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.

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.

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.

Alone at home, a woman is immersed in a bizarre adventure of the mind. In the intimacy of her space, her imagination knows no bounds, transcending time and space as she revisits memories and glimpses into the unknown. However, this solitary exploration is disrupted by the sudden presence of an unexpected intruder.

To perceive, from the Greek meaning 'touch at a distance'. Absent Presence is a surreal journey of a disconnected body seeking itself in the empty spaces of a house. A play of perceptions unfolds, blurring the line between the ambiguity of reflections and distorted shadows, prompting viewers to question their own experience.

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.

After separating heaven and earth, Tengri, the all-embracing God of heaven in the traditional Turkic, Yeniseian, and Mongolian beliefs, divided himself into man and woman to procreate. He named the woman the goddess Umai and settled her atop Mount Sumeru in the sky, near a milk lake called Sutkol. Here begins the story of Umai – the ancestor and spirit of women – on the vast steppes of the nomadic lands.

From a Parisian Métro platform below to the night streets above, one woman decides to go against the current and defy the Parisian routine.

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.

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.

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.