PÖFF's genre satellite brings to the audience 3 feature film premieres and Méliès D'Argent Short Film Competition. The side programme consists of special screenings, retro section and fresh Estonian short films.
The premieres of HÕFF Main Programme are:
director: Sander Maran
Estonia, 2024
World Premiere
This year's opening of HÕFF will go down in history as the most outrageous film of the entire history of Estonian cinema. The director, Sander Maran, calls his debut feature "a shameless action-horror-musical-comedy". The film was in the production for almost 10 years, and it ensures a wild ride with inventive kills, a chainsaw solo, exploding cars, romance, cute animal attacks, and even a supernatural Bukkake fridge.
director: Luu Thanh Luan
Vietnam, 2024
International Premiere
Luu Thanh Luan's film draws on Vietnam's tradition of eating dog meat as a delicacy, and the growing debate about ending it. It is the most popular Vietnamese horror film of all time, earning $4.5 million at the domestic box office. The head of a butcher's family, whose butchery sells dog meat, dies in suspicious circumstances. His family, torn apart by internal strife, begins to see ghosts that leave no doubt that there is a curse - karma bites and it hurts!
director: Ruslan Akun
Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, 2024
International Premiere
Kyrgyz director Ruslan Akun's hilarious comedy was partially shot in Estonia - the capital, Tallinn, has been portrayed as Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, even Paris!
A Kyrgyz grandfather, Tolembai and the babushka Shaken, hitchhike from Asia to Europe to attend the graduation ceremony of their beloved grandson, Jermek. They could fly, but Tolembai has a heart condition - the only option is a road-trip. On their incredible journey, the two oldsters are constantly caught up in cultural conflicts that only humour can resolve.
Two features, The Missing (Philippines, Thailand, dir. Carl Joseph E Papa) and In Flames (Pakistan, Canada, dir. Zarrar Kahn) were picked as the best international film Oscar candidates.
Festival hits: When Evil Lurks (Argentina, dir. Demián Rugna); The Soul Eater (France, dir. Julien Maury, Alexandre Bustillo); Stopmotion (UK, dir. Robert Morgan); All You Need Is Death (Ireland, dir. Paul Duane); The Well (Italy, dir. Federico Zampaglione)
The sequel to the five Golden Raspberries winner: Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 (UK, dir. Rhys Frake-Waterfield)
Retro section: this year's special focus is on censored Nordic films. Thriller: A cruel picture (Sweden 1974, dir. Bo Arne Vibenius) will be screened with an English introductory lecture, as well as Born American (Finland, USA 1986, dir. Renny Harlin). The full list of retro classics is HERE.
Méliès D'Argent Short Film Competition: The winner of HÕFF's international short film competition goes further on to compete for the Méliès d’Or by the Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF). Named after the legendary film illusionist Georges Méliès, the winner of European short genre film competition will be awarded by the Méliès d’Argent.
Little Nightmares: Best International Short Films: The out-of-competition showcase of the most interesting short horror and fantasy films. A whirlpool of fantasy, cosmic sci-fi and chilling horror, the programme offers gems for every genre fan.
Estonian Short Film Competition: The competition of best fantasy shorts by amazing young local filmmakers.
