Jessica Beshir

For over 35 years Yussuf Mume Saleh journeys at night to the outskirts of the walled city of Harar to bond with his beloved hyenas.

Robert is a writer who hasn't done much writing lately; instead, he's busy pushing the envelope with his toxic mix of boredom, drugs and a dalliance with a married woman, Elizabeth. In spite of Elizabeth's marital status, Robert falls for her completely, a commitment that just may blow up in his face, along with the rest of his life.

After losing her firstborn son to gun violence, a mother gathers cherished memories and erased histories to connect his death to her city’s haunting legacy of racism. Refusing the carceral frameworks of true crime, this impressionistic counter-narrative refracts quiet scenes of artistic intervention, community storytelling and tender remembrance through a prism of passing time.

A spiritual journey into the highlands of Harar, immersed in the rituals of khat, a leaf Sufi Muslims chewed for centuries for religious meditations – and Ethiopia’s most lucrative cash crop today. A tapestry of intimate stories offers a window into the dreams of youth under a repressive regime.

Conrad is a gay man living in NYC. He's also CEO of an ad agency and by nature a control freak. Although Conrad is still in love with Martin (his ex), he hires a young Aussie hustler named Tyler, first for a night and then to work for his company. Things get increasingly complicated as Conrad tries to rekindle things with Martin. Meanwhile Tyler (who's daytime name is Ian) falls for Michael his new supervisor

A film about the work of painter Victor Rodriguez, whose sole subject is his ex-wife.

When his girlfriend is kidnapped, a drug-addicted ex-cop must overcome his demons and face the sobering task of tracking her down before it's too late. His story dismissed by the police, he's left with no choice but to rely on his own detective skills in a high-stakes race against time.

From the music of Peruvian composer Pauchi Sasaki, Mexican-Ethiopian filmmaker Jessica Beshir crafts a story of a spectral mother’s disembodied voice suffusing the atmosphere with tenderness, but never quite reaching the shore of her drifting daughter. This short film is part of the 2x25 Project of Film Fest Gent and the World Soundtrack Awards. The project commissioned 25 composers to compose a short piece of music, after which 25 filmmakers made short films that are the ultimate symbioses of music and cinematography, fitting completely within the DNA of the festival. The result: 25 exceptional films where the music inspired the form, narrative and texture.