When their only son dies in France, a working-class couple in World War II-era Berlin decides to retaliate by secretly leafletting handwritten cards in the city to urge people to protest against Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. Based on the 1947 novel Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada

The horrific true story of Jewish Anna, a girl who somehow survived World War II in Ukraine, is of great beauty. The six-year old hid in a building commandeered by the Nazis. Fear of discovery by the guard dog keeps her imprisoned. Ode to the ingenuity and resilience of a child.

A village bangle seller and his wife cannot conceive a child. The villagers gossip. In this close-knit patriarchal community in South India, hidden desires and relationships find a way to exist. Will the husband’s secret ever come out? An intriguing narrative in an elegantly directed debut with exceptional camera work.

Against the backdrop of a series of unsolved murders on the island of Jersey, a relationship blossoms between Moll and Pascal. For her respectable family, he is the ultimate bad choice – and that seals their love. When the police suspect him, her support for him starts to adopt extreme forms.

Life’s key elements come together in the colorful Jamaica portrayed by Khalik Allah. In this polyphonic film symphony, every inhabitant views their island paradise differently, be they prostitutes, graybeards, rappers, Rastafarians or pregnant women.

MUSIC CALLS_This raw, energetic documentary follows six women, all of whom want to become the best Dancehall Queen in the world. It’s not just pop divas such as Beyoncé and Miley who imitate the provocative Jamaican dance style – anonymous women from Spain, America, Poland and Japan are also making this their emancipatory life goal.

Violeta lives in a Brazilian Bahia village full of striking characters. Everyone struggles with daily life, scarred by loss and mourning, yet all find comfort in the sense of community and spirituality. Only Margarida suffers in solitude and silence. A transforming film about transformation.

All shorts in competition for the Caribbean Shorts Award 2018 are screened in one session and vary in length from 5 to 20 minutes.

When his criminal past continues to tug at his sleeve and it proves difficult to build something new, Samuel has to choose. Can the talented boxer use his strength and ambition to make a new start? Impressive acting in this debut film from Puerto Rico.

SCENES OF SENSES_Alex de Ronde wanted to shoot an uplifting story about deafness, not a pathetic one. In this intimate debut larded with dry humor he portrays his 29-year old son Tobias. In De Ronde’s opinion, Tobias’s late mother’s remark best sums up the film: “Well, hearing’s never going to work, but being deaf can be fun too.”

Three Columbian friends discover that even when you’re middle-aged, you are never too old or wise to fail in this feature-film debut with its own style. Everyday reality’s unpredictability ensures that they have to make choices well outside their comfort zone.

MUSIC CALLS_Nazi Germany not only persecuted the Jews, but also the Roma during the Second World War. In this wartime drama, it initially seems as if jazz legend Django Reinhardt will be able to continue his artistic career in Paris. Until, that is, he threatens to become a pawn in a dirty political game. He goes on the run, but will that save him?

A chance meeting sets 25-year-old Portuguese Djon África on the track of his roots in Cape Verde. He hopes to finally find his father, an adventurer whom he doesn’t know. But things never go as planned in life – and particularly in this playful search for Djon’s identity.

Chinese artist Xu Bing’s directorial debut could be described as The Truman Show, but in Real Life. He weaves a story of a boy and a girl in modern-day China out of security camera footage. This by turns shocking and poetic, but always fascinating, experiment reflects on our obsessive visual culture.

LOCAL & REGIONAL HISTORY_The facades of listed buildings in The Hague and Amsterdam hide stories of slavery perpetrated by the Netherlands. In this documentary three women argue in favor of respectful recognition of this painful chapter in the country’s history. What does this past tell us about contemporary Dutch identity? And what does it mean for the descendants of the enslaved?