Elyria lives with her family in Ersekë, a small village in southern Albania, where she tends sheep. Under her father's strict rules, she hides her anger behind quiet obedience. But day by day, an unstoppable desire to rebel grows within her – until she decides on an inevitable act of rebellion.

Regie: Giulia Grandinetti, Produktion: Riccardo Neri, Vincenzo Filippo, Giulia Grandinetti, Drehbuch: Giulia Grandinetti, Kamera: Ilya Sapeha, Schnitt: Niccolò Notario, Ton: Valerio Tedone, Leonardo Giambi, Musik: Mario Russo

On board a transport ship: while a different world passes by on the banks of the canal, a young man named Milo scrubs the deck. His captain, who is also his mother, is at least as dissatisfied with his work as a sailor as he is himself. It takes a while before frustration and boredom finally lead to farewells and departure. GOODBYE MILO is a gently yet powerfully told story about growing up in the recession-plagued world of German inland shipping.

Regie: Nicolas Schönberger, Produktion: Linus Heinzler, Cosima Gerrish, Drehbuch: Nola Anwar, Nicolas Schönberger, Kamera: Anian Krone, Schnitt: Imanuel Thiele, Ton: Jan Heitland, Musik: Frederic Hellmann

A teenager in emotional crisis: Mathilde's mother suffers from schizophrenia and is being treated in a psychiatric clinic. She finds it difficult to accept her mother's illness and come to terms with it. This causes conflict with her father, but she finds support in her budding friendship with a classmate who collects fluorescent stones. ULTRAVIOLET is a painfully beautiful story from the Belgian countryside that reflects all of life: grief and loss, love and hope, joy and solidarity.

Regie: Veerle De Wilde, Produktion: Maarten D’Hollander, Tim Martens, Drehbuch: Veerle De Wilde, Kamera: Pieter Van Campe, Schnitt: Veerle De Wilde, Jan De Coster, Ton: Francesco Cimino, Musik: Kasper Cornelus

While preparing the details of his own funeral, an elderly man realises that he will be spending Christmas alone. Unable to sleep, he decides to spend the holidays at the grave of his late wife. A film about loneliness in old age and dying.

Regie: Peter Vulchev, Produktion: Peter Vulchev and Nevelin Vulchev, Drehbuch: Peter Vulchev, Kamera: Kiril Prodanov, Schnitt: Nevelin Vulchev, Ton: Adrian Gougov, Musik: N/A

Malaga is paradise on earth, a dream of summer, sun and beaches. What could be better, thinks a newly rich couple in love, than living here in the warm south of Spain in a luxurious apartment? The Costa del Sol is right on their doorstep, and they can easily earn their living from home on their computers. However, it doesn't take long in this biting comedy to realise that paradise has a catch, because the local culture is defensive and armed with musical instruments.

Regie: Delia Márquez Sánchez,Leonor Jiménez, Produktion: Delia Márquez Sánchez, Drehbuch: Leonor Jiménez,Simona Frabotta, Kamera: Ana Cayuela, Schnitt: Leonor Jiménez,Delia Márquez, Ton: Alicia Casilari, Musik: Francisco Javier Moreno Ramos,Rocío López "La boterita"

Set in a dilapidated neighbourhood of the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, the film delves into the everyday life of a ten-year-old boy and his mother. Evocative images reveal the hopelessness of the situation in which these people are trapped. A quiet observation of the social environment that raises more questions than it answers. What prospects are there in a world on the brink of collapse?

Regie: Thanh-Giang Nguyen, Produktion: Cao Viet Nga, Drehbuch: Thanh-Giang Nguyen, Kamera: Thao Hoang, Schnitt: Thanh-Giang Nguyen, Ton: Thanh-Giang Nguyen, Roman Beilharz, Musik: Roman Beilharz

Kaali discovers that his beloved sled dog has disappeared. He immediately sets out to search for him in the small town of Tasiilaq in East Greenland. He suspects that the dog has been stolen. Accompanied by his only friend, he encounters various residents and has to face the challenges of being different in this close-knit community. Kaali finds his dog and steals it back. But he is caught in the act, flees and leaves Bartilaa behind. When he learns that the real thief is someone else, he has to act quickly to avoid losing his only friend.

Regie: Christoffer Rizvanovic Stenbakken, Produktion: Asbjørn H. Kelstrup, Drehbuch: Christoffer Rizvanovic Stenbakken, Kamera: Philip Peng Rosenthal, Schnitt: Laura Skiöld Østerud, Ton: Becca Reyes, Musik: Becca Reyes

A young Iranian boy's first visit to a public bathhouse for men becomes a test of courage. Because his single mother is not allowed to accompany him and the bath attendant cannot be trusted, he is alone and left to fend for himself. KOOTAY is a cinematic experience whose stylish imagery transports the viewer into an atmosphere between dream and nightmare. Fantastical black-and-white images transform the bathhouse into a mystical place, mysterious and threatening – perhaps even dangerous?

Regie: Soheila Poormohammadi, Produktion: Soheila Poormohammadi, Drehbuch: Soheila Poormohammadi, Kamera: Armin Yousefzadeh, Schnitt: Ali Sedaghat, Ton: Mohammad Mehdi Javaherizadeh, Musik: Payam Azadi

In northern Greece, a young man with Albanian roots is struggling to keep his head above water. Sally works in greenhouses that produce cheap fruit and vegetables on a large scale. He dropped out of school and dreams of a career as a professional footballer. He defies his difficult living conditions with passion. But is there room for interpersonal relationships and love in his precarious situation?

Regie: George Georgakopoulos, Produktion: Lia Keramari, Drehbuch: George Georgakopoulos, Kamera: Yiorgos Koutsaliaris, Schnitt: George Georgakopoulos, Ton: Enes Achmet Kechagia, Musik: Gregoris Liolios

In a small village in one of Argentina's last rainforests, a solar eclipse occurs. As the shadow of the eclipse creeps across the fascinatingly photographed images, a feeling of loss and powerlessness in the face of circumstances creeps in. NUESTRA SOMBRA creates a consistently laconic mood that keeps the tension high.

Regie: Agustina Sánchez Gavier, Produktion: Valerie-Malin Schmid, Drehbuch: Agustina Sánchez Gavier, Kamera: Constanza Sandoval, Schnitt: Agustina Sánchez Gavier, Ton: Henning Hein, Musik: Joel Jaffe

A ship carrying refugees sinks off the coast of a small port town on the Andalusian coast, without disrupting everyday life. As they do every day, the civil guard sorts through the shipwrecked passengers, tourists take advantage of the beautiful weather to go sailing and visit the fair, and trucks drive north during the night. At the end of the day, festive fireworks light up the night sky.

Regie: Dinis M. Costa, Produktion: Adrien Barrouillet, Drehbuch: Dinis M. Costa, Kamera: Tomás Brice, Schnitt: Jeanne Sarfati, Ton: Flavia Cordey, Musik: Francisco Ferro