Rojek (Canada) by Zaynê Akyol

ROJEK encounters incarcerated members of the Islamic State from all over the world, as well as their wives detained

in prison-camps, who are sharing a common dream: stablishing a caliphate. Confronted with the fundamentalist beliefs of the jihadists, the film attempts to trace the beginning, the rise and fall of the Islamic State (ISIS) through their personal stories. These conversations are the thread along which the documentary evolves, as it is intertwined with various sequences depicting current, post-war Syrian Kurdistan. ROJEK offers an intimate gaze at an unknown reality, testifying of pivotal moments experienced by the actors of this conflict. The film tackles how this ideological war is only the beginning of a new kind of threat.

Running time: 02:06:41

Marry, Fuck, Kill (United States) by Ian Berry

Ivan’s life is a disaster. He spends his days lost in his own head, bouncing between porn, target practice, and a hopeless crush on a co-worker he both craves and resents. Inside, his mind runs nonstop, full of self-doubt, bitter humor, and jabs at himself and the world around him. Beneath the jokes and sarcasm, there’s a mess of anger and insecurity that’s getting harder to ignore. This is Ivan: painfully self-aware, painfully stuck, and just beginning to realize that maybe, just maybe, he’s his own worst enemy.

Running time: 01:21:35

Coexistence (Dominican Republic) by José Gómez De Vargas

After the assassination of a resident of an old condo, an extensive investigation holds a group of seven tenants in a interrogation room, all of them suspects of committing the crime.

Running time: 01:36:00

A Hunt For Hedgehogs (Hungary) by Mihály Schwechtje

Bogi, a talented opera singer student, earns money by babysitting the children of her cousin, whose marriage is in crisis. On the day of her final exam, she is under pressure and commits an error.

Running time: 01:36:00

Emperica (Belgium) by Kris De Meester, Ron Chiers (out of competition)

Against the backdrop of societal collapse, two powerful voices engage in a high-stakes debate over the future of humanity. Should mankind be placed under total control to safeguard its survival, or should they be granted the freedom to shape their own destiny, even if it means risking self-destruction?

Running time: 00:09:02

A Human Ride (Germany) by Kristian Gründling

The transformation of transportation is on everyone's lips, and the future of mobility has become one of the most talked-about topics. But why does it matter so much? If transportation presents such enormous challenges, why don’t we just stay at home? Is mobility a fundamental human need? In his latest film, A HUMAN RIDE, the award-winning director Kristian Gründling explores these compelling questions. Armed with a camera and microphone, he embarks on a unique journey through cities and villages, train stations and parks, gas stations and garages. Along the way, he encounters taxi drivers, scientists, and everyday people, collecting their personal insights on daily mobility. Through these encounters, the film reveals surprisingly emotional stories that touch the heart, bring laughter, and provoke deep reflection. A HUMAN RIDE uncovers the complex significance of mobility for our freedom and a fair, socially responsible society, without resorting to simple solutions or stereotypical thinking. But where do the limits of this freedom lie?

Running time: 01:03:56

Tangle (Belgium) by Carla Hoogewijs, Frank Stevens

Tangle is a multimedia film blending vivid imagery, haunting words, and evocative soundscapes to delve into the core questions of human existence. Structured as a monologue in five chapters, it begins with a single breath of steam and culminates in the miracle of cell division, symbolizing the cycle of life and death. Through themes of chaos versus order, the yearning for self-expression, and the boundless symbolism of the sea, the film becomes an invitation to reflect on life’s tangled essence. A collaboration between Carla Hoogewijs, whose lyrical prose grapples with existential wonder, and Frank Stevens, whose striking visuals echo the mystery of the human condition, Tangle is as poetic as it is profound—a journey through the beauty and harshness of being alive.

Running time: 00:38:39

Happy Birth Day (Korea, Republic of) by SANG CHEON JANG

On Hyun-mi's birthday, Soon-young is asked for a Flower and everyone receives an obituary of Ji-yeon by text.

Running time: 00:33:42

Insanely Perfect (Slovakia) by Lukáš Vízner, Miriam Fulmeková

The Weisses, a well-respected, high-ranking family, are having a luxurious dinner. When an unexpected phone call triggers the mother's sudden announcement of her departure, a web of mysterious relationships begins to unravel.

Running time: 00:30:00

Dragonfly (Shanghai) by Edward Liu

Great-grandson Zhou Zihang has only two memories of his great-grandmother - her funeral and a contact. Unable to remember season and weather, he only remembers the persimmons that were handed to him and the unexplained crying

Running time: 00:19:26

Iris (Canada) by Gabriela de Andrade

Freed from romantic expectations and capitalist interests, wouldn't friendship be our most authentic model of relationship? Isn't it there, especially between women, that the foundations of patriarchy crumble? In her film Iris, the director Gabriela de Andrade celebrates this perspective through an intimate and poetic documentary born from the voice messages exchanged between her and her friend. Ever since Iris, a French-Congolese woman, left Montreal, she has nurtured her relationship with Gabriela through voice messages. In this film, her voice gives hints of a return that exists only through Gabriela's eyes. The film is a kind of affective cartography of their interposed exchanges, Iris by voice and Gabriela by image. A reflection on the bond of friendship and sisterhood  despite physical distance.

Running time: 00:17:00

Knife, Chocolate (Iran, Islamic Republic of) by Hooshmand Varaei

This movie is the story of a happy family! The son of the family is antisocial, psychotic, skeptic and sexist who judges women by the smell of their cosmetics!

Running time: 00:15:00

When the hawk comes (Armenia) by Lilia Li-Mi-Yan, Katherina Sadovsky

A short video by artists Lilia Li-Mi-Yan (Yerevan) and Katherina Sadovsky (Moscow) is a sad, poetic metaphor for what is happening in the world today. The plot and melody of an Armenian lullaby are taken as a starting point, where a mother tries to calm her son by offering to make a symbolic choice of a destiny bird. The boy does not choose peaceful birds, nightingale, or magpie. His predictable choice is a warlike hawk.

Running time: 00:05:58