It’s summertime, and 14-year-old Shabu is in trouble. After a disastrous joyride in his grandmother’s car, he must spend his holiday working to pay for the damages. Rather than dwelling on his misfortunes, the magnetic Shabu makes a plan: skip the job and raise money throwing the party of the summer. Shot in Rotterdam’s De Peperklip district, Shabu paints a winning portrait of its irresistible protagonist — dancing, laughing, and drumming all the way. […]
A photographer wanders through Taipei as the city braces for a presidential election. Adrift and questioning his chosen vocation, self-doubt begins to creep in as his 30th birthday approaches. What does his future hold? A thoughtful blend of fiction and documentary, complemented by gentle, strikingly composed black-and-white cinematography, distinguish this contemplative urban travelog of sorts that echoes the quiet pulse of life in the city.[…]
Brothers Pietro and Alvise, heirs in a long line of fishermen, are at odds about the future of their family home. Is the house on the picturesque island of Giudecca in the Venice lagoon a vital lifeline to a shared history and self-sufficient way of life or their ticket to financial freedom? An epic, impossible clash of wills ensues, bringing into relief the human impact of global tourism on life in the sublime city.[…]
Ivie is a 30-something Afro-German woman and aspiring teacher struggling to land a job. Her world is upended when Naomi, an unknown half-sister, shows up with news that their father (a man neither knows) has died. As the sisters grow closer, Ivie begins to question her life. Showcasing Leipzig’s canals, parks, and nightlife, Precious Ivie is a moving chronicle of cultural identity, inner strength, and everyday racism.[…]
