Introduction to the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (POFF) has announced its Official Selection Competition for 2025, featuring 17 impressive feature films, including 16 world premieres. This exciting lineup promises to bring a diverse range of cinematic experiences to audiences.
Featured Films and Directors
Among the selected films is Abu Bakr Shawky’s The Stories, starring Amir El Masry and Valérie Pachner, which explores the lives of individuals between Egypt and Austria in the late 20th century. Shawky’s previous works, such as Yomeddine and Hajjo, have already gained recognition in prestigious film festivals like Cannes and Toronto.
Another notable film is The Muralist by Sengedorj Janchivdorj, a prolific Mongolian filmmaker who won the top prize at POFF last year with Silent City Driver. The Muralist tells the story of an artist in Ulaanbaatar whose work unexpectedly gains international recognition.
More Highlights from the Selection
The latest film from Georgian filmmaker George Ovashvili, The Moon is My Father, is also part of the selection. Ovashvili’s previous work, Corn Island, won the main prize at Karlovy Vary in 2014. The Moon is My Father is a heartwarming story about a boy and his father, who embark on a dangerous hunting expedition to make up for lost time.
British filmmaker Richard Hawkins makes a comeback with Think of England, a film about six people sent on a secret government mission to create propaganda porn films for soldiers. The cast includes Ronni Ancona, and it is Hawkins’ first film since 2004’s Everything, which earned him a Bafta Newcomer Award nomination.
The Competition Jury and Grand Prix
The competition jury will be chaired by Macedonian filmmaker Teona Strugar Mitevska, who will be joined by a panel of industry experts, including fashion and costume designer Debra McGuire, Mongolian producer and screenwriter Nomuunzul Turmunkh, Golden Frog-winning cinematographer Roberto Schaefer, and German producer Ingo Fliess. The Grand Prix for the best film in the official selection competition is supported by the city of Tallinn with a prize of €20,000.
Festival Details
The 29th edition of POFF will take place from November 7th to 23rd, while the industry platform Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event will run from November 14th to 21st.
Official POFF Selection Competition 2025
The full list of selected films includes:
- 18 Holes to Paradise (Port-It-Arg), dir. Joao Nuno Pinto
- Duality (Iran), dir. Abbas Nezamdoost
- Hungarian Wedding (Hun), dir. Csaba Káel
- Lifelike (Türkiye-Greece-Rome), dir. Ali Vatansever
- Mira (Mor), dir. Eddine Eddine Lakhmari
- No Comment (NOR), dir. Petter Næs
- Rest (Philippines), dir. Jun Robles Lana
- The Dashed Lines (SP), dir. Engel Fazáns
- The Frog and the Water (Ger), dir. Thomas Stuber
- The Good Daughter (Sp), dir. Julia de Paz Solvas
- The Imaginary Dog and the Lying Cat (Japan), dir. Yukihiro Morigaki
- The Moon is My Father (Lux-Türkiye-Geo-Ger-Czech-Bul), dir. George Ovashvili
- The Muralist (Mongolia), dir. Sengedorj Janchivdorj
- The Stories (Austria-F-Bel-Swe), dir. Abu Bakr Shawky
- Think of England (UK), dir. Richard Hawkins
- Veins (Can), dir. Raymond St Jean
- Versailles (Mex), dir. Andres Clariond
