In a medieval-like underground world, Mabelia works tirelessly to fulfill the whims of the capricious Queen Adora. Unbeknownst to Mabelia, Queen Adora has used dark magic to erase all memories of her being Mabelia’s mother, thus keeping her daughter in a perpetual state of subjugation. Haunted by this ongoing trauma, Mabelia finds herself increasingly withdrawing into a self-constructed inner world. This alternate reality operates on a logic entirely different from the tangible world her body inhabits, featuring vast landscapes that ignite the imagination, profound silence, tranquility, sunlight, and security – all in stark contrast to Adora's rough and chaotic underground realm governed by its own unrestrained social norms and a mysterious 'dancing plague'.

As the story unfolds, Mabelia's inner self begins to grasp the reality of Adora’s secret. Through mystical encounters and disembodied voices, she discovers guidance that ultimately leads her back to the subterranean realm. There, a profound confrontation with Adora and Mabelia’s own external identity awaits. While her internal and external worlds collide in the form of a grand musical dance scene, Mabelia will gain a renewed perspective on a world defined by chaos and her place within it.

Far from Beyrouth | Mon Dewulf | BEL | 22’

While his partner lives through war in Beirut, a young man tends to his cat and empty apartment in Brussels, caught between the safety of distance and the growing unease of conflict he experiences only through messages, videos, and silence.

My Plastic Mother | Amar Haikal | IDN | 19’

Eki, living by the landfill, searches for a memento to honor his late mother. Battling the relentless rain, landslides, and looming threats from scavengers and machinery, he fears her memory could be lost beneath the waste forever.

Fish and Chips | Bartłomiej Błaszczyński | POL | 20

Local show-off Baltazar desperately fights for his father's attention, competing with his beloved brother Teofil. One day, he decides to take part in a televised talent show — his father's favorite program. What he doesn't know is that Teofil has also submitted an application. Now, Baltazar will have to face rejection and disappointment.