Sprouts Film Festival 2026
For five editions now, the team behind Sprouts has developed a recurring platform for fictional ecocinema and socially critical debut films. We have steadily grown into an interdisciplinary film festival, now present across six venues in three of Amsterdam’s city districts: Studio/K, Kriterion, De Uitkijk, Droog, MidWest and QRU.
While a five-year anniversary calls for celebration, each day we are reminded of why we felt the need for a festival like Sprouts in the first place. Autocrats, tech bros and far-right factions continue to wreak havoc on our planet, disrupting ecosystems and undermining international law and human dignity. This is why we cherish the brave filmmakers of our 2026 edition so deeply: they defy systems to share bold, uncompromising visions. We also support the shaping of a new generation of green storytellers by hosting our very first Sprouts Eco Shorts Pitch and Industry Day.
From 1 - 7 June, let us focus on bringing people together and inspiring one another to resist. Whether by visiting our free Eco Expo, joining our community dinners, attending outdoor screenings, supporting our fundraiser for Sudan, or simply collectively watching a film together.
Program highlights
Our Eco Expo aims to deepen the ecological and social dialogue initiated by our festival. It offers rich material for contemplation and discussion, inviting us to reflect on connection and resistance.The exhibition is free to visit, every day of the festival.
Studio/K, monday till sunday 1 - 7 june
Audiovisual performance: Tharim Cornelisse & Oceanic: A performance built around visceral human movement and connection between bodies where live visuals are mixed, manipulated and tell a narrative that finds connection with the live music being played.
Droog, Thu. 4 june 19:30
Open air screening of four eco shorts with aftertalk (this evening will be in Dutch) .
QRU, Spaklerweg 1, Amsterdam Oost
Sat. 6 june 21:00
Hair, Paper, Water… by Nicolas Graux & Tru’o’ng Minh Quý
Eco competition | Dutch premiere | 2025 | Belgium/France/Vietnam | 71’
Amid the pressures of globalisation, nature and minority languages are in steep decline. In rural Vietnam, an elderly woman from the Ruc community teaches her great-grandson to value both. Directors Graux and TTru’o’ng capture this exchange in a tactile, deeply immersive style, evoking a vivid sense of place and a world already slipping from view. A meditative 16mm gem, recalling Samsara (2023).
June 4 | 21:00 | De Uitkijk | + Q&A filmmakers, together with Asian Movie Night
Cotton Queen by Suzannah Mirghani
Debut competition | Dutch premiere | 2025 | Germany/France/Palestine/Egypt/Qatar/Saudi Arabia/Sudan | 93’
When businessman Nadir introduces genetically modified cotton to his Sudanese village, picker Nafisa uncovers a family story rooted in the era of British rule. Caught between her grandmother’s past and her own independence, she must navigate the pull of legacy and self-determination. Director Mirghani blends an energetic coming-of-age narrative with the enduring imprint of colonial history, marking her debut as the first Sudanese woman to direct a feature film.
June 3 | fundraiser for Sudan | 19:00 | Studio/K SK3 | + aftertalk
June 3 | fundraiser for Sudan | 21:00 | Kriterion K2 | + Sudanese community dinner (from 19:00) and introduction
Chronicles From the Siege by Abdallah Alkhatib
Debut competition | Dutch premiere | 2026 | Algeria/France/Palestine | 98’
A group of individuals find themselves resorting to inventive means to meet their most basic needs. In this mosaic film, Palestinian life under siege is portrayed in all its complexity. The narrative moves fluidly between moments of utter despair and unexpected humour. This delicate balancing act of emotional registers builds towards a visceral ending. Alkhatib’s arresting debut took the Berlinale by storm, where it was awarded Best First Feature.
June 5 | 19:00 | Studio/K SK2 | + Q&A filmmaker
June 7 | 21:15 | Studio/K SK2
More info
www.sproutsfilmfestival.com