Spectacular
FEATURE FILMS
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AZLARABE ALAOUI
In a remote Senegalese village, Ousmane, a young albino, faces daily insults and threats fueled by deep-rooted superstitions. Driven by the promise of a better life, they venture into the vast desert. Under a relentless sun, mother and son draw strength from their unwavering bond to keep going. With each dune they cross, new dangers arise: dehydration, exhaustion, and the growing menace of ruthless smugglers.
Their journey takes them across the desert, through Moroccan spiritual brotherhoods, and into the perils of crossing into Europe. This vibrant narrative invites reflection on the human condition and on each individual’s place in a constantly evolving world, where difference can be a source of rejection or shared enrichment.
Ojaswwee Sharma
“Rabb Di Awaaz” charts the transformative journey of a young professional disillusioned with life. Amidst feelings of inadequacy, a fateful encounter at the workplace changes everything for good.
“Rabb Di Awaaz” is a simple, heartwarming story of a radio jockey (RJ) named Karan, who, disenchanted with the materialism pervading life, feels powerless to effect meaningful change. Struggling with loneliness and despair, he meets a ‘Farishta’ (God’s messenger) who guides him through his challenges.
Set over 48 hours in the scenic Tricity (Chandigarh Region), primarily within a radio station where RJ Karan works, the film vividly captures the essence of Chandigarh. Through director Ojaswwee Sharma’s world, the city becomes a dynamic character in the narrative, serving as a tribute to the ‘Specially Abled’ and highlighting issues of mental health while advocating for the inclusion of visually impaired individuals in society. In 77 minutes, the film sensitively explores themes of societal fragmentation and psychological well-being, ultimately offering a message of hope.
Manijeh Hekmat
A couple is destined to build up their life in the heart of a waste depot in the heart of Iranian north forests. They begin to make different things with the junks they find and to make friends with the other people… but what remains of the people who are determined to fight their nature?
JAYAN CHERIAN
Jayaram Siddi, a twelve-year-old boy, lives in a village in Uttara Kannada, possessed by the spirit of his recently deceased grandpa, Rama Bantu Siddi. His working-class parents, Bhaskar Siddi and Yashoda Siddi, are worried and seek a solution from local black magicians and medicine men, which does not affect his condition. Jayaram keeps himself in his dream world that opens a shamanic path in front of him. He devises a plan to speak with his dead ancestors through the magical instruments he inherited from his grandfather. During the process, he loses his sanity by knowing the history of his ancestral life and the torture and misery they went through. He is caught up in the tangle of the intergenerational trauma of chattel slavery. Gradually, he loses his grip on the reality of his life. Jayaram drops out of school. ‘The Rhythm of Damam’ tells the struggles of Jayaram and his family to regain the balance of his life by returning to tribal rituals and Damam music, which is an integral part of his community’s cultural existence.
Emma Croft
Set in June 2012, against the backdrop of the recession and the Afghanistan conflict, Emily and Oliver leave behind their comfortable middle-class life in London to start anew in a small northern town in England. Emily is eager to immerse herself in the lives of what she calls “real people,” while Oliver seeks relief from mounting financial pressure.
To foster a sense of community, Emily invites their new neighbours Alan and Dawn over for a gathering. However, what begins as an attempt at connection quickly spirals into a clash of ideologies, particularly around art, war and culture. The evening culminates in a shocking revelation that sets the stage for unforeseen consequences.
As tensions rise, the lives of these four neighbours begin to unravel. Emily’s idealistic pursuit of solidarity falters, Oliver’s increasingly dubious behavior creates fractures, and the mysterious disappearance of Alan’s cat adds to the growing chaos. Meanwhile, Emily faces a relapse into old habits, oblivious to the dramatic shift unfolding around her.
By the story’s end, a tragedy shatters the fragile balance: Dawn and Alan’s marriage is on the brink of collapse, with Dawn spiraling into mental distress after a devastating loss. Amid the turmoil, Oliver is determined to move his family back to London, seeking escape from the mess and turmoil they have unwittingly created.
Jackie R. Bala
A Life Inside Me is a debut feature about a terminally ill father who wishes to live his final days as his true self — a woman — and his daughter, trapped in an abusive marriage.
Two women.
One — born a man.
One — living as a wife.
Both silenced. Both surviving.
Set in rural South Asia, the film traces the intertwined journeys of Sitaram and Mira as they confront deeply buried truths in a society bound by tradition. As Sitaram embraces his long-suppressed identity, his quiet act of defiance becomes a powerful assertion of self. Mira, facing the constraints of a violent marriage and an unexpected pregnancy, begins to question the roles imposed upon her.
A Life Inside Me is a heartfelt exploration of identity, silence, and the fragile courage it takes to reclaim one’s voice — a story society tried to bury, but one that insists on being seen.