Tallinn Black Nights Fest: Baltic Film Competition Unveiled

The highly anticipated Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) has revealed the lineup for its 8th Baltic Film Competition, promising a compelling showcase of cinematic talent from the region. This year’s selection, meticulously curated by Edvinas Pukšta, features 11 titles, including three significant world premieres, and is set to open with Sergei Loznitsa’s critically acclaimed Cannes entry, ‘Two Prosecutors’.

A Sharpened Focus on Baltic Fiction

For the first time, the Baltic Films Competition at PÖFF is exclusively dedicated to fiction films and co-productions originating from the Baltic states. Documentaries, previously part of this section, will now vie for recognition in the separate Doc@PÖFF Baltic Competition, allowing for a more focused spotlight on narrative filmmaking within the main competition. This refinement highlights the growing strength and diversity of Baltic storytelling.

‘Two Prosecutors’ Leads the Charge

Kicking off the program is Sergei Loznitsa’s ‘Two Prosecutors’, a film that garnered attention as a Palme d’Or contender at the Cannes Film Festival. This selection is a notable choice for the opener, not only due to Loznitsa’s respected filmmaking pedigree but also because of the significant Baltic involvement in its production. The film is a major European co-production, featuring Latvian (White Picture) and Lithuanian (Studio Uljana Kim) contributions, along with key Baltic crew members like the director’s frequent collaborator, Lithuanian editor Danielius Kokanauskis. Its inclusion underscores Pukšta’s commitment to showcasing both direct Baltic features and minority co-productions that demonstrate the region’s collaborative spirit on the international film stage.

Highlighting Emerging and Established Voices

The 2025 Baltic Film Competition features a blend of works from both emerging talents and established directors, covering a broad spectrum of genres from dramedies and neo-noir to thrillers and coming-of-age stories. Lithuania, in particular, demonstrates a strong presence this year, contributing five films and two co-productions. Latvia follows with two films and one co-production, while Estonia offers two entries.

World Premieres and Festival Buzz

• Among the highly anticipated world premieres is “Therapy,” a Finnish/Estonian co-production by Paavo Westerberg. Shot in Estonia and boasting a strong ensemble cast including Pihla Viitala and Tommi Korpela, the film is described as a realistic tragicomedy exploring themes of change and human relationships.
• Lithuanian filmmaker Ignas Jonynas brings his third feature, “Borderline,” to a world premiere at PÖFF. Known for his previous works “The Gambler” and “Invisible,” Jonynas’s latest is a dark, gritty thriller featuring a compelling performance by non-professional actor Danguolė Beinarytė.
• Another world premiere is Alise Zarina’s Latvian film, “Flesh, Blood, Even a Heart,” which Pukšta describes as a feminist work that is humorous, sorrowful, and dramatic.

Beyond the world premieres, the competition includes films that have already made waves on the festival circuit. Zhannat Alshanova’s “Becoming,” a Lithuanian co-production with Kazakhstan, recently premiered at Locarno’s Cineasti del Presente. Similarly, Lithuanian newcomers Vytautas Katkus with “The Visitor” and Gabrielė Urbonaitė with “Renonation” arrive in Tallinn after successful launches and accolades at Karlovy Vary.

Social Commentary and Local Successes

Several films in the competition engage with significant social and political themes. Karolis Kaupinis’s “Hunger Breakfast Strike,” a Lithuanian drama depicting protests against Russian forces in post-Soviet Lithuania, holds particular contemporary resonance given recent political events. Romas Zabarauskas’s “The Activist” from Lithuania explores a gay neo-noir narrative partly set within a neo-Nazi community, aiming to provoke thought and discussion.

Estonian cinema also features prominently with films that have achieved domestic success. Rain Rannu’s “New Money” offers a satire on cryptocurrency, while Tõnis Pill’s youth drama “Fränk” has become the biggest Estonian film of the year in terms of admissions. Oskars Rupenheits’ Latvian entry, “Red Code Blue,” is a police procedural set during Latvia’s early years of regained independence, delving into a period marked by mistrust.

The Esteemed Jury

The films in the Baltic Film Competition will be judged by a distinguished international jury. This year’s panel includes Turkish filmmaker Gözde Kural, known for her works “Cinema Jazireh” and “Dust”; Georgian filmmaker Alexandre Koberidze, recognized for “Dry Leaf” and “Never Let the Summer Come Again”; and Catalan producer Montse Triola, co-founder of Andergraun Films with Albert Serra.

Complete Baltic Film Competition Lineup

Opening Film (Out of Competition):

• “Two Prosecutors” (Sergei Loznitsa, France, Germany, Netherlands, Latvia, Romania, Lithuania, Ukraine)

In Competition:

• “Borderline” (Ignas Jonynas, Lithuania, World Premiere)
• “Flesh, Blood, Even a Heart” (Alise Zariņa, Latvia, World Premiere)
• “Therapy” (Paavo Westerberg, Finland, Estonia, World Premiere)
• “Red Code Blue” (Oskars Rupenheits, Latvia, International Premiere)
• “The Activist” (Romas Zabarauskas, Lithuania, International Premiere)
• “Becoming” (Zhannat Alshanova, France, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Lithuania, Baltic Premiere)
• “Hunger Strike Breakfast” (Karolis Kaupinis, Lithuania, Baltic Premiere)
• “Renovation” (Gabrielė Urbonaitė, Lithuania, Baltic Premiere)
• “Fränk” (Tõnis Pill, Estonia)
• “New Money” (Rain Rannu, Estonia, International Premiere)
• “The Visitor” (Vytautas Katkus, Lithuania, Norway, France)

Conclusion

The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival’s Baltic Film Competition stands as a vital platform for showcasing the vibrancy and narrative depth of cinema from the region. With a strong selection of diverse films, spearheaded by the notable ‘Two Prosecutors’, and a keen focus on both emerging and established voices, PÖFF continues its role in elevating Baltic filmmaking onto the international stage, offering audiences a rich tapestry of stories and perspectives.