Anthony Noack – Melbourne-based writer, videographer and producer –spoke to two American directors, Isabel Hagen and Jake Wachtel, who both travelled to Estonia to show their films at the Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF).
Isabel Hagen is a stand-up comedian and classically-trained violist. As a stand-up, she has been featured twice on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and as a violinist she has played in the orchestra pit for many Broadway shows, and worked with artists such as Bjork, Max Richter and Steve Reich. Her feature film On a String is part of PÖFF 2025.
Click below to watch the interview with Isabel Hagen (5 min).
American filmmaker Jake Wachtel is the director of Karmalink, Cambodia’s first sci-fi film, which opened Venice Critics’ Week to critical acclaim. Living between California and Cambodia, he is developing new projects that merge social consciousness with wildly entertaining genre explorations. His short film The Sentry is part of PÖFF Shorts 2025.
Click below to watch the interview with Jake Wachtel (3 min).
The Black Nights Film Festival
The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (Pimedate Ööde Filmifestival, PÖFF) first took place in 1996 and has become one of the biggest film festivals in Northern Europe. It aims to bring a comprehensive selection of world cinema to Estonia and the program consists of local and international features, short films, children’s films, documentaries and animation. PÖFF is a great place to see new films and find out what films to keep an eye out for.
PÖFF is running until 23 November 2025 in Tallinn with select screenings in Tartu.
More by Anthony Noack
Interview with Julia Masli – award winning clown from Estonia | HEIA
PÖFF: Two Baltic films reveal life’s unscripted moments | HEIA
PÖFF: Three films, three worlds | HEIA
The White Ship sails with a little help from home | HEIA
Laulupidu in 60 seconds, Day I magic caught on camera | HEIA
