Critics' Picks Competition

Discoveries that deserve attention. A selection of films that stand out for their directorial voice, execution, or exceptional cinematic experience. Only world premieres.

Apart

Apart

A refugee bride from Cyprus finds love in apartheid South Africa, until a secret from her past changes everything.

Local title
Lahus
Director
Stelana Kliris
Country
Cyprus, United Kingdom, Greece
IOU

IOU

One grumpy debt collector, two unstoppable kids, and a Chinese New Year miracle nobody saw coming, full of heart.

Local title
Võlg
Director
Steven Zhang Zhonghua
Country
China
Jimoto Loop

Jimoto Loop

A hilarious Japanese time-loop mystery where escaping home may be the hardest and most wonderful journey of all.

Local title
Kodukandi ring
Director
Masaya Tsutsumi
Country
Japan
Kidney

Kidney

A minor family dispute spirals into deadly revenge. A breathtaking, fiercely independent drama from India.

Local title
Neer
Director
Aakarsh Sansanwal, Agrim Sansanwal
Country
India
Mo Amor

Mo Amor

A tender Estonian fairy tale about love in all its strange and beautiful forms.

Local title
Mo Amor
Director
Eeva Mägi
Country
Estonia
One Month

One Month

A bittersweet, darkly funny tale of breaking free, finding yourself, and discovering that life won’t wait forever.

Local title
Ühe kuu jooksul
Director
Maya Vitkova-Kosev
Country
Bulgaria, Romania, Spain
Rahma

Rahma

A childless couple’s life changes when a Syrian refugee arrives, carrying a secret that alters everything.

Local title
Rahma
Director
Faysal Soysal
Country
Türkiye, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy
The Great Family

The Great Family

A tough yet deeply moving Mexican genre film, based on a true story: a gripping journey into a world you won’t forget.

Local title
Üks suur perekond
Director
Matías Meyer
Country
Mexico, Italy
Until Dawn

Until Dawn

A visually stunning Moroccan drama where a 16-year-old boy faces love, violence and tradition and the price of manhood.

Local title
Koiduni
Director
Mohamed Zineddaine
Country
Morocco
When I Existed

When I Existed

Hilarious black comedy about a retiree declared dead who must fight bureaucracy to reclaim his life.

Local title
Kui ma veel olemas olin
Director
Alejandro Damiani, Martin Avdolov
Country
Uruguay, Spain