Estonia’s Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, known as PÖFF, will begin its 30th edition on Nov. 6 under the creative leadership of artistic director Triin Tramberg. The festival will run through Nov. 22 with a program combining new discoveries, challenging films and titles from the international festival circuit.
The anniversary edition will screen 230 feature films and 259 shorts from 87 countries. Across PÖFF, its youth and children’s event Just Film, and PÖFF Shorts, the festival will present 107 world premieres and 47 international premieres.
Tramberg has worked at PÖFF for more than 15 years, starting as a program assistant before becoming a coordinator and helping shape the festival’s international profile. Founder and longtime director Tiina Lokk remains the organization’s CEO, with a focus on strategy and development.
In her first year as artistic director, Tramberg says she is taking an observational approach rather than making sweeping changes. She wants to assess which elements of the festival work well, test new ideas and use that experience to guide future decisions. She also stresses that she inherited a festival that is operating effectively, rather than one in need of a major rescue or turnaround.
The 2026 program gives particular prominence to Baltic cinema from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. PÖFF has organized its Baltic Film Competition since 2008 and introduced a Baltic documentary competition last year. For the anniversary edition, Tramberg wants to strengthen the region’s international visibility and draw attention both to its films and to the talent behind them.
The festival’s international selection also includes a notable presence from Latin America. Films from Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic are represented. Tramberg says the titles were selected because their individual stories stood out, rather than because of a geographic strategy.
Among the recurring themes she has identified in this year’s program is motherhood, particularly the tension between love, responsibility, loyalty and independence. She also points to stories about women over 35 who are finding themselves, describing them as a newer variation on the traditional coming-of-age film.
Tramberg says the program ultimately remains grounded in familiar subjects, including everyday life and family relationships during difficult periods. The festival’s films reflect varied experiences while focusing on stories audiences can connect with.
She is also optimistic about the future of Baltic cinema, citing the growing momentum created by regional co-productions and independent filmmaking. Tramberg points to Latvia’s Oscar-winning animated film “Flow” as evidence of the region’s potential and says she expects it to be the first of more international successes.
With production and co-production activity growing across the region, Tramberg argues that the Baltics are emerging as a major destination for independent cinema. PÖFF’s 30th anniversary, she says, offers an opportunity to showcase that development alongside the festival’s broader international program.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter.