Trailblazing director Haifaa al-Mansour, whose debut Wadjda marked several milestones for Saudi filmmaking, returns to her homeland for this story of feminine defiance. The Perfect Candidate is a sensitive political drama that challenges patriarchal norms and finds hope in confrontation.

Perhaps inspired by his early years in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Berlin School’s Ulrich Köhler drew acclaim for this ambitious, characteristically insightful exploration of the construction of masculinity inside & outside of the family unit. Winner of the Silver Bear for Best Director.