First film release

On a motorcycle in Iran, we meet middle-aged Sara Shahverdi, who is fighting a passionate fight for women’s rights in a society steeped in patriarchal traditions and structures.

This award-winning documentary was just shortlisted for next year’s Oscar nominations.

Sara has been elected as the first female politician in her village, where she works to ban child marriage and give women more freedom and self-determination. She also teaches teenage girls in the village to ride motorcycles.

This is a beautiful and hopeful documentary that shows the influence a courageous woman can have in her local community, and the forces she stands up against.

CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS is an award-winning film, which has won the Audience Award at IDFA, the main prize at DOK Leipzig and the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance earlier this year. Perhaps it will also receive an Oscar nomination next year.

The Golden Spurtle

UK, Australia / 2025 / 75 min
Director: Constantine Costi

Do you love porridge? You’re not alone. In THE GOLDEN SPURTLE we meet porridge enthusiasts from all over the world who make the annual pilgrimage to a tiny Scottish village — only to participate in The World Porridge Making Championship.

Porridge general Charlie Miller has led the championship for years and we follow him in what will be his last World Porridge Championship. The participants are warmly portrayed and the documentary’s distinctive style is guaranteed to make you smile.

Save the date Wednesday, 4 March already now; there’ll be a supper screening of THE GOLDEN SPURTLE at Vega Scene — where we’ll be serving porridge, of course.

We look forward to sharing these great films with you at the festival.

More film releases are coming in the new year.