At the Award Ceremony of the 24th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) awards were handed to the winners of the four competition programmes of the festival and PÖFF's sub-festivals Youth and Children's Film Festival Just Film and International Short Film and Animation Film Festival PÖFF Shorts.
The jury of Official Selection – Competition headed by Mark Adams selected director Ivaylo Hristov's drama “Fear“ as their favourite, handing the film the Grand Prix of the festival. Blending drama with deadpan comedy, the film's story is set on the Bulgarian border, on a new route for African migrants arriving from Turkey with hopes to reach Germany. The protagonist, the former school teacher, comes across an African man who will bring a dramatic turn to her life.
The Best Director award goes to Turkish director Nisan Dağ for “When I'm Done Dying“, a vibrant portrayal of an upcoming hiphop artist struggling with drug addiction. The jury praised her work with the following words: “The vision, passion and personality of the filmmaker shine through in this absorbing, passionate and striking new film that draws out terrific performances from its roster of non-professional actors, and cleverly weaves drama, music and even animation as it delves into the darker underbelly of a social environment rarely seen on the screen.”
The Best Actress award went to Switzerland's Marie Leuenberger for “Caged Birds“ for the portrayal of a young radical lawyer fighting Switzerland's antiquated prison system in the 1980s.
Ulrich Thomsen received the Best Actor award for his role as a Judtland officer serving the German army in the Danish-Estonian-Belgian WWI drama “Erna At War“.
Spanish film “Armugan“ takes home two awards – for Best Music and the Ecumenical Award handed over by the Ecumenical Jury. The film tells the philosophical tale of a disabled man who works as a euthanizer in a rural community.
Director-scriptwriter Leonardo António received the Best Script award for “Submission“, a tale of a fight for justice and emotional recovery of a woman fighting the Portuguese legal system after she's been raped by her husband.
Noé Bach took the Best Cinematography award for the film “Beasts“ that follows a political sex-scandal unravelling in a French rural community.
Lastly, the Chinese drama “Great Happiness“, directed by Wany Yiao received the Best Film award in the First Feature Competition strand.
ALL THE AWARDS OF THE 24TH TALLINN BLACK NIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL
OFFICIAL SELECTION – COMPETITION
Grand Prix for the Best Film
“Fear“ by Ivaylo Hristov, producer Assen Vladimirov
Best Director
Nisan Dağ for “When I'm Done Dying“
Best Cinematography
Noé Bach forv “Beasts“
Best Script
Leonardo António for “Submission“
Best Actor
Ulrich Thomsen for “Erna At War“
Best Actress
Marie Leuenberger for “Caged Birds“
Best Music
Juanio Javierre for “Armugan“
FIRST FEATURE COMPETITION
The Award for the Best First Feature Film
“Great Happiness“ by Wang Yiao, China, 2020
Special Jury Prize #1
Director Jan Holoubek for “25 years of innocence. The Case of Tomek Komenda“, Poland, 2020
Special Jury Prize #2
Scriptwriters Nora Martirosyan, Emmanuelle Pagano, Olivier Torres, Guillaume André for “Should The Wind Drop“, France-Armenia-Belgium, 2020
BALTIC COMPETITION
Best Baltic Feature Film
„The Last Ones“ by Veiko Õunpuu, Estonia, 2020
REBELS WITH A CAUSE COMPETITION
Rebels with a Cause award
“Dinner In America” by Adam Carter Rehmeier, USA, 2020
Ex aequo / Shared with
“La Veronica” by Leonardo Medel, Chile, 2020
Rebels with Their Shorts Award
“Stories Keep Me Awake At Night“ by Jérémy Van Der Haegen
FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) Prize
“Sententia“ by Dmitry Rudakov , Russia, 2020
NETPAC (NETWORK FOR THE PROMOTION OF ASIA CINEMA) AWARD
“Ulbolsyn“ by Adilkhan Yerzhanov, Kazakhstan-France, 2020
ECUMENICAL AWARD
“Armugan“ by Jo Sol, Spain, 2020
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD #1: Margarethe von Trotta (Germany)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD #2: Alar Kivilo (Canada-Estonia)
DDA SPOTLIGHT AWARD: Francis Annan (UK)
DDA SPOTLIGHT AWARD: Armando Iannucci (UK)
INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM AND ANIMATION FESTIVAL PÖFF SHORTS
BEST SHORT ANIMATION / Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nomination candidate
“Precious” by Paul Mas, France, 2020
PÖFF SHORTS NATIONAL COMPETITION: BEST SHORT FILM
“Struck by Lightning” by Romet Esko, Estonia, 2020
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT / Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nomination candidate
“Between You and Milagros” by Mariana Saffon, Colombia, 2020
YOUTH AND CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL JUST FILM
Just Film Grand Prix
“Slalom” by Charlène Favier, France, 2020
ECFA Award for the best European children's film
“Glassboy” by Samuele Rossi, Italy 2020
Just Film Children's Jury Best Film Award
“The Fantastic Journey of Margot & Marguerite” by Pierre Coré, France, 2020
Just Film Youth Jury Best Film Award
“50 or Two Whales Meet on the Beach” by Jorge Cuchi, Mexico 2020
