The week opens with compelling stories exploring society’s pressure points and the choices young people face. Audiences can meet filmmakers and take away plenty of food for thought along with a healthy dose of suspense.

The first half of the day offers a sensitive look into the minds of young people navigating life-changing events. “Sad Girlz” (12:00, Sõprus) tells the story of two young women in Mexico. Paula and La Maestra are successful swimmers and best friends, but their carefree youth is shattered when something happens to Paula. When the truth comes out, Paula wants to remain silent, while La Maestra seeks revenge.

Fernanda Tovar’s debut film explores the subject of consent with sensitivity and without resorting to unnecessary drama. At the Berlin International Film Festival, it won both the Best Film award in the youth category and the Grand Prix. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session.

Screening at 17:00 at Apollo Solaris, ”O” confronts society’s pressure points head-on. Set in Germany, the film follows three outsiders. The boys retreat from the world into the forest, where innocent games turn into a dangerous ritual. Premiering at the Venice Film Festival, the film explores contemporary violence and radicalisation, while also examining the other side of the coin – a desperate desire for connection and belonging.

Who Gets to Decide What Constitutes the Right Kind of Rebellion?

“Christmas in Vigala” is Mark Soosaar’s newly restored film about the 1905 Revolution and the burning of manor houses. At the time, the film sparked such heated controversy over its subject matter that, due to the opposition it faced, it became Soosaar’s only feature film. PÖFF asks whether it represents a trivialisation of the revolution or is one of the most fascinating films in Estonian cinema history. The post-screening discussion will feature Soosaar, actress Kersti Kreismann and sound director Enn Säde.

The Day Ends with Some Intense Experiences

The Night Terrors programme features the provocative “Corpus” (21:30, Apollo Plaza). It is 1998. A New York nightlife photographer, his model girlfriend and their mutual friend trade the clubs for a weekend in the countryside. At a mansion, they encounter three captivating yet terrifying women who want something from the men that they are unwilling to give. Corrin Evans’s stylish and erotic debut delivers a surprising final twist.

The festival programme also offers plenty of variety:

• “Everytime” (18:00, Elektriteater, Tartu). A grieving mother takes her younger daughter and her deceased daughter’s boyfriend to Tenerife on an unusual memorial trip. Sandra Wollner’s film about guilt, longing and forgiveness won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes and is Germany’s Oscar submission.
• “PLASTIC LOVE!” (20:00, Apollo Plaza). In Japan, everything is beautifully packaged. The film explores when a transparent protective layer becomes an oppressive trap – and what ultimately happens to all that plastic. Director Sybilla Patrizia will be in attendance.
• “Riga, my love” (20:30, Apollo Plaza). After spending five years in Tallinn, Latvian artist Karolina Peterson returns to Riga and finds herself a stranger in her hometown. This raw and experimental essay film uses memories and artistic interventions to rediscover both the city and herself. The filmmaker will attend the screening.
• “Heysel ’85” (21:15, Apollo Plaza). In 1985, 39 people died in the stands in Brussels ahead of the European Cup final, while officials in the VIP area focused on saving their reputations. Based on a true story, the film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival.