Manta Ray by Phuttiphong Aroonpheng
out of competition | 2018 | Thailand/France/China | 105’
A washed-up Rohingya refugee in the mangroves of Thailand sparks an identity crisis in this hauntingly beautiful political allegory and modern eco-classic. Tides serve as a powerful metaphor to expose an inhuman atrocity. Guided by a manta ray and gemstones humming with the voices of real Rohingya refugees, this subversively ambiguous debut—winner of the Venice Orizzonti Award—explores themes of dispossession, border zones, and aquatic thinking.
After the screening, Dr. Stephen Turner from the University of Amsterdam and Thomas Streekstra, artistic director of Sprouts, will engage in a conversation about “cinema of the seas” and the prominent role of bioluminescence in Manta Ray.
April 15 | 18:30 | De Uitkijk | + aftertalk
Sprouts Film Festival 2025 | April 14-20
In a world marked by glitches, extreme weather, and escalating conflicts, it’s easy to look away. But at Sprouts, we believe cinema can be a platform for peaceful protest. For the fourth year, we’re showcasing a lineup of newly released ecocinema and socially critical debut films. All selected works—both features and shorts—are fiction, as we believe in the power of imagination to inspire positive change and reframe our relationship with the more-than-human world. We are here to make you wonder, inform you, spark resistance, and nurture emerging talent.
We’ll be returning to Studio/K and Kriterion, and will debut at De Uitkijk. Want to discover more about the interdisciplinary SproutsFF25 program, which includes a free Eco Expo, an ecological AV show, and community-driven side events? Visit sproutsfilmfestival.com or follow us on Instagram @sproutsfilmfestival.