My Extraordinary Summer With Tess - NZIFF 2020

10-year-old Sam is enduring a summer family holiday on a Dutch island, but things are far from idyllic – his brother has a broken leg, his mum has terrible migraines, and his dad is constantly trying to encourage togetherness. Sam, who has an imaginative morbid streak and a desire to unpack life’s big questions, embarks on “aloneness training” to prepare for the fact that as the youngest he’ll likely outlive his family. But his training quickly changes tack when he meets 11-year-old Tess, an enigmatic and electric force, with a secret and quest all of her own. — Nic Marshall- NZIFF Programmer and all round lovely person!