PÖFF Shorts offers a varied line-up, with films exploring all manner of themes, moods and perspectives. Alongside a diverse selection of short films, Tuesday’s programme also invites audiences to explore the worlds of gastronomy and camel jockeys.

Shorts is a festival within a festival, where a shorter format by no means means a lesser experience. Quite the opposite: just a few minutes can be enough to convey an entire world. Over the course of the afternoon and evening, audiences can enjoy the Animation, National and New Talents competition programmes.

Tuesday also features some legendary programmes beloved by short-film enthusiasts. Vitamins, Late Night Sci-Fi and Late Night Love serve up bold and unexpected cinematic treats that push boundaries. Most competition screenings are followed by Q&A sessions with the filmmakers. Screenings take place in both Tallinn and Tartu. The full schedule is available here.

The Heavy Price of Dedication

Tuesday’s film programme boldly tackles challenging and thought-provoking issues.

Child of Sinaï (17:00, Sõprus) takes audiences into the desert. At just nine years old, Bedouin boy Jarah is sent to apprentice with a camel breeder in the hope of becoming a jockey in a prestigious camel race. Is Jarah’s childhood being sacrificed to serve the interests of adults, or does this path promise him a better future? This documentary by French war reporter Loup Bureau captivates with its spectacular imagery and brings stark contrasts into focus.

The day continues with stories from different cultural backgrounds. The Taste of Democracy (18:30, Apollo Plaza) brings together universal human ambition and Hungary’s turbulent political landscape. Budapest restaurant Onyx has been awarded two Michelin stars. When the founder’s daughter seeks to foster greater collaboration in the kitchen and curb the head chef’s absolute authority, a power struggle ensues. The film was made over four years under Orbán’s government. Directors Péter Akar and Ambrus Fatér, producer Rita Balogh and actress** Anna Niszkács** will be in attendance for the Q&A.

A little something for every film lover

• The Echo Chamber (18:00, Apollo Plaza). The film is based on the final screenplay by Bernardo Bertolucci. A physiotherapist and a music producer become entangled in a dangerous relationship where affection and dependency intertwine. The cast includes Alicia Vikander, Luca Marinelli and Susan Sarandon.
• Memory from the Sea (18:00, Apollo Plaza). Arūnas, an ageing Lithuanian fisherman, searches the shore for amber washed up by storms, which he then polishes into jewellery. The world moves on and the number of buyers dwindles, but that does nothing to diminish the value of dedication and an eye for beauty. Director Francesco Rufini will be in attendance.
• A Photographer in Cannes (19:00, Apollo Plaza) offers a glimpse of the other side of festival life. The film follows society photographer Erlend Štaub, who has been PÖFF’s photographer for many years and has also spent the past 15 years capturing the stars on the Cannes red carpet. The screening will be followed by a discussion with director Kullar Viimne, producer Erik Norkroos and Erlend Štaub himself.
• Birthday Candles (20:45, Apollo Plaza). An Azerbaijani volunteer lost his sight on his birthday during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. The film follows his struggle and journey back to everyday life. Director Murad Allahverdi will be in attendance for the Q&A.