A Smothering Embrace: ‘The Holy Boy’ (2025) by Paolo Strippoli
KARLOVY VARY 2026: The young Italian filmmaker moulds a new face for folk horror in his newest work, which ties the monstrous to the act of repression.
In Our Own World By Night: ‘Ephemera’ (2026) by Shan Jiang
TRIBECA25 / FRAMELINE50: In this directorial debut, two young women find themselves in a fleeting romantic encounter over one night in Shanghai, where memories are both made and uprooted as the duo enters a space of their own.
‘I’m on the side of making films where being queer isn’t a big deal’: Matthias Lintner on ‘My Boyfriend the Fascist’
ONE WORLD PRAGUE 2026: The Bolzano-born director shares his own journey of political self-questioning in his highly reflexive new documentary, exploring the relationship between himself and his Cuban-born partner.
Looking for a Role to Play: Gender Performativity in Andrius Blaževičius’ ‘How to Divorce During the War’
SUNDANCE 2026: Marija and Vytas navigate their uncomfortable divorce as the Russian invasion of Ukraine rages on, setting loose a disruption of binary and performative roles amidst these chaotic events.
The Demonic Weight of Community: ‘Correct Me If I’m Wrong’ (2025) by Hao Zhou
ROTTERDAM 2025: The Nanchuan-born filmmaker signs a highly personal short documentary on their family’s attempts to rid them of their non-heteronormative desire, driven by the belief in demonic possession.
Navigating Girlhood in the Chaos: ‘1 Girl Infinite’ (2025) by Lilly Hu
ROTTERDAM 2025: In a bustling southern Chinese city, two codependent teen girls navigate the dueling loneliness and desire of these all-engulfing fateful years as one falls for the other.