Strange River
Sixteen-year-old Dídac (played magnetically by newcomer Jan Monter) is trapped on summer vacation with his family as they cycle through Germany and Austria, along the Danube. Wishing he was back home with friends instead of bickering with his two brothers, Dídac is soon captivated by the mysterious appearance of an enigmatic boy swimming in the river. Filled with yearning for this ethereal aquatic crush, Dídac’s burgeoning feelings begin to disrupt his relationship with his family. Inspired by Catalan director Jaume Claret Muxart’s own childhood vacations and shot beautifully on 16mm, Strange River is a sensual, queer coming-of-age story bursting with lyricism about the impermanence of youth and first love.
Special Guests
Jaume Claret Muxart’s debut feature film, ESTRANY RIU (STRANGE RIVER), premiered in the Orizzonti section of the Venice Film Festival and nationally at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. His short films ELLA I JO (2020), DIE DONAU (2023), and LA NOSTRA HABITACIÓ (2025) have premiered at international festivals such as the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the San Sebastián International Film Festival, and FIDMarseille. He is a member of Arquitectura Filmada and of the educational program Cinema en curs, run by the association A Bao A Qu.
Films showing at this event
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Sydney Film Festival acknowledges Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF is based.
We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.
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