Mati Diop’s feature-length debut is simply magical. A visual delight and a formal achievement, Atlantics is part supernatural mystery, part romance, part revenge tale—a seamlessly constructed hybrid that feels totally original. I saw the film at the Toronto International Film Festival and was disappointed that it received such a limited release before streaming on Netflix. And while the widespread availability of art house cinema is definitely a net positive, the majesty of DP Claire Mathon’s (Stranger by the Lake, the upcoming Portrait of a Lady on Fire) cinematography should be seen on the biggest screen possible. This wonderfully creative and breathtaking meditation on womanhood, on debt (emotional and financial), love and sacrifice, is not to be missed. – Saidah Russell, Programmer

In Senegal’s bustling capital, Dakar, two young lovers sneak private moments with the urgency of youthful desire. Their gravitational pull towards each other is also based on knowing their time is limited, as Ada is soon to be wed to a wealthy but frivolous man. Meanwhile, Souleiman hasn’t been paid for weeks and is forced to leave land for the sea in hopes of finding a better life. When he sets off, Ada is haunted by his memory and, then, perhaps more.