Tallinn Festival Hosts Baltic Goes to Cannes Showcase

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For the fifth occasion, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival – the largest film event in the Baltic states – is teaming up with Marché du Film’s Goes to Cannes. This year, they are introducing a unique feature by curating a special program focused on films from the region for the first time.

On May 16th, five outstanding projects, hailing from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, will be presented in Cannes. Each project is currently in the post-production phase and seeking co-funding, distribution, and festival screenings.

The Baltic countries are riding a wave of excitement following Latvia’s first-ever Oscar win for “Flow,” and Triin Tramberg, curator of Black Nights Festival, suggests capitalizing on this momentum. She said, “As fellow Baltic citizens, we couldn’t be more thrilled about Gints Zilbalodis’ ‘Flow’ success. Conan O’Brien encouraged us to take the lead at the Oscars, and that’s exactly what we aim to do – shining a light on all the Baltics.

She also mentions that “I think the five chosen projects demonstrate the range of excellence we possess, and I’m confident there’s something to suit everyone’s preference.

Indeed, the lineup for Tallinn Fest Going to Cannes spans various genres, featuring Estonian dark comedy “O’Slaughter Day,” experimental film “Mo Amor,” Lithuanian dramas “Oblivion” and “They Call Me Danka,” as well as Latvia’s crime thriller “Red Code Blue.” Each of these titles originates from bold voices poised to illuminate the global festival and art-house scenes.

According to Tiina Lokk, who heads up the Tallinn Black Nights Fest – the sole A-class film festival in Northern Europe, emphasizing the Baltics as a region is crucial for us. In 2024 alone, this event drew over 1,700 attendees and journalists from 70 different countries. The upcoming edition will take place from November 7th to the 23rd.

Titled “O’Slaughter Day“, (Set in Estonia), directed by Ove Musting
Following the success of his feature debut “Kalev” (Estonia’s 2022 Oscar nominee) and the hit series “Traitor” (“Reetur”) which won best series, director, and actress at Estonia’s national film and TV awards, Musting is now focusing on a tragicomedy set in rural southern Estonia. Jaan Laugamõts produces for Downtown Pictures.

In the realm of filmmaking, I’ve been fortunate to make a mark with my shorts “Crucifixion” and “Dance,” which garnered attention at Palm Springs ShortFest 2020 and Camerimage 2021 respectively. Now, as I embark on my first feature film, titled “Oblivion,” co-written by Kornelijus Stučkusis, I find myself delving into the depths of a psychological drama. This story revolves around a young woman who, in search of her estranged father, assumes a false identity and infiltrates his life. The production of this captivating narrative is under the skillful guidance of Ieva Norviliene, whom you may recognize from “Vanishing Waves,” for Tremora.

Mo Amor,” Estonia
Director: Eeva Mägi

This film marks the third instalment in Mägi’s trilogy, focusing on “the human desire for love and empathy from various standpoints.” Following the mother-daughter dynamic in “Mo Mamma,” which received a Special Mention at Tallinn’s 2023 First Feature competition, and the father-son relationship in ‘Mo Papa’, showcased at last year’s Black Nights Goes to Cannes, “Mo Amor” delves into the complexities of self-love and loving others. Mägi and Sten-Johan Lill serve as producers for Kinosaurus Film.

Eeva Mägi’s new movie, Mo Amor, is part three in her trilogy about love and understanding from different perspectives. After exploring mother-daughter relationships in Mo Mamma and father-son bonds in Mo Papa, this film explores self-love and loving others. Kinosaurus Film produces it with Eeva Mägi and Sten-Johan Lill.

They Know Me as Danka,” (Danka), Lithuania
Director: Dovile Gasiunaite
This poignant coming-of-age film is the second feature by Gasiunaite, focusing on a teenage girl who finds herself taking on adult responsibilities within her family. Artūras Dvinelis serves as producer for Filmai LT, with Juliana Miliut acting as associate producer.

In a shift following his successful debut “The Foundation of Criminal Excellence,” the crime drama, set in post-Soviet Latvia during the 1990s, revolves around a young detective who discovers that the path to ruin is often marked by well-intentioned actions. The film is produced by Sintija Andersone, Oskars Rupenheits, and Juris Pīlēns for Kef Studio under the direction of Oskars Rupenheits. (Tumšzilais Evaņģēlijs)

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2025-05-15 16:16