10-12-2009

FESTIVALS: PÖFF concludes with six films awarded

By FNE Staff
    Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival that ended on December 6 screened over 260 films from 75 different countries in nine Estonian cities. For the first time films were also shown in Tallinn's brand new cinemas Artis and Cinamon.

    Most popular films were „Girl with a Dragon Tattoo" (Sweden, Niels Arden Oplev), „Imaginarium of doctor Parnassus" (Great Britain, Terry Gilliam), „Machan" (Sri Lanka, Uberto Pasolini), „Bright Star" (Great Britain, Jane Campion), „Hipsters" (Russia, Valeri Todorovski), „The Limits of Control" (USA, Jim Jarmush), „Men Who Stare at Goats" (USA, Grant Heslov), „Soul Kitchen" (Germany, Fatih Akin), „The Swimsuit Issue" (Sweden, Mans Herngren), „Mary and Max" (Australia, Adam Elliot) etc.

    Most popular in competition programme EurAsia were „Air Doll" (Japan, Hirokazu Kore-eda), „Enter the Void" (France, Gaspar Noe), „No One Knows About Persian Cats" (Iran, Bahman Ghobadi), „Altiplano" (Belgium, Peters Brosens, Jessica Hope Woodworth) and „The Moon" (Great Britain, Duncan Jones). Most popular documentary was Belgium documentary „Kill the Referee", followed by music documentary from the USA „It Might Get Loud".

    The audience can see many PÖFF films later in the cinemas.

    There were many international premiers and world premiers in PÖFF. For example Romanian-Moldavian film „Weddings in Bessarabia" also won jury special award. Seven American indie-films premiered in Europe.

    In the final ceremony the jury awarded six films. Grand Prix and 10 000 Euros went to co-directors Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani for the film „Ajami" (Germany, Israel). Prize for best camerawork went to Bahman Ghobadi (Iran) for „No One Knows About Persian Cats ", best director award went to Finland to Klaus Häro for „Letters to Father Jacob". Tridens Baltic award went to Lithuanian film „Vortex", Scottish Leader Estonian film award went to Asko Kase for „December Heat". Jury of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) awarded Jaak Kilmi's documentary „Disco and Atomic War". Audience gave most votes to South Korean comedy „Castaway from the Moon ".

    Important facts about 13th PÖFF:

    • There were approximately 53000 visits in PÖFF. Compared to last year 1500 more tickets were sold. This number does not include guests from special events (concerts, seminars, performances etc).
    • More than 320 people worked for PÖFF, more than half of them were volunteers.
    • PÖFF took place in 9 cities, 16 cinemas and 21 screening halls.
    • Together with sub-festivals more than 500 films were shown. 260 of them were full length features.
    • There were films from 75 countries.
    • During PÖFF took place 610 screenings. More than 80 screenings were sold out.
    • There were over 270 foreign guests from 40 countries, 480 people had accreditation.
    • During 20.11 - 6.12 festival's homepage www.poff.ee was visited 136110 times from 86 different countries.