PÖFF 2024 will screen over 500 films from 81 countries

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Photos Aron Urb / PÖFF

The Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) has announced its full programme, featuring 249 full-length feature films and 323 short films from 81 countries. The festival will take place from November 8-24. This year’s program includes six competitive sections and 14 special programs, with an impressive 52 world premieres and 21 international premieres.

PÖFF’s sub-festivals, including Just Film (for youth and children’s films) and PÖFF Shorts (focused on short films and animation), also boast significant premieres, with five and 31 world premieres, respectively, and multiple international debuts. Among the highlights are award-winning films from top global festivals, such as Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door, which won the Golden Lion at Venice, and Sean Baker’s Anora, which took the Palme d’Or at Cannes. Likely Oscar contenders like Pablo Larraín’s Maria, a portrayal of soprano Maria Callas, Brady Corbet’s Brutalist, and Edward Berger’s Conclave are also set to screen.

This year introduces a new international documentary competition that includes Kullar Viimse’s The Tower, and a “Standing with Ukraine” program, dedicated to Ukrainians fighting for the right to decide their own future. Germany and Georgian independent cinema will also be highlighted, with the latter celebrating filmmakers who champion democratic values. Additionally, a selection of restored classics from Baltic and Nordic cinema will be screened, culminating in a live concert screening of the 1930 Estonian-German adventure film Waves of Passion.

From Estonian directors, premieres will include works by Raul and Romet Esko (Mind on kaks), Meel Paliale (Pikad paberid), and Eva Kübar (Minu kallimad), among others. Brent Pere’s sports documentary Endgame, focusing on the lives of Estonian athletes forced to retire due to injury, will open the sports film programme.

Audiences will also have a chance to see Black Hole, a film by Moonika Siimets that premiered at the Austin Fantasy Film Festival.

More information on the full programme of films, schedule and tickets can be found on the official Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) website.

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Estonia Cinema Film Festival Estonia International Films Just Film Festival PÖFF 2024 Shorts Animation Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2024