The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) is set to showcase a provocative selection of debut feature films this year. A total of 13 films will compete for the Best Debut Film Award, including 9 world premieres and 4 international premieres. All of the authors will be present in Tallinn.
A Global Selection
Ten of the films come from Europe, while Mexico, Taiwan, and Kyrgyzstan are represented from outside the continent.
Program curator Triin Tramberg describes this year’s lineup as bold and unconventional, offering perspectives that challenge audiences and push them out of their comfort zones.
“It’s exciting to see that more and more Works in Progress from our industry programme are finding their way back to the festival,” Tramberg said. “This year’s Interior is a great example — the film won the Audience Award in the Works in Progress section at last year’s Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, and now returns to PÖFF in the Debut Feature Competition.”
First Feature Competition Programme lineup
Outside the competition, audiences will have the chance to see On a String, a film by Isabel Hagen — better known as a stand-up comedian and violist, who has performed with artists such as Steve Reich, Björk, and Max Richter, and has appeared several times on Estonian concert stages.
Representing the spirit of independent American cinema, this autobiographical dramedy takes viewers into the world of music, where a young violist searches for her place.
The film won the Best U.S. Narrative Screenplay Award at this year’s Tribeca Festival.
The Main Competition Programme will be announced on October 10.
Tickets on Sale
Tickets for all debut feature premieres are now available at an early-bird rate. Don’t miss the chance to experience world premieres and meet the filmmakers: https://poff.ee/shop/
About PÖFF
The festival is presented by Elisa and Nordic Hotel Forum. Elisa, a proud supporter of PÖFF for ten years, promotes the sustainable growth of Estonian culture through high-quality domestic audiovisual productions and support for film art. Nordic Hotel Forum has been the home hotel for PÖFF guests since 2008 and, under the leadership of Feliks Mägus, has repeatedly earned the title of Cultural Friend of the Year.