Facing multiple crises, devastating wars, authoritarian systems, extremely rapid technological developments, an intensifying climate catastrophe and rampant environmental destruction, how do we view our social coexistence on this planet? What answers do we want to give? Which stories do we want to tell? Which ideas do we want to pursue? Who actually belongs to this “we” in the first place and who is being marginalised? How can we counter exclusion and exploitation? This year’s thematic focus “Courageously Utopian” is intended as an invitation to set out in search of potential answers in a very diverse selection of films drawn from recent years. The works here feature imaginative speculation and future visions, as well as quiet little moments of solidarity, optimism and hope. Still, many of the characters and portrait subjects find themselves in difficult circumstances. In spite of this, these brilliant works manage to embody a bracing “nevertheless”, a defiant “now more than ever”.

For the entire thematic focus, exground filmfest’s long-standing logistics partner, stadtmobil Rhein-Main, is donating a new audience award worth EUR 1,000.