BFMAF New Cinema Awards – Short film programme

The Moving Garden– Accompanied by two botanical guides, a group of hikers embark on a journey through the enchanting landscapes of Arrábida Natural Park. As they traverse the park’s diverse flora and fauna, they uncover evidence of a troubling transformation: rather than the work of nature, it becomes clear that human intervention is reshaping this once-pristine environment.

Dir. Inês Lima | Portugal | 2024 | 18’ | Portuguese with English Subtitles

The Birds Chose The Cards – Initially conceived as a film about tourism, war and sunsets, The Birds Chose the Cards pushes Egyptian artist Basim Magdy into new and unexpected territory. Shot in a post-pandemic haze on lush 16mm, this observational collage eschews science fiction elements from previous works to foreground an emotionally resonant first-person narration centering speculations on history, identity and place – accented by a propulsive soundscape by turns warm and dissonant.

Dir. Basim Magdy | Egypt, Switzerland | 2024 | 24 ‘ |

Shuruuk – Translating as “rising in the east”, Shuruuk traces a dreamlike, diaristic journey from Japan to Tunisia; from Palestine to France. Amie Barouh’s intimate, roving camera bears witness to the flow of life and movement from East to West. Five years of documentation result in an impressionistic, beautifully honest portrait of diasporic and immigrant communities and the resilience of people living life in exile.

Dir. Amie Barouh | France, Germany | 2024 | 37’ | English French, Japanese, Kurdish, Romani, Romanian, Tunisian Arabic (dialect) with English Subtitles