Started in 1997, the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has grown into one of the biggest film festivals in Northern Europe and busiest regional industry platforms, hosting more than 1000 guests and industry delegates and over 160 journalists. The festival screens around 250 features and more than 300 shorts and animations and sees an attendance of 80 000 people annually.
As of 2014 the festival holds the FIAPF accreditation for holding an international competition programme which puts the festival into the so- called A-category of film festivals, alongside other 14 festivals in the world.
A PÖFF Wolf is a pack animal who knows that he’ll get farther working together with the others. Without you, our cinema audience and supporters, this film festival, largely cobbled together on pure enthusiasm in 1997, would not be what it is today. Every year, PÖFF is kept in constant movement by wonderful collaboration where the audience and the films are connected by volunteers, more than 300 by today. Together in our small Estonia, we have succeeded in filling the black nights of November with unique northern lights which manifest as bright film experiences on cinema screens and attract filmmakers from different corners of the world to enjoy it all with us.
The gathering places of the PÖFF Wolves in Estonian cinemas remain the same, but the routes are different every year. Besides grit and courage, PÖFF’s growth preconditions include the will and desire to see past the horizon in order to constantly broaden our view of the world. Thus, PÖFF’s programme always wanders beyond its comfort zone. The PÖFF Wolves are not afraid of new cultural spaces, burning questions and emotions which make us laugh, astound us and move us in their bracing authenticity.