Tallinn Film Festival Kicks Off With Kids Fest

It is one of the longest film festivals on the international circuit......running from 19 November to 5 December, nearly 2 1/2 weeks. However, POFF, the local name for the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia is actually several different festivals, each with a specific focus.

Festivities begin this Friday with Just Film, which is oriented to children, young adult and family audiences. To celebrate it's 10th anniversary, Just Film: The Children and Youth Fillm Festival (which runs from 19 to 28 November) will present the local premiere of the highly anticipated HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HOLLOWS, the first half of the eagerly awaited conclusion to the Harry Potter franchise. In all, this Festival segment will present 9 days of films, guests and events dedicated to the next generation of cinema audiences and filmmakers.

Another highlight of the event is the the international premiere of WAYS TO LIVE FOREVER, based on the award winning children’s book written by Sally Nicholls. Starring respected English actors Emilia Fox, Ben Chaplin and Phyllida Law, the film is a moving tale that centers on a young boy who is dying of cancer who wants to fill his last months with adventure and answers to the meaning of life. Also screening is DOG POUND, a tough and powerful drama about life in a detention centre for young criminals and YOUTH IN REVOLT, a quirky comedy about a teenager who must invent a bad boy persona to impress the young woman he is in love with. The film stars Michael Cera, best known for his sensitive performance in the hit film JUNO and his recent turn in the fantasy comedy box office smash SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD.

"We’re all really excited about the 10th anniversary of Just Film and are sure that it’s going to be the best festival yet.", Festival Director Mikk Granstrom declared. "Giving young audiences the chance to experience all types of cinema from around the world whilst also providing special workshops and events means that we can help encourage young people from across the country and beyond to become more involved in the world of film and filmmaking.” 

Just Film is a sub-festival of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival which also encompasses a main programme of premieres and retrospectives, the Nokia Mobile Film Festival (MOFF) which invites filmmakers from around the planet to make a short film on their mobiles and upload it to the MOFF website, the Animated Dreams Animation Film Festival and Sleepwalkers, the Student and Short Film Festival. The Black Market Industry Meetings is a regional film market which introduces film industry professionals to the latest works from North-Eastern Europe and its neighboring regions. The   Baltic Event Co-Production Market focuses on projects from the Baltic countries, Scandinavia, Central - Eastern Europe and Russia. For the first time ever, the Festival and the city of Tallinn will host the 23rd European Film Awards, the  "European Oscars" on 4 December, kicking off the city's designation as the European Capital of Culture. For more information on the complete program of events, visit: www.poff.ee.

Sandy Mandelberger, POFF Dailies Editor