In-Person Screening: Thursday, November 6, 8:15 pm

Moonika Siimets will present a Q&A following the screening.

Virtual Screenings: TBA

The Black Hole (Must Auk)

Moonika Siimets, 115 min, Estonia and Finland, 2024

In Estonian with English subtitles

New York Premiere

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.

Festival & Awards History

2024 Fantastic Fest (Austin, USA)

2024 Warsaw International Film Festival (Poland)

2024 PÖFF - Black Nights Film Festival (Tallinn, Estonia)

2025 GoEast - Festival of Central and Eastern European Film

2025 SxSW Sydney Film Festival

Free Spirit Award - 2024 Warsaw IFF

Actors of the Year Liina Tennosaar and Ursel Tilk - 2024 Estonian Cultural Endowment

Best Director - GoEast - Festival of Central and Eastern European Film 2025