Programme

One of the great things about animation is that anything is possible. Including revenge.

A court bailiff struggles with guilt after an eviction ends in suicide, in Radu Jude’s razor-sharp satire on how capitalism makes us all complicit in systems of exploitation. As Orsolya roams the streets of Cluj in search of moral redemption, the acclaimed Romanian director exposes the absurdity of our hyper-capitalist world. A provocative and unsettling film about a continent trapped in a system that no one supports — yet everyone sustains.

A tapeworm has the time of his life inside the legendary opera singer Maria Callas.

Two former Gen Z friends reconnect — the warmth and familiarity are still there, but so are the personal struggles they’re unsure how to talk about. As they wander through Melbourne, their fully improvised conversations make every moment feel authentic and alive. Tender, heartfelt, and quietly powerful. A striking debut from Sophie Somerville that feels like making a new friend.

A fishy stop-motion musical with plenty of existential reflection and a little song.

Two brothers roam San Francisco in search of their missing 99-year-old father—singing, bickering, and improvising as they go. Shot entirely in one continuous take, from Chinatown to Russian Hill, this bold “Live Cinema” experiment by real-life twin brothers Ari and Ethan Gold feels like a spontaneous, late-night odyssey where everyday streets become magical and sibling quarrels reveal unexpected depths. Executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola.

In the cinema, a young girl thinks a man in the snack bar line looks like her dad.

Hong Sang-soo’s 33rd film is, as always, a perfect introduction to his distinctive and quietly playful body of work. A drifting poet, a house with chickens, and an awkward meeting with the in-laws set the stage for a gently absurd meditation on art, pride, and parenthood — told with the unmistakable touch that only Hong brings.

A lonely tourist comes out of her shell when she meets fellow Americans in Mexico City.

A Ukrainian family becomes stranded in the Canary Islands just as Russia invades their homeland. While the holiday atmosphere around them continues unchanged, a quiet realisation begins to set in: everything is different now. There is no visible violence — only a growing tension beneath the surface, felt in glances, in conversations, and in everyday moments that suddenly feel anything but ordinary.

A Norwegian meets her Ghanaian boyfriend’s family. The most awkward dinner in history ensues.

Nicolau has just turned 24 but doesn’t feel like celebrating. Still living with his parents, dreaming of music and pining for his ex, he drifts aimlessly through Lisbon. But when spring arrives and unexpected encounters begin to stir his life back into motion, everything slowly starts to change. A warm, gently ironic debut about the beautiful chaos of being young and lost.

In the cinema, a young girl thinks a man in the snack bar line looks like her dad.

Winner of a Tribeca award, this striking debut from a young Uruguayan director builds a dystopian world on minimal means and boundless imagination — a place where cassette tapes still exist, but animals have vanished (except for ants). In this eerie, stripped-down reality, a sexually confident neighbour with a prosthetic leg gives the young protagonist the courage to claim her own future — whether it’s bright or not.

An evening of short films delving into the human body and all that comes with it – from cavities to behavioral quirks, from health woes to playing dead.

A boy prepares a birthday surprise for his father, who only has eyes for gambling.

Two sisters. One wedding. And not a single drop of beer left. After accidentally drinking their entire batch of homemade sahti, Taina and Pirkko must battle their hangovers and race against the clock to brew more — before a full-blown family crisis erupts. 100 Liters of Gold is a hilarious and heartwarming ode to Finnish village life and Finland’s legendary “liquid gold.”

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but not for this Romanian family.

In stand-up, you never respond with “no” — it’s always “yes, but,” explains Cliff, a former comedian (and recovering alcoholic, the two closely linked) to Didi, an emergency dentist helping him with a temporary tooth on Christmas Eve. That phrase — “yes, but” — becomes a refrain between them, both funny and unexpectedly profound, as they spend a long Christmas night walking and driving through Baltimore. A quietly moving and sharply observed solo debut by Jay Duplass, one half of the Duplass Brothers.

In the cinema, a young girl thinks a man in the snack bar line looks like her dad.

Winner of a Tribeca award, this debut by a young Uruguayan director conjures a dystopian world built on few resources but boundless imagination — a place where cassette tapes still exist, but animals are gone (except for ants). In the midst of it all, a sexually confident neighbour with a prosthetic leg inspires the young protagonist to take charge of her own future — radiant or not.

In the cinema, a young girl thinks a man in the snack bar line looks like her dad.

Hong Sang-soo’s 33rd film is, as ever, a perfect introduction to his distinctive body of work. A drifting poet, a house with chickens, and an encounter with the in-laws set the stage for a playful, subtly absurd reflection on art, ego, and parenthood, told in a way only Hong can.

This film will be shown in the Pluktent — not in the open air!
A boy, a tiger, and a lifeboat — and a story that challenges everything you believe about truth. Life of Pi is more than a visually breathtaking tale of survival; it’s a magical journey through faith, imagination, and the transformative power of storytelling.

A boy prepares a birthday surprise for his father, who only has eyes for gambling.

Two sisters. One wedding. And not a single drop of beer left. When Taina and Pirkko accidentally drink their entire batch of homemade sahti, they’re forced — hungover and out of time — to brew a fresh supply before a full-blown family meltdown. 100 Liters of Gold is a hilarious and heartwarming tribute to Finnish village life and the legendary “liquid gold” of Finland.

This film will be shown in the Pluktent — not in the open air!
A rare shark, a lost friend, and a failed oceanographer on a quest for revenge,The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is Wes Anderson at his most melancholic and absurd. A sea voyage filled with colourful characters, stop-motion sea creatures, and quiet longing, with Bill Murray as the captain of a sinking life. Climb aboard for a film that’s as strange as it is moving.

A fishy stop-motion musical with plenty of existential reflection and a little song.

Two brothers roam San Francisco in search of their missing 99-year-old father—singing, bickering, and improvising as they go. Shot entirely in one continuous take, from Chinatown to Russian Hill, this bold “Live Cinema” experiment by real-life twin brothers Ari and Ethan Gold feels like a spontaneous, late-night odyssey where everyday streets become magical and sibling quarrels reveal unexpected depths. Executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola.

Adventure at the Stenen Hoofd: Pluk MINI is back! On Sunday, August 24, Pluk de Nacht transforms into a playground for little adventurers. With Popeye on the big screen, boat building, arm-wrestling contests, face painting, and the legendary Pluk MINI disco, it’s set to be an unforgettable afternoon — all completely free!

One of the great things about animation is that anything is possible. Including revenge.

After an eviction leads to suicide, a court bailiff is left grappling with guilt in Radu Jude’s razor-sharp satire on how capitalism turns us all into accomplices. As Orsolya wanders the streets of Cluj in search of moral redemption, the acclaimed Romanian director lays bare the absurdity of our hyper-capitalist world. A powerful and provocative film about a continent caught in a system no one agrees with — yet everyone keeps alive.

A moving rebellion to recover the power to make decisions, filmed with a disabled cast.

“Where there’s gold, the devil shows.” In the merciless Atacama Desert, 16-year-old Carola must take over from her injured father at their copper mine. But father and daughter hide a secret: a gold vein they work on secretly at night. Until a miner finds out. A gripping Chilean western about survival, loyalty and the price of greed in a world where every character has a hidden agenda.

A Norwegian meets her Ghanaian boyfriend’s family. The most awkward dinner in history ensues.

Nicolau has just turned 24 but doesn’t feel like celebrating. Still living with his parents, dreaming of music and pining for his ex, he drifts aimlessly through Lisbon. But when spring arrives and unexpected encounters begin to stir his life back into motion, everything slowly starts to change. A warm, gently ironic debut about the beautiful chaos of being young and lost.

A lonely tourist comes out of her shell when she meets fellow Americans in Mexico City.

Two sisters, one night, and an unjust system. In Thank You for Banking with Us by Laila Abbas, Noura and Mariam devise a plan to secure their inheritance before it ends up in the hands of their brother in America. What follows is a sharp and moving cat-and-mouse game, shaped by rules that are not in their favor. A smart and urgent film about sisterhood, bureaucracy, and the struggle for equality.

An evening of short films delving into the human body and all that comes with it – from cavities to behavioral quirks, from health woes to playing dead.

This film will be shown in the Pluktent — not in the open air!
A boy who’d rather dance than box, in a world where that’s not accepted. Billy Elliot is a heartwarming coming-of-age story about chasing dreams, finding courage, and defying expectations. Follow an eleven-year-old as he navigates boxing gloves, ballet shoes, and the backdrop of a miners’ strike.

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but not for this Romanian family.

In stand-up, you never respond with “no,” it’s always “yes, but,” explains Cliff, a former comedian and former alcoholic (the two are connected), to Didi, an emergency dentist helping him with a temporary tooth on Christmas Eve. That “yes, but” becomes a kind of refrain between them, both funny and unexpectedly profound, as they spend a long Christmas night walking and driving through Baltimore. A quietly moving solo directorial debut by Jay Duplass, one half of the Duplass Brothers.

This film will be shown in the Pluktent — not in the open air!
What do you get when a dysfunctional family of misfits crams into a beat-up van on the way to a children’s beauty pageant? Little Miss Sunshine transforms a chaotic road trip—filled with fights, breakdowns, and unexpected turns—into a heartwarming tale of failure, family, and delightfully awkward dance moves. A hilarious and moving modern classic you won’t want to miss.

A tapeworm has the time of his life inside the legendary opera singer Maria Callas.

Two Gen Z friends from the past reconnect — the joy and familiarity are there, but so are private struggles they’re unsure how to share. As they walk through Melbourne, their fully improvised conversations bring a raw, genuine intimacy to the screen. Heartfelt, disarming, and quietly powerful. A debut by Sophie Somerville you’ll want to befriend.