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Strange River

Directed by Jaume Claret Muxart
Spain
2025
105 mins

Synopsis

A queer teenager’s life is transformed by an unexpected encounter with a mysterious and alluring boy while on a family trip along the Danube. An entrancing debut from Venice 2025.

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.

“There are films that, little by little, frame by frame, seduce the viewer, drawing them into a unique yet recognisable world and ultimately leaving an imprint that lingers in the memory for weeks, even months... [Strange River] is one of them.”
Alfonso Rivera, Cineuropa

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Tickets

Fri 5 June 2026, 8:20pm
Event Cinemas George Street - Cinema 3
Assisted ListeningWheelchair
Sun 7 June 2026, 3:45pm
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 1
Assisted ListeningWheelchair
  • Program Strand
    Features
  • Original Title
    ESTRANY RIU
  • Year
    2025
  • Classification
    Unclassified 15+
  • Country
    Spain, Germany
  • Language
    In Catalan and German with English subtitles
  • Director
    Jaume Claret Muxart
  • Producer
    Xavi Font, Andrea Vázquez
  • Cast
    Jan Monter, Nausicaa Bonnín, Francesco Wenz
  • Screenwriter
    Jaume Claret Muxart, Meritxell Colell
  • Cinematographer
    Pablo Paloma
  • Editor
    Maria Castan de Manuel, Meritxell Colell
  • Genre
    Fantasy & Sci-Fi, Romance, LGBTQIA+ Films
  • Premiere
    Australian Premiere
  • Company Credits
    Sales Agent: Films Boutique

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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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