The 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), running Nov. 8–24 in Estonia, will feature a a tribute program to Georgia's independent cinema.
Titled “Flowers Are Not Silent; Independent Voices from Georgia: A Spotlight on Georgian Cinema,” the series will showcase five films and retrospective titles in collaboration with the Georgian Film Institute. The selection highlights directors who have resisted censorship and championed freedom of expression. The program will open with the world premiere of “Air Blue Silk,” directed by Irine Jordania.
Festival founder and director Tiina Lokk underscored PÖFF’s commitment to supporting filmmakers in politically repressive environments. “The ambition of politicians in power to control who makes films and what they are about is increasingly evident elsewhere,” Lokk said, referencing countries like Belarus. “It is our duty to draw attention to this issue and to support all filmmakers who stand up for their independence.”
A centerpiece of the program is Lana Gogoberidze’s “Mother and Daughter, or the Night Is Never Complete,” presented by the 96-year-old director. The film pays tribute to her mother, Nutsa Gogoberidze, the first female director of a feature in the Soviet Union, whose career was cut short by exile to Siberia.
In addition, Gogoberidze’s 1978 film “Some Interviews on Personal Matters,” widely regarded as one of the earliest feminist works in Soviet cinema, will screen in the festival’s “Old Gold: Classic Films Come to Life” section. Tengiz Abuladze’s landmark 1987 film “Repentance” will also be shown as part of the Georgian retrospective.
The full program includes:
- ‘Air Blue Silk,' 2024, Georgia; Director: Irine Jordania. World premiere.
- ‘Blueberry Dreams,' 2024, Georgia; Director: Elene Mikaberidze.
- ‘Holy Electricity,' 2024, Georgia, Netherlands; Director: Tato Kotetishvili.
- ‘In the Name of Blood,' 2024, France, Belgium, Georgia; Director: Akaki Popkhadze.
- ‘Mother and Daughter, or the Night Is Never Complete,' 2024, Georgia, France; Director: Lana Gogoberidze.
The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, alongside Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event and its sub-festivals Just Film and PÖFF Shorts, continues to be one of Northern Europe’s largest film events and a key platform for regional and international cinema.