As the 75th Berlin International Film Festival (13-23 February) and the accompanying European Film Market (EFM, 13-19 February) approach, German international sales agent m-appeal is set to present a compelling slate of films that explore pressing contemporary issues through daring storytelling. They range from intimate explorations of love and self-discovery to raw, heart-wrenching portraits of humanity.

The highly anticipated Dreams [+lire aussi :
critique
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interview : Dag Johan Haugerud
fiche film], directed by renowned Norwegian filmmaker Dag Johan Haugerud, will premiere in the Berlinale main competition. The intimate drama delves into the complex lives of three generations of women as they grapple with love, sexuality and self-expression. Johanne, a young woman who falls in love for the first time, documents her feelings in writing, setting off a chain of events that force her mother and grandmother to confront their own perceptions of love and identity. The final part of Haugerud's Sex-Love-Dreams trilogy, Dreams continues the director's exploration of societal norms and individual desires, following the success of Sex [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Dag Johan Haugerud
fiche film], which premiered in the Berlinale Panorama last year, and Love [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Dag Johan Haugerud
fiche film], which was featured in Venice’s competition the same year.

The Berlin-based sales agent will also present Living the Land, a poignant drama by Chinese director Huo Meng, also enjoying its world premiere in the Berlinale’s competition. Set against the backdrop of China’s rapid socio-economic changes in 1991, the movie tells the story of a young boy, Chuang, who must remain in his rural village while his family members pursue work in the cities. As modernisation transforms their way of life, Chuang’s coming-of-age journey reveals the profound weight of tradition and familial responsibility.

Also featured on m-appeal's slate is Night Stage by Brazilian filmmakers Filipe Matzembacher and Marcio Reolon, which will have its world premiere in the Panorama section. This daring and provocative drama follows the secret affair between an actor and a politician as they indulge in a dangerous fetish for public sex. As their dreams of fame begin to take shape, they find themselves more and more willing to risk it all. Matzembacher and Reolon, known for their previous work Hard Paint, which won the Teddy Award at the 68th Berlinale, continue to explore taboo subjects with unflinching honesty and flair.

Finally, m-appeal will showcase In Ashes, the debut feature by Danish director Ludvig Christian Næsted Poulsen, which will be featured at the EFM market screenings. Premiering at the Mardi Gras Film Festival, this emotionally charged film follows Christian, a young gay man struggling to cope with heartbreak after his first love. Using dating apps in search of new connections, he embarks on a journey that leads him through obsession, passion and self-discovery. This film about love, identity and the complexities of modern relationships promises to resonate with audiences, particularly in its exploration of LGBT themes in today’s digital age.