International competition status raised at Tallinn Black Nights

FIAPF endorsement sees Estonian festival join Cannes, Venice and Berlin.

by Amber Wilkinson

The Great Beauty - winner at Tallinn
The Great Beauty - winner at Tallinn

The International Federation of Film Producers' Associations (FIAPF) is set to accredit Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival as a non-specialised competitive festival from 2014.

This will mean that from this year's edition, the festival will expand its EurAsia competition programme - won last year by The Grand Beauty - to filmmakers from across the globe. FIAP has 51 accredited festivals, but only 14 have previously been authorised to hold a non-specialised international competition, including Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Karlovy Vary and San Sebastian.

Festival director Tina Lokk said: "On behalf of the Black Nights team I thank from the bottom of my heart all of you who have supported us and believed in us during these nearly 20 years that it took to break through the grey wall.

"The new status opens new opportunities for us but also obligates us to keep up the achieved quality and do even better, if we can."

The 15th edition of the festival will run from November 14-30. Updated regulations for all of its competitions can be read on the official site.

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