Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, one of the most prominent film events in Northern Europe, has announced its Official Selection for the 2025 edition, which will include the world premiere of 18 Holes to Paradise, directed by João Nuno Pinto and co-produced by Aurora Cine, also recognized for its work on Tesis sobre una domesticación. The film will compete in the festival’s Official Feature Film Competition, which will celebrate its 29th edition from November 7 to 23, 2025, in the Estonian capital.

Set in southern Portugal, the story follows a large, long-standing family gathered around the table of an old family mansion. The region—once depressed and now transformed into a thriving tourist destination—becomes the backdrop for an intimate and collective conflict: deciding what to do with their father’s house. Memories, personal interests, and tensions between tradition and progress collide when a forest fire sweeps through the area, becoming both a literal and symbolic reflection of the forces shaping contemporary society. With multiple characters and perspectives, the film explores the fragility of territory, human bonds, and social coexistence in the face of a predatory model that repeats itself globally.

This year’s selection includes 17 feature films — 16 world premieres and one international premiere — chosen from more than 1,900 submissions for the main program. In total, the festival will present 110 world premieres and 30 international premieres, with representation from nearly 80 countries. Artistic director and curator Tiina Lokk noted that the 2025 competition “reflects the anxieties and resilience of today’s world,” addressing themes such as war, environmental crises, migration, women’s rights, political tensions, and above all, the fragile bonds of family.

The international jury of the Official Competition will be chaired by acclaimed Macedonian filmmaker Teona Strugar Mitevska, known for works such as God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya and The Happiest Man in the World. She will be joined by costume designer Debra McGuire, Mongolian producer and screenwriter Nomuunzul Turmunkh, cinematographer Roberto Schaefer, and German producer Ingo Fliess.

The festival’s top honor, the Grand Prix for Best Film, carries a cash prize of €20,000, awarded by the city of Tallinn. The industry platform Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event will run from November 14 to 21, bringing together key players from the global audiovisual sector.

Official Selection Competition Titles

• 18 Holes to Paradise (Portugal, Italy, Argentina), dir. João Nuno Pinto

• Duality (Iran), dir. Abbas Nezamdoost

• Hungarian Wedding (Hungary), dir. Csaba Káel

• LifeLike (Turkey, Greece, Romania), dir. Ali Vatansever

• Mira (Morocco), dir. Nour Eddine Lakhmari

• No Comment (Norway), dir. Petter Næss

• Sisa (Philippines), dir. Jun Robles Lana

• The Dashed Lines (Spain), dir. Anxos Fazáns

• The Frog and the Water (Germany), dir. Thomas Stuber

• The Good Daughter (Spain), dir. Júlia de Paz Solvas

• The Imaginary Dog and the Lying Cat (Japan), dir. Yukihiro Morigaki

• The Moon is a Father of Mine (Luxembourg, Turkey, Georgia, Germany, Czechia, Bulgaria), dir. George Ovashvili

• The Muralist (Mongolia), dir. Sengedorj Janchivdorj

• The Stories (Austria, France, Belgium, Egypt, Sweden), dir. Abu Bakr Shawky

• Think of England (United Kingdom), dir. Richard Hawkins

• Veins (Canada), dir. Raymond St-Jean

• Versalles (Mexico), dir. Andrés Clariond