The 8th Annual New York Baltic Film Festival (NYBFF) presented by Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America returns this November with the best new films from the Baltic region! On November 6, see the New York Premiere of the zany sci-fi parable The Black Hole (Must Auk, dir. Moonika Siimets, Estonia/Finland, 2024). *The screening will be followed by a talk with film director Moonika Siimets.*
The Black Hole is an absurdist, genre-blending comedic anthology that follows three interconnected stories in a suburban Estonian apartment complex, where residents encounter aliens and fantastical beings while grappling with everyday struggles like abuse, loneliness, and economic hardship. When a mysterious black hole appears among the lilac bushes of their district — accompanied by aliens, a giant spider, and a shorts-wearing Austrian — events begin to unfold that challenge the suburban residents’ hopes for a brighter future.
The film comprises a triptych following residents through their surreal encounters. Sirje (Anne Reemann) and Maret (Eva Koldits), dreaming of finding work abroad, end up in an extraterrestrial science experiment. Jüri (Ursel Tilk), still living with his mother, falls in love with his lustful neighbour, Gertrud (Jekaterina Linnamäe). Mariliis (Doris Tislar), who dreams of a world without abusive men, finds shelter at fearless bodybuilder Uma’s (Rea Lest) apartment full of giant spiders. The clever screenplay weaves together cosmic orgasms, an existential lust for desire, and ancient culinary wisdom – all inspired by Estonian short stories by Armin Kõomägi and Andrus Kivirähk. (115 min. In Estonian with English subtitles)
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Moonika Siimets is an internationally acclaimed Estonian female director and scriptwriter. She graduated from Tallinn University Baltic Film and Media School and attended Judith Weston’s scriptwriting and directing master classes in LA. Her filmography includes award-winning documentaries, TV series, short films and feature films such as Is It You? (2013 Stockholm FF), The Last Romeo (2013 Tel Aviv ISFF), The Little Comrade (Busan IFF 2018 – Busan Bank Award, Palm Springs 2019, Best debut film – Nordic Film Days Lübeck, Best fiction film – Estonian Film and Television Awards, Film of the year prize – Cultural Endowment of Estonia), and the documentary feature Two Hours to Happiness (2022, DocPoint).
