Main Competition
Silver Bird and Rainbow Fish
104 minutes | 2022 | China | Animation |
Chinese | sub. English | 13+

Schedule
XXI 2 | TUE 29 NOV | 12:45
XXI 1 | THU 1 DEC | 15:45
Indonesia Premiere
Synopsis
In a world of propaganda images, surrealist collage and pop-art animation, artist-filmmaker Lei Lei and his family recall the past to make sense of the present. 1950s, Jiaqi is 4 years old when his father is compelled to go work in the countryside and his mother passes away. Shortly after the burial, Dad is forced to put Jiaqi and his sister in an orphanage where they turn into birds in a cage. While the country is in turmoil, a Rainbow fish transforms into a woman and decides to help the kids.
Director
Lei Lei
Director’s Filmography
2020
A Bright Summer Diary (Short)
2019
Breathless Animals
2016
Books on Books (Short)
Production Company
C-RAY STUDIO, CHINESE SHADOWS
Contact:
acquisition@chineseshadows.com
Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2022
Nominee for Best Film
Hong Kong International Film Festival 2022 Nominee for Young Cinema Chinese Competition
International Film Festival Rotterdam 2022
Official selection
DOK Leipzig 2022
Official selection
Director's Profile

Lei Lei
Born in 1985 in Nanchang, Lei graduated from Tsinghua University in 2009 with a Master’s degree in Animation. Since then, he has worked as an independent filmmaker and experimental animation artist. His works include short animation films "This is Love" (Best Narrative Short Award at Ottawa International Film Festival in 2010), "Recycled" (selected at Annecy Film Festival, Grand Prix of Shorts & Non-Narrative Films at Holland International Animation Film Festival), and many others, which have been selected in numerous international festivals and exhibited in museums.
His previous film, mid-length documentary, "Breathless Animals" played in Berlinale Forum in 2019 and won Best mid-length documentary at Cinéma Vérité.

Return to Seoul
117 minutes | 2022 | Cambodia | Narrative | French, Korean, English | sub. English | 17+

Schedule
XXI 1 | MON 28 NOV | 20:00
Synopsis
On an impulse to reconnect with her origins, Freddie, 25, returns to South Korea for the first time, where she was born before being adopted and raised in France. The headstrong young woman starts looking for her biological parents in a country she knows so little about, taking her life in new and unexpected directions.
Director
Davy Chou
Director’s Filmography
2016
Diamond Island
2014
Cambodia 2099 (Short)
2011
Golden Slumbers (Documentary)
Production Company
Aurora Films
Contact:
pperez@mubi.com
Athens International Film Festival 2022
Winner for Best Picture
Cannes Film Festival 2022
Nominee for Un Certain Regard Award
Toronto International Film Festival 2022
Official selection
Busan International Film Festival 2022
Official selection
Cambodia entry for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards 2023
Director's Profile

Davy Chou
Davy Chou is a French director and producer born in 1983, based between Paris and Phnom Penh. He co-founded the French production company Vycky Films and the Cambodian production company Anti-Archive. Grandson of Cambodian producer Van Chann, Davy Chou directed in 2011 “Golden Slumbers” (Forum - Berlinale 2012), a documentary about the birth of Cambodian cinema in the 1960s and its brutal destruction by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. He has also directed several short films including “Cambodia 2099” (Directors' Fortnight - Cannes 2014). His first feature, "Diamond Island", produced by Aurora Films and co-produced by Anti-Archive and Vandertastic, was awarded the SACD Prize at Critics’ Week- Cannes 2016. His second feature, "Return to Seoul", produced by Aurora Films and co-produced by Vandertastic and Frakas Productions, is selected at Un Certain Regard – Cannes 2022. In parallel, Davy Chou continues his activity as a producer: he has recently produced Cambodian filmmakers, including Kavich Neang ("White Building" - Venice Film Festival 2021) and was also line producer on "Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle" by Arthur Harari (Un Certain Regard – Cannes 2021).

The Newspaper
90 minutes | 2020 | Sri Lanka | Narrative | Sinhala | sub. English | 13+

Schedule
XXI 1| SUN 27 NOV | 15:00
XXI 2 | MON 28 NOV | 12:00
Indonesia Premiere
Synopsis
Guna is a poor but kind-hearted man with paralysed legs, lives a righteous life with his family in a small village. However, Guna’s life is turned upside down when an erroneous newspaper article brands his brother as a suicide blast attacker. Nine years later he finds a scrap of a newspaper correcting that error which stated that his late brother was not a suicide bomber but an innocent civilian. So, Guna is going to the city with an illiterate friend in the hope of turning an insignificantly reported news in the newspaper into a front-page headline of the newspaper.
Director
Sarath Kothalawala,
Kumara Thirirmadura
Production Company
Thamara Cineru
Contact:
kumudumalee93@gmail.com
Director's Profile

Sarath Kothalawala & Kumara Thirirmadura
Sarath Kothalawala and Kumara Thirimadura are award winning Sri Lankan actors, writers and directors for both cinema and stage drama fields. "The Newspaper" is their debut movie co-direction and Sarath Kothalawala is performing the lead male role in it and the supporting male role performed by Kumara Thirimadura

Like a Fish on the Moon
78 minutes | 2022 | Iran | Narrative | Farsi (Iran) | sub. English | 13+

Schedule
XXI 1 | MON 28 NOV | 14:30
XXI 2 | THU 1 DEC | 12:00
Asian Premiere
Synopsis
Haleh is a very protective mother, who easily spoils her 4 years-old boy, Ilya. When one day the boy stops talking, Haleh and her husband Amir start searching for the reason and the remedy for this sudden mutism. The more they try to talk to the boy or consults experts, the worst things are becoming in the couple and the family.
Director
Domaz Hajiha
Director’s Filmography
2017
Marziyeh (Short)
2017
Marlon (Short)
2015
Under the Same Roof (Short)
Production Company
Asian Shadows
Contact:
acquisition@chineseshadows.com
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2022 Official Selection
Vancouver International Film Festival 2022
Official Selection
Director's Profile

Domaz Hajiha
Born in 1988 in Tehran, Dornaz HAJIHA received her Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from Al Zahra University, Tehran, in 2011. She worked as a photographer and graphic designer while attending film workshops with maestros Asghar Farhadi and Bahram Beyzayi. HAJIHA entered London Film School in 2013. She completed her MA in Film Production and graduated with distinction in 2015. She made short films as well as a documentary, for which she was the writer. Her latest shorts, “Marziyeh and Marlon”, produced in 2017, have been shown and awarded in numerous film festivals.

Like & Share
111 minutes | 2022 | Indonesia | Narrative | Indonesia | sub. English | 17+

Schedule
XXI 1 | SUN 27 NOV | 19:45
XXI 2 | MON 28 NOV | 17:00
Synopsis
Lisa, a 17 years old girl, throws herself into porn and self pleasures due to stress from her worsening relationship with her recently remarried mother, who is also pressuring her to have a religious conversion.
Her best friend, Sarah, is the only one who knows about her plight. They have a tight relationship, as they feel that the only thing they have in this world is each other.
Alas, Lisa’s addiction eventually comes between them. Lisa’s obsession brings her face to face with Fita, a woman who was in a viral sex tape. While Sarah’s own loneliness drives her to the arms of Devan, a fully adult male.
Director
Gina S. Noer
Director’s Filmography 2021 First, Second & Third Love
2020 Saiyo Sakato (TV Mini Series)
2019 Dua Garis Biru
Production Company Starvision Wahana Kreator
Contact: starvisionplus@yahoo.com
|
Director's Profile

Gina S. Noer
Gina S. Noer (August 24, 1985) is an Indonesian screenwriter, producer, and film director. She's also the co-founder and Head of IP Initiative of Wahana Kreator Nusantara: a story based company that consists of workshop for aspiring filmmakers, story/IP development, and production house.
Her vast filmography as a screenwriter includes two of the most successful films post-reformation era in the Indonesian box office, Ayat-Ayat Cinta (2008/co write with Salman Aristo) with 3.5 million audience and Habibie & Ainun (2012/co write with lfan Ismail), which earned 4.6 million audiences. Her debut as producer, Keluarga Cemara has earned 1,/ million audience. Dua Garis Biru is her directorial debut.

Let Me Hear It Barefoot
128 minutes | 2021 | Japan | Narrative | Japanese | sub. English | 13+

Schedule
XXI 2 | SUN 27 NOV | 17:30
XXI 2 | FRI 2 DEC | 20:00
Indonesia Premiere
Synopsis
Naomi works for his father’s waste collection company. He spends his days wishing that someday he could leave his parents’ home. Oneday, Naomi meets Maki, a young man who lives with his blind mother-in-law, Midori. She always tells Maki about her travels in the world, but the truth is that she has never been abroad. When she gets seriously ill, Midori entrusts her dream of traveling the world to Maki. However, Maki is unable to travel abroad due to lack of funds, so he decides to create the “sounds” of places around the world with Naomi and send the recorded tapes to Midori.
Director
Riho Kudo
Director’s Filmography 2018 Orphan’s Blues Production Company Erice Company Contact: yuri.kubota@pff.or.jp |
Nippon Connection Japanese Film Festival 2022
Winner for Nippon Visions Jury Award – Special Mention
International Film Festival Rotterdam 2022
Official Selection
Director's Profile

Riho Kudo
Born in Fukuoka in 1995. Her first feature film, "Orphan's Blues" (18), a graduation projectfrom Kyoto University of Art's Department of Film and New Media, won the Grand Prix atthe 40th Pia Film Festival's "PFF Award competition2018". In addition, the film won theGolden KOJIKA Award and the Audience Award at the NARA-wave, the student section ofthe Nara International Film Festival.She won the rights to the PFF Scholarship to make "Let Me Hear It Barefoot," which was hercommercial film debut. The film was selected for the 51st Rotterdam International FilmFestival's Harbor section, Frameline46, the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ FilmFestival, and other festivals overseas.

Leonor Will Never Die
99 minutes | 2022 | Philippines | Narrative | Tagalog | sub. English | 17+

Schedule
XXI 1 | THU 1 DEC | 20:30
XXI 2 | FRI 2 DEC | 15:00
Synopsis
Leonor Reyes was once a major player in the Filipino film industry after creating a string of successful action films, but now her household struggles to pay the bills. When she reads an advertisement looking for screenplays, Leonor begins tinkering with an unfinished script about the quest of young, noble Ronwaldo, forced to avenge his brother’s murder at the hand of thugs. While her imagination provides some escape from reality, she goes all-in after an accident involving a television knocks her out, sends her into a coma, and transports her inside the incomplete movie. Now Leonor can play out her wildest dreams firsthand and discover the perfect ending to her story.
Director
Martika Escobar Ramirez
Director’s Filmography 2020 Living Things (Short) 2014 Dindo (Short) 2014 Stone Heart (Short) Production Company Arkeofilms Production Contact: sebastien@cercamon.biz |
Sundance Film Festival 2022
Winner for World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award: Innovative Spirit
Toronto International Film Festival 2022
Winner for Amplify Voices Award
Edinburgh International Film Festival 2022
Official selection
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2022
Official selection
Director's Profile

Martika Escobar Ramirez
Martika Ramirez Escobar was born in Manila in 1992. Her love for the bizarre is best reflected through her films and photography. After graduating with honors from the University of the Philippines, her thesis “Stone Heart”, competed at the 19th Busan International Film Festival and screened around the world. Also won Best Film at Cinemalaya. Her latest work,“Quadrilaterals,” premiered at the 9th DMZ Docs.

Killing the Eunuch Khan
110 minutes | 2021 | Iran | Narrative |
Persian & Arabic | sub. English | 17+

Schedule
XXI 1 | SUN 27 NOV | 12:30
XXI 4 | MON 28 NOV | 17:45
Indonesia Premiere
Synopsis
The serial killer intends to slaughter so much that the blood spills over the ditches of the city. To reach this target, he designs a plan in which victims kill victims. The plan is carried out and the stream of blood gradually fills the ditches of the city by the people who kill each other.
Director
Abed Abest
Director’s Filmography 2017 Simulation
2012 I Haven’t Seen Hussein Since The Day Before Yesterday (Short) Production Company Hich Film
Contact: info@iranianindependents.com |
Slamdance Film Festival 2022
Winner for Breakout Feature
Rhode Island International Film Festival 2022
Winner for Vortex Sci-Fi and Fantasy Award
Talinn Black Nights Film Festival 2021
Official selection
International Film Festival of Kerala 2022
Official selection
Director's Profile

Abed Abest
Born on June 21, 1987 in Iran, Abed Abest is a graduate of Architecture from Mahshahr Azad University in Iran. At the beginning, he has been engaged in theatre as an actor, and writer. Then, he continued in cinema and took part in different projects. He started his career as a writer and director in his first short film, “I haven’t seen Hossein since the day before yesterday” (2012).
His debut feature film, as writer and director, “Simulation” premiered at Berlinale Forum and TIFF in 2017. He has performed as lead actor in “Invasion”, directed by Shahram Mokri, which premiered at the Berlinale Panorama section and Karlovy Vary 2018.

The Brittle Thread
97 minutes | 2021 | India | Narrative |
Hindi, English, Hebrew, Bhojpuri | sub. English | 17+

Schedule
XXI 2 | SUN 27 NOV | 12:45
XXI 1 | MON 28 NOV | 12:15
Indonesia Premiere
Synopsis
Headstrong, feisty street dancer Rani works hard to take care of her daughter while reclusive weaver Shahdab discovers a new world in his friendship with an Israeli tourist. Exploring the love and hate dimensions in the ancient city of Varanasi, their cultural and political identities come to the fore. Will the luminous fabric of our diversity soon turn into an iron curtain, dividing those who seem to belong and those who don’t?
Director
Ritesh Sharma
Director’s Filmography 2018 Red Soil (Short) 2014 Rainbows are Real (Documentary) 2010 The Holy Wives (Documentary) Production Company Hardhyaan Films Contact: ritesh_films@ymail.com |
Film Critics Circle of India 2022
Winner for Best Debut Feature
International Film Festival of Kerala 2022
Official Selection
Director's Profile

Ritesh Sharma
Ritesh Sharma is a filmmaker and theatre practitioner from Mughalsarai, Varanasi currently based out of Delhi. He directed his first documentary film “The Holy Wives”, about caste-based sexual exploitation and human trafficking in India. The film won the best documentary movie award at the prestigious DadaSaheb Phalke Film Festival in 2011 and was screened in different national and international film festivals.
In 2014 he directed another documentary movie “Rainbows are Real”. The film was screened at film festivals like Boston LGBT Film Festival, and Kolkata International Film Festival and has also been screened on NDTV Prime Documentaries.
