The DDA will honour an artist or filmmaker whose recent work helps to improve diversity and inclusion in the film industry and cinema culture.

In timing with the 50th anniversary of the global entertainment communications company DDA, Tallinn Black Nights will introduce a new award honouring an artist or filmmaker whose recent work takes a concerted step forward in improving diversity and inclusion in the film industry and cinema culture.

The relationship between Tallinn Black Nights and DDA is longstanding. In recent years, one of its founders, Dennis Davidson, served as the head of the jury of the Official Selection – Competition in 2017 and returned most recently in 2019 with Russian auteur Andrei Konchalovsky, who received the Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award and presented his opus, IL PECCATO (SIN).

Tiina Lokk, director of Tallinn Black Nights commented: ’It is a great privilege to create this award with our friends at DDA. Their history in shining a spotlight on films with a strong social statement fits with our overall purpose, as the Festival provides a platform for such films from all over the world. Creative bravery is something the festival has always admired in filmmakers!’

Dennis Davidson responded, ‘On behalf of DDA, I am humbled by this incredible opportunity to present an annual award at such a prestigious Festival and I am looking forward to returning to Tallinn next month. As I have experienced, Black Nights occupies an important spot in the global film calendar and has the foremost footprint across Northern Europe and adjacent countries. I am looking forward to this collaboration and to helping honour deserving artists and filmmakers from around the world.’

The recipient of the award will be announced in November, prior to the festival.

The 24th edition of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival will run from the 13th until the 29th of November.