A motor-sports spectacle that kicks up plenty of dust. On the trail of the 2007 Dakar Rallye ‘7915 KM’ undertakes a search, along the way encountering the variety to be found in Africa’s present in Morocco, Sahrawi Republic, Mauritania, Mali and Senegal. ‘7915 KM’ demonstrates the extent of this distance, which is the result of political and economic conditions, and also the ideas and prejudices to be found in both Europe and Africa. It also makes the closeness tangible, which becomes clear in the stories of everyday life, work, hopes and worries. Keeping the sobering reality in mind, it creates an homage to humanity and slowness which questions deep-seated perceptions and the role of Europeans in numerous, presumably African, problems.

Abendland is a brilliantly evocative film essay about the Western world, specifically its affluence and exclusiveness. Director Geyrhalter explores this theme with striking images, all filmed at night, that are typical of a modern, industrialized, wealthy civilization: a streamlined crematorium, a complicated security surveillance room, a cold and eerily quiet television news studio. Mass mechanization is a common thread throughout, turning what should be intimate exchanges between people into depersonalized mechanical operations. The director states that he wanted to “capture Europe in a film.” And it is captured, with a wealth of details that makes us look at Europe and ourselves in a new way.

Welcome to the world of industrial food production and high-tech farming! To the rhythm of conveyor belts and immense machines, the film looks without commenting into the places where food is produced in Europe: monumental spaces, surreal landscapes and bizarre sounds - a cool, industrial environment which leaves little space for individualism.