Four Seasons of Youth (Brazil) by Essi Rafael

From enrollment to graduation, a wannabe movie director films his experience at one of the most important universities in Brazil. As the years go by, we follow the hopes and fears of students facing an unprecedented educational crisis.

Running time: 01:39:49

The Shaman and Dropout Psychologist (Mongolia, United States) by Frances Ulman

Filmed in Mongolia, this documentary is an intimate portrait of an elder female shaman named Altantsetseg. We have rare, complete access to be with Altantsetseg as she prepares for, and goes into a shaman's trance. Much of what is known about shamanism focuses on objects and rituals, because that is all the uninitiated can see. But shamans see with much more than their eyes alone. Many sacred healers within indigenous and native communities are still following the ways of the ancestors. Uniquely, this film was written and directed by first time filmmaker Frances Ulman, who is also an initiated shaman, and a mentee of Altantsetseg. Previously Frances was a clinical psychologist in the USA, but left it all behind when the spirits called her onto her path. This is a film about a shaman, directed by a shaman. The close, personal relationship between these two women from different parts of the world is the alchemy of the film. It allows us into spaces within shamanism others have not brought to the screen. The weaving of similarities and profound differences between Altantsetseg and Frances emerges as an exploration of shamanism and much more. We see decolonisation as an action, the power of relationships, the wisdom of a living drum, myths of western psychology, and ways of balancing living sacredly with cellphones. Living in a world that doesn't always remember, here we are shown a way home to our hearts.

Running time: 01:32:56

Little Syria (Germany, Portugal, Romania) by Madalina Rosca, Reem Karssli

A story of unlikely quests. A search for the disappeared through rubble and tortured bodies, a race for survival, and the possibility of hope. Filmed for over 20 years in Syria and Germany, as well as in Turkey, Greece, Poland, Hungary, France, Spain and Iran, "Little Syria" follows the quest of a brother, his sister and her boyfriend, trapped between a Syria from which they ran for their lives, and a Europe which seems at times to embrace them and at others to push them back.

Running time: 01:29:00

Mu and the Vanishing World (United States) by Paco Beltrán, Jessica W. Leung

Ever since fleeing Myanmar as a child, Mu, a young Kayan woman, lives confined as a refugee and tourist attraction in Thailand. Soon after she becomes a single teenage mother, the U.N. initiates a resettlement plan for the refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border which creates an opportunity for potentially tens of thousands of people to start new lives in the USA.

Determined to pursue freedom for herself and her baby, Mu ruptures ties with her traditional mother, her culture and tribe to fulfill the requirements of the rigorous vetting process. Once she finally arrives in America, her romanticized ideas are challenged by the reality that unfolds. As Mu fights to adapt, she begins to wonder where her world truly lies.

Running time: 01:26:00

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?

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. 

Running time: 00:38:39

Iris (Canada) by Gabriela de Andrade

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

Katharina Klement – Notes, Sound, and Film (Austria) by Mersolis Schöne

Vienna-based composer, pianist, and improviser Katharina Klement works on the expansion of the concept of music. She performs with piano and extended playing techniques on stages from Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus to New York City.

Katharina Klement – Notes, Sound, and Film takes us behind the scenes and gives an insight into the genesis environment and the creative process of her work. With Mersolis Schöne, the artist talks about the process of creating the joint film work Love – A Memory Sculpture. Based on observations, interviews, performative elements, and readings, the film resonates with her in an experimental way as it traces the artist's working process.

Running time: 00:14:30

The Untranslatable Forest  (United States) by Ivan Miguel, Andy Camou

A journey through a surreal airport where nature and untranslatable words unexpectedly reveal on the way.

Running time: 00:02:30