Built on the outskirts of the Ukrainian city of Odesa during the Soviet era, a sanatorium faces a saltwater lake on the northern coast of the Black Sea. People gather at the sanatorium, seeking health and healing, or perhaps love and chance encounters. Time seems to stand still at this paradise as they drift off into peaceful reverie, surrounded by retro-futuristic equipment and the saltwater lake peat. Yet they are dragged back into an inescapable reality and an uncertain future through the constant, blaring sounds of air-raid sirens. This documentary captures the brutal contrast between the beautiful scenery and ruthless reality through the sight of soldiers who come to receive treatment for their wounds before returning to the battlefield.

In a rural Tuscan town in the 1980s, archaeology enthusiast Arthur has a special skill of locating ancient Etruscan tombs and earns his living selling the artefacts he and his band of tomb raiders uncover. One day, his discovery of a beautiful, rare statue of a goddess triggers a commotion in the black arts market. Directed by Alice Rohrwacher, who gained international attention for her previous films The Wonders (2015) and Happy as Lazzaro (2019).

Three kung-fu masters appear before Raphael, a young border guard. Clad in leather jackets and blasting metal music from their boomboxes, they dance through the air and leave the border patrol unit in ruins. Having miraculously survived this attack, Raphael becomes obsessed with the forbidden culture of Black Sabbath and kung-fu, but his attempts at imitating the art of kung-fu fail to impress any women. As Raphael drifts through uneventful, aimless days he stumbles upon a remote mountain monastery and has a life-changing encounter with monks practising a form of kung-fu he has never witnessed before!

Julia is a successful conductor. As she turns 40, she and her partner Georg are desperate for a child when a fertility specialist, Dr Vilfort, offers them some hope. The treatment they receive is successful and Julia becomes pregnant, but the birth doesn’t go as planned and the baby is quickly taken away without explanation. When she is finally reunited with her child, Julia feels a strong sense of unease, alienation and distance from the baby.  Premiering at the 2025 Berlinale Film Festival, the film is a tense and gripping narrative and a sharp portrayal of the pressures of motherhood, depicting anxieties around physical changes and rebellion against societal expectations while capturing the moment both love and fear become two sides of the same coin.

Ali and Zahra, both 14 years old, are best friends. Zahra is a refugee from Afghanistan. Soon it becomes clear that Ali has terminal cancer; meanwhile, Zahra is forced to return to Afghanistan. In a gesture of true friendship, Ali appeals to the Minister to help Zahra remain in the Netherlands, saying she wants to give her status to her dying friend. Will her plea be heard? Based on a true story, this coming-of-age film addresses serious topics while brimming with the energy of the young cast.

Smaragda, a former children’s programme presenter, moves into her late mother’s house in a small tourist town in Cyprus where she lives with her mother’s guide dog. Amidst unfulfilling relationships and the anxiety of potentially inheriting the same progressive eye disease as her mother, she agonises over what she can leave behind once she passes away. Her attempts to return to working in the television industry go nowhere, and her forays into the world of social media lead to temporary attention and backlash. Struggling financially, she begins working at a tourist resort but in the face of various anxieties and setbacks, Smaragda eventually must confront her own existence through the support of her friends as well as her own resilience.

In the early 20th century on a remote Greek island, herbalist Hadoula has long witnessed a society where women are bound by poverty and the oppressive weight of patriarchy. As she contemplates the suffering destined for the generations to come, including her own daughter and granddaughters, a thought takes hold in her mind: wouldn’t it be better if she set these girls free before they’re forced to bear the same fate? Eventually, believing it to be God’s will, she takes steps towards an irreversible act. A powerful and thought-provoking work that depicts the tragedy that unfolds in a society where tradition and faith are intertwined. Based on the novel ‘The Murderess’ by Alexandros Papadiamantis.

One day, Pola stops dreaming. She turns to the Dream Agency to find out why but she isn’t satisfied by any of its answers. As the cutting-edge system starts to recreate her dreams, she feels as if she herself is also being recreated. Maybe she never dreamt in the first place, or maybe Pola herself is a dream? Composed entirely by AI, this film is a fascinating collage of live-action and animation, a labyrinth where dreams and reality, memory and fantasy, become intertwined: a challenging work that invites the audience to form their own interpretations.

In 1961, United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld is in the final year of his term. The tensions of the Cold War are reaching their peak and the newly independent Democratic Republic of Congo is in the midst of civil war and division. Peacebuilding amid post-colonial chaos is a challenge considered by many as impossible. Hammarskjöld takes on this mission but this triggers fierce resistance, making the situation increasingly tense. One day, a reunion with a close friend prompts him to face the life he left behind. Torn between his duties and inner struggles and becoming increasingly isolated in both his political and personal life, Hammarskjöld sets off for the Congo to mediate a ceasefire. Little does he know this would be the most dangerous journey of his life…

In the Torre Baró district on the outskirts of Barcelona in 1978, local resident and municipal bus driver Manolo Vital is fed up with the neglect of the impoverished immigrant community in the suburbs. Outraged, he hijacks the Number 47 bus in an attempt to expose the government’s lie that the Torre Baró district is unreachable by public transport. A socially conscious film that realistically depicts the lives of immigrants in the Spanish suburbs living precariously from the 1950s to 1970s.

Teenager Enrique has been sent to live with his grandmother due to his mother’s job and enjoys a short summer living in the rural countryside as he and his friends race around on mopeds through the quiet valley. When Enrique starts to get suspicious of how reluctant his mother is about him returning to the city, he discovers the secret behind her ‘job’ and must decide on what to do. Featuring fresh, authentic performances by the real residents of the mountain village of Utechka, the film beautifully presents the reality of modern Slovakia through captivating imagery. This debut by emerging director Katarina Gramatova was well-received at the Tokyo International Film Festival.

Meet Olivia and Aleksander and their daughter Agata: a picture-perfect well-to-do family. One day, a mysterious young man named Julian arrives at their home and as he integrates into their family, cracks begin to appear in their lifestyle to reveal the true dysfunctional relationships within. Inspired by Pier Paolo Pasolini’s 1968 art film ‘Teorema’, this unconventional dark comedy delivers an unpredictable narrative that interweaves social commentary with plenty of humour. Selected for the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival’s competition section.

One day Jirka and Aneta, a couple in their 30s, receive a visit from Jirka’s sexagenarian mother Valerie, but little do they know that this marks the beginning of hell…. Sophisticated yet strong-willed, Valerie intrudes not only into their home but also into their emotional space and privacy. Are the good intentions of a parent always justified? This film poses the question that perhaps the mother, a person often closest to us, can in fact be the most toxic and unsettling presence of all. A thriller that skilfully portrays distances between family members, an experience that anyone can face, and artfully navigates the fine line between dark humour and horror.

This documentary follows the lives of 12 women who lived in former East Germany (GDR), with testimonies ranging from artists to factory workers that highlight the gap between the ideals of a state that ‘championed’ liberation and equality and the harsh realities of daily life. While the 1950 ‘Law on the Protection of Mothers and Children and the Rights of Women’ officially proclaimed gender equality and claimed to expand employment opportunities and childcare provisions for women, in reality their career paths remained limited and the burden of housework and childcare still fell disproportionately on women. The complex emotions expressed in a society where progress and constraints intersect, including legal frameworks surrounding abortion, raise questions that are still relevant today. Femocracy II follows Femocracy (screened at EU Film Days 2023), which focused on female politicians in West Germany and attracted an audience of over 200,000 worldwide.

Veronika Márek is a leading figure in Hungarian children’s literature, and her masterpiece ‘Laci and the Lion’ has been a special bridge linking Hungary and Japan for over half a century. Since its publication in 1965, ‘Laci and the Lion’ has sold over 700,000 copies in Japan and continues to be widely read today. Why is this children’s book still so beloved across borders? Led by the gaze of both the author and of children, this documentary traces the universal values told in her story: facing your fears with courage and stepping out into the world through playful imagination.

Pauli is a successful flutist who has been hailed a rising star since childhood but suffers a breakdown under the immense weight and pressure of high expectations, returning to his hometown to recover. Unable to shake off the disappointment and despair of no longer being able to play the flute, one day he reunites with an old friend, Iiris, who creates her own experimental music. As she invites him to make music with her, Pauli – who has lived his entire professional life striving for perfection and fearing mistakes – finds himself captivated by her energy, and in their strange musical sessions he finds himself relaxing and enjoying their music. But when a concert triggers the pressures of the past, Pauli is forced to re-evaluate his future as well as his friendship with Iiris. Screened in the ACID section of the 2025 Cannes International Film Festival.

Surrounded by the Jura Mountains in the idyllic town of Saint-Claude, kind-hearted Aymeric reunites with Florence, a former colleague who is six months pregnant, and they move in together. Once her son Jim is born, Aymeric raises him as his own. A strong bond grows between them until suddenly Jim’s biological father Christophe shows up and upends their happy life, launching Aymeric on a journey to discover what it means to be a father. Premiered at the 2024 Cannes International Film Festival starring Karim Leklou, winner of the Best Actor Award at the 50th César Awards.

Former coal miner Yovo runs a small private zoo on the banks of the Danube and lives peacefully amongst the animals and in nature. However, this quiet life begins to unravel when a local oligarch, backed by both the mayor and the police chief, proposes a dangerous nuclear waste storage project in the area. A portrayal of a community torn by conflicting interests, local influential figures giving in to immoral authorities and the conflict between the communist and post-communist generations. A quiet yet thrilling portrayal of the multitude of human desires harboured in this small community that warns of the violence that simmers within modern society.

Frustrated by constant setbacks, conceptual artist Jean-Yves Machond decides to leave his teaching post in Brussels to move to the coastal town of Étretat in Normandy, known for its links to Impressionism. Jean-Yves has grand plans to create the masterpiece of the century but can’t seem to find a subject that he truly wants to paint. His plans begin to wobble as he meets local hedonistic painters and manipulative gallery owners. While these colourful interactions should feed into his art and creativity, he finds that reality is in fact not so kind.

Paris, 1835. Frédéric Chopin is a young composer, enjoying a life in the spotlight at salons and in high society while earning his living through concerts and piano lessons. While young Chopin’s fame continues to grow through glamorous evenings, various romances and interactions with fellow artists, behind the scenes, an illness silently creeps closer and a sense of urgency regarding his limited time in this world brings change to his life and his music. What does young Chopin truly seek, rather than conforming to the expectations of society’s elite? This biographical drama presents the passions and the inner struggles of the world-renowned composer against the backdrop of Paris, the capital of romanticism.

In contrast to its provocative title, a play on the iconic protest song ‘Fuck Tha Police’ by N.W.A., this film is serene and poetic, filled with deep affection and respect for the ancient Greek polis. This is the story of Irma, who travelled to Greece 20 years ago after being diagnosed with a terminal illness and now returns to the country once again. Drawing on the director’s personal experiences, the film takes the audience on a literary journey through the Aegean Islands. Winner of the Grand Prix Award in the International Competition section of the 2025 FID Marseille international film festival.

Young Theo sets out on his first voyage on the fishing boat Simshar with his ocean-faring Maltese family, but the vessel sinks, leaving its crew stranded in the Mediterranean Sea. In the same waters, medical worker Alex is dispatched to a merchant ship which has rescued migrants from Africa, where he finds himself caught between the decisions of various countries regarding where they can be taken. Eventually the two incidents intertwine, resulting in irreparable loss at the end of an extreme ordeal at sea from which one solitary survivor emerges. Based on a true story, Simshar depicts lives and borders that sway beyond the waves while raising questions over divisions surrounding immigration. Official Maltese entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2015 Academy Awards.

This film is based on the story of Maria Leiko, a Latvian actress from the silent film era. Having built her career in Germany in the 1930s, she travels to Moscow upon hearing about the birth of her granddaughter, where she comes face-to-face with the totalitarian regime of the Soviet Union. Torn between stardom, love for her family and the terror of Stalinism, Maria chooses silence. What are the consequences of her choice when she is eventually confronted with the pressures of the Soviet regime? A moving depiction of the struggle between the terrors of this era and individual dignity through the serenity of black and white imagery. Selected for the Forum section of the 2024 Berlinale International Film Festival.

In late August, Danielius, a man in his mid-30s, leaves his wife and son in Norway to return to his hometown in Lithuania to sell his family’s apartment. Upon his return, he doesn’t feel the warmth and welcome he had once felt with the locals, but unable to let go of the past and what he has left behind, he also finds himself reluctant to leave. Using unique cinematography this film captures a moment in the life of someone who finds themselves adrift. Directed by Vytautas Katkus, cinematographer of Toxic (screened at EU Film Days 2024) and winner of the Best Director Award at the 2025 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

Adi, 17, is spending the summer in his home village on the banks of the Danube when he is attacked and brutally beaten on the street one night by two local youths. As the investigation into the incident progresses, everyone – the conservative villagers and even his loving parents – begins to view Adi differently. The community, seemingly tranquil until this incident, begins to slowly fall apart. A film depicting the subtle nuances of human relationships which gradually come to light in the face of this crime shown through tense, realistic cinematography.  Winner of the Queer Palm Award at the 2024 Cannes International Film Festival.

One evening at a cemetery, Paula, who has fallen into despair since her younger brother Tim was lost at sea, meets Helmut, a peculiar old man who is taking his wife’s ashes to South Tyrol. Since Paula is heading to Trieste to mark what would have been Tim’s birthday, she finds herself accompanying Helmut on his travels. Along the way, an unexpected friendship begins to grow between the pair… A moving film that delicately presents the journey of the heart through loss, sprinkled with some humour along the way.