Today marks the beginning of the Official Selection - Competition programme at PÖFF, featuring the future grand prix laureate! Directors, actors, and other filmmakers have gathered to present their films during the premieres and share these iconic moments together. Thus, each PÖFF cinema ticket plays a crucial role - being a part of the life's work of those who entrusted their film premieres to the Estonian cinema audience.
We present the two World Premieres for films from Ukraine today. In the Official Selection - Competition program, "Oxygen Station" unfolds against the backdrop of the 1980 Olympics and, through a true story, narrates a history in which hundreds of thousands of Crimean Tatars fell victim of. Taking a completely opposite tone, the pitch-black humor-filled comedy "Lessons of Tolerance" follows a conservatively inclined family who agrees to do something unthinkable for the sake of European Union project money - to live for 24 days without alcohol and alongside someone named Vasõl, who is gay.
Today marks director Eeva Mägi's second world premiere at PÖFF, featuring the debut film "Mo Mamma" in the First Feature Competition program. But what would PÖFF be without Aki Kaurismäki? The documentary "Cinéma Laika" takes us to Karkkila to visit the master of cinema, where we have plenty to discover. And in contrast, the National Geographic documentary "The Mission" analyzes whether the American missionary John Chau, killed by arrows from indigenous people, was simply an adventurous adventurer, a fanatical evangelist, or an ordinary colonialist.
Dir. Ivan Tymchenko, Countries: Ukraine, Czechia, Sweden, Slovakia
Thursday, November 9 at 21.00 Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
World Premiere, Q&A with the filmmakers
The 1980 Olympics. Hundreds of thousands of Crimean Tatars are scattered around various places occupied by the Soviet regime. Only a common dream to return to the homeland unites them. A precise historical drama and true story of unbreakable love sheerly reminds us that the invasion to occupy Ukraine began long before 2014 when Russian terrorists seized the Crimean Peninsula.
Dir: Eeva Mägi, Country: Estonia
Thursday, November 9 at 19.00 Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
World Premiere, Q&A with the filmmakers
“Mo Mamma” caresses the pain, that is left in those sending away. Director Eeva Mägi's film spreads a eulogy on a warm summer dew. This branches out along different paths as the grief of a mother and daughter. The goal is to escape from feelings that are more than the soul can handle. Escaping as far as possible from each other and then accidentally crossing paths again. Consciously trampling over each other. To find unconditional love in the fragile vicinity of open wounds.
Dir: Veljko Vidak, Countries: France, Finland
Thursday, November 9 at 19.00 Cinema Sõprus
Screening with Q&A with the filmmakers
In a small village in Finland, which has relied solely on metallurgical activities for the past two centuries, Aki Kaurismäki and his friend, the poet and writer, Mika Lätti are constructing their own cinema theatre within an old foundry. Employing recycled wood, metal, and pre-owned furniture, Kaurismäki and the residents of Karkkila collaboratively craft Kino Laika – a place where the magic resides in its profound capacity to instigate change.
Dir: Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine, Country: USA
Thursday, November 9 at 18.00 Apollo Kino Solaris
In 2018, a shocking event made headlines around the world: a young American missionary, John Chau, was killed by arrows while attempting to contact one of the world’s most isolated Indigenous peoples on remote North Sentinel Island. “The Mission” uncovers the gripping story beyond the headlines.
Dir: Arkadiy Nepytaliuk, Country: Ukraine
Thursday, November 9 at 18.30 Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
World Premiere, Q&A with the filmmakers
Ten uneasy lessons in a tiny apartment in Ukraine. Teacher Nadia launches an EU-funded LGBT+ acceptance programme. A typically intolerant family hesitantly decides to sign up to receive tempting financial supplements. Their task is to spend 24 non-alcoholic days with Vasyl, who is gay but might also be the best friend, long-forgotten relative, good therapist, attentive social worker, or a plumber photographer. A provocatively ironic mosaic of anecdotical sketches gradually forms a continuous labyrinth of black humour, tenderness, and witty sarcasm.
Dir: Ilze Kunga-Melgaile, Country: Latvia
Thursday, November 9 at 20.00 Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
International Premiere, Q&A with the filmmakers
Sensuously fictionalised Latvian candidate for Oscar, this historical drama continues to portray the National Awakening to regain Independence. One of the lesser-known leaders was Ita Kozakeviča, who was democratically elected to the Supreme Council in 1990. We follow her painstakingly restored tragic life story as activist Alicija, who represents the Polish society in Latvia trying to maintain the culture and language of various ethnic groups.
Dir: Michael Mann, Country: USA
Thursday, November 9 at 21.15 Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
Estonian Premiere
Set in the summer of 1957, with Enzo Ferrari’s auto empire in crisis, the ex-racer turned entrepreneur pushes himself and his drivers to the edge as they launch into the Mille Miglia, a treacherous 1,000-mile race across Italy. Oscar nominee Michael Mann's new film premiered at this year’s Venice Film Festival.