Three years ago, the Cena Berlim community invited me to put together a list of standout films from the festival's immense lineup made of hundreds of films—a challenge I gladly took on. Since then, this little tradition has become something I truly cherish and look forward to every year.

This time, in English, as The Next Day Berlin newsletter joins in, bringing these recommendations beyond the Portuguese-speaking world of Cena Berlim, where it all began. And for the first time, I'm expanding the scope beyond films: this list will also highlight exciting VR installations, exhibitions, and unmissable events happening around the festival. So, with the same enthusiasm as always, here are my top picks for this year's Berlinale.

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Night Stage (Ato Noturno)

Dir. Marcio Reolon, Filipe Matzembacher

The Brazilian duo who took home the Teddy Award for Best Queer Film at Berlinale in 2018 is back, this time with a provocative, seductive thriller that blends the sleazy allure of Brian De Palma with Black Swan, all while mixing with a sharp dose of contemporary politics.

In the film, an ambitious actor starts an affair with a closeted politician running for mayor in Porto Alegre. What begins as a secret romance soon turns into a risky kink—sex in public spaces, on the edge of being caught. This daring, sexually charged return from the Brazilian filmmakers now turned Berliners is one you won't want to miss. [Panorama]

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Fwends‍

Dir. Sophie Somerville

Richard Linklater may have perfected the art of walking-and-talking kind of films with his Before trilogy, but Australian filmmaker Sophie Somerville brings a great add to the canon: a fresh, deeply touching Gen Z look to adult life in her debut feature—a disarming and fun tale about the end of innocence, while also being a beautiful homage to Melbourne.

When two old friends reunite for a weekend, their catch-up starts off light and nostalgic but soon takes an uncomfortable turn. As the night unfolds, unspoken tensions rise, forcing them to confront how much they've changed while realizing that, at their core, they might still be the same. Equal parts raw and tender, Fwends is the kind of film that unsettles before it soothes. [Forum]

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Yalla Parkour

Dir. Areeb Zuaiter

Palestinian Canada-based filmmaker Areeb Zuaiter, while revisiting her childhood memories, encounters a video of some young boys doing parkour on the outskirts of Gaza. Intrigued, she finds and connects with one of them, sparking a long distance online friendship that soon uncovers a whole new side of life in Gaza.

Through their conversations, the boy shares hundreds of videos documenting their daring parkour stunts, offering a rare glimpse into a world we rarely see. As one character puts it, they're simply "finding pleasure in the middle of the pain". Before we know it, the documentary transforms into a powerful, Homeric adventure; one of a young man trying to escape Gaza in pursuit of his dreams while fighting against an oppressive system designed to keep him trapped. [Panorama]

If I Had Legs I'd Kick You

Dir. Mary Bronstein

Mary Bronstein's second feature is an anxiety-fueled nightmare that pulls you into the frenzied mind of its protagonist, Linda, a woman navigating the collapse of her personal and emotional life. The film's relentless pacing and escalating tension bring to mind the same kind of heart-stopping anxiety of Uncut Gems, where every decision seems to bring the plot to the edge of disaster. 

As Linda struggles to cope with her daughter's mysterious illness, her absent husband, and her own deteriorating mental state, the film dives deep into the chaos of a mother's unraveling psyche. If you're looking for a film that will keep you on the edge of your seat with an imminent sense of urgency, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You is your gem. [Competition]

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We Believe You (On Vous Croit)

Dir. Charlotte Devillers

The debut feature from the Belgian filmmaker is one of those discreet films that will surely be one of the hidden gems of the festival. We follow a mother of two who must prove in front of a judge that she is capable of caring for and providing for her children.

The film gradually reveals the heartbreaking circumstances behind this challenge, slowly drawing the audience in until the full picture is revealed and the tragedy at its core is finally exposed. Until there, we witness the mother's struggle with a painful truth, all while trying to keep everything together. This will certainly be one of this year's discoveries at the fest. [Perspectives]

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The Ugly Stepsister (Den Stygge Stesøsteren)

Dir. Emilie Blichfeldt

Imagine if Tim Burton had directed The Substance. That's more or less how we could describe this wild and inventive fairy tale horror coming from Norway. At its core is the fierce rivalry between two stepsisters: one deemed beautiful (Agnes) and the other considered ugly (Elvira). Elvira's obsessive quest for beauty takes her down a grotesque, transformative path, questioning the very idea of desirability.

The film's satirical body horror elements expose the extremes one might endure to attain societal acceptance. A dark, hilarious and twisted reimagining of the Cinderella story, this is another film that will surely dominate the talks during the festival. [Panorama]

The Best Mother in the World (A Melhor Mãe do Mundo)

Dir. Anna Muylaert

In her highly anticipated return, Brazilian filmmaker Anna Muylaert revisits the theme of motherhood that so powerfully resonated in her mega hit Que Horas Ela Volta? (The Second Mother). This time, the story centers on a woman who, after enduring physical abuse from her husband (played by Seu Jorge), runs away with her two children in tow, using a cart, originally for collecting plastic, as their means of survival and pretends they are on a big adventure.

Unlike the sentimental adventure of Roberto Benigni’s Life is Beautiful, which has a similar premise, this is a raw, socially conscious drama that offers a window into the invisible lives of those on the margins in a mega metropolis like São Paulo. A quietly powerful film that will leave a lasting emotional impact.

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Iracema - Uma Transa Amazônica

Dir. Jorge Bodanzky, Orlando Senna

Banned in Brazil for years, due to the film’s depiction of the grim realities of the Amazon under military rule, this 1975 classic finally gets the polished restoration it deserves. Blurring the line between fiction and documentary, it follows a naïve country girl lured into sex work along the Trans-Amazonian Highway, a grandiose development project that was supposed to bring progress but instead paved the way for exploitation, deforestation, and violence.

A poignant critique of Brazil's dictatorship disguised as a road movie, it was too damning to be seen at home but made waves abroad, cementing its status as a milestone of Latin American political cinema. Now, with a fresh coat of cinematic varnish, it's back to remind us that some things never change. [Forum Special]

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Alternatives Denkmal für Deutschland (ADfD) - AR Installation | Free Admission

Dir. Alternative Monument for Germany

Germany loves a monument, but this one doesn't come in bronze or stone—it lives in your phone. This AR (augmented reality) installation replaces the usual grand statues with digital tributes to migration, offering an alternative take on who and what deserves to be remembered. The title isn't just a random name; It's a not-so-subtle jab at the far-right party that shares its initials. Instead of glorifying nationalist myths, this installation turns the city into a shifting memorial, making invisible histories impossible to ignore.

It’s a free admission event happening at Silent Green (via the Monuments AR app), the new home of the Forum section after Arsenal Kino’s closure. Wedding’s former crematorium turned cultural hub is a fitting stage for a project that buries old narratives and resurrects new ones. History isn’t set in stone, and this installation makes sure of it—one digital monument at a time. [Forum Expanded]

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TEDDY Directors' Exchange: Double Trouble: The Art of Co-directing - Round Table | Free Admission

At HUB75

The new HUB75, built at Marlene-Dietrich-Platz in Potsdamer to celebrate the festival's 75th anniversary, is a dedicated space for connecting audiences and filmmakers through a series of free events (check the full program here). This one tackles a key question: how do two creative minds direct a single film without stepping on each other's toes? The event demystifies the art of co-directing, featuring insights from the dynamic duos behind some of this year's queer films. 

Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese (Lesbian Space Princess), Marcio Reolon and Filipe Matzembacher (Night Stage—mentioned at the top of this list), and the team behind Sirens Call will share their experiences, challenges, and the unique dynamics of sharing the director's chair. Admission is free, but with limited capacity, it's best to arrive early. Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker or just curious, this might be the perfect place to mingle, or even kickstart your own film project.

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Wellington Almeida wears many hats: he is a programmer, a film writer and a devoted cat lover (not necessarily in this order).