«Pop Pop», «Kidney» and «Voices of the Desert»: Talin Calibrates Rebels, Critics Pick Programs

Dylan Stephen Lours' first film, exploring «toxic masculinity, cancel culture, and the radical position,» and Estonia's «Eva Magi» latest film are among the films pushing boundaries.

The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) has announced the plans for the Rebel Photo and Critics' Competition for its 30th edition, which runs from 6 to 22 November, including the Baltic Film Competition.

The 2026 Rebels with a Cause competition will feature nine world premieres that explore "unconventional approaches to filmmaking," Estonian festival organizers said on Wednesday. Curated by Javier García Porto, the program celebrates filmmakers who challenge cinematic conventions and brings together emerging voices and established directors.

Mikael Marcimain's 'Cold Song' Marks Rare Return to High-Swing European TV Drama (Exclusive First Look)

Giant! Tony Gilroy says it wouldn't have been possible without the success of Endor

Among this year's films are Lithuanian filmmaker Emilija Šakarnolitė's Voices of the Desert, a Lithuanian-Norwegian co-production that expands the presence of Baltic cinema beyond the PÖFF regional competition, and Dylan Stephen Lores' US debut, Pop Pop, the latter of which has been described by Social Media and the festival as a social media reference. A make-up digital environment with a futuristic aesthetic, [that] forces us to delve into the complex layers of toxic masculinity, abolitionist culture and radical positioning, pushing beyond the standards of black comedy.”

Meanwhile, curated by Nikolai Nikitin, the Critics' Choice competition will present 10 world premieres from emerging and established filmmakers. The section is designed to highlight "films with a clear artistic vision that examine genre conventions while in conversation with film history."

This year's selection includes productions and co-productions from Japan, China, Morocco, Mexico and Uruguay, alongside European titles. Estonia is represented by Mo Amor from Eeva Mägi.

See the full PÖFF Rebels With a Cause and Critics' Picks Competition lineup below.

Jeda (Cyprus, England, Greece) – director. Stellana Clarisse

IOU (China) – Director. Steven Zhang Zhonghua

Jimoto Loop (Japan) – Director. Masaya Tsusumi

Kidney (India) – director. Akaresh Sansanwal, Agrim Sansanwal

Mo Amur (Estonia) – director. Eva Magee

A month (Bulgaria, Romania, Spain) – director. Maya Vitkova-Kosev

Rahma (Türkiye, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy) – director. Faisal Soysal

Big Family (Mexico, Italy) – director. Mathias Mayer

Until dawn (Morocco) - director. Mohammad Zainuddin, Rachida Saadi, Mathilde Bons

When I Existed (Uruguay, Spain) – Director. Alejandro Damiani, Martin Audolov

Perfume (Republic of Korea, USA, France) – director. We want

Flash for a Heart of Stone (Brazil) – Director. Louisa Kalagian

Beril_XXX (Türkiye) – director. Can Evrenol

Irredeemable (Columbia) – Director. Cliché Lopez

Barre (Spain) – director. Christian Cheka, Sol Pico

Night Vision (Belgium) – Director. Christopher Yates

Pop Pop (USA) – director. Dylan Stephen Lores

Desert Voices (Lithuania, Norway) – director. Emilija Shacarnolite

Du Hornet (Slovakia) – director. Dominic Giorgi

Steven Chow's "Shaolin Soccer" spinoff "Kung Fu Soccer" opens in the U.S. after dominating the Chinese summer box office.