Raphaël Venayre

During a family celebration, thirteen-year-old Maya overhears a dark secret about her parents – her father is suffering from a serious illness. Yet everyone acts as if nothing is wrong. Her father and the guests keep celebrating, and Maya is left to face her shock alone. While music plays and a festive atmosphere fills the room, an innocent childhood quietly comes to an end and premature adulthood begins. But how can any of them find comfort when they do not dare to speak about what truly matters? The film Family Celebration was made by Raphaël Venayre at the Belgian film school INSAS.

In the seaside resort of Yasmine Hammamet, many hotels have gone bankrupt. Some have sold part of their buildings to French retirement homes in order to survive. Residents and their loved ones are living here, surrounded by their caregivers. Head in the clouds, feet in the water, they're waiting for the end in this sunny ghost town.