Tallinn announces doc programmes

Baltic documentaries have dedicated competition for the first time

by Amber Wilkinson

Electing Ms Santa
Electing Ms Santa Photo: Courtesy of POFF

Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) has today announced its Doc@PÖFF 2025 International and Baltic Competition Programmes. It marks the first time that Baltic documentaries and fiction features have competed in separate programmes.

Curator Marianna Kaat said: “The films in Doc@PÖFF programme open a restless world where bold, author-driven works captivate with their search for balance and understanding — and demonstrate that documentaries can be even more engaging than fiction.”

The jury will feature French producer Tania El Khoury (The River), Estonian producer Marianne Ostrat (Smoke Sauna Sisterhood and German filmmaker and documentary director Daniel Abma (Transit Havana).

The Baltic documentary competition jury comprises UK-based Spanish documentary consultant Ana Fernández Saiz, US journalist Pamela Cohn and Dutch filmmaker Koen Suidgeest( Karla’s Arrival).

The full line-ups are below;

Doc@PÖFF International Competition Films

  • Days of Wonder (Finland), dir: Karin Pennanen
  • Edge of the Night (Estonia), dir: Vladimir Loginov
  • Electing Miss Santa (Moldova, Romania), dir: Raisa Răzmeriță
  • Far Away (Turkey), dir: Tayfur Aydın
  • The Feast of the Wolf (Croatia, Serbia), dir: Jadran Boban
  • Goodbye Sisters (France, Nepal), dir: Alexander Murphy
  • It’s Winter (Iran, France), dir: Sajad Imani
  • The Lunch: A Letter to America (Italy, US), dir: Gianluca Vassallo
  • Miss Jobson (Spain, Jamaica), dir: Amanda Sans Pantling
  • One Day I Wish to See You Happy (Ukraine, France), dir: Maryna Nikolcheva

Doc@PÖFF Baltic Competition Films

  • A Goodnight Kiss (Lithuania, Estonia), dir: Giedrė Žickytė
  • BIX Almost Nirvana (Lithuania), dir: Emilis Vėlyvis
  • Happiness Is Living in Our Land (Estonia), dir: Indrek Spungin
  • Holy Destructors (Lithuania, France), dir: Aistė Žegulytė
  • Laguna (France, Lithuania), dir: Sharunas Bartas
  • The Last Will (Lithuania), dir: Jānis Ābele
  • Lost Stars of the Horoscope (Estonia), dir: Katrina Lehismäe
  • My Family and Other Clowns (Estonia), dir: Heilika Pikkov, Liina Särkinen

The festival will run from November 7 to 23.

Share this with others on...
News

Expanding the possible Fernanda Salgado on fantasy, reality, Jan Švankmajer and Ana, En Passant

A burning thing Sneha Mehta and Teddy Stern on falling in love with Mumbai, and making Getar Hero

Nothing is impossible Paul Rowley on moving to New York, the Pulse massacre, and Gays Against Guns

‘The only thing that makes a story universal is emotions’ Warsaw’s Industry panel discuss reaching audiences abroad

The only thing worth saying Chuko and Arie Esiri on adapting Mrs Dalloway and making Clarissa

European Film Academy shortlist announced 68 features vie for nomination

More news and features

We're bringing you all the latest news and reviews from the London Film Festival and Newfest.



We're looking forward to the Belfast Film Festival, Halloween Frightfest, the Cheltenham International Film Festival and the Leeds International Film Festival.



We've recently brought you coverage of the New York Film Festival, Grimmfest, Beyond Fest, the San Sebastian International Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, the Toronto International Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon, Instagram and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


London Winners announced


Tallinn Black Nights UK co-production joins Works In Progress


Warsaw What Belongs To Others takes top prize


Tallinn Baltic Competition, Rebels With A Cause and Critics' Picks titles announced


Dinard I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning named Best Film