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 [+leggi anche:
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intervista: István Szabó
scheda film] (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 [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Laila Pakalniņa
scheda film] (Latvia/Lithuania) a playful take on the Snow White motif, after winning the Best Cinematography award at the festival for Dawn [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] in 2016.

When I'm Done Dying [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] (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 [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Adilkhan Yerzhanov
scheda film], A Dark-Dark Man [+leggi anche:
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scheda film]) is bringing to the festival his latest film, Ulbolysn [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] (Kazakhstan/France), about the titular character forced to confront a patriarchal community after her sister gets kidnapped.

Veteran Russian director Aleksandr Mindadze's Parquet [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] (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 [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Dalibor Matanić
scheda film] (Croatia/Italy), the latest film from Croatian director Dalibor Matanić (The High Sun [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Dalibor Matanic
scheda film]), is a mix of social drama and thriller set in 2021 after a drastic political turn in Croatian society.

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