On Saint Nicholas' Eve/ În Seara de Moș Nicolae, dir. Emy Mirel Ivasca, Romania 2025, 11’
After seeing a man lying in the snow, a boy recalls a Saint Nicholas night spent with his father years before. Playing with his father takes an unexpected turn, while his dream toy leaves a bitter aftertaste.
Dipolar Bipolar, dir. Quankai Li, Japan 2025, 8’50’’
Inside my head, there's a cat, a dog, and a pile of rocks. The title of this film is “Dipolar Bipolar” which means “two extremes”.It symbolizes the two extremes of bipolar disorder.
S The Wolf, dir. Sameh Alaa, France 2025, 10’30’’
A man recounts his capillary peregrinations through his adolescence - from the barber’s trauma to his first love to the loss of his hair and eventually his father. Through this, we see a construction of a masculinity in the making.
My Brother, My Brother, dir. Abdelrahman Dnewar, Saad Dnewar, Egypt 2025, 14’57’’
The complexities of a past shared by identical twins Omar and Wesam. A split narrative retells both sides of their memories – from the instant they were fused together in their mother’s womb to the moment they are parted when one of them tragically dies.
Ostrich, dir. Marie Kenov, Switzerland 2025, 8’33’’
Every day a sparrow sees glamorous ostriches on posters, ads and its phone. Fascinated by their long necks and strong legs, it tries to become like them - training, using make-up and stretching its neck. But when it meets a real ostrich, it learns a simple truth: a sparrow can never truly be an ostrich.
Dear Leo Sokolosky/ Drogi Leo Sokolosky, dir. Weronika Szyma, Poland 2024, 8’
A young girl writes to her deceased great-grandfather, recalling a German town where he was sent to a WWII work camp. Past and present intertwine as memories blur with oblivion. Addressed to Leo Sokolosky - his camp friend’s ghost - the film reflects on ideals today and the longing for someone who is gone.
Bugss, dir. Jacopo Degl'innocenti, USA 2025, 2’13’’
A small insect creates chaos in a stressed family.
Póg mo Pigeon, dir. Clíodhna Lyons, Ireland 2024, 6’45’’
In 1970s West Cork, Mikey escapes the watchful Sacred Heart by roaming the forest, where he befriends chaotic Pidgey. At home, strict Mammy and her rosary rule. When Pidgey bursts in during the Angelus and heads for the icon, a shocking moment unfolds - changing Mikey forever.
Autokar, dir. Sylwia Szkiłądź, Belgium, France 2025, 17’27’’
In the 1990s, 8-year-old Agata leaves Poland for Belgium. Her perspective transforms the migratory reality into an initiatory experience.
