Three siblings are spending the weekend at their grandparents’ house, but little Tom can’t fall asleep. His older sister Zuzka decides to use Grandma’s old hat and conjure stories from it, just like their beloved grandmother used to tell. Together with their oldest brother Derek and their grandpa, they all dive into a magical world full of funny characters and imagination, whose healing power brings back their joy.
Child of the Dust was the term used for children born to Vietnamese women and American soldiers during the Vietnam War. Sang was born in that period and never knew his father, yet even fifty years after the end of the war he has not given up hope of finding him. When he learns that his seriously ill father lives in the United States, he decides to seek him out—even at the cost of leaving behind his wife, daughter and grandson. In a foreign country, however, his long-dreamed-of reunion collides with harsh reality: he remains a stranger not only in American society but also within a family that had never known of his existence. This sensitive portrait of a man searching for his identity follows an emotionally demanding journey toward acceptance and forgiveness.
Ten-year-old Toto grows up with his older sisters, Ana and Andreea, in an environment marked by poverty and drug addiction, while their mother is serving a prison sentence. As the sisters struggle to keep the family together, Toto finds an escape in dancing and gradually learns to read and write. This observational documentary follows their difficult journey and their fight for dignity and hope for a different, better life, while raising the question of what happens when young people realize they can aspire to more than what their family or the environment in which they grow up has to offer. The film by Romanian documentary filmmaker Alexander Nanau was among the most significant European documentaries of 2014 and received awards at several prestigious festivals, including the Zurich Film Festival and Dok Leipzig.
Starting with an excerpt from an Albanian feature film from the communist era in which a boy dreams of the construction of a modern city, Every Epoch Dreams the Next reflects on how a cityscape changes as power structures shift and how these power structures can override the common good and the general public.
Between dog and wolf, in the hour when the night is ending but the day has not yet begun, anything can happen. Director Terézia Halamová delivers a subtle and assured character study of a man moving between the worlds of the stage, physicality, and silence. Rudolf works as a stripper, yet what truly shapes him unfolds away from the glare of the spotlight.
Drew, a Vietnamese immigrant in Warsaw, is trapped by his mother's rigid expectations. Behind closed doors he leads a secret life as a nail artist, crafting intricate designs and breaking cultural taboos. Everything changes when Bo, a bold and talented nail artist, becomes both his muse and ally. It puches Drew to confront his mother’s control and embrace his creative identity.
The first week of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. As routines dissolve and the existential threat renders inaction unbearable, three observations converge to form a narrative that conveys the collective experience of a nation determined to resist.
A data engineer rushes through life, believing multitasking saves time—but it only creates chaos. Despite his strict control over time, nothing gets done: his home is a mess, work overflows, and breakfast is always burnt. He discovers joy in life only when time breaks apart.
In a harsh, almost lunar landscape, miners live with their families in the shadow of a silver mine, where daily labor carries the constant risk of death. The film follows their physically exhausting work as well as the quiet rituals of faith that help them endure a reality marked by danger and poverty. Polish director Natalia Koniarz, with empathy and visual precision, reveals not only the everyday life of the local community, but also a broader historical context — the colonial roots of European wealth, the price of progress, and the imbalance of a world built on the invisible labor of others.
In the 1970s in Brazil, former professor Armando goes into hiding to escape political persecution. Living in Recife under a false identity, he searches for a way to stay beyond the reach of the regime. However, his past and state power gradually catch up with him.
Set in the post-war future of Ukraine, the story follows a former film director searching for a way back to creative work as well as to his family. Director Valentyn Vasyanovych does not take us to bombed-out cities or military cemeteries; instead, the film focuses on the less visible yet equally painful consequences of war—the breakdown of family ties, the loss of meaning in life, and the uncertainty of what victory actually means.
MFF FEBIOFEST Bratislava and Visegrad Film Forum invite you to the festival opening party, bringing together film guests, audiovisual professionals, and festival audiences. The music will be provided by DJ Poky Man (Medial Banana). Come celebrate the start of the festival, meet the film community, and get into the mood for the upcoming days full of films, discussions, and encounters. (Free entry)
Fifteen-year-old Betka spends the summer with her friend Alma at a lakeside cottage. They would gladly trade the slow, sleepy holidays for a trip to the opposite shore, to a beach bar and a summer party, but Betka’s older sister refuses to let them go. Their monotonous days are disrupted by the mysterious Aneta, who reveals that a strange forest place hidden in the woods has the power to transport a person anywhere they wish. This mysterious coming-of-age film by director Vojtěch Strakatý, exploring adolescence and the strength of female friendship, had its world premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Proxima competition section.
Shy and introverted Colin lives a quiet, unremarkable life on the outskirts of London until he meets Ray, a charismatic biker. A chance encounter draws him into a world of intense attraction, power, and rigidly defined rules. In the new relationship, Colin seeks closeness, but gradually comes up against the limits of his own desire and self-worth.
Tommy, a provocative internet influencer spreading violence and recklessness, wakes up after a wild night to find himself captive on a remote country estate. He is held there by a married couple — the outwardly calm Chris and the quiet Kathryn — who confiscate his phone, isolate him from the outside world, and subject him to a peculiar “re-education.” In this house, the usual rules do not apply, and Tommy gradually realizes that this is not a random abduction, but a carefully designed plan for his “moral reform.”
The psychological thriller A Good Boy, directed by Jan Komasa, is an unsettling exploration of power and manipulation. Komasa once again examines the darker corners of society, this time focusing on digital aggression and the limits of morality.
Join a masterclass with Chris Munro, two-time Academy Award winner and one of the most respected production sound mixers in the world. With a career spanning over five decades and more than 100 feature films, Munro has collaborated with directors such as Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, and Alfonso Cuarón, helping shape the sound of modern cinema. In this exclusive session, he will share stories from major film sets, insights into capturing performances in challenging conditions, and his perspective on how sound brings emotion and realism to the big screen. Discover how great films don’t just look spectacular — they sound unforgettable. (only in English)
