Essai 21 (France) by Florian Mauny

Exhausted by his work and routine, a person decides to suddenly break his daily life and wander in unknown places, in which he gradually sinks and gets lost.

Running time: 01:04:14

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

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

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

Knife, Chocolate (Iran) 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! He believes that the smell of a decent  woman’s cosmetics is different from an indecent one! He even classifies bees. Prostitute or chaste, that is the question!

Running time: 00:15:00

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

Hands (Portugal) by Filipe Piteira

Hands are the connection and the path between the body and soul. The mode of search and self-knowledge, which is intuitive and sensorial, with them, discovering and transcending themselves. It is the receptive and restless mind that transforms hands into instruments of grace.

Running time: 00:07:00