My story began in 2015, when I first signed up as a volunteer. The decision came suddenly. I remember thinking to myself that if PÖFF is one of the most important cultural events in Estonia, why am I not yet part of it?
That first year, I was an information worker at Artis cinema, but by the next festival, I was offered the position of cinema administrator. Three years later, I moved forward to the position of Coordinator of Information Services and today... I have landed the role of Marketing Coordinator at Just Film. I believe the volunteer experience is beneficial for everyone, as it can only get more exciting from there on.
Those 17 days of full-throttle festival life are quite a sight to behold, but after they are over, there's certainly a lingering emptiness in the soul... Until next time.
Why did I choose PÖFF?
The first time, I chose PÖFF because I was a student and I didn't have the money to see all the films.
The second time, I had moved back to Estonia and wanted something to wait for.
The third time, the Tartu PÖFF "boss" asked me if I wanted to do it again. I did.
The fourth time, I didn't even know how to do without PÖFF.
The fifth time, I moved back to Tallinn and wanted to see what was different there.
The sixth time, I needed a break from being unemployed.
The seventh time, I needed a break from work.
The eighth time, I was so busy that I thought I'd find more stuff to do.
The ninth time, I forgot I said I was done.
The tenth time, I became a cinema administrator (a little boss).
The 11th time, I was already a Pöffasaurus.
The 12th time, was during the pandemic and I wanted to get out of the house.
The 13th time, I had plenty of time to enjoy films.
The 14th time, PÖFF chose me and I moved to the office.
In November our nights are black - but not the movies at PÖFF.
PÖFF is like a charismatic Hollywood movie star, whose charm is difficult to put into words. Being a volunteer provides an opportunity to take part in this glamour in a different way than by just watching movies. Being on one team with other enthusiastic people and doing your small part in making the festival happen is an indescribably cool experience and feeling - and also quite addicting. How else would I be looking at my seventh year as a volunteer now on the horizon!
And oh how I love to remind people every year that PÖFF has something for everyone - not just dark and complicated art films! Additionally, there are inspiring (providing me with a topic for my final thesis!), fascinating, thought-provoking, humorous (like "Dinner in America" in 2020!), and sometimes also tear-jerkingly sentimental movies!
PÖFF IS COOL!
Volunteering at PÖFF came into my life in the fall of 2009. In the summer of that year I happened to watch a PÖFF documentary at Viljandi Folk and a natural thought occurred to add to my summer volunteer work at Folk also the autumnal PÖFF. I put that into action, signed up and for my first two PÖFFs my task was to survey the public. After that I have been in the ticket sales team for the rest of my eleven festival years.
For me, volunteering at PÖFF has mainly provided nice variety to my daily work in the sports field. I continue to enjoy working together with the young people who give their part in making PÖFF happen whilst studying or working.
In the ticket sales team, we do not have so many funny occurrences, but rather anxious situations where, for example, we lose internet connection at the most hurried moment or visitors arrive at the ticket desk after their screening gets cancelled due to technical reasons. Then a calm mind and a kind smile help change the mood of even the most displeased client.
This year's PÖFF will be my 14th and I look forward to it with the same excitement as to my first. I am eager to once again meet old "PÖFF wolves" from previous years and definitely also hope to find new starry-eyed members in our team. For me, being a volunteer at PÖFF is part of a lifestyle.
My journey at PÖFF began already 7 years ago. At the time, I had just graduated university and had the time to volunteer in various exciting projects outside of my work. However, I could not have known then that seven years later PÖFF is still one of the most anticipated events of the year for me. As soon as end-of-summer sadness starts to creep in, I only need to think that soon the nights will be black and PÖFF will come around and then there's something to look forward to once again! PÖFF truly has a special vibe for me. I especially like to walk around Tallinn in the dark evenings after late screenings and enjoy that mystical feeling when a movie has touched my soul and will remain with me for a long time.
I first found PÖFF in 2018. I was in the midst of my Estonian language studies and desperately needed practice. I had done some volunteer work before, including pet shelters and food banks, and really liked doing so. As I am also interested in film and am in general an avid consumer of culture, then PÖFF seemed like a perfect fit.
At my first PÖFF training I realized that I actually understood the performers quite well, so I developed a desire to learn something in Estonian. The following year, I started studying at Tallinn University at a course fully in Estonian and by now I have my Bachelor's degree. Also, during that first festival year something funny happened which gave me confidence as a language learner: for some reason, a visitor really wanted to get to know me. They spoke to me in English, but I understood quite quickly that they were Estonian, so I switched to Estonian myself. As I felt more self-confident and free in my language use I was able to tell them politely that I was actually not interested.
I have now been a PÖFF volunteer for four years and hope to continue this year. Volunteering at PÖFF - and actually anywhere - gives me a great opportunity to work in a big team and to communicate with people. As I have been working from a home office for years, I find myself missing that quite a lot.
The PÖFF wolves are wonderful and the atmosphere always pleasant and safe. One time, my leg happened to cramp so much that I was unable to move! But the wolves were very supportive and helpful and found me a driver, who took me to the emergency room.
I look forward to PÖFF with excitement!
In brief moments of the different tasks of a volunteer sometimes a natural two-sided conversation occurs. They bring together a specialist in their field with our "wolf pups" and "grown wolves" and brings forth true stories from the film world - those moments are a PÖFF wolf's true gems.