24/09/2020 - The line-up includes new films by István Szabó, Laila Pakalnina, Dalibor Matanić, Georgi Mindadze, Nisan Dağ, Anna Melikyan and Leonardo António

The 24th edition of the Tallinn Black Nights International Film Festival, taking place physically with a stripped-back programme from 13-29 November, has announced the first eight titles of its main Official Selection - Competition. Six of the films will have their world premieres at Tallinn.

The line-up includes the international premiere of the most recent film by the Tallinn's 2013 Lifetime Achievement Awardee István Szabó, Final Report [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: István Szabó
film profile] (Hungary), the story of a cardiology professor played by Klaus Maria Brandauer, who returns to his home village after retirement to become the local GP. The film was released in Hungary in February before the lockdown.

Latvian director Laila Pakalnina returns to Tallinn with In the Mirror [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Laila Pakalniņa
film profile] (Latvia/Lithuania) a playful take on the Snow White motif, after winning the Best Cinematography award at the festival for Dawn [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] in 2016.

When I'm Done Dying [+see also:
film review
film profile] (Turkey), the second feature from Turkish filmmaker Nisan Dağ (Across the Sea), is an emotional roller coaster set within the Istanbul rap subculture.  

Prolific Kazakh filmmaker Adilkhan Yerzhanov (The Gentle Indifference of the World [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Adilkhan Yerzhanov
film profile], A Dark-Dark Man [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) is bringing to the festival his latest film, Ulbolysn [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Kazakhstan/France), about the titular character forced to confront a patriarchal community after her sister gets kidnapped.

Veteran Russian director Aleksandr Mindadze's Parquet [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (Russia/UK/Poland) follows the three creators of a legendary tango as they reunite for an encore performance 25 years after breaking up.

The Dawn [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Dalibor Matanić
film profile] (Croatia/Italy), the latest film from Croatian director Dalibor Matanić (The High Sun [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Dalibor Matanic
interview: Tihana Lazovic
film profile]), is a mix of social drama and thriller set in 2021 after a drastic political turn in Croatian society.

Submission [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Leonardo Antonio
film profile] (Portugal), the third feature by Portugal's Leonardo António (My Engine's Fragile Sound) is a courtroom drama in which Lúcia, raped by her husband, fights the Portuguese legal system.

Finally, The Three (Russia) by Armenian-Russian director Anna Melykan (Mermaid, Star, About Love) is about a 40-something TV host who gets drawn into a love triangle after a failed suicide attempt.

"This will be the biggest selection we have ever made for this programme, simply because we received so many great films! It was sad to be forced to say no to some amazing films because we just couldn’t fit them in anymore,” says Tallinn Black Nights director Tina Lokk. “I’m personally extremely excited about this year’s programme, as it is very author-driven and thus set to divide opinions and launch debates – just like good art should do."

The films announced so far:

Competition

Final Report [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: István Szabó
film profile] - István Szabó (Hungary)
In the Mirror [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Laila Pakalniņa
film profile] - Laila Pakalnina (Latvia/Lithuania)
When I'm Done Dying [+see also:
film review
film profile] - Nisan Dağ (Turkey/Germany/USA)
Ulbolysn [+see also:
trailer
film profile] - Adilkhan Yerzhanov (Kazakhstan/France)
Parquet [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Aleksandr Mindadze (Russia/UK/Poland)
The Dawn [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Dalibor Matanić
film profile] - Dalibor Matanić (Croatia/Italy)
Submission [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Leonardo Antonio
film profile] - Leonardo António (Portugal)
The Three - Anna Melykan (Russia)