Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival reveals the selection for the First Feature Competition 2024.

The strand, dedicated exclusively for the full-length film debutants, includes 7 world premieres and 4 international premieres. All of the authors will be present in Tallinn. 

"Even before we received our A-class status in 2014, we've made it a priority to support new talents, especially those making their debut. This is our niche in the global festival stage", said Tiina Lokk, the Festival Director. She elaborated: "We've made our concept for emerging filmmakers very international, welcoming filmmakers from all over the world. But we can't forget our own region, the Baltic States – it's important to discover small film gems and emerging talents from this region."


The curator of the First Feature Competition, Triin Tramberg, commented on this year's programme: "It is important to note that at one point we had almost 250 debut films on our table looking for a world premiere. In total, we watched debuts from 66 countries." She also shared her thoughts on this year's programme: "The common thread in this year's selection are intriguing stories supported by brilliant cinematography, acting and artwork. Some of the films in this year's selection stand out for their excellent acting and visual language. There is definitely something for everyone, as the programme is crafted with the audience in mind."

FIRST FEATURE COMPETITION 2024

A Yard OF Jackals | World premiere
Diego Figueroa's A Yard Of Jackals had a a successful work-in-progress
journey through prestigious international festivals such as SANFIC19, IAFFM, and MAFIZ. The story takes place in the winter of 1978, under Chile's military regime in Santiago. Raúl Peralta, a lonely and disabled architectural model maker, lives a quiet life with only his ailing mother and a pet canary for company. A quiet man’s peaceful life is shattered when dark, mysterious neighbors move in next door. Trapped between madness and duty, he spirals into a world of horror and violence that will leave deep, lasting scars.


Ciao Bambino | International premiere
Edgar Pistone's latest short film, The Flies (2020), had its world premiere at the Sic@Sic International Critics Week within the 77th Venice Film Festival, where it won the Best Director award. His feture debut is a tale of passions and unsolvable conflicts that haunt Attilio, a young man from a working-class neighbourhood in Naples, tasked with protecting a beautiful prostitute. In their world, this is a recipe for forbidden, devastating love – the only kind possible in a criminal underworld where even father-son relationships are subverted, and a 19-year-old boy carries the impossible burden of growing up. 


Corina | International premiere
Corina is 20, lives with her mother and only leaves the house to get to her job at a publishing company. She is about to step out of her comfort zone and embrace a new world with new friends and confidence. The film's simple, funny tone lets us see Corina's world change from scary to exciting. She can finally take charge of her life and even help her colleagues. The ugly duckling tale takes a delicate and witty twist in this remarkably clever and uplifting debut feature by director Urzula Barba.
 

Lotus | World premiere
Rebellious Latvian director Signe Birkova has created an avant-garde film combining different techniques. Her surreal debut includes interpretations of real people and material from historical archives from 1900-1950. The soundtrack features Latvian composers, and the cinematography uses different film formats to create an otherworldly visual spectacle. The film is partially shot on an analogue camera from the 1920s. The lead role is played by Severija Janušauskaitė, a Lithuanian theatre and film actress who also has starred in Babylon Berlin. The director, Birkova, won the FIPRESCI prize at the National Film Festival for her short film Upon Return I'll Be a Flaming Rose (2014). Her feature documentary Ring of Fire (2021) premiered at Riga IFF 2021.

Mongrels | International premiere
Skilled hunter Sonny arrives to Canada, hoping to build a brighter future for his children. He is still grieving for his wife. His son, Hajoon, is strong to protect his family, while Hana is sad that her mother is gone. In this world, the locals wear cowboy hats and follow the teachings of preacher Scott, who encourages them to capture and kill dogs. Director Jerome Yoo presents a story of courage, sin, love, and forgiveness in three parts. The film looks at the lives of three Korean immigrants and how they learn from Native Indians, who believe that wild mongrels watch over families like guardian angels. The film premiered at Vancouver film festival and got the Horizon Award (Best Emerging Director). 


No Dogs Allowed | World premiere
In their debut feature film, director Steve Bache (Student Academy Award nominee, BAFTA Student Award nominee) and screenwriter Stephan Kämpf tackle the provocative taboo subject of pedosexuality by using the unique perspective of a pedophilic teenager to consciously question societal prejudices about this inclination. With his sensibility direction, Steve Bache delivers a stirring coming of-age drama that takes its characters and themes seriously and translates Stephan Kämpf's multi-layered screenplay into impressive pictures. Surrounded by a terrific ensemble of successful actors, the film delivers an outstanding, intensely oppressive performance, revealing a fragile and multi-faceted character.


Smaragda - I Got Thick Skin and I Can't Jump | World premiere
Smaragda, a middle-aged single woman, moves into her late mother's house in Ayia Napa, a tourist town in Cyprus. She takes on the care of her mother's guide dog, Bella, and thinks about her legacy, relationships and career. As a former TV host, she explores social media and faces rejection. She takes a job as a kids' entertainer at a tourist resort, which is different from what she wanted. Despite the challenges, Smaragda knows she can handle whatever life throws at her with the support of her friends and her own resilience. The author, Emilios Avraam is a First Films First, Torino Film Lab, Midpoint Institute and Talents Sarajevo alumnus. He has written and directed the award-winning short films Bad Habits (2016) and Rearrangement (2018).


Sun Never Again | World premiere
Vid, a father facing a dangerous mine near his home, finds hope through his son's imagination. The film uses symbolism to create meaning, and applies filmmaking techniques to show the relationship between light, shadow and composition. The director, David Jovanovic, has made  a simple story meaningful with a thoughtful approach, creating a film that is both engaging and thought-provoking. The film will capture audiences with its detail-sensitive dramaturgic flow. 
 

The House With No Address | World premiere
Alper is a young and upcoming prosecutor in a land where anyone found guilty of a major crime is erased from society. But when his mother is convicted, the protagonist begins to question the rules he once fought to uphold. Hatice Aşkın's debut feature is a psychological dystopia that wrings existential dilemmas with Almodóvar-like elegance. The film places a visually stunning predicament in front of the viewers, where a steep price must be paid for nine crimes – in addition to the rest of their life, the punished also have to give up the life they have already lived, their memory in the hearts of their close ones. 


The Weeping Walk  | International premiere
The film is a debute feature by Flemish writer and poet Dimitri Verhulst. At Christine's funeral, her husband (brilliantly played by Peter Van den Begin) and her family learn that she wanted to be buried in Wettelen, a place they don't know. They decide to honour Christine's request and walk to the burial site. This strange journey is a comedic look at family, friends and old arguments. As they walk through the countryside, they talk about their relationships and find out more about each other, turning a sad occasion into a funny, strange adventure. 


Two Of Me | World premiere
Under the pressure of meeting the expectations of film school, twin filmmakers Raul and Romet attempt to make a movie that will be their path to fame and glory. Everything gets more difficult when one of the brothers falls in love. The film is a wild and sincere comedy about brotherhood, childhood and growing up through the eyes of twins. The directors, twin brothers Raul and Romet Esko (known as Esko Bros in Estonia), have been dreaming of making movies ever since their mom bought them a video camera. Their short film Struck by Lightning won the National Competition of PÖFF Shorts in 2020. 




FILM DETAILS

A Yard Of Jackals, 2024, Chile, Spain; director: Diego Figueroa. World premiere.

Ciao Bambino, 2024, Italy, director: Edgardo Pistone. International premiere. 

Corina, 2024, Mexico, director: Urzula Barba. International premiere. 

Lotus, 2024, Latvia, Lithuania;  director: Signe Birkova. World premiere.

Mongrels, 2024, Canada, director: Jerome Yoo. International premiere. 

No Dogs Allowed, 2024, Germany, director: Steve Bache. World Premiere. 

Smaragda - I Got Thick Skin and I Can't Jump, 2024, Cyprus; director:  Emilios Avraam. World Premiere. 

Sun Never Again, 2024, Serbia, director: David Jovanovic. World Premiere

The House With No Address, 2024, Turkey, Germany; director: Hatice Aşkın. World Premiere. 

The Weeping Walk, 2024, Belgium, director: Dimitri Verhulst. International Premiere. 

Two Of Me, 2024, Estonia, directors: Raul Esko, Romet Esko. World Premiere.


The 28th edition of PÖFF l will take place from the 8th until the 24th of November, while the festival’s industry platform Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event will run from 14th until the 22nd of November. 
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival with Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event and with the two sub-festivals, Just Film and PÖFF Shorts, has grown into one of the biggest film festivals in Northern Europe and the busiest regional industry platforms.

Triin Tramberg, the curator of First Feature Competition programme.