Your Guide to Zawya’s Panorama of the European Film 2024

Bye Bye Tiberias
Director: Lina Soualem
Date and Time: Saturday, 20 January, 1:00 PM
Countries: France, Belgium, Palestine, Qatar

In an effort to realise her acting dreams in France, Hiam Abbas relocates out of her native Palestinian village and returns years later with her daughter, Lina. This personal documentary delves into the lives of different generations of women within Abbas’s family and how they grapple with their separation. 

Greyhound of a Girl
Director: Enzo D'Alò
Date and Time: Friday, 12 January, 1:00 PM
Countries: Luxembourg, Italy, Ireland, United Kingdom, Estonia, Germany, Latvia

11-year old Mary’s dream is to become a chef, something her beloved grandmother, Emer, is keen on helping her with. As Mary faces numerous challenges on her path, her journey takes an adventurous turn. 

Ciné-Guerrillas: Scenes from the Labudovic Reels
Director: Mila Turajlić
Date and Time: Wednesday, 17 January, 4:00 PM / Friday, 19 January, 4:00 PM
Countries: Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, France

In Ciné-Guerrillas, documentarian Mila Turajlić presents viewers with the story of Yugoslavian leader Josip Broz Tito’s favourite cameraman, Stevan Labudović, who was tasked with documenting the Algerian War for Independence, where cinematic propaganda acted as the main driving force. 

How to Have Sex
Director: Molly Manning Walker
Date and Time: Tuesday, 16 January, 7:00 PM
Countries: United Kingdom, Greece

‘How to Have Sex’ revolves around three British teenage girls, fresh out of high school and on a celebratory trip to Malia, Greece. As their coming-of-age story unfolds, and their dancing and drinking escapades take centre stage, the teens navigate sex, consent and self-discovery. 

Between Revolutions
Director: Vlad Petri
Date and Time: Thursday, 11 January, 1:00 PM / Sunday, 14 January, 4:00 PM
Countries: Romania, Qatar, Iran, Croatia

Zahra and Maria, two friends that meet in 1970s Bucharest, are separated when Zahra returns to her native Iran, where the political winds are shifting. With letters acting as the only form of communication between them for over a decade, both women describe their struggles to be heard, how their countries are changing in different ways, and how they yearn for their separation to end. 

The Teachers’ Lounge (Opening film)
Director: Ilker Çatak
Date and Time: Thursday, 11 January, 7:00 PM
Countries: German, Turkish, Polish, English

Idealistic young teacher Carla Nowak’s position at her German school is destabilised when an increasing amount of thefts leads to a staff investigation and creates a rift between parents, colleagues and students. As Carla attempts to mediate, she effectively digs herself a bigger hole, risking her position.

Linda Wants Chicken
Directors: Sébastien Laudenbach, Chiara Malta
Date and Time: Saturday, 13 January, 1:00 PM
Countries: France, Italy 

After unjustly punishing her daughter Linda, Paulette’s guilt makes her want to make amends in any way she can. At Linda’s request, Paulette attempts to make chicken with peppers, a meal that reminds Linda of her father. This seemingly simple plea quickly becomes difficult, as general strikes lead to store closures and masses of people taking to the streets. 

White Plastic Sky
Directors: Tibor Bánóczki, Sarolta Szabó
Date and Time: Friday, 12 January, 9:30 PM / Thursday, 18 January, 9:30 PM
Countries: Hungary, Slovakia

In post-apocalyptic 2123 Budapest, a young couple must grapple with diminishing resources and a trade-off as their only form of survival: once they turn 50, they will be turned into a tree.

As Stefan finds out about his wife Nora’s voluntary enrollment in the program and that she will be donating her body ahead of time, he’s determined to do everything in his power to save her.