Sunday's PÖFF is set to be a real spectacle! Estonian films will be competing with winners of the Cannes Film Festival. And that's not all. A handsome and respectable married couple, parents of two children, decide to try polyamory. To top it all off, the meaning of authenticity is explored from the Finnish archives.
Until the End focuses on Estonian runners, who discover more than just the finish line. Days of Wonder and Forastera take viewers into the world of loss and memory, where acceptance emerges from grief. Starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue offers a portrayal of love that can be as sweet and painful as a haunting melody.
The evening continues with strong contrasts. Two Prosecutors dives into the fear and absurdity of the Stalin era, while Follies humorously depicts a Canadian married couple navigating the world of open relationships. The Secret Agent transports viewers to the heart of Brazilian political intrigue, where hope and love endure even in times of repression.
See all the films screening at PÖFF today here.
9 November, Sunday, 5.30 pm, Apollo Plaza
World premiere with filmmakers
Director: Andres Luidre
Country: Estonia
The documentary film Until the End follows four inspiring runners who prove that sport is, above all, an encounter with oneself. Liis-Grete and Karel Hussar, Sandra Ratasepp and Meelis Kalda demonstrate how elite athletics and recreational running share the same passionate rhythm. Director Andres Luidre invites viewers into the inspiring world of marathons and self-discovery.
Sunday, 9 November, 6.30 pm, Apollo Plaza
World premiere with filmmakers
Director: Karin Pennanen
Country: Finland
Not every filmmaker inherits an unfinished film. When Finnish director Karin Pennanen's uncle Markku passed away after decades of living in isolation, she entered his house for the first time in 34 years and discovered a world she had never seen before. Days of Wonder transforms a story of loss into something magical, inviting us to reflect on what it means to live authentically.
9 November, Sunday, 7.30 pm, Apollo Cinema, Solaris
Director: Craig Brewer
Country: USA
Song Sung Blue tells the story of a married couple from Milwaukee who devote themselves to a Neil Diamond tribute band, finding both glory and a painful price to pay in the process. Director Craig Brewer brings a tale of love, music and the fragility of dreams to the screen, with Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson lending their roles a warm, human touch.
9 November, Sunday, 8 pm, Apollo Plaza
In Focus: Catalonia
Director: Lucía Aleñar Iglesias
Country: Spain
Forastera is a hypnotic, playful, and poetic story about how grief and memories are passed down. It tells the story of a young woman who gradually discovers similarities with her deceased grandmother and feels an inexplicable connection to her. Although this brings with it a number of unresolved tensions, it ultimately brings the grieving family the peace they have been searching for.
Two Prosecutors
9 November, Sunday, 8.30 pm, Apollo Plaza
Estonian premiere with the director
Director: Sergey Loznitsa
Countries: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Latvia, Romania, Lithuania and Ukraine.
Set at the height of the Stalinist purges, the film tells the story of a young man's descent into the corridors of a totalitarian regime. Sergei Loznitsa's strongest feature film to date, this absurd drama is set during the height of Stalin's Great Terror. The film premiered in the main competition programme at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
9 November, Sunday at 8.45 pm at Artis Cinema
Director: Eric K. Boulianne
Country: Canada
This fun and sharp comedy tells the story of a married couple who, after years of living together, decide to explore the world of polyamory. François and Julie try to spice up their relationship, but open relationships bring more confusion than passion. This debut film, which premiered in Locarno Film Festival, humorously explores how love, desire and trust clash dangerously with each other.
9 November, Sunday, at 9 pm at Kino Sõprus
Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Countries: Brazil, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
Technology engineer Marcelo tries to reunite with his son in order to escape Brazil's military dictatorship. Despite this dark chapter in Brazilian history, The Secret Agent is a love letter to a bygone era. The film won several major awards at the Cannes Film Festival, including Best Director and Best Actor.