10th edtion CIFF – 10-14 April 2024

American Honey (2017 Feature Film)

Pounding music; the youngsters sing, smoke weed, have sex and fight. The ragged Star (scintillating debut from Sasha Lane) falls for Jake (Shia LaBeouf) and jumps in his van to travel with him. A depressing look at the American economy, but an optimistic take on the strength of young people. First American production by British director Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank).

Angélica (2017 Feature Film) Nominee

Angélica dreams of a major career as a fashion designer in New York, but hasn’t gotten much further than a boring sewing job. A visit to her motherland Puerto Rico, where her sick father awaits her in hospital, marks the start of a journey of personal discovery.

Arábia (Araby) (2017 Feature Film)

In an old factory, a young man finds the diary of a worker who died in an accident. In the same way that in certain Westerns an anonymous drifter driven by a primitive survival instinct can become the hero, Araby focuses on the life of a marginalized worker in contemporary Brazil. Original, socially committed, and poignant.

Astrid H. Roemer – De wereld heeft gezicht verloren (2017 Feature Film)

A Persian cat, a laptop and a rucksack– the only possessions renowned Surinamese-Dutch author Astrid Roemer had with her for the past 15 years. Her word art was more important than interpersonal relationships or a place to put down roots. Colleagues, linguists and Roemer explain her work in this literary-documentary homage.

Bad Lucky Goat (2017 Feature Film) Nominee

Growing up under the same roof doesn’t guarantee friendship. That definitely applies to these bickering siblings in this playful coming-of-age story. Can these Colombian youngsters rely on each other if they run into trouble together? A colorful, musical road trip with a dead goat as catalyst.

The Burglar (2017 Feature Film)

Yaeli lives with her mother in a village by the Dead Sea. One day, her mother disappears without any explanation. After a break-in at their apartment, Yaeli decides to turn burglar herself. Not for the money, but because she misses intimacy and this allows her to catch a glimpse of the lives of others.

Burma Storybook (2017 Feature Film)

Poet and activist from Myanmar Maung Aung Pwint has spent large swathes of his life in prison. Now the country is free after 50 years of military dictatorship, he reminisces and struggles with painful memories. A poetic, loving documentary about a country reinventing itself.

La calle de los pianistas (Pianists Street) (2017 Feature Film)

In a small street in Brussels, Rue Bosquet, a remarkable concentration of talented pianists has developed over the years. For instance, the world-famous Argentinian concert pianist Martha Argerich lives right next door to the renowned Tiempo-Lechner family of pianists. The walls are thin enough to hear what the neighbors are rehearsing.

Donkeyote (2017 Feature Film)

Manolo wants to walk the Trail of Tears, the route used during the forced removal of Cherokee Indians to Oklahoma. But the 73-year-old Andalusian has chronic arthritis, speaks no English and more importantly: how will he get his trusty donkey into the US – and cure its fear of water? An ode to intransigence and friendship.

Elle (2017 Feature Film)

High-powered business woman Michèle, head of leading video game company, seems indestructible. Being attacked in her home by an unknown assailant changes Michèle’s life forever. When she resolutely tracks the man down, they are both drawn into a curious and thrilling game, a game that may, at any moment, spiral out of control.

Extraño pero verdadero (Strange But True) (2017 Feature Film)

A refuse truck driven by Mister Clean crisscrosses the streets of Mexico City with Jonathan and Yesi on board, who are in love – and on the point of losing control of their lives. Sharp black-and-white drama by director Lipkes on the crime and violence blighting his country, with love as a leitmotif.