Nine short documentary films from Spain, Italy, Palestine, Turkey, Kosovo and Croatia, chosen by the festival selector, are featured in this year's "In Focus" program of the Mediterranean Film Festival. Different themes, poetics, and authorial approaches are connected by a shared perspective on the individual and the world they inhabit – from the wartime everyday life and the consequences of violence to personal memories, identity, and unusual life stories.

Spanish director Violeta Garcia Escobar explores the border between life and death in her film "Triage". Through a space where the most difficult decisions are made, the film observes people faced with the consequences of trauma and situations in which an individual's fate is decided in just a few moments.

“EveryDay in Gaza” by Omar Rammal offers a glimpse into life beyond the media images of war. Instead of grand political messages, the film focuses on the everyday lives of people who are trying to keep living, working, and creating despite the circumstances that have deeply changed their lives. 

In the film "The Freezer", the Spanish authors Raúl de la Fuente Calle and Amaia Remirez bring a story that confronts the consequences of violence and a memory that does not fade away.

In the film "The Colors of Nazar" by Turkish director Fatih Diren, a co-production between Turkey and Kosovo, a personal story becomes the starting point for a broader picture of space, identity, and cultural heritage. Through a visually expressive approach, the film explores the traces of the past and the ways in which it is inscribed in people's lives.

Spanish director Irene Baqué explores life from a different perspective in her film “10 Meters Above”, building a story around a space that becomes more than just a physical distance.

“Gone Swimming, Love Dad”, directed by Izidor Bistrović from Croatia, is an intimate story in which family relationships and personal memories become the film material. 

"The Last Cowboy in Hollywood" by Spanish director Jordi Nadal Perelló presents an unusual portrait of a man whose life is connected to the world of film and the mythology of the American West.

In the film "The Most Beautiful Man in the World", Italian author Paolo Baiguera questions the concepts of beauty, identity, and the views of others through a personal story.

The program concludes with another film by Irene Baqué, "Mal de Madre", which explores motherhood and its complex, often unspoken aspects.

The films from the In Focus program are not competing for festival awards. However, they bring diverse authors' perspectives and open space for topics that go beyond the boundaries of individual stories. From Gaza and war trauma to family, identity, memories, and personal struggles, this year's selection once again shows how a documentary can be both intimate and universal at the same time.