Alternativa Film Festival 2024

Coming of age story of a 12 year old girl with albinism.

A woman tries to cling onto dimming links to her past after inheriting a pygmy slow loris from her long-estranged husband. Meanwhile, her niece prepares for marriage as the young couple ponders their gloomy future together. The present and the complex echoes of Vietnamese history are entwined before a contemplative and poetic perspective.

Melina is a young Iranian girl with divorced parents, living with her grandparents. Celebrating her 9th birthday, Melina legally comes of age in Iranian society, allowing her to take her custody case to court to get the legal permission to live with her mother. Melina is growing up much too fast having to deal with these adult issues. As she starts to realize her mother doesn’t want to take her in, Melina decides not to bring her case to court, knowing it won’t solve her problems. Instead, she holds her own trail of her mother in an intimate but hard confrontation.

When a 21-year-old girl falls in love with a boy from an oppressed caste, her infuriated family believes that she is possessed by his love spell. They ruthlessly drag her to a distant village shaman to break the spell and erase all her memories of him until she forgets his face by performing witchcraft and sacrificing a rooster. The girl’s innocent future is now dictated by the violent misogynistic patriarchs and their regressive ideologies. This one-day travel exposes the dangerous influence of caste, religion and chauvinism on an average Indian family. Will the girl and the rooster survive this lunacy or will they be victims to their belief system?

Withering Tree and Dying Ashes is a poignant short film that contrasts the innocence of youth with the harsh realities of aging. It follows a kindergarten teacher who, used to nurturing the young, becomes a caregiver for her father with dementia. As she navigates this emotional journey, the film delicately explores themes of decay, loss, and resilience. Through its sensitive portrayal of caregiving, it offers a deeply moving reflection on the fragility of life and the complexities of familial love - a triumph in cinema to offer people something more lasting.

This debut short film focuses on bullying and revenge among young adults during their training courses for the navy academy. Added by fantastic elements, it reveals a miniature of contemporary Indonesian society in which masculinity is required and a cycle of violence is anticipated. Bold in the message and professional in the cinema language, it is a strong and
well-crafted piece of art that takes the issue seriously and touches the nature of beast inside
every human being.

Set in Sabah, particularly in Kota Marudu, where socio-cultural development is influenced by a rich tapestry of indigenous traditions, cultural diversity, and economic challenges, the mother's unwavering determination highlights the importance of familial ties and the deep-rooted values of community, ultimately advocating for understanding and reconciliation across faith divides. The performances are heartfelt and authentic, accentuating the resilience of elderly women and their confidence in self-expression

In a Malaysia National Service camp, a Chinese trainee is ordered to lead her multiracial female comrades in washing the stained sanitary pads in the middle of the night.

Maybe Someday portrays the heartwarming friendship between two blind girls, Sri and Yanti, who share a dormitory. Their lives are vibrant and full of joy until Yanti announces her plans to move out of town to pursue her dreams. This news prompts Sri to question whether blind girls like her can aspire to have dreams of their own. The filmmaker, Praditha Blifa Rahayu, has crafted a film about disability that is far from pitiable. Instead, the film presents the inspiring beauty of resilience and the right to dream.

Saba gently, yet firmly, critiques lack of access and opportunity in many aspects of life for disabled people. The situation allows director Maksud Hossain in creating an engaging and emotional mother-and-daughter drama filled with heart-tugging punchlines, and genuine performances. This is the director's feature length directorial debut, which makes this already towering achievement even more remarkable.

Madina, directed by female director Aizhan Kassymbek from Kazakhstan, tells the story of a single mother who teaches dance during the day and works in a burlesque club at night. The film was shot in winter and such a color scheme was specially chosen (the cinematographer is also a woman, Aigul Nurbulatova) to convey Madina’s inner feeling: the coldness of society, anxiety, social insecurity, a feeling of loneliness. The film also delicately touches on the topic of sexual violence, after which a woman cannot return to normal life for a long time.

The movie is not everyone’s cup of tea. Its unflinching and often raw depiction on violence towards women in marginalized societies should make you feel uncomfortable. But the grim fate of women in Rote Island, like Martha and Orpa, doesn’t need any beautification. It's an everyday fact of life, most of the time ignored and overlooked, in Eastern Indonesia as attempts to escape from a perilous situation might lead you to another hell hole. Its dynamic cinematography immerses the audience in the tension experienced by the village community while most of the cast, who are non-professional actors, provide an authentic touch to the film.

As a member of the Selection Committee, I am deeply moved by this film. It beautifully portrays young Arno’s journey as she faces the rigid expectations of her patriarchal village in Kyrgyzstan, capturing the pressures faced by women in many societies. Growing up in a society where families, in the hope of a son, would give birth to multiple daughters, I found the story profoundly relatable. Though the film has its loose moments, its innocence and beauty resonate long after viewing. Its exploration of gender and age discrimination feels relevant, inviting us to reflect on the traditions we hold dear. Beyond these themes, the filmmaker's creative vision shines, making The Gift a must-watch. A heartfelt and touching work.

What happens when deep sibling love is slowly eroded by mistrust? How do we cope with the unsettling realization that those closest to us may not be as virtuous as we believed? Nelicia Low’s gripping atmospheric thriller explores these questions in a film that is both psychologically compelling and emotionally piercing. With a narrative full of layered, unpredictable twists and a charming air of mystery, it naturally weaves LGBTQ+ themes into its dramatic fabric, urging us toward more open and honest conversations with our loved ones. And at its core, it challenges the notion of always prioritizing family values over personal integrity.

A touching story of friendship, love, and a journey reminiscing about the loneliness that awaited them. It’s a powerful way to bring in the nuances of the coming-of-age process, especially with challenges faced by teenagers grappling with gender identity. Incredible emphasis on harmonized visual approach and by editing craft on this film has as an offer the complexity of stories; thoughtful, truthful, and touching in an impressive layer.

Breaking the Cycle is a captivating documentary that explores the inspiring rise of Thailand's youth movement. This debut feature from an emerging filmmaker delves into the tumultuous political landscape of Thailand, introducing viewers to a new generation of young politicians yearning for genuine democracy. The film's clear presentation of a universal story with local flavor makes it accessible to all ages. It is likely to inspire young audiences to make change and has a profound impact on understanding the power of youth activism.

The film focuses on rape cases during the Nepal civil war, highlighting a strong woman who leads the justice movement. As the protagonist confronts her own trauma and that of others, the film reveals the long and difficult road ahead for justice. Deeply moving, it blends anger and sadness while addressing survivors' struggles, women's rights, and political turmoil. The film transcends storytelling, serving as a movement and achieving its impact through well-executed narrative, visuals, and overall direction.

For a nation primarily made up of water, Indonesia sure has a strange fixation on the land and this is reflected in its cinematic legacy. In a dreamy roundabout way, Tale of the Land plays on this irony by simply allowing its heroine to only live on water. And by doing so, the film transforms into a thoughtful metaphor on our landlocked mode of togetherness. The floating house, the missing buffalo, and the enduring traces of violence - all challenges us to rethink the political dimensions of the land that we call home, and the waters around it that we often marginalize yet exploit endlessly from. Tale of the Land never offers a stable ground for reflection and, given the entangled politics that govern our land, it's probably the most fitting position to be in.

The story tells about the young generation in today’s digital world who create a language of affection by sharing their nudes and wank videos. When the videos are leaked on social media, that’s become a market. The accessibility of the internet and the ease of having social media accounts make it easier for sexual predators to prey on vulnerable children both due to the lack of knowledge on cyber security and the vulnerability caused by poverty. This is a huge issue especially in southeast asia where children and youth are abused as sexual objects. This film definitely needs to be discussed and looked for some solutions. The film also has a very good production quality and the character Bryan’s emotion reaches us to get into his mind and we can keep continuing to go through and think about what kind of trauma he will live on.  We felt very sad that the issues related to the personal and social life of young people and also with the strong presences of the character, a mixture of hope and sexual horror. We can get into the shoes of a young man’s life which we can not skip and scroll. This film not only talks about a young man’s life, but also talks about the tragedy of today's new generation who are victims of sexual bullying.

A beautiful debut work of the filmmaker, the film tells the story of his struggling family facing poverty, tragedy, and domestic violence under the political tension in his country, Myanmar. The film invites the audience to stay closer to his family's experience through sample camera work. The film was shot in the Southern Shan State, the place where the filmmaker was born.

This animated documentary tackles a serious issue in Myanmar: the effects of political unrest and civil war on young people, especially women. Many are leaving the country in search of a better life, but this has led to a troubling rise in trafficking, with women being sold into forced marriages in China. This heartfelt film, directed by emerging filmmaker Hsu Pan Naing, uses animation to tell a powerful and emotional story. It highlights important social issues and aims to connect with local and international audiences, raising awareness and empathy for these women's struggles..

This film addresses not only precarious working conditions, long hours, and unfair pay but also the rampant issue of private killings or hit jobs in the Philippines. It exemplifies what works in a short film by repeatedly reinforcing the protagonist’s (and our) desires and expectations, only to slap us with a tragic ending. The filmmaker skilfully builds empathy for the protagonist, and the mysterious male figures, oppressive low-ceilinged locations, and convincing performances make it a standout. A gem from the Philippines and Southeast Asia!

My Wonderful Life is a masterfully crafted animated short that offers a poignant exploration of modern motherhood. The film follows an overworked mom who collapses at work and is admitted to the hospital, where she unexpectedly finds a sense of freedom. Through striking visuals and emotional depth, the film captures the suffocating pressures of balancing work and family, turning the hospital into a symbol of escape and self-reclamation. Its nuanced reflection on self-care and personal freedom resonates universally, making it both timely and deeply moving - a remarkable piece of storytelling that lingers long after the credits roll.