Regulatsioonid

Black Nights Film Festival (aka PÖFF – Pimedate Ööde FilmiFestival) takes place annually at the end of November in Tallinn, Estonia. It is the only FIAPF-accredited competitive feature film Festival in Northern Europe.

Black Nights Film Festival holds four competitive sections, as well as non-competitive sections, altogether more than 200 features and documentaries, showcasing new discoveries and a selection of the best picks from other film Festivals, with special programmes for various sub-genres. Due to the current situation in the world, the Festival also reserves the right to organise the Festival online.

The Festival consists of a cluster of events: the main Festival, sub-Festivals for youth and children’s films, short films and animations, along with an extensive industry programme, turning Tallinn and Tartu into a buzzing, yet relaxed celebration of film culture and attracting an attendance of more than 71 200, visited by 1547 film professionals and press from around the world in 2021.

26th Black Nights Film Festival

11.11 – 27.11 2022
poff.ee
Submission is open at Filmfreeway

Just Film

Youth and Children’s Film Festival
11.11 – 27.11.2022
justfilm.ee
Submission is open within this section at Filmfreeway

PÖFF Shorts

Short Film and Animation Festival
15.11 – 23.11 2022
shorts.poff.ee
Submission is open within this section at Filmfreeway

Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event

18.11 – 25.11 2022
industry.poff.ee
An industry platform of the Black Nights Film Festival. It serves as a gateway for global audiovisual industries to the Baltic and CIS region, aiming to connect regional audiovisual talent and production with the rest of Europe, North and South America and Asia. It includes a drama series market and forum TV Beats, co-production market, Works in Progress showcases, an international script competition Script Pool, European Film Forum Tallinn and Creative Gate a creative industry development centre that consist of different panels, workshop and masterclasses on new trends in film financing and distribution, film music scoring, acting and casting, as well as production design and much more.

Awards & Prizes

Official Selection Competition
First Feature Competition
Rebels With A Cause Competition
Baltic Film Competition
Additional awards presented

Rules & Terms

Black Nights Film Festival Regulations

1. Introduction

Black Nights Film Festival (in Estonian as PÖFF – Pimedate Ööde filmifestival) aims to present a comprehensive selection of world cinema to Estonian, Baltic and North European audiences.

The 26th edition of the Black Nights Film Festival will take place from 11th-27th November 2022, in Tallinn, its main place of establishment, with sidebar screenings in the cities of Tartu, Narva, Kohtla-Järve and Jõhvi.

The Festival is recognised by FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations) and since 2014 accredited to organise an international non-specialised feature film competition along with 15 other film festivals around the world (including Berlin, Cannes, Karlovy Vary, Moscow, Venice, San Sebastian, Warsaw, Tokyo, and others).

Black Nights Film Festival also holds specialised competitive sections, non-competitive sections, as well as sub-festivals for youth films, short films and animations.

The Festival is organised by the non-profit organisation MTÜ Pimedate Ööde filmifestival (in English NGO Black Nights Film Festival).

MTÜ Pimedate Ööde filmifestival (in English NGO Black Nights Film Festival)
Telliskivi 60a/2, 10412
Tallinn, Estonia
Phone: +372 56 208 308
E-mail: info@poff.ee
poff.ee

Black Nights Film Festival Programme Overview

The Black Nights Film Festival programme includes three competitive sections and various non-competitive sections for feature films.

1.1 Official Selection – Competition

17th – 25th of November 2022
The Official Selection – Competition is an international non-specialised competition presenting feature-length (60 minutes and over) films from around the world completed after the 15th of September 2021.

Priority will be given to films with a World or International Premiere. The minimum premiere requirement is a European Regional Premiere. European films and co-produced films presented in their country of origin remain eligible.

The Festival will not accept films in the Official Selection – Competition that has been in competition at another festival accredited by FIAPF as a Competitive Feature Film Festival. The Festival reserves the right to evaluate eligible films for the competition on a case-by-case basis.

Awards presented

A film in this competition is eligible for a maximum of two awards (including Grand Prix) within the competition. The Grand Prix and Best Director award and their grants cannot be given to the same film.

1.2 First Feature Competition

17th – 25th of November 2022
The First Feature Competition is an international competition for debut films. The competition presents feature-length debut (60 minutes and over, first-time feature film directing status) films from around the world completed after the 15th of September 2021.

Priority will be given to films with a World or International Premiere. The minimum premiere requirement is a European Regional Premiere. European films and co-produced films presented in their country of origin remain eligible.

The Festival will not accept films in the First Feature Competition that has been in competition at another festival accredited by FIAPF as a Competitive Feature Film Festival. The Festival reserves the right to evaluate eligible films for competition on a case-by-case basis.

Awards presented

1.3 Baltic Film Competition

19th – 25th of November 2022
The Baltic Film Competition presents feature (documentaries and animation included) length (60 minutes and over) films from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, or with significant participation from one of these countries completed after the 15th of September 2021.

Priority will be given to films with a World or International premiere, but films which have previously premiered in Estonia are also eligible. The participation of the film in any other competition of the Festival does not exclude the eligibility for Baltic Film Competition. The Festival reserves the right to evaluate eligible films for the competition on a case-by-case basis.

Award presented

1.4 Rebels with a Cause Competition

17th – 25th of November 2022
Rebels with a Cause Competition programme showcases the untraditional means of expression of filmmaking, as well as innovative narrative or dramaturgy, symbiosis with other forms of art, and new takes on technical solutions or in esthetics. The Competition incorporates both a full feature and a short film section. The films must be completed after the 15th of September 2021. The minimum premiere requirement is a European Premiere.

Priority will be given to films with World, International or European premieres. The Festival reserves the right to evaluate eligible films for the competition on a case-by-case basis.

Awards presented

1.5 Critics' Pick Competition

17th – 25th of November 2022

Critics' Pick Competition programme showcases about 10 films picked out by the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival´s programme team, which consists of internationally acclaimed professional film critics and film theoreticians. The Competition incorporates equally the first feature filmmakers as well as the experienced ones. The films must be completed after the 15th of September 2021. The minimum premiere requirement is a Baltic Premiere. The Festival reserves the right to evaluate eligible films, submitted to the festival for the competition on a case-by-case basis, after the rightful negotiations.

Awards presented

1.6 Additional awards presented

1.7 Non-competitive programme

Films submitted for the non-competitive programme, or not selected for competitions, can be invited to other sections with a minimum requirement being their Estonian Premiere. There is no geographic restriction for films in non-competitive sections. The films must be completed after the 15th of September 2021.

The non-competitive programs are the following

1.7.1 Current Waves

The program offers a panoramic view of the trends and currents of world cinema, including a selection of festival favorites and fresh films that have caught the eye of the Festival’s programme team.

1.7.2 #PÖFFTRENDING

The haute couture of culture documentaries and features, exploring topics such as art, fashion, urban culture, etc, offers a fresh perspective on contemporary cultural phenomena and trends.

1.7.3 Doc@PÖFF

A selection of the latest documentary highlights, regardless of their geographic origin or topics.

1.7.4 Midnight Shivers

Over-the-top fantasy spree, the cream of the crop of recent horror and fantasy cinema.

1.7.5 TV Beats

A programme dedicated to fresh drama series, aimed at highlighting the increasingly blurry line between the small and the big screen.

1.8 Programming

The Programming Committee, headed by the Festival Director, selects films for the competitions and non-competitive programmes. The committee also determines the programme schedule and sets the screening order for all films.

Each competition film may be screened a minimum of two (2) times and a maximum of five (5) during the Festival, including press screenings. Consent from the applicant will be asked for any extra screening. The Programming Committee reserves the right to not comment on its decisions as well as the final line-up of the Festival.

1.9 Juries

The Festival Director appoints all the members of the juries for the international competition programmes. No jury member can be involved in the production or promotion of any of the films in the competitive programmes.

1.10 Film delegations

For competitive programmes, the Festival will invite a delegation of up to three representatives per film (the Festival will offer three free accreditations and if needed discounted accreditations). The Festival will cover the round trip airfare as well as accommodation at the Official Partner Hotel and accreditation for one delegate, with a preference given to the Director and/or the Main Cast member. Additionally, the Festival will cover the accommodation at the Official Partner Hotel and accreditation for one extra delegate and the accreditation for a third delegate.

For non-competitive films, the Festival reserves the right to invite guests upon the decision of the Programming Committee. Detailed terms and conditions for film delegates are provided on a non-disclosed one-to-one and guest agreement basis.

1.11 Film submission entry procedures

Applicants for Competitive and Non-Competitive Programmes are requested to submit through Filmfreeway

Entry applications submitted by post, e-mail, or any other form except the online submission form are not considered eligible for selection, unless with prior agreement with the Festival Programming Committee.

Submission applications are accepted from March 2022.

The regular submission deadline for competitive and non-competitive feature film programmes is the 1st of July 2022. The Festival asks for a submission fee of €69 Euros or $85 USD per film during the regular deadline.

The extended submission deadline for competitive and non-competitive feature film programmes is the 17th of August 2022. The Festival asks for a submission fee of €85 Euros or $100 USD per film during the extended deadline.

The final submission deadline for competitive and non-competitive feature film programmes is the 24th of August 2022. The Festival asks for a submission fee of €100 Euros or $120USD per film during the regular deadline.

The Festival Director and the Programming Committee reserve the right to waive submission fees for selected applicants, to not comment on their decisions regarding waivers.

The Festival reserves the right to select films received at any time and through any means, or process and to refuse late submissions.

If you have questions regarding the regulations or submissions process, please email submissions@poff.ee.

By submitting a film to the Festival the applicant agrees by the submissions deadline to:
Fill in and submit the entry form via the Festival’s online submission form.

Provide a screening link and password via the online submission form or e-mail (the link needs to be visible for at least four programmers or more if needed).

Acknowledge that “selected” status on the online submission or any kind of automated letter from the submission platform form does not guarantee confirmation of the submitted film to the Festival.

1.12 Confirmation of films and reimbursement

Upon selection of a film, the Festival will contact the applicant via email and will request to fill out a binding entry form.

If the applicant provides misleading information about debutant or premiere status the Festival Director and the Programming Committee reserve the right to withdraw the film from the competition and overall programme.

The applicant agrees that confirmed titles may not be withdrawn from the Festival programme after their participation has been officially confirmed and the producer or producer’s authorised representative has verified the confirmation of the film to the programme.

If for exceptional reasons, the film has to be withdrawn three weeks or less before the opening of the Festival, the applicant agrees to reimburse all costs to the Festival related to the confirmation and programming of the film including the screening fee (when applicable), print delivery and handling costs as well as associated travel costs for the film delegation.

The invoices for the film rights or print loans should be issued and delivered for payments no later than two months after the end of the Festival. The Festival does not accept or reimburse invoices issued after that date.

Upon confirmation of the film to the Festival’s competitive or non-competitive sections, the applicant agrees to:
Deliver additional promotional materials (biography, filmography and headshot of the Director, high-resolution stills of the film, synopsis, logline/tagline and genre of film, list of technical and artistic credits, list of all production countries in order of contribution and large format print quality poster art-work). Full electronic press kits are preferred.

The approved requirements of the promotional photos for the Festival are the following:

Film stills

Format: landscape (16:9), .jpg (.png, .tiff)
Size: 1920 x 1080 px minimum
Minimum of 3 stills.

Director’s portrait image

Format: square (1:1), .jpg (.png, .tiff)
Size: 500 x 500 px minimum

Film poster

Format: portrait, .jpg (.png, tiff)
Aspect ratio: 1,45 (recommended)
Size: 555 x 800 px (recommended)
For Black Carpet Films and digital screens in the cinemas we request 1080 x 1920 px poster images.

Film trailer/teaser

Provide an HD resolution trailer or an HD teaser clip of the film either as a public link to a downloadable and embeddable video on YouTube or Vimeo or as a separate file. The Festival should receive the trailer or teaser latest by the 1st of October, with an allowance to upload on the Festival’s online channels.

Promotional video material

Provide a set of at least four different HD resolution excerpts of three-minute maximum length each to enable the promotion of films by television stations and in creative promotional video montages minimally a month before the Festival.

Materials for local translation

Provide subtitle files with time-codes and/or dialogue lists in the original film language and in English, spotting list, and a screener of the finalised version of the film.

The Festival reserves the right to use all provided promotional materials for publicity purposes and printed materials, including the Festival catalog, press releases, website, social media channels, and promotion in media.

The Festival will provide a CineSend link for uploading the DCP, a Google Form for film and credits information and a link for uploading the promotional materials.

The Festival does not accept deliveries in physical format (hard disk drives, memory sticks, etc) if not agreed otherwise prior to the Festival.

The materials required by the Festival for its press releases, catalog, website, and other information/promotion channels (synopsis, technical and artistic credits, bio-filmographies, pictures of the director/s and film stills) and materials for local translation need to be provided to the Festival by the 19th of September 2022, or within 7 days of confirmation of the film.

If the applicant doesn’t provide the materials required by the Festival by the date set in regulations or by the date agreed with the Festival beforehand, The Festival Director and the Programming Committee reserve the right to withdraw the film from the competition.

1.13 Technical requirements and guidelines for film formats

1.13.1 Screenings in cinemas

The accepted screening format for all films in competition and non-competition sections is DCP. Provided DCPs must be DCI compliant (http://www.dcimovies.com/) and adhere to all applicable conditions below.

The Festival will provide a CineSend link for uploading the DCP and it should be uploaded no later than 24th October 2022. DCPs must be provided with the correct naming according to the ISDCF DCP Naming Convention.

All films selected for the Festival must be provided with English subtitles unless they are already in English. All the films from the Official Selection Competition and First Feature Competition, as well as a selection of films from other sections are translated into Estonian.

The Festival prefers to transfer local subtitles onto DCPs for ensuring the best possible screening experience. For that purpose DCPs must meet the following requirements: provided screening DCPs must be unencrypted, or with DKDM for Festival lab, as original language versions (OV) with separate accompanying subtitles as version-file packages (VF).

If the transfer of translated subtitles onto the DCP is not agreed with the representative of the film, the translations will be shown electronically.

All screening copies for all sections, if provided with any subtitles, must have the subtitles on the active picture area and not in the letterbox area. Please note that the image may be cropped by up to 3% during projection, due to the position of the projector and the venue’s characteristics, therefore a good safe area for the subtitles would be at least 5%. Dubbed language copies are also refused.

The Festival reserves the right to demand new DCP packages free of charge in case of non-compatible DCPs, broken hard drives, or other quality standards are not met. These include wrongly placed or missing subtitles, or wrong soundtracks.

Unencrypted DCPs are strongly preferred. In the case of encrypted DCPs, the Festival requires Distribution KDMs (DKDM) for laboratory testing or in previously agreed cases, one test KDM per film free of charge for quality assurance and technical testing for our test-screen. For quality assurance reasons KDM or DKDM is requested to be valid from the date the DCP arrives at the Festival but not later than one week before the Festival starts till 1 day after the Festival. ​​All DKDMs should follow the KDM Naming Convention.

The producer or film representative is requested to provide appropriate screening KDMs valid from 7 days before the start of the Festival and 1 day after the Festival, but no later than 72 hours prior to screenings, and 48 hours after the screening. The cost of generating all KDMs will also be the responsibility of the producers or representatives of the film.

If the Festival is provided with broken or wrongly assigned KDMs, appropriate new KDMs must be provided free of charge by the film submitter or representative. Quality assurance purpose DKDM is not exempt from providing screening KDMs if not agreed upon otherwise.

The Festival supports 2K and 4K content. However, not all screens have a 4K screening capability. The Festival therefore cannot guarantee that all 4K films will be screened in a 4K resolution.

We can accept high-frame-rate (HFR) or 3D DCPs, however, we are only able to screen them in selected cinema halls. Please notify the Festival office if you are planning on presenting a high-frame-rate DCP.

If agreed previously with the Festival technical department, DCP can be handed in on a physical hard drive. DCPs must be provided and shipped on industry-standard protected hard drives. Consumer-grade hard drives and memory sticks are not permitted.

Video formats and 35mm prints are accepted only with prior acknowledgment from the Festival. All video files will be converted into DCPs by the Festival appointed lab to ensure the best possible image and sound quality during playback. Only ProRes, ProRes 444, ProRes HQ are accepted video formats in these cases. Tapes or Blu-rays are not accepted as screening formats unless there are no alternatives and with prior acknowledgment from the Festival.

Technical guideline is here to download and also provided along with a confirmation entry form.

The Festival reserves the right to refuse and withdraw the screening of the film from the competition or any other section if all requirements are not followed.

Our Festival’s technical team, dcinema@poff.ee, will happily help with any queries for all confirmed films.

1.13.2 Online screenings

Festival uses a VOD platform with Studio Grade DRM for screening films online.

1.13.2.1 Online screenings for film professionals and international press members only (ProScreen)

Screenings for the jury, accredited film professionals, and international press members are accessible globally via Festival accreditation.

All films that agree with online screenings must present the film in H264, 1920x1080p video format with stereo sound. In this case, we recommend a clean film file without hardcoded subtitles. The subtitles, if needed, must be presented as SRT or XML timed subtitles.

Technical guideline is here to download and also provided along with a confirmation entry form.

1.13.2.2 Public online screenings

Public screenings for audience in Estonia are geo-blocked outside of Estonia and can be limited to an agreed size of the audience.

All films that agree with online screenings must present the film in H264, 1920x1080p video format with stereo sound. In this case, we recommend a clean film file without hardcoded subtitles. The subtitles, if needed, must be presented as SRT or XML timed subtitles.

The Festival reserves the right to refuse and withdraw the screening of the film from the competition or any other section if all requirements are not followed.

Technical guideline is here to download and also provided along with a confirmation entry form.

Our Festival’s digital cinema team, dcinema@poff.ee, will happily help with any queries for all confirmed films.

1.14 Delivery of materials

All costs related to the shipping of publicity materials (posters, brochures, etc.) or any screeners are paid for by the submitter or film representative. Submitted preview copies may be returned to the submitter or forwarded only at the submitter’s expense. Accepted sizes for printed posters are: A4, A3, A2.

All packages must be clearly marked with the title of the film, the sender’s / submitters name, return address, and telephone number as well as the Festival address:
Black Nights Film Festival
Attn: Programming
Telliskivi 60a/2, 3rd floor
10412
Tallinn, Estonia
Phone: +372 56 208 308

Costs related to the shipping of the physical DCP to the Festival are paid by the Festival unless otherwise agreed upon. Return shipping costs are covered by the Festival unless a screening copy is being sent to the next Festival for screening.

The Festival will return or forward the screening copies within 30 days from the end of the Festival unless instructed otherwise by the submitter or film representative. Returns before the Festival closing date must be agreed upon at least three weeks before the Festival, and cannot be guaranteed after that.

The Festival covers all expenses connected to the storage and insurance of the screening copies during the duration of the Festival.

In the event of damage to a copy during the event, the Festival limits its responsibility to the cost of having a new standard copy made at current laboratory rates.

1.15 Using the Festival logo

Films that have premiered at the Black Nights Film Festival are required to use the official logo of the Festival in their film’s publicity and promotional materials as well as add it to the DCP. We ask not to modify or alter the logo without prior written permission from the Festival.

Just Film Youth and Children's Film Festival

PÖFF – Black Nights Film Festival's Sub-Festival
11.11.–27.11.2022

2 Introduction

Youth and Children’s Film Festival Just Film is the biggest sub-festival of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festivals. It is held during the main programme 11.11.–27.11.2022.

Just Film was founded to give children and youth the possibility to see through film what happens around them and around the world. The aim is to show kids the critical points of society and to make them more understanding and empathic.

Just Film presents films in the following programmes

Films eligible for the programmes are feature-length (50 minutes and over) either fiction or documentary and short or half-length films (up to 45 minutes), produced after the 1st of January 2021 with a minimum requirement being their Estonian premiere.

The festival reserves the right to evaluate eligible films for competition on a case by case basis.

The applicable screening copies are in DCP format in English or include English subtitles. Films in the competitions may be presented in the PÖFF main programme non-competitive section.

Awards & Prizes

2.1 Juries

The Festival Director will appoint the Domestic Children’s Jury and Youth Jury, both consisting of five (5) members. Also an international jury consisting of three (3) film specialists and ECFA (European Children’s Film Association) jury consisting of three (3) ECFA members will be invited. No jury member can be involved in the production or promotion of any of the films in the competitive programs.

2.2 Film submission entry procedures

Applicants for Competitive and Non-Competitive Programmes are requested to submit as a subcategory of Black Nights Film Festival through FilmFreeway. Entry applications submitted by post, e-mail, or any other form except the online submission form are not considered eligible for selection, unless with prior agreement with the Festival Programming Committee.
Submission applications are accepted from March 2022.

https://filmfreeway.com/just

The regular submission deadline for competitive and non-competitive feature film programmes is 1st of July 2022.
The festival asks a submission fee of €69 Euros per film during the regular deadline. For short or half-length films (up to 45 minutes) the festival asks a submission fee of €10 Euros per film during the regular deadline.

The extended submission deadline for competitive and non-competitive feature film programmes is 17th of August 2022. The festival asks a submission fee of €85 Euros per film during the extended deadline. For short or half-length films (up to 45 minutes) the festival asks a submission fee of €12 Euros per film during the extended deadline.

The final submission deadline for competitive and non-competitive feature film programmes is 24th of August 2022. The festival asks a submission fee of €100 Euros per film during the final submission deadline. For short or half-length films (up to 45 minutes) the festival asks a submission fee of €20 Euros per film during the final submission deadline.

The Festival reserves the right to select films received at any time and through any means, or process and to refuse late submissions.

By submitting a film to the festival the applicant agrees by the submissions deadline to:
Fill and submit the entry form via the festival’s online submission form.
Provide a screening link and password via the online submission form or e-mail
Acknowledge that “selected” status on the online submission or an any kind of automated letter from the submission platform form does not guarantee confirmation of the submitted film to the festival as the festival needs to consider multiple criteria, such as the screening fee, print/copy fees, availability issues in Estonian territory and other factors.
Deliver additional materials (biography and filmography of Director, stills of the film, synopsis of the film, trailer and poster art-work (if already available) by the means specified by the festival.

2.3 Confirmation of films and reimbursement

Upon selection of the film, the Festival will inform the applicant no later than 1st of October 2021.

The applicant agrees that confirmed titles may not be withdrawn from the festival programme after its participation has been officially confirmed and the producer or producer’s authorised representative has verified the confirmation of the film to the programme.

If, for exceptional reasons, the film has to be withdrawn three weeks or less before the opening of the festival, the applicant agrees to reimburse all costs to the festival related to the confirmation and programming of the film including screening fee (when applicable), print delivery and handling costs as well as associated travel costs for the film delegation.

The invoices for the film rights or print loans should be issued and delivered for payments no later than two months after the end of the festival. The festival does not accept or reimburse invoices issued after that date.

Upon confirmation of the film to the Festival’s competitive or non-competitive sections, the applicant agrees to:
Deliver additional promotional materials (biography, filmography and headshot of the Director, high-resolution stills of the film, synopsis, logline/tagline and genre of film, list of technical and artistic credits, list of all production countries in order of contribution and large format print quality poster art-work). Full electronic press kits are preferred.

The approved requirements of the promotional photos for the Festival are the following:

Film stills

Format: landscape (16:9), .jpg (.png, .tiff)
Size: 1920 x 1080 px minimum
Minimum of 3 stills.

Director’s portrait image

Format: square (1:1), .jpg (.png, .tiff)
Size: 500 x 500 px minimum

Film poster

Format: portrait, .jpg (.png, tiff)
Aspect ratio: 1,45 (recommended)
Size: 555 x 800 px (recommended)
For Black Carpet Films and digital screens in the cinemas we request 1080 x 1920 px poster images.

Film trailer/teaser

Provide an HD resolution trailer or an HD teaser clip of the film either as a public link to a downloadable and embeddable video on YouTube or Vimeo or as a separate file. The Festival should receive the trailer or teaser latest by 1st of October, with an allowance to upload on the Festival’s online channels.

Promotional video material

Provide a set of at least four different HD resolution excerpts of three-minute maximum length each to enable the promotion of films by television stations and in creative promotional video montages minimally a month before the Festival.

Materials for local translation

Provide subtitle files with time-codes and/or dialogue lists in the original film language and in English, spotting list and a screener of the finalised version of the film.

The Festival reserves the right to use all provided promotional materials for publicity purposes and printed materials, including the Festival catalogue, press releases, website, social media channels and promotion in media.
The Festival will provide a Cinesend link for uploading the DCP, a Google Form for film and credits information, and a link for uploading the promotional materials.

The Festival does not accept deliveries in physical format (hard disk drives, memory sticks, etc).

The materials required by the Festival for its press releases, catalogue, website and other information/promotion channels (synopsis, technical and artistic credits, bio-filmographies, pictures of the director/s and film stills) and materials for local translation need to be provided to the Festival by the 20th of September 2022, or within 7 days of confirmation of the film.

If the applicant doesn’t provide the materials required by the Festival by the date set in regulations or by the date agreed with the Festival beforehand, The Festival Director and the Programming Committee reserve the right to withdraw the film from the competition.

2.4 Technical requirements and guidelines for film formats

2.4.1 Screenings in cinemas

The accepted screening format for all films in competition and non-competition sections is DCP. Provided DCPs must be DCI compliant (http://www.dcimovies.com/) and adhere to all applicable conditions below.

The Festival will provide a CineSend link for uploading the DCP and it should be uploaded no later than 24th October 2022. DCPs must be provided with the correct naming according to the ISDCF DCP Naming Convention.

All films selected for the Festival must be provided with English subtitles, unless they are already in English. All the films from the Official Selection Competition and First Feature Competition, as well as a selection of films from other sections are translated into Estonian.

The Festival prefers to transfer local subtitles onto DCPs for ensuring the best possible screening experience. For that purpose DCPs must meet the following requirements: provided screening DCPs must be unencrypted, or with DKDM for Festival lab, as original language versions (OV) with separate accompanying subtitles as version-file packages (VF).
If the transfer of translated subtitles onto the DCP is not agreed with the representative of the film, the translations will be shown electronically.

All screening copies for all sections, if provided with any subtitles, must have the subtitles on the active picture area and not in the letterbox area. Please note that the image may be cropped by up to 3% during projection, due to the position of the projector and the venue’s characteristics, therefore a good safe area for the subtitles would be at least 5%. Dubbed language copies are also refused.

The Festival reserves the right to demand new DCP packages free of charge in case of non-compatible DCPs, broken hard drives, or other quality standards are not met. These include wrongly placed or missing subtitles, or wrong soundtracks.

Unencrypted DCPs are strongly preferred. In case of encrypted DCPs, the Festival requires Distribution KDMs (DKDM) for laboratory testing or in previously agreed cases, one test KDM per film free of charge for quality assurance and technical testing for our test-screen. For quality assurance reasons KDM or DKDM is requested to be valid from the date the DCP arrives at the Festival but not later than one week before the Festival starts till 1 days after the Festival. ​​All KDMs and DKDMs should follow the KDM Naming Convention.

The producer or film representative is requested to provide appropriate screening KDMs valid from 7 days before the start of the Festival and 1 days after the Festival, but not later than 72 hours prior to screenings, and 48 hours after the screening. The cost of generating all KDMs will also be the responsibility of the producers or representatives of the film.

If the Festival is provided with broken or wrongly assigned KDMs, appropriate new KDMs must be provided free of charge by the film submitter or representative. Quality assurance purpose DKDM is not exempt from providing screening KDMs if not agreed upon otherwise.

The Festival supports 2K and 4K content. However, not all screens have a 4K screening capability. The Festival therefore cannot guarantee that all 4K films will be screened in a 4K resolution.

We can accept high-frame-rate (HFR) or 3D DCPs, however, we are only able to screen them in selected cinema halls. Please notify the Festival office if you are planning on presenting a high-frame-rate DCP.

If agreed previously with the Festival technical department, DCP can be handed in on a physical hard drive. DCPs must be provided and shipped on industry standard and protected hard drives. Consumer-grade hard drives and memory sticks are not permitted.

Video formats and 35mm prints are accepted only with prior acknowledgement from the Festival. All video files will be converted into DCPs by the Festival appointed lab to ensure the best possible image and sound quality during playback. Only ProRes, ProRes 444, ProRes HQ are accepted video formats in these cases. Tapes or Blu-rays are not accepted as screening formats, unless there are no alternatives and with prior acknowledgement from the Festival.

Technical guideline is here to download and also provided along with a confirmation entry form.

The festival reserves the right to refuse and withdraw the screening of the film from the competition or any other section if all requirements are not followed.

Our festival’s technical team, dcinema@poff.ee, will happily help with any queries for all confirmed films.

2.4.2 Online screenings

Festival uses a VOD platform with Studio Grade DRM for screening films online.

2.4.2.1 Online screenings for jury, film professionals and international press members only (ProScreen)

Screenings for accredited film professionals and international press members are accessible globally via Festival accreditation.

All films that agree with online screenings must present the film in H264, 1920x1080p video format with stereo sound. In this case, we recommend a clean film file without hardcoded subtitles. The subtitles, if needed, must be presented as SRT or XML timed subtitles.

Technical guideline is here to download and also provided along with a confirmation entry form.

2.4.2.2 Public online screenings

Public screenings for audience in Estonia are geo-blocked outside of Estonia and can be limited to an agreed size of the audience.

All films that agree with online screenings must present the film in H264, 1920x1080p video format with stereo sound. In this case, we recommend a clean film file without hardcoded subtitles. The subtitles, if needed, must be presented as SRT or XML timed subtitles.

The Festival reserves the right to refuse and withdraw the screening of the film from the competition or any other section if all requirements are not followed.

Technical guideline is here to download and also provided along with a confirmation entry form.

Our Festival’s digital cinema team, dcinema@poff.ee, will happily help with any queries for all confirmed films.

2.5 Delivery of materials

All costs related to the shipping of the screener copy (DVD) and publicity materials are paid by the submitter or film representative. Submitted preview copies may be returned to the submitter or forwarded only at the submitters expense.

All packages must be clearly marked with the title of the film, the sender’s / submitters name, return address and telephone number as well as the festival address:

Black Nights Film Festival
Attn: Just Film
Telliskivi 60a/2, 3rd floor
10412
Tallinn, Estonia
Phone: +372 56 208 308

Costs related to the shipping of the screening copies to the festival are paid by the festival, unless otherwise agreed upon. Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the submitter or film representative, or party appointed by them.

The festival will return or forward the screening copies within 14 days from the end of the festival unless instructed otherwise by the submitter or film representative. Returns before the Festival closing date must be agreed at least three weeks before the festival, and cannot be guaranteed after that.

The festival covers all expenses connected to the storage and insurance of the screening copies during the duration of the festival.
In the event of damage to a copy during the event, the Festival limits its responsibility to the cost of having a new standard copy made at current laboratory rates.

2.6 Film Delegations

For competitive programmes the Festival will invite one representative per film. The festival will cover the round trip airfare either fully or partially depending on the cost of the airfare for one delegate, with a preference given to the Director and/or a Main Cast member, as well as accommodation for 1 guest in the Delegation at the Official Partner Hotel.

For non-competitive films, the Festival reserves the right to invite guests upon the decision of the Programming committee. Detailed terms and conditions for film delegates are provided on a non-disclosed one to one and guest agreement basis.

For non-competitive films, the Festival guest accreditation list will be closed one (1) day before the opening of the festival. After the deadline a fee of €25 Euros will be requested for festival accreditation from the non-competitive film delegates.

2.7 Contact

Head of Just Film programme - Mikk Granström (mikk@poff.ee)
Programme coordinator - Dora Lall (dora.lall@poff.ee)

Submit your film to the Youth and Children's film festival Just Film!
justfilm.ee

Short Film and Animation Festival PÖFF Shorts

15.11 – 23.11 2022

3 Introduction

PÖFF Shorts presents films in the following programmes

Applicants for Competitive and Non-Competitive Programmes are requested to submit through FilmFreeway or any other submitting platform indicated by the festival team. Entry applications submitted by post, e-mail or any other form except the online submission form are not considered eligible for selection.

The submission deadline for competitive and non-competitive programmes of PÖFF Shorts is 16th of August 2022.

3.1 Submission entry procedures

3.1.1 Films meeting the festival requirements must:

The festival reserves the right to evaluate eligible films for the competition and assign the programme section for the film on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants for competitive and non-competitive programmes are requested to submit the film and required supplementary materials only via the indicated online submissions page. Entries submitted by post, e-mail or any other form except the online submission form are not considered eligible for selection.

The festival reserves the right to refuse late submissions.

3.1.2 Submission deadlines and fees

Submission fees are to be paid by secure online payment with a credit or debit card. Submission fees are non-refundable.

The Festival Director and the Programming Committee reserve the right to waive submission fees for selected applicants, to not comment on their decisions regarding waivers. The Festival reserves the right to select films received at any time and through any means, or process and to refuse late submissions.
If you have questions regarding the regulations or submissions process, please email shorts@poff.ee.

3.1.3 Submission materials

For a successful submission via the submission platform the applicant is required to:
Fill in all fields possible and submit the entry form.
Provide a non-expiring screening link – with English subtitles and a password if necessary.
The approved requirements of the promotional photos and trailers for the Festival are the following:

Film stills

Format: landscape (16:9), .jpg (.png, .tiff)
Size: 1920 x 1080 px minimum
Minimum of 3 stills.

Director’s portrait image

Format: square (1:1), .jpg (.png, .tiff)
Size: 500 x 500 px minimum

Film poster

Format: portrait, .jpg (.png, tiff)
Aspect ratio: 1,45 (recommended)
Size: 555 x 800 px (recommended)

Film trailer/teaser

Provide an HD resolution trailer or an HD teaser clip of the film either as a public link to a downloadable and embeddable video on YouTube or Vimeo or as a separate file. The Festival should receive the trailer or teaser latest by the 1st of October, with an allowance to upload on the Festival’s online channels.

3.2 Programming

The Programming Committee, headed by the Head of Live-Action programming and the Head of Animation programming, selects films for the competitions and non-competitive programmes. For competition programmes preference will be given to films with at least an Estonian premiere.

Each competition film may be screened a minimum of two (2) times and a maximum of five (5) during the Festival, including press screenings. Consent from the applicant will be asked for any extra screening. The Programming Committee reserves the right to not comment on its decisions as well as the final line-up of the Festival.

POFF Shorts works towards achieving a gender equal selection-evaluation process and film programme.

3.3 Confirmation of films and reimbursements

Upon confirmation of the film, the Festival will inform the applicant no later than the 15th of October 2022.

Upon confirmation of the film to the Festival’s Competitive or Non Competitive Sections the applicant agrees to:

Confirmed titles may not be withdrawn from the festival programme after its participation has been officially confirmed and the producer or producer’s authorised representative has verified confirmation of the film to the programme.

If, for exceptional reasons, the film has to be withdrawn three weeks or less before the opening of the festival, the applicant agrees to reimburse all costs to the festival related to confirmation and programming of the film including screening fee (when applicable), print delivery and handling costs as well as associated travel costs for the film delegation.

Please note that the Festival cannot guarantee the use of missing promotional materials in the Festival communications that are delivered after the deadline set by the Festival team upon confirmation of the film in the Festival.

The invoices for the film rights or print loans should be issued and delivered for payment no later than two months from the end of the festival. The festival does not accept or reimburse invoices issued after that date.

If the applicant does not provide the materials required by the Festival by the date set in regulations or by the date agreed with the festival beforehand, The Festival Director and the Programming Committee reserve the right to withdraw the film from the competition.

3.4 Technical requirements and guidelines for film formats

3.4.1 Screenings in cinemas

Screening formats for all films in all festival sections are DCP and video file. PÖFF Shorts requires both versions for it’s screenings.

Provided DCPs must be DCI compliant (http://www.dcimovies.com/) and adhere to all applicable conditions below.

DCPs must be delivered digitally through a link provided by the Festival and it should be uploaded no later than 24th October 2022. DCPs must be provided with the correct naming according to the ISDCF DCP Naming Convention. Information for digital delivery will be provided before the festival.

If agreed upon by the Festival, video files will be converted into DCPs by the Festival appointed lab to ensure the best possible image and sound quality during playback. Only ProRes, ProRes 444, ProRes HQ are accepted video formats.

All films selected for the festival must be provided with English subtitles, unless they are already in English. DCPs with subtitles should be provided as original language versions (OV) with separate accompanying subtitles as version-file packages (VF). Otherwise, hardcoded subtitles are recommended.

All screening copies for all sections, if provided with any subtitles, must have the subtitles on the active picture area and not in the letterbox area. Please note that the image may be cropped by up to 3% during projection, due to the position of the projector and the venue’s characteristics, therefore a good safe area for the subtitles would be at least 5%. Dubbed language copies are also refused.
The festival reserves the right to demand new DCP packages free of charge in case of non-compatible DCPs or if other quality standards are not met. These include wrongly placed or missing subtitles, or wrong soundtracks.

Only unencrypted DCPs are accepted and encrypted DCPs will be refused by the Festival.
The festival supports 2K and 4K content. However, not all screens have a 4K screening capability. The festival therefore cannot guarantee that all 4K films will be screened in a 4K resolution.
We can accept high-frame-rate (HFR) or 3D DCPs, however, we are only able to screen them in selected cinema halls. Please notify the festival office if you are planning on presenting a high-frame-rate DCP.

Tapes, Blu-rays, DVD and all other formats are not accepted as screening formats, unless there are no alternatives and with prior acknowledgement from the festival.

PÖFF Shorts technical guideline is here to download and also provided along with a confirmation entry form.

The festival reserves the right to refuse and withdraw the screening of the film from the competition or any other section if all requirements are not followed.

Our festival’s technical team, dcinema@poff.ee, will happily help with any queries for all confirmed films.

3.4.2 Online screenings

Festival uses a VOD platform with Studio Grade DRM for screening films online.

3.4.2.1 Online screenings for jury, film professionals and international press members only (ProScreen)

Screenings for accredited film professionals and international press members are accessible globally via Festival accreditation.
All films that agree with online screenings must present the film in H264, 1920x1080p video format with stereo sound. All video files must be provided with hardcoded English subtitles, unless they are already in English.

PÖFF Shorts technical guideline is here to download and also provided along with a confirmation entry form.

3.4.2.2 Public online screenings

Public screenings for audience in Estonia are geo-blocked outside of Estonia and can be limited to an agreed size of the audience.
All films that agree with online screenings must present the film in H264, 1920x1080p video format with stereo sound. All video files must be provided with hardcoded English subtitles, unless they are already in English.

The Festival reserves the right to refuse and withdraw the screening of the film from the competition or any other section if all requirements are not followed.

PÖFF Shorts technical guideline is here to download and also provided along with a confirmation entry form.
Our Festival’s digital cinema team, dcinema@poff.ee, will happily help with any queries for all confirmed films.

3.5 Delivery of materials

Screening copies should be delivered electronically via indicated means by the festival team upon confirmation.

Festival accepts films uploaded to film distributors' upload environments or can provide its own upload environment. All technical questions and information regarding file formats, DCP’s and upload should be sent to dcinema@poff.ee.

The festival does not accept physical copies for films less than 50GB in file size.
In case of the exceeding file size, details about the delivery of physical copies will be given by the festival team.

3.6 Film delegations

The Festival may invite members of the crew of any film in any section providing either travel, accommodation and/or festival accreditation.

Accreditations need to be confirmed as soon as possible (and no later than the set deadline) after confirming the participation of the film at the festival. A fee will apply for extra or late accreditation applications.

3.7 Awards and Juries

PÖFF Shorts festival appoints separate juries for the Animation Competitions, Live-Action competitions and for the National Competition; the juries will choose the winners of each category respectively.

No jury member can be involved in the production or promotion of any film in the competition.

International Live-Action Competition
International Animation Competition
National Competition

Winners of the International Live-Action Competition Jury prize for Best Film, International Animation Competition Jury prize for Best Film and National Competition Jury prize for Best Film will be eligible to apply for consideration for the annual Academy Awards should they fit the eligibility criteria as determined by the Academy.

Winners of PÖFF Shorts Competition programmes are given priority status for consideration for the PÖFF main competitions in the future.

The awards and jury members will be announced by the Festival Director no later than during the opening press conference of the Festival.

3.8 Using the festival logo

Films that have premiered at Black Nights Film Festival are welcome to use the official logo of the festival in their film’s publicity and promotional materials. We ask not to modify or alter the logo without prior written permission from the Festival.

3.9 Contact

Head of PÖFF Shorts programme - Grete Nellis (grete.nellis@poff.ee)

shorts.poff.ee