The 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has announced its winners, with Silent City Driver from Mongolian director Sengedorj Janchivdorj taking home the Grand Prix for best film in the official selection, along with the best production design honor for Munkhbat Shirnen.
The film follows a 32-year-old man who, after serving 14 years in prison for his involvement in a murder case, emerges to face societal rejection and health challenges from a prison beating, finding solace only in caring for stray dogs. The festival jury praised Silent City Driver as “a dark fairy tale from Mongolia” that broke new ground with its unique cinematic style.
German drama No Dogs Allowed by director Steve Bache took the best feature award, with Southern Chronicles from Lithuanian helmer Ignas Miškinis winning the prize for best Baltic film. Indian drama Pyre from director Vinod Kapri scooped the festival’s audience award.
Pirjo Lonka and Elina Knihtilä shared the best actress award for their roles in Teemu Nikki’s Finnish comedy 100 Liters of Gold. Lee Hyo-Ye won best actor for his performance in the Korean thriller The Loop by director Sang-Beom Koo.
Turkish drama Empire of the Rabbits by director Seyfettin Tokmak took both best cinematography and best screenplay awards. The prize for best director in the first feature category went to Diego Figueroa for his Chilean horror film A Yard of Jackals.
In the competition section, Irene von Alberti’s social satire Protected Men emerged victorious in the Rebels with a Cause category, while Masaki Tsujino’s Japanese family drama The Brothers Kitaura won best film in the Critics’ Picks program. The inaugural Doc@PÖFF competition saw The Watchman from directors Lou Du Pontavice and Victoire Bonin take top honors, with the jury praising its sensitive portrayal of the topic of migration.
In the youth and children’s section, Just Film, Kontra from Danish director Jonas Risvig took both the Youth Jury best film award and the Grand Prix. Other youth category winners included I Accidentally Wrote A Book! for Children’s Best Film and Niko – Beyond the Northern Light, the latest in a long-running Finnish holiday franchise, which won the Toddler’s Jury Award.