Sleepless City

Europe’s largest shantytown becomes the backdrop for a vibrant and emotionally charged coming-of-age story, where loyalty clashes with the longing for a different life.

Fifteen-year-old Toni grows up with his Roma family in the vast informal settlement on the outskirts of Madrid, where they survive by collecting scrap metal. With electricity unreliable, evenings are still spent outdoors, gathered around fires and shared stories. When authorities announce plans to demolish the area and offer modern apartments with running water in exchange, the community is divided. For Toni’s grandfather, leaving is unthinkable - the shantytown is not just a place to live, but a way of life. As the demolition machines move ever closer, Toni must decide whether to cling to a disappearing world or take a leap into an uncertain future.

• Tobias Åkesson