What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 1st December 2022.

The 26th edition of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (aka POFF - Pimedate Oode FilmiFestival) took place from Friday 11th November until Sunday 27th November this year in the winter wonderland of Tallinn and Tartu in Estonia. Started in 1997, the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has grown into one of the biggest film festivals in Northern Europe and busiest regional industry platforms, hosting more than 1000 guests and industry delegates and over 160 journalists. The festival screens around 250 feature films and more than 300 short films and animations and sees an attendance of about 80,000 people annually. As of 2014 the festival holds the FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations) accreditation for holding an international competition programme which puts the festival into the A-category of film festivals, alongside fourteen other such festivals in the world. 

In Official Competition were twenty-three feature films, comprising :-

* '578 Magnum' - from Vietnam and Directed by Dung Luong Dinh.

* 'A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On' - from Albania, Portugal, Greece and Kosovo and Directed by Gentian Koci.

* 'And Yet We Were All Blind' - from France and Directed by Beatrice Pollet.

* 'Ann' - from Ireland and Directed by Ciaran Creagh.

* 'Bungalow' - from Canada and Directed by Lawrence Cote-Collins.

* 'Cold as Marble' - from Azerbaijan and France and Directed by Asif Rustamov.

* 'DUCKS - an Urban Legend' - from Israel and Directed by Shahar Rozen.

* 'Ginji The Speculator' - from Japan and Directed by Ryuichi Mino.

* 'Driving Mum' - from Iceland and Estonia and Directed by Hilmar Oddsson. 

* 'Hit Big' - from Finland and Estonia and Directed by Jukka-Pekka Valkeapaa.

* 'Jailbird' - from Italy and Ukraine and Directed by Andrea Magnani.

* 'Lucky Girl' - from Ukraine and Germany and Directed by Marysia Nikitiuk.

* 'Night' - from Norway and Directed by Mona J. Hoel.

* 'Piece of My Heart' - from Netherlands and Belgium and Directed by Dana Nechushtan.

* 'Plastic Symphony' - from Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic and Directed by Juraj Lehotsky.

* 'River of Desire' - from Brazil and Directed by Sergio Machado.

* 'Sanaa' - from India and Directed by Sudhanshu Saria. 

* 'Sashenka' - from Ukraine and Directed by Olexandr Zhovna.

* 'Servus Papa, See You in Hell' - from Germany and Directed by Christopher Roth.

* 'Stiekyt' - from South Africa and Directed by Etienne Fourie.

* 'The Fox' - from Germany and Austria and Directed by Adrian Goiginger.

* 'The Punishment' - from Chile and Argentina and Directed by Matias Bize.

* 'The Wastetown' - from Iran and Directed by Ahmad Bahrami.

The winners and grinners of this years Official Competition were :

* The Grand Prix Award of €20,000 was presented to the Director and Producer of 'Driving Mum'.

* The Best Director Award of €5,000 was presented to Ahmed Bahrami for 'The Wastetown'.

* The Best Cinematography Award of €1,000 was presented to Adrian Teijido for 'River of Desire'.

* The Best Script Award was presented to Shahar Rozen and Dudu Busi for 'DUCKS - an Urban Legend'.

* The Best Actor Award was presented to Gurban Ismailov for 'Cold as Marble'.

* The Best Actress Award was presented to Antonia Zegers for 'The Punishment'.

* The Best Original Score Award was presented to Tonu Korvits for 'Driving Mum'.

* The Best Production Design Award was presented to Michael Schindlmeier for 'Servus Papa, See You in Hell'.

Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival awarded the legendary German Actor Udo Kier with the festival's Lifetime Achievement Award for decades-spanning artistic and cultural contribution to world cinema. The second Lifetime Achievement Award went to the Polish film legend, film and theatre Director Krzysztof Zanussi who is the author of more than forty films, and the third Lifetime Achievement Award goes to the Estonian Director and Producer Peeter Urbla who has played an important part in creating and advancing the Estonian film industry.

For the full list of all the feature films and short films that played at this years Black Nights Film Festival, plus the other competitions and the winners thereof - First Feature, Baltic Competition, Rebels With a Cause, the Critic's Picks Competition and the POFF Shorts, you can go to the official website at : https://poff.ee/

Turning attention then to this weeks nine new release movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, we start off with the first of three Christmas offerings this week that sees a group of mercenaries attack the estate of a wealthy family, leaving Santa Claus to step in to save the day, and Christmas. Then we turn to the first of a trio of Aussie films featured this week, with the first a horror offering about an aspiring documentarian and two conservationists who venture into the Outback to record the animals displaced by bushfires where they discover a terrifying new species. Next up is a British comedy horror where Pete is cautiously excited about reuniting with his college crew for a birthday weekend, but, one by one, his friends slowly turn against him. This is followed by our second Aussie film - a comedy about estranged immigrant brothers who must set aside their seven-year long silence and embark on a cross-California road trip with a flatulent dog and a valuable family artifact to rescue their terminally ill sister. Then we have a French romantic thriller that sees a young American journalist stranded in present-day Nicaragua who falls for an mysterious Englishman who appears to be her best chance of escape, but he could be in more danger than she is. The second of our Christmas features is an American Biographical telling of the inspiring story behind the writing of the beloved Christmas carol and its author, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; and our third Christmas movie outing this week is an American comedy romance in which we follow Jesse as she attempts to get over her breakup just before the holiday season starts, but her former boyfriend’s family surprises the heartbroken woman with an interesting invitation, and what happens next stuns everyone. And closing out the week we have a pair of doco's - the first an Italian English language film that charts the life and times of a famed Italian shoemaker who created shoes for Hollywood stars during the silent film era and beyond; and then the final Aussie film that takes us on a journey to one of the most beautiful places in the world - Far North Queensland, Australia showcasing the landscape from land, air and sea.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the nine latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'VIOLENT NIGHT' (Rated MA15+) - this American Christmas fantasy black comedy action film is Directed by Tommy Wirkola whose previous feature film making offerings include 'Dead Snow' in 2009, 'Hansel & Gretel : Witch Hunters' in 2013, 'Dead Snow 2 : Red vs. Dead' in 2014, 'What Happened to Monday' in 2017 with Noomi Rapace, Glenn Close and Willem Dafoe, and 'The Trip' in 2021 with Noomi Rapace again. This film saw its World Premiere at the New York Comic Con on 7th October and is released in the US and here in Australia this week.

An elite team of mercenaries, led by a Mr. Scrooge (John Leguizamo) breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone hostage inside. However, they aren't prepared for a surprise combatant, namely, one Santa Claus (David Harbour) who is on the grounds at the same time, and he's about to show why this Nick is no saint. Also starring Cam Gigandet and Beverly D'Angelo. 

'CARNIFEX' (Rated M) - is an Australian horror thriller film Directed by Sean Lahiff in his feature film making debut although he has Directed five short films since 2003 and Edited some thirty-five screen productions - from short films, to TV series, documentaries and feature films. As Australia recovers from unprecedented bushfires, Bailey (Alexandra Park) an aspiring documentary maker joins conservationists Grace (Sisi Stringer) and Ben (Harry Greenwood) as they travel deep into the Australian outback to track and record animals in the aftermath of the fires. As night falls, the well-equipped trio discover a new terrifying species, which is now intent on tracking and hunting them.

'ALL MY FRIENDS HATE ME' (Rated MA15+) - this British comedy horror film is Directed by Andrew Gaynord in his feature film making debut. The film saw its World Premier screening at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2021, was released in the UK in early March and this week is released in Australia, having so far grossed just US$81K. It's Pete's (Tom Stourton who also Co-Wrote here) 31st birthday and the old gang from college are throwing him a party at a country estate owned by his friend George (Joshua McGuire). During what's meant to be a joyful weekend reunion, Pete finds himself increasingly unnerved by his friends' inside jokes and snarky comments. As the atmosphere goes from awkward to terrifying to downright surreal, Pete is pushed to the breaking point. Is he being paranoid or is he the butt of some elaborate joke?

'BROTHERS FROM MALTA' (Rated PG) - this Australian comedy film is Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed, Edited and also stars Julian Galea whose previous feature film making credits are 'Love to Paradise' in 2017 and 'Made in Malta' in 2019. Estranged immigrant Maltese brothers Joe (Julian Galea) and Charlie (James Galea) must break their seven-year grudge when they're forced to road trip across California with a gassy dog and a precious family heirloom to rescue their dying sister Josephine (Liza Galea). Also starring Mike Fergusson and Torrey Richardson.

'STARS AT NOON' (Rated MA15+) - this French romantic thriller film is Directed and Co-Written for the screen by Claire Denis whose previous feature film making outings take in 'Beau travail' in 1999, 'White Material' in 2009, 'Bastards' in 2013, 'Let the Sunshine In' in 2017, and 'Both Sides of the Blade' earlier this year. This film is based on the 1986 novel 'The Stars at Noon' by Denis Johnson and was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at this years Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Grand Prix. A young American journalist, Trish (Margaret Qualley) stranded in present-day Nicaragua falls for an enigmatic Englishman, Daniel (Joe Alwyn) who seems like her best chance of escape. She soon realises, however, that he may be in even greater danger than she is. Also starring Benny Safdie, Danny Ramirez and John C. Reilly. The film has received generally favourable Reviews, was released in the US in late October and not in France until early May next year, and has so far grossed just US$3K at the Box Office.

'I HEARD THE BELLS' (Rated PG) - this American biographical film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Joshua Enck in his Directorial debut. Known as 'America’s Poet', Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Stephen Atherholt) leads an idyllic life, until the day his world is shattered by tragedy. With a nation divided by Civil War and his family torn apart, Henry puts down his pen, silenced by grief. But it’s the sound of Christmas morning that reignites the poet’s lost voice as he discovers the resounding hope of rekindled faith that ultimately leads him to writing the Christmas carol 'I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day' based on his 1863 poem 'Christmas Bells'. 

'CHRISTMAS WITH THE CAMPBELLS' (Rated CTC) - is an American comedy romance Directed by Clare Nierderpruem in only her second feature film offering since 2018's 'Little Women' although in the intervening years she has Directed  a number of made for TV movies. When Jesse (Brittany Snow) gets dumped right before the Christmas holidays by her boyfriend Shawn (Alex Moffat), his parents convince her to still spend Christmas with them, and Shawn's handsome cousin (Justin Long), while Shawn is away. The film is released Stateside this week too, and is Co-Written and Co-Produced by Vince Vaughn.

'SALVATORE : SHOEMAKER OF DREAMS' (Rated G) - this Italian English language documentary film is Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the acclaimed Director behind 'Call Me By Your Name', 'Suspiria', 'Becket' and the recently released 'Bones and All'. This film saw its World Premiere at the Venice Film Festival in early September 2020, was released in the US in early November this year and now gets a limited showcasing in Australia. Narrated by Michael Stuhlbarg the film charts the life of Italian shoemaker Salvatore Ferragamo, who in the early 20th century, as impoverished teenage Italian cobbler sailed from Naples to America to seek a better life. He settled in Southern California, and became Hollywood's go-to shoemaker during the silent film era and the iconic films of the period. In 1927, he returned to Italy and founded in Florence his namesake luxury brand. The film has so far taken just US$19K in Box Office receipts.

'BEYOND THE REEF' (Rated G) - this Australian documentary film is Executive Produced and Directed by Luke Wheatley whose previous documentary offerings are 'Plant Delicious' and 'Grounded' and fourteen episodes of the TV series 'The 48 Hour Destination'. Raised in Townsville, Queensland, Australia but currently based in Los Angeles, Shuang Hu has built a huge following on social media. In this film Shuang returns to her home state to showcase the wonders of Far North Queensland to young audiences, experiencing many new adventures for the very first time. Shuang’s journey starts with one of the oldest and most beautiful ecological habitats in the world - The Great Barrier Reef. Her scuba training along the outer edge of the reef sees her nerves give way to amazement, as the colour and energy of the underwater world unfolds before her. Shuang’s adventure continues inland where she explores the oldest rainforest in the world - the Daintree. From a boat ride down a crocodile-infested river, swimming under ancient waterfalls to rafting down the wild Barron Gorge rapids, the adventure becomes action-packed before calming down to a feast of local culinary delights. Travelling by land, air and sea, Shuang discovers the area’s history, its secrets, and humanity’s relationship with the region.

With nine new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-