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Berlin International Film Festival · 2025

Berlin International Film Festival 2025

Generation

Programme

21 films · 6 reviews

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The Botanist (Zhi Wu Xue Jia)

A lonely boy immerses himself in a world of plants.

(Country: China; Year: 2025; Director: Jing Yi; Writer: Jing Yi; Stars: Nurdaolet Jalen, Eramazan Sarhet, Jomajan Songhat, Jahseleh Yesl, Ren Zihan)

Christy

Review preview for Christy

Touching, compelling and full of humanity.

Richard Mowe · 4 out of 5
Two estranged brothers with chequered childhoods in the care system suddenly find themselves living under the same roof.

(Country: Ireland; Year: 2025; Director: Brendan Canty; Writer: Alan O'Gorman; Stars: Danny Power, Diarmuid Noyes, Emma Willis, Alison Oliver, Helen Behan, Chris Walley, Cormac De Bhál)

Full review See: Ireland’s debut filmmaker Brendan Canty picks up plethora of prizes

Circusboy (Zirkuskind)

Documentary focused on a boy who travels with his family and a circus.

(Country: Germany; Year: 2025; Director: Anna Koch, Julia Lemke; Writer: Anna Koch, Julia Lemke)

Maya, Give Me a Title (Maya, donne-moi un titre)

Stop-motion animation.

(Country: France; Year: 2025; Director: Michel Gondry; Stars: Maya Gondry, Miriam Matejovsky, Steven Matejovsky, Anita Matejovsky, Pierre Niney)

The Nature Of Invisible Things (A natureza das coisas invisíveis)

Two ten-year-olds meet in hospital and form a bond.

(Country: Brazil, Chile; Year: 2025; Director: Rafaela Camelo; Stars: Camila Márdila, Larissa Mauro, Aline Marta Maia, Serena, Laura Brandão)

Only On Earth

A journey to southern Galicia where animals and humans are struggling to cope with the climate crisis.

(Country: Denmark, Spain; Year: 2025; Director: Robin Petré; Writer: Robin Petré)

Our Wildest Days (I agries meres mas)

Chloe runs away to Greece with a band of teenagers.

(Country: France, Greece; Year: 2025; Director: Vasilis Kekatos; Writer: Vasilis Kekatos; Stars: Daphné Patakia, Natalia Swift, Nikos Zeginoglou, Eva Samioti, Stavros Tsoumanis, Nikos Konstas, Ioko Ioannis Kotidis)

Paternal Leave

A teenager travels to meet her biological father.

(Country: Germany, Italy; Year: 2025; Director: Alissa Jung; Writer: Alissa Jung; Stars: Luca Marinelli, Arturo Gabbriellini, Juli Grabenhenrich, Joy Falletti Cardillo, Lucrezia Gaia Rinaldi)

Playtime (Hora do recreio)

Docufiction sees Brazilian teens navigate complex social issues.

(Country: Brazil; Year: 2025; Director: Lúcia Murat)

Sandbag Dam (Zečji nasip)

Review preview for Sandbag Dam

Sandbag Dam is powered by stellar, deeply lived-in performances by the young and budding actors.

Marko Stojiljkovic · 4 out of 5
In a village threatened by flooding a young man's life is turned upside down by the rekindling of a forbidden romance.

(Country: Croatia, Slovenia, Lithuania; Year: 2025; Director: Čejen Černić Čanak; Writer: Tomislav Zajec, Čejen Černić Čanak; Stars: Lav Novosel, Andrija Žunić, Leon Grgić, Franka Mikolaci, Tanja Smoje, Alma Prica, Filip Šovagović)

Full review

Seaside Serendipity (Umibe é Iku Michi)

A collection of vignettes from a seaside town in summer.

(Country: Japan; Year: 2025; Director: Satoko Yokohama; Stars: Kumiko Asô, Erika Karata, Kengo Kôra, Koharu Sugawara, Konosuke Harada)

Smile At Last (Naerata ometi)

Drama about a teenage girl in an Estonian orphanage.

(Country: Soviet Union, Estonia; Year: 1985; Director: Leida Laius, Arvo Iho; Writer: Silvia Rannamaa, Marina Sheptunova; Stars: Monika Järv, Hendrik Toompere Jr., Tauri Tallermaa, Katrin Tamleht, Kerttu Aaving, Edith-Helen Kuusk, Siiri Sisask, Janika Kalmus, Helle Kuningas, Mari Lill, Evald Hermaküla, Eduard Tinn, Anneli Aunap, Rein Pakk, Manfred Kärblane)

Space Cadet (Robot, Celeste & das All)

Review preview for Space Cadet

A film that gently tackles adult themes including grief, being an empty nester and memory but in ways that make it accessible to all ages.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
Robot’s sole purpose has always been to nurture Celeste into the brilliant scientist she has now become. But as the young astronaut sets off on her first interstellar mission, Robot is left behind.

(Director: Eric San (aka Kid Koala); Writer: Mylène Chollet)

Full review See: Eric San - aka Kid Koala - on minimalism and cherishing the moment in Space Cadet

A Story About Fire (Ran Bi Wa)

Story of a monkey raised by humans who heads out to steal fire.

(Country: China; Year: 2025; Director: Wenyu Li; Writer: Wenyu Li; Stars: Xun Zhou, Haoyu Yang, Chunlei Kang, Bei Yile)

Sunshine

A young gymnast trying out for a national team discovers she is pregnant.

(Country: Philippines; Year: 2024; Director: Antoinette Jadaone; Writer: Antoinette Jadaone; Stars: Maris Racal, Elijah Canlas, Annika Co, Jennica Garcia, Janina Lorelei, Xyriel Manabat, Meryll Soriano)

Tales From The Magic Garden (Geschichten aus dem Zaubergarten)

Review preview for Tales From The Magic Garden

Serves as a teaching tool of sorts that bridges the gap between the generations and opens up a communication regarding some unpleasant topics that are very present in everyday life.

Marko Stojiljkovic · 3.5 out of 5
Three children spend the night with their grandfather after losing their grandmother and discover the power of imagination.

(Country: Czechia, Slovakia, Slovenia, France; Year: 2025; Director: David Sukup, Leon Vidmar, Patrik Pass Jr., Jean-Claude Rozec; Writer: Kaja Balog, Arnost Goldflam, Blandine Jet, Petr Krajícek, Maja Kriznik, Marek Král, Patrik Pass Jr.)

Full review

The Tale Of Daye's Family (Daye: Seret Ahl El Daye)

Daye, an 14-year-old Nubian albino with a golden voice dreams of following his idol, Mohamed Mounir despite facing adversity due to his appearance.

(Country: Egypt, Saudi Arabia; Year: 2024; Director: Karim El-Shinnawi; Writer: Haitham Dabbour; Stars: Badr Mohammead, Islam Mubarak, Aseel Omran, Haneen Saeed, Mohamed Mounir, Ahmed Helmy, Mohamed Mamdouh, Ahmad Abdulhamid, Arfah Abdulrasool, Tamer Nabil, Amina Khalil, Lamis Elhadidy, Mahmoud Maysara Elsaraj, Sabri Fawwaz, Mohamed Shahin)

Têtes Brûlées

A young girl has to face the sudden death of her older brother.

(Country: Belgium; Year: 2025; Director: Maja Ajmia Yde Zellama; Stars: Lotte Diependaele, Safa Gharbaoui)

Underage (De Menor)

Fictional TV series reveals how underprivileged youth can face unfair treatment at the hands of the justice system.

(Country: Brazil; Year: 2025; Director: Caru Alves de Suza; Stars: William Costa, Grace Orsato, Giulia Del Bel, Luan Carvalho, Benjamín Damini, Taciana Bastos, Rita Batata, Marina Medeiros, Carlota Joaquina, Giovanni Gallo)

Wrong Husband (Uiksaringitara)

Review preview for Wrong Husband

An atmospheric, beguiling piece of work.

Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
An Arctic fairy tale about a couple who, though promised to each other at birth, become separated.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2025; Director: Zacharias Kunuk; Writer: Samuel Cohn-Cousineau, Zacharias Kunuk; Stars: Theresia Kappianaq, Haiden Angutimarik, Mark Taqqaugaq, Emma Quassa, Leah Panimera)

Full review See: Interview with Zacharias Kunuk about Wrong Husband (Uiksaringitara)