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Auditions are meant to be a stage for talent, a chance for aspiring actors to bring characters to life. But in 1001 FRAMES, that stage quickly morphs into something far more unsettling—a place where power, manipulation, and control take center stage. Mehrnoush Alia’s debut feature doesn’t just depict an audition process; it deconstructs it, exposing the cracks in an industry where ambition is too often met with exploitation. What begins as a casting call for the role of Scheherazade in 1001 NIGHTS soon unravels into an exploration of authority and the dangerous ways it can be abused.

Every so often, a film comes along that feels like a whisper in the wind—subtle, powerful, and impossible to ignore. THE MESSAGE doesn’t rely on grand spectacle or high-stakes drama but thrives in quiet spaces where emotion and meaning simmer beneath the surface. It’s a story about innocence meeting the harsh realities of the world, a road trip-style movie in which the journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about the destination.

This film becomes something more by immersing the audience in life's quiet, inescapable moments. BEGINNINGS thrives on its ability to capture the unspoken tensions, the weight of regret, and the persistence of love in unexpected places. With director Jeanette Nordahl, who understands the power of restraint and leads performances that bring nuance to every scene, it crafts a deeply human story that lingers well beyond its final moments.

This gripping and deeply personal legal drama doesn’t just tell a story—it immerses its audience in an all-too-real nightmare. It is the kind of nightmare that plays out in courtrooms every day, where survivors are forced to prove their suffering while the system scrutinizes their every word. With its intensity, stripped-down realism, and deeply affecting performances, this film doesn’t just ask for your attention—it demands it.

The victors often write history, but sometimes, it’s preserved by the tools used to manipulate the public. UNDER THE FLAGS, THE SUN uncovers a long-forgotten collection of state-controlled media, offering a raw, unfiltered look at how an authoritarian regime shaped perception, controlled narratives, and left a lasting imprint on a nation’s identity. This isn’t a traditional documentary with talking heads and modern analysis—it’s an excavation of propaganda, allowing the past to tell its own story through the very footage that once kept a dictatorship in power. While the film is not directly related to what is currently happening in the United States, I can’t help but see the parallels as a citizen. These horrors are repeating themselves while so many celebrate.

Some stories take audiences on a journey, guiding them from point A to point B with clear direction. Others break apart expectations, immersing viewers in a chaotic, unpredictable experience that feels as fluid as real life. HOW TO BE NORMAL AND THE ODDNESS OF THE OTHER WORLD is firmly in that category, delivering a visually experimental, narratively fragmented, and emotionally resonant exploration of mental health, identity, and the shifting perceptions of reality. Directed by Florian Pochlatko, this debut feature refuses to play it safe, leaning into surrealism, dark humor, and a unique approach to storytelling that challenges the notion of what it means to be "normal."

Some documentaries take you deep inside a moment in history, but few drop you into the middle with such unfiltered intensity. SPECIAL OPERATION does exactly that, offering an unflinching look at the Russian military's reckless occupation of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant during the early days of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. What sets this film apart is its approach—it doesn’t rely on interviews, dramatizations, or external commentary. Instead, it presents the occupation as captured entirely through the silent, unblinking lens of the facility’s CCTV cameras.

WHERE THE NIGHT STANDS STILL is a movie that aims to make you feel something profound, but whether that feeling lands depends entirely on the viewer. It’s built around a quiet, contemplative story about three Filipino siblings, all domestic workers in Italy, who reunite in their late sister’s villa. Throughout a single night, they navigate unspoken tensions, buried emotions, and the heavy weight of a past that refuses to stay buried. The film leans heavily into its minimalist approach—subtle performances, sparse dialogue, and long, lingering shots meant to emphasize everything that isn’t being said. Some will find it poetic; others, like myself, might feel it’s more about aesthetics than storytelling.

This film refuses to let its audience sit comfortably. It builds a world where perception is a battlefield, and truth is a shifting target, pulling its characters—and viewers—into an intricate game of ideology, control, and deception. What starts as a seemingly isolated incident quickly spirals into a tangled web of conflicting histories, where the most dangerous weapon isn’t action but interpretation. At its center is a protagonist forced to navigate a space where every choice—whether to speak or stay silent—holds consequences. The result is a psychological puzzle that never hands over easy answers, demanding engagement rather than passive observation.

In WHO DO I BELONG TO, the sweeping landscapes of Tunisia set the stage for a compelling drama that weaves the personal with the political. Aicha's (Salha Nasraoui) life, marked by routine and simplicity, is thrust into chaos with the return of her son Mehdi (Malek Mechergui.) This film is an emotional voyage into the heart of family bonds, where love and truth collide. Meryam Joobeur invites us into a vividly drawn world where each frame tells a story rich with the textures of Tunisian life. The passion and heart are evident in every scene of the film; you can tell that Joobeur gives her everything in every frame created.

From a visual standpoint, if you’ve seen the 1968 documentary HIGH SCHOOL, you’ll feel right at home watching SUBJECT: FILMMAKING. This compelling documentary charts an audacious experiment in film education led by Edgar Reitz in 1968. This documentary offers an inspiring tale of how a Munich classroom became the breeding ground for a new way of learning about cinema. Fast-forward to an unexpected reunion in 2023, the film reveals the lasting impact of this bold venture on its participants and the broader world of film. From its opening scenes, the documentary captures your imagination with a mix of history, depth, innovation, and the excitement of creating something groundbreaking.

RAVING REVIEW: MUTT is a journey through the life of a trans man in a city that never rests. The film follows Feña, played by the incredible Lío Mehiel, as he faces the challenges of his identity and past relationships, which are brought to the forefront when people from his past re-enter his life.

RAVING REVIEW: DELEGATION is a movie that takes you on an unforgettable journey through the struggles of youth and the importance of who you are as an individual vs. who your country wants you to be. Directed by Asaf Saban, this film follows a group of Israeli high school students on their final trip before joining the military. The students embark on a pilgrimage to visit important historical locations.

RAVING REVIEW: SILVER HAZE is a moving and impactful journey into trauma, identity, and healing themes. The film takes us on a ride with Franky as she navigates the aftermath of a traumatic event from her past and finds solace in the friendship of someone she wasn’t expecting. This film, directed by Sacha Polak and featuring Vicky Knight and Esme Creed-Miles, is a shining example of love's power and the human spirit's resilience.

RAVING REVIEW: THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE is a film that will leave you with plenty to ponder. A thought-provoking commentary on the challenges of doing the right thing, the movie follows the journey of a high school teacher, Carla Nowak, who finds herself in a moral dilemma when a series of thefts occur at the school, and one of her students is suspected. Carla's idealism is tested as she tries to balance her beliefs with the limitations of the school system. The more she tries to do what is right, the greater the risk of her breaking under pressure.

RAVING REVIEW: SEA SPARKLE is a magnificent coming-of-age story that takes the viewer on a journey filled with mystery, excitement, new friendships, and more. Set in the charming coastal city of Ostend, the film follows the tale of Lena, a young girl determined to uncover the truth behind her father's fate as a North Sea fisherman. Despite facing skepticism and doubt, Lena perseveres in her quest for answers and embarks on a journey that is both thrilling and heartwarming.