At the Kikomera home for girls, the mood is relaxed. Everyone is looking forward to the holidays. Babura is feverishly awaiting her trip to the hairdresser, but her plans are scuppered by her friend Njuki, who attracts chaos like a magnet. Director Maria Byoma also took on the role of screenwriter, animator and producer for this film and has created a humorous, energetic study for a future series in which African stories of striking visual identities will be told with creative freedom and local voices.

Franka Sachse

Son of the local brothel owner, Ismael lives in the small town of Vereda. He leaves his home town in search of two things that he’s never set eyes on – his father and the sea. Together with his idiosyncratic, yet loyal dog Bacalhau, he wanders through the parched Brazilian hinterland, heading towards greater experience and a sense of himself that goes beyond the label “son of a bitch”. Its design recalling a graphic novel, this road movie on foot is at once raw and crude, tender and profound and above all a lot of fun.

Franka Sachse

Two friends at a café chat about love, partnership, children and hot guys. They fantasise about a magical string instrument that could help with finding a partner and starting a family. Unfortunately, the idea is not so straightforward to implement in reality and having their wishes granted requires creativity and openness for alternative options. With great authenticity, wit and charming visual design, this film invites us to be inspired by the conversation between these two very different and yet so similar characters and find our way to greater openness and tolerance.

Franka Sachse