"BERLINALE SPOTLIGHT: WORLD CINEMA FUND" AT THE WORLD CINEMA FESTIVAL

or the seventh time, Around the World in 14 Films presents a “Berlinale Spotlight: World Cinema Fund” and showcases award-winning festival discoveries that were made possible with the support of the Berlinale’s World Cinema Fund. Georgia, Thailand, Chile, Egypt, and Senegal: at the “Berlinale Spotlight: World Cinema Fund” of the world cinema festival Around the World in 14 Films, these regions of the world with weaker film infrastructures move into the spotlight. The festival and the Berlinale’s World Cinema Fund (WCF) present for the 7th time five outstanding films from these regions, all supported by the WCF. The 2025 Spotlight lineup includes: “Dry Leaf” (dir. Alexandre Koberidze, Georgia), “A Useful Ghost” (dir. Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, Thailand), “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo” (dir. Diego Céspedes, Chile), “Aisha Can’t Fly Away” (dir. Morad Mostafa, Egypt), and “Félicité” (dir. Alain Gomis, Senegal). Four of the WCF films will be presented by Vincenzo Bugno on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at the Kino in der KulturBrauerei, including “Félicité” from 2017, which the festival presents as part of the “WCF Berlinale Retrospective.” Vincenzo will hand over his role as Head of the WCF to Sata Cissokho at the end of the year. Two WCF titles are part of the competition of the “14 Films,” the centerpiece of the 20th festival edition, which takes place from November 28 to December 6, 2025, in Berlin. All films have received production and/or distribution support from the WCF. The Berlinale’s World Cinema Fund has been supporting regions with weaker film infrastructures for more than 20 years, thereby strengthening the visibility of cultural diversity on cinema screens around the world.

“We would like to begin by expressing our deepest thanks to Vincenzo Bugno, who, together with his team, has shaped this unique Berlinale funding initiative for 21 years with unwavering global-cinematic passion and has been instrumental in its success. Many wonderful discoveries from lesser-known film regions have reached the world of cinema through the work of the World Cinema Fund. We are particularly looking forward to the 7th ‘Berlinale Spotlight: World Cinema Fund,’” said festival directors Susanne Bieger and Bernhard Karl.

Vincenzo Bugno, Head of the WCF, on the 7th Berlinale Spotlight at Around the World in 14 Films: “At Around the World in 14 Films 2025, the WCF once again presents films that have had their world premieres at international festivals and achieved significant success. These films, with their formal and thematic diversity, reflect the identity of the WCF: courageous works that take risks and move audiences. I would like to sincerely thank Susanne Bieger and Bernhard Karl for the wonderful collaboration since 2018 and for the opportunity to bring WCF films closer to the Around the World in 14 Films audience. Through this cooperation, we have achieved what is essential to us: not only supporting the production of these films but also strengthening their visibility in Germany and their connection to audiences.”

“Berlinale Spotlight: World Cinema Fund” 2025 – the five discoveries

The first stop is Georgia: the German-Georgian co-production “Dry Leaf” by Alexandre Koberidze (director, writer, and cinematographer) screened in competition at Locarno 2025. The Georgian director and DFFB graduate created with “Dry Leaf” what Patrick Wellinski (Deutschlandfunk Kultur) called “a cinematic album of Georgia, a meditation on sport, nature, and everyday life.” Koberidze’s feature “What Do We See When We Look at the Sky?” competed at the Berlinale in 2021. A ghost story with touches of comedy and fantasy is promised by “A Useful Ghost” (Thai: “Pee Chai Dai Ka”) from Thai director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, described as “a new, unmistakable voice of Southeast Asian cinema”(Patrick Wellinski). The debut film had its world premiere in the Semaine de la critique section at Cannes 2025, where it won the Grand Prix, and it is Thailand’s official Oscar® submission for Best International Feature Film 2026. Diego Céspedes’ debut feature “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo” (“La Misteriosa Mirada del Flamenco”) won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The film is Chile’s submission for Best International Feature Film 2026 and was praised by The Film Stage as “a finely crafted, deeply moving homage to love and community — a piece of proud, living queer art.” From Egypt comes “Aisha Can’t Fly Away,” a social drama with horror elements by Morad Mostafa. Premiering in Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2025, this acclaimed debut tells the story of the harsh daily life of Sudanese immigrant Aisha (Buliana Simon), who works as a caregiver in the megacity of Cairo. Among the German co-producers is Berlin-based Mayana Films. With “Félicité,” the “WCF Berlinale Retrospective Senegal” honors Alain Gomis’ 2017 work, celebrated at the Berlinale. “A sharp, compassionate portrait of life in the Congo, led by a powerful heroine,” wrote the Süddeutsche Zeitung. The film won the Silver Bear (Grand Jury Prize) at the 67th Berlinale and was Senegal’s Oscar® submission for Best International Feature Film 2018.

World Cinema Fund: Since its founding in 2004, the WCF has been committed to developing and supporting cinema in regions with weak film infrastructures and to promoting cultural diversity in German and European cinemas. The World Cinema Fund is an initiative of the Federal Cultural Foundation of Germany and the Berlin International Film Festival. The special program WCF Europe was created with the support of the European Union’s Creative Europe MEDIA program.

Around the World in 14 Films will take place from November 28 to December 6, 2025, presenting highlights of contemporary world cinema that were previously celebrated and awarded at leading film festivals in Cannes, Venice, and Locarno. Festival cinemas are the Kino in der KulturBrauerei as well as delphi LUX and Neues Off. Premium Partners 2025 are audio specialist beyerdynamic, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, ARTE, and CineStar.

The complete program for the 20th edition of Around the World in 14 Films will be published on Monday, November 3, 2025.

Film still: “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo” © Filmreederei GmbH