A historic night for Spanish cinema! For the first time in the history of Estonia’s prestigious Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival — known locally as PÖFF — a single film has swept both the Grand Prix and the coveted Audience Award. That honor goes to Spanish filmmaker Júlia de Paz Solvas for her powerful and emotionally charged drama The Good Daughter. But here’s where it gets even more interesting: this rare double win signals a growing international recognition of Spanish independent cinema, a movement that’s quietly challenging industry giants across Europe.
Now in its 29th year, the Tallinn Black Nights Festival celebrated excellence across six distinct competition programs, ranging from youth productions and regional showcases to documentaries and industry projects. The festival, which ran from November 7 to 23, drew entries from around the globe, blending established auteurs with daring new voices in world cinema. Below is a full rundown of the winners who stole the spotlight this year.
Official Selection Competition
- Grand Prix for Best Film: The Good Daughter, directed by Júlia de Paz Solvas; producers Sergio Grobas and Stefan Schmitz.
- Best Director: Ali Vatansever for Lifelike (Turkey, Greece, Romania).
- Best Cinematography: Yutaka Yamazaki for The Imaginary Dog and the Lying Cat (Japan).
- Best Actress: Kiara Arancibia for The Good Daughter.
- Best Actor: Aladdin Detlefsen and Kanji Tsuda for The Frog and the Water (Germany).
- Best Original Score: Erdem Helvacıoğlu for Lifelike.
- Best Production Design: Chris Richmond and David Hand for Think of England (United Kingdom).
First Feature Competition
- Best Film Award: Hercules Falling (Denmark).
- Best Director: Samuel Abrahams for Lady (United Kingdom).
- Special Prize for Best Editing: Jan Van Der Weken for Sunday Ninth, directed by Kat Steppe (Belgium).
- Special Prize for Best Production Design: Easy Girl, directed by Hille Norden (Germany).
Critics’ Picks Competition
- Best Film Award: China Sea, directed by Jurgis Matulevičius; producers Ieva Cern and Stasys Baltakis (Lithuania, Taiwan, Poland, Czechia).
- Best Director Award: Matías Szulanski for A Summer Tale (Argentina).
- Special Mention – Ali Nasirian: Oh, What Happy Days, directed by Homayoun Ghanizadeh (Iran, France, Canada).
- Special Mention – Eeva Mägi: Mo Papa (Estonia).
Rebels With a Cause Competition
- Best Film Award: The Baronesses, directed by Nabil Ben Yadir and Mokhtaria Badaoui; producers Benoît Roland and Yadir (Belgium, Luxembourg, France).
- Best Director: Adrian Sitaru for Blindsight (Romania, Turkey).
- Best Short Film: Pay Day, directed by Päivi Hirsiaho (Finland).
Baltic Film Competition
- Best Baltic Film Award: The Visitor, directed by Vytautas Katkus; producers Marija Razgute, Brigita Beniusyte, Elisa Fernanda Pirir, Anna-Maria Kantarius and Mimmi Spång (Lithuania, Norway, Sweden).
- Best Director: Gabriele Urbonaite for Renovation (Lithuania, Latvia, Belgium).
- Best Baltic Producer for Co-production: Becoming, directed by Zhannat Alshanova; producers Jean-Laurent Csinidis, Denis Vaslin and Marija Razgutė (France, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Lithuania, Sweden).
DOC@PÖFF International Competition
- Best Film Award: Days of Wonder, directed by Karin Pennanen (Finland, Denmark, Norway).
- Best Cinematography Award: Max Golomidov for Edge of the Night, directed by Vladimir Loginov (Estonia).
- Jury Special Prize: Raisa Răzmeriță for Electing Ms Santa (Moldova, Romania).
DOC@PÖFF Baltic Competition
- Best Film Award: Holy Destructors, directed by Aistė Žegulytė (Lithuania, France, Latvia).
- Jury Special Prize: My Family and Other Clowns, directed by Heilika Pikkov and Liina Särkinen (Estonia).
- Network for the Promotion of Asia Cinema Jury Prize: The Muralist, directed by Sengedorj Janchivdorj (Mongolia).
Other Honors
- International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award: Hercules Falling, directed by Christian Bonke.
- Audience Award: The Good Daughter.
- Lifetime Achievement Awards: Lithuanian actor Juozas Budraitis and Estonian filmmaker Janno Põldma.
- Honorary Award: Jessica Hausner.
- Bruno O’Ya Young Actor Scholarship: Ursel Tilk.
The dual triumph of The Good Daughter not only marks a career milestone for Júlia de Paz Solvas but also raises fascinating questions about what today’s audiences truly value: heartfelt storytelling or technical brilliance? Some critics argue that awarding both jury and audience prizes to one film risks overlooking diversity in taste. Others see it as a welcome moment of unity between critics and viewers.
What’s your take? Should a single film be allowed to dominate both jury and audience categories — or does that blur the line between artistic and popular recognition? Share your thoughts in the comments — this debate is far from over.
