Venice etc.

Forty years ago, during the uprising to overthrow the Shah’s regime in Iran, protestors set fire to movie theatres as a way of showing opposition to Western culture. Many cinemas were burned down. In one tragic case, a theatre was set on fire with four hundred people inside, most of whom were burned alive. Now, [...]

Sharad Nerulkar has devoted himself to becoming an Indian classical vocalist. Initiated into this centuries-old tradition by his father, he follows his dream with sincerity and discipline, committing himself entirely to his artistic journey. As he strives to attain the highest level of his craft, he traces his way through the hallowed mysteries and rituals [...]

During the rise of the materialistic comfort of life in the 1960s, there emerges an undercurrent of danger in Hong Kong. No.7 Cherry Lane tells the tale of Ziming, a Hong Kong University undergraduate, entangled between his amorous feelings for a self-exiled mother Mrs Yu from Taiwan in the White Terror period, and her beautiful [...]

In the backlands of Minas Gerais, where time seems to pass at the river’s pace, two elderly women keep the whirlwind of life in full swirl. Bastú has just lost her husband and seeks comfort in daily life. Helping her through it is Maria, whose drum pounds with all the joy and power of her [...]

The human-traffickers have a well-established route: from Burma into Thailand. Lianqing is one of five illegals who travels this route one summer night in 2013; along the way a fellow migrant called Guo is kind to her, and their fates become entwined. Once in Thailand, Lianqing finds ‘underground’ jobs, saves money and finds out where [...]

When unskilled laborer Martin Eden meets Elena, the daughter of a wealthy industrial family, it’s love at first sight. The well-educated, refined young woman soon becomes an obsession for Martin, who hopes that his dreams of becoming a writer will help him rise above his humble origins to be able to marry Elena. With determination [...]

Based on the acclaimed Jerzy Kosiński novel, "The Painted Bird" is a meticulous 35mm black and white evocation of wild, primitive Eastern Europe at the bloody close of World War II. The film follows the journey of The Boy, entrusted by his persecuted parents to an elderly foster mother. The old woman soon dies and [...]

When seriously ill teenager Milla falls madly in love with smalltime drug dealer Moses, it’s her parents’ worst nightmare. But as Milla’s first brush with love brings her a new lust for life, things get messy and traditional morals go out the window. Milla soon shows everyone in her orbit - her parents, Moses, a [...]

Wiebke (45) lives together with her adoptive daughter Nicolina (9) on an idyllic horse farm. After many years of waiting, she now has a chance to adopt another girl, Raya (5), to provide Nocolina with a longed-for sister. The first weeks are harmonious, and the siblings get along great. But shortly thereafter, Wiebke, realizes that [...]

Sudan, province of Aljazira, nowadays – When Muzamil was born, a prophecy by the holy man of the village predicts that he will die when he is 20 years old. Muzamil’s father cannot stand the doom and travels away from home. Sakina, as a single mother, is over protective as she raises her son. One [...]