Just Film is the largest youth and children’s film sub-festival of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF). The festival features competitive programmes for youth and children’s films, as well as a wide range of special screenings. Like PÖFF’s main programme, Just Film is held annually in November.
The festival presents films that even the most dedicated film lovers do not usually get the chance to see in everyday cinema programming. Some films make you laugh, some bring tears to your eyes, and some may change the way you see the world. Just Film offers something for audiences of all ages. Each year, around 50 films are screened, and with nearly 20,000 visitors annually, Just Film has grown into one of Estonia’s largest events dedicated to young audiences.
Just Film was created to give children and young people the opportunity to explore the world around them and beyond through the art of cinema. The festival addresses topics that reflect society’s sensitive issues and encourages the development of empathy, understanding, and critical thinking. Its long-term goal is to nurture a new generation of audiences who value high-quality cinema and see film as a powerful tool for social and human change.
In addition, Just Film contributes to education by offering teachers the opportunity to integrate high-quality films into their teaching.
To date, Just Film has brought over 600 feature-length films to Estonian audiences, showcasing works by many renowned filmmakers such as Gus van Sant, Vanessa Jopp, and Tony Key. Alongside auteur cinema, the festival’s opening and closing screenings have featured some of the world’s most popular youth and children’s films. Audiences have gone on adventures with Harry Potter and followed the battles of werewolves and vampires in The Twilight Saga. Viewers have also enjoyed new adaptations of classics such as Finding Nemo and The Lion King.
Just Film strongly values diversity, mutual respect, and equality. The festival team works to show children and young people the potential of each individual, emphasizing that everyone matters and is capable of great achievements, regardless of their background or social status.
Our main focus group is 13-25 year olds and we work very closely with schools and teachers in Estonia.
Competitions:
Side programmes:
Just Film Festival submission regulations can be FOUND HERE
Read more about regulations here.
The Biggest Annual Culture And Entertainment Event In Estonia And Northern Europe with the mission to introduce the world film culture to local and international film enthusiasts.
The first PÖFF took place in 1997.
PÖFF aims to present a comprehensive selection of world cinema from the last two years to local and international audience, offering fresh film production with high artistic value.
The only FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations) accredited film festival in Northern Europe with international non-specialised competition programme. This makes PÖFF the only A-category film festival in North Europe.
PÖFF shares the category alongside other 14 top film festivals around the world, including Cannes, Berlin, and Venice to name a few.
The festival also serves as an important meeting point for a rapidly growing
number of industry professionals from around the globe.
SUBFESTIVALS
Just Film: Youth and Children Film Festival
PÖFF Shorts: Short and Animation Film Festival
Kinoff: PÖFF's most eastern sub-festival
SPECIAL FESTIVALS
HÕFF: Haapsalu Horror & Fantasy Film Festival in the end of the April
Tartuff: Tartu Love Film Festival held in Tartu town hall square in the beginning of August
NÖFF: women's nights film festival in Rapla
INDUSTRY
Industry Tallinn & Baltic Event
Industry summit for audiovisual professionals including panel discussions & roundtables, networking, co-production market for films and cooperation projects
2024 - Festival Grand Prix: “KONTRA” (Denmark, 2024) Dir: Jonas Risvig
ECFA Jury Main Prize: “A LIFE LIVED LARGE” (Czech Republic, France, Slovakia, 2024) Dir: Kristina Dufková
Youth Jury Best Youth Film Award: “KONTRA” (Denmark, 2024) Dir: Jonas Risvig
Children’s Jury Best Children’s Film Award: “I ACCIDENTALLY WROTE A BOOK” (Hungary, Netherlands, 2024) Dir: Nóra Lakos
Toddler Jury Best Film Award: “NIKO: TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AURORA” (Finland, Germany, Ireland, Denmark, 2024) Dir: Kari Juusonen
#youngfilmmaker Best Film Award: “40 DAYS TO (A)NGEL” (Estonia, 2024) Dir: Betra Käsper
2023 - Festival Grand Prix: “DYAD” (Bulgaria, 2023) Dir: Yana Titova
ECFA Jury Main Prize: “NINA AND THE SECRET OF THE HEDGEHOG” (France, 2023) Dir: Alain Gagnol, Jean-Loup Felicioli
Youth Jury Best Youth Film Award: “SKUNK” (Belgium, Netherlands 2023) Dir: Koen Mortier
Children’s Jury Best Children’s Film Award: “IMPORTANT LITTLE ONES” (Estonia, 2023) Dir: Ingomar Vihmar
Toddler Jury Best Film Award: “BIM” (Belgium, 2023) Dir: Tom van Gestel
#youngfilmmaker Best Film Award: “THE THIRD TREE FROM THE LEFT” (Estonia, 2023) Dir: Kaur Kulver
2022 - Festival Grand Prix: “DYAD” (Bulgaria, 2023) Dir: Yana Titova
ECFA Award: “NINA AND THE HEDGEHOG'S SECRET” (France, 2023) Dir: Alain Gagnol, Jean-Loup Felicioli
Youth Jury Best Film Award: “SKUNK" (Belgium, The Netherlands 2023) Dir: Koen Mortier
Children's Jury Best Film Award: "TOTALLY BOSS” (Estonia, 2023) Dir: Ingomar Vihmar
Junior Jury Best Film Award: "BIM" (Belgium, 2023) Dir: Tom van Gestel
#youngfilmmaker Best Film Award: "THIRD TREE FROM THE LEFT" (Estonia, 2023) R: Kaur Kulver
2022 - Festival Grand Prix: “SIX WEEKS” (Hungary, 2022) Dir: Noémi Veronika Szakonyi
ECFA Award: “HOW I LEARNED TO FLY” (Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, 2022) Dir: Radivoje Andrić
Youth Jury Best Film Award: “VIRGINITY" (Israel, 2022) Dir: Maor Zaguri
Children's Jury Best Film Award: "LITTLE GANG” (France, 2022) Dir: Pierre Salvadori
#youngfilmmaker Best Film Award: "EVERLASTING SINGLE MAN" (Estonia, 2022) R: Aaron Thor Härm, Mattias Nurga
International Jury Special Mention: “SUMMER TO COME” (Hungary, 2022) Dir: György Mór Kárpáti
Youth Jury Special Mention: “12 DARES” (Sweden, Norway 2022) Dir: Izer Aliu
Children's Jury Special Mention: “CHILD MACHINE” (Estonia, 2022) Dir: Rain Rannu
Contact:
Programme Director – Mikk Granström
mikk.granstrom@poff.ee
Programme Coordinator – Mariliis Pai
justfilmcoordinator@poff.ee