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Têtes Brûlées

Directed by Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama
Belgium
2025
86 mins

Synopsis

A familial tragedy thrusts a young girl into a mature world, in this compassionately observed drama that explores the shared ground between grief and love. Berlinale 2025.

In Brussels, 12-year-old Eya (Safa Gharbaoui) lives a vibrant life, full of youthful cheekiness, viral dance trends, and much affection for her Tunisian-Muslim family. A bright spot is her inseparable bond with cool older brother Younès (Mehdi Bouziane) and his friends, equally adoring of her. When tragedy strikes, Eya finds herself unmoored in a new adult world. Director Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama’s arresting debut zeroes in on the immediate aftermath of profound loss, where every gesture holds immense weight. Through a vividly realised child’s perspective that emphasises sincerity, ritual and music, moments of pain and joy can intermingle, as Eya realises what it means to carry love for someone collectively.

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.

“Têtes Brûlées is a film of few words but many gestures: of hands reaching out and arms which embrace and console. Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama captures the strength and fragility of moments when life gets back on track, in spite of grief.”
Aurore Engelen, Cineuropa

Tickets

Sat 14 June 2025, 2pm
Palace Central - Cinema 1
WheelchairSubtitledAssisted Listening
Sun 15 June 2025, 6:30pm
Palace Norton St - Cinema 3
WheelchairSubtitledAssisted Listening
  • Program Strand
    Europe! Voices of Women+ In Film
  • Year
    2025
  • Classification
    Unclassified 15+
  • Country
    Belgium
  • Language
    In Dutch, French and Arabic with English subtitles
  • Director
    Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama
  • Producer
    Marc Goyens, Nabil Ben Yadir
  • Cast
    Safa Gharbaoui, Mehdi Bouziane, Mounir Amamra
  • Screenwriter
    Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama
  • Cinematographer
    Grimm Vandekerckhove
  • Editor
    Dieter Diependaele
  • Genre
    Women Directors, Women’s Stories
  • Premiere
    Australian Premiere
  • Company Credits
    World Sales: MAD World

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