Shorts National Competition 5

Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2024
Programme
Shorts National Competition

In a year in which Estonian shorts have had a relatively high profile on the international circuit, it is perhaps appropriate that the 2024 edition of the National Competition is proverbially ‘stuffed to the gills’. Displaying a depth of talent and mastery of the cinematic form, the films take the uniqueness of the Estonian ‘spirit’ and tell stories that speak to everyone from across the world.
As always many of the films emanate from the Baltic Film, Media and Arts School of Tallinn University – with plenty of directors originating from outside of Estonia. Whilst the aforementioned Estonian spirit still runs strong within them, these different voices also speak to the continuing diversity of Estonia and of the stories that are told.
Whilst fiction and documentary are well represented, the large number of Estonian animation films on offer renew the globally visible Estonian tradition and pass the torch from established creators to new, pertinent voices, many of which are authored by students at the Estonian Academy of Arts.

Screenings

Hall 1 Kino Artis
Screening082101 / Shorts Rahvuslik võistlusprogramm 5
Q&A duration
Screening duration

Films

Baltic premiere

Beautiful Smile

Local title
Maailma ilusaim naeratus
Original title
Beautiful Smile
Director
Sophia Albrecht
Country
Estonia
Year
2024
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2024
Programme
Shorts National Competition

Sitting alone in a cattle wagon full of people, a lonely boy finds new hope through a fleeting smile from a girl, and he does everything he can to make contact with the stranger.

Director
Sophia Albrecht
Runtime
Language
Estonian, German, English
Subtitles
English

Baltic premiere

Between the Lines

Local title
Vahekõne
Original title
Vahekõne
Director
Johanna Mägin
Country
Estonia
Year
2024
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2024
Programme
Shorts National Competition

A short experimental documentary film that returns to the house in which the writer, collectve farmer and war refugee Rihhard Iher (1910-1980) wrote a 130-page letter to his children. A letter that he wrote for 25 years, while living as a war refugee.

Director
Johanna Mägin
Runtime
Language
Estonian
Subtitles
English

Sewing Machine

Local title
Õmblusmasin
Original title
Õmblusmasin
Director
Ülo Pikkov
Country
Estonia
Year
2024
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2024
Programme
Shorts Panorama, Shorts National Competition

Sewing Machine is a film about the town of Pechory (Petseri) and its people, told through the life story of my great-grandmother and her newborn baby who had to be hidden in a sewing machine box.

Director
Ülo Pikkov
Runtime
Language
Estonian
Subtitles
English

European premiere

What Would You Take

Local title
Mille sina võtaksid?
Original title
Mille Sina võtaksid?
Director
Heilika Pikkov
Country
Estonia
Year
2024
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2024
Programme
Shorts National Competition

Home. Your home. Your place. Your memories. Your belongings. In the blink of eye, it’s gone.
Stories of twelve people from Ukraine who suddenly had to leave their home, taking only the bare essentials and a cherished belonging that speaks to their life.

Director
Heilika Pikkov
Runtime
Subtitles
English

Baltic premiere

Swifts

Local title
Piiritajad
Original title
Swifts
Director
Ada Napiorkowski
Country
Estonia
Year
2024
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2024
Programme
Shorts National Competition

Like each year, the swifts are coming back to their homes in the sleeping districts. This time they don't find any humans. The space is filled with spirits.

Director
Ada Napiorkowski
Runtime
Language
no dialogue

World premiere

Roots Unearthed

Local title
Juured paljastatud
Original title
Kökleri̇ dişarida
Director
Baran Ismail Ulas
Country
Estonia
Year
2024
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2024
Programme
Shorts National Competition

A disconnected filmmaker starts believing that the cause of his deep restlessness is the call of his homeland, where he is a stranger by birth. He sets off on a journey back to his roots, seeking to reconcile his present reality with the depths of his ancestral past. Guided by an inner longing, he traverses rugged landscapes and encounters diverse individuals, each with their own stories of history and tradition.

Director
Baran Ismail Ulas
Runtime
Language
Turkish
Subtitles
English
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