The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), one of the most prominent film events in Northern Europe, has announced the official selection for its Critics’ Picks and Rebels With a Cause competitions, which celebrate bold cinema and stories unafraid to push boundaries. In this 29th edition, two Argentine films will be part of the lineup: Cuento de verano, directed by Matías Szulanski, and Los caminantes de la calle, by Juan Martín Hsu, who co-directs alongside Mariana Luconi.
The curator of Critics’ Picks, Nikolaj Nikitin, highlighted that this year’s selection is “as diverse as its passport stamps — from Iran to Peru, from Canada to Tunisia, from Mexico to Taiwan, from France to Lithuania, and yes, Estonia too.” According to Nikitin, the chosen works are “gems that defy borders and expectations,” ranging from noir and political thrillers to coming-of-age stories, all marked by daring and originality.
Los caminantes de la calle offers a thriller inspired by true events, blending crime and migrant drama in Mendoza. Set in 2010, the story follows a prosecutor and a Chinese police officer who risk everything to confront a ruthless mafia operating within the immigrant community. Through wiretap investigations and a plot that delves into family bonds and organized crime, the film promises an intense and moving experience, supported by an international cast and strong technical craftsmanship.
Meanwhile, Cuento de verano centers on Jorge, a hustler from Buenos Aires’ financial district who, after suffering a heart attack, tries to prove he can be a “good person” — though he’s not entirely sure what that means. Played by Fabián Arenillas, the character is a whirlwind of contradictions, torn between guilt, humor, and the desperate need to reconnect with his daughter. Director and writer Matías Szulanski blends dark humor and emotional depth to portray the impossible redemption of an ordinary man in a city that never stops moving.
Rebels with a Cause – Out of Competition
Competition Program “Rebels with a Cause” – Catalonia Special
