01: The Last Days of Innocence
Spanning four countries and four unforgettable young lives, The Last Days of Innocence is a beautifully crafted collection of short films that celebrates the electric, confusing, and transformative moments of adolescence.
From the misty forests of France to the snow-capped Swiss Alps, from a sun-baked Macedonian village to the quiet suburbs of the Czech Republic, each film captures queer youth at a crossroads — curious, alive, and on the brink of discovering who they are.
Whether it’s two boys stealing moments together in the wilderness in Ruins, Alban navigating first love and self-expression in the mountains in Aline, young Mario’s irrepressible curiosity about his flamboyant neighbour in Snake, or the complex emotional bonds between brothers in The Touching, this collection brings together four distinct voices and visions with real warmth and cinematic flair.
Visually stunning and emotionally rich, The Last Days of Innocence is a testament to the power of international short filmmaking — and a compelling reminder of just how extraordinary, and how fleeting, those last days really are.
Episodes
Ruins
15mDeep in a misty lakeside forest, two boys are on the run. From what, exactly, is never quite clear — and that’s precisely the point. Benoît Duvette’s ethereal and atmospheric short weaves together breathless pursuit and tender intimacy, as stolen flashbacks reveal the secret relationship at its heart.
Enigmatic, charged, and visually stunning, Ruins is a story of forbidden love told entirely on its own mysterious terms.
Dir. Benoît Duvette
Aline
31mAlban lives in a remote Swiss ski town, a place as beautiful as it is suffocating. With his long blonde hair and fluid sense of style, he doesn’t quite belong — until he meets Julian, a young groundsman who seems to offer everything he’s been dreaming of.
Shot against the breathtaking backdrop of the Alps, Aline is a tender and achingly honest portrait of first love, self-discovery, and the painful distance between fantasy and reality.
Dir. Simon Guélat
Snake
20mNine-year-old Mario is having the best summer of his life. His village is sun-drenched, his friends are loyal, and his fascinating new neighbour — a young gay man with a pet albino snake and a wardrobe full of wonders — has opened a door to a world he never knew existed.
Warm, joyful, and shot with the golden glow of a cherished childhood memory, Snake is a story about curiosity, colour, and the moment a child first learns that being different comes at a price.
Dir. Andrey Volkashin
The Touching
39mBehind the closed door of their shared bedroom, young brothers David and Marek have crossed a line neither fully understands. As the older Marek begins to pull away, the younger David is left confused, possessive, and desperate for the closeness he’s come to depend on.
Shot in luminous black and white, The Touching is a visually striking and extraordinarily brave short film — one that confronts the cycle of silence and emotional fallout with a compassion and honesty rarely seen on screen.
Dir. Dominik György