52 Films for the 2020 Movies Challenge

The film is set in Mostaganem, a port city in northern Algeria, named for the many refugees, known as "Harragas," who try to escape the country. We follow Rachid, Nasser, and Imene as they pay a smuggler, Hassan, to transport…

In 1980s Hamburg-Harburg, Heinz Strunk struggles with debilitating skin conditions while caring for his ailing mother. He tours the North German countryside as a saxophonist with the dance group "Tiffanys." Under the guidance of bandleader Gurki, he learns to create…

A driven real estate agent travels to Transylvania to finalize a purchase of a distinctive property. Invited by the mysterious Count Dracula, he leaves his wife and familiar life for an uncertain journey. In the shadowy forests and castles of…

A young woman recently relocated to Berlin begins a romantic connection with a local man. Their evening with his friends takes a dark turn when a hidden danger is revealed, threatening their safety.

Following the Taliban's collapse in Kabul, Afghanistan, the Mansouri family starts a restaurant. However, they soon become targets of groups within the Taliban.

Mina, a spirited twelve-year-old Afghan girl, faces a difficult future. Burdened by an elderly grandfather and an absent father, she's forced to abandon her schooling and work on the streets of Kabul to help her family. Over seven days, Mina…

Seventeen-year-old Hendri is sent to live with his distant grandfather in a retirement home. He quickly discovers the home holds many hidden secrets, and the biggest one threatens his relationship with the person he loves.

A Canadian woman with Afghan roots receives a letter from her sister who is contemplating suicide. Driven by desperation, she embarks on a dangerous trip to Afghanistan to locate her.

Benjamin, a talented young computer expert from Germany, is recruited by a clandestine hacker collective aiming for international recognition.

A real estate agent, happily married, is summoned by the enigmatic Count Orlok to the Count's castle in the Transylvanian mountains to finalize a disturbing transaction.

In a ravaged African world after a disaster, a young man wanders aimlessly, searching for the spirit of his mother.

Aayesh lives a solitary life as a security guard in a morgue. His predictable routine is disrupted when a ten-minute anomaly occurs, leading to a profound shift in his existence.

In Berlin, two angels, Damiel and Cassiel, observe humanity, offering silent comfort without direct involvement. Damiel, however, develops a strong connection with Marion, a lonely trapeze artist, and begins to question his purpose, longing for a taste of mortal life.…

This film explores the life of Hannah Arendt, the intellectual who famously coined the phrase "the banality of evil" after covering Adolf Eichmann's trial in Jerusalem. Arendt's unconventional analysis of the Holocaust ignited a fierce controversy, drawing criticism from both…

Two men, Martin and Rudi, facing terminal cancer, find an unexpected connection in a hospital room, sharing stories and seeking solace in tequila. They impulsively decide to escape their fate with a road trip to the sea. Dressed in pajamas…

"Barakah Meets Barakah" is a film about two people finding love in a society with strict traditions. In Jeddah, Barakah, a civil servant and aspiring actor, unexpectedly falls for Bibi. He's known for his charisma, his mother's fashion boutique, and…

Z is a tense political thriller set against a turbulent time in Greek history, revealing the dark side of power and corruption. When tensions escalate between opposing groups, a leading opposition figure dies in what appears to be an accident.…

This tragi-comedy follows nine women of different ages and backgrounds who meet in an Algerian hammam to share stories about their lives.

Nedjma, an 18-year-old fashion design student, strives for normalcy despite the backdrop of the Algerian Civil War. Facing increasing social restrictions, she defies the radicals' new rules by organizing a fashion show.

"What a Man" is a comedy about Alex (Matthias Schweighofer), a young professor who embarks on a self-discovery journey after his girlfriend leaves him. He grapples with modern manhood, questioning what it truly means to be a man in today's…

*Little One* portrays the everyday lives of people struggling in poverty. Amidst hardship, crime, and difficult circumstances, the film highlights the enduring presence of hope and love.

Makhlouf Bombardier, an unconventional man, sets his sights on becoming the mayor of his village, Dechra. He assembles a team of trusted allies to run a comprehensive campaign and wins the election. As mayor, he plans an international film festival…

During a lesson on government, a teacher discusses various systems with his students. Disinterested in the topic, the students find the repeated discussion of National Socialism tedious and dismiss the possibility of dictatorship in contemporary Germany. To demonstrate the susceptibility…

Hassan operates a non-profit lottery company to provide medical care for underprivileged children with heart conditions. Following financial ruin and the loss of his mother due to political turmoil, Hassan is forced to relocate to Canada to join his fiancée,…

Taking place in Chatsworth, *Keeping Up with the Kandasamys* offers a glimpse into the lives and culture of contemporary Indian South Africans – their hopes, dreams, and struggles. Shanti Naidoo and Jennifer Kandasamy, powerful matriarchs of nearby families, find their…

East Berlin, 1984. A dedicated Stasi officer, Gerd Wiesler, is assigned to monitor a celebrated playwright and his actress partner, Christa-Maria. As Wiesler observes them, he develops unexpected empathy for the couple, leading him to struggle with conflicting loyalties when…

Thirteen-year-old Gideonette de La Rey, a shy girl with a vivid imagination, discovers her name carries a terrible curse. Following her father's death, she's sent to live with her grandparents on a remote forest farm. There, she befriends a young…

Deep in the African wilderness, a peaceful tribe of bushmen lives in harmony with nature. Their tranquility is shattered when a Coca-Cola bottle falls from the sky, appearing as if a gift from the gods. The tribe, isolated from the…

A group of American hairdressers travels to Kabul to teach Afghan women modern hair and makeup techniques. This documentary follows a unique project: a new beauty school, supported by beauty industry leaders, designed to train Afghan hairdressers and beauticians in…

As the Berlin Wall falls, Alex Kerner's mother awakens from a coma. A staunch communist, she must now be shielded from the news of the wall's collapse to prevent a potentially fatal heart attack.

Cassim Kaif is a young Muslim man working in his father's fabric shop in Fordsburg, Johannesburg. As the only son, he is expected to continue the family business, a tradition passed down through generations.

Nine people are crammed into a single car, traveling to Algiers with Abdullah Le Clandestin (Illegal Taxi).

A determined Saudi girl enters her school's Quran recitation competition to earn money for a green bicycle she really wants.

Chloe van Heerden, a 19-year-old, returns to her hometown after having her first child and finds herself struggling with the realities of motherhood. While her mother offers support, Chloe battles the overwhelming demands of caring for her newborn. The constant…

World War II. Marie awakens wounded and disoriented in a blizzard. A mysterious forest lies between her and her daughter.

South Africa, 1990. The year marks both Nelson Mandela's release and Spud Milton's first year at an exclusive boys' boarding school. John Milton, an ordinary boy, earns a scholarship to a private school in KwaZulu-Natal. Thrust into a world of…

Tsotsi, a young man growing up in the Johannesburg ghetto, left his home as a child to escape his parents. Now a teenage gangster, he steals a car and discovers a baby in the back seat. Tsotsi takes the child…

Professor Saxton travels from Manchuria to Europe with the frozen body of an ancient, mysterious creature. Along the way, a series of strange and disturbing deaths occur. The professor struggles with his own inner issues while trying to understand the…

A zebra with half his stripes missing is wrongly accused of causing a drought and leaves his herd to find them. He's joined by a protective wildebeest and a showy ostrich on his journey. Together, they confront a cruel leopard…

Lola and Manni's love is tested when Manni loses a large amount of money to a dangerous criminal. With only 20 minutes to find 100,000 Deutsche Marks, Lola must undertake a desperate mission to save him from resorting to theft.…

Shortly after Nasser and his teenage son, Waleed, depart for a wedding, Nasser learns his father is dying. These unforeseen circumstances disrupt their trip and strain their relationship. Interactions with family reveal a deeper conflict: Waleed doesn't embrace the traditional…

In early 1970s Hamburg, a serial killer terrorizes the city's population.

Eighteen-year-old Lena is bitten by Louise, the leader of a strikingly beautiful but deadly trio of vampires. Her transformation into a vampire offers both freedom and a dangerous new reality. Initially captivated by the luxury and excitement, Lena soon struggles…

Wim and Kevin work at a laundromat. Their days are uneventful, but at night they party in the clothes left behind by customers. While at one of these parties, they find a severed finger hidden in a client's suit jacket.…

Sigur plans a surprise for his guests at his birthday party, but his carefully laid plans fall apart.

Benni, a spirited 9-year-old, keeps getting expelled from school, earning her the label "system crasher" from child protection services. She's determined only to return to her mother. When anger management trainer Micha is brought in to help, a glimmer of…

Two American soldiers crash their helicopter in the Afghan desert and must survive the harsh environment. They are taken in by a diverse family of Afghan opium farmers, finding themselves dependent on them for survival.

A young man grieving the loss of his family meets an old man with a missing eye.

A young man struggling with mental illness intends to end his life. On a bridge, he encounters two strangers.

During a vacation, a family – a mother, father, and child – meets two dangerous young men. What begins as a relaxing getaway quickly turns into a terrifying ordeal. The antagonists subject the family to cruel games, forcing them to…

On the edges of Tehran, a hidden factory employs Afghan asylum seekers, who live with their families in makeshift homes. There, a young Iranian worker named Saber secretly connects with Marona, the daughter of an Afghan worker named Abdolsalam. Their…

In the final year of the Taliban and as a new war begins, an Afghan family living in the mountains fights to survive under brutal conditions. They find solace in their family and in rebuilding their home. The youngest daughter,…