CHILDREN'S DAY

For the young student Xuan Children's Day at primary school is both a source of joy and a challenge. She struggles to find the right outfit for the special occasion, but that’s just one of many concerns: At home, she faces immense pressure from her strict Christian family, while at school, peer pressure and bullying over beauty standards makes life even harder. Perhaps a potential new friend will save the day - or perhaps not.

Giselle Lin is a director and screenwriter. Her short film Yi Yi (Time flows in strange ways on Sundays) and her documentary I Look into the Mirror and repeat myself both screened at Locarno, while Things was featured at the Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg. She is currently developing her debut feature film Midnight Blue Spring.

HESSIAN PREMIERE

Short film, Singapore 2025, OV. eng. s (mandarin), Director: Giselle Lin, Duration: 13 Min.

---

CITIZEN-INMATE

Hesen Eslami explores the reality of a fully surveilled society in the documentary Citizen-Inmate. To maintain full control over its citizens, those in power rely on the most advanced technology available. The idea of imprisoning people remotely could be a possible solution, but is at the same time a challenge for the brutal regime. Citizen-Inmate had its world premiere at the 75th Berlinale Shorts.

Hesam Eslami is a director, screenwriter and producer known for 20th Circuit Suspects (2018), The Marriage Project (2019) and A Band of Dreamers and a Judge (2023).

HESSIAN PREMIERE

Short film / Documentary, Iran 2025, OV .eng. s (farsi), Director: Hesam Eslami, Duration:15 Min.

---

QIRIM

After the Crimean Peninsula and her home country Ukraine were attacked and invaded by Russia, Antonina had to make some difficult decisions: to flee or stay and fight for her country. Antonina is a non-binary person. In the end, they had to fight two wars: the military one and the battle over their gender identity. Qirim is a tribute to the bravery and resilience of both the Ukrainian people and the queer communities.

Kateryna Khramtsova studied law in Kharkiv. Since moving to Prague in 2019, she has been involved in visual arts and activism. Her work deals with social inequality, mental health issues and human rights.

Short film / Documentary, Ukraine / Czech Republic 2023,  OV. eng. s (ukrainian), Director: Kateryna Khramtsova, Duration: 10 Min.

---

COMMENT ÇA VA?

Imagine animals retreating to a kind of rehab on an island to recover from all the evil deeds that humans are doing to nature. It takes a lot of cynicism and humor to cope with the catastrophes and damages that have already been done. Comment ça va? is more than just a brilliant animated film, it is a plea to humanity to recognize that our own demise is not a too far-fetched reality. The film had its world premiere at 75th Berlinale Shorts and is a candidate for the European Film Awards.

Caroline Poggi (born 1990 in Ajaccio) studied at the University of Corsica before graduating from the University Paris 8. Jonathan Vinel (born 1988) studied editing at La Fémis. They initially began directing solo before collaborating on As Long As Shotguns Remain, which won the Golden Bear for Best Short Film at the Berlinale in 2014. Their first feature film, Jessica Forever, premiered at TIFF (2018) and the Berlinale (2019). Their second feature, Eat the Night, was presented at the Cannes Directors' Fortnight in 2024.

HESSIAN PREMIERE

Short film / Animation, France 2025, OV .eng. s, (french), Directors: Caroline Poggi & Jonathan Vinel, Duration: 31 Min.