Tallinn Black Nights Opens 30th Edition With 'Ulya'

The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival will launch its 30th edition on Nov. 6 with a screening of Ulya, the latest feature from director Viesturs Kairišs. The festival runs through Nov. 22.

Ulya is a co-production between Latvia, Estonia, Poland and Lithuania, and world-premiered in the Un Certain Regard program at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. The film is inspired by the life of Latvian basketball player Uljana Semjonova, a two-time Olympic champion and three-time world champion, following its protagonist from an isolated rural Old Believer community into professional basketball.

The project originated from an idea by star and writer Kārlis Arnolds Avots, who plays the lead role. It was produced by Ego Media, Allfilm, Staron Film and Tremora, and has been selected as Latvia's entry for the best international feature film category at the 99th Academy Awards in 2027, as reported by hollywoodreporter.com.

A Baltic Celebration

The opening ceremony will feature an anniversary performance and film music from across the Baltics, with three pianists — one from each Baltic country — performing music from their respective nations. The festival will also present its Lifetime Achievement Awards and the Bruno O'Ya Young Actor Scholarship during the ceremony.

This year's Focus: Baltics strand places cinema from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania at the heart of the festival, while a stage production titled Round and Round will look back at PÖFF's first 30 years.