Tallinn Black Nights Sets Competition Slate, Led by Ray Panthaki's Directing Debut

The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has announced the films for its main and first-feature competitions, a lineup with 21 world premieres and three international premieres that includes British actor Ray Panthaki’s first film as director, “In Starland.”

The festival, known as PÖFF, takes place in the Estonian capital from November 6 to 22. It describes itself as the only A-list festival in Northern Europe, and this year marks its 30th edition.

The Official Competition holds 12 world premieres from 15 countries, including co-producing territories. Titles come from Ireland, Estonia, Germany, Spain, Iran, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Kazakhstan, among others. Swiss director Frédéric Baillif brings “A Job Well Done,” and Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Rabiei presents “I Just Want to Talk to My Mom.” Mexico’s Enrica Perez contributes “On Top of the Cliff,” and German director Alison Kuhn enters “The Matriarch.” José María Cabral, whose “Woodpeckers” played at Sundance, returns with “Sh*t Happens.”

Programmers said they wanted a selection that reflects a complex, multifaceted cinematic world, and that every film connects emotionally with the festival’s audience.

The First Feature Competition gives debut directors their own spotlight. France and Israel co-produced Gigi Betito’s “Black Slaughter,” a world premiere. The Philippines’ “Status: Rejected,” from director Vahn Leinard Pascual, arrives as an international premiere. North Macedonia’s Andrey Volkashin presents “The Sweetness of Bitter Things.” Panthaki, known for acting credits in British film and television, also enters the first-feature race with “In Starland.”

The program arrives at a moment when Tallinn is widening its reach. The festival opened a dedicated documentary competition in 2024 and runs sidebars for animation, children’s films and shorts, along with an industry summit and a Baltic co-production market. The first-feature section has existed since the 1990s, making it a long-standing proving ground for emerging directors.

Last year’s festival ran November 7 to 23. The full list of titles in the two competitions is available on the festival’s website, and organizers have yet to announce the remaining sections, including special programs and the jury.