Books have always had a special meaning for the PÖFF team. Stories spark ideas, worlds, and ways of thinking that shape both the festival and the wider world of film. Below are some of the books that have inspired the PÖFF team and simply given them the joy of reading.
During PÖFF, from November 7 to 23, Apollo bookstores will offer
a 15% discount on regular-priced items when you say the secret word "PÖFF" at the cash register
film-themed displays and sweet promotional campaigns with discounts of up to 75% on films
PÖFF employees love reading! Below is a list of various books that have influenced and inspired them with their excellence.
Roald Dahl – Matilda
Heinrich Sepp, Marketing Manager of PÖFF Shorts
The dark humor and clever storytelling style left a lasting impression.
Kahlil Gibran – The Prophet
Sandra Laura Luhthein, Volunteer Coordinator
Helps you slow down. Clarifies your thoughts and creates peace.
Samantha Sotto Yambao – Water Moon
Hanna-Liisa Aadamssoo, Assistant to the Information Manager
Imaginative and unpredictable. A story that takes an unexpected turn.
Fredrik Backman – Beartown
Mirjam Teiss, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event Marketing Manager
A book with good characters that shows the different inner worlds of people.
Julian Barnes – The Sense of an Ending
Roman Puiestik, IT Manager
A precisely written book about memory and how we interpret our lives.
Jean-Claude Mourlevat – Silhouette
Helo Irik, Subtitle Coordinator
Short stories that pack a punch. Perfect for reading when you don't have much time.
Lucy Foley – The Paris Apartment
Marleen Vitsut, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event Coordinator
An exciting crime story that can be read in one evening.
Peeter Elbing – The Life of a Genius (Estonian book)
Heinrich Sepp, Marketing Manager of PÖFF Shorts
One of the first Estonian-language books that really made me laugh.
Dan Simmons – Hyperion
Kärt Rumvolt, Designer
A science fiction classic that reveals something new with every reading.
Stephen King – IT
Laurence Boyce, Shorts Film Program Director
A book that consumed my entire weekend as a teenager.
Arno Kasemaa – Rannamännid (Estonian book)
Marleen Vitsut, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event Coordinator
An honest and colorful look at life in an Estonian fishing village.
Han Kang – The Vegetarian
Hanna-Liisa Aadamssoo, Assistant to the Information Manager
A story about the body and autonomy. Strange at first glance, yet deeply meaningful.
Adam Kay – This Is Going to Hurt
Marleen Vitsut, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event Coordinator
A funny and painful insight into the everyday life of a medical resident.
Alexei Navalny – Patriot: A Memoir
Roman Puiestik, IT Manager
Powerful and personal. A portrait of courage and its price.
Urmas Vadi – Kuu teine pool (Estonian book)
Elin Laikre, Accountant
Humorous and lighthearted. When reading, it's a shame when you reach the end of the book.
Donna Tartt – The Goldfinch
Hanna-Liina Einard, Industry Guest Coordinator
A captivating story about art and survival.
J.R.R. Tolkien – The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
Jette Karmin, Program Coordinator
A fantasy classic that set my imagination running at full speed.
Valérie Perrin – Fresh Water for Flowers
Triin Tramberg, Curator of First Feature Competition Program
A gripping novel about empathy and humanity.
Hubert Selby Jr. – Last Exit to Brooklyn
Roman Puiestik, IT Manager
Brutal and honest. It cuts deep and leaves no one untouched.
Tom Clancy – The Cardinal of the Kremlin
Sten Pedari, Head of Events
The first spy thriller that sparked an interest in history and politics.
Charlotte Brontë – Jane Eyre
Marleen Vitsut, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event Coordinator
A classic that moves you and pulls you in.
Tove Jansson – Moomin
Kärt Rumvolt and Jette Karmin
Timeless, comforting, and full of wisdom. Perfect winter reading.
Frank Herbert – Dune
Sten Pedari, Head of Events
Science fiction with an immeasurable impact on pop culture.
Erich Maria Remarque – Arch of Triumph: A Novel of A Man Without a Country and Heaven Has No Favorites
Hanna-Liina Einard and Siiri Häidma
Thought-provoking books about the fragility of life.
Brandon Sanderson – The Stormlight Archive (book series)
Mirjam Teiss, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event Marketing Manager
A gripping story that flows faster than its 1,000+ pages might initially suggest.
Brontez Purnell – Johnny, Would You Love Me If My Dick Were Bigger
Heinrich Sepp, Marketing Manager of PÖFF Shorts
A fresh and immediate look at LGBT literature and autofiction.
Richard Lester & Steven Soderbergh – Getting Away With It
Laurence Boyce, Shorts Film Program Director
A fun and honest look behind the scenes of filmmaking.
Mark Manson – The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck*
Triin Tramberg, Curator of First Feature Competition Program
A refreshingly straightforward self-help book.
Douglas Frantz & Catherine Collins – The Man from Pakistan
Roman Puiestik, IT Manager
A fascinating story about how one person changed geopolitics.
Viktor Frankl – Man's Search for Meaning
Roman Puiestik, IT Manager
A profound and important book for making sense of difficult times.
Carlos Ruiz Zafón – The City of Mist
Maria Plees, Head of Marketing
Mystical and poetic, full of hidden connections and expectations.