Sporting Life

When his father flees from debt, carefree college student Osamu sees his life turn upside-down. Expelled from school and evicted from his apartment, he becomes one of Japan’s many ‘net cafe refugees’, barely scraping by each day with temporary and part-time work. Even though he’s still in Tokyo, his circumstances drive him to see and experience his home city in new ways. Trying to survive, Osamu gradually acquaints himself with the ‘invisible’ spaces occupied by the wanderers and homeless of Tokyo… people just like himself.

A biographical drama of Znag Jianhe, a woman who left her home in China for Hong Kong, where she eventually founded the renowned Chinese frozen dumpling company Wanchai Ferry.

After a whirlwind romance with a wealthy widower, a naïve bride moves to his family estate but can't escape the haunting shadow of his late wife.

In the outskirts of Tokyo, a poor but close-knit group living on the fringes of society survives through shoplifting and odd jobs. When Osamu and his son take in a neglected young girl, their already fragile existence begins to unravel. As the family grows attached to her, buried secrets surface, forcing them to confront the true meaning of love, belonging, and what makes a family.

In a story told straight and with restraint we watch Naoko Hanami. She quit her job to look after her dementia-stricken mother Kiyo while the health of her father, Eiji, worsens with age. Struggling alone, she presents a stoic face to the world, too quiet and maybe too scared to speak up for herself. Finally, she turns to the city office to apply for welfare which is where caseworker Munemura, a genuine and sympathetic person, starts to investigate Naoko to see if she qualifies for help.

Michiko used to work as a live-in part-timer at an izakaya, but suddenly lost her job and her house at the same time due to COVID-19 pandemic. There are no new jobs because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and diners and internet cafes are closed. Michiko is at her wits' end, but there in front of her is a bus stop that stands slightly brightly in the darkness, illuminated only by the streetlights.

Mary Wollstonecraft, an impoverished young Englishwoman on the eve of the French Revolution, makes the bold decision to lead her life according to the ideals of the Enlightenment.

A gripping 18th century drama details the scandalous life of Lady Seymour Worsley, who dared to leave her husband and elope with his best friend, Captain George Bisset. Lady Seymour Worsley escapes her troubled marriage only to find herself at the centre of a very public trial brought by her powerful husband Sir Richard Worsley.

Four friends from impoverished backgrounds devise a risky scheme to make quick money. Initially, they revel in a newfound lavish lifestyle, but their joy is short-lived as they confront moral dilemmas and face severe repercussions from their actions.

An Earl disowns his son James for marrying Annie, a middle-class woman. The couple leaves England to start a life in New York with their son newborn child Cedie.

In late 1940s Italy, a mother makes the difficult decision to send her son to the north, where he catches glimpses of a new life away from poverty.

Aoi has dropped out of high school and gives birth to a baby son with her husband Masaya. They live in Okinawa, the Southern island of Japan where they were both born. To make ends meet, she starts working as a night-club hostess. Masaya loses his job and cannot deal with the family’s responsibilities. Their immaturity and dependence aggravate the relationship and continuous fights lead to a social downfall. Aoi’s bond with her son sets her on a path to find solutions.

Italian immigrant Francesca Cabrini arrives in 1889 New York City and is greeted by disease, crime, and impoverished children. Cabrini sets off on a daring mission to convince the hostile mayor to secure housing and healthcare for society's most vulnerable. With broken English and poor health, Cabrini uses her entrepreneurial mind to build an empire of hope unlike anything the world had ever seen.

Inside the secret world of Sergei Pugachev, a Russian oligarch, and his British partner Countess Alexandra Tolstoy, mother to their three children.

Impoverished Count von Dopenthal plans to commit suicide and spends his last night at a costume ball. There he meets lovely Lela Fischer and falls in love with her. A chance meeting with his former butler, brings a job offer as a gigolo.

A toyless boy finds a broken soldier doll and gets a very special Christmas as a result.

Süleymaniyeli Ali

A short documentary about flights with paraglider.

My Silent Christmas Wish is a short silent film shot on an iPhone during Christmas as an experiment and a fun creative project. It delves into the complex yet heartfelt dynamics between two sisters during the festive season. Against a lovingly decorated Christmas tree, the story unfolds a quiet but transformative moment. Blending humour, emotion, and a hint of mystery, the film beautifully captures the essence of family connection unexpectedly.

The Gathering Dusk