In a world where translation is increasingly automated, what understanding can emerge from intuition, improvisation, and nonverbal bodily intelligence? Amid the hum of their environment, two candidates train to interpret the rhythms, patterns, and nuances of a nearby field sparrow. What starts as an exercise in empathy and attunement leads to unexpected realizations about the ‘shape’ of language.

As an ode to her grandfather, choreographer Daria Titova returns to the rural land he cherished, in Sokur, Russia - a place deeply imprinted in her memory. Through movement, she translates her connection to the land, her family heritage and a feeling of belonging. A film that speaks of reconnection, appreciation and the transformative power of memory, place, and identity.

In this cinematic adaptation of Severs’ stage performance Coerced and Freely Given ('24), three performers train together to endure the world’s violences and reclaim space for vulnerability and anger through care and solidarity. Known for her unique blend of choreography and martial arts, Severs delves into the body’s resilience, vulnerability, and ability to resist societal and political pressures.

In today’s world, it’s almost impossible to truly stand still. We keep ourselves constantly busy, striving for more and getting less in return. Droom acknowledges this overwhelming feeling and invites us to experience three different phases of stillness.

Teenager Alysha struggles to accept her mother’s decision to end her life, wavering between incomprehension and love as she navigates the weight of the situation. Over time, she begins to understand the depth of her mother’s unbearable pain. A poetic coming-of-age story steeped in magical realism.

Bai Li’s touching autobiographical short film traces her journey as a Chinese adoptee in the Netherlands. In this intimate exploration, she courageously opens her personal archives to share the vulnerable beginnings of her life, revealing a narrative that reflects the search for a sense of belonging. Through her distinctive movement language, Bai Li delves into the various stages and emotions of her adoption, from childhood innocence to the frustration of identity clashes. An ode to those who navigate the complex terrain of adoption and dual identities.

Lukács and Broersen examine the Western colonial perception of the jungle as an untouched wilderness or 'terra nullius.' The film reimagines botanical gardens in Brussels, Paris, London, and Amsterdam—places where the wilderness was once appropriated and transported to Europe. The iconic song I Wan'na Be Like You from Disney’s Jungle Book (1967) is reinterpreted by collaborators, most notably the Afro-Surinamese music group Black Harmony, offering a proud reimagining of their community’s history and future in the diaspora.

A Bird Named Mansour explores a world where dreams are broken and innocence is lost, following children who flee broken homes in search of safety. This poetic film, inspired by Maya Angelou’s words, “The truth is, no one of us can be free until everybody is free,” highlights the journey toward freedom. Filmed at London’s prestigious Somerset House, it’s a collaboration between choreographer Jordy Dik, the Dutch inclusive dance theater company Compagnie Tiuri, and the renowned Hofesh Shechter Company.

Guided by a mysterious entity, a young Black woman sets out on a quest for intimacy in a world where the lines between the personal and the political, the individual and the collective, the past and the present, are increasingly blurred. This afro-surrealistic reverie poetically reimagines contemporary conceptions of selfhood and community, while questioning the historically and culturally imposed views on the intimate lives of Black people in the diaspora.

Sophie, a curious and healthy eleven-year-old girl, is confined to a hospital bed under her mother’s constant watch. When she meets Buck, a cheerful nine-year-old adventurer, they embark on a journey of self-discovery and movement. As they explore together, Sophie begins to question the reality of her situation, wondering if she is truly as unwell as her mother insists.