoto. World premiere.
Full Support, 2024, Israel, director: Michal Cohen. International premiere.
The Watchman, 2024, France, Belgium, director: Victoire Bonin. International premiere.
Torn, 2024, Estonia, director: Kullar Viimne. World Premiere.
Murmuring Hearts, 2024, Lithuania, France; director: Vytautas Puidokas. World Premiere.
Freight, 2024, Switzerland, director: Max Carlo Kohal. World Premiere
Trains, 2024, Poland, Lithuania; director: Maciej J. Drygas. International Premiere.
Ice Aged, 2024, Germany, director: Alexandra Sell. International Premiere.
Ms. President, 2024, Slovakia, director: Marek Šulík. International Premiere.
The 28th edition of PÖFF l will take place from the 8th until the 24th of November, while the festival’s industry platform Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event will run from 14th until the 22nd of November.
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival with Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event and with the two sub-festivals, Just Film and PÖFF Shorts, has grown into one of the biggest film festivals in Northern Europe and the busiest regional industry platforms.