Black Nights Comedy

Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives

Silliness is abound in this year’s selection of comedy. People dressed up as birds, wars over office equipment, how a single noise can encapsulate the entirety of an experience. Absurd situations that vary from the subtle to the obvious but each of them done with verve and style that will help raise a smile on even the most stony of faces.
But as we laugh at said silliness and revel in the aforementioned absurdity, we also need to see the reality behind it. In a world that can seem chaotic and full of things that are just plain wrong, we’re reminded that one of the most powerful things we can do is laugh. Not because we’re ignoring the seriousness of the world. Not because we’re making fun of those weaker and less fortunate. But because laughing pricks the pomposity of power. It strips away the gravitas of the corrupt systems and corrupt people. Laughing can be a cathartic act of rebellion. It can also be because things can be really, really funny.
So come and rebel your socks off.

Screenings

Hall 1 Kino Artis
Screening102101 / Black Nights Comedy
Q&A duration
Screening duration
Hall 2 Kino Artis
Screening132203 / Black Nights Comedy
Screening duration
Hall Electric Cinema, Tartu
Screening164204 / Black Nights Comedy
Screening duration
Trailer

Films

Baltic premiere

Ready

Local title
Valmis
Original title
Ready
Director
Eirini Vianelli
Country
Greece
Year
2022
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives

Employees in the Greek Parliament deal with boredom and antagonistic co-workers. They navigate their existential anxiety through the common areas of their historic office building, burdening them with its inescapable, rich history. Power games make tensions rise, causing them to break out in song. Music will make them earnest, understanding and will (hopefully) set them free before it’s too late.

Director
Eirini Vianelli
Runtime
Language
Greek
Subtitles
English
Trailer

Baltic premiere

Can Somebody Tell Me That Everything Will Be Fine

Local title
Kas keegi ütleks, et kõik saab korda?
Original title
Kan noen fortelle meg at alt blir bra
Director
Siri Bråtveit
Country
Norway
Year
2022
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives

Are men attracted to women with saggy breasts? Have you ever killed anyone? On the internet we can be anonymous and completely open about our inner dilemmas, but what would happen if we were just as brutally honest in the physical world? The authentic dialogue in this experimental comedy is borrowed from Norway's largest chat forum and portrays how many of us seek guidance in a world that seems confusing and strange.

Director
Siri Bråtveit
Runtime
Language
Norwegian
Subtitles
English

Baltic premiere

How to Take Care of Your Parakeet?

Local title
Kuidas papagoi eest hoolitseda?
Original title
Kuinka huolehtia undulaateista
Director
Roosa Vuokkola
Country
Finland
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives

Arvo is lonely, and his annoying big sister Ulla is no help. Arvo decides to get himself a new friend: a parakeet.

Director
Roosa Vuokkola
Runtime
Language
Finnish
Subtitles
English

International premiere

Water Cooler War

Local title
Janused
Original title
ASSOIFFÉ
Director
Lisa Sallustio
Country
France
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives

A man dressed in blue is waiting in a poorly ventilated room.
He is very thirsty. Suddenly, a man dressed in red enters the room with a beautiful water bottle dispenser, determined not to share.

Director
Lisa Sallustio
Runtime

World premiere

Jinx

Local title
Ära sõnu ära
Original title
Jinx
Director
Parsa Amirizad
Country
Iran
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives

-Whose wedding is there?
+My sister.
-Are you kidding me? Why didn't you participate in your sister's wedding?
+Because they didn't invite me.

  • You're full of it. We go to the police station.
Director
Parsa Amirizad
Runtime
Language
Persian
Subtitles
English

Estonian premiere

Aaaah !

Local title
Aaaah !
Original title
Aaaah !
Director
Osman Cerfon
Country
France
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives

Aaaah! is a cry of pain, surprise, fear, joy, songs, grumbling, laughter, anger… Aaaah! is the expression with which children, these primary and innocent beings, experience life in a community, framed by the whistles of adults.

Director
Osman Cerfon
Runtime
Trailer

Baltic premiere

Linda

Local title
Linda
Original title
Linda
Director
Joe Lycett
Country
United Kingdom
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Alternatives

Linda gets a job in a post office, but her tall tales soon raise suspicions.

Director
Joe Lycett
Runtime
Language
English