After Whim makes it through an unconventional audition for the dance piece Syncope, the choreographer remains unsatisfied with her full commitment. But what she and the other dancers experience in rehearsals is only a glimpse of the dark vision he will impose on them.

A group of young men waltz in pairs, balancing with a glass between their foreheads. In this captivating setting, director Albert Rask crafts a new code of conduct - an allegory reflecting the experience of growing up. A playful yet poignant exploration that reframes the burdens of responsibility, expectations and the rules of adulthood.

Yelda del Carmen leaves her Cuban homeland for Montreal, where she must rebuild her dance career from scratch. Before fully dedicating herself to her dance aspirations, she undertakes a unique climbing adventure in Cuba. She aims to leave a lasting imprint on history by becoming the first Cuban woman to conquer three mythical ascents.

Three people tormented by relentless anxiety and prolonged sleeplessness, slowly lose their human forms. As their condition worsens, they evolve into monsters, doomed to an eternity without rest.

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.

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.

A couple struggles to find the strength for dialogue, love and respect. They return to the beginning of their relationship and rediscover the intertwining of their roots.

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.

The Montreal Steppers visit South Africa for a cultural and artistic exchange to learn from elders and youth, brilliant artists and knowledge keepers. Connecting to the roots of Gumboots, Pantsula and Stepping changed their lives and the work that they do. It fuelled a deeper commitment to sharing the history and honouring the art forms that paved the way for resistance, power and legacy. With this knowledge, they enter into spaces with a heightened appreciation and understanding that this dance form is indeed their “ancestral inheritance.”

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.

Japanese Butoh artist Ken Mai has chosen a modest life for the sake of art. He is also the father to two small girls, and about to divorce. Skeleton Dance explores themes of life and death through improvisation and association, just like Butoh dance does.

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.

Néphélie reluctantly agrees to meet Leila one last time to finish their ongoing video dance project. While they dance, the weight of their charged history begins to surface.

After the death of her youngest daughter, Carmen is unable to face her loss, haunted by the constant presence of her ghost. Guided by her eldest daughter, she embarks on a journey through grief, finding expression in the power of flamenco.

Max, a young ice cream vendor with aspirations of becoming a techno musician, is paralyzed by fear just before stepping on stage at a rave club. Forced on an introspective yet visually expressive journey, Max is confronted by his insecurity and the cold presence of Alex, the guardian of loneliness. But when he unexpectedly meets the charming Helen, she is determined to free him from the clutches of self-doubt.

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.

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.

A filmmaker and former dancer returns to her family home to make an elaborate dance film with her parents, but when they fail to live up to unrealistic expectations, she hires professional dancers to play them. A collaborative dance unfolds within her family home, as captured through behind-the-scenes and 16mm footage, all of which becomes gradually overshadowed by her mother’s metastasizing cancer. The hybrid film that emerges is a loving tribute to one family’s way of facing mortality and a darkly funny meditation on that impossible urge to hold onto the past; on what family archives come to mean on the eve of loss.

In Oulton, Leeds, an old coal-mining community of over 60 houses still stands. Originally built as temporary council housing but later sold to private investors, these homes now face the threat of demolition, putting a large number of residents at risk of displacement—some of whom have lived there their entire lives. Through a combination of audio interviews and a striking visual metaphor, we uncover the stories of a tightly-knit community, their cherished memories, and the stress and uncertainty surrounding their ongoing campaign to save their homes.

Between loads of laundry at the corner laundromat, Cooper shares the story of her gender reassignment journey. Piecing together her memories, from her childhood in a small fishing village through her tumultuous medical process, Cooper attempts to make peace with the last male imprint remaining on her body: that annoying deep voice that sticks to her skin.