Rules & Terms
Black Nights Film Festival Regulations
6-22 NOV 2026, Tallinn, Estonia
1 INTRODUCTION
Black Nights Film Festival (in Estonian as PÖFF – Pimedate Ööde filmifestival) aims to present a comprehensive selection of world cinema to Estonian, Baltic and North European audiences.
The 30th edition of the Black Nights Film Festival will take place from the 6th-22nd November 2026, in Tallinn, its main place of establishment, with sidebar screenings in the city of Tartu.
The Festival is accredited by FIAPF and since 2014 recognised as an A Festival as defined by the reformed accreditation program considering PÖFF’s international impact for films and the industry, alongside other accredited festivals such as Berlin, Cannes, Karlovy Vary, Venice, San Sebastian, Tokyo, Shanghai.
Black Nights Film Festival also holds specialised competitive sections, non-competitive sections, as well as sub-festivals for youth films, short films and animations.
The Festival is organised by the non-profit organisation MTÜ Pimedate Ööde Filmifestival (in English NGO Black Nights Film Festival).
MTÜ Pimedate Ööde Filmifestival (in English NGO Black Nights Film Festival)
Telliskivi 60a/2, 10412
Tallinn, Estonia
Phone: +372 56 208 308
E-mail: info@poff.ee
https://poff.ee/
Black Nights Film Festival Programme Overview
The Black Nights Film Festival programme includes seven competitive sections and various non-competitive sections for feature films.
We are accepting submissions of Russian films that have been produced without the financial support of the government of the Russian Federation and businesses tax-resident in the latter country. Film Schools will be considered state funded organisations and as such their submissions will not be considered. It means that we can only consider the films that have been made by independent production companies in Russia or Russian filmmakers in exile.
1.1 Official Selection Competition
The Official Selection Competition is an international, non-specialised competition presenting feature-length films (70 minutes and over) from around the world, completed after the 1st of January 2026. Films submitted to the Competition must be World Premieres.
The Festival reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to assess the eligibility of films for the Competition on a case-by-case basis. Should a film’s premiere status change after official confirmation, the Festival retains the right to withdraw the film from the Competition and/or the Festival programme.
Awards presented:
• Grand Prix for the Best Film (Grant of 20,000 euros, shared by the Director and Producer)
• Best Director
• Best Cinematography
• Best Script
• Best Actor
• Best Actress
• Best Original Score
• Best Production Design
1.2 First Feature Competition
The First Feature Competition is an international, non-specialised competition presenting feature-length films (70 minutes and over) from around the world, completed after the 1st of January 2026. Films submitted to the Competition must be World Premieres.
The Competition is open to directors presenting their first full-length fiction feature film. A director who has previously completed a feature-length documentary, animation, or other non-fiction work, but has not directed a full-length fiction feature film, is considered eligible and will be regarded as a first-time feature director for the purposes of this Competition.
The Festival reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to assess the eligibility of films for the Competition on a case-by-case basis. Should a film’s premiere status change after official confirmation, the Festival retains the right to withdraw the film from the Competition and/or the Festival programme.
Awards presented:
• Best First Feature Film (Grant of 5,000 euros, shared by the Director and Producer)
• Best Director
• Two Special Jury Prizes
1.3 Rebels with a Cause Competition
The Rebels with a Cause Competition showcases unconventional forms of cinematic expression, highlighting innovative approaches to narrative and dramaturgy, cross-disciplinary collaboration with other art forms, and bold or experimental technical and aesthetic choices. The Competition is open to films of all forms, including fiction, documentary, and animation (70 minutes and over). The films must be completed after the 1st of January 2026.
The Rebels with a Cause Competition is presented across two festival platforms:
– Feature-length films are screened as part of the main Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF).
– Short films are screened within PÖFF Shorts.
While the feature and short film programmes are presented at different festival events, both sections are evaluated by the same jury, and together form one unified Rebels with a Cause Competition. Films submitted to the Competition must be World Premieres.
The Festival reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to assess the eligibility of films for the Competition on a case-by-case basis. Should a film’s premiere status change after official confirmation, the Festival retains the right to withdraw the film from the Competition and/or the Festival programme.
Awards presented:
• Best Film (shared by the Director and Producer)
• Best Director
• Best Rebel with a Cause Short Film
1.4 Critics' Picks Competition
The Critics’ Picks Competition presents a carefully curated selection of auteur-driven films that play with genre conventions while engaging in dialogue with film history. Inspired by similar sections at fellow A-class festivals, this tightly edited line-up of up to ten feature films highlights some of the most daring voices in contemporary world cinema and captures the spirit of the current global Zeitgeist. The selected works vary from first feature filmmakers as well as the experienced masters of cinema (70 minutes and over). The films must be completed after the 1st of January 2026. Films submitted to the Competition must be World Premieres.
The Festival reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to assess the eligibility of films for the Competition on a case-by-case basis. Should a film’s premiere status change after official confirmation, the Festival retains the right to withdraw the film from the Competition and/or the Festival programme.
Awards presented:
• Best Film (shared by the Director and Producer)
• Best Director
1.5 Doc@PÖFF International Competition
The Doc@PÖFF International Competition is an international competition without geographical and thematic borders presenting feature-length (70 minutes and over) documentaries from around the world completed after the 1st of January 2026.
Films submitted to the Competition must be World Premieres.
The Festival reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to assess the eligibility of films for the Competition on a case-by-case basis. Should a film’s premiere status change after official confirmation, the Festival retains the right to withdraw the film from the Competition and/or the Festival programme.
Awards presented:
Best Film (for the Director)
Best Cinematography
Jury Special Prize
1.6 Doc@PÖFF Baltic Competition
The Doc@PÖFF Baltic Competition is a competition presenting feature-length (70 minutes and over) documentaries from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania completed after the 1st of January 2026.
Priority will be given to films with a World or International premiere.
The Festival reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to assess the eligibility of films for the Competition on a case-by-case basis. Should a film’s premiere status change after official confirmation, the Festival retains the right to withdraw the film from the Competition and/or the Festival programme.
Awards presented:
Best Baltic Documentary (for the Director)
Jury Special Prize
1.7 Baltic Film Competition
The Baltic Film Competition presents feature length (70 minutes and over) films from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, or with significant participation from one of these countries completed after the 1st of January 2026.
Priority will be given to films with a World or International premiere, but films which have previously premiered in Estonia are also eligible. The participation of the film in any other competition of the Festival does not exclude the eligibility for the Baltic Film Competition.
The Festival reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to assess the eligibility of films for the Competition on a case-by-case basis. Should a film’s premiere status change after official confirmation, the Festival retains the right to withdraw the film from the Competition and/or the Festival programme.
Awards presented:
• Best Baltic Feature Film
• Best Director
1.8 Additional awards presented:
• Lifetime Achievement Award
• Audience Award (Grant of 5,000 euros, the award for Director)
• International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award
• Bruno O'Ya Stipend for Internationally Acknowledged Estonian Talent (with the scholarship of 1,000 euros)
1.9 Non-competitive programme
Films submitted for the non-competitive programme, or not selected for competitions, can be invited to other sections with a minimum requirement being their Estonian Premiere. There is no geographic restriction for films in non-competitive sections. The films must be completed after the 1st of January 2026.
The non-competitive programmes are the following:
1.9.1 Opening film
A film from the focus programme to symbolically introduce the Festival.
1.9.2 Special Screenings
Special Screenings present films and/or filmmakers of particular significance to the Festival, as well as films holding International or European Premiere status.
1.9.3 Country in Focus
A Country in Focus designation represents a festival-wide focus granted to one country only per edition of the Festival. The focus applies across all Festival activities, including the main Festival programme, affiliated sub-festivals (PÖFF Shorts and Just Film), and the Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event.
Particular attention shall be given to the inclusion and presentation of films, projects, and professionals from the Country in Focus across competition and side programmes, as well as curated screenings and industry activities. The purpose of this designation is to provide a comprehensive showcase of the country’s film industry and to facilitate priority participation in relevant industry platforms, projects, and networking initiatives.
1.9.4 Spotlight
A Spotlight designation highlights a country within a specific Festival strand or programme. Unlike the Country in Focus, multiple Spotlights may be presented within a single Festival edition, and each Festival strand — including the main Festival programme, PÖFF Shorts, Just Film, and Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event — may independently host its own Spotlight.
The Spotlight country shall be granted the opportunity to present selected film projects (in development and/or post-production), film professionals, and production infrastructure within the relevant programme framework. In coordination with the Festival, and subject to programme scope and budget, the format and scale of each Spotlight presentation shall be determined to best serve the objectives of the respective strand.
1.9.5 Best of Festivals
Crème de la crème of the art of film of the world. Films that have already premiered or won awards at other prestigious festivals.
1.9.6 Old Gold: Classic Films Come to Life
Films from near and far which have been restored and brought back to life. Exciting guests and new perspectives. Special attention is given to the restored films from Baltic Countries, with the aim to bring out and introduce Baltic film history.
1.9.7 Best of Docs
A selection of the latest documentary highlights, regardless of their geographic origin or topics.
1.9.8 Environmental film programme
The climate is warming. The environment is changing. PÖFF is highlighting it.
1.9.9 Estonian Olympic Committee Sports Film Programme
Sports and film – more than just a sports film. The Estonian Olympic Committee presents.
1.9.10 Midnight Shivers
Over-the-top fantasy spree, the cream of the crop of recent horror and fantasy cinema.
1.9.11 Screen International Critics' Choice
True cinematography through the eyes of critics. Iconic works selected by the prestigious Screen International.
1.9.12 TV Beats
A programme dedicated to fresh drama series, aimed at highlighting the increasingly blurry line between the small and the big screen.
1.10 Programming
The Programming Committee, headed by the Artistic Director, selects films for the competitions and non-competitive programmes. The committee also determines the programme schedule and sets the screening order for all films.
Each competition film may be screened a minimum of three (3) times and a maximum of five (5) during the Festival, including press screenings, in accordance with the FIAPF Regulations for International Film Festivals. Consent from the applicant will be asked for any extra screening. The Programming Committee reserves the right to not comment on its decisions as well as the final line-up of the Festival.
1.11 Juries
The Festival Director appoints all the members of the juries for the international competition programmes. No jury member can be involved in the production or promotion of any of the films in the competitive programmes.
1.12 Film delegations
For competitive programmes, the Festival will invite the director of the film by offering the following: round-trip economy airfare (either fully or partially covered, depending on the ticket cost); accommodation at the Official Partner Hotel up to three nights; festival accreditation*. In addition, the Festival will offer accommodation at the Official Partner Hotel for up to three nights and festival accreditation* for a second delegate.
The Festival reserves the right to make individual exceptions.
For non-competitive films, the Festival reserves the right to invite guests upon the decision of the Programming Committee. Detailed terms and conditions for film delegates are provided on a non-disclosed one-to-one and guest agreement basis.
*Please note that all film delegates will be asked to pay €25 (incl. VAT) administration fee, only then you’ll receive the accreditation.
From 2025, all accreditations to PÖFF and Industry will include a €25 administration fee. This fee directly supports the improvement of the technical quality of our accreditation system, the enhancement of related support services for festival and industry guests, and the development of our sustainability initiatives. The administration fee is paid during the accreditation application process.
1.13 Film submission entry procedures
Applicants for Competitive and Non-Competitive Programmes are requested to submit through FilmFreeway:
http://www.filmfreeway.com/blacknightsfilmfestival
Entry applications submitted by post, e-mail, or any other form except the online submission form are not considered eligible for selection, unless with prior agreement with the Festival Programming Committee. The Festival has the right to refuse late submissions.
Submission applications are accepted from March 2026.
If you have questions regarding the regulations or submissions process, please email the programme coordinator, see the contact information below.
The regular submission deadline for competitive and non-competitive feature film programmes is the 29th of June 2026. The Festival asks for a submission fee of €69 euros or $85 USD per film during the regular deadline.
The extended submission deadline for competitive and non-competitive feature film programmes is the 17th of August 2026. The Festival asks for a submission fee of €85 euros or $100 USD per film during the extended deadline.
The final submission deadline for competitive and non-competitive feature film programmes is the 24th of August 2026. The Festival asks for a submission fee of €100 euros or $120 USD per film during the final deadline.
The Artistic Director and the Programming Committee reserve the right to waive submission fees for selected applicants and not to comment on their decisions regarding waivers.
By submitting a film to the Festival the applicant agrees to the following by the submission deadline:
Fill in and submit the entry form via the Festival’s online submission form.
Provide a screening link and password via the online submission form or e-mail (the link needs to be visible for at least five programmers or more if needed).
Acknowledge that “selected” status on the online submission or any kind of automated letter from the submission platform form does not guarantee confirmation of the submitted film to the Festival.
The person submitting the film is also responsible for the information provided: in particular, the length of the film, its premiere status, the country of production, the names of the authors, the year of production.
The festival does not refund submission fees, if the film does not qualify.
1.14 Confirmation of films and reimbursement
Upon selection of a film, the Festival will contact the applicant via email.
If the applicant provides misleading information about debutant or premiere status the Artistic Director and the Programming Committee reserve the right to withdraw the film from the competition and overall programme.
The applicant agrees that confirmed titles may not be withdrawn from the Festival programme after their participation has been officially confirmed and the producer or producer’s authorised representative has verified the confirmation of the film to the programme. The premiere status is non-negotiable, after the film has been confirmed for the competition programme.
If for exceptional reasons, the film has to be withdrawn three weeks or less before the opening of the Festival, the applicant agrees to reimburse all costs to the Festival related to the confirmation and programming of the film including the screening fee (when applicable), print delivery and handling costs as well as associated travel costs for the film delegation. The festival does not pay for the rights if a film is selected for competition or non-competitive programmes if guests are invited.
The invoices for the film rights or print loans should be issued and delivered for payments no later than one month after the end of the Festival. The Festival does not accept or reimburse invoices issued after that date.
Upon confirmation of the film to the Festival’s competitive or non-competitive sections, the applicant agrees to:
Deliver additional promotional materials (biography, filmography and headshot of the Director, trailer, high-resolution stills of the film, synopsis, logline/tagline and genre of film, list of technical and artistic credits, list of all production countries in order of contribution and large format print quality poster art-work). Full electronic press kits are preferred.
The approved requirements of the promotional materials for the Festival are the following:
Film trailer/teaser
Provide an FHD resolution trailer or an FHD teaser clip of the film with English subtitles either as a public link to a downloadable and embeddable video on YouTube or Vimeo or as a separate file. The Festival should receive the trailer or teaser by the 1st of October 2026 at the latest, with an allowance to upload on the Festival’s online channels. Recommended size 1920 x 1080.
Promotional video material
Provide a set of at least four different FHD resolution excerpts of three-minute maximum length each to enable the promotion of films by television stations and in creative promotional video montages minimally a month before the Festival.
Film stills
High resolution stills of the film, which can be used for the Festival’s catalog and media.
Minimum of 3 photos (max 10), please mark your preferred key visual.
Format: landscape format (16:9) .jpg (.png, .tiff)
Size: minimum 1920 x 1080 px
Director’s portrait image and press-kit
High resolution director's photo and CV (bio and filmography).
Photo format: headshot, .jpg (.png, .tiff)
Size: minimum 1080 x 1920 px
Press-kit or principal cast and credits list.
If the CV part is in the press-kit then it is not needed separately
Film poster
High resolution poster and/or poster still.
Format: portrait, .jpg (.png, tiff)
Aspect ratio: 1,45 (recommended)
Size: both 555 x 800 px AND 1080 x 1920 px (recommended)
For Black Carpet Films and digital screens in the cinemas we request 1080 x 1920 px poster images.
Subtitles in English as a .srt/.stl file, materials for local translation
Provide subtitle files with time-codes and/or dialogue lists in the original film language and in English, spotting list, and a screener of the finalised version of the film.
The Festival reserves the right to use all provided promotional materials for publicity purposes and printed materials, including the Festival catalog, press releases, website, social media channels, and promotion in media.
The Festival will provide an upload link for the DCP, info form for film details and credits and a link for uploading the promotional materials.
The Festival does not accept deliveries in physical format (hard disk drives, memory sticks, etc.) unless agreed otherwise prior to the Festival.
The materials required by the Festival for its press releases, catalog, website, and other information/promotion channels (synopsis, technical and artistic credits, bio-filmographies, pictures of the director/s and film stills) and materials for local translation need to be provided to the Festival by the 19th of September 2026, or within 7 days of confirmation of the film.
If the applicant doesn’t provide the materials required by the Festival by the date set in regulations or by the date agreed with the Festival beforehand, The Artistic Director and the Programming Committee reserve the right to withdraw the film from the competition.
1.15 Technical requirements and guidelines for film formats
1.15.1 SCREENINGS IN CINEMAS
The accepted screening format for all films in competition and non-competition sections is DCP. Provided DCPs must be DCI compliant (http://www.dcimovies.com/) and adhere to all applicable conditions below.
Digital delivery of the DCPs is preferred, if not agreed otherwise. The Festival will provide an upload link for the DCP and it should be delivered no later than the 15th of October 2026. DCPs must be provided with correct naming according to the ISDCF DCP Naming Convention.
Meeting this deadline is especially important since all media must pass a comprehensive and time-consuming quality management process before the first screening. The Festival reserves a right to assign a late delivery fee of 150 euros for film files received after the deadline if the Film Representatives have ignored Festival’s reminders and the screening quality could be compromised.
Subtitles
All films selected for the Festival must be provided with English subtitles unless they are already in English. All of the films from the Official Selection Competition and First Feature Competition, as well as a selection of films from other sections will be translated into Estonian.
The Festival adds local subtitles onto DCPs to ensure the best possible screening experience. For this purpose DCPs must be unencrypted, or a DKDM must be provided to the Festival Filmlab, as original language versions (OV) with separate accompanying subtitles as version-file packages (VF).
All screening copies for all sections, if provided with any subtitles, must have the subtitles on the active picture area and not in the letterbox area. Please note that the image may be cropped by up to 3% during projection, due to the position of the projector and the venue’s characteristics, therefore a good safe area for the subtitles would be at least 5%. Dubbed language copies are refused.
The Festival reserves the right to demand new DCP packages free of charge in case of non-compatible DCPs, broken hard drives, or if other quality standards are not met. These include wrongly placed or missing subtitles, or wrong soundtracks.
KDMs
All competition programme films are obligated to provide an unencrypted DCP or Distribution KDMs (DKDM) for laboratory testing. In other cases, unencrypted DCPs are strongly preferred and encrypted DCPs are accepted only in previously agreed cases and require one test KDM per film free of charge for quality assurance and technical testing for our test-screen. For quality assurance reasons the KDM or DKDM must be valid from the date the DCP arrives at the Festival but no later than one week before the Festival starts and until one day after the Festival. All DKDMs should follow the KDM Naming Convention.
The producer or film representative is requested to provide appropriate screening KDMs valid from 7 days before the start of the Festival and 1 day after the Festival, but no later than 72 hours prior to screenings, and 48 hours after the screening. The cost of generating all KDMs will also be the responsibility of the producers or representatives of the film.
If the Festival receives broken or wrongly assigned KDMs, appropriate new KDMs must be provided free of charge by the film submitter or representative. Quality assurance purpose DKDM is not exempt from providing screening KDMs if not agreed upon otherwise.
Formats
The Festival supports 2K and 4K content. However, not all screens have a 4K screening capability. The Festival therefore cannot guarantee that all 4K films will be screened in a 4K resolution.
We can accept high-frame-rate (HFR) or 3D DCPs, however, we are only able to screen them in selected cinema halls. Please notify the Festival office if you are planning on presenting a high-frame-rate DCP.
Video formats and 35mm prints are accepted only with prior acknowledgment from the Festival. All video files will be converted into DCPs by the Festival lab to ensure the best possible image and sound quality during playback. Only ProRes, ProRes 444, ProRes HQ are accepted video formats in these cases. Tapes or Blu-rays are not accepted as screening formats unless there are no alternatives and with prior acknowledgment from the Festival.
Technical guideline is provided along with a confirmation entry form.
The Festival reserves the right to refuse and withdraw the screening of the film from the competition or any other section if all requirements are not followed.
Our Festival’s technical team, dcinema@poff.ee, will happily help with any queries for all confirmed films.
1.15.2 Online screenings
The Festival uses a VOD platform with Studio Grade DRM for screening films online.
By confirming the film’s participation at the Festival, the film’s representative agrees to present the film for online cinema screenings. The film representatives should inform the festival if they do not wish to participate in the online screenings.
1.15.2.1 Online screenings for film professionals and international press members only (ProScreen)
Screenings for the jury, accredited film professionals, and international press members are accessible globally via Festival accreditation.
All films with online screenings must present the film in H264, 1920x1080p video format with stereo sound. In this case, we recommend a film file with hardcoded subtitles.
1.16 Delivery of materials
All costs related to the shipping of publicity materials (posters, brochures, etc.) or any screeners are paid for by the submitter or film representative. Submitted preview copies may be returned to the submitter or forwarded only at the submitter’s expense. Accepted sizes for printed posters are: A4, A3, A2.
All packages must be clearly marked with the title of the film, the sender’s/submitters name, return address, and telephone number as well as the Festival address:
Black Nights Film Festival
Attn: Programming
Telliskivi 60a/2, 3rd floor
10412
Tallinn, Estonia
Phone: +372 56 208 308
The Festival covers all expenses connected to the storage and insurance of the screening copies during the duration of the Festival.
In the event of damage to a copy during the event, the Festival limits its responsibility to the cost of having a new standard copy made at current laboratory rates.
1.17 Using the Festival logo
Films that premiere at the Black Nights Film Festival are required to use the official logo of the Festival in their film’s publicity and promotional materials as well as add it to the DCP. We ask not to modify or alter the logo without prior written permission from the Festival.
1.18 Contacts
PÖFF Artistic Director - Triin Tramberg (triin.tramberg@poff.ee)
PÖFF Programme coordinator – Jette Karmin (jette.karmin@poff.ee)
