Porcelain

On a remote German island, the inhabitants of a village gather to smash crockery as part of a traditional eve-of-wedding celebration. Ten-year-old Fina has been looking forward to this event for weeks, but the day takes an unexpected turn. While the guests immerse themselves in the excitement of the party, Fina struggles with traditional female roles and her longing for a female person of reference. Fina and her caring older sister only gradually realise how much their mother’s absence is affecting both their lives. They will need to support each other if they hope to make it through the difficult transition into adulthood.

Annika Birgel is a German director, writer, and producer based in Berlin. Beginning her career as an assistant director, she worked closely alongside renowned filmmakers, including Pablo Larraín and Cate Shortland, and in the directorial and casting departments for companies like Komplizen Film, Netflix Germany, and X Filme Creative Pool. Her own award-winning short films have been presented at the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Berlin International Film Festival, among others. In 2023, she was selected to participate in the impACT Lab at the Cannes Film Festival. She is currently developing her debut feature film.