6-10 December, multiple venues, Madurai
Category – International Documentary
Metacíclica
Dir: Lydia Zimmermann; 17:56 min; Documentary; Spain
METACYCLICAL is a neologism for six actresses who are beyond the rules. Despite their experience, no one offers them leading roles.
Cherkashins. Performance of Perestroika
Dir: Vladimir Sumashedov; 32:06 min; Documentary; Russian Federation
A film about the work of famous performance artists Valera and Natasha Cherkashin. The story centers on the performances they held in the 90s at the Ploshchad Revolyutsii Moscow metro station.
Like a Novel (Roman Gibi)
Dir: TAYFUN BELET; 1:02:38 min; Documentary; Turkey
Starting their life of love and struggle in Thessaloniki, Sabiha and Zekeriya Sertel were two journalists who fought for freedom during Turkey’s turbulent times. After Sabiha’s death, her family kept her existence a secret. Her niece, Nur Deriş, discovers Sabiha’s story through the book Like a Novel. Like a Novel is a poignant journey tracing a silenced generation and a denied era.
GEOMETRY OF RETURN
Dir: Nataliya Bek-Gergard; 8:53 min; Documentary; Canada, Ukraine
In a time when war shows no sign of ending and her town by the sea remains occupied, Svitlana realizes she may never return home. Holding onto happy memories, she finds a quiet thread to healing that ties together all she’s lost and still longs for.
Hot Mess Express
Dir: Chao Niu; 16:00 min; Documentary; China
Between the sweeping away of the old year and the tentative steps of the new, a square dancing audition was held in a small town in the Northeastern Province for the upcoming Spring Festival. A crowd of senior dancers took the stage.
Among them was Lao Gu, 65 years old, a woman constantly belittled by her husband but firmly convinced that her dancing skills were of the finest quality—charming enough to lure birds from the trees.
Momento
Dir: Gregor Hutz; 25:55 min; Documentary; Germany, Italy
Momento is the portrait of Italian painter and illustrator Emanuele Taglietti, a master craftsman whose lifelong dedication to the art of painting began as a boy under the guidance of his father. Trained over nearly 80 years — in museums, academies, on film sets, and as a pulp cover artist — Maestro Taglietti embodies a tradition of hand-painted image-making now facing extinction.
Emergency
Dir: Olivier Laval; 1:18:05 min; Documentary; Belgium
In the fall of 2019, faced with increasingly insistent protests from healthcare workers, four comedians from the Belgian theater scene embarked on the creation of a documentary piece dedicated to the world of healthcare.
Encountering Hate
Dir: Lalit Vachani; 48:00 min; Documentary; Germany, India
Revolving around three case studies of hate crime in North India, the film follows human rights lawyer Akram Akhtar Choudhary as he provides legal help to his clients - victims of mob lynchings, vigilante violence and police encounter killings.
Amad's Dream
Dir: Aashish Kiphayet; 9:30 min; Documentary; United States
Amad Mahbub is a Bangladeshi woman who left Bangladesh to escape social oppression and pursue education in neuroscience in the United States. The documentary tells the story of her resilience and transformation, as well as her connection to Henna and Kathak dance, spirituality, and activism. Through henna art, she navigates her Bangladeshi identity and resists women's oppression.
The Fine Line
Dir: Daniela Grigorenko; 25:00 min; Documentary; Russian Federation
The film explores the theme of bone marrow donation from two perspectives:
1. From the donor's side – helping others is neither difficult, nor painful, nor dangerous.
2. From the recipient's side - there are people who are willing to give a helping hand for free to save the life of a complete stranger.
Time to Smile
Dir: Jonas Almeida Braga Amarante; 12:15 min; Documentary; Portugal
By observing the tourists who are part of the landscape of Belém, in Lisbon, reflections on colonialism, emigration, identity, and tourism are constructed.
CROSS THE OCEAN AND RETURN CHANGED
Dir: Natalia Kuznetsova; 1:00:00 min; Documentary; Russian Federation
3 oceans. 32 countries. 65,000 kilometers. Three and a half years ago, Siberians Evgeny Kovalevsky and Stanislav Berezkin embarked on a unique expedition, following the routes of Russian circumnavigators. The pandemic, closed borders, shipwrecks, evading pirates, shark attacks—these are just a few of the challenges our heroes faced during their journey.
Dir: Aashish Kiphayet; 9:30 min; Documentary; United States
Amad Mahbub is a Bangladeshi woman who left Bangladesh to escape social oppression and pursue education in neuroscience in the United States. The documentary tells the story of her resilience and transformation, as well as her connection to Henna and Kathak dance, spirituality, and activism. Through henna art, she navigates her Bangladeshi identity and resists women's oppression.
The Fine Line
Dir: Daniela Grigorenko; 25:00 min; Documentary; Russian Federation
The film explores the theme of bone marrow donation from two perspectives:
1. From the donor's side – helping others is neither difficult, nor painful, nor dangerous.
2. From the recipient's side - there are people who are willing to give a helping hand for free to save the life of a complete stranger.
Time to Smile
Dir: Jonas Almeida Braga Amarante; 12:15 min; Documentary; Portugal
By observing the tourists who are part of the landscape of Belém, in Lisbon, reflections on colonialism, emigration, identity, and tourism are constructed.
CROSS THE OCEAN AND RETURN CHANGED
Dir: Natalia Kuznetsova; 1:00:00 min; Documentary; Russian Federation
3 oceans. 32 countries. 65,000 kilometers. Three and a half years ago, Siberians Evgeny Kovalevsky and Stanislav Berezkin embarked on a unique expedition, following the routes of Russian circumnavigators. The pandemic, closed borders, shipwrecks, evading pirates, shark attacks—these are just a few of the challenges our heroes faced during their journey.
Jar of Time
Dir: Nevena Semova; 27:25 min; Documentary; Bulgaria
One of the last nomadic Pomaks in Bulgaria search for the finest grazing fields for their cows and sell milk to support themselves. Even though dairy production regulations have made their livelihood illegal, the couple is dedicated to preserving their freedom.
Tetsuyo Turned 104, Living On Her Own
Dir: Kazuhiro Yamamoto; 1:34:04 min; Documentary; Japan
In a house nestled in the lush mountains of Onomichi, lives 100-year-old Tetsuyo Ishii, who lives alone. In her younger days, she worked as an elementary school teacher. After losing her husband at the age of 83, she has been living with the support of her niece and neighbors.
We'll Carry On Alright
Dir: Megan Rossman; 11:52 min; Documentary
This film focuses on the friendship between Mabel Hampton, an African American, lesbian, and activist, and Joan Nestle, a white, lesbian and Jewish professor who is 40 years her junior. Ms. Hampton cared for Joan as a child, and roles reversed when Joan cared for Ms. Hampton at the end of her life.
Bitter Honey
Dir: Julia Andreevna Makarova; 26:32 min; Documentary; Russian Federation
After their father passes away, the Skuratov sisters try to preserve the family business - the bee apiary. But it is not so easy to let go of the experience of loss after the recent passing of a loved one.
Best Day Ever
Dir: Ben Knight, Berne Broudy; 47:56 min; Documentary; United States
Best Day Ever follows the stories of adaptive mountain bikers Greg Durso and Allie Bianchi as they navigate the relentless challenges of their disabilities and embrace the tremendous support, friendship and joy they find in their rural Vermont riding community.
Baghdad Graphic
Dir: D.K. Odessa; 15:00 min; Documentary; Iraq
Based on fragments from a never finished graphic novel, Baghdad Graphic presents an unflinching account of an Iraqi journalist and his desperate effort to survive the invasion of his country. An intensely personal portrait of the costs of war.
Analogue Natives
Dir: Bernd Lützeler; 25:33 min; Documentary; Germany; India
In 2010, a 106-year-old dilapidated residential building is on the verge of collapsing in Mumbai. Three years later Bollywood undergoes a rapid transition from celluloid to digital, and almost all film laboratories close down forever. From morning to nighttime, MM Mithaiwala, an iconic sweets and snacks joint opposite a crowded suburban railway station in Mumbai. In the early morning hours, while shooting for a soap opera at the Film City complex in the north of Mumbai, two hundred technicians, actors and production workers become witness of a leopard entering their set from the nearby national park. An expanded multi-genre documentary within the constraints of the so-called Masala Formula, popularly known from Indian cinema.
I Am Alex
Dir: David Gough; 43:43 min; Documentary; South Africa, United Kingdom
“I Am Alex” follows journalist David as he returns to South Africa’s Alexandra township to explore the ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS. Through the stories of activists Lebo and Charles, who lead grassroots efforts to fight stigma and support treatment, the film reveals how love, compassion, and community are essential in healing.
Generations of Images
Dir: Johannes Gierlinger; 1:42:15 min; Documentary; Albania, Austria
GENERATIONS OF IMAGES embarks on a search for traces through the profound transformation processes of Albanian history. In the archives, forgotten places, and memories of different generations, ruptures and continuities become visible, left behind by the transition from communist dictatorship to capitalist democracy.
Notre Paradis De Plastique I Our Plastic Paradise
Dir: Johann Vorster; 10:56 min; Documentary; South Africa
Set in the remote fishing village of Setté Cama in rural Gabon, Plastic Paradise follows Jean-François Fisher , operator of Setté Cama Adventure Fishing. With stunning beaches, rich biodiversity, and a fragile dependence on eco-tourism, the village is a place of natural beauty and cultural resilience. But as vast quantities of plastic waste wash ashore, this delicate balance is thrown into crisis.
THE LION AND THE BOY
Dir: Natalya Lobko; 51:00 min; Documentary; Russian Federation
Sasha, a disabled boy with fused fingers, lay in an orphanage dreaming of playing the piano with an orchestra. Simba, an injured lion, was abandoned in a solitary cage at the animal shelter. He tremulously missed the owners who had given him away and longed to play alongside with someone again. Both were merely lonely and afraid. But one day, everything changed… How do fateful meetings transform lives? What challenges are truly insurmountable? Will the lion and the boy’s dreams come true?
Fools' Paradise (lost?)
Dir: Alexandra Lexton; 1:38:00 min; Documentary; United States
How do we heal ourselves through reconnection to the natural world? How do we heal what is left of the wild – our own inner wild and the outer wild? Immersed in experiences recounted by writers, filmmakers, artists, environmentalists, adventurers, therapists, and political activists, we delve into scientific inquiry around topics such as personal action, sustainable business and life practices, nature therapies and how we need and use nature to regenerate ourselves.
Words fail me if I try to tell you
Dir: 军 建 张; 1:17:08 min; Documentary; China
This film records the creative process of artist Zhang Jianjun from 2005 to 2024. From the flourishing of the art market to actively choosing marginalization, isolating oneself from the world, following cultural and aesthetic laws, and building new knowledge, art has not only achieved him, but also prompted him to re-examine the relationship between art and life.
Gingerbread for her dad
Dir: Alina Mustafina; 1:16:30 min; Documentary; Kazakhstan
85-year-old Lyabiba doesn’t remember her father, who died in World War II. At that time, along with the death notice, some Soviet soldiers’ widows were given 'consolation' gingerbread cookies for their children. The only memory Lyabiba has of her father is the time she joyfully shouted to the entire village during the years of hunger: 'My dad died, and we got gingerbread cookies!'
Me + You
Dir: Zohra Benhammou, Romy Mana; 1:25:15 min; Documentary; Belgium
Ana + Yek (Me + You) follows twin sisters Sanaa and Zohra. What begins as Zohra’s exploration of their Moroccan heritage gradually reveals the shifting dynamics of their relationship, as Sanaa’s deepening love for Islam becomes more apparent. The film unfolds as a journey of mutual understanding — a cinematic dialogue fueled by their desire to connect. An intimate portrait of sisterly love and independence.
Giovanni's Smyrna
Dir: Ragıp Taranç; 46:50 min; Documentary; Turkey
“Giovanni's Smyrna” is an urban documentary focusing on the historical and cultural richness of Izmir. Told through the eyes of a flaneur named Giovanni, the documentary offers viewers the opportunity to explore the streets, architecture and culture of Smyrna.
OLGA MICHI. AN ARTISTIC ODYSSEY.
Dir: Vladimir Sumashedov; 27:40 min; Documentary; Russian Federation
The documentary film tells the incredible and eventful creative journey of photographer and artist Olga Michi, as well as about the art group she founded, "GrOM." Olga Michi has traveled to the most remote corners of the world, constantly testing her limits: she lived with African tribes, searched for lost cities in the South American jungle, photographed great white sharks, and swam in a river teeming with crocodiles. However, at some point, she felt constrained by the framework of reportage photography; she wanted not just to reflect the world around her, but to create her own. Welcome to the world of Olga Michi!
Land of Dreams
Dir: Ambarien Alqadar; 40:00 min; Documentary; United States
Filmed for nearly a decade, Land of Dreams is an intimate portrait of Virender Rana, a taxi driver from India, chasing his dream of telling his story in America. While he points the camera at his own life and films a Bollywood style movie, the film follows his journey of coming to America, finding joy as part of a larger Sikh community and that of taxi drivers andlaying roots as an immigrant.
A Happy Place
Dir: Siddhant Sarin; 21:43 min; Documentary; Belgium
Happy, an undocumented Indian immigrant works in a small corner shop in Brussels. He wakes up with a sense of hope to a solitary existence boxed into the four walls of the shop. While he tries to maintain harmony in the everyday rut, phone conversations in the night map the grim world of illegal Indian immigration. Though the fear of deportation looms heavy, Happy persists, so that he can reunite with his wife and child and provide them with a better life.
Dir: 军 建 张; 1:17:08 min; Documentary; China
This film records the creative process of artist Zhang Jianjun from 2005 to 2024. From the flourishing of the art market to actively choosing marginalization, isolating oneself from the world, following cultural and aesthetic laws, and building new knowledge, art has not only achieved him, but also prompted him to re-examine the relationship between art and life.
Gingerbread for her dad
Dir: Alina Mustafina; 1:16:30 min; Documentary; Kazakhstan
85-year-old Lyabiba doesn’t remember her father, who died in World War II. At that time, along with the death notice, some Soviet soldiers’ widows were given 'consolation' gingerbread cookies for their children. The only memory Lyabiba has of her father is the time she joyfully shouted to the entire village during the years of hunger: 'My dad died, and we got gingerbread cookies!'
Me + You
Dir: Zohra Benhammou, Romy Mana; 1:25:15 min; Documentary; Belgium
Ana + Yek (Me + You) follows twin sisters Sanaa and Zohra. What begins as Zohra’s exploration of their Moroccan heritage gradually reveals the shifting dynamics of their relationship, as Sanaa’s deepening love for Islam becomes more apparent. The film unfolds as a journey of mutual understanding — a cinematic dialogue fueled by their desire to connect. An intimate portrait of sisterly love and independence.
Giovanni's Smyrna
Dir: Ragıp Taranç; 46:50 min; Documentary; Turkey
“Giovanni's Smyrna” is an urban documentary focusing on the historical and cultural richness of Izmir. Told through the eyes of a flaneur named Giovanni, the documentary offers viewers the opportunity to explore the streets, architecture and culture of Smyrna.
OLGA MICHI. AN ARTISTIC ODYSSEY.
Dir: Vladimir Sumashedov; 27:40 min; Documentary; Russian Federation
The documentary film tells the incredible and eventful creative journey of photographer and artist Olga Michi, as well as about the art group she founded, "GrOM." Olga Michi has traveled to the most remote corners of the world, constantly testing her limits: she lived with African tribes, searched for lost cities in the South American jungle, photographed great white sharks, and swam in a river teeming with crocodiles. However, at some point, she felt constrained by the framework of reportage photography; she wanted not just to reflect the world around her, but to create her own. Welcome to the world of Olga Michi!
Land of Dreams
Dir: Ambarien Alqadar; 40:00 min; Documentary; United States
Filmed for nearly a decade, Land of Dreams is an intimate portrait of Virender Rana, a taxi driver from India, chasing his dream of telling his story in America. While he points the camera at his own life and films a Bollywood style movie, the film follows his journey of coming to America, finding joy as part of a larger Sikh community and that of taxi drivers andlaying roots as an immigrant.
A Happy Place
Dir: Siddhant Sarin; 21:43 min; Documentary; Belgium
Happy, an undocumented Indian immigrant works in a small corner shop in Brussels. He wakes up with a sense of hope to a solitary existence boxed into the four walls of the shop. While he tries to maintain harmony in the everyday rut, phone conversations in the night map the grim world of illegal Indian immigration. Though the fear of deportation looms heavy, Happy persists, so that he can reunite with his wife and child and provide them with a better life.
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