10.31.2023

No less than six Belgian films in Tallinn!

Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has announced the selected films for its 27th edition. Five Belgian feature films and one short film have been chosen!

Black Nights Tallinn has become a must-attend event in the autumn. This festival presents a diverse selection of world cinema to the Estonian audience, with a focus on European films. This year, six French-speaking Belgian films have been selected!

Following its world premiere at the Ghent Film Festival, Amal will make its international debut at the upcoming edition of Black Nights Tallinn. Amal is directed by Jawad Rhalib (The Pink Revolution, Au temps où les arabes dansaient, Insoumise) and produced by Scope Pictures. The film features Lubna Azabal in the role of Amal, alongside Fabrizio Rongione, Mehdy Khachachi, and Kenza Benbouchta. The film will be presented in the Official Competition.

Amal, a teacher in a Brussels school, encourages her pupils to cultivate a love of reading and freedom of expression, even if it means putting herself in danger. Her daring teaching practices will change her pupils' lives.

Life's a Bitch by Xavier Seron is selected in the Rebels with a Cause Competition. The film is produced by Hélicotronc and sold internationally by Be For Films.

To please Cécile, Tom agrees to adopt her dead neighbor’s Chihuahua. The only problem with this apparently harmless animal is that it has seemingly pushed its owner to suicide and now wants its new owner’s hide too! Actress and muse for a famous perfume brand, Greta is crushed. Her dog and her assistant both died, run over by a bus. In a dry cleaning shop, Greta meets Charlotte and asks her to replace her assistant... unless she meant her dog! For Franck and Lola it was love at first sight. They have so much in common, except one thing: Lola doesn’t like dogs. Franck has to choose between his new love and Perdita, his best friend and the very best dog that ever was. Love and friendship aren’t always compatible. Three intertwined destinies – three stories of humans and their dogs.

Clenched Fist by Vivian Goffette is selected in the Children's Rights Programme. The film is produced by Dragons Films.

Lucien lives a secluded life with his mother, Cécile, and his older brother in a village in the Ardennes. Burdened by a heavy secret, he avoids contact as well as questions. Despite this, he gets close to Freddy, Lies’ father, his only friend, and spends his time in the father’s modest sawmill. However, when Lucien’s grandmother dies and his father is granted a release from prison to attend the funeral, everything changes. Seeing his father grieving, handcuffed and protected from popular fury by an impressive police deployment upsets Lucien. Against the advice of those around him, Lucien wants to see his father again. But doing so would mean to risk losing everything...

The (Ex)perience of Love continues its festival journey with its selection in the Best of Festivals category. The film by Ann Sirot and Raphael Balboni is produced by Hélicotronc and sold internationally by Be For Films.

Rémy and Sandra are unable to have a child as they suffer from “Past Love Syndrome.” In order to be cured, they only have one solution: they have to sleep once again with each and every one of their past lovers.

Omen, the Belgium's Oscar representative, is also selected in the Best of Festivals category. The film by multidisciplinary artist Baloji is produced by Wrong Men and sold internationally by Memento International.

Four characters, considered witches or sorcerers by their families and communities, see their paths cross in a magical-realist Congo. Only through mutual aid and reconciliation can they escape the curse that rests on them.

Finally, the short film The Dog's Leash by Nicolas Piret is selected in the Short Panorama section. The film is produced by ENSAV La Cambre.

The bell tower rings and the birds fly away.
In the countryside on the outskirts of a small village, a dog tied to a very long rope, watches them disappear in the horizon.
It’s time for him to go;
Prance across fields;
How far will his rope allow him to go ?

It's worth noting the selection of the Belgian co-production The Old Oak, produced by Les Films du Fleuve, in the Best of Festivals section.

The 27th edition of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival will take place from November 3 to 19, 2023.