The competition programme of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) opened on November 16 with „Stiekyt“, an exotic, Afrikaans-language film from South-Africa.

„Stiekyt“ tells a story of a failed actor who has to find a way to save his marriage, after his wife finds out that he is performing in a club as a drag queen. „Hitchcock meets Almodóvar in a South-African drag club,” is how PÖFF programmer Edvinas Pukšta has described the dark comedy thriller. Screenwriter and director of „Stiekyt“, Etienne Fourie arrived in Tallinn on November 15.

In the evening of November 16, film lovers got to see another selection from the competition programme – the world premiere of „Sanaa“ by Indian screenwriter and director Sudhansu Saria who, together with lead actress Radhika Madan, also bring an exotic flair to Tallinn. Radhika Madan is a superstar of India’s younger generation with millions of followers on her social media platforms.

In the coming weeks Tallinn will welcome more than a thousand guests from 75 countries.

The farthest visitors are probably from New Zealand as “Punch” by Welby Ings is screening in the First Feature competition programme, but PÖFF is also welcoming filmmakers from South Korea, Brazil, Japan, Canada, Chile, Vietnam and many other countries.

Renown directors, Ahmad Bahrami (Iran), Christopher Roth (Germany), Matías Bize (Chile) and Jukka-Pekka Valkeapää (Finland) are all bringing their new films to Tallinn. The festival is also hosting Pedro Almodóvar’s favourite actress Cecilia Roth, who is presenting her latest film „Conversations on Hatred“ today, November 17.

The competition programme lasts until November 25 with 23 films screening in the Official Selection Competition and 18 films in the First Feature Competition, but also 13 films in Critics’ Picks, 13 in the Rebels with a Cause and 15 in the Baltic Film Competition.

The winners will be announced at PÖFF’s closing ceremony on November 26. The Grand Prix for the Best Film is a grant of 20 000 euros from the City of Tallinn.

Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2022 is held from November 11 to 27.

The festival is presented by Elisa, Nordic Hotel Forum and Toyota with Grand Sponsors Forus, National Geographic, Postimees and Cramo.

PÖFF’s photo galleries here.
PÖFF TV, interviews with filmmakers are here.