In 2026, PÖFF will present a strong selection of documentaries in its two competition programmes with Doc@PÖFF International showcasing 11 world premieres from around the globe. In addition to the documentary programmes, the festival also announced its lineup of Special Screenings.
Marianna Kaat, the curator of Doc@PÖFF International and Baltic Competitions say she approaches every documentary with childlike curiosity, hoping to discover a fresh perspective, a compelling character or an insight that stays with me long after the film ends. “This year, I was particularly struck by filmmakers finding fresh ways to tell their stories, opening up new possibilities for documentary cinema and its role in defending our sense of reality. These films ask us to look more closely, question our assumptions and resist easy explanations. In a world where so much comes to us already interpreted, that feels especially necessary.”
The Doc@PÖFF International Competition brings together stories of self-discovery, family ties and the search for belonging. From camel racing in the Sinai Peninsula to an experiment in workplace democracy inside a Michelin-starred restaurant, from queer cultural memory to the hidden mechanisms of control within a Danish Christian sect, the films reveal unexpected sides of human experience. Alongside them are intimate accounts of people seeking freedom, rebuilding their lives and finding their own voice amid conflict, displacement or family expectations.
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The jury is headed by Finnish director and screenwriter Karin Pennanen. Her feature documentary “Days of Wonder” premiered at PÖFF in 2025 and won the Doc@PÖFF International Competition. The jury also includes Roman Bondarchuk, Ukrainian filmmaker, artistic director of Docudays UA and co-founder of the Ukraine War Archive; Israel Bañuelos, Mexican-Estonian sound designer and re-recording mixer, founder of Acousmatic Film Sound. He has collaborated on more than 100 films that have been showcased in numerous prestigious festivals.
Doc@PÖFF Baltic Competition, taking place for the second time, showcases the best documentaries from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In 2026, the selection includes five World Premieres.
From the world of ballet to life by the sea, the nine films in the Doc@PÖFF Baltic Competition invite audiences to meet people pursuing their passions, discovering new possibilities and holding on to what matters most. Fishermen, dancers and artists share the screen with people rebuilding their lives or defending their homeland. Reaching from the Baltic region to Iceland and Ukraine, these stories explore our connections to nature, family and home, with room for both joy and difficult questions.
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The jury of the Baltic competition is headed by Christian Popp, a senior film producer and former commissioning editor with over 35 years of experience in the film industry accompanied by Rada Šešić, a film director, lecturer and festival programmer and Carmen L. Vicencio, the Supervising Director at American Documentary Inc.
In addition to the competition programmes around 50 feature documentaries will be screened across various programmes at the festival.
The Special Screenings programme presents films with a particular connection to Estonia or to distinguished festival guests. Bringing together remarkable stories and creative voices, the selection offers audiences an opportunity to explore works that hold a special place in this year’s festival. This year’s selection includes three world premieres and one international premiere.
The seven films in the Special Screenings programme range from intimate portraits of creative lives to romantic drama, classic intrigue and Christmas horror comedy. Stories about Louis Kahn, Jüri Järvet and photographer Erlend Štaub explore the relationships and dedication behind their work, while the frontman of Ukraine rock band Okean Elzy, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, uses music to sustain morale and defend cultural identity. Elsewhere, an unexpected prison romance raises questions of redemption and second chances, aristocratic seduction becomes a dangerous power game, and a family Christmas takes a bloody turn.