Today's film experiences range from the airport runway to the Kabuki stage, from Hollywood hip-hop to the ski jump hill with Matti Nykänen, and from a rehabilitation centre to a stranger's marital bed.
James McAvoy will present his directorial debut, California Schemin', in Tallinn today, while Japanese theatre will explore the interweaving of family and honour. Documentaries will focus on the dark side of winter sports and the feathered and furry creatures who wander around Riga Airport.
Today's films are united by the question of how much a person can rewrite their narrative before reality intervenes. Dead Language and I Swear explore how an encounter or one supportive person can divert an entire life's trajectory. Kokuho and Matti Nykänen - The Legend show how difficult it is to play the role of a hero in public — a role that often exceeds the person behind it.
Scarecrows reveals the tense microcosm behind seemingly smooth take-offs. The evening concludes with Honey Bunch, which has already been screened at other film festivals and turns psychological horror into something so intense that, by the time the end credits roll, viewers may feel as though they have lost their ground.
See all the films screening at PÖFF on Saturday here!
8 November, Saturday at 7.15 pm at Apollo Plaza
Estonian premiere with the filmmakers
Director: James McAvoy; country: United Kingdom, USA
One of the most prominent guests at this year's PÖFF is James McAvoy, whose directorial debut, California Schemin', a wild ride through ambition, identity, and the high-stakes world of musical make-believe. Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, members of the Scottish rap duo Silibil N' Brains, decide to stage themselves as US superstars when the domestic music industry rejects them for sounding “too Scottish”.
Scarecrows
8 November, Saturday at 6.30 pm at Apollo Plaza
World premiere with filmmakers
Director: Laila Pakalnina; country: Latvia and Lithuania
In her documentary, acclaimed Latvian filmmaker Laila Pakalniņa takes us behind the scenes of Riga International Airport to uncover a world few travellers ever notice.
Beneath the roar of jet engines and the rush of passengers, an unassuming team of “runway rangers” wages a constant, high-stakes and sometimes comical battle with nature itself.
Dead Language
November 8, Saturday at 3.30 pm at Artis Cinema
Directed by M. Brezis and O. Binnun; countries: Israel, Czech Republic, and Poland
A coincidental encounter propels Aya, who is waiting for her husband at the airport, to pick up a complete stranger instead. During this short trip, the hidden dark side of her seemingly stable marriage begins to unravel and forbidden feelings begin to grow. Directors Mihail Brezis and Oded Binnun have created a feature-length film based on their Oscar-nominated short film, which explores longing and the fragility of intimacy.
I Swear
8 November, Saturday 5.30 pm, Apollo Cinema, Solaris
Director: Kirk Jones; country: United Kingdom
I Swear is a moving story based on real events about John Davidson, a young Scottish man whose life was shaken by Tourette's syndrome in the 1980s when the condition was barely recognised. Even doctors did not understand the condition at that time. The film features a powerful performance by lead actor Robert Aramayo. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.
Kokuho
Saturday, 8 November, 6 p.m., Apollo Plaza
Director: Sang-il Lee; country: Japan
Kokuho intertwines the worlds of the Yakuza and Kabuki theatre in the story of a young man adopted into a legendary acting family. Over the years, Kikuo becomes a living national treasure, but his rise to stardom creates a deep rift with his adoptive brothers. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and has been selected as Japan’s entry for the Best International Feature Film Oscar.
Matti Nykänen - The Legend
8 November, Saturday 8.30pm, Apollo Cinema, Solaris
Estonian premiere with the director
Director: Olli Laine; country: Finland
Matti Nykänen was a legend in his own lifetime. In this new documentary, those closest to him speak about him for the first time. The film tells the tragic yet heart-warming story of the most successful ski jumper of all time. The film reveals new perspectives on Matti Nykänen, his close ones, the media, and the entire nation, examining the life of this controversial superstar with respect and understanding. The film searches for an answer to the question of why things turned out the way they did.
Honey Bunch
8 November, Saturday 10 pm, Apollo Plaza
Directed by Dusty Mancinelli and Madeleine Sims-Fewer; country: Canada
This year's most remarkable genre film takes viewers to a familiar horror movie setting: a rehabilitation centre. However, the plot and climax are far from ordinary. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). Since then, it has been shown at dozens of major festivals, including Toronto, London, and Stockholm.