Despitely inclement weather, Tartu's Love Film Festival kicks off with a bustling crowd filling the town square for the opening ceremony.
The 20th Tartu Love Film Festival Tartuff Kicks Off in Tartu, Estonia
The 20th edition of the Tartu Love Film Festival, known as Tartuff, began on Monday, August 4, 2025, in Estonia's largest open-air movie theater in Town Hall Square. The festival ran until August 9 and featured screenings at two locations: Tartu Elektriteater and Town Hall Square.
The festival was officially opened by Johan Kudu, the festival's director, Tartu Mayor Urmas Klaas, and Tiina Lokk, the director of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
The main venue for the festival was Tartu Town Hall Square, where double features started at 10 p.m. each night on the outdoor big screen. The first night's opening double feature included Richard Linklater's "New Wave" (2025) and Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet" (1996). Despite chilly and gloomy weather following floods earlier in the day, over 1,100 people attended the opening screening.
In addition to the outdoor screenings, Tartu Elektriteater hosted documentaries and children's films during the daytime. On Thursday, August 7, "Mat the Cat" (2005) and Jean-Luc Godard's "Breathless" (1960) were screened at Tartu Elektriteater. Meanwhile, at Town Hall Square, "I Love You Forever" (2024) and "Before Sunrise" (1995) were shown on the outdoor screen, starting at 10 p.m.
A total of ten films were screened outdoors in Town Hall Square across the festival dates. For a precise full schedule with all movie titles and times, it is best to consult the official festival website or local Tartu cultural event sources.
During the Tartu Love Film Festival, attendees could experience outdoor-living by watching films under the stars each night on the big screen at Town Hall Square, transforming the event into an unique home-and-garden experience incorporating lifestyle elements beyond traditional movie theaters. In the daytime, Tartu Elektriteater offered documentaries and children's films as an alternative venue, catering to diverse film tastes and enhancing the overall festival lifestyle.
