15. FWENDS

I found Fwends to be a testing watch. It centres on two friends who meet in Melbourne to catch up, and the camera follows them over the course of a somewhat disastrous day. Their loosely structured conversations feel like improv, but the actors give the impression they are unsure of themselves and directionless, which makes it all a little awkward. It doesn't help that the characters are cringey and irritating, so it's frustrating to spend so much uninterrupted time listening to them just chatting. Unfortunately, Fwends is not as quirky as it thinks it is, at least not in an engaging way.

14. NOSTALGIE

Nostalgie is a thoughtful drama short that confronts a complicated moral issue through the ways in which a paramilitary group in Northern Ireland co-opts a popular song of a retired 80s pop star. The way the film reveals the complexities of the story is interesting, but I wish it had explored the issue a bit more and developed its protagonist further. The song itself is genuinely catchy and sounds authentically of the time, and the dreamy, glittery visuals during the song performance look lovely. Overall, although the performances are great, I wish it had dived deeper into the moral issue at its core.

13. FINDING OPTEL

Finding Optel wasn't quite my cup of tea, but I appreciated its vibrant colour palette and playful, mischievous, and distinct visual style. It begins with a somewhat student film vibe, but it improves as it progresses to achieve a genuinely quirky and charming energy. It features some creative flourishes that are used a little too often, like the way it explains local slang through freeze-frames and on-screen definitions, but they are sometimes used too quickly in succession, which can make it all feel a little cluttered. Overall, Finding Optel makes for some light-hearted, family-friendly viewing, but feels unpolished.

12. BALEARIC

Balearic has some compelling visuals and a menacing atmosphere, but it's sometimes too unsubtle in how it conveys its ideas. It looks gorgeous, with soft-focus, vibrant colours, and sun-soaked settings, reminding me of classic slasher films, accompanied by a synth-inspired soundtrack. At one point, it takes a surprising turn that, in the moment, filled me with dread; however, after the moment passed, I wasn't fully on board, although the film did continue to intrigue me. It explores how the actions of the wealthiest are detrimental to the environment through images of decadence and consumption against a background of wildfires, but I found it reinforced the same point for too long in different ways.

11. ELEPHANT FAMILIES

Elephant Families gave me an insight into a vibrant and thriving Latino culture in London that I didn't know existed. It looks into how the demolition of the Elephant & Castle shopping centre affected those who worked and found community there through diverse stories that are tied together by their memories of the once bustling area. Those affected describe how, in the face of gentrification and displacement, they have worked to keep the unique community and culture alive. The thing I love most about London is the diversity and multiculturalism, and Elephant Families has given me an even deeper appreciation for that.

10. THE DEVIL SMOKES (AND SAVES THE BURNT MATCHES IN THE SAME BOX)

The Devil Smokes (and Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box) is an ambiguous, deeply atmospheric film that is difficult to pin down. I found it slightly too cryptic to be consistently engaging, but it does effectively establish a palpable atmosphere laden with unease, as well as creating the setting of a dark, cluttered home that is insulated from the outside world. The young performers are amazing, with an authentic dynamic that draws you into their chaotic lives and unstable sense of reality. Although its pacing can be slow and sometimes confusing, I liked many aspects of the film.

9. GRANDMA IS THIRSTY

Grandma is Thirsty immediately establishes an impressively unsettling tone, and it left me feeling very creeped out. The set design is great, with the odd-sized flat and use of perspective creating a very claustrophobic feeling. The score, made up of nerve-shredding string instrumentals, is also very unsettling. The incredibly unnerving combination of child actors with adult voices, creepy twins, a scary old lady, and questionable glasses of milk makes for an effective short horror film with a cheeky sense of humour..

8. MORE LIFE

More Life was more engaging than I thought it would have the capacity to be. It's the story of a group of young twentysomethings told through a series of Instagram Live videos, and it surprisingly manages to build some tension through the unique medium. It features incredibly realistic characters and performances with an authentic way of speaking. It explores the intricacies of male friendship dynamics, from the ways they performatively embarrass each other to more worrying issues involving implications that the group is aware of but chooses to ignore, such as a serious sexual assault allegation against one of the individuals.

7. WHAT MARIELLE KNOWS

What Marielle Knows is driven by a compelling premise that, whilst not executed perfectly, is still enough to be entertaining and intriguing. Although Marielle (Laeni Geiseler) isn't developed enough beyond her inconvenient telepathic abilities, the story is really about her parents and the darkly funny middle-class satire, calling out their selfishness and, ultimately, disinterest in their daughter's well-being compared to their own desires. The performances by Felix Kramer, Julia Jentsch, and Geiseler are pitch perfect. As far as German comedies go, the film is awkward, tense, and subsequently funny in a twisted way.

6. ISLAND OF THE WINDS

Island of the Winds presents an intimate and in-depth account of the daily lives and struggles of the residents of Taiwan's Lesheng Sanatorium, captured by filmmaker Hsu Ya-Ting over two decades. This impressive and moving documentary looks at how those affected by leprosy have been persecuted and isolated by their government's cruel treatment, as well as the residents' admirable determination to fight their mistreatment. It reveals what can happen when communities come together to support the best interests of the most vulnerable among them, and it visually archives the deeply important history of its subjects.

5. COYOTES

Coyotes is an impressively tense and engaging short that, at just 20 minutes, grabs your attention and maintains a menacing atmosphere. It has great performances, especially Ali Suliman as the quietly threatening Mukhlis, whose unnerving presence meant I hardly breathed through its perfectly paced runtime. It looks at how injustice and political oppression impact a Palestinian surgeon, who is blackmailed due to her sexuality, through the lens of the thriller genre. It pulls it off very well, and I'd love to see the story expanded in a feature-length film. Still, the short film is fantastic, regardless.

4. THE ASSISTANT

The Assistant is a compelling, if strange and sometimes alienating, film. Following Joseph (Piotr Trojan) as he secures a job as an assistant for an eccentric, self-important inventor, it examines how the cycle of poverty is perpetuated by the unfair dynamic between employers and employees. It features an alluring, electronic-inspired score that ranges from ambient to unnerving, juxtaposed with a non-specific period setting infused with elements of the modern world. A film of this experimental style can be a bit testing at over two hours, but there's enough ambition and beautiful cinematography that, overall, I was charmed by The Assistant. 

3. THE BLUE TRAIL

Set in a near-dystopian Brazil, where the elderly are forcibly sent to a colony to retire at a certain age, The Blue Trail follows 77-year-old Tereza (Denise Weinberg) as she embarks on an odyssey of sorts to evade arrest and buy her freedom. I enjoyed the unique concept and absurdity of the government's discriminative approach, but the film is more about Tereza's self-discovery, set to a dreamy, lo-fi soundtrack alongside beautifully shot images of the Amazon. At just 87 minutes, The Blue Trail is a brief and beautiful exploration of how Tereza chooses to explore her desires and live freely of labels and expectations.

2. OLMO

Olmo is a moving, beautifully shot, and unique coming-of-age story that explores the bonds of family and childhood innocence. It follows Olmo (Aivan Uttapa) on his quest to impress his next-door neighbour after he is left with the responsibility of caring for his bedridden father, Nestor (Gustavo Sánchez Parra). The story is bittersweet but also full of warm humour, following Olmo’s attempts to juggle his newfound responsibility with impressing his crush. It has a very American indie vibe that highlights Olmo’s difficult family situation against his teenage desire for independence in a way that is absurdly funny yet also sincere and touching.

1. STRAIGHT CIRCLE

Straight Circle is hard to talk about without explaining it, but how it begins versus how it ends is impressively deranged yet deeply affecting and moving. I’d encourage anyone to go into this striking film as blindly as possible, as I did, for a truly unique experience. It’s visually distinct and experimental, barreling from satire to a compelling existential nightmare. The performances from identical twins Luke and Elliot Tittensor are Nicolas Cage-levels of insane, dedicated, physically demanding, and incredible acting. Their performances range from masterful slapstick comedy to unnerving and harrowing. I’m looking forward to what director Oscar Hudson does next.