The remarkable thing about this year’s exground youth days is that the number of women has surpassed that of men in the director’s chair: they’re responsible for four of the seven productions and place the focus on growing protagonists and their longing, rebellion and problems – whether it’s 13-year-old Joana from Brazil in THE FIRST DEATH OF JOANA, barely older Venera from Kosovo in her struggle against archaic and patriarchal structures in LOOKING FOR VENERA, or Jana and Maya from North Macedonia in SISTERHOOD, whose friendship is on the verge of being destroyed in the wake of their manipulative behaviour on social media. But the everyday reality of young men is also treated in the International Youth Film Competition, which features prizes totalling EUR 4,000. You can look forward to magic images from the edge of the Venetian Lagoon, and pursue speedboat dreams with Daniele in ATLANTIDE. Or worry along with 13-year-old Ramin from Iran in ANY DAY NOW, as he and his family await deportation from Finland. Or feel music’s power to shape identity in the French production SOUL KIDS.