Kilometer 9 or since when do you stop to look at the city  (Colombia) by Mika Nivola

On a December night, the sound of motorcycles and fireworks fills the streets of Medellín, as the improbable connection between two young men from almost opposite worlds unfolds through a conversation that lays them bare, along with the labyrinthine streets they wander. Both face the constant threat of death and oblivion; at every stop, they pause to observe the city, holding on to that fleeting moment amidst the uncertainty.

Running time: 00:17:40

Xylella fastidiosa (France) by Thomas Colineau

Simon works in a garden center in the south of France, alongside his mother, who is as kind as she is overbearing. When he is ghosted by Corentin, he is confronted with his loneliness. In the wondrous atmosphere of the greenhouse, where chatty plants echo his thoughts, he converses with another absence that helps him move forward: Hyacinth, an imagined adult who resembles him and understands him without the need for explanation. Xylella fastidiosa is a tribute to an entire generation decimated by HIV/AIDS, leaving a void in its wake.

Running time: 00:21:39

Forbidden Soul (Pakistan) by Baidar Bakhat

Set in the aftermath of Pakistan’s Transgender Act of 2018 and the backlash from religious authorities, the film follows Maina, a member of the eunuch community who survives by performing at weddings and births. Struggling with faith, identity, and belonging, she becomes emotionally attached to a cleric whose online sermons condemn her way of life. As their worlds collide, Maina confronts questions of religion, love, and acceptance, while her mentor fears the consequences of her growing attachment. Caught between tradition, belief, and personal longing, Maina must navigate a society that denies her place—both in this world and the next.

Running time: 00:28:49

Cinderella's Glass Slippers (Greece) by Flora Fousteri

In the year 2077, global warming has driven up mortality rates, mental disorders, and violence. Those who are not wealthy enough to migrate to the Moon remain on Earth, struggling to get by — among them Lou, a young former actress who has turned her caravan into a food stand. When a mysterious girl with honey-colored eyes appears, eating whole tomatoes while obsessively staring at the Moon, Lou’s life begins to change.

Running time: 00:14:54