Luxembourg Set to Dazzle with the 15th International Film Festival 202
25 February 2025 – Luxembourg
Luxembourg, renowned as a city of culture and art, is once again poised to host one of the world’s premier cinematic events. From 6 to 16 March 2025, the 15th International Film Festival of Luxembourg promises an unprecedented showcase of global filmmaking under the banner “Sweet Fifteen.” This year’s edition is expected to captivate cinephiles with an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary works, international premieres, and special competitions that highlight cinematic innovation and influential documentaries.
A Platform for Global Cinema and Creative Exchange
The festival not only offers a diverse selection of films spanning various genres but also introduces an exclusive segment dedicated to the screening of television series pilots co-produced in Luxembourg—a forward-looking initiative that casts a fresh light on the future of television storytelling. Esteemed figures such as Alejandro Amenábar, Tim Roth, Trine Dyrholm, and Mohammad Rasoulof are among the luminaries gracing the event, each contributing to the rich tapestry of dialogue and artistic exchange among industry professionals.
In addition to film screenings, the festival’s robust ancillary program features specialized workshops, panel discussions with renowned directors and critics, and other cultural activities that provide an invaluable forum for debate and insight into the latest trends in cinema.
A Curated Selection of Films
In a bid to reflect the city’s multicultural fabric, SIMOURQ News has meticulously selected films representing nine different languages—including Persian, Arabic, Turkish, English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Ukrainian, and Chinese. Below is a snapshot of some of the featured films along with their screening details:
Iranian Films
BOOMERANG
Director: Shahab Fotouhi
Genre: Dramatic narrative with romantic and familial themes
Screenings:
• 11 March 2025 at 14:00
• 15 March 2025 at 13:30
Language: Persian (with English subtitles)
More info & Tickets
Synopsis :One day, as they cross the street, Minoo starts flirting with Keyvan, a stranger. They soon become very close. Minoo’s mother Sima, meanwile, is weary of her marriage to Behzad, a relatively secretive man whose wanderings we gradually come to discover. As the gap between the adults widens, the two young people experience the first instants of a lovely relationship.
Universal Language
Director: Matthew Rankin
Genre: Multi-layered narrative – a triptych
Screening: 7 March 2025 at 19:00
Languages: Persian and English (with English subtitles)
More info & Tickets
Synopsis : A triptych of interweaving vignettes set in an imagined location reminiscent of Tehran and Winnipeg. Schoolchildren Negin and Nazgol find money frozen in the winter ice; tour guide Massoud leads a flummoxed group of tourists around the monuments of Winnipeg; Matthew quits his government job to visit his mother.
Higher Than Acidic Clouds – Balatar az Abrhaye Asidi
Director: Ali Asgari
Genre: Biographical documentary / contemplative drama
Screening: 13 March 2025 at 20:45
Language: Persian (with English subtitles)
More info & Tickets
Synopsis : Forced by the Iranian authorities to remove himself from the world, Ali Asgari enters a period of acute introspection. By raising questions about the nature of family, censorship, language, and memory, Asgari marshals his experience of house arrest to contemplate the role of the artist and the possibilities of cinema.An autobiographical essay film that approaches the genre of documentary with both lyricism and self-referentiality.
Arabic Films
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Director: Scandar Copti
Genre: Social drama
Screenings:
• 10 March 2025 at 18:00
• 14 March 2025 at 18:00
Languages: Arabic and Hebrew (with English subtitles)
More info & Tickets
Synopsis : Four intersecting lives navigate Israel and its attendant complications: Rami, a Palestinian, discovers that his Jewish girlfriend, Shirley, is pregnant; Hanan, his mother, becomes embroiled in a financial crisis; Miri tries to undermine Shirley’s pregnancy; and Hanan’s daughter Fifi guards a secret from a new romantic interest.
Italian Films
ARCHITECTON
Director: Victor Kossakovsky
Genre: Documentary
Screening: 12 March 2025 at 20:15
Languages: Italian and English (with English subtitles)
More info & TicketsPARTHENOPE
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Genre: Epic drama with a focus on female narratives
Screening: 8 March 2025 at 19:00
Languages: Italian and English (with French and Dutch subtitles)
More info & TicketsREFLET DANS UN DIAMANT MORT
Directors: Hélène Cattet & Bruno Forzani
Genre: Mystery drama
Screenings:
• 7 March 2025 at 18:30
• 8 March 2025 at 21:00
• 15 March 2025 at 10:30
Languages: French and Italian (with English subtitles)
More info & TicketsTHE RETURN
Director: Uberto Pasolini
Genre: Epic adaptation of the Odyssey
Screenings:
• 12 March 2025 at 20:00
• 15 March 2025 at 19:00
Languages: Italian and English (with English subtitles)
More info & TicketsVITTORIA
Directors: Alessandro Cassigoli & Casey Kauffman
Genre: Family drama
Screenings:
• 7 March 2025 at 19:00
• 9 March 2025 at 20:00
• 12 March 2025 at 16:30
Language: Italian (with English subtitles)
More info & Tickets
Chinese Films
BOUND IN HEAVEN
Director: Huo Xin
Genre: Romantic drama
Screenings:
• 7 March 2025 at 20:45
• 9 March 2025 at 18:30
• 12 March 2025 at 10:00
Language: Chinese (with English subtitles)
More info & Tickets
English Films
BRING THEM DOWN
Director: Christopher Andrews
Genre: Drama
Screening: 14 March 2025 at 20:30
Language: English (with French subtitles)
More info & TicketsHARD TRUTHS
Director: Mike Leigh
Genre: Tragicomedy
Screenings:
• 8 March 2025 at 19:00
• 13 March 2025 at 16:00
Language: English (with French and Dutch subtitles)
More info & TicketsHOT MILK
Director: Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Genre: Drama
Screenings:
• 6 March 2025 at 19:00
• 7 March 2025 at 19:00
Language: English (with English subtitles)
More info & TicketsSISTER MIDNIGHT
Director: Karan Kandhari
Genre: Dark comedy
Screening: 11 March 2025 at 20:30
Languages: English and Hindi (with English subtitles)
More info & TicketsTHE SALT PATH
Director: Marianne Elliott
Genre: Sentimental drama / literary adaptation
Screenings:
• 8 March 2025 at 20:45
• 13 March 2025 at 18:30
Language: English (with English subtitles)
More info & TicketsTHE THING WITH FEATHERS
Director: Dylan Southern
Genre: Psychological drama
Screening: 16 March 2025 at 19:00
Language: English (with English subtitles)
More info & Tickets
Spanish Films
MY SEXTORTION DIARY – Diario de mi Sextorsion
Director: Patricia Franquesa
Genre: Psychological drama
Screening: 11 March 2025 at 18:00
Language: Spanish (with English subtitles)
More info & TicketsTARDES DE SOLEDAD – Tardes de Soledad
Director: Albert Serra
Genre: Drama – a dance between life and death
Screenings:
• 8 March 2025 at 18:30
• 14 March 2025 at 20:00
Language: Spanish (with English subtitles)
More info & TicketsTHE WAILING
Director: Pedro Martin-Calero
Genre: Horror and psychological drama
Screening: 12 March 2025 at 20:30
Languages: Spanish and French (with English subtitles)
More info & Tickets
Portuguese Films
HANAMI
Directors: Denise Fernandes & Telmo Churro
Genre: Surreal drama
Screenings:
• 10 March 2025 at 20:30
• 11 March 2025 at 20:30
• 13 March 2025 at 10:30
Languages: Portuguese, Japanese, French, and English (with English subtitles)
More info & TicketsON FALLING
Director: Laura Carreira
Genre: Drama
Screenings:
• 10 March 2025 at 20:00
• 11 March 2025 at 21:00
• 14 March 2025 at 14:00
Languages: Portuguese and English (with English subtitles)
More info & Tickets
Looking Ahead
With its innovative programming and an impressive international lineup, the 2025 edition of the Luxembourg International Film Festival is set to be one of the most memorable and impactful in its history. The festival not only celebrates cinematic art in its myriad forms but also serves as a dynamic forum for cultural exchange and artistic dialogue, reaffirming Luxembourg’s role as a beacon of creative expression on the global stage.
As the countdown begins, cinephiles and industry insiders alike eagerly anticipate a festival that promises to transcend traditional boundaries and redefine the cinematic experience.