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THE BEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD © Aline Arruda

Key Focus #WayOutOfViolence

#WayOutOfViolence – Domestic violence and child abuse

The films in this focus highlight women and girls who rise up against violence, oppression, and despair – often at great personal risk. Whether it is Gal, the waste picker who flees her abusive partner with her children, two friends breaking free from destructive dependencies, or Alice fighting for custody in court: each story tells of a courageous step from powerlessness toward self-determination. Tielle, a 13-year-old from the Amazon, and Devi, a former Nepali rebel fighter, also embody female resilience – breaking the silence, confronting patriarchal structures, and opening paths toward a future beyond violence.

THE BEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD

Anna Muylaert, Brazil / Argentina, 2025, 105 min., feature film, original version with English subtitles

Gal, a garbage picker in São Paulo, flees with her children from her abusive partner. A powerful feminist road movie about survival and breaking free from violence.

BILLIE

Sheri Hagen, Germany, 2025, 108 min., feature film, original version with English subtitles

Two best friends and mothers face love, violence, and financial hardship, navigating twists of drama and humor as they fight to reclaim their lives.

WE BELIEVE YOU

Charlotte Devillers, Belgium, 2025, 78 min., feature film, original version with subtitles

Alice fights in court for sole custody of her two children, determined to protect them and be heard in a gripping drama about post-separation abuse.

MANAS

Marianna Brennand, Brazil / Portugal, 2024, 106 min., feature film, original version with English subtitles

On the Amazon island of Marajó, 13-year-old Tielle seizes a chance to escape a dark family secret and a life marked by violence – fighting on for her little sister.

DEVI

Subina Shrestha, Nepal / South Korea / United Kingdom, 2024, 83 min., documentary, original version with English subtitles

Nearly 20 years after Nepal’s civil war, Devi fights to make the invisible women of the conflict seen, turning her own trauma into a relentless quest for justice.