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Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival · 2025

Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2025

Children's Rights Programme

Programme

8 films · 3 reviews

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Christy

Review preview for Christy

Touching, compelling and full of humanity.

Richard Mowe · 4 out of 5
Two estranged brothers with chequered childhoods in the care system suddenly find themselves living under the same roof.

(Country: Ireland; Year: 2025; Director: Brendan Canty; Writer: Alan O'Gorman; Stars: Danny Power, Diarmuid Noyes, Emma Willis, Alison Oliver, Helen Behan, Chris Walley, Cormac De Bhál)

Full review See: Ireland’s debut filmmaker Brendan Canty picks up plethora of prizes

Flophouse America

Review preview for Flophouse America

Strømdahl keeps us within the apartment for virtually the whole film, watching as Mikal tries to negotiate the unpredictability of Tonya and Jason or retreats into a world of video games.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
Documentary following a boy living in a motel with parents who struggle with alcohol abuse.

(Country: Norway, Netherlands, US; Year: 2025; Director: Monica Strømdahl)

Full review

Happy Birthday

Review preview for Happy Birthday

While bringing home the injustice of life for Toha, Goher treads a careful line so as not to turn the adults into cartoonish 'bad guys', which makes the situation all the more upsetting.

Amber Wilkinson · 4.5 out of 5
An eight-year-old maid gradually discovers her place in the pecking order on the day of her friend's birthday.

(Country: Egypt; Year: 2025; Director: Sarah Goher; Writer: Mohamed Diab, Sarah Goher; Stars: Nelly Karim, Hanan Motawie, Hanan Youssef, Doha Ramadan)

Full review

If I Die Today

Jannik is released from prison, and uses poetry and hard work to get a normal life. But is it enough to overcome his inner demons and a troubled past?

(Country: Denmark; Year: 2025; Director: Camilla Arlien)

Leo & Lou

Two lost souls end up on a life-changing adventure.

(Country: Spain, UK, Romania; Year: 2025; Director: Carlos Solano)

Pixie. The New Beginning (Skrzat. Nowy początek)

Eleven-year-old Hania is new in town and is bullied for believing in pixies. She makes friends with the outsider Michal and a real pixie named Sindri on a quest to prove their existence. Their journey helps Hania face new beginnings and understand the power of friendship.

(Country: Poland, Czechia; Year: 2025; Director: Krzysztof Komander; Writer: Krzysztof Komander)

The Pupil (De Pupil)

Twelve-year-old Daan’s passion for football transforms into a nightmare when his trusted coach Ries methodically manipulates him into a web of abuse and secrecy.

(Country: Netherlands, Belgium; Year: 2025; Director: Karin Junger)

Small Dogs Bark Loud (Salto, Pus og den døde fisken)

The loyal talking dog Salto helps 12-year-old Tuni cope with challenges and tough times.

(Year: 2025; Director: Nora Nivedita Tvedt)